Some players perform when their livelihood is on the line. Others shrink under the pressure like a frightened turtle back into their shell. We’ll touch on a few players set to be NFL free agents in 2016. What it means for 2015 is anyone’s guess.
Sam Bradford has appeared in seven games the past two seasons. He’s with offensive wizard Chip Kelly in what will likely be a make or break season for Bradford’s future in Philadelphia. A huge payday is in order with success, but it is questionable whether he can stay healthy.
Eli Manning is 34-years old coming off a season with 4,410 yards and 30 touchdowns. Quarterbacks get paid gazillions of dollars for doing that. Over the last six seasons he’s thrown for at least 3,900 yards and 26 touchdowns five times. With his weapons, a repeat effort seems likely leading to one last payday.
Philip Rivers and the Chargers tussled during the offseason and his future seems to be up in the air as of this writing. He is an excellent game manager and most people don’t seem to realize that he’s thrown for at least 4,286 yards and 31 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.
C.J. Anderson struggled with his conditioning last season and has a new head coach in Gary Kubiak. While Anderson will battle Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball, you have to figure he emerges as the lead running back after scoring ten times over his last nine games in 2014.
Matt Forte will be working for head coach John Fox who has deployed running back by committees for years. However, Forte is already 29-years old making the Bears unlikely to sign him to an extension. Another 300+ touches are coming down the pipe for the Bears starting rusher.
Lamar Miller ran for the quietest 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns you will ever see in 2014. The Dolphins were concerned that Miller tends to slow down when the numbers of carries mount each week so they spent a fifth round draft pick on Jay Ajayi who might be a better all-around back than Miller. Miller’s role as the lead running back in Miami could be threatened by Ajayi if the youngster’s knee is healthy.
Alfred Morris has run for 3,962 yards and 28 touchdowns through three seasons. He’s also useless on third downs with just 37 career receptions. The Redskins staff seems enamored with third round draft selection Matt Jones dimming Morris’ fantasy outlook.
A.J. Green is the only elite pass receiving talent the Bengals have. Through four seasons, he’s reached 1,000 yards four times while averaging nine touchdowns per season. The Bengals will certainly work out something to keep the face of their franchise around.
T.Y. Hilton is just 5’9” weighing180 pounds and he will have to share targets with newly acquired Andre Johnson, the ascending Donte Moncrief and rookie Phillip Dorsett. It’s debatable if Hilton can improve statistically under that scenario and his size does work against him a bit.
Alshon Jeffery is now the man with Brandon Marshall gone, which likely means an increase in the average of 147 targets he’s seen the past two seasons. The Bears need him to match his 2013 yardage (1,421) and 2014 touchdown total (10).
Julio Jones might be the most talented wide receiver in football. Coming off his best season (104-1,593-6), it would seem the only thing standing between him and greatness is another injury. The Falcons will pay this man.
Coby Fleener will have to share the field with Dwayne Allen, who was hurt for most of last season. Fleener has plenty of measurables on his side, but the truth is that he’s failed to assert himself in a meaningful way despite suiting up for the Colts potent offense. In addition, Allen is clearly the better Red Zone option.