Steelers match offer to Sanders: Ben Roethlisberger is getting his wish. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback was reportedly lobbying the team to keep receiver Emmanuel Sanders in the Steel City. It seems to have worked. The team matched the offer sheet presented by the Patriots to keep the wideout around for at least another year. That means Roethlisberger will have at least two of his top four targets from last season. Mike Wallace bolted for Miami through free agency and a major knee injury to Heath Miller could cause him to miss the start of the season. For the moment, Sanders looks like the No. 2 option in Pittsburgh’s passing game behind Antonio Brown. It’s a big step up for a player who’s never caught more than 44 passes in a season, but he appears to be on the rise and could have value as a No. 3 fantasy option in plenty of leagues.

Cruz not at Giants OTAs: Still waiting on a new long-term contract, wide receiver Victor Cruz is a no-show for the start of the New York Giants’ voluntary workouts. The news isn’t a major surprise and it’s far too early to read into what this could mean for the start of 2013. However, it’s worth noting that there has been little movement by either side to truly launch into negotiations. Then again, now that Jay-Z is on the case on Cruz’s behalf, maybe something starts to get done. Either way, there are still several months that need to pass before any fantasy owners should start concerning themselves with the receiver’s status.

Manning says he’s improving: In 2012, Peyton Manning threw for the second-most yards, attempted the second-most passes and tossed the second-most touchdowns of his illustrious career. And he says he wasn’t at 100 percent after his multiple neck surgeries. The future Hall of Fame quarterback is learning to work around the diminished arm strength he experienced last season. It won’t hurt that his receiving corps is as deep as any he’s ever worked with. After finishing last season as the sixth-highest scoring player in all of fantasy football, it appears The Sheriff is poised to crack the top five in 2013.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

MJD getting back to full speed: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew sat down on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” Thursday and said he plans to be “full speed by probably the end of May, beginning of June“. That’s in line with what MJD has said since the start of the offseason, but it’s encouraging to hear that there haven’t been any setbacks from the foot injury that kept him out for the majority of 2012. A full offseason of rehabilitation should have the veteran close to where he was after being one of the NFL’s top backs in 2011. There’s a chance he could slip a couple of rounds in some leagues, which would give him nice sleeper value.

Wright to have bigger role?: After a putting together a nice rookie season, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright could be in line for bigger things in 2013. According to Titans Online, the former Baylor standout “is expected to be a significant part” of new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ plans in 2013. Last season, Wright caught 64 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns. He’ll remain the No. 2 option behind Kenny Britt, but if Loggains can get more out of quarterback Jake Locker’s athletic ability, Wright could see a boost in value. At the moment, he slots as a No. 3 wideout in most leagues.

Dolphins considering Javon Ringer: The Dolphins have made it clear that they don’t view Daniel Thomas as a short-yardage runner. So to solve that issue, the team is reportedly taking a look at free agent Javon Ringer. The bruising runner is currently rehabbing a knee injury, which is putting any serious negotiations on hold. But a move to Miami for Ringer could benefit both sides. It would give the Dolphins the goal line back they’re seeking and could give the running back some deep sleeper value as a player who could provide touchdowns.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Edelman stays in New England: The New England Patriots have given their receiving corps a makeover, but at least one face will remain the same. Julian Edelman signed a one-year deal to remain with the team. Last season, he played in just nine games and caught 21 passes for 235 yards. More importantly, the Pats found creative ways to use him — both inside and outside. It’s a theme that will likely continue as he returns to a receiver group that doesn’t have an obvious speedster. If Edelman can stay healthy, he’ll see more targets, but his value probably doesn’t rise above that of a low-round No. 4 or flex option.

Hernandez focused on staying healthy: For all of the good things Aaron Hernandez has done on the field, the one thing he’s had the hardest time doing is … staying on the field. This offseason, the Patriots tight end has moved his workouts to Los Angeles where he hopes to remain completely focused on football. The goal is to be healthy enough to play a full 16 games, which he’s never done before. With questions about Rob Gronkowski’s health, Hernandez’s ability to stay on the field will give him an added value for both the Patriots and fantasy owners.

Eagles trade Dion Lewis: The backfield situation for the Philadelphia Eagles got slightly clearer after the team traded running back Dion Lewis to the Cleveland Browns. The move clears the way for Bryce Brown to be the undisputed No. 2 running back in Philly’s new attack. As for Lewis, he will now find himself in a competition to be the No. 2 to Trent Richardson in Cleveland. He would seem to have a hard time overtaking Montario Hardesty for the job.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Bush will be dual-threat: When Reggie Bush signed with the Detroit Lions, we were excited about his prospects to be a factor in both the running and passing games. The excitement will only grow with confirmation from Lions head coach Jim Schwartz that Bush could catch anywhere from 60-80 passes next season. It would be a throwback to the running back’s early years in New Orleans. It would also make him the second option in Detroit’s offense, behind Calvin Johnson, making him a solid No. 2 fantasy back.

Marshall “excited” to be healthy: Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been recovering nicely after having arthroscopic hip surgery at the start of the offseason and recently began running on a track. That’s good news for fantasy owners. What’s better news for enthusiasts is Marshall says he’s feeling better than he has in the past two seasons. The wideout admitted to having issues with his hip in 2011 and 2012 — yet he still topped 1,200 receiving yards in both of those seasons. Marshall was already a No. 1 wideout heading into 2013, but a healthy Marshall has even greater value.

Patriots sign Sanders to offer sheet: The New England Patriots are still seeking another wide receiver and have submitted a one-year offer sheet to Steelers wideout Emmanuel Sanders. This gives Pittsburgh five days to match the offer, which could be difficult to do considering the team’s salary cap limitations. If Sanders indeed lands with the Pats, he’ll find himself down the pecking order, behind Rob Gronkowski (when healthy), Aaron Hernandez and Danny Amendola. Still, in a high-octane offense, Sanders could have some value as a No. 4 fantasy receiver option and a late-round draft pick.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Browns sign David Nelson: The rebuilding of the Cleveland Browns offense continues. the team inked wide receiver David Nelson to a one-year deal, hoping his knee has recovered after major surgery last season. He’s certainly not a flashy name, but he immediately establishes himself as an upgrade as the slot receiver position. It also gives the Browns three guys with upside – Greg Little and Josh Gordon are the other two — even if they’ve yet to consistently show that potential. Nelson won’t rocket up any fantasy draft lists with this move. In fact, it’s possible that he’ll go undrafted in plenty of leagues, but he is an intriguing matchup-based waiver wire option as we get into the season.

Bengals working out Felix Jones?: In their search for a running back, the Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly turning their attention to veteran Felix Jones. With the emergence of DeMarco Murray, Jones had fallen out of favor with the Dallas Cowboys and could be a third-down option to go along with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Don’t look for Jones to be a major impact players — either on the field or in fantasy — but he’s likely to see a few more touches in Cincinnati than he would have in Dallas.

Jets sign Cumberland: The New York Jets may have lost Dustin Keller in free agency, but they are certain of his replacement, signing Jeff Cumberland to a one-year tender. As a starter, his value is greater than when he was a backup to Keller. But the Jets offense remains a mess overall. At best, Cumberland will be no better than a low-end No. 2 fantasy option.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Gronk dealing with infection: The trials and travails of Rob Gronkowski’s injured arm seem to keep getting worse and worse. Late last month, Gronk confirmed that he had a third surgery on the broken left forearm to clear up an infection. However, that infection has persisted and it’s left the tight end and people close to him exploring all possible options. One of those options could be another surgery, but that would put his availability for Week 1 in jeopardy. Gronk’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says that no surgery has been scheduled and any talk of the tight end missing time is premature. For now, Gronkowski is still fantasy’s top tight end and certain to come off the board before the end of the second round in most leagues, but as this drags out, Aaron Hernandez and Danny Amendola become more and more valuable.

RG3 working hard to return: Another day, another Robert Griffin III update. While Mike Shanahan insists that the team won’t put the quarterback onto the field “until he’s 100 percent“, the Redskins head coach concedes that Griffin could set records with how quickly he returns from major knee surgery. No matter what the reports are from RG3′s rehab, the advice remains the same — wait and see … and project him somewhere between the fourth and sixth rounds.

McFadden excited about scheme change: Last season was another in the frustrating fantasy career belonging to Darren McFadden. Working in a zone blocking scheme held him to just a 3.27 yards per carry average. But head coach Dennis Allen shuffled the deck with his assistant coaches and plans to switch things up to play to Run DMC’s strengths — which has the running back excited. While we’re interested in seeing how this plays out,we’d feel a lot better if the Raiders could guarantee that he’d play a full season. McFadden has never played more than 13 games in a season and his durability (more than a lack of production) has made him the fantasy liability that he is.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Cousins learning read-option: Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has said repeatedly that Kirk Cousins would take all of the offseason snaps as Robert Griffin III continued his rehab. As such, Cousins has taken to learning aspects of the read-option offense in the event that RG3 isn’t ready to go in Week 1. Certainly no one will confuse the two quarterbacks, but Cousins acknowledges that being able to run the option gives defenses extra to think about. But if Griffin can’t go, the read-option role could fall to newly-signed Pat White. Cousins could still have sleeper value next season — Griffin has already shown a propensity to injury, meaning the Redskins other young QB could see more than a few snaps.

Henne eyeing starting job: Blaine Gabbert has been looking over his shoulder all offseason. First it was an anonymous coach taking shots at him. Now it’s a more direct threat to worry about. Backup quarterback Chad Henne is feeling quite optimistic about his chances to unseat Gabbert as the Jaguars starter. Henne went so far as to compare himself to Aaron Rodgers — noting that Rodgers didn’t start until he was five seasons into his career (Henne is entering his sixth season). We won’t go that far, but there’s no reason to believe he can’t challenge to be the starter in Jacksonville. Whoever is the starter will likely go undrafted in a majority of fantasy leagues.

Broncos considering Bradshaw: Former New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw hasn’t had any contract offers yet, but he has had plenty of suitors. The latest is the Denver Broncos, who reportedly took a serious look at the free agent rusher. Denver has made it known that it would like to add another back to its stable and Bradshaw would be a good complement alongside the aging Willis McGahee, the oft-injured Knowshon Moreno and the as yet unproven Ronnie Hillman. The question is which of that group could end up as the odd man out. We’ll have a better idea of each player’s value once the distribution of touches has been worked out, but Bradshaw could definitely contribute in that dynamic Bronco offense.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Rivers needs to prove value: Once upon a time, Philip Rivers was one of the most dependable quarterbacks in fantasy football. That hasn’t been the case lately and it seems the San Diego Chargers are running out of patience. U-T San Diego columnist Kevin Acee appeared on NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft” and said he believes “2013 is the final audition of Philip Rivers.” If true, that could provide added motivation for Rivers to regain his past form.

It’s possible considering he has an intriguing cast of pass-catchers. True, Antonio Gates is past his prime, but Danario Alexander played well in the second half of the season and Vincent Brown (who missed all of last season with an injury) is a sleeper prospect. Right now, it’s all wishful thinking, certainly not enough to give Rivers a concrete boost in fantasy draft value. Consider the veteran QB a No. 2 fantasy option with potential sleeper value.

Hixon signs with Panthers: Former New York Giants receiver Domenik Hixon has found a new home with the Carolina Panthers. Carolina already has its top two receiver spots locked in with Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell. That leaves Hixon in a competition with former 49er Ted Ginn, Jr. for the No. 3 spot. Even if he wins the spot, it’s likely a downgrade for a player that was a No. 4 fantasy option at best. The Panthers don’t throw the ball as much — or as effectively — as the Giants. That means fewer targets and far less production in 2013.

Eagles’ Lewis on trading block: The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly looking to deal running back Dion Lewis. Even in Chip Kelly’s run-first offense, there just aren’t enough touches to go around. If Lewis is in fact traded, it bodes well for Bryce Brown to tighten his grip on the No. 2 running back spot behind LeSean McCoy. Considering how Kelly likes to use his rushers, Brown would have value as a No. 3 or flex option in plenty of leagues.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Fitzgerald excited about Palmer trade: It looks like Larry Fitzgerald is back on the fantasy radar for 2013 after being written off by most fantasy enthusiasts last year due to atrocious quarterback play in Arizona. But with the Cardinals acquiring Carson Palmer in a trade Monday, the six-time Pro Bowl wideout is rejuvenated, telling AZCardinals.com that he’s “in ‘prove it’ mode” after a hugely disappointing year.

And to reinforce the point, he playfully scoffed at the idea that he couldn’t be a top-five fantasy receiver again in a tweet to our own Michael Fabiano. There’s no doubt that Fitzgerald will see a big improvement in quarterback play this year and judging by past performance, it’s hard to doubt his self-confidence.

Brady, Amendola working together: As I told the grocery store checkout clerk yesterday … if there’s one quarterback I don’t worry about, it’s Tom Brady. That feeling is reinforced after news that Brady has been working out with new Patriots receiver Danny Amendola in Los Angeles. Does this guarantee that Amendola will automatically post Wes Welker-like numbers in New England? Not at all. But every opportunity that QB and WR have to build a rapport is important and can only bode well for the rest of the 2013 season.

Dolphins unsure of Thomas: Last week, the Miami Dolphins were reportedly “excited” about their two-headed running back attack of Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller. This week, that excitement reportedly has more to do with Miller than Thomas. There is concern that the Kansas State product isn’t durable enough or physical enough to be the short-yardage back the Dolphins need and that the team could add another back in the draft. While that news diminishes Thomas’ value, it’s good news for Miller, who could be slowly grabbing ahold of the top spot on Miami’s depth chart.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Ah the wonderful world of Twitter…

When word came down that the Arizona Cardinals had acquired veteran quarterback Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders, I was thrilled. Why was I thrilled, you ask? Well, I knew the move would in all likelihood mean the statistical (and fantasy) return of Larry Fitzgerald.

One of the NFL’s top wide receivers, Fitzgerald was a solid second-rounder in most 2012 drafts. After all, he had finished 5th (2007), 1st (2008), 5th (2009), 16th (2010) and 5th (2011) in fantasy points among wideouts before 2012. Unfortunately, he went on to finish outside of the top 40 in fantasy points at his position. That was largely due to a bumbling quarterback rotation that saw Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer all see snaps.

Palmer, even at 33, is a huge upgrade over that quartet.

@michael_fabiano too high? #comeonbro lol

— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) April 3, 2013

The news of Palmer’s addition seemed to motivate Fitzgerald, who told the Cardinals official website: “I’m coming off the most disappointing season of my career and I’m in ‘prove it’ mode.”

That was clear to me on Tuesday, as Fitzgerald replied to my tweet that asked owners if he is now once again a top-five fantasy wide receiver for the 2013 season. #comeonbro lol

I also asked the Twitter world which wide receiver is the most valuable for the upcoming season from Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, Percy Harvin, Andre Johnson and Fitzgerald. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of Jones, who garnered 49 percent of the vote. Thomas was second with 26 percent — Fitzgerald had the lowest total with just four percent of the vote.

If the talented receiver has anything to say about it, however, a lot of fantasy owners are going to regret passing on Fitzgerald in 2013. It will be interesting to see the final results.

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to @Michael_Fabiano or via Facebook!

In a move that should thrill fantasy owners, the Oakland Raiders have traded Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional seventh-round selection in 2014. The move makes one of the best wide receivers of our generation, Larry Fitzgerald, a lot easier to draft in 2013.

Palmer, 33, is coming off a respectable season with 4,018 passing yards, 23 total touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 15 games. Those numbers were good enough for him to finish 17th in fantasy points at his position. While owners shouldn’t expect a huge increase in those totals in 2013, Palmer clearly stays on the radar as a No. 2 fantasy quarterback.

The big winner here is Fitzgerald, who couldn’t even crack the top 40 in fantasy points among wide receivers last season with the quartet of Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer throwing him the football. Sure, Palmer isn’t the same quarterback he was during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he’s certainly an upgrade over all of the aforementioned four players.

As long as the Cardinals make some improvements to their offensive line, which should happen starting with the NFL Draft, Palmer can still be a nice matchup-based starter — and he’ll be looking in Fitzgerald’s direction a ton. The veteran is back in the conversation as one of the top 10-12 wide receivers in fantasy football and worth a third-round selection in 2013 drafts.

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to @Michael_Fabiano or send a question via Facebook!

Bowe says he’s a top-five WR: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe says he feels like he’s one of the top five wideouts in the NFL. The Chiefs apparently felt similarly, making the veteran the league’s third-highest paid pass-catcher and upgrading the quarterback position by swinging a deal for Alex Smith. That leaves very few excuses for Bowe to produce in 2013. So far in his career, his production hasn’t matched his confidence. In six NFL seasons, the LSU product has finished in the top ten in receiving yards just once — and has never cracked the top five. Bowe has never caught more than 86 passes in a season and the 15 touchdowns he scored in 2010 stand out as the ultimate anomaly. While I admire his spirit, I’m not sold on his soothsaying. The real Dwayne Bowe is probably closer to what we saw in 2008 and 2011 — which is good enough to make him a No. 2 option.

Broncos to use more three-WR sets: This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone, but the Denver Broncos will be throwing the ball a lot after the addition of Wes Welker. But according to the Denver Post, the team plans to make the three-receiver set a part of its base offense — meaning Welker will be almost continually be on the field with Demaryius Thomas  and Eric Decker. The general consensus is that Welker will see a drop in production with so many options in the Broncos offense, but the change in formations sounds like good news for Peyton Manning. Last season, The Sheriff threw the ball 583 times. That number could climb closer to 600 by the end of this season.

RG3 hopes to start running: Here’s your weekly Robert Griffin III rehab update: according to the standout rookie’s father, RG3 is on track to begin running next week. There isn’t going to be another injury tracked as closely as this one, considering even President Barack Obama has weighed in. Regardless of how Griffin is progressing, you can expect Mike Shanahan and the Redskins coaching staff to keep a close eye on him. They will be the final arbiter of whether RG3 or Kirk Cousins will be taking the starting snaps in Week 1.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

The Oakland Raiders appear to have found their new quarterback and Matt Flynn has found a new home.

NFL.com’s Albert Breer is reporting that the Seattle Seahawks have sent the backup QB to the Bay Area in exchange for a pair of draft picks. That could likely be the first domino to fall in a chain that could see Carson Palmer released … and possibly head to the Arizona Cardinals?

Flynn is expected to be the front runner to start in Silver and Black, which would offer him a boost in fantasy value — after all, being a starter is better than being on the bench. Even in a Raiders offense that’s rebuilding. However that last point is why fantasy owners can’t be too high on the journeyman when draft day comes around. Oakland has already lost tight end Brandon Myers to the Giants and are on the verge of watching Darrius Heyward-Bey head elsewhere.

Right now, the biggest weapon in Oakland’s arsenal is the oft-injured Darren McFadden. That’s not good news for a quarterback who remains largely unproven. In five NFL seasons, Flynn has just two starts — one of which led to his big deal with the Seahawks — and nine touchdown passes. Add that to a suspect receiving corps and there’s little reason to see the QB coming off the board before the late rounds.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Kolb, Bills agree to deal: Add one more name to the Buffalo Bills’ list of QB contenders for 2013 – Kevin Kolb. The former Arizona Cardinals signal-caller agreed to a two-year deal with the Bills Saturday and joins Tarvaris Jackson and Aaron Corp as competitors to begin the season as the No. 1 quarterback. While Kolb’s on-field performance hasn’t been particularly scintillating, the bigger issue has been his health — or lack of it. During his two seasons in the desert, Kolb played just 15 total games. His move to western New York doesn’t move the needle much on his fantasy value … if anything, it’s good for C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, who could be leaned upon more heavily.

Hixon gaining interest: As the free agent carousel begins to slow down, some other names are starting to take center stage. Among them is Domenik Hixon, who has drawn some interest from the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and now the Carolina Panthers. Hixon has spent the vast majority of his career with the New York Giants, never really ascending above the level of a No. 3 or 4 receiving option, but any one of those aforementioned suitors could afford him the opportunity to compete for a No. 2 job. Nonetheless, he remains a No. 3 or 4 option for most fantasy owners.

Gabbert to be ready for OTAs: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is hoping to be ready to go when the team takes the field for workouts with coaches in mid-April after rehabbing from a forearm injury that cost him the final six games of last season. He doesn’t enter the 2013 season with much fantasy value, but with a QB competition looming, the more reps he can take, the better his chances to hold on to the starting job.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG

Steelers interested in Bradshaw: Free agent running back Ahmad Bradshaw has been shopping his wares of late and seems to have found quite a bit of interest in Pittsburgh. The former Giant took a physical for the Steelers and even though he left the Steel City without a deal, the team remains interested. The move would be a fit for both sides. Bradshaw is no longer able to be a three-down back while the Steelers need additional help in their backfield. Pair the two together and the veteran runner has the makings of a nice flex option in most leagues.

Sanchez studies with Garcia: Perhaps knowing that his hold on the New York Jets starting job is tenuous, quarterback Mark Sanchez has enlisted the help of former NFL QB Jeff Garcia to help with learning new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s offense. Garcia had his most productive NFL season playing under Mornhinweg with the San Francisco 49ers in 2000, throwing for a career-high 4,278 yards and 31 touchdowns. After a disastrous 2012, we’re in favor of anything that can help Sanchez get better. But we still don’t see him as anything more than a low No. 2 fantasy option.

Chiefs to add spread-option elements: In a copycat league, consider the Kansas City Chiefs the latest copycat. Coach Andy Reid has hired Brad Childress as “Spread Game Analyst/Special Projects” — which is a fancy way of saying Childress will help Alex Smith and the offense run elements of the spread. Smith is an athletic quarterback, so anything that will force defenses to respect his ability to run is a plus.

– Marcas Grant
Follow Marcas on Twitter @MarcasG