FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 5/9/2013 12:54am et

The New York Jets could express interest in free-agent WR Brandon Lloyd this offseason. The Jets have already expressed interest in free-agent WR Braylon Edwards and WR Ramses Barden and are scheduled to meet with free-agent WR Joshua Cribbs as well.

Huddle Up: Adding Lloyd would make sense if for no other reason than to gain further insight into the Patriots offense. That the Jets also have a need for receiver help comes into play as well. Still, with quarterback questions galore and a run-heavy offense there is little fantasy value to be found amongst any of the aforementioned targets.

Posted: 3/21/2013 5:22pm et

Free-agent WR Brandon Lloyd (Patriots) might return to the New England Patriots, as there isn't believed to be a huge market for his services.

Huddle Up: Even with the additions of Danny Amendola and Donald Jones, neither is the outside-the-numbers, downfield threat Lloyd is -- especially if they can bring him back at a lower price.

Posted: 3/16/2013 5:39pm et

The New England Patriots will release WR Brandon Lloyd.

Huddle Up: Unless/until Josh McDaniel gets another gig somewhere else, Lloyd will have difficulty making a fantasy impact.

Posted: 2/28/2013 4:15pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd doesn't appear to be part of the team's plans for 2013. According to a source, he isn't projected on the team's depth chart even though he signed a three-year, $12 million deal a year ago. Lloyd, who caught 74 passes for 911 yards and four touchdowns last season, may not fit due to his personality, which a teammate described as 'weird.' Lloyd's inability to find a consistent niche in the offense, his personality and his aversion of physical contact could have the Patriots looking elsewhere. He has a $3 million roster bonus, but it isn't clear when it must be picked up. Should the Patriots opt not to exercise it, they'd still be hit with $2 million against the salary cap, which could be spread over two years, but the team would save $2.5 million.

Huddle Up: Lloyd has been all over the NFL map, and if he's let go in New England, he'll be looking to latch on with his 7th team in 11 seasons. The Pats, meanwhile, would continue their own WR search with Joey Galloway, Chad Johnson and now, possibly, Lloyd failing to make a lasting impact.

Posted: 2/12/2013 12:57pm et

If the New England Patriots decide to part ways with WR Brandon Lloyd, who is due a $3 million option, they could decide to pursue the best 'X' receiver on the free-agent market to threaten defenses down the left sideline.

Huddle Up: Lloyd finished as the Pats' second-leading receiver with 74 catches for 911 yards and 4 TDs, but the Pats could try to find another way to put that $3 million to use.

Posted: 2/3/2013 12:51pm et

There is a possibility the New England Patriots could release WR Brandon Lloyd in the offseason. Lloyd was productive for the team in 2012, playing in 84.8 percent of the offensive snaps and recording 74 receptions for 911 yards and four touchdowns despite working through a knee injury. However, he is due a $3 million bonus at some point in 2013, and has a base salary of $1.9 million. His salary-cap charge is scheduled to be $4.5 million.

Huddle Up: Lloyd wasn't the automatic fantasy stud that many thought, but he still plays a valuable outside-the-numbers role, keeping opposing defenses from zeroing in on the Pats' slot WRs and TEs in the middle of the field. The Pats just have to assign a pricetag to that value and do some smart, comparison shopping.

Posted: 12/5/2012 11:32pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd is expected to be a bigger part of the offense with WR Julian Edelman (foot) out for the rest of the year. Edelman took most of the shorter passes away from Lloyd when they were on the field together. Lloyd had only one catch last week against the Miami Dolphins, but his lack of inclusion had more to do with the team's gameplan. New England favored short, easy completions over challenging Miami down the field, which didn't favor Lloyd. Lloyd often runs slow-developing plays down the field, and QB Tom Brady didn't feel like challenging Dolphins CB Sean Smith. Smith lined up against Lloyd for 12 of the 34 pass plays in which Lloyd lined up.

Huddle Up: Lloyd's disappointing fantasy season only has gotten worse of late with only 16 catches and 2 TDs in his past 6 games. Maybe Edelman's injury will be the key that opens the door.

Posted: 11/20/2012 11:16pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Huddle Up: Lloyd ranks second on the team with 3 TD receptions, but he hasn't been the WR1 most everyone expected in the preseason, as he has only 1 100-yard game and 3 contests in which he's had more than 5 receptions. With that having been established, it's hard to project any more -- or less -- out of the veteran wideout the rest of the way.

Posted: 10/24/2012 4:46pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd was disappointed in his Week 7 performance against the New York Jets in which he caught just one pass for six yards. He was thrown to eight times, and he had a couple dropped passes. 'The ball didn't stick as well as I would have liked it to, but that's why we have such an accomplished group of pass catchers,' Lloyd said. 'If a guy is not having the night that he would particularly like, there are other guys that would pick up the slack. Tom (Brady) does a great job of finding receivers and continuing the positive plays.'

Huddle Up: As are your fantasy owners, Mr. Lloyd. It is good to see Brady targeting him so many times, though, and playing against the physical Antonio Cromartie did not help matters for Lloyd. He has been limited with a knee injury this week, but he should bounce back. Cortland Finnegan might be a physical cornerback himself, but Lloyd will likely see a lot of Bradley Fletcher in coverage against the Rams this week.

Posted: 10/18/2012 1:23pm et

New York Jets CB Antonio Cromartie will likely cover New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd (shoulder) in Week 7; however, that does not mean Lloyd will fall out of the team's game plan, as he likely would if being covered by CB Darrelle Revis (knee). Cromartie has played well in Revis' absence, but the Patriots have never shied away from attacking him. QB Tom Brady completed five of seven passes against Cromartie for 54 yards and a touchdown over two games last year, and he was 11-for-19 passing for 134 yards and three touchdowns over three 2010 meetings.

Huddle Up: By design, the Pats' offense is hard to forecast with their bevy of targets that has only expanded now with the return of TE Aaron Hernandez. They might not fear Cromartie, but, at the same time, there figures to be easier pickings.

Posted: 10/17/2012 3:13pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd (shoulder) said he will be fine after being shaken up in Week 6 when he dove for a pass during the game.

Huddle Up: Lloyd owners dodged a bullet. At first glance, it seemed like Lloyd might have gotten a Danny Amendola-like clavicle injury. He remains a solid WR2 if his injury is indeed minor.

Posted: 10/14/2012 11:04pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd (shoulder) made a diving attempt to catch a ball late in the fourth quarter of the Week 6 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, suffering an apparent left shoulder injury. He was not seen in the locker room after the game.

Huddle Up: The Pats got TE Aaron Hernandez back Sunday, but may have lost Lloyd, who airborne and came down hard on his shoulder on the play. Lloyd finished with 6 catches for 80 yards on 12 targets.

Posted: 9/21/2012 9:07pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd (thigh) was limited during practice Friday, Sept. 21, and is listed as questionable for Week 3.

Huddle Up: The Pats already are without TE Aaron Hernandez, and now leading receiver Brandon Lloyd has been limited in practice for 3 straight days. When it comes to Bill Belichick's team and injuries, there always are more questions than answers, so this is definitely one to keep an eye on through the weekend.

Posted: 9/19/2012 6:20pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd (thigh) was limited in practice Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Huddle Up: These are the Patriots so you never really know what to make of these midweek injury reports. Just keep track of Lloyd's progress throughout the week, and we should have a better idea on his status after Friday's practice.

Posted: 9/7/2012 8:42pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd had just one reception during the preseason and said Friday, Sept. 7, that chemistry with QB Tom Brady is still building.

Huddle Up: As the 22nd wideout selected, on average, in drafts, Lloyd is being counted on as a WR2 in most leagues. Whether there's more chemistry to be built or not, Lloyd won't be the disaster that Chad Johnson was with the Pats last season as he gives the team a much-needed deep threat outside the numbers.

Posted: 8/16/2012 10:06pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd has caught almost everything thrown his way in training camp and could be a huge part of the passing game this season.

Huddle Up: Just what the rest of the league feared: Tom Brady has landed another receiving weapon. There's been a fantasy buzz surrounding Lloyd since he signed with the Patriots in the offseason, and it's so far, so good in camp. Lloyd logged 70 receptions for 968 yards and 5 TDs a year ago, splitting time between Denver and St. Louis, but was even more impressive in 2010, leading all wideouts with 209 fantasy points (77 catches, 1,448 yards, 11 TDs). At the time of this update, Lloyd's ADP was 25th among all WRs, and the only concern might be the number of catches that will be spread out among the Pats' Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and the other wideouts and RBs.

Posted: 5/25/2012 3:43pm et

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd has been impressive during organized team activities this week because of his knowledge of the playbook.

Huddle Up: It's no shock Lloyd has become a Tom Brady favorite; quarterbacks have loved him in each of his last two stops, both with Josh McDaniels offenses. However, the Patriots' propensity to spread the ball around--as well as the presence of Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez--puts a cap on Lloyd's fantasy upside.