FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 5/3/2013 4:05pm et

The Green Bay Packers could have TE Jermichael Finley line up in the slot or at wide receiver this season since the team lost Minnesota Vikings WR Greg Jennings this offseason.

Huddle Up: Say... wasn't this what Finley argued during his last contract negotiations? The fantasy advantages of a tight end getting wide receiver snaps are obvious, so it's a situation worth monitoring during Green Bay's offseason workouts.

Posted: 3/25/2013 7:14pm et

The Green Bay Packers have decided to pay TE Jermichael Finley the $3 million roster bonus he was due Monday, March 25, and will keep him on the team. Finley is scheduled to make $8.25 million in 2013.

Huddle Up: Finley can be a dynamic contributor to the Packers' offense, but his inconsistent hands and tendency to run hot and colt as a target for Aaron Rodgers make him one of the more infuriating fantasy players. There's plenty of upside to his returning to Green Bay, but those who have been burned by Finley in the past will still be inclined to stay away.

Posted: 3/17/2013 11:49pm et

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy talked about his hopes for TE Jermichael Finley for 2013, eliminating some of the doubt that Finley will be in a Packers uniform this season. McCarthy praised Finley's second half, said expectations are high, but said his plans for Finley in 2013 will be different. McCarthy said Sunday, March 17, that he is leaning toward simplifying Finley's role and focusing more on the things he really does well, rather than moving him all around.

Huddle Up: The thought was that the Pack would hang on to either WR Greg Jennings or Finley, and with Jennings signing with the division-rival Vikings, Green Bay is counting on Finley being a more formidable big-play threat after averaging a career-low 10.9 yards per catch and recording only a pair of scoring receptions this past season.

Posted: 3/7/2013 11:50pm et

Blake Baratz, agent for Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley, said he would be willing to listen if the Packers asked Finley to take a pay cut. 'I would never just turn my nose up at anything,' Baratz said. 'I will listen and hear anybody about anything and withhold judgment until I do. I can't say today whether I would, whether I wouldn't, whether it's in Jermichael's best interest, his worst interest. There'd have to be a reason why he would have to take a pay cut. Maybe he would. Maybe he wouldn't. It's all hypothetical until the numbers are there. Is it a one-year deal like it is now? Are we adding years? Are we adding dollars? Are we moving dollars?'

Huddle Up: The ball is squarely in the Packers' court as they have to decide what they want to do -- all with the backdrop of a new big-$$$ deal for Aaron Rodgers looming in a year or so.

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

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley said he isn't willing to take a pay cut to lower his salary cap number for 2013. He noted he may be willing to restructure his deal, but that would likely require the Packers to sign him to a contract extension beyond the 2013 season. Finley has the third-highest salary cap number on the team this year. Head coach Mike McCarthy appears in favor of figuring out something that would keep Finley with the Packers.

Huddle Up: While the Packers appear to want Finley back, the TE certainly isn't making it easy for the team he's spent the past 5 seasons with. After an injury-filled 2010, Finley has played a full 16 games in each of the past 2 seasons and was more productive during the second half of the 2012 season, recording 375 of his 667 receiving yards over the final 8 games.

Posted: 2/27/2013 9:29pm et

The Kansas City Chiefs could show interest in Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley if he is released this offseason.

Huddle Up: Andy Reid's version of the WCO needs a competent pass-catching tight end, a role Finley usually fills. Apparently Reid isn't a big Tony Moeaki fan.

Posted: 2/26/2013 12:48pm et

The Chicago Bears could be interested in TE Jermichael Finley if he's cut by the Green Bay Packers.

Huddle Up: Letting Finley go and then seeing him sign up with a division rival is among the Pack's chief concerns as they weigh their personnel options.

Posted: 2/25/2013 10:53am et

The Green Bay Packers are reportedly torn about the future of TE Jermichael Finley. According to sources, general manager Ted Thompson and the coaching staff appear to favor keeping Finley, while other people within the organization, including members of the personnel department, favor his release. Finley is entering the second year of a two-year, $14 million contract, and he is due a $3 million roster bonus March 27.

Huddle Up: Sounds like the Packers are dealing with the same frustrations Finley's fantasy owners have dealt with for years: flashes of enticing talent followed by prolonged stretches of frustration. The Packers have a month to come up with their final answer.

Posted: 2/8/2013 11:15pm et

The Green Bay Packers could consider signing TE Jermichael Finley to a cap-friendly, multi-year contract extension that would give them cap flexibility to sign other players to contract extensions. Finley continues to work out to keep his body in good shape, and he said it's "50-50" as to whether he re-signs with the team. "I would love to stay there," Finley said, "but if Green Bay says otherwise, I play football for a living, so I'd have to switch gears and get ready for another chapter in my life." Finely could sign a more cap-friendly, multi-year deal to stick around. He said currently there has been no communication between himself and the team regarding his future.

Huddle Up: Finley has been wildly inconsistent the past couple of seasons, but when he's on he's as effective a fantasy tight end as there is in the league. Tough to think of a better situation for him fantasy-wise than sticking around in Green Bay.

Posted: 1/24/2013 10:29pm et

The Miami Dolphins could express interest in Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley if he is released this offseason.

Huddle Up: Don't count on Finley being cut loose, but if he somehow is, the Dolphins figure to be one of the first teams on the phone with former Packers' offensive coordinator Joe Philbin set to enter his second season as Miami's head coach.

Posted: 1/17/2013 1:12pm et

Updating a previous report, Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley seems to have convinced the team to bring him back for an $8.25 million salary in 2013 based on the way he finished the season. Finley eliminated his dropped passes and caught 32 passes for 391 yards in the final seven regular season games. 'As the season wore on you could see a more confident guy on the field,' tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said. 'You could see a guy that once he got his hands on the ball he was running like a maniac, and his yards after the catch for the second half of the season were probably 40 percent more than early in the season.'

Huddle Up: Finley did save his best for the latter part of the season, and while he finished with a career-high 61 catches, he only had 2 scoring receptions. WR Greg Jennings seems more likely to depart, and if so, it'll enhance Finley's chances of re-signing -- even at the high price tag.

Posted: 1/6/2013 10:45am et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley was taken to the locker room in the second half of Saturday's NFC Wild Card game against the Minnesota Vikings due to cramping.

Huddle Up: Finley continues to underwhelm for a variety of reasons, finishing the game with only 1 catch for 10 yards. He's had only 2 TD receptions all season -- and only one since Week 1.

Posted: 11/3/2012 7:45pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley has said that he and QB Aaron Rodgers lack chemistry. Finley met with the quarterback Saturday, Oct. 27, for 45 minutes and plans to do so every Saturday in hopes of regaining his dominance of late 2009 and 2010. 'It's (about) getting trust back from A-Rod,' Finley said. 'If I was the quarterback, I wouldn't throw it to the guy who's off-rhythm right now either. So I've got to get that trust back. The guy's touching the ball 100 percent of the time. You've got to have that trust. That 30 to 45-minute meeting, that shows a lot. And he just says, 'How do you want the ball?' I tell him, 'It ain't how I want it. You tell me what you want me to do.''

Huddle Up: Finley has fallen off the fantasy map, ranking in a tie for 20th among fantasy TEs with only 33 points (Huddle Performance scoring) in 8 games. That trails the likes of Scott Chandler, Brandon Myers and Anthony Fasano, and he needs to string some big games together to regain fantasy GMs' trust.

Posted: 11/2/2012 12:10pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley is expected to see an increased role in the offense in the second half of the season. Finley has been limited by a shoulder injury. He has only played in 65 percent of the snaps thus far, after playing in 83 percent of them at this time last season.

Huddle Up: And since Finley drops 50 percent of the balls thrown to him... Sure, Finley is talented and there may be a big game or two left in his arsenal this season, especially with Greg Jennings injured and Jordy Nelson hobbled. But he's been too unreliable even when healthy for fantasy owners to risk a starting spot on him.

Posted: 10/30/2012 7:35pm et

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said TE Jermichael Finley has seen more double coverage this season.

Huddle Up: More double coverage or not, Finley has been a huge fantasy disappointment so far. He opened the season decently enough with 7 catches for 47 yards and a TD in Week 1, but his stats have taken a well-defined downturn since with the TE recording 4 catches per game in Weeks 2-4, 3 grabs in Week 5 and no more than 2 catches in each of his past 3 contests. Finley has not topped 60 yards in any contest and hasn't scored since the opener. If you haven't already got the hint, it's time to look elsewhere for fantasy TE production.

Posted: 10/25/2012 4:32pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) was limited in practice Thursday, Oct. 25.

Huddle Up: Finley has fallen to TE2 status and doesn't look poised to break out any time soon with lingering injury issues.

Posted: 10/19/2012 3:46pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) is probable for the team's Week 7 game.

Huddle Up: While he has been an utter disappointment, he is always a threat to have a big game. If Finley could actually catch one of those passes thrown his way in the end zone, that is. Having him healthy is better for his prospects than last week, when he was iffy with a shoulder injury.

Posted: 10/17/2012 6:51pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) was limited in practice Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Huddle Up: After recording at least 4 receptions in each of his first 4 games, Finley only has 5 catches for 23 yards over the past 2 weeks. Drops continue to be a problem, and Finley's fantasy owners definitely were dismayed to see reserve TE Tom Crabtree have the more productive Week 6 with 2 grabs for 62 yards and a TD. Also factoring in this lingering shoulder issue, Finley definitely is not the every-week fantasy start he used to be.

Posted: 10/12/2012 4:09pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) was limited in practice Friday, Oct. 12, and is questionable for the team's Week 6 game.

Huddle Up: Houston is a tough matchup anyway; Finley will be hard-pressed to score many fantasy points given his injury woes and troubles catching the ball.

Posted: 10/11/2012 9:39pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) and WR Greg Jennings (groin) did not practice Thursday, Oct. 11.

Huddle Up: Finley, who reportedly is dealing with a slightly separated AC joint suffered this past Sunday, and Jennings, who sat out in Week 5, will both try to practice Friday, but it sounds like Finley might have a better shot than Jennings, who is expected to be a game-time decision.

Posted: 10/10/2012 6:19pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Huddle Up: He has been a disappointment most of the season, and an injury is bound to make things worse. It might be best to count on someone else this week, to be safe. Even if he is healthy enough to start, he might be limited.

Posted: 10/7/2012 4:03pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) left late in the third quarter of Sunday's Week 5 game in Indianapolis because of a shoulder injury and did not return.

Huddle Up: Finley was hurt going to the ground after attempting to catch a pass near the sideline. He had only 3 catches for 11 yards in the game.

Posted: 9/13/2012 1:14pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley caught four touchdowns last season against the Chicago Bears. On three of his scores, Finley was split out wide,

Huddle Up: Finley isn't alone in his success against the Monsters of the Midway. Whether it's a weakness of their cover-2 defense or not, the Bears have struggled, fantasy-wise, against tight ends, ranking 26th in TE points allowed last season. In Week 1, Colts' TEs Coby Fleener and Dominigue Jones, both rookies, combined for 7 receptions for 90 yards.

Posted: 8/28/2012 3:42pm et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (concussion, thigh), who hasn't played in a preseason game, is losing some looks to TE DJ Williams in practice. Williams is more versatile than Finley, and he can even line up in the backfield. 'We kind of made a mistake the Super Bowl year,' head coach Mike McCarthy said. 'We probably had too much for Jermichael because then we lost him, and we had to really shift gears there in-season and we kind of sputtered.'

Huddle Up: Finley was a top-5 TE a year ago in terms of fantasy points, but he still had his share of struggles with dropped passes and inconsistent play. Williams' presence and increased playing time likely won't make him relevant as a fantasy TE himself, but they could serve to light a fire under Finley.

Posted: 7/31/2012 10:45am et

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley (concussion) was back at practice on a limited basis Monday, July 30. He was not wearing pads.

Huddle Up: Greg Jennings was also limited with a elbow injury. Early bumps and bruises as they knock the rust off, no worries. We'll monitor Finley a little closer though.