Patriots re-signed RB James White to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
White will return to the Patriots after seeing his usage decline in 2020. New England's backfield is shaping up to be a fantasy nightmare, as per usual. White won't have much fantasy relevance unless the team struggles with backfield injuries or shifts to a more pass-heavy approach in 2021. Don't count on the latter.
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Bears signed RB Damien Williams, formerly of the Chiefs, to a one-year contract.
Williams, released by KC this month after opting out of the 2020 season, has plenty of familiarity with Chicago's coaching staff. He worked with offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in Miami and knows head coach Matt Nagy's offensive scheme from their days together in Kansas City. Williams' addition to the Bears backfield very much complicates David Montgomery's path to the massive volume he saw in 2020. A mere four running backs last season had more total opportunity (rushing attempts plus targets) than Montgomery, who thrived in a series of great late-season matchups. J.D. McKissic, amazingly, was the only back to run more pass routes than Monty in 2020. That's not happening again. Pass-catching specialist Tarik Cohen coming back from injury and the Williams signing are major hits to Montgomery's usage and upside in the Bears offense. Williams will be a frequent target of Zero RB drafters in 2021 seasonal leagues.
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The Tampa Bay Times' Joey Knight reports the Bucs have made "no real headway" with Leonard Fournette.
Fournette is taking his sweet time to sign after emerging as Tampa's No. 1 back in the final month of the 2020 season. Seattle was reportedly interested in Fournette before they re-signed Chris Carson -- a move that probably means the Seahawks are off the list of potential Fournette landing spots. Fournette could be in line for an unreasonably rich short-term deal with a bad team after looking the part of an every-down back in December and January. His departure from Tampa would open the starting job to Ronald Jones, who was dinged up in the final month of the 2020 season.
