Freeman sheds 20 pounds: Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik told NFL Network that quarterback Josh Freeman has trimmed 20 pounds off his frame this offseason. The weight loss was done to become more mobile and bounce back following a major regression in 2012. Freeman passed for 3,592 yards, 16 touchdowns and 22 interceptions last year. He did add 238 yards on the ground and the first four rush scores of his career. "You've seen a guy who's completely committed to getting his season back on track and hitting the reset button and getting his game back to hopefully to more of what we saw in 2010 as a young 22-year-old," Dominik said. "The last couple years, he's been playing around 255-260 (pounds). Right now, he's sitting downstairs (at the team facility) weighing about 235-238. He's getting his body right, working on getting more mobility and better conditioned and buying in, heart and soul, to how and what (the newly hired) Mike Sullivan is and wants to be as offensive coordinator." (Updated 05/10/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/27/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Expectations are getting high for Freeman after the Bucs added a big-play receiver in Vincent Jackson, an O-line protector in Carl Nicks and a versatile running back with excellent hands in rookie Doug Martin. Fantasy owners should draft him as a No. 2 Fantasy QB, but he's got obvious potential to boost his stats and be a highly productive contributor this season. Getting him with a late-round pick isn't a bad idea at all. (Updated 05/10/2012).
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Josh Freeman might have struggled in 2011 because of an underachieving receiving corps, a weaker-than-expected offensive line and a poor run game working next to him. All three of those excuses won't work for Freeman in 2012 - the Buccaneers have added talent to give Freeman a chance to put up his best stats yet. The team invested a ton of dough in offensive guard Carl Nicks and wide receiver Vincent Jackson, and new head coach Greg Schiano drafted versatile rookie Doug Martin to help run the football. So while Freeman's stats regressed significantly in 2011 (16 touchdowns vs. 22 interceptions; 13 games with 18 or fewer Fantasy points in standard scoring formats), there's hope that a big-play receiver like Jackson and an improved offensive line and run game can keep him moving forward. He himself shed 20 pounds this offseason in an effort to become more mobile -- he scored his first four rushing touchdowns last season. You'll be able to draft Freeman as a No. 2 quarterback with a late-round pick, making him far less risky than he was at this time last season. At that price, he's not a bad sleeper option. (Updated 5/24/12)
