June 2013 4for4 Player News Articles

Patriots TE Jake Ballard was very successful for the New York Giants in 2011 when they won the Super Bowl, catching 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He’s coming off an ACL tear and through OTAs and minicamp has appeared rigid. But you can expect him to loosen up as he fully recovers from his injury.

Ballard could be a sleeper if Rob Gronkowski misses any games, but those expecting him to step into Aaron Hernandez's role (in the slot/out wide) are going to be disappointed. He's an in-line TE, that's it.

Eagles RB Bryce Brown and his pet pitbulls are expected to be reunited after an alarming incident rooted in an alleged dog mistreatment case in Wisconsin, according to a report on SB Nation.

According to the report, a judge has ordered that the dog and her puppies be returned to Brown. The remaining dogs seized are currently in custody at a Wisconsin humane center.

Brown intended to breed and sell the dogs, according to his lawyer. Seems to be a case of his dogs being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks, who missed all nine of the Giants OTA practices this spring, was in high spirits as he bounced from drill to drill at a recent camp for kids. But he again refused to say exactly why he boycotted the sessions. He said he’s completely healthy after undergoing what he described as a “clean up” procedure on his troublesome left knee this offseason.

Also, Nicks said that he and quarterback Eli Manning have worked out together since the end of minicamp, trying to make up for the time that Nicks missed. Giants coach Tom Coughlin had suggested the pair do so.

“We hooked up twice this week already,” Nicks said. “We’re going to do it again about two or three more times before (training) camp starts.”

When it comes to moving from catching passes from Tom Brady to catching passes from Peyton Manning, WR Wes Welker said he doesn't want to make any comparisons, but Manning said the team hasn't hesitated to study what made Welker so successful with the Patriots.

"I’d be lying if I told you we have not studied what worked well for Wes in New England," Manning said. "There’s certain pass patterns and certain things that he’s done so well for so long, you’d be crazy not to copy some of those and bring those to your offense."

Welker said the transition has been smooth.

“It’s everything you thought," he said of working with Manning. "The balls are just so accurate and you come out of your break and the ball is just there. It’s almost like a long handoff sometimes. He definitely makes it easy on you.”

Welker's arrival is definitely a boost for Manning, who has another great weapon at his disposal. Welker isn't likely to see as many targets as he did in New England, but he should still be a vital part of Denver's offense and a solid start on Sundays (especially in PPR, of course).

Patriots TE Zach Sudfeld was solid in offseason workouts, showing off impressive pass-catching skills and dependable hands. The 24-year-old was undrafted out of Nevada, and while it's too soon to make a hard-line statement on his outlook, he appears to be ready to compete for a spot on the roster.

Sudfeld is a longshot to make a serious impact in 2013, but the Patriots haven't been afraid to play rookie TEs in the past (in 2010 when Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez combined to catch 87 passes). He's a player to monitor as the summer wears on.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently imported Chris Ault, the godfather of the pistol offense, to help install the NFL's latest strategic craze. The offense is old hat for Jamaal Charles, who operated out of the pistol under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and quarterback Tyler Thigpen back in 2008.

"I ran it my rookie year and I love it," Charles said on NFL Network's "NFL AM" on Thursday. "I ain't never been around no offense that's about to be explosive and about to put me in space and making me make plays. I see Frank Gore had success with (the pistol) with the (San Francisco) 49ers. If he can have success, I hope I can have success as well."

Charles's arrow is pointing up with the arrival of Andy Reid as head coach and the capable Alex Smith at quarterback.

A former Temple University All-American running back, who helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl, was the victim of crime in Philadelphia, according to CBS 3 sources.

Those sources confirm that Bernard Pierce was robbed at gunpoint Sunday evening along the 7500 block of Haverford Avenue. His BMW was also stolen.

The car was later recovered and processed at the police garage for possible clues.

Pierce’s mother, Tammy Pierce, spoke to Eyewitness News about the incident involving her son.

“First of all, I thank God that he’s fine. I don’t care whatever he lost — his car, whatever was in there. He’s fine,” Pierce said. “I think he was targeted because people knew who he was, and that’s sad.”

The good news is that Pierce survived the incident unscathed.

With Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew in the clear legally, the understanding is that he will not be suspended for whatever role he played in the nightclub incident in Florida. The NFL traditionally does not suspend a player who is not charged -- that works in his favor. In addition, he has no history of bad behavior. The expectation is that he'll be on the field for Week 1.

MJD's season was cut short with a foot injury, but if all goes well this offseason, he'll have a good chance at cracking the top 10 in 2013. In the three previous seasons, he finished top 5 in PPG. However, the Jaguars have serious problems at QB and are planning to install a zone blocking scheme, which may affect his productivity.

If WR Terrance Williams wins the job [opposite Dez Bryant], the Cowboys can continue to use Miles Austin in the slot in three-receiver sets, which is their strong preference.

Austin would still start opposite Bryant, but Williams is battling with Dwayne Harris to be the team's WR3.

Seahawks beat writer Dave Boling: "All [WRs] have looked good in the OTAs and minicamp, but a real standout at the position, in my opinion, was Doug Baldwin."

Baldwin may be the odd man out (in terms of snaps and targets) with Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Golden Tate in the fold.

The Jaguars' "offensive weapon" Denard Robinson said he still meets with the team’s running backs, but there were indications throughout offseason workouts he will line up in a variety of spots. He played quarterback at Michigan before injuries as a senior moved him to running back, and while preparing for the draft, he worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl as a wide receiver.

Since the Jaguars drafted him in late April, there has been widespread speculation how he will be used. He showed striking speed and explosiveness during offseason workouts, and Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell – who has been intrigued with Robinson on and off field since scouting him while with the Atlanta Falcons the past several seasons – said earlier in the offseason the hope was to get Robinson 10-to-15 snaps a game.

Ten to 15 snaps isn't much for fantasy owners to get excited about, but Robinson is a player to monitor.

The Jets acquired two backs in the offseason, Chris Ivory and Mike Goodson, an indication they don't view Bilal Powell as a long-term answer. The same could be said of Joe McKnight, but he has value as a kickoff returner. Powell has to find a niche. His value increases if Goodson is suspended for his recent arrest.

Former general manager A.J. Smith drafted RB Ryan Mathews to be a three-down workhorse, but "you can count the number of third-down receptions he's had in his career on two hands," UT-San Diego's Michael Gehlken said. Norv Turner's coaching staff never trusted Mathews' pass protection or route running in high-leverage third-down or two-minute drill situations.

Outside of Vincent Brown and perhaps Philip Rivers, Danny Woodhead was the Chargers' most impressive player in spring practices.

"So Woodhead is going to be a big part of this thing," Gehlken said. "Woodhead is just better in a lot of areas than Ryan Mathews."

Woodhead is a sneaky pick, especially in PPR formats given his propensity to catch passes out of the backfield. There's a good chance that Woody plays on most third downs and in the Chrargers' two-minute drill, putting a considerable dent in Mathews' upside.

ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley on WR Mohamed Sanu: "I saw him at the mandatory minicamp and he looked rusty in the one practice that I watched. Sanu dropped a couple of easy passes. But that could have been an "off" day for him. I expect him to start next to Green this year."

Wer'e also expecting Sanu to start for the Bengals. He never broke the 50-yard mark in 2012, but he did score four TDs in three games and could surprise as the Bengals' WR2 in 2013. He'll benefit from all the attention teams will pay to A.J. Green and Andy Dalton is a capable quarterback.

The New England Patriots have announced the release of tight end Aaron Hernandez following his arrest in the investigation of a homicide last week in North Attleboro, Mass.

The New England Patriots issued the following statement: “A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation. We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do.”

Apparently the Patriots aren't waiting for due process to run its course here. This is a damning sign for Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots will walk away from the embattled TE and his guaranteed money and move on with a less than 100% Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui on the roster. Another player to monitor is rookie 6'7" Zach Sudfeld out of Nevada. Sudfeld went undrafted, but had a really impressive pro day and the fact that the Patriots picked him up during all this turmoil may be telling. The loss of Hernandez as a weapon ultimately hurts Tom Brady. The Patriots could move towards a more run-oriented attack led by Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. We'll have a full rankings update with all the fallout later today, but don't expect Ballard or any other TE to just step in and fill the hole left by Hernandez.

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was taken into custody by police Wednesday morning North Attleborough, Mass.

Hernandez, at the center of an investigation involving the shooting death of 27-year-old acquaintance, was led from the front door of his mansion, handcuffed behind his back, and placed in a police cruiser, which quickly drove away.

State police officers and dogs had searched Hernandez's home for more than 3½ hours Saturday.

We will continue to monitor this situation as it impacts the fantasy football landscape. Besides Hernandez himself, Tom Brady appears to be the biggest loser if Hernandez misses significant time.

49ers TE Vernon Davis practiced exclusively with the wide receivers during minicamp, leading to speculation he will take on a different role with Michael Crabtree sidelined by an Achilles injury.

"If coaches want to line me up there, we'll see," he said.

"I'll do whatever the coaches ask me to do. If statistics come, it's cool. But ... My true identity is within the team. I never doubt myself. That's how I live."

In 28 games where he's received at least three targets over the last two seasons, Davis has averaged 4.3 catches on 6.1 targets for 63 yards and 0.57 TD per game. Those are fantasy TE3 numbers per our 2013 projections. His FP/T in these 28 games was an eye-popping 1.59. With Michael Crabtree out for most of the season, the 49ers will likely have to lean on Davis in the passing game. For more on Senior Editor John Paulsen's take on Davis, please see this article from late May. 

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew said he’ll have no problems coming back. He returned to Miami after the golf outing to continue his offseason workout and said he plans to be ready for training camp in late July.

“The foot feels great,’’ he said.

QB Cam Newton came to the Panthers as strictly a shotgun passer. But he has made significant strides under center. Last year in 375 shotgun attempts, Newton had a passer rating of 82.9 according to STATS LLC. In 110 snaps under center, he had a passer rating of 97.4. His completion percentage also was better under center--.590 to .573. So more snaps under center, particularly using play action, might be a part of OC Mike Shula’s vision for the QB.

“That just shows me what his football mind is about,” Shula said. “He has a great football mind.”

Early in the 2012 season, there was talk of a sophomore slump for Newton, as he had only accounted for eight total touchdowns (five pass, three rush) in his first seven games after averaging 2.2 total TDs per game in 2011. Starting in Week 9, he scored 19 TDs in his final nine games, a 2.1 TD per game average. He should continue to progress as an NFL quarterback in 2013.

Prosecutors have declined to press charges against Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew following allegations of battery at restaurant.

It appears one red flag surrounding Jones-Drew is now gone, but we're still concerned about the foot and the fact that the team is switching to a zone blocking scheme in the running game. Still, MJD is an interesting pick once drafts get into the 3rd round.

Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill said “what impresses me most” about RB Lamar Miller – the Dolphins’ first-team tailback all offseason – is “he’s picking up pass protections a lot better. Now that he’s got that, he’s going to be a great player.” Former NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, now with NFL Network, said Miller is faster and more explosive than Reggie Bush.

Pass pro was an issue for Miller as a rookie, which is one of the main reasons he saw so few snaps in 2012. With Bush out of the way and the full support of his coaching staff and QB, Miller is an upside RB2 who has been going near the 3/4 turn in 12-team formats. Keep in mind that the Dolphins didn't use Bush to his full potential in the passing game (35 catches in 2012), so don't expect Miller to catch a ton of passes in 2013.

Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins has spent the offseason working with the first-string offense while Robert Griffin III recovers from knee surgery. But Cousins thinks the chances are slim to none that he’ll be with the first-string offense when the season starts.

Cousins said Griffin has made significant progress in his recovery, and Cousins can’t imagine that Griffin won’t be ready to play when the Redskins open the season against the Eagles on September 9.

“Robert looked awesome, and I’m not just saying that,” he said on NFL AM. “He is a bit of a freak in terms of his athleticism, he has healed very quickly, he couldn’t practice with us, but he was on a separate field doing drills all spring during OTAs and minicamp. He looked really good. I think he’ll be on the field Week One. But my mindset is to be ready no matter what, and I’m getting ready all summer so I’ll be ready if called upon.”

It appears to be all systems go for Griffin to play in Week 1. Now the only worry is that he's going to alter the way he plays (i.e. fewer runs) to protect his body. While it's not a bad idea (at all), fewer runs will likely result in fewer fantasy points.

Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot on QB Brandon Weeden's propensity to have passed batted down at the line of scrimmage:

"Some of it had to do with all the short, three-step drops, and some of it with him not releasing the ball quickly enough. The new vertical scheme will feature more five- and seven-step drops, and the coaches have been working with Weeden on his footwork and speeding up his release. And fellow first-round pick Barkevious Mingo has shown a knack for batting down balls in practice, so when he works more with the first team, he'll give Weeden a good look in that department."

The first step in fixing any problem is admitting that you have one, and it sounds like the Browns realize that Weeden's fundamentals need work. He's a tall (6'4") QB, so this shouldn't be an issue for him. We're expecting Weeden to take a step forward in his sophomore season.

Michael K. Fee of Ropes & Gray LLP, the attorney for Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez, has released the following statement tonight:

"Over the past week, our client, Aaron Hernandez, has been the subject of a relentless flood of rumors, misinformation, and false reports in the media. These include the repeated publication of a supposedly confirmed report that an arrest warrant had been issued for Aaron, a report that was exposed as untrue. None of these false reports come from official sources and we appreciate the professionalism and restraint shown by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office to date with regard to its public statements while its investigation is underway. Out of respect for that ongoing investigation, we will continue to refrain from commenting on its substance."

While it's certainly a good sign that Hernandez hasn't yet been arrested, the fact that the police have searched his house, pond and "luxury doghouse" for clues to solve a murder is more than troubling. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out.

Colts WR LaVon Brazill suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating NFL Substances/Abuse policy.

Brazill will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sep. 30 following the team’s September 29 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Brazill is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.

Brazill is slated to be the Colts' WR4 behind Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Consider DHB safe and locked into the team's WR3 spot given this news.

49ers WRs Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham did not take part in the offseason program due to knee injuries, but they figure to be factors in the competition, too. Williams is expected to be cleared for the opening of training camp, while Manningham is more than a month behind Williams' rehab schedule.

Manningham could overtake A.J. Jenkins and Quinton Patton as the team's starter opposite Anquan Boldin if his knee proves to be good to go.

While Ravens RB Ray Rice has been firmly entrenched at the top of the depth chart the last few seasons, he’ll get pushed by Bernard Pierce this season. The two backs have different styles, so rotating them in and out of games will allow them both to stay fresh and also mix up the looks for the defenses. Rice had 257 carries to Pierce’s 108 last year, but a strong showing from Pierce could balance out that distribution a little more.

Rice should see an increase in catches this season as the team tries to replace Anquan Boldin. Rice averaged 72.3 catches from 2009-2011, but "only" caught 61 passes in 2012. If his role grows in the passing game, it should offset any lost carries, especially in PPR formats.

Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez in connection with a murder investigation, according to a source.

A source told FOX 25's Bob Ward that the warrant, for obstruction of justice, was issued early Friday morning. The source says the warrant is what is known as a "paper warrant." State Police are not executing it for the time being.

If the warrant were entered into the system, any police officer could immediately arrest Hernandez.

FOX 25 legal analyst Brad Bailey says the use of a paper warrant is often used as a means of negotiation with a defense attorney.

"It may be that this is a squeeze tactic," Bailey explains. "It may be telling Mr. Hernandez that we have a warrant, a warrant for a crime that has a potential maximum penalty of seven years in prison, is a tactic to get him to come to the table, start talking and start cooperating. And that's where the lawyers may be saying, okay, we got it. You got our attention. We're willing to respond."

The story says obstruction of justice crimes carry a max of seven years in prison and this is likely being done to get A-Hern and his lawyers' attention so he begins to cooperate with authorities.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson spent last week's minicamp doing what he usually does -- saying all the right things. He talked about the need to grow and expand on what he did in his impressive rookie season. He raved about his team's talented roster, one that now includes explosive wide receiver Percy Harvin.

What Wilson didn't have to say, however, is something that should be all too obvious to anybody watching the NFL this year. Of all the young star quarterbacks coming off breakout seasons, he still has more to prove than any of his peers.

Wilson is ranked 6th on our QB list. That's ahead of guys like Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and even Tom Brady, so that says a lot about his rookie year and his expectations for 2013. The addition of WR Percy Harvin to the offense only helps. Wilson's ADP is the 6th round and that's a great place to wait and take a QB.

Source says Redskins QB Robert Griffin III this week went through three-straight days of making cuts and changing direction. Knee responded well. No setbacks.

RGIII is 8th among our QBs. His ADP is the 7th round but he's the type of player someone will likely take early in your draft. He had 27 total TDs in his rookie year, and when he's on we've all seen what he can do. But he puts himself out there for injury and that's always a risk to taking him, especially before his ADP.

Dallas running back Phillip Tanner looked quicker and more explosive in the spring practices.

Tanner, a former Dallas Kimball standout, played his way onto the roster in 2011 as an undrafted player out of Middle Tennessee State. But in the last half of 2012, the Cowboys used him less and less as Lance Dunbar emerged, and it looked like Tanner was falling out of favor.

When the Cowboys drafted another running back, Oklahoma State’s Joseph Randle, and signed an undrafted back, Kendial Lawrence of Missouri, it only added to the perception.

Tanner said he put all that out of his mind.

“Coming in and working hard every day, working with the offensive line and jelling with my team is the big thing,” he said.

Randle will likely back up DeMarco Murray this season leaving Tanner and Dunbar to battle for the RB3 spot in camp.

49er WR A.J. Jenkins heads into training camp with what appears to be a slight lead over Quinton Patton and Ricardo Lockette at the X position (split end) in the 49ers' offense. Anquan Boldin is secure at the Z spot (flanker).

Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham did not take part in the offseason program due to knee injuries, but they figure to be factors in the competition, too. Williams is expected to be cleared for the opening of training camp, while Manningham is more than a month behind Williams' rehab schedule.

"All of us are working hard, and that's for the coaches to decide who gets to play. Me, Ricardo Lockette, A.J. Jenkins and everybody else out there, everybody is fighting for one position. It's a good fight going on," Patton said.

The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office is not reopening the investigation into what transpired on the day a man claims New England Patriot TE Aaron Hernandez shot him near Riviera Beach, Fla.

Alexander S. Bradley claimed in a civil suit that on Feb. 13, while in a vehicle with Hernandez heading toward Palm Beach County, a gun in Hernandez's possession discharged, hitting Bradley.

But the man repeatedly told deputies that he did not know who shot him and refused to cooperate, the report said. Hernandez isn't mentioned in the report.

The story goes on to say that as of Thursday, that man still hadn't cooperated - or even contacted - the sheriff's office. And, unless that changes, PBSO can't reopen the case. The report doesn't mention any witnesses to the shooting, only people who found the man after he was shot. Surveillance video was determined to be "of no value," the report said. Perhaps one less thing for Hernandez to worry about these days.

Q - With TE Rob Gronkowski a PUP candidate and now [TE Aaron Hernandez], how big a move was it snagging TE Jake Ballard.

Garafolo - Huge. He's almost 100%.

Ballard is coming off reconstructive knee surgery after getting hurt in the Super Bowl in 2012 while with the Giants. Ballard will turn 26 in December. He caught 38 passes for over 600 yards during the 2011 season along with four TDs. With the uncertainty of the Patriot TEs, it's possible Ballard has a role on New England by the time the season comes around. There's a lot that will have to shake out first, though, before Ballard becomes a target in drafts.

Brad Smith's bouncing between quarterback, wide receiver and kick returner has left him feeling like a man without a home at times with the Bills.

“There are some times, honestly, where I feel like, ‘man, I’d want that home,’ but at the same time I’ve learned so much,” Smith said. “I’m tremendously blessed to be able to play this game. For a coach to say, ‘Brad, we need you to play receiver,’ and then trust me enough to go out there and do what we need to do to win, it means a lot. If a quarterback goes down, and they need me to go in, then I can do that too.”

The question is whether the sum of all the parts of Smith’s game is valued enough by new coach Doug Marrone to earn him a roster spot for an eighth NFL season.

Inconsistent but talented Browns receiver Greg Little has showed well in OTAs, but, as staffers there note, this team can't afford to make too much of anything accomplished in shorts and no contact.

Little certainly has the talent but hasn't shown enough to be a fantasy WR you can trust. Little likely won't get drafted in your league, but there is a lot of turnover at WR throughout the year so his progress is worth monitoring.

Browns QB Brandon Weeden may not quite be in an "open" quarterback competition in the truest sense of the word. He enters camp as the starter, and it's his job to lose. But no one I've talked to would be stunned if his spot on the depth chart grows increasingly tenuous. He just may lose it.

Brian Hoyer's intellect and enthusiasm already has impressed the staff; he quickly absorbed Turner's playbook and concepts upon his late arrival to town after his release by the Cardinals.

And journeyman Jason Campbell has enough quality play and big throws in this league that he also poses a real threat to Weeden.

Weeden is ranked 27th among our QBs and likely won't get drafted in your league. He got off to a nice start last year but faded. The good news is this new coaching staff likes to push the ball down field and there is some talent at WR with Josh Gordon and Greg Little.

The good news with Browns RB Trent Richardson is that, despite reports he would miss all of August recovering from injuries, there is every expectation the back will be taking reps when camp opens.

Will he appear to be more of a plodder? Will his yards per carry be where it needs to be? Will the wear and tear from his use at Alabama continue to manifest itself? And will he remain susceptible to nagging injuries?

Well, those are certainly valid questions to ask after his rookie season. And there is a reason the Browns have stockpiled running backs this offseason as well.

Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis and Brandon Jackson are among the other backs the Browns have stockpiled. We have Richardson 10th among 4for4 RBs and his ADP is 1.8. He's no doubt a risky pick, but with new OC Norv Turner and the reports of the offense running through him, there are some positives.

With the news that center J.D. Walton could be out until mid-October, the Broncos looked to a familiar face in free agency to help fill the void.

Denver agreed to terms with free agent center Dan Koppen Thursday.

Koppen started 12 regular-season games and one playoff contest for the Broncos in 2012 after Walton injured his left ankle four games into the season.

The NFL's all-time winningest offensive lineman, Koppen won two Super Bowls as a member of the New England Patriots -- the team with which he spent his first nine NFL seasons.

Jaguars WR Ace Sanders returned from an early offseason injury to get progressively healthier, and toward the end of OTAs he made significant plays.

He was working in the slot with the first team on the final day of minicamp, which indicates he has a chance to be in the rotation early in the season. That’s more than what many observers anticipated on draft day, but it’s in keeping with what the Jaguars repeatedly have said about his opportunity to contribute offensively.

Joique Bell burst onto the scene last season for the Detroit Lions, becoming a consistent weapon out of their backfield.

Bell finished second on the team (Mikel Leshoure) with 414 yards rushing (5.0 average). He also caught 52 passes for 485 yards, ranking fifth in the league for number of catches by any running back in the NFL.

Bell's role grew a lot last season and it seems he's continued the upward trend throughout the offseason.

"Joique's had an outstanding offseason," Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said after last week's last mini-camp practice. "Him and (Matthew) Stafford probably spent most of the time here at the facility (during the offseason).

Bell is going to lose catches to Reggie Bush, but the team seems to want to get him on the field. That may end up taking away carries from LeShoure...

Hearing via law enforcement source that Aaron Hernandez will be arrested in connection with the North Attleborough murder

Steve Silva is Senior Sports Producer for Boston.com, so we'll take his report as accurate until we learn more. While we don't have anything definitive, it's certainly not looking good for Mr. Hernandez. Needless to say, if you are drafting today, let somebody else gamble on Hernandez. We've currently dropped him to TE5, but this is really just a risk assessment stab in the dark as we wait for this situation to play out.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco looked like the accomplished veteran he has become, very much in command. And there’s no doubt his favorite target is tight end Dennis Pitta.

Pitching the ball to Pitta almost seems to be Flacco’s default mode now. The two are best friends off the field and have a keen rapport on it. You can’t manufacture that, but it would be nice to see Flacco develop the same caliber of rapport with another downfield target.

Another news item we had earlier this week said TE Ed Dickson was also seeing a lot of looks in camp. The Ravens will need someone to step up with the loss of WR Anquan Boldin, and it's expected the tight ends will see more work. We have Pitta ranked 6th among TEs, and with an ADP of the 9th round, that's a great bargain. Dickson is ranked just 45th, so we still expect Pitta to be the main target at that position.

After signing WR Greg Jennings and trading up to draft WR Cordarrelle Patterson in the first round, the Vikings have a stronger group of wide receivers for still-developing quarterback Christian Ponder. Because of that, they'd like to rely a little less on Adrian Peterson this season.

"Adrian will be the first person to tell you: He'll trade in a 2,500-yard rushing season for a Super Bowl ring. It's not imperative that he rushed for 2,000 yards, or 2,500 yards, for us to win. We want to be a balanced attack," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Our offense is always going to run through Adrian, but we want to be able to pass the ball better than we did a year ago."

We'll see how this works out... There have already been reports that say Ponder will be on a short string, as the team signed Matt Cassel to be the backup. Despite wanting to be more "balanced," Peterson is still our top back and will likely be the first pick in most drafts.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote:

At one point or another in recent weeks, I've had a half-dozen people tell me how impressive Vikings rookie WR Cordarrelle Patterson has been during offseason workouts. To my untrained eye, of course, Patterson looks like a fast and energetic young receiver who can get downfield without a problem against defenders who aren't wearing pads and can't hold or hit him.

Seifert went on to say that Viking WR Greg Jennings described it as "that definitive step," an aggressive move at the top of routes that's the key to creating separation. The Vikings are looking for someone to step into that WR2 role behind Jennings. Jerome Simpson is listed second on the depth cart at WR with Patterson third. Regardless of the order, QB Christian Ponder will have a lot to say about the success of the Vikes passing game.

“The receiving group has been fun to watch, the way they’re working in the run game and the pass game,” Titans head coach MIke Munchak said. “We’ve drafted guys at that position the last few years and there’s great competition and camaraderie there.

“You’ve got some guys who could make plays. So we’re excited. It’s fun to watch them. They compete against each other and they push each other. I just think it’s going to be a fun group to watch.”

Kenny Britt is finally healthy and Kendall Wright has dropped 15 pounds, according to the team. Nate Washington has "had the best camp he’s had since he’s been here." The wildcard, of course, is QB Jake Locker. As a result, any of the Titan WRs can likely be had from the 9th round on. If Locker can show some consistency, Britt and Wright can be productive, late round fantasy players for you.

Titans rookie WR Justin Hunter did individual drills for first time Wednesday in OTAs.

Hunter could see some limited time this year, but is behind a healthy Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright and veteran Nate Washington.

Not only does Nick Mangold think Mark Sanchez should be the Jets’ Week 1 starting quarterback, but the Pro Bowl center believes the rest of the Gang Green locker room feels the exact same way.

Mangold voiced his support for the embattled Sanchez today during a promotional appearance at Washington Square Park, saying his close friend gives the Jets a better chance than rookie Geno Smith of being successful right away this fall.

Asked if the rest of the locker room also hopes Sanchez will emerge as the starter, Mangold nodded.

“I believe so,” he told The Post. “I haven’t walked around with a pen and paper and taken a poll, but from the feeling I get, the locker room wants to win. Whoever gives us the best chance to do that, we want out there -- and at this point, Mark gives us that best chance.”

Sanchez isn't going to give you a lot of help on your fantasy team. He's ranked 32nd and isn't surrounded by a lot of big names. Given the state of the team, going with rookie Geno Smith makes a lot more sense. Selecting Jets on draft day will be a risk.

Ram QB Sam Bradford, a veteran of three offensive coordinators in three NFL seasons, will work with Brian Schottenheimer for a second consecutive season. Familiarity can be a good thing -- not just in general, but when applied to specific situations.

"There were times last year, I remember sitting in meetings, maybe [Schottenheimer] was really comfortable with a play because they had run it in the past and had success with it, but it was new to me and I wasn't as comfortable with it," Bradford said. "Now, I think we have a much better feel for each other."

We have Bradford 23rd among QBs, so in a 10-team league he likely doesn't get drafted as he's in the QB3 range. He'll be available late in drafts and with a young group of skill players around him, he should continue to improve. But he's not a week-in, week-out fantasy starter at this point.

Arizona Cardinals web site reporter Darren Urban thinks WR Michael Floyd could have a big year:

"In three-receiver sets Andre Roberts will get plenty of work. But Floyd has impressed coaches (and bystanders like myself) with his efforts this offseason. He seems primed for a leap in year two. Can he challenge Fitz? If the Cards can grind out more first downs, I can see Floyd having a big year."

We have Floyd ranked 43rd among our WRs, with an ADP of the 12th round. Having Carson Palmer as the QB will help and the ground game should improve with Rashard Mendenhall. Floyd is a guy to take in the later rounds with the hope he has a break-out year.

Things are slowly going from bad to worse for Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez.

On Wednesday, Boston media reported Hernandez hasn't been ruled out as a suspect in a homicide case where a dead body was found less than a mile from his home.

Now Hernandez will reportedly be facing a lawsuit stemming from a February incident where he allegedly shot a man in the face, according to TMZ. Sports Illustrated has also confirmed the existence of the lawsuit.

According to TMZ, the man filing the lawsuit, Alexander Bradley, claims he went to a club in Miami with Hernandez on Feb. 13 and at some point, an argument broke out between the two men.

Hernandez and Bradley left the club in the same car, where the argument continued. At some point during the car ride, Hernandez allegedly aimed a gun at Bradley and the gun discharged, hitting Bradley in the face, according to the report.

Bradley claims to have lost his right eye and had reconstructive surgery. He also claims Hernandez isn't licensed to carry a gun. From a football standpoint, the Patriots could already be without TE Rob Gronkowski for at least the start of the season, and right now Hernandez seems to be in a lot of hot water. The Pats currently have 7 TEs on the roster, including Gronk and Hernandez. The other five are: Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells, rookie Brandon Ford, Michael Hoomanawanui and rookie Zach Sudfeld.

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks didn't want to delve into the reasons why he was not at voluntary OTAs this offseason.

But the New York Giants receiver said in an interview with NFL Network on Wednesday morning that his absence was not because of his desire for a new long-term contract.

"I really don't talk about my contract in the media and stuff like that," Nicks said. "But contract wasn't related."

It sounds like there won't be any issues with Nicks showing up to training camp. He takes a bit of a hit in our rankings at the moment, coming in 16th due to injuries last season. His ADP is the fifth round, about a full round lower than Marques Colston and Reggie Wayne who we have ranked 15th and 17th, respectively.

Appearing on NFL Network's "NFL AM" Wednesday, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians confirmed "there's no doubt" that RB Rashard Mendenhall would be the featured back if the season started today.

Arians said, "I know what he can bring to the table as a runner and a pass protector and also a receiver. He's an every-down player. And I think he's looking forward to having an outstanding season."

After touting Mendenhall in March as a "big back who never has to come out of the game," Arians is now making it clear that the former Steelers first-rounder is a three-down running back.

Mendenhall's early 2012 knee surgery and Achilles tendinitis last season no longer seem to be an issue, according to Arians. We currently rank Mendy at 32, but that's likely to climb a bit. He'll likely be a low-end RB2 option or high end RB3 or flex play most weeks. His ADP is the 7th round. Of course, this means Ryan Williams' value takes a hit and he'll be more of a change of pace option.

It’s worth noting that 49ers Vernon Davis participated exclusively with the wide receivers, not the tight ends, during the 49ers’ past mini-camp.

The Niners probably need him to play more wide out because their best receiver, Anquan Boldin, is a much better slot receiver than outside receiver at this stage in his career. During team drills, Boldin lined up in the slot the vast majority of the time.

With no WR Michael Crabtree for most of the season, the 49ers need an outside receiver to stretch the field and Davis may be the best candidate on the roster at this moment. We finally saw signs of him connecting with QB Colin Kaepernick the end of last year and in the playoffs, and that should continue into 2013. We rank Davis 7th among TEs with an ADP of the 8th round. He could be a real bargain at that point in the draft at the TE position.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent surgery on his back Tuesday to correct a spinal issue and will soon begin rehab in the hope of returning to action in late August, a person informed of the prognosis told USA TODAY Sports.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Patriots don't divulge injury information publicly, said the optimistic view is that Gronkowski will be back to work just before the end of the preseason.

This is definitely one of the more optimistic reports you will find on Gronk, who is likely to go on the PUP list and miss most of training camp according to NFL.com. As the USA Today story points out, the problem is Gronkowski has been inactive since the Patriots were eliminated from the postseason in late January, first because of a nagging arm infection related to his broken foream and now because of his back surgery to correct a problem that's been nagging him since last season. If Gronkowski is indeed back for Week 1, owners can't expect him to be in top form, but there's at least reason to be optimistic he'll get there quick.

Gronk could also start the season on the PUP list, a move that would allow him to be replaced on the roster for at least six games.

He's likely going to slip a bit in drafts.

Jared Cook may be gone, but don’t try to tell Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains his tight end group has slipped.

He believes the opposite is the case, now that Delanie Walker, Craig Stevens and Taylor Thompon are the top three players at the position.

“This is probably the best group since Alge (Crumpler) and Bo Scaife,” said Loggains, who’s been with the Titans for eight years. “I feel really good about having three guys that can do a lot of different things. Also all three of them can be in-line blockers, point-of-attack blockers, and all of them have good speed.”

Crumpler and Scaife played together in 2008 and 2009 for the Titans.

The article points out that none of those three have ever caught more than 30 passes in a season. Walker is ranked the highest of the three on our TE list at 31. At that spot, he's just a mid-range TE3 in a 12-team league. He'll likely be available very late in drafts.

Authorities are continuing their search today for a part of a car mirror they believe is connected to the murder of Odin Lloyd in North Attleborough, a homicide that has led State Police to search the home of New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez.

A spokeswoman for Bristol District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter said today that no arrests have been made in the killing of the 27-year-old Lloyd, a Dorchester man and acquaintance of Hernandez, whose body was found Monday in an North Attleborough industrial park.

Sutter spokeswoman Yasmina Serdarevic said a silver side-view mirror, which may have broken off a car between Dorchester and North Attleborough, is being sought. Officials late Wednesday asked for the public’s help in locating it, but without explaining its connection to Lloyd’s murder.

Hernandez has not been charged in connection with Lloyd’s death and his attorneys issued a statement Wednesday saying they would not comment until the investigation is complete.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that the belief inside the Patriots is that Hernandez is not involved in the murder that is being investigated.

Cowboys third-round pick WR Terrance Williams has agreed to terms on his rookie contract, source confirmed.

Williams will battle for the Dallas WR3 spot against Dwayne Harris.

Giant RBs David Wilson and Andre Brown will compete in next month's camp to start at running back. Wilson is on track to be the starter, but both running backs are slated to share carries.

"I think he's in a position to compete to be the guy," RB coach Jerald Ingram said when asked if Wilson can be the lead back. "He has the talent, has the speed, has a few plays from a year ago underneath his belt. Everything we gauge is kind of like in college with spring ball, but once we put the pads on, we'll see who is physical, who's determined to make plays out there."

Ingram said Wilson has also improved his pass protection, something that will keep a young RB on the field more and more. But, even if Wilson starts, it looks like Brown will get his share of touches - perhaps even goal line work, especially after his performances filling in for Ahmad Bradshaw last year. Right now we rank Wilson 25th and Brown 28th on our RB list. This could be headed to a committee situation.

The Bucs say they are about to reap the benefits of stability.

With offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan back for a second season, the NFL’s No. 9 attack is gearing up for a more dynamic year.

“We know this offense,’’ says WR Mike Williams. “We know when to break off routes and what zone to read. It’s a knowing instead of reacting to something. QB Josh Freeman’s got this offense down pat."

WR Vincent Jackson said the difference in Freeman is apparent, well before the start of training camp.

“He’s way more comfortable this year with the language,’’ Jackson said. “You can see it in his confidence, the way he’s directing the field. It’s fun to watch his physical tools take shape. We’ve got some new faces out here and it’s fun because we spread the ball around. Once we’re clicking, we’re going to be hard to stop."

Freeman comes in ranked 16th among our QBs with the potential to finish much better than that if the Bucs really are all on the same page. But we've expected big things from Freeman in the past only to end up disappointed. Taking him as a middle of the road QB2 seems like the best way to approach drafting him. With an ADP of the 16th round, he should be there pretty late in fantasy drafts, especially in 10-team leagues. Despite Freeman's rank, Jackson comes in ranked 8th with Williams ranked 32nd. RB Doug Martin is ranked third at his position. Freeman certainly has the talent around him.

The most pressing issue for RB Maurice Jones-Drew is his rehabilitation and conditioning after Lisfranc surgery.

Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell said last week the plan is for Jones-Drew to be 100-percent when camp opens July 26. Jones-Drew said he is optimistic about his progress.

MJD said his foot is now healed and that the focus is now on strengthening the ankle. The foot being healed, he said, is important because now he can run. That, in turn, means he can condition at a level that will allow the weight he added following surgery to come off in time for training camp.

We rank MJD 14th among our running backs with the thought he could crack the top-10. Justin Forsett is his backup but would be limited in value if MJD misses time again.

Giants tight end coach Mike Pope is eager to see what TE Brandon Myers will do in training camp.

He believes the former Raiders tight end could be an option in the vertical game. Myers, who had 79 receptions for 806 yards and four touchdowns last season, was signed to replace Martellus Bennett.

Myers is an improvement over Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and Bennett who have been the Giant tight ends since 2008. Myers figures to be a red zone target for quarterback Eli Manning as Giants tight ends have averaged 5 TDs a season. Myers is ranked 12th on our list which makes him a high-end, TE2. His ADP is the 14th round so you should get an opportunity to grab him if you want him.

TE Ed Dickson has been arguably one of the most impressive players for the Ravens through this point of the offseason.

Dickson only had 21 catches last season, but he’s just two years removed from a 54 catch, five touchdown season and is an athletic player at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds.

He was heavily targeted during both OTAs and minicamp and showed, as he has in the past, the capability to both contribute in the short passing game as well as stretch the field vertically.

Dickson will still have to compete with TE Dennis Pitta, who had a career year in 2012, for catches. But with the loss of WR Anquan Boldin, it's possible both TEs see a bump up in production. However, we rank Pitta 6th among tight ends while Dickson is 45th. Pitta is still the guy to own here.

Chargers WR Vincent Brown is just plain spectacular. Yes, that’s right. Not flashy, just awesome.

He’s not quite 6-foot, not quite 200 pounds, not a guy who’d win a foot race against almost any cornerback. But he plays tall, plays big, plays fast.

Brown seemingly picking up where he left off last preseason before breaking his ankle is great news.

QB Philip Rivers still retains great rapport with WR Malcom Floyd and seemed to develop something with WR Danario Alexander last year, but if Brown continues to look as good as beat writer Kevin Acee says, Floyd could be the guy on the outside looking in. We currently have Brown ranked 59th among our WRs, and if he wins a job he will likely climb our charts a little. You should still be able to get him in the second half of drafts as a big-time sleeper candidate.

Forget the vertical-oriented attack of years past under which Chargers WR Malcom Floyd thrived.

The ball is expected to leave QB Philip Rivers' hand quicker in 2013. While some situations will still call for going deep, Floyd must do more if he is to see regular snaps.

"I’m running different routes," Floyd said. "These coaches are really working on my lateral ability, a lot of these drills this offseason, getting in and out of my breaks. It’s details like foot placement on curl routes, reprogramming my brain. ... I’m 10 years old in this league, but I feel a lot better than last year. I’m very excited about this upcoming year."

Floyd says he's developing into a more technical receiver. But, with Danario Alexander making strides last year, and Vincent Brown healthy and looking good in OTAs, Floyd may suddenly find himself battling for playing time. Floyd can be had very late in drafts this summer.

A Patriots free-agent signing from the Buffalo Bills, WR Donald Jones hasn’t been able to break through for first-unit repetitions, as 10-year veteran Michael Jenkins, third-year man Kamar Aiken and rookie free agent Kenbrell Thompkins served as the primary outside receivers.

The Pats are looking for a WR to step up aside from Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. It's a situation to monitor during training camp.

Patriots rookie WR Aaron Dobson has made a handful of "flash" plays that make you understand why he was a coveted wide receiver in this year’s draft, particularly catches down the sideline in which he was able to use his size advantage to reach over defenders in competitive catch situations.

But he also had some concentration drops that he can’t afford during regular-season action, and he was limited during minicamp for undisclosed reasons.

Dobson has a chance to make a fantasy impact this season. The story points out that the Patriots need a wide receiver aside from Danny Amendola to step up. Julian Edelman is currently dealing with a foot issue, so Dobson is a player that could have gained the inside track this offseason. Dobson is someone to monitor during camp.

Offseason workouts aren’t particularly conducive to repping the run game, but we nonetheless got to see Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount work some in space and handle the football as a receiver out of the backfield.

It’s natural to expect that Blount, nearly 250 pounds, will look better in pads when he can use his size to his advantage, but the feeling since he was acquired was that he’d need to put in quality work to make the 53-man roster.

He’s more of a lumberer than a speed/power mix, and given the tempo the Patriots like to run within their offense, Blount may not become a primary ball-carrier. If he can be a dependable short-yardage back during training camp, he may find his niche on the roster.

The article mentioned that Blount dropped some passes and we all know that keeping hold of the football has always been a knock on him. Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington and Brandon Bolden offer more athleticism than Blount.

According to Patriot RB Shane Vereen, backup QB Ryan Mallett “is grasping the offense very well. He’s got arm strength like I’ve never seen. Ever. He uses that really well. He’s got tremendous leadership ability. He just needs his opportunity, I think.”

In the passing game, Panthers QB Cam Newton demonstrated great timing with tight end Greg Olsen throughout the spring.

The Panthers seem to be moving away from the zone read, wanting Newton to make more plays from the pocket, so this could be a telling sign that Olsen will be counted on. TE is a deep fantasy position, and if you don't feel you need to take one of the studs early, Olsen's ADP is surprisingly the 12th round, yet we have him ranked 8th on our TE list. At that point of the draft, you may even be able to nab him as your TE2.

The biggest health concern at Panthers OTAs was running back Jonathan Stewart, who missed all of OTAs and minicamp recovering from offseason surgery on both ankles.

GM Dave Gettleman would not speculate on whether Stewart would be ready for the start of training camp, saying: “We’ll see. Time will tell.”

DeAngelo Williams got plenty of reps this spring, as did fullback Mike Tolbert. We still rank Stewart 30th on our RB list and Williams 37th, so we still see a committee when both backs are healthy. If the Panthers move to less of a zone read attack, both backs could see a bump in value, but in a committee they will still be risky plays.

The Panthers did not run a lot of zone read during OTAs, and it appears the option package will be de-emphasized under first-year offensive coordinator Mike Shula.

Third-year quarterback Cam Newton looks comfortable running a more user-friendly offense.

This could all mean a bit of a drop in Newton's fantasy rushing production, as it seems the Panthers want him to run a little less. He has 1,447 yards rushing and 22 rushing TDs over his first two years. That also means a possible bump up in value for RBs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. We still rank Newton third among our QBs and have him available in the fourth round along with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

The Dallas Cowboys gave WR Miles Austin a day off during the mandatory minicamp last week, and he sat out some of the voluntary practices before that.

It was by design. The Cowboys were trying to protect Austin from himself, getting him off the field every now and then to keep him from overworking his hamstrings.

Austin has been slowed by hamstring problems each of the past two seasons, missing 6 games in 2011. While he played in all 16 games last season, he missed time in training camp and couldn’t finish either game against Washington because of hip and ankle injuries. We have Austin's ADP in the 10th round. He's clearly the WR2 behind Dez Bryant, but should still have some value this season as a WR3 or WR4 on your fantasy team.

Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia Eagles beat writer Geoff Mosher broke down the Eagles depth chart, and talked about the QB position where right now there seems to be no clear-cut favorite between Michael Vick and Nick Foles.

Vick is the logical choice given what we know about HC Chip Kelly's offense, as well as Vick's contract and the tendency to play the guy making the most money - in Vick's case about 7 million. Vick has the most fantasy upside, too, but is often injured, and we just don't know if Kelly is going to be an NFL genius or a total flop. That said, Vick is ranked 15th among our QBs and is worth a later-round pick as a backup. Of course, some media even feel rookie fourth-rounder Matt Barkley has a shot to start as well.

Cowboy RB Joseph Randle has not taken a snap because of thumb surgery but should be ready to go for the opening of training camp. He has done everything the athletic training staff has asked, and running backs coach Gary Brown has liked how attentive Randle has been on the practice field even if he can't carry the ball.

The Cowboys believe he can be a full-time back if something happened to RB DeMarco Murray, but he was a fifth-round pick. Randle will have to show he can beat out Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner to do the job. Getting a late start doing that isn't a positive.

When Texans running back Arian Foster was carted off the team’s practice field last month, several fans gasped. The franchise running back told FOXSports.com on Friday that Houston fans need not worry, he’s on the right path to recovery.

“Yeah, it’s going good man,” Foster told FOXSports.com in an exclusive interview on the set of a Foot Locker Under Armour commercial. “It’s just a small calf strain. News is dry in the offseason, so it made headlines.”

Foster's calf strain doesn't appear to be serious, and he's working hard to make the start of camp. He's been spending time in a hyperbaric chamber and has added chicken and fish to his diet, while previously a vegan. Even if Foster doesn't make the start of camp, indications are it wont be long into camp before he's back. He is likely a top-three pick in most fantasy leagues, and we have him as our number-two RB. While Foster, who will turn 27 this season, has been a workhorse, it's still a good idea to draft Ben Tate (ranked 77th) as the handcuff.

With the free-agent losses of Benjamin Watson and Alex Smith this offseason, third-year tight end Jordan Cameron recognized the opportunity he would have to contribute to the Cleveland Browns’ offense.

And he spent every day throughout the 10 weeks of offseason meetings, as well as the eight of on-field work, learning the system of offensive coordinator Norv Turner and trying to develop into a starter.

“It’s just having the mindset that I’m going to be the guy, try and take over this role,” Cameron told “Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven By Liberty Ford.” “The confidence is huge with that, and I think I get more confidence every day, learning new things. With (tight ends) coach (Jon) Embree, he really knows the details and how to make you a better player, whether it be blocking or positioning or route-running."

We have Cameron ranked 14th among TEs, but he is on the rise. Obviously this is a position where you can pick up talent later in the draft, and Cameron seems like a guy you can wait on and take as a TE2 without a lot of risk - then hope he develops into something better. The Browns young offense as a whole should continue to make strides, so the potential is there.

Detroit Lion RB Mikel Leshoure is on the mend and wants to prove he can be consistently effective and, of course, available.

“You know, I think at times last year we saw the Leshoure that we drafted and then we were too inconsistent in other games and I think that’s probably the biggest thing,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “I think his biggest room for improvement is consistency from week to week, whether it’s physical or else wise.”

It’s early, but so far, so good. The Lions have been managing Leshoure’s practice time this offseason, but he took part fully in minicamp last week.

We rank Reggie Bush 23rd and LeShoure 37th on our standard RB list. While Bush will likely play a large role on third down, LeShoure, if healthy, should get the goal line chances and possibly work on first and second down. Health will be the key for both of these backs.

For what it's worth: Former Packers WR Donald Driver said: "I think the thing for me is if the Packers call midseason, I’d be in shape. I’ve been staying in shape."

It's possible the Packers would call driver if injuries crept up at the WR position, and if that's the case he could automatically have some limited value in that offense. But, he's certainly not worth worrying about right now, let alone drafting.

As the spring ended, Austin Pettis and Chris Givens were working as the starting outside wide receivers, with first-round draft pick Austin the starting slot receiver, and Brian Quick the No. 4. Not that Quick has had a disappointing spring; it’s just that Pettis has been that impressive.

“(Quick’s) doing a lot better,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s stepped up this year. He’s just much more comfortable.”

We'll see if Pettis is able to hold off the rawer yet more talented Quick when the pads go on in August.

Lions WR Ryan Broyles participated fully in mini-camp, despite the fact that he's less than six months removed from ACL surgery.

He wasn't just out there running around, either. He was making plays across the middle of the field and really looked good.

He's still not 100 percent, but expect a big year from No. 84. With Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush and Brandon Pettigrew getting a lot of attention, Broyles is poised for a breakout season.

Broyles was only targeted 32 times, but he caught 22 passes for 301 yards and two TDs en route to a 16th-ranked FP/T. He is ahead of schedule in his recovery from ACL surgery, so he could hold serious fantasy value in 2013 provided he can beat out Nate Burleson. Even if he can't, the Lions throw the ball enough that he should be fantasy-relevant even as a real-world WR3.

If Steelers TE Heath Miller can't start the season — and that appears to be a strong possibility — the starting tight end is likely to be Matt Spaeth, who is renowned for his blocking but never has caught more than 17 passes in six seasons, four with the Steelers.

Don't count on Miller being ready for Week 1. He tore his ACL late in the season and is no spring chicken.

49ers TE Vance McDonald may have been the biggest standout among the 11-man draft class. The 6-4, 270-pound tight end showed why Rice used him so heavily as a wideout. He was a favorite for all the quarterbacks this spring, and he showed a real knack for catching passes that weren't exactly on target. McDonald has a big wingspan (34 1/2-inch arms) and a huge catching radius. He also is quite agile for his size, and on several occasions was able to twist his body and reach back for passes that were thrown behind him. Quarterbacks love to see that, and it builds confidence that he is a safe and reliable target.

The next big step for McDonald is blocking, which the 49ers could not practice during the spring sessions when contact is forbidden. How often McDonald sees the field - and how many passes go his way - will depend on how well he can block.

The Colts had a pretty good vertical passing game last year, and they are looking to develop it further. What’s more, they believe they have the resources to be one of the better teams in the league at stretching the field. Part of their enthusiasm has to do with the acquisition of Darrius Heyward-Bey. Indy coaches see him as a potentially explosive playmaker who can get behind coverage. The Colts will be trying to get Heyward-Bey more opportunities than he ever had in Oakland. And they also want to use second year tight end Coby Fleener more as a vertical threat down the seam. With his speed and size, Fleener should be able to take advantage of man to man matchups as well as zone coverages.

The plan to push the ball downfield doesn't really jibe with the team's move to a West Coast offense, which typically relies on quick hitting throws. Heyward-Bey has played very well in stretches, so it will be interesting to see how he fits in with Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton. If he stays healthy (and progresses), DHB could be a long-term replacement for Wayne.

Steelers RB LeVeon Bell has been brought up to speed quickly on RB Kirby Wilson's top rule over the past month at spring practices and has bought into the importance of the running backs doing their part in protecting $102 million quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Wilson won't hesitate to keep Bell on the bench, regardless of how well he runs the ball, if he can't trust him picking up a blitzing linebacker.

“I am looking forward to it,” Bell said. “I am a big guy (6-1, 244), too. There are other running backs that are a lot smaller than me who can protect great. I am going to watch technique, learn technique and use my size to my advantage. I know how important it is.”

Even though Bell was an excellent blocker at Michigan State, it's impossible to project that into the NFL. Wilson, who has been coaching running backs in the NFL for 16 years, said the final thing that comes for a rookie is pass protection because there is so much more technique involved than running the ball.

If he wants to start, Bell will have to show early in camp that he can protect Roethlisberger. It's good to hear that he was an "excellent" blocker in college. Those skills should translate to the NFL.

The Colts added Ahmad Bradshaw with a one-year, $2 million contract to be more than an occasional contributor. Look for him to start once he fully recovers from January foot surgery. The Colts want Bradshaw available for the long haul, so it won’t be a shock if he opens camp on the physically unable to perform list.

That would put Vick Ballard into a change-of-pace role, killing any sleeper value he had in the middle rounds.

The Chicago Bears spent the entire offseason program working with quarterback Jay Cutler on ways to get rid of the football in a more timely manner.

In an effort to speed up Cutler's release time, Bears coach Marc Trestman kept a verbal running clock on the practice field every time Cutler or the other two quarterbacks on the roster dropped back during 7-on-7 or 11-on-11.

Trestman wanted to drill into Cutler's head the importance of making quick decisions, as opposed to sitting in the pocket patting the football while waiting for a play to develop down the field. Cutler has always been considered a quarterback who prefers reaction over anticipation.

Cutler could certainly use some coaching, as he has not been the player he was in Denver. Can Trestman bring out the best in him?

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to undergo back surgery in LA on Tuesday, per sources.

Recovery time has been predicted to be 10-12 weeks. Ten weeks would make him available for Week 1, but they play the Bills, so the team may not feel the need to rush him back for a winnable game. If he's available early in the season, he's going to be a great value in the 3rd or 4th round. There is also speculation that he could end up on PUP and miss the first six weeks of the season. Complicating matters, he plays for the most tight-lipped organization in the league, so his availability could remain a mystery right up until kickoff of Week 1.

Indications were the New York Jets would sign Kellen Winslow II if he made it through minicamp healthy.

The veteran tight end did just that, and the team -- which could use a playmaker to replace Dustin Keller, who was lost to the Miami Dolphins via free agency -- announced Friday it has signed Winslow to a one-year deal.

Winslow could make some noise in PPR formats as the Jets constantly play catch up, but his best days are well behind him.

Fresh on the heels of the news that Giants receiver Victor Cruz will sign today his one-year, $2.879 million restricted free agency tender while still trying to get a long-term deal, a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that a training-camp holdout is still possible.

Since Cruz is now under contract, he will be subject to fines in the amount of $30,000 per day if he doesn’t show. But he potentially would have lost $2.289 million if the Giants had rescinded the restricted free agency tender on Monday and replaced it with an offer of $590,000.

At $30,000 per day, Cruz can afford 76 days of fines before he’d rack up $2.289 million.

This stalemate continues to linger, and it has impacted his value/ADP in early drafts. Now that he is under contract, he would forfeit a year of service if he doesn't report to camp by August 6. So he should be there for camp and good to go for the 2013 season. The contract worries may impact his performance, however.

It has been a delicate offseason for the Bills WR Steve Johnson. He's recovering from a twisted left ankle and revealed for the first time his previous back injury wasn't merely a strain. He broke it.

Johnson told me this morning he fractured his L-5 vertebra in March while filming a workout session for BuffaloBills.com.

"It got to the point where, 'It's got to be something more than a strain or something' because every time I sit down it's hurting," Johnson said. "Every time I stand up it's hurting. I lay down, it's hurting. I went through rehab and it wasn't helping.

"So I got the MRI, and it was a slight fracture."

Johnson said he was given a cortisone shot and an epidural as part of his recovery.

Johnson has finished as the #21 WR and the #20 WR in the last two seasons and would be a good bet to finish in the same range if not for Buffalo's QB situation. Johnson's fantasy value will be directly correlated with rookie E.J. Manuel's progress. As for the back, since he's practicing we're assuming that it's completely healed. It doesn't sound like a structural problem that will linger all season.

In explaining why Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith have been unable to separate from each other in the Jets' quarterback competition, quarterbacks coach David Lee noted that Smith has had some difficulty adjusting to the West Coast system. There are many difficulties between what he's being asked to do now and what he did at West Virginia.

"His system at West Virginia, there’s no similarities there whatsoever," Lee said Wednesday.

Today, Rex Ryan backed up Lee in saying that Smith is not quite ready to play but also expounded on the long view.

"If we had to play tomorrow I'd agree with that," Ryan said. "But I think when we get out to training camp and we have that time we'll see if he's ready or not ready. We'll make that decision. Are there things he's working every day at? Absolutely. He came from a system that this is not a surprise. He came from a system that's primarily was in a shotgun system."

Avoid the Jets QBs at all costs.

The player Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride gushed about following the team's brief walkthrough Thursday morning was second-year wideout Rueben Randle.

"Rueben you saw emerge from a guy that showed flashes at times and always caught the ball well, but maybe didn't always run the routes as precisely, as crisply as you wanted, didn't have quite the understanding you wanted," Gilbride said. "[Over the past month] he looked like a guy that's been here for five or six years. He really benefited from the opportunity."

Given the current state of the Giants WR corps (Hakeem Nicks' knees and Victor Cruz's contract), Randle is an intriguing pick in the final rounds of fantasy drafts.

Dolphins HC Joe Philbin on RB Lamar Miller: “He is very smart. I think he has really progressed from a mental standpoint as a professional in his second season. He has very good hands. We like a lot of the things he is doing in pass protection. Again, we have to temper our enthusiasm based on how he does in pads, but I think is understanding of how he fits in the protection scheme is very good. We use that term, ‘closing the distance.’ He has done an excellent job in that regard in the spring, so we’ll have to see how that carries over to the fall.”

Miller is expected to win the starting job and should be a fantasy RB2 in that role. He didn't play much as a rookie but showed promise, which is why the Dolphins let Bush walk. He has great speed but is unproven.

QB Tarvaris Jackson has passed his physical and signed his one-year deal with the Seahawks.

Jets beat writer Rich Cimini listed WRs Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley as two of his three "duds" at OTAs.

We're not optimistic about Hill, but Kerley showed promise in his second season, posting 56 catches for 827 yards and two TDs playing in one of the worst passing games in the league. With Santonio Holmes on the shelf and Hill still MIA, Kerley is the most trustworthy receiver the Jets have.

Coming off of his second ACL tear, Lions WR Ryan Broyles was a full participant in all three days of minicamp this week, six months and one week after undergoing surgery on his right knee.

He took part in just position drills at the start of organized team activities last month, and by the time minicamp opened this week he had convinced coaches he was ready for full team work.

Through it all, Broyles said he hasn’t dealt with as much knee pain or tenderness as he did last year, when he developed a bone bruise on his knee that stayed with him for months and had him wondering mid-season if his explosiveness would return.

Broyles said he doesn’t expect to start on the physically-unable-to-perform list when training camp opens next month, and if he can avoid that and continue on his current progression he could provide a huge lift for a Lions offense that barely addressed the receiver position this off-season.

There was a six-game stretch from Week 7 to Week 12 where Broyles averaged 3.5-51-.33 which would have equated to WR35 numbers in 2012. If his knee is good to go, there is certainly upside for Broyles as a real-world WR3 hoping to push Nate Burleson for snaps and targets.

Cardinals beat writer Mike Jurecki on RB Rashard Mendenhall: "He's look good hitting the holes, good in pass protection, catching a ball the backfield, clearly the number #1 RB."

Given the one-year deal, the Cardinals (and other teams) may not feel that Mendenhall is completely healthy and want to limit their risk. The deal allows Mendenhall to prove himself and potentially cash in next summer. He will vie with Ryan Williams for touches in the Arizona backfield, but appears to have the inside track to be the team's RB1.

Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee on the team's third down RB situation: "I'll be shocked if Danny Woodhead doesn't play vast majority of third downs. More to do with his knowledge & ability blocking than anything."

We're not expecting Ryan Mathews to have a great season given his propensity for injury and the addition of Woodhead, who will certainly eat into his third-down snaps.

Broncos released RB Willis McGahee.

With McGahee gone, Montee Ball is the logical option as the team's main ballcarrier, but HC John Fox has always favored veterans over rookies when given the choice, so this still may become a muddled RBBC with Ball, Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno all in the mix. Keep in mind that Hillman has been first in line for reps at minicamp, but that's probably just a courtesy. He figures to serve as a change-of-pace back in 2013. Peyton Manning recently said that the team is going to count on Ball 'in a big way' in 2013. We definitely like Ball more with this news, though Hillman will be a factor. Consider Ball a RB2 with upside. McGahee could have some value if he lands in a great situation.

Falcons RB Steven Jackson on his role in the offense: "I will get the bulk of my carries in the second half. In the first half, I would imagine the majority of my touches will be receiving the ball. I can focus on my becoming the back everyone saw early in my career. As things In St. Louis went downhill, I was an in-between-the-tackles runner. I wasn't working on the things in my toolbox. I took pride in my receiving. It was taken away from me, and used only in a diminished role. Now I can get back to being a big part of the passing game."

Jackson only caught 38 passes last season, but that number figures to increase this year as Jackson becomes more involved in the passing game. He'll be a fringe RB1 if he can stay healthy.

Whether Jets WR Santonio Holmes will be ready for the start of the season remains uncertain. Holmes replied, "No comments," when asked whether he expects to play in Week 1.

Holmes, who said he needed to learn to walk all over again, characterized his rehab as progressing, but that it is limited to working out -- no running or cutting just yet. He pedaled the stationary bike briskly Wednesday.

Holmes was clear that he expects to get back to top form, he just doesn't have a timeline.

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has that vital weapon — a versatile and explosive running back — that has been lacking in his arsenal for so long.

“Well, I think [Reggie Bush is] definitely going to add a dynamic to our offense,” Linehan said. “First of all, he gives us a running back that has produced in this league and really, in the last two years, done a really good job of just carrying the ball. He’s done it.

“You saw it even prior to his last stop (in New Orleans), he was doing a lot of the things you’ll see him do in our offense and be a dual-threat guy. He gives us a dynamic that, you know, a lot like what we got with Jahvid. It’s a little different, everybody’s different, but he definitely gives us a guy that can be an effective rusher and effective receiver.”

“So,” Linehan said, “the one thing about his position is you can get him the ball as a runner and as a pass receiver and his involvement is going to be pretty substantial.”

Bush's value will hinge on how much the Lions use him as a runner. We currently have him projected for 176 carries, while we project his backup, Mikel LeShoure to see 133 carries. LeShoure is likely to see the goal line work.

The Chicago Bears concluded Day 2 of their three-day mandatory minicamp without starting receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall as well as rookie seventh-round pick Marquess Wilson.

The team held out Jeffery as a precautionary measure after the second-year receiver suffered a minor hamstring injury last week during organized team activities. Wilson also missed because of what coach Marc Trestman called a “light” hamstring tweak. Marshall participated in the first day of minicamp, but the Bears want to be careful with how they handle his recovery from offseason arthroscopic hip surgery.

Rookie RB Latavius Murray is on the field, but he remains sidelined with a sore foot.

Steelers RB coach Kirby Wilson on the team's lack of a depth chart: “There really is no pecking order other than that’s how we ended the season. Guys are jumping in accordingly and rotating themselves. There really is no rhyme or reason to it.”

Le’Veon Bell might be the best running back on the Steelers, but Wilson reiterated on Tuesday that if he can’t block, he can’t (and won’t) play.

Wilson said that pass protection is the last thing that comes to a rookie running back.

“Pass protection because there is so much more technique involved,” Wilson said. “You are dealing with skilled pass rushers opposed to guys in college.”

Bell is a power back that fits Pittsburgh’s style. He’s not a burner, but has shown good patience and can turn the corner. He’s pretty solid in the passing game as well, though pass protection is an issue. Assuming he wins the RB1 job, he’ll hold fourth-round fantasy value as the lead back in Pittsburgh. He’ll have to beat out Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman for that privilege, but that shouldn't be too hard. HC Todd Haley said that Bell is a “three-down back," although the team signed LaRod Stephens-Howling, who has been pretty good in that role. The Steelers are obviously high on Bell and they reportedly aren't all that high on Dwyer or Redman, so the rookie should have every chance to start in 2013.

With power back Steven Jackson gone to Atlanta, the Rams have rerouted their offense through QB Sam Bradford, loading up on speed at the skill positions and upgrading their line with tackle Jake Long's addition in free agency.

OC Brian Schottenheimer is back, marking the first time Bradford has had the same coordinator in successive NFL seasons, but so much else has changed.

"Totally different," Bradford said following practice Tuesday. "The speed that we have acquired and what we have on the outside now -- and even the inside -- it suits us more to spread it out and play more one-back this year."

The Rams added Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Jared Cook at receiver and the stability of Jeff Fisher certainly helps. Over his final eight games of 2012, he averaged 238 yards and 1.6 TDs. Bradford seems primed to build on his 22-TD season from a year ago, and is an interesting QB2 pick this summer. He's a good candidate for QBBC as well.

WR Danny Amendola has established himself atop the Patriots' receiving group. He's been as advertised: shifty, quick, dynamic with the ball in space and with enough speed to stress a defense vertically. There's a clear rapport between him and Tom Brady. The Patriots moved quickly to sign Amendola after it appeared Wes Welker was closing in on a deal with the Broncos, and it's easy to see Welker-like qualities in Amendola's game. His underneath route-work is reminiscent of Welker.

No surprise here. If healthy, Amendola should be a PPR monster, but he's not likely to have as much value in standard formats. Staying injury-free is key.

Redskins signed former Saints WR Devery Henderson in addition to WR Donte Stallworth.

Ahmad Bradshaw will be easy to spot on his first day at work for the Indianapolis Colts. Look for the running back with his right foot in a protective boot as Wednesday’s minicamp practice unfolds at Lucas Oil Stadium. The team signed the former New York Giants standout Tuesday to a one-year contract that could be worth as much as $2 million. The deal comes approximately six months after Bradshaw underwent surgery on his right foot.

Bradshaw, 27, insisted he’ll be ready when training camp opens July 27 at Anderson University. “With me,” he said, “there’s no concern.”

At that time, Bradshaw’s role in the offense should begin to come into focus. The potential $2 million investment indicates the Colts see him as more than an occasional contributor. He’ll push Vick Ballard, who led the team in rushing as a rookie, and 2009 first-round draft pick Donald Brown for significant playing time. Rookie Denodus O’Bryant was released to make room for Bradshaw.

“He’s strong as heck. He’s a downhill guy,” HC Chuck Pagano said. “This guy will carve himself out a role and a niche on our football team, I’m sure.”

We will continue to monitor Bradshaw's injury situation. He currently sits at RB29 in our standard scoring rankings, but could move up or down depending on how the injury situation develops.

A.J. Jenkins is coming off of two strong practices.

Said OC Greg Roman: "A.J. I thought, the last two days of last week (OTA) had the best two days he's had since I've been here. Quinton Patton and Ricardo Lockette - they're all stepping up. And it's just going to be a continuing process. We're trying to get these guys ready for training camp to come in compete and win a job. And it's happening."

How did Jenkins stand out on Wednesday and Thursday? "Oh, just made some clutch catches for us moving the ball," Roman said. "Just made plays, did all the right things, made plays when he had the opportunity. And he just needs to continue to do that."

Said HC Jim Harbaugh: "Thought A.J. had his best week of football since he's been a 49er the last four days of OTAs. And he continues to build on that. ... Anybody that's going from Year 1 to Year 2, it's a great window of opportunity to improve in the kind of fashion that you'll never have again in your career. Because you're going from doing things for the first time to now everything that you do, you've already done."

Jenkins is a player to watch as the 49ers scramble to fill the hole left by the injured Michael Crabtree. We believe a larger, more consistent role for Vernon Davis may be in the works, but someone needs to start opposite Anquan Boldin. When Jim Harbaugh was asked whether he expects WR Mario Manningham to be ready for regular season, he said, "At some point." So it doesn't appear Manningham will be ready for the start of camp.

Jets QB Mark Sanchez worked exclusively with the starters, completing four of eight passes with a sack and a near-interception. On a bootleg, he threw a pass into the chest of DE Muhammad Wilkerson, who couldn't hang on to what should've been an easy interception. Geno Smith practiced with the second team, going 4-for-7 with three sacks. Both quarterbacks struggled in seven-on-seven drills, as Sanchez misfired on the last four passes, Smith his final three. The silver living: No turnovers for either quarterback.

Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart rehabbing both ankles after offseason surgery. HC Ron Rivera said he's on track. He won't see action until at least training camp.

Carolina supposedly tried to feature Jonathan Stewart starting in Week 7, but he only averaged 3.4 YPC on 68 carries in his next six games before going down with what turned out to be a season-ending ankle injury. DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert are still in the mix making this one of the more muddled RB situations in the league.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is still recovering from minor back surgery, but things are going well and he's started throwing passes.

Romo threw passes during the walk-through sessions prior to the start of the just-completed organized team activities and on Tuesday, before the start of the mandatory veteran minicamp.

Broncos running back Willis McGahee was back on the field with the team Tuesday, but he spent more time watching the offense than playing in it.

McGahee, who has stayed away from the bulk of the team's offseason program while working out in Miami, reported with the other Broncos players Monday night for this week's three-day minicamp. In the Broncos' offseason program all but this week's minicamp is voluntary for players, but this week is a mandatory affair.

McGahee got only a few plays in team drills — he called it "a couple" — and largely spent the day as a spectator.

Ronnie Hillman continued to get the bulk of the work with the starters and rookie Montee Ball also was used far more than McGahee in Tuesday's practice.

Prior to the draft, GM John Elway said that McGahee 'is our big back right now.' The 'right now' is/was key, because the team took Ball in the 2nd round of the draft, and as a result the Broncos' depth chart is unsettled. With McGahee at 31 years-old and coming off an injury, Ball seems like a logical option as the team's main ballcarrier, but HC John Fox has always favored veterans over rookies when given the choice, so this may become a muddled RBBC with Ball, McGahee, Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno all in the mix. Still, given the pick, Ball has landed in a good situation long term, while the writing seems to be on the wall for McGahee and Moreno. Peyton Manning recently said that the team is going to count on Ball 'in a big way' in 2013.

Rookie running back Zac Stacy caught the ball well out of the backfield, including when he had to extend for passes outside his frame. Stacy is in position to get significant carries as a rookie fifth-round draft choice, but it's too early to know how the position will shake out. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer expects a committee approach. Pass protection is one initial concern because Stacy, Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson are so young.

That's likely because no one has emerged as the clear cut favorite and/or the Rams don't want to hand the job to one of their young backs. We think Daryl Richardson is in the lead due to his good performance last season (4.8 YPC), but the team likes Pead and Stacy as well. A full-blown RBBC is a distinct possibility.

Chargers TE Antonio Gates, who turns 33 next week, continues to look quick and fit.

Gates can be had in the later rounds this season. He was relatively healthy last season and finished as the #12 TE thanks to seven TD catches.

In 19 years covering the NFL, today’s showing by Matt Flynn, Tyler Wilson, Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin rates as one of the worst in memory.

Time and again, balls were batted at the line of scrimmage, thrown behind receivers, thrown over receivers, delivered too high or just plain off the mark.

All four quarterbacks were just as guilty, with none of the four doing anything to distinguish himself today.

It's early, but it's clearly not a good thing that none of the Raider QBs looked even decent in Tuesday's practice. Unless someone starts to separate from the pack, it's hard to like Denarius Moore or Rod Streater in 2013.

Former Bills QB Tarvaris Jackson expected to sign a one-year deal with Seattle, where he once was Seahawks' captain.

HC Pete Carroll talked about signing QBs that were similar in style to Russell Wilson. This may be part of that plan.

Colts and RB Ahmad Bradshaw agreed to one-year deal.

Well, there goes Vick Ballard's sleeper status. If healthy, Bradshaw will be the most talented RB in Indianapolis, but he has a long injury history, so it will be tough to count on him. Still, as a likely RB3 on draft day (~5th round), he certainly has top 20 upside. As for Ballard, treat him as a handcuff who should be available late in drafts.

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians on WR Michael Floyd...

“I am really happy with him,” Arians said. “I see him making leaps and bounds getting better. He’s very serious about what he does. He doesn’t like to make mistakes. He’s totally bought in and if he just continues to improve his fundamentals he’s another guy who can have a breakout year.”

Click through to read the full article, which describes how Larry Fitzgerald has taken Floyd under his wing. We are relatively high on Floyd; he's #43 in our standard WR rankings even though he's been coming off the board in the 45-55 range in early drafts. He averaged 54 yards in his last eight games, including an 8-166-1 performance in Week 17 against the 49ers. Assuming he sees starter's snaps, he'll be a sleeper with Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians in town.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles have been receiving the vast majority of the snaps with the first-team offense during these last three weeks of workouts and practices. Thomas, predictably, tallied most of the carries when comparing Sproles' workload as a traditional running back with Sproles wearing different hats depending on the play called.

Mark Ingram is lining up with the second unit. It's a different direction from the way Saints Coach Sean Payton used Ingram in the past. Ingram received the most carries of any running back during his rookie season with Payton on the sideline, and the trend continue last season with Payton sitting in exile.

This could be a sign that the team is ready to give Pierre Thomas (career 4.8 YPC) the keys to the running game with Ingram (3.9 YPC) acting as the backup. YPC isn't everything, but these two players have played in the same offense behind the same offensive line and Thomas has gained almost a yard more per tote than Ingram.

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks has reported to the team's mandatory minicamp.

Update: Nicks confirmed that he won't hold out for a new contract.

This may be a sign that whatever was bothering Nicks is no longer an issue. His camp says he's not upset about his contract, but that is still the most likely reason for his recent actions.

Titans TE Delanie Walker returned to practice after missing stretch of OTAs with knee soreness.

Titans RB Chris Johnson looks to be in great shape and is showing great explosion.

Travis Benjamin’s role could expand with Josh Gordon suspended. As minicamp closed, the 5-10, 175-pound Benjamin, 23, received praise from quarterback Brandon Weeden.

“Travis had at least as many catches if not more than anybody in camp,” Weeden said. “His route running is phenomenal, probably because he’s so fast. Guys have to honor him running by them. He’s been getting in and out of breaks so well. Whether it’s in-breaking routes or out-breaking routes, he’s really found a knack of getting separation and giving me a chance to complete some balls. He’s had a lot of catches this camp. He’s stuck out.”

Neither Giants WR, Hakeem Nicks nor Victor Cruz, showed up for team physicals today before start of Tuesday's minicamp.

The camp is mandatory and Nicks was expected to report. While his camp denies reports that he's upset about his contract situation, his actions will certainly continue to fuel speculation. Reuben Randle is looking better and better each day.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Lisfranc) said his plan is to be ready for training camp but didn't say it was a certainty.

There are a few red flags surrounding the usually dependable MJD. First, his injury. He's working his way back, but it sounds as if he's in a race to get ready for training camp. Next, there's his legal situation, but that seems like it may blow over. Lastly, the Jaguars are installing a new (zone-blocking) running game which may or may not suit his skill set. He's an interesting pick in the third round and has top 5 upside, but he doesn't hold his usual value at this point in the offseason.

The Patriots are signing QB Tim Tebow and expect him to be in minicamp tomorrow.

A year ago, Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice was working out on his own away from team headquarters while his $40 million maximum value contract that included $24 milliion in guaranteed money and a $15 million signing bonus was being negotiated.

Now that Rice isn't a franchise player like last year, he's been a fixture at offseason conditioning workouts and organized team activities heading into this week's mandatory full-team minicamp.

This bodes well for Rice in 2013. While his stock has been hit by the emergence of Bernard Pierce, Rice is still a very good RB1 and figures to see a heavy workload as the team adjusts to the loss of Anquan Boldin.

Peter King on Redskins QB Robert Griffin III: Griffin had major knee surgery 21 weeks ago. Washington's opener is 13 weeks from tonight. After watching him run sprints around the practice field Thursday, I agree with what Griffin said post-practice: "Without a doubt'' he thinks he'll be practicing with the team when it begins training camp in Richmond in late July ... and, of course, that he'll be ready to go Sept. 9 against the Eagles. Here's what Griffin did Thursday: He sprinted without a limp the 53-yard width of the end zone. Then, at nearly full speed, he planted his twice-surgically repaired right knee and pivoted left, up the sideline of the practice field. It wasn't the planting and cutting he'll have to do in games, of course. But it's close. I get zero sense that the team thinks he won't be ready to play Sept. 9.

Griffin is looking good for Week 1, so the concern is no longer about his availability, but rather the extent to which he changes the way he plays to avoid injury. The general consensus is that he doesn't run the ball as much, but just how much is he going to rein it in? We currently have him projected for 95 rushes for 702 yards and 5.3 TD. He posted a 120-815-7 line in 2012.

“That offense really didn’t suit me,’’ Rams TE Jared Cook said of Tennessee's offense. “It didn’t fit me. That’s just how it is. Every team a player goes to, the fit is not perfect. Some guys have to move around to two or three teams before they find the perfect fit.’’

But Cook, who was also pursued by the Miami Dolphins, likes what he has seen so far in St. Louis. “I think I’m on an elevator going up,” he said in his first meeting with the local media.

“What we’re getting from Jared out there is what we expected,’’ HC Jeff Fisher said. “The ball’s going around, we’re matching him up, we’re creating mismatches, he’s making plays.

“Whether or not (he was underutilized with Tennessee), we feel like he can add a dimension to our offense that we don’t have.’’

Cook had a breakout season after Jeff Fisher left Tennessee, which has us a bit leery about his prospects for 2013. But Fisher is a defensive mind, so it's up to OC Brian Schottenheimer to get Cook involved in the offense, and the Rams did make him their first priority in free agency. Consider him a TE2 with upside.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski still is wearing a protective sleeve on his left arm, a remnant from a fourth surgery that was needed to replace a plate to heal a broken bone. He is also getting ready for a back procedure that will likely force him to miss regular-season games.

Gronkowski holds 2nd round value when healthy, but it doesn't appear that he's going to be healthy to start the season. At this point we wouldn't use anything more than a 4th round pick on the big TE, and even that is stretching it. He has huge upside, but he's too much of a risk in the early rounds given what we know now. It's a calculated risk, but expect a series of game-time decisions if he doesn't start the season on the PUP list. One setback and he could miss a half (or the whole) season.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo won't participate in Cowboys mini-camp for precautionary reasons. Jerry Jones called involvement unlikely last week.

No worries here. We still love Romo's value as the #12 QB off the board.

The Chiefs signed Donnie Avery to be the fast wide receiver they’ve lacked the last few seasons, but Avery watched for most of the offseason because of a high ankle sprain. Avery should be ready to participate when camp starts, but he will be behind when he gets to St. Joe, and that’s not a good omen for a team hoping to find playmakers to go with Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe.

Rams beat writer Tony Softli said that WR Brian Quick "put on a show [at OTAs]...catching 17 or 18 passes all over the field."

Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot on the health of RB Trent Richardson:

From all the conversations that I've had on the record and off, the club does expect Richardson to be ready for training camp July 25 and feel it's nothing more than a muscle strain. Richardson is still on track to begin a running program in two weeks, and there's no way he'd be doing that if they were worried about a stress fracture.

Richardson said the injury wasn't serious enough to warrant an MRI, but I'm sure his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, will examine the leg when Richardson is back in Pensacola, where Andrews has a clinic. Andrews has repaired both of Richardson's ankles and has performed both scopes on his knee. He knows T-Rich better than any doctor, and will provide input on the training regimen and timetable. If the Browns decide to hold him out another week after camp opens just to be on the safe side, I don't think that's earth-shattering.

We're not panicking about Richardson's shin, but he has had trouble staying healthy in his short career so he's not without some risk. We believe he holds late first round value in 2013.

“This offense might be the best thing that ever happened to me,” Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles said. “I think this offense will get me open. They’re going to throw me the ball more. I think I’ll continue to stack Pro Bowls on Pro Bowls if I can stay healthy.

“I definitely know my role. I’ve got a lot of stuff to program in my mind right now. There’s a lot of stuff in the Andy Reid offense, the same stuff he did with [Brian Westbrook] and [LeSean McCoy], and I think I fit his scheme as well as they did. Definitely more studying and definitely more knowing the scheme of the defense, especially when I go out there and play another position like wide receiver. I go in there and try to read the defense. I feel like this year it will be more than I catch out of the backfield.”

In drafting Knile Davis, the Chiefs may be preparing for the eventual end of Charles’ career. But judging by how they used Charles in offseason practice, they don’t see that time coming soon.

We have Charles as our #4 RB in standard formats and #3 in PPR. He is right there with Doug Martin in both formats.

Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon already has two strikes against him after testing positive for codeine in February, and could get kicked out of the NFL for at least a year if he fails a third drug test, league sources said Saturday.

Gordon's two-game suspension and four-game fine for the codeine -- which he said was contained in cough syrup prescribed for strep throat -- means he was already in Stage Two of the NFL's substance abuse program.

For a player to be suspended, he must have violated the policy at least one other time. That means that Gordon -- who failed three marijuana tests in college and was dismissed from Baylor and Utah -- has tested positive at least five times since October, 2010.

Gordon's positive test in February likely pushes him into Stage 3 of the program, according to league sources, where he faces banishment from the NFL for at least one calendar year if he fails another test.

This is something dynasty owners should be concerned about, but those in redraft leagues can be pretty sure that Gordon will serve his two game suspension and stay on the straight and narrow for the remainder of the season. The codeine incident sounds like a fluke, though he has a long history of failed drug tests.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is excited to see WR Chris Givens lining up in a variety of spots.

“I expect Chris to have a great year. He works extremely hard,’’ Bradford said. “Where last year he primarily played the ‘Z’ for us, now he’s also being asked to play inside. He’s being asked to go backside and play ‘X’. He’s a really, really smart football player; he understands our offense and I think by moving him to different spots in our offense, he’ll be able to run more routes.

“There’s only so many routes you can run from one position, but when you move him to two or three different spots, you can incorporate him in the whole offense.’’

Givens was shaping up to be a nice sleeper this season until the team drafted Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Givens could still have a productive season, but it seems that there are more mouths to feed in St. Louis.

The Broncos started dialing up their offensive tempo in the final month of last season. Through the first 12 games, with Manning trying to figure out his new team and his teammates trying to adjust to their quarterback's rhythm, the Broncos averaged 65.5 plays per game.

In their final five games, the Broncos averaged 75.6 plays. That includes regulation of their playoff loss to Baltimore despite kick returner Trindon Holliday taking away two possessions with touchdown runs.

Manning attempted 586 passes last season and we have him projected for 606 in 2013.

Steelers third-round pick Markus Wheaton has been under contract several weeks but remains unable to report because of an rule prohibiting draftees from joining their teams until after their final exams are complete. Tomlin said Wheaton will not join the team until June 14, but he is not worried about the delay impeding the rookie wide receiver's progress.

"He'll get plenty of opportunities to show what he's capable of to prepare himself to be a part of our outfit and help us," Tomlin said. "We've dealt with this in the past and, really, in the big scheme of things, it's been a nonissue. It creates some short-term discomfort, but these guys are professionals and capable of dealing with it."

A first-round pick in 2011, Saints RB Mark Ingram has yet to carve out a firm role.

I get the sense that’s about to change. Ingram has the ability to run between the tackles and the Saints also seemed to be throwing to him out of the backfield a fair amount during the minicamp.

Ingram also drew some praise from Payton.

“Number one, I think he is healthy,’’ Payton said. “He is moving around real well. He looks sudden, and again this is all in shorts, but I’m excited to see him play this season. I think that obviously he will have an important role in what we do.’’

We're a bit low on Mark Ingram but that's because we're relatively high on Pierre Thomas, who has been a productive RB for years in the Saints' offense. It's doubtful that the team is suddenly going to abandon Thomas, who has a career 4.8 YPC.

“He’s adjusted quite well," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of WR Torrey Smith. "He runs all the routes very well. Torrey is a guy that is only going to get better, because he works hard at it. He’s not a guy who spends any time thinking about anything other than what he can do today to be the best he can be. That’s what makes him so good. So, he’s running all the routes really well.

"We have a lot of leaders on this team, nobody less than Torrey Smith. Torrey’s a great leader."

It was tough to get a handle on the Baltimore passing game in 2012. Like Dennis Pitta and Anquan Boldin, Smith's targets fluctuated wildly from week to week. He had five games with 10+ targets, but also had six games with four or fewer targets. With Boldin gone, Smith should emerge as a solid fantasy WR2.

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians is high on tight end Rob Housler. “A wideout playing tight end,” he said. “I think the sky is the limit as far as where he can get talent-wise.”

Senior Editor John Paulsen recently watched all of Housler's 2012 targets and came away impressed. Look for his breakdown of the young tight end on the site in the next 48 hours.

Asked what’s different about the Titans’ offense this season, wide receiver Kenny Britt said: Everything. New plays. New formations. We’re starting from scratch.”

And this from second-year wideout Kendall Wright: “It’s just a new playbook. There’s nothing left over from last year.”

Indeed, the 2012 offensive playbook went into the nearest shredder, with Dowell Loggains granted the freedom to develop and install his own offensive system.

Loggains’ scheme is a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Think of it as an offensive smorgasbord that begins with a solid running game but quickly branches out to a passing scheme that takes its share of deep shots but settles for shorter throws when necessary.

“In today’s NFL, not throwing the ball a lot is still throwing it around 30 times a game,” Loggains said. “We are going to be a run, play-action team first, but we’re still going to drop back and throw the football.”

This is an offense that could come together if QB Jake Locker grasps the system and progresses in a big way from his scattershot 2012 season. Or it could be a complete disaster. There is considerable risk drafting any Titans in 2013.

Chargers QB Philip Rivers, 31, seems determined to show he can be a better version of the quarterback that once led the NFL in passing yards (2010) and touchdowns (2008), and not the one who threw 25 interceptions, lost 12 fumbles and was sacked 79 times in the past two seasons.

He told USA TODAY Sports he has been reinvigorated by the new offense of head coach Mike McCoy and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

"I think my best football is ahead of me, I really do," Rivers said. "That's being optimistic, because we've had a lot of really good years. I am probably on the second half of my career, the back end, but I think I've got a lot of good football left.

After four consecutive top 10 seasons, Rivers fell to 20th in total fantasy points and 22nd in PPG. This can be partly attributed to the departure of Vincent Jackson and the fact that Antonio Gates simply isn't a dominant tight end anymore. Rivers is not an elite QB who can overcome a talent drop off, but he is capable enough to post good-to-great numbers if he's surrounded by good players. Hiring former Denver OC Mike McCoy and re-signing Danario Alexander should help. Of the QBs available in the later rounds, he has quite a bit of upside.

On the subject of Giants RB David Wilson and the team's RB1 job...

“I think he’s in a position to compete to be the guy,” running backs coach Jerald Ingram said. “He has the talent, has the speed, has a few plays from a year ago underneath his belt.”

“Once we put the pads on, we’ll see who is physical, who’s determined to make plays out there,” Ingram said. “I think he’s grown. He has a fairly good understanding of the offense right now. He’s definitely in position to be the guy, but I think just like what we’ve done in the past here, we’re going to be a rotation type team and what certain backs do best, we’ll play. I think he’s a playmaker. He’s definitely going to contribute and help us out.

GM Jerry Reese said that David Wilson could be a "lead back," but didn't anoint him the starter in 2013. Andre Brown figures to get all of the goal line work and may eat into Wilson's touches in the Giants' base offense as well. Don't forget that Brown averaged more YPC (5.3) than did Wilson (5.0). It's no sure thing that Wilson leads the team in touches in 2013.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended two games and fined four game checks for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

In a statement, Gordon said the drug was codeine, and he took it because it was part of the medicine prescribed by a doctor for strep throat.

"The policy terms are strict about unintentional ingestion, but the NFL has not imposed the maximum punishment in light of the facts of my case. Therefore, I have chosen to be immediately accountable for the situation," Gordon said in the statement. "I sincerely apologize for the impact on my team, coaches, and Browns fans. I look forward to working hard in training camp and preseason, and contributing immediately when I return in Week 3."

This isn't Gordon's first time running afoul of a drug test. A failed marijuana test at Baylor resulted in an indefinite suspension and ultimately led Gordon to declare for the 2012 Supplemental Draft after sitting out a year at Utah.

Clearly this is a blow to Gordon's stock, but owners interested in drafting him this summer should still do so, albeit in a later round. Two games are a big deal, but as a probable fantasy WR3, owners can "get by" with another wideout for a couple of weeks while Gordon serves his suspension. Gordon's ADP has risen to the early 7th round, but we suspect that will drop a round or two by the time most fantasy drafts are held. He should be a nice value in the 8th or 9th.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles ran for 1,509 yards last season. Yet, he knows his job description is changing with Reid as his coach. Charles will still carry the ball often, but Reid likes getting his running backs involved in the passing game. “I know my role in my mind will be doing lots of stuff with the offense,” Charles said. “I’m like (Brian) Westbrook and (LeSean) McCoy as far as how I fit into (Reid’s) offense ... I definitely need to do more studying and knowing the scheme of the defense, especially playing a position like wide receiver. I have to go in there and try to read the defense. Last year, I didn’t have any catches out of the backfield. I feel like this year it will be more.”

Charles had his share of ups and downs thanks mostly to irregular usage. With new coach Andy Reid taking over the play calling, Charles should see consistent touches, especially in the passing game. Charles may not see as many rushes as he did in 2012 (285), but McCoy averaged 20.5 touches per game in the last three seasons, which is more than the 18.0 that Charles averaged in the same span (and the 20.0 touches he averaged in 2012). The Kansas City offense should improve, which should lead for more redzone touches as well.

Josh Gordon has the most physical ability of any player on the roster. The only thing that can stop him from being an elite player this year is himself.

Browns TE Jordan Cameron had two muscle pulls in 16 practices without being hit. Not a good sign.

ESPN Boston' Mike Reiss on Patriots WR Aaron Dobson: "I was thinking of an outside receiver who isn't necessarily a top-end speed burner but who has good size, runs well enough, and competes with success for 50-50 type balls. Cowboys wideout Miles Austin (6-2, 217) is one target who came to mind when thinking of a good potential comparable to Dobson (6-3, 210)."

Dobson has a great opportunity in his rookie season to emerge as the Patriots' third or fourth option in the passing game (depending on the health of Rob Gronkowski). If he wins the starting job, he's very likely to be fantasy relevant in 2013.

Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts's weight is up from 195 pounds to 202 pounds, and you can see the extra strength helping on the practice field.

"I wanted to get stronger to be able to get off the press and be more powerful," Shorts said. "When I watch film, guys like A.J. Green, Michael Crabtree, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, they all explode off the ball. Getting of the jam and being able to shed is important. You have to be strong to hold your own. I feel stronger. I feel more explosive."

When the team took 11 days off recently, Shorts didn't. He spent his time at the facility working with the rookies, who didn't get the time off. Later this summer, he will head to Minneapolis to work out with Larry Fitzgerald, whose workouts are legendary for being tough. Shorts trained with Fitzgerald, and some others, last summer.

"Fitzgerald is the ideal pro," Shorts said. "He's an extremely hard worker, extremely humble. He's the professional of all professionals. He gets it. You can see why he's one of the best. I want to work to get there."

All but one piece (QB play) is in place for Shorts to build on his breakout season. Blaine Gabbert did have a higher average FP/T (1.49) in passes to Shorts than Chad Henne did (1.30), but Henne targeted Shorts on a much higher percentage of his attempts (25%) than Gabbert (17%), per Pro Football Reference. So if Gabbert throws to Shorts more, it should mean big things for the third-year wideout.

Getting RB Darren Sproles more involved this year will certainly rank as one of Coach Sean Payton's top priorities as he tries to revive his dominant offense this season.

"With Darren, he's got a unique skill set," HC Sean Payton said. "He's real sudden. I still see him as a valuable runner as well as a receiver."

Sproles only averaged 3.7 carries per game, but still finished #8 in PPG in PPR formats. He averaged 5.6 carries in 2011, so if he gets 2-3 extra rushes per game, it will certainly help his value. We love Sproles in the 2nd/3rd round in PPR formats.

John Keim of the Washington Examiner: "I still think [QB Robert Griffin III] will run quite a bit. People forget that many times those runs were his decisions: passing up throws to scramble. And they will keep the zone read. So it’s not inconceivable that he runs around 70 times."

Griffin rushed 125 times in 16 games, including the postseason, so that's about 7.8 rushes per game. We have Griffin projected for 95 runs, a 24% decrease.

Should come as no surprise Vikings HC Leslie Frazier said TE Kyle Rudolph is "so much more sure of himself" than a year ago.

For first time in OTAs RB Roy Helu is practicing with the offense.

If healthy, Helu could serve as the Redskins' third-down back. Alfred Morris is not very involved in the passing game.

When Jaguars HC Gus Bradley was asked if he’s found any playmakers, he said, “I like Cecil Shorts.” He then laughed and said, “Put it down. I’m a good evaluator.”

Shorts was an obvious pick because he has been a standout in camp.

Shorts' value is depressed due to the woeful QB situation in Jacksonville, but he would get a boost if Chad Henne were to win the starting job. Shorts played in four of Henne's six starts towards the end of the season and averaged 5.8 catches for 84 yards and 0.50 TD. Those are fantasy WR1 numbers.

Redskins HC Mike Shanahan: If there was a game next week, Fred Davis (Achilles) would be able to go, but Redskins will hold him out of next week's minicamp.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said after Thursday's practice he feels Joseph Morgan could be the team's No. 3 receiver and the deep threat in the passing game in 2013. So Morgan's spot on the roster, regardless of the DWI arrest, seems pretty secure.

Looks like a deal will get done between Colts and RB Ahmad Bradshaw. They are negotiating now.

Bradshaw's arrival would put a serious dent in Vick Ballard's value. Stay tuned.

Jermichael Finley's offseason weight gain was noticeable even to a casual observer at practice this week -- and not in a bad way. After slimming down prior to the 2011 season, hoping to be used more as a receiver than a traditional tight end, Finley has re-packed the bulk onto his 6-foot-5 frame. No one was providing exact figures this week, but my educated guess is that Finley is now much closer to his listed weight of 247 pounds than he has been since 2010, when he was as low as 235 pounds.

"I think Jermichael looks excellent," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He has put weight back on. He's back where I like to see him, the playing weight that he's playing with. He's stronger. He's playing with more confidence. … I really like the offseason that Jermichael has put together so far."

Finley has a tantalizing skill set, but drops have been a serious problem throughout his career and he tends to put the blame on some mysterious lack of chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. But over the last seven games, Finley averaged 4.6-57-.14, which equates to TE10 numbers over the course of a full season. HC Mike McCarthy said that Finley was a 'different man' after the team's Week 10 bye, so Finley's strong finish may translate to 2013.

Victor Cruz is eventually going to sign a contract and Hakeem Nicks will soon show up to work, no matter how worrisome those situations may seem.

The reality is big contracts rarely get done until there’s a deadline — such as June 17 when the Giants can reduce Cruz’s tender offer from $2.879 million to $630,000. There remains optimism on both sides that a deal will eventually be reached, and it’s a pretty good bet that he’ll either have a new contract or sign his tender by then

It's going to take more than optimism to get a deal done. Cruz could always sit out most of the season (a la Vincent Jackson) only to come back towards the end to accrue his year of service and become an unrestricted free agent next season. This is unlikely but not unprecedented.

Among those sitting on the sideline was Jets WR Stephen Hill, who had been fully recovered from offseason surgery on his knee and had been taking team reps. However, the team's medical staff recently discovered some more fluid in Hill's knee and wanted him to dial his workload back immediately.

"I was (expected to be cleared by now)," Hill said. "I was going through some team workouts. At first it kind of swelled up on me a little bit and (trainer John Melody) was like, 'we don't need this to happen at all.'"

Jets WR Jeremy Kerley had a slight heel issue, and was backed down today.

Kerley was the Jets' best WR in 2012 and is a sleeper heading into 2013 provided the team can get decent play from the QB position.

It was during a physical before minicamp that doctors discovered Packers RB DuJuan Harris had a cyst in his chest that was pressing on one of his lungs. Harris, one of the feel-good stories for the Packers last season, underwent surgery Tuesday to have the cyst removed.

That explains his absence from the team's minicamp this week.

Harris will battle with Johnathan Franklin for touches behind probable starter Eddie Lacy.

Jets HC Rex Ryan says there's a "possibility" that WR Santonio Holmes could start training camp on the PUP list (LisFranc surgery).

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger underwent "minor" knee surgery on Wednesday, according to the team.

"Earlier today, Ben had minor surgery on his right knee that was the result of slight discomfort this off-season," head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.

"We advised him to get the surgery done to ensure he will be completely healthy for the start of training camp. This surgery will have no long-term effects on his health."

The procedure was arthroscopic surgery to clean up some meniscus damage in Roethlisberger's knee, a person informed of the details of the operation told USA TODAY Sports. The same procedure was performed on his left knee seven years ago and that knee has been fine since, the person said.

This is typically a 3-4 week recovery. No worries here.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham was the most impressive player on the field during Tuesday's minicamp practice, leaping up for an outstanding one-handed touchdown grab at one point. He also caught a strike through traffic up the middle during team drills, among other plays.

Graham is obviously coming along well after having wrist surgery at the end of last season.

Given Rob Gronkowski's injuries, Graham is clearly the safest TE heading into the 2013 season. He holds 2nd round value in most formats.

According to the Vikings website, which is granted access not afforded to reporters, Greg Jennings (ankle) returned to practice today.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (toe) was back and a full participant in practice after injuring a toe last week.

Titans RB Chris Johnson wasn’t pleased when the team signed running back Shonn Greene.

“I didn’t like the move, I didn’t think it was a smart move,” said Johnson of his initial impression. “[But] that’s because of being too quick to say things and not really knowing the whole objectives of things. Once the off-season started, being here, being in the playbook and seeing the type of things they’re trying to do, I don’t think it was really a bad choice. I’m not worried about him taking any carries.”

If the addition of Greene costs Johnson goal line carries, it’s something he will deal with like he’s had to his entire career and adjust his goals.

“At the end of the day you want to stay in there,” the 2009 AP Offensive Player of the Year said. “[But] I’d rather have 2,000 yards than have 20 touchdowns, so you got to take the good with the bad.”

Unfortunately, it's not an either/or proposition when it comes to Johnson's yardage/TD totals. Fantasy owners would be ecstatic if he had another 2,000-yard season, but it's probably not in the cards given how the team's running game has declined in recent years. Johnson finished as the #13 RB in standard formats with just six rushing TDs, so it's not like his rush TDs can drop that much. We're expecting Greene to steal some carries, but Johnson should make up for it in the passing game.

After being cleared by the Bears medical staff, Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall practiced Tuesday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery in January.

Marshall didn't feel any soreness in his hip after participating in the Bears' eighth of 10 OTA workouts. The team resumed the sessions Monday after having last week off.

"Taking that week off gave me a chance to heal a little bit more, and there's nothing there," Marshall said. "I'm 100 percent now. I'm ready to go."

The Bears will continue to ease Marshall back into action during OTA practices Wednesday and Thursday followed by next week's mandatory full-squad minicamp.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew is recovering from Lisfranc surgery on his left foot. He arrived for the team's offseason conditioning program out of shape -- he hasn't been able to run full speed since December -- but believed the extra weight would come off by training camp. He had hoped to be running by the end of May.

Last month, Jones-Drew got permission to leave organized team activities and start working out on his own in Miami.

"It sounds like he's making good progress and that his weight is coming down," Bradley said. "It feels like the workouts are going good down there."

The best evidence will be when he returns to Jacksonville for a mandatory, three-day minicamp next week. The trip might also include a talk with investigators and possibly a chat with teammates.

There are a few red flags with MJD this year -- the weight, the foot, the fight and the zone-blocking scheme the Jaguars are reportedly installing. He's a fantasy RB2 with upside, but is no sure thing in 2013. We're not concerned about his weight -- Jones-Drew is a professional and will get in shape -- but the other question marks are not things he can necessarily control. He is in a contract year so he will be highly motivated, but motivation has never been an issue for him. We're more concerned about his environment.

For the first time in years, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald is studying at night in the off-season, although with new HC Bruce Arians, Fitzgerald is never sure what’s going to be on the test the next day. Fitzgerald might study his usual position, the “X,” then be asked to do something completely different, like play the “Z” (flanker), or the “F,” which is sort of a slot position.

Arians had a hand in Reggie Wayne's revival (106-1355-5) with the Colts, but the arrival of Andrew Luck didn't hurt either. Fitzgerald is seeing an upgrade at QB as well, and should return to fantasy WR1 form.

Broncos TE Jacob Tamme has been out there with the first team. Besides the youthful competition at his position, Tamme may also be affected by the addition of slot receiver Wes Welker. Last season, there was a nice mix between Tamme and slot receiver Brandon Stokley. They ranked third and fourth on the team with 52 and 45 catches, respectively.

Even if in the interest of balance Welker's stats drop from his 112-catch average in six previous seasons with New England to around 80 this year with the Broncos, Tamme doesn't figure to have as many balls thrown his way.

"You've seen [RB Jamaal Charles] sprint out of the single receiver, and he'll come out of the backfield," Chiefs OC Doug Pederson continued. "He's a guy that needs to move around, and (one) you can put in different positions, motion out the back, shift him from the backfield. He catches the ball so well that you have to take advantage of that offensively."

Charles ranked 22nd among NFL tailbacks last season in terms of total targets (48) and was 13th in 2010 (61). Meanwhile, in Andy Reid's West Coast scheme, LeSean McCoy wound up eighth in targets in 2012 (67) and was first in 2010 (97).

"I think you can use (Charles) more in the passing game," Pederson said.

McCoy averaged 3.8 receptions in 27 games over the last two seasons. That projects to 61 catches over a full season. We currently have Charles projected to catch 57 passes for 465 yards. He is our #3 RB in PPR formats.

Browns RB Trent Richardson out until August. Team worried leg injury could develop into stress fracture.

We knew missing June OTAs was a possibility, but now it's official. The bit about the injury developing into a stress fracture is new. It's not a great sign for Richardson, who has battled injuries since entering the NFL. More details should be coming soon.

Giants pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul will undergo back surgery today, source says. Hopes to be ready for Week 1.

His absence would have a big impact on the Giants defense, especially the pass rush.

“There were times when I was going with the threes, times when I was going with the twos, things like that,” said Eagles WR DeSean Jackson in a one-on-one conversation with Birds 24/7. “There was a point where I went into Chip Kelly’s office and talked to him face-to-face to see what was going on with that.”

Kelly told Jackson what he has stated publicly: that there is no depth chart, everyone on the roster will get a shot and nothing will be handed to you based purely on past performance.

“He just expects everyone to do things a certain way. He was asking everybody to do the same thing. For myself, I just had to really hear it from his mouth to get that rapport with him and be on the same page with him. When I went in there, he said he expects everybody to buy into the system and do everything the right way,” said Jackson. ”And if there is any little thing a player doesn’t want to do, that’s his way of reacting to it. The best thing I did was go talk to him instead of just sitting back and being mad.”

“I think one of the biggest reasons was the offense was kind of new to myself and I never really had to learn every position in the offense [under Andy Reid],” said Jackson. “At the beginning of the process I didn’t know the full offense and I didn’t know every play, so that probably had to do with why I was moved to different teams and things like that. Now I am all-in on the offense and I’m very familiar with the whole system. It’s a good thing that I am able to learn that and know what everyone is doing instead of one person.”

It's a good sign that Jackson has the maturity to deal with the situation the way he did, instead of letting things fester and possibly spin out of control. In 2012, Jackson had his worst season as a pro, catching just 45 passes for 700 yards and two TDs, and missed five games in the process. He is likely to be used in different ways in Kelly's new offense, but we're not expecting a big jump in carries. Expect a few more end-arounds and more quick-hitting WR screens.

Appearing on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" on Monday, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill stated without equivocation that RB Lamar Miller is well ahead of 2011 second-rounder Daniel Thomas and rookie Mike Gillislee.

Asked who the Dolphins' starting running back is, Tannehill replied without hesitation: "Lamar Miller right now. He's doing a great job this offseason, really has a great handle on the offense and he's doing a great job protecting. ... They can (all) run the ball but being able to understand the pass game, understand the checkdowns and where they're protecting really makes a big difference and makes me more comfortable."

Miller is expected to win the starting job and should be a fantasy RB2 in that role. He didn't play much as a rookie but showed promise, which is why the Dolphins let Bush walk.

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald feels fellow WR Michael Floyd is on the verge of a big season.

We currently rank Floyd as our #42 WR in standard formats. He has been coming off the board in the later (10th-12th) rounds.

Vincent Brown's participation level has risen steadily during the Chargers' organized team activities. In the third week, it reached a new height.

The wide receiver mixed in with the starters Monday for the first time this offseason, rotating with Malcom Floyd opposite Danario Alexander. While too much can be made about a player's June practice reps, Brown is expected to see a pronounced role in his third season.

That role would have come in 2012 if not for an August broken ankle. The former third-round pick out of San Diego State missed the entire year with the preseason injury, but he is fully recovered now.

Coach Mike McCoy said he anticipates Brown will "without a doubt" be a big part of the team's offense.

"He's been great," McCoy said. "We laid out a plan for him early on, and he's one of those kids who want to go full speed, 100 miles per hour every play. So we were holding back a little bit when we first got on the field, and it's just a process we're going through to make sure we're doing the right thing with him. But he's on board 100 percent with us, and he's done a great job."

As the WR3 in 2011, Brown averaged 2.4-41-.25 in eight games, and posted a solid 1.12 fantasy points per target (FP/T). If he can beat out Malcom Floyd to be the Chargers' WR2, he will be a nice sleeper in the later rounds.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, who was forced to miss the team's playoff loss to the Packers last season in Green Bay because of a deeply bruised throwing triceps, was throwing well and with plenty of velocity in team drills last week at Winter Park.

"It feels good; there are no aftereffects," Ponder said of his arm.

Eagles QB Michael Vick: “As crazy as it may sound, I never carried the football correctly. And that’s partly my fault because my coaches always got everybody in a circle and did a four-points-of-pressure drill, and I never paid attention, thought I was doing it right. Now I know how to hold it. It feels comfortable, it’s tight, so I’m just trying to challenge myself each and every day and that’s what I’m doing.”

New Titans tight end Delanie Walker suffered a knee injury on Friday that required an MRI.

Updating a previous item, Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles was taken for precautionary X-rays on his toe that came back negative.

Cordarrelle Patterson’s role was a bit more defined this week, though neither piece of information we received comes as a huge surprise. Patterson said the Vikings want him to learn the split end position for now (Jerome Simpson's current position), and they’ll move him around in their formations once he’s mastered that. He also will be a kick returner instead of a punt returner, since the Vikings still have Marcus Sherels to do that.

Patterson still has quite a bit to learn from receivers coach George Stewart, but he’s already heard from Greg Jennings the importance of refining his route-running, and Stewart said he’s fine with where Patterson is right now.

“He’s learning football as expected,” Stewart said. “He’s not a guy that you look at that’s behind on things. He’s sharp. He always comes and talks through things. Jarius Wright does a good job of staying with him. He always comes to my ear and asks questions. He’s very inquisitive, which I like. He’s picking up things extremely well.”

Titans QB Jake Locker says Kenny Britt is explosive and looks great.

Britt is an intriguing fantasy prospect because he is now 1.5 years removed from his knee injury. The explosion may truly be back, but he still has the inconsistent Locker throwing him the ball.

The Eagles are running their offense almost exclusively out of the shotgun. I'm told that they ran a few plays from under center during Tuesday's practice, but I must have missed that. Personally, I've seen nothing but shotgun.

Restricted free agent wide receiver Victor Cruz has hit an impasse with the New York Giants when it comes to contract talks. Rather, Friday saw the news that the contract negotiations "hit a snag," as Cruz is looking for something in the $8 million per year range. Unfortunately for Cruz, slot receivers aren't typically paid as much as outside receivers, and it seems unlikely he'll get the number he's after.

Slot receivers are not getting the type of money as outside receivers, as evidenced by the difference in the contracts of Wes Welker and Greg Jennings, so Cruz is having a hard time getting the contract he's looking for.

Patriots WR Julian Edelman still wearing a walking boot on right foot.

Kendall Hunter is running and cutting. And he is taking part in individual drills during 49ers organized team activities.

Hunter, a third-year running back, said there is no doubt in his mind he'll be ready to go when training camp opens in late July.

Hunter is expected to back up Frank Gore, but LaMichael James is also in the mix for touches.

The trade for quarterback Alex Smith might take another year or more to adequately assess, but at least for their part, the Chiefs may not feel the need to wait. Quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy came close to calling it a success after practice Thursday.

"He's been everything that we thought he was," Nagy said of Smith. "He's a true professional. He's in his (playbook) every day. He's always asking questions, trying to get better. He's being a leader for the other (quarterbacks) as well."

Smith has the potential to be a solid fantasy QB2 and could be used in a "streaming QBs" strategy during the season.

Judging from Patriots TE Jake Ballard’s work during the media’s two glimpses of the workouts, he still has some work to do in order to regain full health. He continues to run with a discernible limp and hasn’t participated fully in either workout, although he has been active and shown solid hands while generally working in offensive drills without the defense.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles left practice with toe injury. I'm told it was stepped on but he is fine.

Isaiah Pead's rookie season with the St. Louis Rams never got off the ground. His second season won't start on a promising note.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Friday that Pead will be suspended without pay for the first game of the 2013 season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

Rapoport reports the team knew about Pead's violation for months, deeming it "minor," and continues to have high expectations for the running back.

This won't help Pead beat out Daryl Richardson and Zac Stacy to be the team's top RB, though this is shaping up to be a RBBC where all three are likely to contribute.