July 2013 4for4 Player News Articles

Buccaneers HC Greg Schiano on wide receiver Vincent Jackson taking on a more versatile role last year after coming to Tampa Bay:

“Well, I think Vincent is a consummate pro and now you have a change of systems, which allows him to do some different things. If you have a veteran guy who is not a pro, like Vincent [is], he doesn’t want to change. Vincent welcomed change with open arms, he looked at it as an opportunity to be a versatile receiver, and that’s exactly what he’s become. He’ll line up anywhere, from next to the tackle all the way out to the number-one receiver, and everything between that. And that makes it hard to be able to [cover]. If the defense is trying to take him out of the game, certainly they can double him, but the more places he is, the more rules you need to double. It’s not just the two guys that are doubling him, it’s everyone else in the coverage around that. We like the versatility and we like the different things you can do with him from different spots on the field.”

Jackson's first season with the Bucs was stellar. He caught 72 passes for 1384 yards and eight TDs and had the highest YPC (19.2) of any WR in the top 50. He's on the wrong side of 30 now, but should have a few more productive years left in him. He has a good shot at finishing in the top 10 for the fourth time in five years.

At least four of the Dolphins' receivers have sustained injuries in camp, and Mike Wallace also stood on the sideline for all of team drills during Wednesday night’s practice, for reasons the team would not explain.

Wallace participated in individual drills and appeared to be moving normally. Coach Joe Philbin refused to discuss Wallace’s status or why he did not play in Monday’s scrimmage.

What’s more, Brian Hartline did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and appears to be nursing an injury to his lower leg, in the calf area. Hartline declined to discuss his injury, saying his absence from Monday’s scrimmage “was coach’s decision — nothing to do with me.” He missed all of last preseason with a calf injury.

There have also been reports that Wallace and QB Ryan Tannehill haven't shown good chemistry thus far in camp. Missing practice won't help with that.

Giants RB David Wilson and Andre Brown technically are competing for the starting spot. But Wilson is the starter in camp and should be the starter for the season. Still, the two running backs likely could share carries with the hot hand getting the majority of the carries in any given game. Brown is expected to resume his role as goal-line back as well.

Wilson is an explosive back who should see plenty of work in the Giants offense. Brown is a under-the-radar RB3 due to his presence in the passing game and at the goal line. The Giants are productive enough at the RB position to support two good fantasy backs.

Rams TE Jared Cook believes he was underutilized with Tennessee. And the Rams sold him hard on how much they would feature him in this offense the way Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis and Jason Witten are featured as Pro Bowl-caliber tight ends elsewhere.

“They were telling me about the talent that was going to be around me,” he said after practice recently. “It was just mostly about utilizing my talents and about putting me on stage a little bit more. ... And I was drinking from the water.”

Although Cook is listed as a tight end, it almost feels as if he’s taken over Danny Amendola’s slot position in the offense. But the longer you look at this offense, the more you realize this is not even remotely the same offense that Bradford was running last year with the reliable slot man.

Cook has the talent to be a TE1, but has been spotty thus far in his career. It's encouraging to hear that he's being used frequently in practice and that the team told him he'd be featured in the offense.

If Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell keeps progressing like this, no way HC Mike Tomlin will be able to keep him out of the starting lineup. He's the real deal.

Assuming he wins the RB1 job, he’ll hold third- or 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.

"I think he's practicing very efficiently," Bears HC Marc Trestman said of QB Jay Cutler. "He's throwing the ball away and there's nothing wrong with that with the defense that we have. He's checking it down a lot during the practices, all of us have seen that, finishing his progressions. He's just moving forward."

Trestman has been an OC for eight NFL seasons, and the average pass/run ratio was 57.5%/42.5%. Over the past two years, the Bears have only thrown it 50.8% of the time, so Cutler will most likely attempt more passes this season. If he's more efficient with his throws, he should have a better fantasy season. We currently have him ranked as our #16 QB.

In the snap of a quick offseason, Patriots running back Shane Vereen transitioned from one of the youngest skill-position players on the offense who couldn’t always crack the lineup into something of a veteran who will be counted on to come through.

The well-documented offensive overhaul could set up Vereen for a breakout season in 2013, though he isn’t taking it for granted.

“I think it’s just going to be a year where we have to grind it out,” Vereen said. “We have to work hard. This is an important camp for everybody. It’s going to be a year where we have to come together as a team and we have to perform.”

His speed, elusiveness in space and receiving ability could help get more chances this fall.

Considering his late-season production and the fact that Danny Woodhead is out of the way, Vereen's prospects are looking good. He gained at least 38 total yards in six of his last nine games and scored five TDs in that span. Woodhead quietly finished as fantasy football's #25 RB in 2012, so Vereen could post similar numbers if given a similar workload. The Vereen/Woodhead duo posted #14 RB numbers in standard formats and #12 RB numbers in PPR.

Jets WR Stephen Hill has looked solid in training camp, making tough catches using the benefit of his 6-foot-4 frame. He's even gotten a shout-out from coach Rex Ryan, in a cryptic kind of way.

"I'm not going to comment on Stephen, because he's doing so well I'm not going to comment on him," Ryan said on Monday.

Jeremy Kerley and Braylon Edwards figure to start if Santonio Holmes can't play Week 1, but Hill has the measurables to be a good WR in the NFL, and it's too early to give up on him, especially with the current state of the Jets QBs.

The Texans have been in desperate need of a WR2 who could threaten defenses down the field and who could be relied on to rack up catches when Andre Johnson was facing a touch matchup.

DeAndre Hopkins came into the draft as the WR whom I believed was the most NFL-ready of the early round players. "Nuk" has solid hands, has enough game speed to get behind defenses and he's showing that his ability to get out of his breaks is creating separation that the Texans didn't usually see with Kevin Walter. While it is very early into camp and the pressure will ratchet up, the thing that has impressed me most with Hopkins is that he looks very comfortable on the field and he doesn't appear to be pressing much at all.

In one-on-one drills against the CBs, Hopkins made an difficult grab in the corner of the endzone with Roc Carmichael hanging all over him. In the team portion down during redzone scrimmage against the defensive starters, Hopkins ran an out that shook Johnathan Joseph and created enough space for Matt Schaub to make a comfortable throw before Hopkins went out near the goal line. Hopkins ability to threaten defenses down the field, with quick-release fades near the end zone and over the middle should give the Texans as potent a passing attack as we have seen over the last 2 or 3 season.

For fantasy football owners out there who are devouring everything they can in preparation for their drafts/auctions, anything less than 50 catches for Hopkins would seem disappointing to me at this early stage. In reality, I think 52-60 catches is a very reasonable goal for Hopkins and I could see him with even more if Schaub continues to develop confidence in the young wideout throughout camp and in the pre-season.

We currently have Hopkins projected for 58 catches for 858 yards and 4.5 TDs, which is right in line with Zierlein's prediction. He's an interesting WR4 that's going in the early double-digit rounds.

Fans, media, and Browns front office personnel are watching WR Josh Gordon to see if he has learned from his impending two game suspension or if he will continue to make immature decisions.

On the field has never been the problem. He was dominant through the first few days of camp and is by far the most talented receiver on the roster.

However, on Monday, he was pulled from practice half way through for what coach Rob Chudzinski said was patellar tendonitis.

Injury or not, Gordon was also scolded during that same practice for not finishing plays or running after the catch. He is frequently the last receiver into position drills and has yet to work with Greg Little and Brandon Weeden after practice, despite the fact that Little and Weeden have worked on routes after every single session thus far.

There was a nine-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 14 where Gordon played like a fantasy WR2. He averaged 3.9-71-.56, which projects to #14 WR numbers. His speed is a good match for QB Brandon Weeden's big arm. The two game suspension puts a dent in his upside, as does his work ethic.

Patriots released WR Lavelle Hawkins.

The Titans ran some plays out of the pistol formation, which amounts to a half shotgun with the quarterback back from the center only a bit and the back typically straight behind him.

"It doesn't quite tip off what runs you can do when the back is offset," HC Mike Munchak said. "The offense has more options for what they can do."

QB Jake Locker ran well from it.

Jets QB Geno Smith has outplayed Mark Sanchez through the first week of training camp, pulling even or perhaps ahead in the New York Jets' quarterback competition.

"He can do more" than Sanchez, one veteran said Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Smith has sparkled with his accuracy, but he tends to hold the ball too long when facing pressure, according to Ryan. That, he said, "concerns me a little bit." The organization knows what it has in Sanchez, who was benched late last season.

Privately, the hope is that Smith can master the offense and seize the starting job. Even if he doesn't win it, Smith will be involved in the offense. Even though Tim Tebow is gone, Ryan said he remains committed to running the ball from the quarterback position.

If this is a close call, expect Smith to start as the Jets have nothing to gain by continuing to start Sanchez unless he's obviously the better option.

Eagles WR Riley Cooper's full statement about using a racial slur in a video:

“I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize. I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, to Jeffrey Lurie, to Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but there are no excuses. What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences.”

Cooper could face discipline from the league. Stay tuned.

Privately, the Jets staff is hoping that Chris Ivory, acquired in an offseason trade with the Saints, can be a 15-carry-a-game runner. But he has never played a full season, so it's a bold projection.

Chances are, Ivory will emerge as the lead back. The Jets want to have a physical running game, and Ivory is a big, physical back with the ability to make yards after contact. The Jets say he has natural hands, but he has no track record as a pass catcher, meaning he's not an every-down back.

We're not sure why having no track record as a pass catcher automatically disqualifies a player from being an every-down back. Ivory played for the Saints who never needed to use him as a pass catcher with both Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas on the roster. The big concern here is not workload, it's his health. He's being bothered by a hamstring injury, but if he's healthy, he's going to carry the ball 15-20 times a game.

Those who have watched Falcons WR Julio Jones say his route running has sharpened, that he runs patterns like he's less than six feet tall. His body control has improved greatly.

"He looks stronger at the ball," HC Mike Smith said, "and to me, there's going to be so many tightly thrown balls, the coverage is such where you gotta be strong at the ball. That's something where that stood out to me." In other words, Jones is reaching for the sky that often serves as the limit.

All the pieces remain in place in Atlanta, so Jones should continue to progress in his third season. He was #19 in total targets in 2012, but has finished #9 on a per game basis in each of his first two seasons.

Rookie tight end Travis Kelce made a highlight-reel catch for the third straight day Tuesday. But he admits learning his blocking responsibilities hasn’t come as easy.

“I guess you can kind of say blocking has been little bit on the difficult side, just because there’s more fronts and more defensive awareness in the NFL than it was in college,” said Kelce, a third-round pick from Cincinnati. “It was a lot more simple in college than it is out here.”

Rookie TEs tend to struggle, but Kelce has a chance to make a fantasy impact if the Chiefs use him primarily as a receiver.

After running for more than 1,500 yards last season in his return from a devastating knee injury, Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles now is getting a chance to showcase his versatility. He's been catching plenty of balls out of the backfield while also lining up at wide receiver for new coach Andy Reid.

Charles is now running plays that are designed for him to catch passes from new QB Alex Smith, which means a whole lot more studying. He no longer has to learn only the blocking schemes and when to pick up blitzes -- like he would if he lined up exclusively in the backfield -- but he also must read pass coverages and find open spaces down the field.

"Jamaal is a big part of it," Reid said. "He's capable of doing the same things [Brian Westbrook] did (and) [LeSean McCoy] did, as far as the passing game. He's a legitimate threat with his speed, his route-running ability and his hands. He catches the ball very easily."

We currently project Charles to catch 57 passes in 2013, which would be a career high. It sounds as if he'll be a very busy running back.

Bengals WR Mohamed Sanu is running very well, and you wouldn't know he had a season-ending foot injury in late November. But the wide receiver who stood out the most was Marvin Jones. A fifth-round pick from a year ago, he has a knack for getting open and can take off after making the catch.

QB Matt Flynn is solidifying his role as starting quarterback for the Raiders one year after losing that same job in training camp with the Seattle Seahawks.

Flynn entered camp with the inside track over Terrelle Pryor and rookie Tyler Wilson to replace Carson Palmer in Oakland and has done nothing in the first week to change that equation.

Flynn has been the most impressive of the three quarterbacks so far in training camp with the most accurate arm, a good grasp of the offense and strong leadership on the field.

Flynn has started two games in his career. In 2010, he filled in for an injured Aaron Rodgers in a tough 31-27 loss against the Patriots in Week 15, throwing for 251 yards, three TDs and an interception. In 2011, with Rodgers resting in Week 17, Flynn torched the Lions for 480 yards and six TDs (with one interception). His stock took a dive after he couldn't beat out rookie Russell Wilson, but he was dealing with an elbow injury and Wilson turned out to be pretty good. The Raiders have not been a favorable situation for QBs in recent years, but Carson Palmer was 8th in the league in pass attempts in 2012, so if Flynn finds himself in garbage time as often, he should put up decent fantasy stats. He doesn't have great arm strength, but has shown good accuracy and anticipation on his throws.

Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert returned to practice on Wednesday.

So far the reports from camp haven't been good for Gabbert. We're expecting Chad Henne to win the starting job.

Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman went into the camp off day Tuesday with his arm wrapped tightly around the starting running back spot.

Eventually, Montee Ball is to be the featured back. His proven durability and production in his four seasons at the University of Wisconsin made him the team's second-round draft pick in April. The Broncos hope he develops into a 15- to 20-carry back in the NFL.

There's the plan. But just as in constructing a home, it doesn't go from blueprint to flipping the remote from the living room couch overnight. It's built in stages.

"How it moves forward — we don't know enough about Montee Ball yet," HC John Fox said. "We know what style he has. I've been very impressed with his football character. And you do find out pretty fast at that position."

After Colin Kaepernick supplanted Alex Smith at quarterback last season, Vernon Davis' receiving numbers dwindled. He caught six passes for 61 yards in the final six regular-season games and vented his frustration. After diligently developing a rapport with Smith, he said, he would have to start anew with Kaepernick.

That relationship began to take root in the playoffs when Davis caught 12 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown in three games.

It's carried into 49ers training camp.

Davis has been the perfect match for Kaepernick's ever-improving long ball, and he has been by far the most consistent deep threat in an offense that, to this point, has lacked any firepower at wide receiver apart from veteran Anquan Boldin.

Davis this summer predominantly has worked out of his familiar tight end spot, where he can be used in both the passing game and as a run blocker. But he's also taken a few snaps from the slot position.

Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten are certainly "safer," but Davis's upside makes him tough to pass on in the 5th/6th rounds. He followed up a 6-106-1 line against the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game with 8-104 in the Super Bowl. When he saw 6+ targets in 2012, he averaged 5.3-88-.83. Those are Gronk-type numbers.

Early in camp, Redskins WR Santana Moss appears to have his legs under him, similarly to last year. That’s a good sign for the 34-year-old.

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton entered training camp in a competition with free-agent addition Darrius Heyward-Bey to become the No. 2 receiver and still is likely to serve as the team’s primary punt returner.

So far, new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has used Hilton all over the field. He’s lined up on the outside to the left and the right, and he’ll also see time in the slot.

No matter where he plays, or what unit he’s running with, he’s been consistently turning heads.

“That guy’s a freak,” head coach Chuck Pagano said. “I’d hate to be the guy on the opposite side of the ball. I know our defensive guys make sure they know where he’s at all the time. He just keeps growing and growing and growing.”

Don't read too much into Hilton playing behind DHB in practice. If they haven't already, the Colts will realize that Hilton is the better player and will rotate him with Heyward-Bey and get him on the field in three-WR formations. Hilton was a good WR3 in both standard and PPR formats even though he played 65% of the snaps that Donnie Avery played. His ADP is sliding, making him a great value in the 8th/9th round.

Though Packers RB Eddie Lacy declined to reveal his exact weight, he said his coaches have no issue with his weight or conditioning.

"I'm at a weight where I'm comfortable at and the coaching staff feels as though they're comfortable where I'm at," Lacy said after Tuesday's practice, which was his best of camp so far. "So as far as that's concerned, we're all on the same page."

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, Lacy takes pride in his size. "I'm a power back," he said.

Said coach Mike McCarthy: "If we had any concerns about any of our guys conditioning-wise, they wouldn't be on the field."

A video that circulated after the picture showed Lacy looking spry catching a pass out of the backfield and turning upfield, so this is a non-issue.

The working assumption after the Denver Broncos drafted Montee Ball, in Round 2 of this year’s draft, was that Ball would make his way quickly to the top of the team’s depth chart at running back. With training camp just underway, nothing has changed that line of thinking.

The MMQB’s Peter King tweeted Friday from the Broncos’ camp home of Dove Valley: “Ball better than (Ronnie Hillman), to win job eventually”.

“[Ball] is a running back who will be expected to carry a big part of the load this year, especially with the cutting of Willis McGahee in the offseason,” King said. “Talking to Ball, he thinks that he will be most suited to help early on in the passing game, because at Wisconsin that was the strength of his game. Look for him to have a few wheel routes, maybe a couple of choice routes out of the backfield with Peyton Manning. They’ve been working on that a lot in minicamps.”

King is a plugged-in columnist so after a visit to Broncos camp, his words carry weight. Ball should eventually be a lead back in this offense, but there may be a role for Hillman and Knowshon Moreno as well. Consider Ball a fantasy RB3 with upside.

Redskins TE Fred Davis said he feels great and that there is no inkling of soreness in his surgically-repaired Achilles’ tendon. Davis showed off his speed, getting behind safeties Reed Doughty and DeJon Gomes on separate plays to make impressive catches.

Over the last 19 games, Davis has averaged 6.9 fantasy points, which would have been the 11th-highest average in 2012. The problem is that he has only played 19 games in two seasons. (He missed four games in 2011 due to suspension after failing multiple drug tests.) His Achilles is obviously a concern, but it's a good thing that his situation isn't changing for the worse. If both he and Robert Griffin III are healthy, we can expect low-end TE1 numbers along the lines of Jermichael Finley.

Redskins RB Chris Thompson sat out practice today after being sidelined with soreness in his surgically-repaired left knee. Thompson said that his knee felt “about the same” as it did yesterday. HC Mike Shanahan said that Thompson “looked a little sluggish,” and so the decision was made to hold him out of practice to avoid putting stress on his knee.

As impressive as fourth-round draft pick Johnathan Franklin of UCLA has looked carrying the ball -- his speed and shiftiness have been on display daily -- he appeared overmatched on Tuesday morning during a one-on-one drill that called for the running back to block a blitzing linebacker.

Franklin had all kinds of trouble with outside linebacker Nick Perry. To be sure, Perry has a 60-pound advantage over the 205-pound Franklin, but the Packers expect the running back to at least slow down the blitzer’s path to the quarterback. Instead, Franklin allowed Perry to overpower him. Later in the same drill, Franklin fared no better against rookie outside linebacker Donte Savage.

“I felt like the outside linebackers clearly got the best of the running backs today,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after practice. “We were too high. We weren’t sitting down. We didn’t have our head up. So it’ll be good tape to watch. So that’s a drill I’m sure we’ll do again.”

Pass protection is important because Franklin is viewed as a possible third-down back in the Packer offense. It could take a while for the Packer RB hierarchy to shake out.

Titans WR coach Shawn Jefferson continues to ride Justin Hunter during practice, demanding more intensity and mental toughness.

This is not a good sign for Hunter in terms of his making an impact in his rookie season. He's going to have to improve quickly with Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright and Nate Washington ahead of him on the depth chart.

Raiders HC Dennis Allen believes there is one in his young, talented group. He just hasn’t revealed himself.

“I don’t think we have a go-to guy yet,” Allen said after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m waiting for someone to jump out and be the guy. We have a talented, young group that’s working hard, but it’s going to be a work in progress.”

Allen's words were difficult for Denarius Moore hear. After all, he considered himself the No. 1 guy.

"It can be discouraging on my behalf," Moore said. "I've always been the one to lead by example and be a positive type. If he says he's still looking for a go-to wide receiver, it's up to us to step up and play well when called upon."

We believe that given his skill set, Moore holds the most fantasy value of all the WRs in Oakland. We have him ranked #39 in standard formats. Rod Streater is a solid late-round pick, especially in PPR formats.

Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin hasn't torn things up by any stretch, and will have to show something in the preseason games to stave off the mounting label of bust. Donnie Avery is active, but can he stay healthy? That's a big if.

The Chiefs are likely to throw a lot under new HC Andy Reid, so whoever wins the WR2 job should be fantasy relevant. The team signed Avery in free agency, but Baldwin has been running ahead of Avery in camp.

Recent national reports suggest tight end 49 TE Vernon Davis has moved to wide receiver. That has not been the case at all.

Davis took part in all the individual drills at tight end. Then -- as he usually does -- he ran a handful of routes with the wide receivers at the end of the individual period.

Once the 49ers went into 7-on-7 and team drills, Davis lined up tight end with no snaps at wide receiver. He played one snap in the slot.

Seems like Davis' usual routine of running routes with the WRs could be getting blown out of proportion. For now, it looks like Davis is taking most of his snaps at TE, with perhaps an occasional play in the slot. Rookie Vance McDonald was expected to get a long look in camp, but right now he doesn't appear to be taking over for a Davis move to WR.

49 WR Chad Hall had several nice plays, including a deep out in which he created about five yards of separation against veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to catch the QB Collin Kaepernick pass at the sideline.

Hall has been making headlines early in camp. He was helped as A.J. Jenkins, who has gotten off to a slow start after a solid offseason program, watched most of practice from the side after appearing to sustain a hamstring strain.

49 WR Anquan Boldin is definitely Collin Kaepernick's go-to guy in training camp.

His receptions Tuesday included a deep post against cornerback Lowell Rose and safety Eric Reid, as well as a pass that traveled 35 yards in the air over the coverage of safety C.J. Spillman.

The Patriots did a ball-security drill Tuesday in which an offensive player carried two footballs across the width of the field with a pair of defenders attempting to dislodge them.

Running back Stevan Ridley, who has had fumbling issues in the past, had one ball stripped. We'll continue to closely watch his ball handling throughout the preseason.

Patriots QB Tim Tebow had his best day of work in training camp, showing steady improvement from recent performances. He showed good arm strength and accuracy on throws down the field, and looks to be more decisive with each live rep.

In addition, the team walked through some read option work early in practice, something Tebow's movement skills can be used in. From afar, it seems as if Tebow's work with offensive assistant coach Brian Daboll is paying early dividends.

Patriots rookie receiver Kenbrell Thompkins was arguably the best player on the field Tuesday, making several noteworthy grabs and showing precise route running. Thompkins both stretched the field vertically and impressed with his underneath route running. His ability to set up defenders in press coverage with nimble footwork at the line of scrimmage continues to stand out

Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew went to work this offseason, trying to get his body right and determined to correct the issues that plagued him on the field.

A self-proclaimed "burger man," Pettigrew revamped his diet, incorporating more grilled chicken and vegetables into the menu. Combined with commitment to the weight room, the veteran tight end has trimmed down and has a more defined physique.

"Brandon looks as good as I've ever seen him physically," coach Jim Schwartz said earlier in the offseason. "He's very accountable. Like all our players, they work hard to identify their weaknesses and try to work to correct those."

Pettigrew gets his share of targets and is a big part of the Lions offense, but he also struggled with drops last year. He cracks our top-20 TEs at 18 making him a low-end TE2. The potential is certainly there and with an ADP of the 14th round he'll likely be available if you want a second TE on your team.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin announced via Twitter on Tuesday night that he will undergo hip surgery.

It's uncertain how long Harvin will be sidelined. NFL Network reported early estimations are Harvin will be out three to four months, meaning he would be sidelined until at least November.

Harvin was in New York on Tuesday to receive a second opinion on his injured hip from Dr. Bryan Kelly.

If the 3-4 month timeline is accurate, the best case scenario for a return would be early November, which means Harvin would miss the first eight games of the season. A return in four months means he might be able to play in Week 13. Harvin's follow-up tweet sounded as if he was resigned to miss the season, but depending on the nature of the surgery, he could return for a late-season run. From a fantasy perspective, he's only worth a late round draft-and-stash in leagues that have larger (18+) roster sizes unless he's expected to return midseason. It's obviously a blow to Russell Wilson's upside, though we would still expect him to post top 12 QB numbers given the way he finished his rookie season. At WR, Sidney Rice, (especially) Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin will benefit. Rice is in Switzerland for a non-surgical procedure on his knee, but the team doesn't seem too worried about his Week 1 availability at this point. Rice and Tate finished 35th and 41st in PPR formats in 2012, so they are both definitely on the fantasy radar in the later rounds. Whatever plans the Seahawks may have had to open up the passing game with Harvin probably have been scrapped -- expect a run-heavy offense that features the highly productive Marshawn Lynch.

How is Giants WR Victor Cruz doing so far? Said HC Tom Coughlin:

"He's knocking some rust off. He definitely is. He’s made some really nice plays. He’s coming along and he’s definitely going to get there. I wouldn’t tell you he’s (there). He’s working. He’s out here. We know that’s the formula for him and he’ll work his way through camp and he’ll be ready to go."

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll revealed Thursday that WR Sidney Rice has left training camp to undergo a non-surgical procedure on his knee in Switzerland. It's not unusual for players to travel to Europe for the blood-manipulation treatment known as Regenokine, though Carroll declined to give specifics in this case.

Rice's visit has been planned for awhile. He's leaving now because this is the earliest the clinic could accommodate his appointment.

This came out of no where and is cause for a little concern with the status of Percy Harvin up in the air. But, Carroll is reportedly optimistic that Rice will not miss any games, even of the preseason variety, and expects him to return fresh and in better condition, according to sources.

The Jets current running-back situation isn't good. Chris Ivory (hamstring) still hasn't practiced, Mike Goodson isn't in camp (no one is saying when or if he'll show up) and Joe McKnight seems to develop a daily ailment, leaving Bilal Powell and John Griffin. Actually, Griffin has demonstrated some cut-back ability, but they'll need the big dogs to make this running game go.

Jets WR Santonio Holmes continues to rehab his surgically repaired foot, but people in the organization are losing confidence that he'll be ready for Week 1. This is troublesome, although not unexpected.

Based on the early returns, Jets rookie QB Geno Smith will make this a tough decision for HC Rex Ryan, John Idzik & Co. If Smith can take it to the pre-season games, he just might win the job. But there's a long way to go and Smith needs to do a better job of getting rid of the ball under pressure. But, hey, at least the competition is legit.

Jets WR Stephen Hill has improved their route running, pass catching and separation ability, allowing the brass to feel a bit better about the wide-receiving situation.

It looked bleak after minicamp, which turned into a drop-fest. There were some drops Monday, but the arrow is pointed up. HC Rex Ryan doesn't want to jinx it. Asked about Hill, he said, "I'm not going to comment on Stephen because he's doing so well."

Kevin Kolb got the majority of the snaps at quarterback during the team's first training camp practice in pads today.

By unofficial count, Kolb took 38 snaps, EJ Manuel 22 and Jeff Tuel eight during the 11-on-11 session. (We may have missed a play or two while writing to keep up with the Bills' no-huddle offense.)

Manuel arguably threw the ball better than Kolb, although the veteran probably saw more blitzes than the rookie. Kolb underthrew an open Stevie Johnson on a deep ball, got a pass intercepted by Stephon Gilmore on a throw-away down the sideline and had near pickoffs by Gilmore and T.J. Heath. He also beat the blitz with a good quick throw to C.J. Spiller.

Colts WR Griff Whalen has become an immediate fan favorite.

Luck’s former Stanford teammate, who is wearing Austin Collie’s old No. 17, has been steady for two days. He was a good receiver last preseason, too, but that was against third- and fourth-string guys who were looking for work at the end of preseason.

What will be telling is how Whalen does against starters and backups.

Colts TE Coby Fleener was outstanding Monday.

Let’s see if we notice those second-year performers more. It’s often been said NFL players grow the most from the first to the second years. You had the feeling last year about both of these guys that the Colts could get more out of them.

Cotls WR T.Y. Hilton was outstanding Monday in camp.

Let’s see if we notice those second-year performers more. It’s often been said NFL players grow the most from the first to the second years. You had the feeling last year about both of these guys that the Colts could get more out of them.

This comes off the news that Hilton was running on the second team and behind Darrius Heyward-Bey, who now is said to be dropping passes. It may not be long before Hilton overtakes Heyward-Bey.

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams ended up not getting second opinion on his knee. Feeling better. Should be back at practice Thursday. Team off Wednesday.

Perhaps the most noticeable improvement Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill has made thus far from last year to this year has nothing to do with his ability to read a defense and make a throw but rather with his comfort level in his new role as a leader.

"He looks and sounds like a guy who is exponentially more comfortable than last year," says The Finsiders host and preseason play-by-play man Jesse Agler. "There’s a confidence, a sense of ‘I got this’ that he seems to have."

The way Titans RB Chris Johnson sees it, if he’s rushing for big yards, the Titans are winning. And the numbers bear him out. During his five-year pro career, the Titans are 24-9 in games when he rushed for 100 or more yards and 18-30 when he didn’t. The record jumps to 7-1 when he hits 150 yards. Whether they are building a lead or protecting it, the Titans are a better team when Johnson is running for chunks of yardage.

“Every year I want to rush for 2,000 yards, and I feel like if we are doing what is right and we are making plays on Sunday and if I get to that yardage, I feel like we can be a playoff team and hopefully win a Super Bowl,” he said.

The article goes on to say that coach Mike Munchak has made no secret of his desire to get back to a dominant ground game that controls the ball and keeps the Titans defense off the field. That means Johnson figures to be busy. The team also signed Shonn Green, who will likely get short yardage work (he was 11-for-11 on third downs last year) and maybe even goal line carries.

Colts RB Ahmad Bradshaw says he expects to be back in a couple of weeks. As a veteran, he said he doesn't necessarily need preseason game reps.

The competition at running back for the Broncos appeared to remain open, as Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball and Knowshon Moreno all took repetitions with the first team. Ball had the biggest run in the early going.

QB Peyton Manning has spoken highly of Ball in the offseason, saying the team is going to count on him a lot, but HC John Fox is more of a committee guy. We'll hopefully see some things straighten out as camp progresses, because right now this situation looks like a three-headed attack.

How worried is Eli Manning about the groin injury that has limited Hakeem Nicks?

Manning said, "Hakeem is just being smart. He is coming off some injuries. He's going to want to take it slow and do what he's got to do to make sure when he is out there he is full speed and prepared for these preseason games and start the regular season coming in healthy. We have some time and it is early on and he has been limited in some practices over the spring and stuff, so we want to make sure he goes at his pace to keep him healthy for the year."

Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly has been plotting a football revolution since he was hired this winter to turn around the team's fortunes.

His plan is to continue the philosophy he perfected as the coach at Oregon: to run every play as quickly as possible with no huddles and no stoppages in play, all aimed at leaving the defense doubled over in exhaustion. This "up-tempo" strategy, already popular at the college level, looks like it could change the pro game forever. There's just one small problem standing in Kelly's way: referees.

As Kelly mans his first full week of NFL training camp, installing a high-revving Ferrari engine into the Eagles' offense, league insiders say there are exactly zero indications NFL referees will be willing participants in the Kelly era. The NFL, they say, has a long-standing pace at which they do things between plays and the referees "aren't going to change just to accommodate someone's offense," said Mike Pereira, a former NFL vice president of officiating who is now an analyst for Fox Sports.

"We have to make sure teams understand that they don't control the tempo, our officials do," said NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino. "We're going through our normal ball mechanics, we aren't going to rush [unless] it's in the two minute drill."

No reason to drop the value of any Eagles due to this, because, chances are Kelly has already accounted and adjusted. But, it may be interesting to watch what kind of effects it has on what Kelly wants to do offensively. As it stands right now, LeSean McCoy is really the only highly-valued Eagle from a fantasy perspective.

The one bright spot in the Patriots receiver room so far has been Danny Amendola, who is clearly the most polished receiver on the field. If he can play 16 games like Wes Welker always did, there’s little reason to think he can’t top 100 catches this season.

“He’s a very good receiver,” coach Bill Belichick told Sirius XM in a rare moment of public praise. “He can play outside, play inside. He can run after the catch, has returned kicks. Has good ball skills. Good concentration. Tough kid. We’re excited to have him and we’ll see how it all fits together. I know the quarterbacks are gaining a lot of confidence in his route-running and catching ability.”

If Amendola can stay healthy, we project him for 90 catches. He'll have more value in PPR formats and right now we consider him a low-end WR2 in that format, coming in at 19th overall. His ADP is the fifth round.

Patriot QB Tom Brady’s attendance in the offseason program had slipped in recent years, as he has morphed into more of a family man and worldwide icon, but this offseason was different.

Brady stayed in town this spring and put in time with his new teammates. Last week, he reported to training camp four days early, along with the rookies.

Brady didn’t suddenly rediscover a love of conditioning drills. He knew that for the Patriots to be successful this season, he better start working with his new cast of receivers, who lack experience.

“I’m just willing to do whatever it takes,” he said.

Despite the signing of WR Danny Amendola, Brady has to deal with the loss of TE Aaron Hernandez, TE Rob Gronkowski (at least for a little) and WR Wes Welker heading into this season. From a fantasy standpoint, his stock has slipped at bit. Ranked 8th on our QB list, he's getting drafted in the 5th round, which is probably a bit higher than he should be. Other QBs around him like Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III are going in the seventh round. Brady is a bit of a risk this year despite his track record. The Pats will likely have to run more in 2013. Brady should still be productive and a low-end top-10 QB, but certainly don't reach for him considering how deep the position is this year.

Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was held out of team drills with patellar tendinitis. In other words, he has a knee injury that gets better with rest and rarely results in a surgery.

Coach Rob Chudzinski said Gordon had tendinitis before Monday's practice.

"He started out, tried to push through it, but we pulled him and sat down him down for the rest of practice," Chudzinski said. "I'm not too concerned about it. It shouldn't be a big deal."

During spring workouts, Texans RB Ben Tate acknowledged this is a big year for him, a chance to prove himself and earn a nice new contract. But he said he’s not using the looming contract year as motivation. Not anymore at least.

“It was motivation in the offseason to work but now I’m here, it’s time to go,” he said. “I’m thinking about football, football things and football only.”

Tate's best year came in 2011 when he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards as a backup to Arian Foster, and signs point to the team giving him more work this year - as long as he's able to take the field. Tate has motivation to stay healthy because he will likely move on and earn a starting job somewhere next year if he does. He's obviously a guy to take if you own Foster, but in keeper leagues he's worth a shot as a potential player to protect into 2014. We rank Tate 39th with an ADP of the 10th round. Foster owners may want to get him a round or two before that though...

Bills QB Kevin Kolb has an impressive description of Robert Woods as a receiver.

“Stud. I mean, legitimately a stud,” said Kolb. “I’ve bragged on him a lot in the last two days and really through camp. I mean, what I see from him, I’ve been with some really good rookie receivers. I mean some really good ones."

Woods has made a handful of plays in the first two practices and his knowledge of the game at his position looks to be well beyond his status of an NFL rookie. To have Kolb mentioning Woods in the same breath as DeSean Jackson is saying an awful lot about what he believes Woods is capable of as a rookie.

The Jaguars limited the amount of reps for top wide receiver Cecil Shorts in practice Monday and Mike Brown took advantage of the opportunity.

“It gives those other guys an opportunity to go with the 1’s and Mike Brown made the best of it,’’ HC Gus Bradley said. “He’s a guy that’s had a couple of good practices in a row. I keep telling these guys when you compete, it shows up on tape, and he has done that.’’

Don’t be surprised if the Wildcat is part of the Jaguars’ offense this season.

The Jaguars used Denard Robinson, who played quarterback at the University of Michigan, on three Wildcat plays in practice Monday.

The Jags are going to have to get creative, especially with Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne as their regular QB options. Robinson is going to be an interesting player to watch. He likely won't have a lot of fantasy value in standard leagues, but in deep leagues he could. However, if you have to play him as a QB in your lineup that would hurt his value.

It's been well documented that Vikings Adrian Peterson was agitated that he fell 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record a year ago. And in order to raise the bar for 2013, Peterson has announced a personal goal to chase a 2,500-yard season.

But that's not the only milestone the always motivated running back keeps in the back of his mind. Peterson also wants to some day leave the game as the NFL's all-time leading rusher, a record currently held by Emmitt Smith.

Peterson, with 8,849 yards, is approaching the halfway mark to Smith's 18,355-yard record.

Vikings third-year receiver Stephen Burton had an eye-catching day. Burton flashed throughout the afternoon, delivering big plays in a variety of ways.

His afternoon ended with a 15-yard TD grab from Matt Cassel during 11-on-11 red zone action. Earlier in the afternoon, Burton hauled in a bomb down the left sideline from Cassel and also capitalized during 7-on-7 work with a precise route up the seam that left the Vikings’ nickel defense addled and resulted in another long score.

Burton will be fighting for a roster spot as the preseason moves on with four other receivers – Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright – all certain to make the team. The former seventh-round pick said Jennings’ arrival has accelerated his development.

It's safe to say Vikings QB Christian Ponder is still consistently inconsistent when it comes to throwing a football. Part of the problem on Monday came from the pressure Ponder felt up front as the players put pads on for the first time in camp. Granted, no one can hit Ponder, and there was no tackling, but Ponder had difficulty throwing accurately or sometimes at all as the defense swarmed around him.

In today's 11-on-11 competition, Ponder completed 4 of 12 passes. He was "sacked" twice, had one pass batted down at the line of scrimmage and threw another ball away because of pressure.

Ponder also had a deep ball to Jerome Simpson come down about four yards out of bounds. Three of Ponder's completions went to Jarius Wright, including two that were decent throws for touchdowns in red-zone situations.

The story also noted that backup Matt Cassel was 8-for-11...

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala over the weekend that Ben Roethlisberger still had a little bit of discomfort in his surgically repaired knee entering training camp.

The quarterback insisted Monday that his knee is a non-issue.

"It feels great," Roethlisberger told Solomon Wilcots on NFL Network's NFL Total Access. "I was excited to get back here. Took a big break after the surgery, took a couple weeks off, and I did that on purpose so I could have time to rest."

Hard to miss TE Rob Housler at Cardinals camp. Buzz about him in locker room too.

Housler continues to get noticed and cracks our top-20 TEs coming in at 16th. The play of QB Carson Palmer should help Housler make a lot of fantasy rosters this season.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said RB Arian Foster's return from a strained calf and PUP list: "I'm hoping midweek, something like that, that he is back on the field."

Rookie LeVeon Bell was the running back on Steelers first team offense for 4 of its 5 snaps in team drills to end practice. Carried the ball 3 times.

Bell is ranked 21st on our RB list but he has a chance to be a real solid RB2 if he wins the job. We think he'll be able to beat out Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman when all is said and done. OC Todd Haley believes Bell can be a three-down back. His ADP is currently the fifth round.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Monday that FB Vonta Leach was re-signing with the team.

Good news for Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce. This news will be also welcome in the locker room, perhaps even cheering up a "disconsolate" Joe Flacco. The Ravens offense looks like it will rely on the running game more following the loss of tight end Dennis Pitta, and Leach should only help matters there.

Jets running back Chris Ivory (hamstring) did individual drills, but not team drills on Monday.

Raiders WR Denarius Moore occasionally flashes the ability that made him such an impressive rookie.

The Raiders receivers, as a whole, haven't been impressive so far with a ton of drops so far early in camp.

Raiders WR Jacoby Ford had an encouraging offseason but is hurt again with an undisclosed injury. No one is sure how long he'll be out. A quick return would be big.

Raiders WR Rod Streater has been the most consistent player and could emerge as the go-to receiver for QB Matt Flynn and Co. because they're relatively certain he'll come down with the ball.

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams stopped work midway through Sunday afternoon’s practice because of his knee. An MRI disclosed no damage and Williams described it as a flareup.

So did coach Bruce Arians, who looked unhappy on Monday when discussing Williams’ situation.

“Ryan’s going to get a second opinion,” Arians said. “We’ll see when he comes back. It just flared up. There’s no injury; the MRI’s clean.”

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is working today in practice.

Plagued by dropped passes, inconsistent performances and flashes of immaturity in his first two seasons, Browns WR Greg Little seems to be carrying himself a bit differently than before.

“I just understand the profession of the business and the time that goes into preparation,” said Little, a second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. “I understand what you put in is what you’re going to get out. It’s a long season, and we’re just going to prepare for this uphill climb and this journey."

Little is part of a young Browns offense that showed signs of improvement as the season went on last year. He ranks just 55th on our list and likely won't get drafted in a lot of leagues, but don't forget his name as the season goes on. He'll have a chance to step up as Josh Gordon will sit out a two-game suspension.

This summer, 49er QB Colin Kaepernick is showing amazing touch on some of the underneath and swing throws he struggled to execute and his teammates struggled to catch a year ago.

Kaepernick has vastly improved the touch on his passes -- even since the end of last season. He continues to drive passes down the field to tight end Vernon Davis and some of his wide receivers.

Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III says he will wear a brace on his surgically repaired knee for the entire 2013 season.

Griffin was asked after practice today whether he’ll protect his knee with a brace for the rest of his career, and although he said he hasn’t decided that, he has already decided to wear a brace for at least this year.

“I don’t know if I’ll wear it forever. I know I’ll wear it for the rest of the season,” Griffin said.

Obviously a brace is going to hinder him in some capacity, and unfortunately running is a big part of RGIII's game - which all leads to fantasy production. He's still a pretty good option when you consider his ADP is the seventh round, but it's something to think about if you're waiting on QB and thought about taking Griffin.

It was hard not to notice RB Johnathan Franklin in the Packers’ first padded workout Sunday. The rookie stood out most at a position that general manager Ted Thompson augmented with two of his first five draft picks this year.

“From what I’ve seen so far, it looks like (Franklin) is going to be a pretty decent player,” said Josh Sitton, the Packers’ left guard. “Haven’t seen a whole lot yet, but he’s a shifty little son of a gun.”

Coach Mike McCarthy has vowed that the Packers will run the ball better this year than they have under his stewardship.

Franklin is in a battle with fellow rookie Eddie Lacy and so far Franklin appears to be off to the quicker start. It looks as if both RBs will play roles in the running game and with Lacy the bigger of the two, it's assumed he could have more value as a short-yardage back. Seems a lot needs to be sorted out yet, but it's hard to see either back having higher than low-end RB2 value.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert suffered a right ankle sprain late in practice on Monday.

Gabbert dropped back to pass and got his feet tangled up with lineman Uche Nwaneri. The QB fell to the ground quickly and then got up and was helped off the field with trainers.

Gabbert walked to the Jaguars cool zone under his own power, but was carted to the locker room.

Gabbert was struggling badly in camp leading up to the injury and head coach Gus Bradley is apparently already frustrated. Locked in a battle with Chad Henne for the starting job, this could be a blow to his chances if the injury keeps him out of action. Both Gabbert and Henne are buried deep on our QB list.

Tight end Ed Dickson will take on a larger receiving role now that Dennis Pitta is out for the season, and he made a couple of nice catches in the red zone, an area where Pitta was expected to be a key contributor.

Dickson has talent and certainly the confidence, but with Pitta done for the season, the Ravens will need him to be this reliable.

We now have Dickson ranked as a low-end TE2 on our list, coming in at 19th. He's looked good in the red zone through the early stages of camp, but we're not quite buying in to the fact that he'll end up with similar numbers we expected from Pitta, who was ranked in our top-10 before the injury.

Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor is throwing the ball with the kind of zip, accuracy and touch that weren’t evident much his first two seasons, let alone during offseason workouts.

Chalk it up to a player that refuses to be told that he can’t succeed as a quarterback in the NFL and works as hard as any of the 88 players on the roster.

Raiders TE David Ausberry is one of a handful of players vying for the starting spot created by the departure of TE Brandon Myers.

Ausberry and TE Richard Gordon are the returning tight ends from last year’s team. Therefore, it’s logical to assume that they have an edge over a cast of other hopefuls.

The other cast of hopefuls include: Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera, as well as Brian Leonhardt and Jeron Mastrud. We like Ausberry to win the job too, but rank him as just a TE3 at this point. Ausberry has looked good early in camp though.

The Eagles have only had two full-squad training camp workouts so far. But ... TE Zach Ertz has gotten some attention for the way he’s played.

Ertz will likely stay behind Brent Celek and even utility guy James Casey, but all three have a chance to earn more playing time with the loss of WR Jeremy Maclin and the team unlikely to go outside the organization to replace him. Still, of the three, Celek is most likely to have the best fantasy value at this point.

He’s had his shares of ups and downs through the first few days of training camp, but Titans quarterback Jake Locker probably had his best overall session on Sunday.

Locker had a bit of a rough start in the practice, completing only three of his first seven pass attempts in 11-on-11 drills. But by the end of the night, he was an unofficial 10-for-17 in the 11-on-11.

Overall he looked better than he had in previous sessions.

Locker's play is what is keeping down the value of WRs like Kendall Wright, Nate Washington and Kenny Britt. It's a pretty good core of WRs that have fantasy roster potential, but until we see more consistent play from Locker, starting any of these guys can be a bit of a risk.

Since drafting him in the second round of the 2010 draft, the Chiefs have tried WR Dexter McCluster as a running back, slot receiver, wide receiver and kick returner, but injuries and issues with ball security have been a problem.

Still, offensive coordinator Doug Pederson is determined to find ways to get the ball to McCluster, who caught 52 passes for 452 yards last year and carried 12 times for 70 yards.

The team is looking to create mismatches, and McCluster has the ability to do that. He could have some fantasy value in this offense, but it will likely come in very deep leagues.

The Chiefs signed free-agent wide receiver Donnie Avery with the hope he would be the speed receiver opposite Dwayne Bowe and for competition with Jon Baldwin. But Avery, who missed much of the offseason program because of an ankle injury, has had an issue with dropped passes and worked with the second unit.

We keep waiting for Baldwin's breakout season and this could very well be it - if things stay the same - and with a pass-heavy coach in Andy Reid and a new QB in Alex Smith. He's still nothing more than a late-round flier at this point and there's still a good chance Avery gets a shot to win the job.

From the looks of 49er practice, one of the newbies, second-round tight end Vance McDonald from Rice, could get a very long look in the preseason.

Reported by Peter King, this makes a lot of sense if the team plans to use Vernon Davis more as a wide receiver. Keep an eye on this situation as McDonald could climb the charts quickly.

49ers Running back Kendall Hunter (Achilles') was sprinting - like a blur - on a side field. His speed seems to be back. All that's left is to practice cutting and change of direction.

There is quiet buzz about Seahawks WR Golden Tate in the coaching and front office, with every belief that he is ready to make a leap into the upper echelon of receivers here and not just a guy who flashes remarkable skills but then fades in and out of games.

HC Pete Carroll said the Seahawks have Tate in pretty much every package they run, and will use him not just deep but in the shallow, tempo passing game, across the middle.

"We're using him in everything," the coach said.

The comments about Tate come as the majority of the article is about the team waiting to find out the fate Percy Harvin. Harvin will miss time even with the best news and as a result Tate has a real chance to emerge as a dependable WR for the Seahawks, and perhaps even a serviceable one on your fantasy team. Right now he's ranked 70th and likely won't get drafted in standard leagues, but keep an eye on his stock with any news about Harvin.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard is going to be playing quite a bit this season as the team's regular third-down back. Oh, the Bengals like the way he runs. But the only way a back is going to play is if he knows the pass protections and Bernard not only appears to know them, he has no problem executing them.

What is pretty clear is the Bengals haven't had a compact, do-it-all back that can scat like this in the Marvin Lewis era.

Bernard is getting a lot of hype this offseason and is getting taken in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts according to ADP reports. He'll have a ton of PPR value and if he keeps trending up he'll surely cut into BenJarvus Green-Ellis' workload.

Jets WR Jeremy Kerley has yet to hit his stride in camp, and had a bad drop Sunday.

Jets QB Geno Smith was sharp, completing four of six passes (one drop). He was sacked twice. He made the best throw of the day, a 50-yard strike to WR Stephen Hill, who is having a nice camp. Because of his athleticism, Smith brings a different dimension to the offense. It showed up in this practice on a couple of running plays.

Smith said he's "pretty comfortable" on designed runs, claiming he's up for anything. At West Virginia, he wasn't particularly effective. You get the impression that he'd rather be known as a pocket passer.

Smith and Mark Sanchez are alternating reps and so far the competition has been very good with both QBs playing well. Neither will likely be a great fantasy option.

Dolphins WR Armon Binns suffered torn ACL and MCL today. Out for season. Likely would have been Fins' No. 4 receiver.

Giants RB Andre Brown saw only a handful of reps on Saturday, but he shared first-team reps with David Wilson on Sunday.

Nick Toon, the Saints' fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2012, not only has he come back completely healthy but he has returned stronger and wiser and that has been obvious during the first three days of preseason camp.

Much like last year, the 6-foot-4 receiver has shown flashes of being a big-play receiving threat in the Saints' offense. His size and speed have thrust him in the mix for one of the third or fourth receiver spots.

Toon stood out during Sunday's practice, the first session in pads, making several impressive catches from Drew Brees and other quarterbacks.

Toon is getting time without Marques Colston participating right now. He's doing his best to create a logjam among Saints receivers, which already consists of Colston, stud TE Jimmy Graham and Lance Moore, along with RB Darren Sproles.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com said he's been asked a couple of times and doesn't think RB Ryan Williams will be able to unseat Rashard Mendenhall as the starter.

Urban added that he thinks Williams has a chance to get playing time, especially because Williams' blocking ability has already been praised by Carson Palmer. But we've had previous news posts about Mendenhall being an every-down back so that will likely keep Williams' value in check.

Ravens GM Newsome didn't waste much time Sunday making a move to bolster the team's tight end depth chart. Veteran Visanthe Shiancoe, who visited Baltimore's training camp on Friday and watched practice with Newsome, was signed to a one-year deal and took part in a portion of the Ravens' afternoon practice.

Shiancoe, who was with New England for a handful of games last season, may not be Baltimore's only addition at tight end this summer. As Newsome took pains to point out, the Ravens have been known to wait until late in the preseason to make a significant move or two, and might do so again.

Hakeem Nicks looked good for a second day in practice before experiencing tightness in his groin.

Nicks watched the last part of practice from the sideline.

"I guess he got a little tightness in the groin and they held him [out]," coach Tom Coughlin said.

Last year, Nicks labored through foot and knee injuries. While this seems minor, it at least serves as a reminder of the risks that come with Nicks. We consider him a top-10 WR talent when healthy, but rank him as a WR2 heading into drafts. Rueben Randle is the Giants WR3 and would be the guy to get increased time. He's one of the rare WR handcuffs who can step in for Nicks if need be but also be startable in a pinch as a flex or WR3.

Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson had an inconsistent practice Sunday, which fits what HC Mike Shanahan said about him afterward: “He’s got to be more consistent, not only blocking but catching the short route, the deep route.”

Hankerson dropped a pass in the end zone after separating from the cornerback on a go route during one-on-one drills.

“He has to have that concentration level,” Shanahan said. “He has to be mentally tough to make those plays in practice, which will carry over to games.”

Bears RB Matt Forte is looking forward to a larger role in the passing game, not just more receptions, but more yards per catch. He has touchdown catches of 89 and 56 yards in his five-year career.

‘‘I’m just excited about getting back to getting out of the backfield and running routes and catching balls. Not just running the ball, but getting the ball out in space,’’ Forte said. ‘‘It’s a different way of running the ball. After you catch it, you’ve got to run with it. So instead of handing it off, you get the ball out in space, and that gives you more opportunity to make big plays.’’

Not using Forte last year is one of the reasons Lovie Smith lost is job, according to the story. That bodes well for owners this year, especially in PPR formats. Last year, Forte caught 44 passes for 340 yards which were both career lows. He could still lose goal line carries to Michael Bush, but overall having Forte fall to you in the early second round should be a nice bargain.

Bucs WR Kevin Ogletree is battling for the third WR job in Tampa Bay.

So, ultimately, some other elements will play a role in deciding this key position battle. Among them: Who proves more capable of showing the versatility needed to perform numerous roles in the offense. With the Bucs placing an emphasis on moving Vincent Jackson and, at times, Mike Williams, to different spots on the field, the third receiver will have to adapt accordingly.

Ogletree is battling Tiquan Underwood for the third WR spot. As the article mentions, the third WR will have to know all the positions as it appears Jackson will play in the slot during the two minute drill.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson has been frequently lined up as a slot receiver during training camp practices, and seems likely to be a fixture there in the 2-minute offense.

Tests confirmed Broncos C Dan Koppen tore his ACL, as Jeff Legwold reported.

The Broncos will be on their third center before the meat of training camp as the team also lost JD Walton.

It was another up-and-down day for Patriots QB Tim Tebow throwing the ball Sunday. He again struggled to pull the trigger in the pocket, often waiting 5-7 seconds before finally dumping the ball off. He also threw a bad pass over the middle in 7-on-7 drills that should have been picked off by Steve Beauharnais, but was dropped.

Tebow once again participated briefly as a receiver in the catch-and-run drills. It was interesting to see offensive assistant Brian Daboll, who had been working mostly with the offensive line, working personally with Tebow during some drills. Daboll got a lot out of Colt McCoy in Cleveland and Matt Moore in Miami.

Patriots RB Stevan Ridley fumbled four times last year, and had a bad case of the butterfingers on Sunday. He fumbled twice in practice, including once in a goal line drill. Each time, he was forced to run the length of the field as punishment. RB LeGarrette Blount was the only other running back to participate in the goal line drill, and scored a touchdown with a nice second effort.

Patriots WR Michael Jenkins had a bad drop in team drills, and appears to be running behind Kenbrell Thompkins, Kamar Aiken and rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce.

Patriots WR Kenbrell Thompkins, an undrafted, rookie sat out the first day but has been impressive the last two practices, earning repetitions with the starting unit and catching everything that comes his way.

Rookie first-round draft pick EJ Manuel has the raw potential. Veteran free-agent addition Kevin Kolb has the benefit of six seasons of NFL experience.

None of that will factor into Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone's approach in determining which quarterback will win the Bills starting job over the next six weeks.

"What I look at is it's really which players can we put on the field to win now," Marrone said, after being asked if the Manuel has the edge because he's regarded as the team's future. "A lot of people talk about the future. And really the future for us as coaches and as a team is now."

Marrone will base his decision on what happens on the field in an offseason-long competition. The plan is to have Manuel and Kolb evenly split practice time for the indefinite future before Marrone said it will become apparent to him and the entire team which one has earned the job. Manuel has the most fantasy upside, but Kolb's experience gives him at least a bit of an edge. Whomever wins the job, they won't be an every week fantasy starter in standard leagues considering how deep the position is.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews will have to earn his carries under new head coach Mike McCoy. Early in training camp, Mathews isn’t being featured as San Diego’s bell-cow rusher. He has received snaps with the first- and second-team units as McCoy uses Mathews in rotation with newcomer Danny Woodhead (New England) and the re-signed Ronnie Brown.

“I’ve been raised with (Denver head coach) John Fox in this league,” said McCoy, referring to his mentor with the Broncos and Carolina Panthers. “We always played with a couple of backs. It doesn’t matter who’s in there. Keep them fresh.

“That’s the big thing. Play the hot hand while you roll. If you’ve got to tap out for a play or two, we’ll put the next guy in.”

It's potentially an ugly fantasy RB situation in SD, but we kind of expected that. The good news is it's still early, and if you feel the best back will emerge, that should be Mathews. Unfortunately, it's really tough to have faith in him. Mathews is getting drafted in the sixth round, but that's a bit of a risk at that point in the draft given the current situation. Woodhead is an interesting sleeper in the later rounds. He has been useful in recent years as a RB3/RB4 in PPR formats.

Steelers TE Heath Miller answered questions for steelers.com:

How do you think you will know when your knee is ready?
"I’m not sure. I’m sure it will be a collective decision made by a lot of people. Like I said, I try not to think about the big picture too much and just approach every day and try to get better."

What are you able to do now that you weren’t able to do during mini-camp?
"I’m pretty much doing the same. I’m just trying to get better at what I was doing. Really, mini-camp was only a few weeks ago so it wasn’t that long ago. Just get better and better and feel more comfortable with what I’m doing."

It sounds like rehab is going well for Miller, however there isn't a timetable for his return. We rank him 27th but admit there is potential for him to rack up targets assuming he's healthy and especially with the loss of WR Mike Wallace. Miller's ADP indicates he's going undrafted, and there are much better things to draft late-round than a second TE, but there is some potential for Miller.

QB Ryan Tannehill and WR Mike Wallace continue to make progress a week into training camp, but the Dolphins’ quarterback and new $60 million receiver are calling for patience.

Tannehill on Saturday looked as sharp as he has all camp, hitting Wallace on a pair of deep throws during 1-on-1 drills against cornerback Brent Grimes.

After practice Wallace said he and Tannehill “are going to progress every day” but that the chemistry isn’t there yet.

“We’ve got a long way to go, man,” Wallace said. “But we have a long time to prepare … we’ll be fine.”

Wallace comes in ranked 23rd but has a chance to finish as a solid WR2 if that chemistry develops. Wallace's ADP is the sixth round - about a round lower than some other WRs around him on our list, which shows owners are taking a shot a littler earlier than his current value.

Rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has the inside track to be the Vikings' primary kick returner, a role that should not limit his availability on offense, according to coach Leslie Frazier.

Two days into his first NFL training camp, Patterson has impressed the staff with his ability to retain information and execute pro plays despite his only having one year of Division I college experience.

Patterson is also seeing time on the first team at WR on the opposite side of Greg Jennings. The Vikes desperately need someone to step into the WR2 role with the loss of Percy Harvin and Patterson has been impressive through the early stages of camp thus far.

Eagles WR Riley Cooper has a few things going for him in the competition to take over for Jeremy Maclin. Most notably, his size and his ability as a blocker, something HC Chip Kelly values. Cooper is unlikely to match Maclin’s production, but he’s probably the favorite right now to replace him as a starter.

Cooper has never really been impressive filling in in the past, but he was operating in an offense that wasn't very good last year. He's got plenty of work with Nick Foles as the two mostly ran on the second team last season.

In the Colts base offense, starting WRs were Reggie Wayne, Darrius Heyward-Bey.

The news here is T.Y. Hilton's value potentially takes a hit if this continues. This would make him the third option and the odd man out of the Colts' two-TE sets. It's early, of course, but it's something to monitor as he was considered a mid-round WR option. Obviously Heyward-Bey would move up the rankings as well.

Patrots rookie WR Kenbrell Thompkins ups workload. Some top [first team] reps for Thompkins. Under-the-radar WR to watch.

WR Dwayne Bowe could be back on practice field for Chiefs this morning. He passed his physical, according to the NFL's transaction notice.

We predict Bowe to be a solid WR2 when all is said and done. He's currently ranked 15th among our WRs and has an ADP of the early 5th round, which is a bit higher than some WRs around him like Torrey Smith, Antonio Brown and Marques Colston who all have ADPs of the sixth or higher. A pass-happy coach in Andy Reid and a new QB in Alex Smith make Bowe an interesting pick this year.

Daniel Thomas isn’t conceding anything, but Dolphins RB Lamar Miller has done nothing to lose his firm grasp on the starter’s job. He had two impressive runs of 20-plus yards on Saturday – including one where he turned the corner – and also caught a wheel route from Tannehill for a 15-yard gain.

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 as a full-time back. In OTAs he impressed both the coaching staff and his quarterback with his pass protection, which will be key in allowing him to be a three-down back. Senior editor John Paulsen recently watched tape of four of Miller's 2012 games and came away impressed. Miller showed great speed, but his vision and his lateral moves to evade tacklers both in the backfield and at the linebacker level were surprisingly good.

It was a tough day for QB Blaine Gabbert. His first three plays were nearly-botched hand-off, fumbled exchange, and a collision with left guard Will Rackley to cause a fumble. Later, Gabbert lost possession when he tried to pump-fake a throw and also bobbled a shotgun snap.

Cecil Shorts owners should probably be rooting for Chad Henne in this horse race. Shorts finished as the #22 fantasy WR despite starting the season behind Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson on the depth chart and missing two games due to injury. After the Jaguars' Week 6 bye, Shorts averaged 5.2-86-0.56 which project to #6 WR numbers. If the Jaguars can get decent play out of the QB position, Shorts will be a nice mid-round pick this summer.

Packers WR Charles Johnson suffered an IT band strain and will be fine. There's a good chance he'll practice Sunday, according to a source.

Johnson is raw and will need time to develop, but he's an interesting dynasty prospect playing in a great offense.

In its ideal form Buffalo’s offense is expected to afford the playmakers in their offense significantly more opportunities to make plays and gain yardage. RB CJ Spiller could arguably touch the ball 30 times a game if the offense is operating efficiently. In that same game Fred Jackson could conceivably touch it 20-25 times and Stevie Johnson could make 10-15 catches.

Keep in mind this is coming from the Bills Web site, and to have the offense run efficiently means they have to remain competitive. But it's an indication of the potential of Spiller coming into the season. As we pointed out here on the site, Spiller had the highest FP/touch of any RB with 150 or more touches. We rank him 5th among our RBs and he's going around the middle of the first round in drafts.

Ravens TE Dennis Pitta is expected to be out for the year with a dislocated hip, per ESPN source.

This is terrible news for Pitta, his owners and the Ravens organization. Ed Dickson will step in as the starter and will be an interesting TE2-type. Joe Flacco obviously takes a big hit after losing Anquan Boldin in the offseason.

TE Dennis Pitta has a dislocated hip. Will miss at least the Denver game.

The Ravens were already short on pass-catchers and this certainly doesn't help. Hopefully for everyone involved, Pitta can return for Week 2 (Cleveland), but that remains to be seen and sounds like a best-case scenario. Pitta's draft stock may tumble, but presuming he's back somewhere around Week 2 or Week 3, he should still hold mid-round (10th/11th) value on draft day. Until there is more clarity about his recovery, it is probably a situation best avoided given some of the other options at tight end. Ed Dickson should see more looks with Pitta sidelined.

Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin suffered a torn ACL during practice Saturday at the NovaCare Complex and is expected to miss the 2013 season, a league source said.

Maclin was carted off the field Saturday about an hour into practice.

Maclin, a fourth-year wideout in the last year of his rookie deal, went down at the end of 7-on-7 drills.

Jason Avant will likely remain a slot receiver so expect names like Riley Cooper, Damaris Johnson, Arrelious Benn, B.J. Cunningham, Greg Salas along with rookies Ifeanyi Momah, Russell Shepard and Will Murphy to compete for the job. Benn and Cunningham were already out of practice after suffering minor injuries in Friday’s practice that rendered each one day to day. The Eagles could also use more multiple TE formations with Brent Celek, James Casey and rookie Zach Ertz.

Multiple coaches and teammates said in the spring they were taken aback by the rate at which Chargers QB Philip Rivers learned the new offense. There have been practices where he’s thrown more underneath passes than he can remember, and that added balance will be beneficial, he said, because it should allow for more third-and-manageable situations.

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. There are concerns that all of this underneath throwing will negatively impact Danario Alexander, but the team would be foolish to ignore the chemistry and success that the Rivers/Alexander duo had last season.

Raiders QB Matt Flynn is clearly the No. 1 guy at this point, and looked the part with several accurate passes to the right receivers. Coach Dennis Allen liked Flynn’s effort but wants more consistency than the quarterback and other members of the passing game showed on Friday.

Flynn has started two games in his career. In 2010, he filled in for an injured Aaron Rodgers in a tough 31-27 loss against the Patriots in Week 15, throwing for 251 yards, three TDs and an interception. In 2011, with Rodgers resting in Week 17, Flynn torched the Lions for 480 yards and six TDs (with one interception). His stock took a dive after he couldn't beat out rookie Russell Wilson, but he was dealing with an elbow injury and Wilson turned out to be pretty good. The Raiders have not been a favorable situation for QBs in recent years, but Carson Palmer was 8th in the league in pass attempts in 2012, so if Flynn finds himself in garbage time as often, he should put up decent fantasy stats. He doesn't have great arm strength, but has shown good accuracy and anticipation on his throws.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew completed his first workout with the team since a season-ending foot injury in October. He competed without setbacks, without pain and without apprehension -- all positive signs for the three-time Pro Bowler and for the rebuilding Jaguars.

"It just feels comfortable making those cuts and knowing there's no pain in the foot, ankle, whatever," Jones-Drew said. "Not running for eight months, it's like, 'Can I still do it?' But I've been playing football for 20 years and it's just natural."

The bigger test will be seeing how his left foot feels after a couple days, maybe even a few weeks.

"The main thing for me is just getting back to where I can carry the ball 20 or 25 times a game," he added. "Obviously, right now, I feel like I can do it. But it's different when you're getting the ball play after play after play."

From 2009-2011, Jones-Drew 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. He's an interesting pick in the early 3rd round of 12-team drafts.

Running back Brandon Bolden was back on the field after missing offseason workouts with a sprained ankle, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Bolden looked spry and back to full strength, a good sign for the second-year running back who is in the mix among a crowded backfield.

Saints HC Sean Payton on RB Mark Ingram:

“I know we have high expectations for Mark and he has high expectations for himself,” Payton told the media on Thursday. ”He is in great shape right now. I know he is anxious, . . . healthy, and probably I would say going into his third year as healthy and as good of shape as he has been. I expect him to be a big part of what we do running the football.”

We feel that Pierre Thomas deserves a larger role, but we're not calling the shots in New Orleans and we didn't draft Ingram in the first round.

Buccaneers HC Greg Schiano on QB Josh Freeman:

“Josh is our quarterback. Maybe as things went on this year, I talk a lot about competition and maybe that kind of got taken out of context. I’ll put it on me; I shouldn’t have led people that way. But I’m really excited about Mike Glennon. Mike is an excellent quarterback and one that we’re going to develop here. But I expect big things from Josh, and more importantly Josh expects big things from Josh. I really think he’ll have a good year.”

Freeman is a nice sleeper available in the later rounds. Through Week 14, Freeman was fantasy football's #11 QB, averaging 1.9 touchdowns and just 0.6 interceptions, but he finished the season on a very sour note, throwing nine picks and only two TDs in his final three games.

Raiders RB Darren McFadden took a handoff from Matt Flynn on Friday and with no hesitation hit a sliver of air between guard Lucas Nix and center Stefen Wisniewski at nearly full speed.

No defender laid a hand on McFadden until he was at least three yards downfield -- which is roughly what he averaged per carry in 2012 in a zone scheme ill-suited to his nature as a runner. It was a simple running play in a non-padded practice on the first day of training camp, but illustrated nicely what McFadden does best. The zone scheme, which called on McFadden to move laterally before cutting back against the grain, helped drop his yards per carry to a career-low 3.3 yards.

"I love a downhill scheme, so I'm very confident about it," McFadden said. " I'll just be able to get out there and go downhill. That's one of my strong points."

"I feel like I'm a downill runner and that's something the coaches see also. By getting us in a gap scheme offense, they feel that suits me a lot more."

After averaging 5.2+ YPC in 2010 and 2011, the Raiders (ponderously) switched back to a zone-blocking running scheme, to which we already knew DMC is not well-suited. When healthy and in a power scheme, McFadden is a bona fide fantasy RB1. He averaged #2 and #8 RB numbers in 2010 and 2011 before the team changed to a zone-blocking scheme.

With six weeks of rest, Bills WR Steve Johnson feels like a new man and is ready to go for training camp without restrictions.

"Everything's full-go," Johnson said as he checked in to his dorm room at St. John Fisher College. "Gotta get it rolling, man, be smart and take care of our bodies. It's going to be an important training camp for all of us, every position. As long as we get things meshing and going on the right track, we'll be all right."

In the team's final off-season workout before they broke for camp, Johnson revealed to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News that he actually had a fractured L-5 vertebra. That apparently is no longer an issue to the wide receiver.

Lions WRs Ryan Broyles (ACL) and Nate Burleson were all cleared to practice.

Burleson figures to start opposite Calvin Johnson, but Broyles could be fantasy relevant as the WR3 in an offense that throws the ball enough to support multiple fantasy WRs.

Michael Vick received the initial chance to play with the first-team offense during practice Friday in his battle to win the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback job.

Nick Foles opened with the second team to start while fourth-round pick Matt Barkley was with the third team.

According to multiple reports, Foles did eventually run with the first team.

New Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Tuesday that Vick and Foles would split the reps at the beginning of training camp and that he would have a starter named by the time he's planning for Philadelphia's Week 1 game against the Washington Redskins.

Vick taking the first of the first team reps could mean that he's in the lead, or it could just be a courtesy given his tenure in the league. Foles also saw significant first team reps. Stay tuned.

Will Santonio Holmes play this season? He says: "I can"t answer that question right now"

Yikes. Holmes is only a late-round flier at this point given the QB situation in New York and his injury status. Of the Jets' WR corps, we're highest on Jeremy Kerley, who was semi-productive in spots in 2012.

Texans HC Gary Kubiak on the status of RB Arian Foster:

“He’s doing really good. A little bit of a surprise to me because I thought he’d be ready to go, but Kap (Head Athletic Trainer Geoff Kaplan) and they just think he needs a few days with them to work into the routine. But he’s had a good summer; he’s been here every day. I expect him back pretty quickly.”

It sounds as if the team expects Foster to make his return quickly, which is a good sign for his status for Week 1. He has carried the ball a ton in the last few seasons so it makes sense to ease him into camp if he's not yet 100%.

The running backs vying for time behind Redskins RB Alfred Morris saw time in this order: Roy Helu, Evan Royster, Keiland Williams, Tristan Davis, Chris Thompson, Jawan Jamison. Morris is the unquestioned starter, and the rest are all battling for that backup/third-down back role.

If healthy, Helu would make a fine third-down RB. He caught 49 passes back in 2011.

Aaron Dobson, the Patriots’ second pick of the draft just seven picks behind Collins, projects to possibly be a starting wide receiver for quarterback Tom Brady. Dobson worked with the first team offense along with Danny Amendola and Kamar Aiken, seeing time both on the outside and in the slot.

He made catches off throws from all three quarterbacks, but looked especially comfortable with Brady throwing to him. Dobson had a deep catch on the outside from Brady late in practice, as well as a one over the middle from Ryan Mallett.

Well, that's one hurdle Dobson had to overcome -- to run with the starters. There is a huge opportunity in front of the rookie given the current state of the Patriots' receiving corps, but Julian Edelman probably the biggest threat to his playing time.

The concern is WR Percy Harvin might have a partially torn labrum, but two people familiar with the injury told USA TODAY Sports the Seahawks are hopeful surgery -- and the lengthy recovery that follows -- won't be necessary, pending another MRI. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because injury details were to remain private.

Harvin is scheduled to get a second opinion Tuesday from noted hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. HC Pete Carroll said there is no rush to make a decision because surgery would end Harvin's first season in Seattle no matter when it happens.

"We're going to wait it out and make sure we know what's going on," Carroll said. "He was running full-speed a week ago. He was fine. He's not far away from being back out there. But we need to know the (seriousness) of the injury. And we'll know that in time. ... We need to see how he responds (to rehabilitation) and all that, and we need to get all the opinions that we need and make a great decision to take care of him."

Typical recovery from surgery for a torn labrum is 12 to 16 weeks. But every injury is different, players recover at different rates and teams want to protect their investments.

So the question is whether the injury is minor enough that rest and rehab would allow Harvin to play through it. We should know more by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

WR AJ Green says MRI on left knee found no structural damage.

Green owners can breathe a sigh of relief. Draft him as you normally would.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday that, with Steven Jackson gone, the team may simply use a revolving door at running back.

“I’ve usually had a guy, but that’s what the competition is about, and that’s what camp’s for and preseason games are for,” Fisher said. ”It’s not going to be out of the question that we don’t play two or three of them quite a bit. We may not end up with a ‘bell cow’ like we’ve had last year in [Jackson] and previous years, and just let them all play.”

It means that Richardson, Isaiah Pead (who will be suspended for the first game of the regular season), and rookie Zac Stacy could be squaring off for reps and touches.

Though Fisher may end up using multiple tailbacks, if one guy emerges he may end up being the guy.

“I’m not saying that we don’t have one that can. We just haven’t seen him do it yet,” Fisher said. ”One of them may emerge and carry it 350 times this year, we don’t know. But offensively, it’s nice to have two or three guys in a rotation just because there’s different ability levels at the position.”

We think Richardson has the inside track to the most touches, but Pead and Stacy could also be heavily involved.

WR Marques Colston's foot ailment could sideline him a few days to a week, Saints HC Sean Payton said.

Receiver Vincent Brown has a knack for pulling away while deep into a route. He showed it at San Diego State, as an NFL rookie, in training camp last year -- and in the camp opener on Thursday. Brown ran a fly pattern down the right sideline with cornerback Johnny Patrick stride for stride as Charlie Whitehurst aimed a pass about 15 yards ahead of them. Brown then ran away from Patrick, reached out and caught the ball before safety Jahleel Addae arrived.

Brown has been making noise all offseason and his ADP has risen into the 12th round. He'd make a nice handcuff for Danario Alexander owners.

Eagles RB LeSean McCoy said he has two goals coming into this season: Stay healthy and become “more dominant.”

McCoy said he should be able to accomplish both under new coach Chip Kelly, who’s expected to emphasize the running game more than previous coach Andy Reid.

“The last few years, I’ve had good years, but I don’t think I was dominant,” McCoy said upon reporting to training camp Thursday. “In this offense, [I’ll have] the ability to run the ball more, where I can take over a game. There have been flashes of it in the past, but having the ability to do it day in and day out and game in and game out has been a different story.

“Chip has shown that he runs the ball tons, so I think that’s the difference.”

Kelly ran a run-heavy offense in college, but may not have that luxury in the NFL, in which the games will be far more competitive. Still, the Eagles are going to run the ball more than they did under Andy Reid, and this can only help McCoy.

Ryan Mathews has been a huge disappointment since the Chargers traded up to choose him. He wasn't supposed to be another LT, but he was supposed to be a star running back San Diego could ride to the playoffs ... much as they'd done with Tomlinson. Only it hasn't worked out that way, with Mathews missing 10 games his first three seasons and producing nearly as many fumbles (12) as touchdowns (14).

People here still believe he has the talent to be a star back -- provided he can stay healthy. But the clock is ticking. It's his fourth season, and it's about time he lived up to his promise.

"I don't want to think about the past any more," he said. "I want to talk about the future. With the new coaching staff and everybody they brought in it gives me a chance to start my career again."

Mathews is healthy now and hopes to stay that way for the first time in his career, which begs the question: If that happens, how good can this guy be?

"I think I can be a top-five back," he said, "and be up with the best of them. I just have to be consistent. That's the main thing, to be consistent with my play."

Fantasy owners may laugh at this, but it's good that Mathews believes in himself. In PPR formats, Mathews was 25th, 10th and 27th in FP PPG and he is the #25 RB off the board in fantasy drafts. His value is right where it should be, but a top 15 or top 20 finish is not out of the question if he can play a full season. Given his injury history, that's a big "if."

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said Robert Turbin’s sore foot is something the team has been monitoring since the offseason program, and that the Seahawks want to make sure he’s 100 percent healthy.

“He feels fine, doesn’t feel it at all,” Carroll said about Turbin. “But again we’re just taking every precaution at this early time.”

Turbin figures to serve as the primary backup to Marshawn Lynch, but Christine Michael will also be in the mix.

Wideout A.J. Jenkins, last year’s first-round draft pick, often lined up with the first-string unit, along with Boldin.

Whoever gets the starting job opposite Boldin will have some fantasy value heading into August drafts, but keep in mind that Mario Manningham is about a month from returning. He's the wild card in this position battle.

Browns OC Norv Turner said during the week that "it all starts with [RB Trent Richardson],'' and that first handoff was symbolic. Richardson darted through the defense -- albeit with no pads or contact until Saturday -- as if homefield advantage were on the line.

"I completely trust it,'' Richardson said of the shin. "I did a lot of rehab on it and I did a lot of stuff in the off-season to build my muscle back up. Right now I’m feeling pretty good. When it comes down to it, you’re going to see my game elevate. ... I’m just going up this hill we’re climbing on. I’m going to keep striving to win every time.”

As the practice wore on, Richardson caught the ball out of the backfield well and turned upfield with speed and agility.

The main question mark with T-Rich is his durability. Can he hold up to the workload he's likely to see in Turner's offense.

The Cardinals signed DE John Abraham for $6 million for two years.

The Houston Texans have placed running back Arian Foster on the physically unable to perform list a day before their first practice of training camp.

Foster strained his right calf early in organized team activities and didn't practice again, but the team said then that he should be ready for training camp.

It's too early to panic about Foster's Week 1 availability, but it would obviously be better if he were able to practice right now. He may miss a preseason game or two, but if he's not back for the third game (the game most teams use as a full warm up for the starters), then it will be time to worry. Ben Tate looks like a great handcuff for Foster owners.

Jets WR Santonio Holmes, rehabbing a surgically repaired foot, began camp on the physically unable to perform list. There's a chance Holmes won't play in any preseason games, a source said, and there's growing concern he might not be ready for Week 1.

There isn't any position on the Broncos roster where the race will be any tighter than at running back. Ronnie Hillman, who opened Thursday's practice with the first-team offense, said he wants to be the guy in the backfield when the offense takes the field for the first time in the season opener Sept. 4 against the Ravens. Montee Ball said he's going to "do all I can" to be the starter. When Knowshon Moreno was last in the lineup he was the starter.

Ball has shown some proficiency as a receiver and in pass protection while Hillman is the fastest, the breakaway threat of the three. Moreno is the most experienced in those tense third-down situations where a bad decision as a pass blocker can torpedo a season.

The difference will be reliability, who consistently makes the most of the runs, who makes the right calls in pass protection and who plays the most mistake free as Peyton Manning audibles at the line of scrimmage or the Broncos are in their no-huddle look.

This looks like it will be a RBBC. John Fox is known to favor veterans, but neither the second-year Hillman nor the rookie Ball really qualify. The top priority is protecting the QB.

Interested to hear about Percy Harvin's 2nd opinion on Tuesday. Seahawks doctor didn't recommend surgery on hip. It is a possible option, though.

We're getting conflicting reports on the severity of Harvin's hip injury, so all we can do at this point is wait until further information is released/reported. Stay tuned.

Redskins RB Alfred Morris says he's worked on "building trust" with QBs/staff when it comes to pass catching. Hopes it leads to more receptions.

It would be big for Morris's value in PPR formats if he can become a viable threat in the passing game and stay on the field on third downs. He caught five passes in his last three games, but only caught 11 passes all season. It will be something to watch for in the preseason.

A.J. Green gave a lot of people at Cincinnati Bengals training camp a big scare Thursday. We'll find out if the team has real reason to be concerned.

Coach Marvin Lewis doesn't seem worried after Green after awkwardly fell at practice, according to Geoff Hobson of the team's official website.

"I think he's fine," Lewis said. "They went inside just to take a look, but I think he's fine."

Green was on the ground for a few minutes being attended to by trainers, who looked at his left knee. Green eventually was able to walk off the field; he didn't require a cart.

Lewis's words are encouraging, so there's no reason to push the panic button just yet.

Percy Harvin's first training camp with the Seattle Seahawks begins on the physically unable to perform list.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Harvin has a possible slight tear in the labrum of his hip and will get a second opinion early next week, according to a source who is aware of Harvin's condition. The team will know more about his availability then.

We asked our injury expert/physical therapist Russ Manalastas (@russmanalastas) about Harvin's injury and he had this to say about its possible severity: "It doesn't sound good whenever you're dealing with a hip and a football player. Ed Reed had a labral debridement for the Texans this year and recovery can depend on if it was just a clean up or a full repair. It's usually 2 1/2 months if just a debridement, if it's a full repair, 6 months isn't out of the question. Alex Rodriguez had a hip labral repair and you can see the length that it takes for recovery. Obviously, it's a different sport but still the violent nature of having to cut on a dime as a receiver doesn't sound good for Harvin." Stay tuned. We should know more early next week after Harvin gets a second opinion.

The Detroit Lions have signed wide receiver Chaz Schilens, who had 28 catches for the New York Jets last season.

Schilens should provide depth behind Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles.

Rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter should have no limitations after dealing with hamstring issues in June, Munchak said.

Ask the Giants what went wrong last season and one of the top answers they’ll give is that WR Hakeem Nicks wasn’t healthy and it changed the dynamic of their offense. He is their No. 1 receiver and is the one who draws – and most effectively beats – double teams. The oft-injured receiver is still recovering from knee surgery. He looked OK in mini-camp, but it’s a long summer and he still hasn’t flashed his full speed.

Rueben Randle is a good WR handcuff for Nicks and should be able to start in favorable matchups as a flex. The Giants' WR3 has been productive in spots in the past few seasons.

The New York Daily News listed Giants RB David Wilson as their pick for "Potential Breakout Star":

When the Giants let Ahmad Bradshaw go (to the Colts) it cleared the way for their spectacular, 2012 first-round pick in the backfield. Yes, he’ll share the workload with Andre Brown, but Wilson is the guy the coaches are most excited about. He has electric speed and jaw-dropping moves and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to flash both. He just has to prove he can hold onto the ball and block a little, too.

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). But it certainly sounds like the Giants want Wilson to be "the guy."

Redskins TE Fred Davis (Achilles) is active for the start of training camp.

Over the last 19 games, Davis has averaged 6.9 fantasy points, which would have been the 11th-highest average in 2012. The problem is that he has only played 19 games in two seasons. (He missed four games in 2011 due to suspension after failing multiple drug tests.) His Achilles is obviously a concern, but it's a good thing that his situation isn't changing for the worse. If both he and Robert Griffin III are healthy, we can expect low-end TE1 numbers along the lines of Jermichael Finley.

Ravens WR Jacoby Jones has indeed passed his conditioning test.

Wednesday's figures are pretty impressive for Bears WR Brandon Marshall: 235 pounds and 6.2 percent body fat.

Marshall was rehabbing a hip injury, so those numbers are doubly impressive.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks could miss a couple of preseason games, meaning it may be three weeks or so before he’s on the field.

This gives Jared Cook an opportunity to get as many reps as he can handle.

It was all passing, all Wednesday morning for the Chiefs’ quarterbacks, rookies and selected veterans. The Chiefs have not attempted a running play during the team portions of the first two days of camp. Quarterback Alex Smith wasted little time finding his favorite target, rookie tight end Travis Kelce, on several routes.

Kelce is a deep sleeper at the TE position, but the more important thing to note is that the Chiefs are not focused on the running game right now. That might be because they know Jamaal Charles is very capable in that part of the offense and they want to work on the passing game. We wouldn't worry too much about Charles's usage -- LeSean McCoy got plenty of run under Andy Reid in the last few years.

WR Braylon Edwards will sign with the Jets. It's for one-year, per source.

Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart says he won't practice tomorrow, did not say when he might be available. Had surgery on both ankles this off-season.

The sixth-year running back said the left ankle has healed well while the right one is “still an issue.”

Throw in the fact that the Charlotte Observer listed DeAngelo Williams first on its pre-camp depth chart, and it looks like Williams will be a very nice value at his current ADP (10.07). He's worth a pick in the 8th-10th rounds given the uncertainty surrounding Stewart's health. Don't forget that Mike Tolbert and Cam Newton will be vulturing most of the rushing TDs, so don't reach on Williams.

In terms of the running game, OC Jay Gruden hinted that it could end up being a 50-50 split [between BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard]. Green-Ellis had nearly three quarters of the carries last season, but the plan when they signed him last year was to use more of a backfield by committee.

The other thing that makes Bernard dangerous is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. The Bengals were the only team in the league last season not to have a running back with a reception over 20 yards.

We knew Bernard was going to be heavily involved in the passing game, but a 50/50 split in carries provides some clarity about how the touches will be distributed in the running game. There's no quote of Gruden saying as much, but the reporter inferred that Gruden was hinting at a split.

"I don't do projections," Packers HC Mike McCarthy said of the chances that WR Randall Cobb catches 100 passes. "But I think those things are great. It's important for our players to approach the game with statistical goals and Randall is an excellent team player.

"He'll be given opportunities, there's no question about that. But yes, I think he definitely has a lot more growth in front of him. And it's exciting, for how productive he's been as a young player."

Cobb is our #12 PPR WR, but he has considerable upside and could be taken at any time after the top 7 WRs are off the board in PPR formats. 100 catches will be tough considering the talent that the Packers have at receiver.

We're three days into Dolphins training camp and the Mike Wallace factor hasn't been felt so far.

Wallace hasn't roasted any cornerbacks deep.... YET. Without hitting we really can't tell his run-after-catch skills.....YET. And to be completely honest, Wallace doesn't have great chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill....YET.

That was evident the entire offseason.

However, I can't help but recall Brandon Marshall's first training camp as a Dolphin. The four-time Pro Bowler truly lived up to his "Beast" nickname by pushing around all of Miami's defensive backs back in that 2010 camp.

Mike Wallace has the #17 PPG average (in standard formats) over the last two seasons, and if he's able to develop a rapport with QB Ryan Tannehill this offseason, he should be a capable fantasy WR2 in 2013. His YPC (13.1) and Catch % (55%) dropped, but that was partly due to Ben Roethilsberger missing three games during the season. Even though he had a down year in 2012, he averaged 4.5-63-.67 in 12 games with Roethlisberger, which are similar to his 4.5-75-.50 averages in 2011. We typically prefer receivers whose situations are obviously improved (or at least relatively unchanged), but Wallace should be able to make some noise in South Beach if he can get on the same page as his quarterback. Stay tuned.

Can Giants RBs David Wilson and Andre Brown fill the Ahmad Bradshaw void? Wilson should inherit Bradshaw's starting spot, but Coughlin will likely split carries between Wilson and Brown. And Brown plans on pushing Wilson for the starting job. The two combined should make for a nice one-two punch, especially if Wilson can pass-protect.

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.

Former Patriots beat writer on RB Shane Vereen: "When [Aaron Hernandez] went down last year, and they were dealing with [Rob Gronkowski] being out...and they were really looking at some options, I kept hearing from people inside the organization to keep an eye on Vereen, that they think he can fill some of the role that Hernandez did so I don't see why that can't happen this year."

Considering his late-season production and the fact that Danny Woodhead is out of the way, Vereen's prospects are looking good. He gained at least 38 total yards in six of his last nine games and scored five TDs in that span. Woodhead quietly finished as fantasy football's #25 RB in 2012, so Vereen could post similar numbers if given a similar workload. The Vereen/Woodhead duo posted #14 RB numbers in standard formats and #12 RB numbers in PPR. Throw in some extra work to account for the loss of Hernandez, and Vereen's arrow is clearly pointing up.

If [Vikings QB Christian Ponder] struggles, my sense is the Vikings wouldn’t hesitate to go to Matt Cassel. There are people around the league who believe Cassel is underrated -- despite what many Chiefs fans might think -- and that if given the opportunity, he would fare well in Minnesota. It’s Ponder’s job, and it’s his to lose. But keep an eye on Cassel.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant is just, well, it's hard to describe. He beat cornerback Morris Claiborne on four plays in the one-on-one passing drill. In the team period, Bryant caught a back-shoulder fade from Tony Romo against Brandon Carr. The pass hit Bryant in the cuff of the arm. It seemed as if Bryant saw the ball at the last minute and it just stuck to his body. Bryant and QB Tony Romo have incredible chemistry right now.

Wide receiver Miles Austin continues to struggle. He allowed Sean Lee to knock a pass out of his hands, the second consecutive day that's happened. Austin is running hard but is struggling a little bit when it comes to contested catches. Allen knocked a pass out of Austin's hands in Monday's session.

The biggest concern with Bryant is what off-the-field trouble he might get into, but he seems to be maturing to a point where that's not much of an issue any longer. His production after the Cowboys' Week 5 bye (5.9-93-1.0) was better than Calvin Johnson's season averages. He averaged 6.3 catches for 110 yards and 1.13 TDs in his last eight games. That projects to 101-1760-18 (or 284 fantasy points) over the course of a 16-game season. Since 2001, only Randy Moss (2003, 2007) and Calvin Johnson (2011) scored more than 260 FP in a season, so Bryant finished on a torrid pace.

Titans tight end Delanie Walker will begin training camp on PUP after having his knee scoped in recent weeks.

The Colts announced Tuesday that RB Ahmad Bradshaw has been placed on the physically unable to perform list. Bradshaw is recovering from offseason surgery on his right foot.

Bradshaw can come off the PUP list at any time, so it's premature to assume Vick Ballard is heading toward a golden opportunity to entrench himself with the first team. The Colts don't begin practicing until Sunday, leaving the remote possibility Bradshaw could come off the PUP list without missing anything.

Bradshaw figures to be the Colts' RB1 when healthy, but the foot problem is a concern. He is our #29 RB in PPR formats, so consider him an upside RB3 in the Colts' new West Coast offense.

NFL Network's Andrea Kremer reported Tuesday that Buccaneers doctors have cleared CB Darrelle Revis for action. Technically, he has been cleared for all activities for weeks by Dr. Russell Warren, who performed Revis' knee surgery in October.

Kremer reported that the Bucs feel confident Revis can do everything, and he wants to do everything. But the team will exercise caution early in training camp. No matter how you slice it, it would be stunning if Revis wasn't ready to face his former team, the New York Jets, in the season opener.

Revis should provide a big boost to a Bucs defense that was last in the league in passing yards allowed in 2012.

RB Peyton Hillis has signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers.

Browns OC Norv Turner, who's produced the NFL's rushing champion on five occasions, thinks RB Trent Richardson will carry the ball 300 times -- even in this pass-happy league. Last season, he rushed 267 times for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"Obviously, the trend in the league is to not do that, but I think it depends on your team and everyone around it,'' Turner said today. "If that player is your best player, then I think it’s probably a good thing to have him in the game and give him the ball. So I would hope Trent would have that many carries. That means he’s playing healthy and playing at a pretty high level.''

The Browns plan to feature Richardson in Turner's offense. Our only concern is whether or not he can hold up to the workload. He has had nagging injuries since entering the NFL.

Buccaneers receiver Mike Williams has signed a new six-year, $40.25 million contract that ties him to Tampa Bay through the 2018 season.

Williams has averaged 64-910-7.7 in his first three seasons, and that includes his sophomore year where he found the end zone just three times. It's good news that his contract situation is settled; now he can focus on football.

LeVeon Bell won't be handed a job when the Steelers report to training camp Friday, nor is there any guarantee how many times he'll be handed the ball in the Sept. 8 opener against Tennessee. But while camp will start with a three-man competition at running back among Bell and holdovers Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman, it could become a one-man competition if the 6-foot-1, 244-pound Bell shows he's everything the Steelers expect him to be.

Namely, big, adequately fast, durable and capable of playing on third down as well as first and second downs.

“I like him — a lot,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said of Bell, the Big Ten's leading rusher last season with 1,793 yards for Michigan State. “What stands out with him is what he can do on third down. And that's unusual because so many of these guys, that's the last thing they can do. But he can play on third down because he can block so well and catch.”

“We've got to get pads on and let it sort itself out,” OC Todd Haley said. What does Haley want to see from Bell? “Just the ability to grasp the entire offense, the entire package — from a protection standpoint, ball security, running the right route on pass plays,” Haley said. “The fundamentals have to be there.”

Redman looked to be in superb condition during the May and June practices, and with kick returner-running back LaRod Stephens-Howling also in camp, it could be Dwyer whose job is most in jeopardy unless Bell disappoints.

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. Assuming he wins the RB1 job, he’ll hold third- or 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.

Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew should top 100 targets again.

Pettigrew has averaged 4.6 catches per game in the last three seasons, so he's a good bet to eclipse the 60-catch mark. We currently have him ranked 12th in PPR formats.

Eagles Brent Celek is considered a blocking tight end, but Zach Ertz and James Casey are considered primarily receivers. HC Chip Kelly can split them wide, put them in the slot, put them in the backfield, or line them up tight to the line.

If Kelly considers Celek a blocking TE, it's not going to do much for his value on draft day. Avoid the Eagles' TEs when filling out your bench.

When it comes to a taller "X" receiver on the edges, there is the proven commodity (10-year veteran Michael Jenkins) versus the higher-upside rookie (second-round pick Aaron Dobson). In spring drills, Jenkins (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) was a consistent presence in the role by taking most of the top-unit reps, but that doesn't mean he'll necessarily be there when it counts. You have to figure Dobson (6-3, 200) will be given every chance to seize the job and develop the desired connection with quarterback Tom Brady. He showed flashes of excellence in camp (specifically in contested situations down the sideline) but also some inconsistency catching the ball.

Our money is on Dobson winning the job, though it's no sure thing that he'll make a fantasy impact given the team's history with rookie receivers.

Despite Robert Griffin III being medically cleared to participate in training camp, it still would be a major surprise if he played in a preseason game based on Mike Shanahan's coaching history and the thoughts of some in the Washington Redskins organization.

Shanahan, who put Griffin through an extensive workout Monday after team doctors cleared him to return to practice, would not specifically address questions of whether Griffin would play this summer. But sources who know the coach expressed pessimism Griffin would return in the preseason.

One Redskins front-office member said Washington will not want to subject Griffin to any hits this summer. Shanahan also was known in Denver to be cautious with players coming off major injuries.

He has been cleared to practice, so barring a setback, he should be out there in Week 1 regardless of his participation in preseason games. He'll likely go in the top 10 in fantasy drafts, but owners may want to lock up a capable backup just in case.

No one within the organization knows when Heath Miller will be prepared to play this season. Miller, who led the Steelers with 71 receptions last season, tore his ACL, MCL and PCL. He is still mending from reconstructive surgery.

If Miller isn't ready for the season opener against Tennessee at Heinz Field on Sept. 8, then either Matt Spaeth — in his second tour of duty with the Steelers — or second-year tight end David Paulson is expected to fill in until Miller recovers.

Miller is no spring chicken (30), so it isn't a smart move to count on him to be ready Week 1. He tore three ligaments on Dec. 23, and recovery usually takes a year, despite what Adrian Peterson accomplished last season.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew has been cleared by training staff, but says team will be smart with his return.

This is a good sign that the bothersome foot injury may be behind him, though he still has to deal with a new running scheme -- the team is moving to a zone-blocking attack -- which was a bad move for the Raiders in 2012. He's a high-upside pick in the 3rd round, but his ADP will move into the 2nd if he proves he's healthy.

Saints fans already know what Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas are capable of when the Saints offense is running smoothly. Sproles is a game-breaker, and he's underrated as a power runner up the middle despite his 5-foot-6 frame. Thomas is best known for his uncanny ability to turn screen passes into big gains, but he's also underrated as a power runner who consistently churns his legs forward for extra yards.

As for Mark Ingram, it's hard to expect big things from him after he has looked so ordinary during his first two NFL seasons. But he did start to show some signs of improvement down the stretch last year. Ingram obviously has talent; he's still just 23 years old, and he's now fully healthy in the offseason for the first time in his NFL career. So if he's ever going to have a breakthrough, all the pieces are in place this year.

I expect all three of the Saints' top backs to have nice bounce-back seasons, with Ingram and Thomas splitting the workload evenly in base packages and Sproles resuming his role as a nickel-down standout.

Oddly enough, we have both Thomas and Ingram projected for 186 touches, with Thomas getting much more work in the passing game. Thomas is a nice value in the 9th-12th rounds given his probable workload. For more, check out the Sleeper Alert that Senior Editor John Paulsen issued for Thomas.

The Texans don’t want Arian Foster setting another career high in carries, as he did last season with 351. They need Tate to stay healthy, unlike last season when he ran only 65 times for 279 yards and ranked third on the team in rushing.

If Tate can produce as he did in 2011 when he carried 175 times for 942 yards, the Texans will have the best one-two punch in the NFL. Tate worked hard in the offseason, and this is the last year of his contract. He has a chance to cash in as a free agent after the season.

We currently project 315 carries for Foster and 125 for Tate. Tate is an interest player for keeper league owners to target in the mid/late rounds as a stash for 2014.

Dolphins RB Lamar Miller said he’s not listening to the pundits who are considering him a possible breakout player this year. But he admitted that “everybody wants that star position.”

“I’m just getting more hungrier so that position be mine,” Miller said.

Coach Joe Phiblin said Miller is “very fundamentally sound.”

“I think his knowledge of the system has definitely increased,” Philbin said. “He appears to be a lot more comfortable with what he’s doing. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of indecision in his play.”

“Every running back’s got their own style of play,” Miller said. “I’d just say I’m fast, I’m quick and I’m patient.”

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. In OTAs he impressed both the coaching staff and his quarterback with his pass protection, which will be key in allowing him to be a three-down back.

For the first time since 1994, the Jets are entering a season without a 1,000-yard rusher on the roster. Chris Ivory, Mike Goodson and Bilal Powell will battle for playing time. The Jets think Ivory could be a top-10 back if he stays healthy.

We agree. Like Michael Turner, LaMont Jordan and Chester Taylor before him, the 25-year-old Ivory is one of those RBs that the fantasy community has been hoping would get an opportunity to start, and now he'll get his chance. He was limited to 27 games in four college seasons due to injury, and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He has averaged 5.1 YPC in his career, though he has struggled with injuries in the NFL as well. In his rookie season, due to injuries to Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, Ivory got a few starts and had some success. In 13 career games where he has received at least 10 touches, he's averaged 78 total yards, 0.38 TD and an impressive 5.2 YPC. That production equates to #16 RB-type numbers. New Orleans has not thrown the ball his way very often -- he has just three catches in his career -- but he did score on a 76-yard swing pass in preseason of his rookie year so he has some pass-catching ability. Mike Goodson is pretty good in the passing game, so we're expecting Ivory to be a two-down back in New York, which will limit his upside. If he starts catching passes, watch out.

Coach Ron Rivera has stopped short of saying RB Jonathan Stewart will be ready for the first day of training camp. Stewart is coming off surgery on both ankles. I get the sense it might be more toward the middle or end of camp before we see much of Stewart.

DeAngelo Williams could be an interesting sleeper with Stewart struggling to come back from offseason surgery on both of his ankles. Mike Tolbert is also in the mix.

Browns WR Greg Little traveled to Oklahoma earlier this month to spend three days working out and running routes with quarterback Brandon Weeden. It’s the latest example of a young receiver -- one who’s been a lighting rod for fan criticism -- demonstrating his maturity and commitment to the team.

“I worked with a big group of guys,” Weeden said. “Obviously, (Josh Cooper of Mustang, Okla.) was out there. But it was good. It was good Greg came down. We got three really hard days of work. I threw until I couldn’t throw anymore and he ran until he couldn’t run anymore, so we got a lot of work in.”

Little could emerge as fantasy relevant as the Browns' WR2, especially early in the season as Josh Gordon serves his two-game suspension.

While Patriots TE Jake Ballard has seemed like the reasonable fill-in for Rob Gronkowski, he didn’t appear to be fully back to health during minicamps. He slogged through some routes and wasn’t a full-go participant. Microfracture surgery is hell to come back from.

Ballard could be a viable stopgap solution for Gronk owners, but he's not going to explode in this offense as some sort of replacement for Aaron Hernandez.

WR Jacoby Jones is on inactive/NFI list because he failed the Ravens' conditioning test.

Jones is the de facto frontrunner for WR2 duties opposite Torrey Smith, but this is obviously not a great start. He has disappointed when given an opportunity to start in Houston and will probably disappoint again.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham is one of the most dynamic weapons ever to play the position in the NFL. Now he's fully healthy after battling a wrist injury that plagued him all of last season. And he insists that he is "hungrier than ever" to get back to an elite performance level. Throw in the fact that coach Sean Payton is back, and there is every reason to expect Graham's production to be closer to his incredible 2011 level (99 catches, 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns).

With Rob Gronkowski recovering from back surgery, Graham is our no-brainer top TE heading into 2013 drafts.

Cowboys RB Joseph Randle on practice field for first time. Missed offseason with thumb injury.

Randle will compete with Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner to back up DeMarco Murray.

After missing some spring practices with a strained muscle in his right shin, Browns running back Trent Richardson reported to training camp early and has been practicing, coach Rob Chudzinski said this morning.

“Richardson has been full-go,” Chudzinski said. “He’s been practicing these last few days and looks good.”

It's a good sign that T-Rich was good to go for the start of camp.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III on Twitter: "Doctors cleared me to practice. Coach is going to ease me in."

If RG3 is indeed a full participant in camp, it will be a remarkable recovery from ACL surgery along the lines os Adrian Peterson from a year ago. He is a top 10 fantasy QB heading into the 2013 season. The main question we have is whether he'll curtail his rushing attempts in order to better take care of his body. His rushing yards make up a significant part of his fantasy value. He rushed 7.8 times per game (including the playoffs) in his rookie season. We're projecting him for 5.9 rushing attempts per game, a 24 percent decrease.

Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon insisted he has his priorities straight while addressing the media today for the first time since the NFL suspended him two games and fined him four game checks for violating its substance-abuse policy.

“My priorities are definitely in order, definitely in line,” Gordon said. “I still got a job to come out here and do every day. I’ve got to be accountable and be a grown man, help provide for me and my family. So I do definitely have my priorities in order.”

Gordon is very talented and is primed for a breakout season, but the suspension has raised character questions given his spotty drug history in the past.

Browns HC Rob Chudzinski said QB Brandon Weeden has significantly improved his footwork and is getting the ball out of quicker.

Broncos LB Von Miller is facing 4-game suspension for violating NFL policy, per ESPN sources. Case currently in appeals process.

As Schefter said, the case is currently being appealed, but losing Miller for one-quarter of the season would be a big blow to the Denver defense.

Jets are working out former Colts WR Austin Collie today, per team source. Collie also has worked out for the Patriots and 49ers.

He would be an interesting late-round pick if he lands in a good situation. We wouldn't qualify the Jets as a good situation, but there is definitely opportunity for snaps in that receiving corps. Collie has had a long history with concussions, so buyer beware.

With just three days before the Washington Redskins report to Richmond for pre-training camp physicals and conditioning tests, and four days before they hit the field for their first practice, quarterback Robert Griffin III feels ready to join his teammates on the field, less than seven months since the reconstruction of his right knee. On Wednesday, he’ll find out if he can.

A person familiar with the second-year quarterback’s physical and mental health said this week that Griffin’s knee — the same in which he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in 2009 and then this past January suffered damage to his lateral collateral ligament, ACL and meniscus — “feels great,” and that Griffin believes that he has done everything possible to meet his stated goal of returning for the opening of camp. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized by the Redskins to speak publicly on the matter, said Griffin continues to run and cut without pain or limitation.

However, the decision on whether Griffin receives the green light to practice this week rests with James Andrews, the sports orthopedic surgeon who serves as a team consultant and spends every game on the Redskins’ sideline. Andrews, who has met with Griffin periodically to monitor his process since conducting his surgery in January, will examine his knee extensively Wednesday. He will determine then just how ready Griffin really is to return to the field, and relay that opinion to the Redskins.

Griffin turned in a wonderful rookie season, racking up 27 total TDs (20 passing, seven rushing) to go along with 3,211 yards passing and 833 yards rushing. RG3 belongs in the top tier when he's playing, but like Michael Vick before him, his lack of bulk and propensity to take hits make him an injury risk. If he's ready for Week 1, he'll one of the top 10 QBs on draft day.

With defenses likely to deploy those smaller formations to slow the Broncos' passing game, Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball should find some gaps to run through. Both, however, need to show decisiveness and not leave yardage on the table because of pitter-patter feet. Hillman will open camp as the starter and Ball, a high-profile rookie, will get a look as a third-down option and a rotation runner on early downs.

With Willis McGahee gone, 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. Peyton Manning recently said that the team is going to count on Ball 'in a big way' in 2013.

Rams GM Kevin Demoff on the team's new offensive approach:

"The goal this year is for [Sam Bradford] to be able to throw to the "open" player, and I expect that we will get meaningful contributions from all 5 WR's, the 2 TE's and the running backs. I think you could see this offense resemble an offense like the Saints where you have 4 or 5 players catch 40-50 balls but nobody who catches 70 or 80. I'm not saying that we are the Saints offense, we need to improve to become that, but more that style where anybody can be a threat on any play. I think that is where we are evolving, letting the down, distance, scheme and coverage dictate who becomes the targeted player."

This could mean that rookie Tavon Austin may be being overdrafted as the 30th WR off the board in the 7th round. We're not sure why Demoff brought up the Saints -- both Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston caught 80+ passes in 2012 and Darren Sproles chimed in with 75 after missing three games due to injury.

A lot can change between now and the end of training camp, but the under-the-radar Patriots offensive player who has arguably built more momentum than any other to this point is rookie free agent receiver Kenbrell Thompkins. Friday's release of veteran receiver Donald Jones, who was due a $200,000 reporting bonus, was tied in part to Thompkins' strong work in the spring when he was taking first-team repetitions by the end of mandatory minicamp. Thompkins (6-0, 193) played at Cincinnati in 2011 and 2012, and had modest production (44 receptions in '11, then 34 in '12), which contributed to his going undrafted (the Patriots inked him to a free-agent deal with a $2,500 signing bonus and $2,500 of the base salary guaranteed).

He had initially signed with Tennessee in 2010, but left when coach Lane Kiffin bolted for Southern Cal, and the NCAA ruled he had to sit out a year because of transfer rules. So Thompkins is a bit older than the standard rookie (he turns 25 on July 29). He also had a tougher upbringing and was arrested seven times between the ages of 15 and 18.

I spoke with one scout who felt those troubles were behind Thompkins. Still, from a football perspective, the scout didn't see much "wow" factor; Thompkins isn't particularly fast (4.54 in the 40) and there weren't necessarily any intangibles that stood out to the scout. But a strong performance at the Texas vs. Nation game, coupled with some things clicking for him in the spring with the Patriots, has him in position to be a sleeper to watch in training camp.

There is definitely opportunity in the Patriots' WR corps, so Thompkins (along with rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce and veteran Julian Edelman) are players to monitor this summer.

49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams and running back Kendall Hunter, both of whom sustained season-ending injuries on the same play in late-November against the New Orleans Saints, were placed on the active physically-unable-to-perform list to open training camp on Saturday, the club announced.

In addition to Williams (knee) and Hunter (Achilles), the 49ers placed wide receiver Mario Manningham (knee) and inside linebacker Darius Fleming (knee) on the PUP list.

Hunter has a partially torn Achilles which will require some time to heal. Manningham could elbow his way into the WR2 if he can get healthy quickly.

GM David Caldwell said WR Justin Blackmon (groin) could be limited at the start of training camp but probably not on PUP list.

It doesn't matter much since Blackmon is going to miss the first four games due to suspension.

The Tampa Bay Times predicts RB Michael Smith will back up Doug Martin.

HC Jason Garrett said Cowboys will run the ball more this year.

This is good news for DeMarco Murray, who averaged 91 total yards and 0.4 TDs in the 10 games he did play last season. He's a borderline fantasy RB1 when healthy, though he has missed nine games in the last two seasons due to injury.

Jets QB Geno Smith thrived with quick, short passes in college — one of the staples in Mornhinweg’s offense, too — but it’s unlikely that the rookie will be ready to be the Week 1 starter. He’s still working to improve his drop backs after spending the majority of his career at West Virginia in the shotgun.

Regardless of who is under center Week 1, fantasy owners should steer clear.

The Patriots are releasing WR Donald Jones. They want to get their young guys reps. He'll go on waivers.

49ers CB Eric Wright was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence July 12. He faced a similar charge that was dismissed in 2012.

“In this offense,” Bears RB Matt Forte said Wednesday, “the running back runs a lot of routes and is able to catch the ball a lot.”

Last season, Forte had a career-low 44 receptions and 340 receiving yards. In new coach Marc Trestman’s 10 NFL seasons as an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach, his lead back averaged 65 catches a season. Forte, who caught a career-high 63 passes as a rookie in 2008, said that compared to last season, bigger things will be expected of him and he’s ready for a more versatile role.

We currently have Forte projected for 54 catches for 471 yards. He looks like a low-end RB1 in PPR formats.

Eagles QB Nick Foles' arm looked especially strong during the spring minicamps. He even completed a touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson that traveled 65 yards in the air.

"I feel like [my arm is] even stronger now just training, nutrition, everything," Foles said. "I think that your arm can get stronger. And there are going to be days when your arm doesn't feel as sharp as it usually does. You have to have a strong foundation in your legs to really get the ball out there sometimes. And sometimes your arm just feels like you can flick it a mile. Right now my arm feels good."

“I’m going to be honest, the last offense was geared to the position that [DeSean Jackson] played,” Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin said. “That’s just what it was. That’s just what it was. So the fact that I was able to personally accomplish what I accomplished, I think as far as the position I was playing, I think that’s above what that guy normally does.

“D-Jack and I were able to complement each other, and it worked well. But that’s just how the offense was tailored.”

“There’s two ways you can run the West Coast Offense,” Maclin said. “You can run it where the flanker position, you can put him in the slot, put him in motion, or you can tailor it around a single receiver who’s always by himself. And when Marty was here, we tailored it around the flanker position. That’s just how it was.”

The implication is that Chip Kelly's offense will make things more balanced between Jackson and Maclin, which could be good for Maclin provided the offense is successful in the NFL.

Indianapolis' TE Wesley Saunders has been suspended the first eight games this year for violating policy on performance enhancing substances.

Wide receiver Pierre Garcon received clearance to practice fully when the Washington Redskins report to Richmond for training camp next week, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.

Garcon, who earlier this offseason had surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, had a checkup with Dr. James Andrews earlier this week and received a clean bill of health.

Garcon missed all of Washington’s offseason practices while recovering from the shoulder surgery. But he worked on the side with quarterback Robert Griffin III, catching passes from the quarterback during each offseason practice session.

Garcon opted not to have surgery on his problematic toe because doctors couldn’t give him assurance that the procedure would correct the injury. He has worn inserts in his shoe to help support the toe and is expected to wear a custom-made shoe this coming season.

It's the toe that has us worried about Garcon. Not counting his abbreviated return in Week 4 and Week 5 (4-44 combined) or his first game "back" in Week 11, Garcon posted 5.1-66-0.5 in eight other games (including the playoffs). That equates to #19 WR numbers. Garcon has already said that his foot won't be 100%, so that's a red flag to consider.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been cleared to begin practice when training camp starts on Sunday, owner Jerry Jones said Thursday.

Romo underwent minor surgery to have a non-cancerous cyst removed from his back in April. The surgery prevented Romo from participating in offseason workouts other than some light throwing in walk-through practices.

"He feels good. He looks good," Jones said. "He's uniquely out running mountains right now in the West, so he's getting himself physically in shape. He's never thrown a lot in the offseason. This is a time where he rests his arm. I'm confident his weight is right and feel he'll be in shape and let it go."

On a per game basis, Romo has finished in the top 12 in six straight seasons. He has a very nice receiving corps that includes the emerging Dez Bryant and the sure-handed Jason Witten. He's going to offer low-end QB1 value in the middle rounds (7th/8th) of 2013 fantasy drafts. For owners who like to wait on the QB position, it's a great sign that Romo is considered the "worst starter" in 12-team leagues in 2013.

Once Mike Wallace became a free agent, Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders slid up the depth chart by default. Whether he broke training camp as the top dog having yet to be seen, his role was bound to increase. Now, we know how far the team expects it to increase.

"They're expecting 70 catches for 1,000 yards, and that's the same thing that I expect for myself," Sanders said.

We currently project Sanders for 58-863-5.5, though there is certainly room in the Pittsburgh offense for a 70-catch, 1000-yard season now that Wallace is in South Beach. If he does reach those benchmarks, he'll be a fantasy WR3 in 2013. He looks like a nice pick in the 10th/11th round.

Packers TE Jermichael Finley did look like a player who was serious about realizing his vast potential during the second half of last season. At midseason, he’d dropped seven passes in the first eight games, his agent had questioned via social media quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ leadership abilities, and Finley, never one to censor himself, had continued his outspoken ways, to the chagrin of the organization.

But then, Finley flipped the switch. He wound up breaking the franchise single-season record for receptions by a tight end (61), and he didn’t drop a single pass over the final six games (including playoffs). Tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said Finley’s drop percentage early in the season was “about 30 percent,” and during the second half of the season, it was down to 6 percent.

Not coincidentally, Finley’s relationship with Rodgers was improving during that time, as the pair began spending the night before each game talking about the game plan, how Finley should run his routes and life in general. The connection made a big difference, as Finley caught 26 passes in the final five regular-season games and also had a breakthrough day in Detroit on Nov. 18, when his three receptions included a touchdown and a critical 40-yard catch-and-run to set up the game-winning score.

“He seems like he’s really dialed in. as far as expectations go, I didn’t set any expectations last year, we just wanted to continue to improve each and every week, and that’s the same mentality we’re taking this year – let’s get better, let’s find a starting point and let’s get better each and every week. We’re capable of doing great things,” TE coach Jerry Fontenot said. “I think we definitely had a year to grow off of last year and the way we finished off the year, I’m happy with where we’re starting. But again, we have a long ways to go.”

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 of 2012, Finley averaged 4.6-57-.14, which equates to TE10 numbers over the course of a full season. It sounds as if those weekly meetings with Rodgers have helped. 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.

Giants HC Tom Coughlin will likely split carries between David Wilson and Andre Brown, who should complement each other well. While Wilson brings the home-run threat, Brown offers the Giants a well-rounded option. He can run with power, can catch out of the backfield, block and excel in the short-yardage game.

If Brown is healthy after breaking his leg last year, don't be surprised to see the former well-traveled running back get the majority of carries in some games. He should be the goal-line back again. With Bradshaw gone, the coaches might trust the veteran Brown a bit more than Wilson at the moment. But they also love Wilson's explosive ability and acknowledge his improvement from last year. Coughlin will likely go with the hot hand and whomever he trusts in crunch time.

We're currently projecting a 60/40 split between Wilson/Brown in terms of total touches. Brown averaged 5.3 YPC last season, which was a bit higher than Wilson (5.0), so Brown is no slouch. He'll get most of the goal line work and likely be involved elsewhere in the offense.

Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall said Tuesday he's happy for the addition of tight end Martellus Bennett, because it could take some of the receiving pressure off him.

"I am (looking forward to having more weapons)," Marshall told ESPN Chicago's Sarah Spain while attending the ESPYs. "It was tough sledding last year. I think that's why I had to have the surgery. I had 2-3 guys on me every single play, but bringing in big boy Martellus, I don't think the league really knows how good he is."

We're skeptical that the self-proclaimed "Black Unicorn" is going to make a huge impact, but it's possible if new HC Marc Trestman makes him a big part of the offense. The top season by a TE in a Jay Cutler-led offense was Greg Olsen's 60-612-8 in 2009 and the four-year average from '07-'10 with Olsen and Tony Scheffler was 48-552-5.3, which equates to #18 TE numbers in our 2013 projections. Of course, that doesn't even count the 37 total catches in the last two seasons by Kellen Davis. The Bears should throw the ball more, which will certainly help.

The Raiders had a disastrous season running the football last year. Their ground game ranked 28th in the NFL, with 88 yards per game, and blame fell on a zone-blocking scheme that cost offensive coordinator Greg Knapp his job. Darren McFadden averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry and had just three total touchdowns in 2012. Zone blocking hurt McFadden the most, taking away his ability to shake tacklers, improvise on the fly and grind out extra yards. An ankle injury sidelined him four games and marked the fifth straight season health issues slowed him down.

McFadden couldn’t be more motivated heading into a contract year. Last year’s frustration is this season’s drive, and he’s vowed to be the dynamic workhorse of years past. New coordinator Greg Olson installed a power-based rushing system that should benefit McFadden’s downhill rushing style.

After averaging 5.2+ YPC in 2010 and 2011, the Raiders (ponderously) switched back to a zone-blocking running scheme, to which we already knew DMC is not well-suited. He's a top 10 talent when healthy, but his durability will always be a concern. His owners long for the 1,664 total yards and 10 TDs he posted (in just 13 games) during the 2010 season.

When asked if this would be his final training camp, Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez said, "Without a doubt, yes. Without question."

He finished #3 in fantasy PPG in 2012 and #6 in 2011 so another top 5 season is well within reach. He's a great fit for the Atlanta passing game and Matt Ryan loves to look his way in the redzone due to his big frame and soft hands.

The Detroit Lions announced today that they have released RB Jahvid Best.

Best was placed on Physically Unable to Perform on August 27, 2012 and missed the duration of the 2012 season.

Best's career seemed like it was over a while ago. He got off to a promising start as he caught 49 passes in his first 10 games (the 4th-most by a rookie RB), but concussions derailed his career. The Lions have acquired Reggie Bush to fill the same pass-catching role.

In his second year, Browns WR Josh Gordon can be a superstar in this offense if he can avoid drifting off the straight and narrow. His two-game suspension at the start of the season for testing positive for, he said, codeine, will either be a wake-up call or the beginning of the end for him. Gordon’s physical skills are elite and he is only 22 years old. The Browns need to surround him with a support group.

The two game suspension puts a dent in Gordon's upside, but he's still an interesting pick in the 7th/8th round provided owners can "get by" at WR3 while he serves his suspension.

Seattle's offense will be built around the run. Coach Pete Carroll hasn't wavered from that mandate since he was introduced as the Seahawks coach, and yet receiver is where Seattle has been most predisposed to spending large chunks of money over the past three years.

Terrell Owens has had a 1,000-yard receiving season more recently than any Seahawk player, a fact that's not necessarily going to change this year even after the team's addition of Percy Harvin.

We are not as bullish on Harvin as some fantasy prognosticators out there, but we still think he's going to crack the 1,000-yard mark (current projection: 87-1,098-7.5) and have a fine season for the Seahawks, provided he stays healthy.

RB Trent Richardson has been sprinting pain-free, is 100 percent healthy and expects to be ready for the start of Browns training camp next week.

"I have no pain at all in the leg,'' he said by phone before a Tuesday pool workout in Pensacola, Fla. "I'll be ready for camp and I'll be ready to go for the season."

Richardson is our #8 RB in PPR formats but his injury history is a concern. It's good to hear that he'll be ready for camp. The Browns will use him heavily this season.

Jets WR Santonio Holmes is expected to begin camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. The big question is, will he be ready by Week 1? That's the goal, but he's recovering from a Grade 4 (the most severe) LisFranc injury. There are no guarantees.

We're not high on the Jets' passing game in general, and Holmes is especially dicey due to the foot injury. He's not a bad late-round flier, but don't burn a valuable draft pick to get him.

Breaking news from One Buc Place: K Connor Barth will miss the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. Buccaneers have signed K Lawrence Tynes.

Tynes is a pretty good kicker, so he's worth consideration at the end of your fantasy draft. Barth was 12th in field goal attempts in 2012.

Titans RB Chris Johnson caught only 36 passes for 232 yards last season, both career-lows for the five-year veteran. He caught at least 50 passes in two of his first four seasons, and the Titans want to get him more involved in the passing game again.

In PPR formats, Johnson has never finished lower than 12th, and given the arrival of Shonn Greene, there is some concern that he won't see enough touches to be productive. But Johnson is still far and away the most talented RB on the roster, so the team will want to ramp up his participation in the passing game. He caught 57 passes two seasons ago; we currently project him for 51 catches for 401 yards. The link leads to a video from beat writer John Glennon, and in it he says the team would like to run the ball 30 times a game, giving Johnson 20 carries and Greene 10. That's probably optimistic.

The Rams listed Daryl Richardson as their starting RB in a recent press release.

Richardson was ahead of Isaiah Pead, who is suspended for game one. This could still be a camp battle, but for the record we rank Richardson as the top Ram RB, listed 34th with an ADP of the 11th round. The hope is this situation straightens itself out before your draft.

The backup to Cleveland RB Trent Richardson is likely yet to be determined, according to ESPN.

ESPN said don't be surprised if RB Montario Hardesty loses his roster spot. OC Norv Turner’s backs have to be able to catch the ball. Hardesty is a hard runner who has overcome numerous knee injuries and survived two head coaches. Through it all, he has been a liability as a dump-off receiver out of the backfield.

The story went on to question that if Hardesty doesn't make it, can Chris Chris Ogbonnay or the 5-6 ½ Dion Lewis be counted on to ably replace Richardson in the event of another injury? The team also has Brandon Jackson on the roster. If you want to handcuff Richardson, it's a situation to pay attention to.

Eagles HC Chip Kelly realized that in order to win over the players he has in the locker room, he had to hang onto QB Michael Vick and give him a chance to win the team’s starting quarterback job. Most of the guys on the roster consider Vick to be the best quarterback that they have. That may or may not be true, but Vick is the only quarterback on the roster who has ever done anything on the NFL level.

If Kelly had come in and cut Vick, it would have sent a signal to the rest of the squad that he was sacrificing the next couple of years. In order to win their confidence, Kelly had to convince the other players he was trying to win now. Keeping Vick sent that message.

“You want to talk about our players buying in? If I went in the locker room and said this is going to be a really good year for us to get ready for the following year, that’s not going to work,” Kelly said during last month Philly Mag’s Birds 24/7. “No one has a mindset like that. So our decision isn’t based upon what is the future two years down the road, three years down the road. I don’t think that far.”

The general consensus coming out of camp among the beat writers is Nick Foles is ahead in this race. Vick, apparently, is struggling to pick up the system and Foles has been a much better decision maker. Preseason games will likely still play a factor in Kelly's final decision, but whomever wins the job will be nothing better than a late-round QB2 fantasy option until we see more of this offense.

Speaking on 94.1 WIP, former Eagles player and founder of gcobb.com, Garry Cobb, said rookie QB Matt Barkley needs to catch up. He went on to say head coach Chip Kelly doesn't want to rush Barkley and instead wants to give him time to develop.

The starting QB race is between Michael Vick and Nick Foles most likely. Cobb didn't rule out the possibility of seeing Barkley later in the season, assuming the Eagles don't go anywhere this year, and assuming Barkley isn't lights-out in camp. The favorite continues to be Foles to win the job.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee believes 49ers WR A.J. Jenkins is likely to be given the best opportunity to succeed this summer. Jenkins is a former first-round pick, and HC Jim Harbaugh had high praise for him in June.

Jenkins spent the offseason working on his biggest weakness in 2012 -- his strength. It was hard to tell whether he made strides during the non-contact practices in the spring, but Jenkins is noticeably more confidant than he was a year ago when he seemed to end up on the ground on every third play.

Training camp, and especially the preseason, will be the true test for Jenkins, who must prove he can operate in spaces far tighter and more violent than those he experienced at Illinois. If he succeeds, his quickness and fluidity would be a nice complement to Boldin's aggressive style. It's also possible that Jenkins will operate out of the slot where he would have more space with which to work.

CSN Bay Area 49ers reporter Matt Maiocco said 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick will have to take on more of a role with no WR Michael Crabtree to start the season. He added that Kaepernick will have to be great himself, but also make the wide receivers around him better.

Kaepernick will have WR Anquan Boldin and TE Vernon Davis, but outside of that someone will have to step up and take on more of a role whether Kaepernick makes them better or not. We rank Kaepernick 7th among QBs, but there are some concerns, mainly the loss Crabtree but also teams who have studied his weaknesses over the offseason. Kaepernick is one of many very talented QBs who will be available in the sixth round and beyond in drafts this season.

Packers WR Randall Cobb is hoping to develop into an all-around receiver.

“I don’t want to work on just being a slot receiver,” Cobb said. “I want to be a receiver, period. I want to be able to go outside, too. So one thing I’ve worked on this off-season, too, is my outside routes and trying to put that into my game so I’m not just labeled a ‘slot guy.’”

Not too long ago, Greg Jennings grew into such a a do-it-all receiver. In time, maybe Cobb follows a similar trajectory.

The story is mainly about the potential of taking Cobb off special team duties to save him, but it's worth noting he is striving to be a do-it-all receiver. Either way, Cobb is ranked 13th, right behind 12th-ranked teammate Jordy Nelson. In fact, James Jones also cracks our top-25 WRs, coming in at 24th. There are a lot of targets for QB Aaron Rodgers but we predict 83 catches and over 1,000 yards with 9 TDs for Cobb. Cobb's ADP is late-third round while Jordy's is early fifth. Since we predict very similar numbers for the two, it's something to keep in mind on draft day...

Texans QB coach Karl Dorrell said about QB Matt Schaub: "If you’re an elite player in this league, you’re able to be a crunch time player. I know Matt’s really right there; he’s on the cusp of being one of those players.

"I think in his mind he knows he can play better, and he would like to put this on his shoulders and get this team to the Super Bowl."

Dorrell also said there's more Schaub can bring to the table and he's "ready to take it up a notch in 2013." We rank Schaub 20th on our QB list. With such a great running attack, the passing game takes a hit despite having some nice targets to throw to. We think the addition of WR DeAndre Hopkins could help, but right now Schaub is a low-end QB2.

Jets RB Chris Ivory was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Saints and is one of the keys to the Jets' season.

The Jets need Ivory to become a 15-carries-a-game back. They see him as a poor man's Marshawn Lynch, a big, bruising runner with the ability to wear down a defense.

The concern with Ivory is that he's never done it for a full season, and that's nothing to take lightly at the running-back position.

While the Jets need Ivory to step up, and it seems like he'll be given a chance, there are some other experienced backs on the team as well: Mike Goodson, Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight. Ivory has certainly shown flashes, but has also struggled with injuries. We rank Ivory 19th among RBs with an ADP of the 6th round. The team is hoping Ivory can produce as an RB1, but if he can't, it could turn into a committee situation.

Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson spent his Monday morning running sprints and catching passes alongside All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
In other words, Simpson's 2013 season is off to a promising start.

“I wanted to work with one of the greats,” Simpson said. “I got an opportunity to come down here and work with him so I wanted to take full advantage of it.”

Simpson and Fitzgerald don’t know each other personally. They share a mutual friend and Fitzgerald extended an invitation for Simpson to join workouts that he hosts at the Gophers football facility. Simpson took part for the first time on Monday.

The Vikings need someone to step up alongside WR1 Greg Jennings, especially with the loss of Percy Harvin. There were high hopes for Simpson when he finally took the field in 2012 but he never panned out. He ranks just 83rd on our list to start the year.

Redskins RB Alfred Morris did not hold on to the third-down role he coveted. The physical and mental components of pass blocking often are difficult for a rookie to master against complex, fast NFL blitzes.

Morris was physical in pass protection and improved as the season progressed, although the zone read option reduced the frequency at which he was required to pass block. Training camp repetitions should help him continue to get comfortable.

Roy Helu will be back in the fold and it seems like he could continue to have a role in third down situations. That was really the only drawback to Morris' season in 2012 - a lack of involvement in the passing game. Still, Morris is a top-ten back in standard leagues, coming in 6th. It seems like the team wants to ease back a bit on Morris' workload.

The Redskins, overall, are deeper at running back than they were last season because Roy Helu is expected to be fully recovered from his left big toe injury.

Helu's speed and elusiveness on the second level set him apart from starter Alfred Morris. A healthy Helu would reduce Morris’ physical burden after Morris carried 335 times last year. Helu also could join Morris and quarterback Robert Griffin III in an extremely potent triple option.

Helu is a quality third-down back because of his hands, his ability to gain yards after the catch along with his pass blocking. He improved his blitz recognition as his rookie season progressed in 2011. Morris improved but continued to struggle as a third down back last year and as a result didn't pile up receptions and yards. The Skins also drafted Chris Thompson and Jawan Jamison in the late rounds. Keiland Williams is also on the roster.

It's not outlandish to say that Philip Rivers' play will dictate the success or failure of the San Diego Chargers' 2013 season.

Rivers' inconsistency has critics swarming, but new coach Mike McCoy believes his quarterback will have a "great year" as long as the team simplifies things.

"We got to get him going back to the basics," McCoy said. "Take what the defense gives you. Don't be afraid to check it down. You don't have to make that big play every play."

McCoy wants the ball out quicker and also said another key is running the football, which is likely why the team resigned Ronnie Brown and signed free agent Danny Woodhead. Rivers' 2012 season arguably was his most inconsistent since taking over as full-time starter in 2006, but McCoy is known for getting the most out of his quarterbacks.

Panthers WR Domenik Hixon's (brought in as a free agent) experience and ties to general manager Dave Gettleman could make Hixon the favorite to claim the No. 3 receiver spot.

Ted Ginn Jr. is probably the top competition for Hixon, but it looks like Hixon has the edge, according to the story. Whomever wins will be behind starters Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell.

Chief on the Jaguars training camp to-do list is getting RB Maurice Jones-Drew up to speed, two years removed from winning the league’s rushing title but less than eight months post-surgery.

Jones-Drew was present for a portion of the offseason workouts, but has yet to practice.

HC Gus Bradley hasn't finalized a preseason plan for Jones-Drew, but don’t expect him to get much work.

Jones-Drew currently ranked 16th on our RB list with an ADP of the early third round. That could be a bargain with the potential for him to finish in the top-ten when all is said and done. Justin Forsett and rookie "offensive weapon" Denard Robinson provide nice depth behind MJD. QB Blaine Gabbert will continue to keep MJD's value in check unless there is improvement in the passing game.

Mike McCoy inherited starting running back Ryan Mathews when he took the job as coach of the San Diego Chargers. During the offseason, the team signed Danny Woodhead and brought back veteran Ronnie Brown.

It's easy to see those moves as a reflection of Mathews. The first-round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft has shown flashes of excellent play, but rarely has it been sustained. But, McCoy said that the running back moves had "nothing to do" with Mathews' shortcomings. It was about building depth behind Mathews.

McCoy's expectations for Mathews are clear: "To have a great year and be the guy."

However... McCoy prefers to get multiple backs involved in the offseason, dating back to his days as a coach under John Fox with the Carolina Panthers. So, look for Woodhead and Brown to be involved, and they both especially excel in third-down situations. We rank Mathews just 30th on our list with an ADP of the 6th round. This might be Mathews' last chance to be the guy, but it at least looks like he's going to get a shot with the new coaching staff. With a 6th round ADP, he's RB3 material.

When discussing the tight end position for Tampa Bay, there’s a deeper conversation to be had. Luke Stocker might be the incumbent to the job and he’s the guy you’d most expect to become the so-called starter – he already knows the offense, he’s the highest draft pick in the group and he has ability – but Stocker has company.

Stocker has significant competition. Most notable among his rivals is Tom Crabtree, signed from the Packers early in the offseason.

Don’t be surprised when you start hearing more about guys like Nate Byham, Danny Noble and Zach Miller. None, including Stocker, is a very accomplished NFL player. But each has varying degrees of experience and intriguing skills.

The article mentioned that TE is not a position featured in OC Mike Sullivan’s scheme, but, Dallas Clark was targeted 76 times and caught 47 passes last season. Still, we predict Stocker to catch under 30 balls and he's ranked just 39th on our list.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune said the Saints need to do a much better job of turning RB Darren Sproles loose than they did in 2012.

Just like QB Drew Brees and TE Jimmy Graham, Sproles also fell back down to earth in 2012. He was held to just 244 rushing yards, 667 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Part of the problem was a broken hand that sidelined Sproles for three games. But the bigger issues were increased attention from opposing defenses and the Saints' overall inefficiency on offense. Sproles might benefit more than anyone if the Saints' offense returns to its usual greatness this season now that coach Sean Payton is back.

It's a dangerous thought. We rank Sproles 10th on our list of PPR RBs. We project him for 94 catches and 700-plus yards with 7 TDs. His ADP is the fifth round and last year he finished 8th-best in PPR formats, so even in a down year he had value in the right format.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has shed the cast and brace from his surgically-repaired left arm, and he appeared to be moving around fine at a recent book signing despite undergoing back surgery last month.

The news continues to be positive for Gronkowski, but there is still no timetable for his return and there are various reports and rumors concerning how long he will be out and how many games he will miss - if any. As we broke it down in a previous news item, you take a chance drafting Gronk in the second round this year. The later you can get him, obviously, the better the value.

The Bengals signed first round pick TE Tyler Eifert, who helped lead the Fighting Irish to the National Title game as he registered 50 receptions for 685 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In his junior season, he had 63 receptions for 803 yards and five touchdowns, and broke the school’s TE single-season receptions and receiving yards record.

Eifert, the top TE prospect, to the Bengals in this year's draft was a surprise considering they already had Jermaine Gresham. As a result, Gresham's value takes a hit as a low-end TE1 to now a low-end TE2, as he's currently ranked 18th at the position. Eifert likely cuts into Gresham's production, especially in the red zone.

So far, the signs are good for Redskins QB Robert Griffin III.

His long speed is back, he's cutting again and Griffin even walks without any sign of a limp when the brace is removed from his surgically repaired knee.

A source acknowledged that whatever test the team's medical staff puts before Griffin, "he completely smashes it." According to the source, the Redskins are "astonished" by his progress.

The story does point out that the Redskins have yet to set a time or date to clear RGIII, according to the same source. We rank RGIII 8th on our QB list with an ADP of the 7th round. The injury should perhaps stay in the back of your mind, but it seems like all systems go if you were targeting Griffin for your fantasy team. You could do far worse waiting that far into a draft to pick your QB, but it looks like Matt Stafford, Andrew Luck and Tony Romo could also be options in that same round.

Dallas backup running back Lance Dunbar was impressive during offseason workouts.

Dunbar is a speedy back who could be used in third-down situations. Dunbar needs improvement on pass blocking, size could be an issue, yet, he's someone worth watching in training camp.

We're not saying he should become a starter if DeMarco Murray gets hurt again, but Dunbar should see more playing time than he did last season.

The most scrutinized player in Jets camp will be QB Geno Smith, the former West Virginia star who slid into the second round. It'll be Smith versus Mark Sanchez in the Jets' first true quarterback competition since Sanchez versus Kellen Clemens in 2009 -- and that was rigged in Sanchez's favor.

This time, the politics will work against Sanchez. It's Smith's job to win. The organization wants a fresh face at quarterback, but Smith has a lot to prove after a lackluster performance in the OTAs and minicamp. He has the arm and the athleticism to electrify the offense, but can he lead?

Sanchez is probably slightly favored to win the job, and the article says the team is toying with the idea of using Smith as a "change of pace QB," if in fact Sanchez does take it. But, Smith wasn't very productive when West Virginia called designed runs, which wasn't often. And, Smith considers himself a pocket passer, and reportedly gives the impression he wouldn't be thrilled in that role. Both QBs are way down our list and will likely stay there even when a starter is named. In standard leagues, these guys should probably stay free agents until we see a lot more...

Lions WR Calvin Johnson came within 36 receiving yards of 2,000 in 2012. He broke Jerry Rice’s single-season record in 15 games. He had a streak of eight straight 100-yard games.

Yet quarterback Matthew Stafford said he thinks the Lions’ receiver could surpass his 1,964-yard effort in 2013.

“He thinks he can, which is all that matters,” Stafford told the NFL Network’s “NFL AM” last week.

“That guy works harder than anybody I know, and he thinks he can get better, so I wouldn’t put anything past him. He’s a guy that can obviously run all of the routes — inside, outside — make all of the catches and is a smart football player and a really good teammate.”

We predict Megatron to top 1,600 yards this season, but with 10 TDs compared to only 5 last year. Remember, he was tackled inside the 3-yard line six times in 2012. His middle-of-the-first round ADP says he's first to go after some of the star RBs come off the board.

Browns QB Brandon Weeden was under siege from the moment Joe Banner took over as CEO and brought along friend Mike Lombardi as his top football lieutenant.

But when the transaction season ended, Weeden was still standing throughout OTAs and minicamps as the undisputed starter. Banner/Lombardi replaced Colt McCoy and Thad Lewis with Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer. As a result, the QB roster was has been upgraded with legit NFL experience.

The article says don't be surprised if Hoyer passes Campbell for the QB2 spot, and it's also possible for the team to carry just Hoyer and Weeden at QB if Campbell falls to number-three. Coaches have always liked Hoyer's work ethic, the knock on him is he doesn't have the arm strength.

Bears WR Alshon Jeffery, the second-round draft pick from a year ago, flashed promise when he was on the field. Jeffery had 24 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns but missed six games with knee and thumb injuries.

"I'll say this about Alshon: He's really invested," receivers coach Mike Groh said. "I have seen improvement in the very short time I have been able to work with him. He certainly has tremendous potential."

We rank Jeffrey 50th, but there is certainly some potential in a pass-heavy offense for him to finish higher than that. He's a late-round flier at this point with an ADP of about the 13th round.

Newly signed Jets TE Kellen Winslow, Jr., only played in a handful of snaps last season, but the former Pro Bowl tight end has set some lofty goals for himself with the Jets.

“I averaged around 72 (catches per season over my career),” Winslow said on Friday. “My job is to just make plays. When it comes my way, just make the play. I can exceed that. My goal is always to catch 100 balls. Haven’t done it yet, but that’s my goal. I want to come close.”

The Jets signed Winslow, who has 438 career receptions, including 75 in his last full season (2011), after his three-day tryout at minicamp last month.

Winslow will turn 30 in a couple weeks and is coming off a one reception year last season before the Patriots released him. The biggest question centers on the veteran’s ability to stay healthy. Winslow has been plagued by troublesome knees in the past few years. He's ranked 29th among our TEs and likely won't get drafted until the final rounds, if at all. We predict him for a more reasonable 35 catches, 400-plus yards and a couple of TDs.

The Washington Redskins were a terror last season when WR Pierre Garcon was on the field as QB Robert Griffin III's No. 1 receiver.

The Redskins went 9-2 with Garcon, who finished with 44 catches for 633 yards and four touchdowns in 10 regular-season starts. Garcon was limited by a torn ligament in his right foot, an injury suffered in the season opener against the New Orleans Saints. He had surgery to repair a shoulder issue this offseason, but did not surgically repair the foot.

ESPN.com's Dan Graziano wrote that foot surgery for Garcon was the one move the Redskins needed to make but didn't this offseason. Graziano believes the Redskins could look back on Garcon's rest-and-rehabilitation decision as the team's "biggest regret."

From Garcon's side, it wasn't a cut-and-dry option. There was no guarantee the procedure completely would repair the ligament, the story went on to say. Instead, Garcon opted to have special shoes made to help better protect the foot. He said he still has a lot to learn about his foot and it's possible this issue comes up again, even though he said he'll be ready to play. We rank him 26th among our WRs, with an ADP of the sixth round. There's clearly some risk there in drafting Garcon.

Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas so far clearly has held off Mike Gillislee for the No. 2 running back job behind Lamar Miller, with Marcus Thigpen being incorporated more than last season.

The Dolphins like Jonas Gray, the former Notre Dame back who missed all of last season with an injury, but he’s a long shot, as is Arizona State’s Cameron Marshall, who had his moments in the offseason program.

Dolphins TE rookie Dion Sims closed the offseason program with momentum and has a good chance to win the job to backup starter TE Dustin Keller.

Tight end/H-back Charles Clay will factor in, unless he continues his penchant for drops.

Michael Egnew has improved, but his blocking remains questionable and he faded late in the offseason program.

Browns beat writer Mary Kay Kabot said: RB Trent Richardson was already a big part of the passing game last season, finishing second to WR Greg Little with 51 catches for 367 yards and a TD. I think he'll factor in heavily again, as will some of the other backs.

We've heard many times that the offense will run through Richardson in Cleveland and that's barely keeping him in our top-10 RBs because he was hampered by injuries last season. We don't see a lot more passing game production for Richardson this year, calling for 53 catches and 379 yards. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential be a solid, late-first-round pick.

If any of the Titans top-three WRs (Kendall Wright, Kenny Britt, Nate Washington) get injured, Justin Hunter and/or Damian Williams could find themselves thrust into a critical role for the first time.

The article considers all five locks to make the team. And, the story points out that no Titan WR had more than 4 TDs last season, meaning the key to success for any of these guys will be the play of QB Jake Locker.

Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Sam Bradford, Stedman Bailey, Brian Quick, Isaiah Pead, Chris Givens at Rams camp at the University of Oklahoma this weekend.

Good to see the young Rams getting together before training camp to get their timing down.

Nothing going on with FB Vonta Leach negotiations with the Dolphins because, well, there've been no negotiations.

This is important for Lamar Miller owners. Stay tuned.

Wide receivers coach Larry Kirksey on rookie WR DeAndre Hopkins:

“I just think the kid’s a very talented young man. He’s got good size, good range, and outstanding ball skills. He works. From day one, every pass he caught he sprinted not 10, not 20, 30 but 40, 50 yards down the field after the catch. That’s what we ask for in our receivers. I think he’s off to a great start from that standpoint.

"I was happy to see how he grasps the things we ask him to do. He studied what we gave him from the book, and then he went out and his athletic ability took over, and he was able to make plays. He’s just got to continue to do that."

Other than perhaps Tavon Austin, DeAndre Hopkins has the clearest path to major snaps and targets of all the rookies in the class of 2013. The Texans desperately need a threat opposite an aging Andre Johnson, which is why the Texans used a first round pick on Hopkins. He's currently our #45 WR in standard formats.

NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski is in the process of ranking all of the league’s passers, and he positively gushed in his assessment of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Jaworski ranked Kaepernick at No. 11, noting that he has played only half a season. But Jaworski said that 10 games was more than enough for Kaepernick’s talent to shine.

“Normally 10 NFL starts is not enough for me to evaluate a player so highly, but this kid has special talent, is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback with a power arm and outstanding athleticism,” Jaworski said.

“Kaepernick has a chance to be very special,” Jaworski said. “He has a complete throwing skill set with a powerful arm that I absolutely put at gun level. His ball comes out with a lot of energy and velocity. And Kaepernick can drive the ball down the field, on the move, with accuracy. . . . Kaepernick is one of the four or five most physically talented quarterbacks in the entire NFL. . . . The elite skill set is still there.”

In 10 games as the starter, Kaepernick averaged 241 passing yards and 1.4 TDs (vs. 0.5 INTs) to go along with 50 rushing yards and 0.5 rush TD. That all adds up to 21.7 fantasy points per game which would have placed #2 among QBs in 2012 over the course of a full season. Two concerns: 1) The loss of Michael Crabtree and 2) that teams will have a chance to study his tendencies in the offseason. Otherwise, we're high on the second year starter.

Jaguars RB coach Terry Richardson has "faith and confidence" that Maurice Jones-Drew will be full-go when pads go on July 31.

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.

What can the Redskins expect from RB Roy Helu? Clearly we know he’s not the most durable back. That was the knock on him coming out of college and after knee problems in his first season and turf toe in his second, that rap hasn’t diminished. The ironic thing is Helu is the most well-built of the backs. But he’s a necessary weapon because of his speed and ability to make defenders miss on the outside. They don’t need him to carry 15 times a game, but they do need him to be a threat on screens, for example. He could use a little more patience and better vision on some of his runs to set up defenders, even on screens. But his touchdown vs. Seattle two years ago – hopping over a defender at the line – remains one few on this roster would make. So as long as he’s healthy, Helu should play a role. He has improved in protection, enough that it should not be an issue (two years ago he had a bad habit of lowering his head, losing sight of the rusher).

If Helu is healthy, he'll be the favorite for third-down duties, putting a dent in the upside of Alfred Morris. Morris didn't catch many passes in 2012, but started to catch a few towards the end of the season. A healthy Helu would likely put an end to that.

The 49ers remain interested in former Colt Austin Collie, but they are unlikely to make a move on the free-agent wide receiver until after training camp begins, a source close to the situation said this week. One of the team's top priorities this summer will be to see if any of their young and inexperienced wideouts perform well enough to warrant significant snaps when the regular season begins. If none elevates his game, an inexpensive veteran like Collie would be of interest.

Collie is a talented WR but has been unable to stay healthy for an extended period of time. He would be an interesting addition to the 49er receiver corps.

Frank Gore’s mentoring of RB Lamar Miller has been one of the neater Dolphins-flavored stories of the summer, the four-time Pro Bowler and 49ers star taking the second-year protege under his wing. They work out together twice a day – with a group of other NFL players in the morning in North Miami Beach, and just the two of them, with a trainer, on a Davie field at night.

“Since Lamar started gravitating toward Frank, his work ethic and mentality are unparalleled,” said Pete Bommarito, who runs the highly-regarded Bommarito Performance Systems, where Gore, Miller and many other NFL players train during offseason mornings.

Gore has noticed another change since they became workout buddies: “His footwork got a lot better."

Privately, the Dolphins believe Miller can be not merely a good starting back, but a great one.

“He’s the fastest running back I’ve ever seen,” said Bommarito, who has trained dozens of them, including Maurice Jones-Drew.

Miller's arrow is definitely pointing up in terms of opportunity, and it's great to hear that he's being mentored by a solid professional in Frank Gore. If the Dolphins sign FB Vonta Leach, Miller could have a huge year.

If this is a fair fight, if this is truly open competition, QB Nick Foles will be the Eagles’ starting quarterback on opening day.

And the fact that Foles is still here when it would have been easy to trade him and the fact that he really did split the OTA and minicamp reps with Michael Vick tells you it really will be a fair fight.

The entire article is a good read, as beat writer Rueben Frank lays out the case why Foles will (and should) be the Eagles starter. This is definitely concerning for Vick, who certainly seems to be on very thin ice at this point. There are too many solid QB2 options to use a 11th round pick on Vick, at least until we have a better idea of who is going to start for the Eagles. As for Foles, if he is the starter, consider him a low-end QB2 option. The Eagles are likely to be run-heavy, and QB is very deep this season.

At a pretrial hearing today regarding the DUI arrest of Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch last July in Oakland, it was re-affirmed that a motion to suppress evidence will not be held until Nov. 1, and that a jury trial won’t begin ntil Dec. 27.

Lynch earlier pleaded not guilty to two charges from the arrest, which included driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Lynch was not disciplined by the team for the arrest, and with the current timeline, it’s possible the case will not have a resolution until late into this season, or possibly until after the season. Any NFL discipline wouldn’t happen until after the legal process has run its course.

The DUI is basically a non-factor at this point heading into the 2013 season. If Lynch is disciplined, it won't be until next season. He's a solid RB1 in both standard and PPR formats. The only concern at this point is that the Seahawks are less focused on the run with the arrival of Percy Harvin.

Giants OC Kevin Gilbride likes the "significant" improvement he has seen from RB David Wilson from last year.

But the offensive coordinator made it clear that Wilson "is still not 100 percent."

"You see a guy like David Wilson, who started with no clue on who to block, much less how to block, to a pretty good understanding of what it is that he has to do," Gilbride said. "Now it is a matter of doing it. And it is a matter of getting better at it. He is still not 100 percent."

Gilbride likes Wilson's approach and attitude but wants to see Wilson be able to catch passes out of the backfield and "become a good pass protector."

"He still makes mistakes but there has certainly been some significant [growth]," Gilbride added. "Now until you get the pads on -– and he has to show that he, as a smaller guy, can do the things necessary that other small backs in this league have done –- you are still kind of holding your breath when you see him."

We're not terribly bullish on Wilson due to the presence of Andre Brown, who was very productive last season when given the opportunity. We're expecting Brown to serve as the Giants' goal line back, which takes a good bit of upside away from Wilson.

While Giants WRs Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks stayed away from voluntary OTAs, Rueben Randle took advantage of added reps with Eli Manning.

"No question ... Rueben benefited," OC Kevin Gilbride said last month. "I would say that he and the guys in the slot position benefited the most. Rueben, you see emerging from a guy that showed flashes at times. He always caught the ball well but maybe didn't always run the routes as precisely, as crisply as you wanted. He didn't have quite the understanding you wanted.

"He looked like a guy that has been here for five or six years," Gilbride continued on what Randle showed in the offseason. "He really benefited from the opportunity. His whole demeanor, his whole professionalism, was outstanding."

Randle obviously still needs to show progression in camp. But Gilbride made it clear that even with Nicks and Cruz on the field, Randle will see his share of snaps.

"Oh, he is going to play -– he is going to play a lot," Gilbride said. "He will play first and second downs. He will be an outside receiver for us. Whether he is at the 'X' or the 'Z,' he is going to play. He is looking like he deserves to be out there a significant time."

And the buzz continues. Snaps are the main thing standing in the way of a breakout season for Randle, who had the 8th highest FP/target (on a mere 32 targets) in 2012. He's certainly deserving of a flier in the later rounds.

Panthers HC Ron Rivera says RB Jonathan Stewart is progressing well after offseason surgery on both ankles, but wouldn't say if he'd be ready for start of camp.

Stewart's health may open the door for DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert to become fantasy relevant. Both are talented backs, but Williams has shown in recent years that he probably deserves a full-time role. Consider him an interesting sleeper in the 10th-12th rounds until Stewart's situation is cleared up.

New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden sprained his ankle last winter and was unable to run during any part of the team's offseason training program, according to league sources.

Bolden suffered the ankle sprain while lifting weights on his own, when he didn't have his ankle planted correctly, a source familiar with the injury said. He is scheduled to meet with team trainers on Monday and believes his ankle has healed sufficiently, according to a source.

Bolden still attended the Patriots' program, but couldn't participate in drills. He is hoping and expecting to be ready for the start of training camp on July 25.

Bolden's roster spot is suddenly in some jeopardy after the Patriots acquired LeGarrette Blount via trade. They will vie to be the primary backup to Stevan Ridley while Shane Vereen takes over the role once occupied by Danny Woodhead.

Mark Sanchez’s Jets West camp convened again, but apparently without the competition for his starting job.

According to Kristian Dyer of Metro New York, rookie quarterback Geno Smith wasn’t there as players were gathering Wednesday night, and none of those asked knew if he was coming.

While it is a good opportunity for Smith to throw to the Jets' WRs, it's understandable that Smith would skip the camp being run by the competition for the starting job.

Former Nebraska football player and current New England Patriots defensive back Alfonzo Dennard was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Thursday in Lincoln.

Lincoln police Capt. Jason Stille said officers spotted a westbound Honda straddling the lane line on Normal Boulevard between 50th and 56th Streets about 2 a.m.

Dennard, 24, was alone in the vehicle. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI, refusing a chemical test and a driving infraction.

That WR Larry Fitzgerald and QB Carson Palmer were connecting Wednesday at Fitzgerald's annual summer workouts at the University of Minnesota is a sign that, at least philosophically, the Cardinals' greatest star and most important offseason acquisition are on the same page.

"Look, this is a big year for me, coming off my worst season as a pro," Fitzgerald told USA TODAY Sports. "I know Carson wants to play well this year. This is a huge year, and we're leaning on each other. It's simple as that. I need him as bad as anybody, and I'm going to go out there and give everything I can for him."

"It's great. (Fitzgerald) runs the show," Palmer said. "He's got all these guys dialed in. They're all following him, working behind him, watching him do it, and there's no better guy to watch do it. It's been great, just being a quarterback and having a player of his caliber makes life easier."

The payoff hopefully is increased chemistry and a firmer grasp on the team's new offense — "Coach Arians' baby," as Fitzgerald calls it — which features more formations, route adjustments and hot reads than Palmer is accustomed to using.

"That's the goal," Palmer said, "is to come into training camp and be ready, not have a day or two where you're kind of getting back into the swing of things and try to get rhythm and timing down. It's just a good chance to work some of the kinks out and talk about plays, talk about angles of routes and clean some of those things up."

Fitzgerald had a season to forget (71-798-4) thanks to terrible QB play and regular double- or triple-coverage. Even the mediocre Carson Palmer should be a huge upgrade at QB. New HC Bruce Arians is a good offensive mind, so Fitzgerald should bounce back in 2013. It's great to see that Fitzgerald and Palmer are hooking up this summer for some preseason practice. Palmer should be a nice QB2 available in the later rounds. He has a nice receiving corps and is playing for a good offensive mind in HC Bruce Arians.

DeMarco Murray should be a full participant when training camp starts in Oxnard, Calif. later this month. The Dallas Cowboys starting running back said Wednesday that he’s “100 percent, ready to go.”

“I’m doing everything,” Murray added. “Full speed.”

Murray averaged 91 total yards and 0.4 TDs in the 10 games he did play last season. He's the clear RB1 if healthy. He has missed nine games in the last two seasons due to injury, so he needs to put together a full season to shed the injury-prone tag.

Jets QB Mark Sanchez certainly is not acting like he's worried about losing his starting job to rookie Geno Smith -- and he's not talking that way, either. Sanchez all but predicted he will prevail in their open competition.

"When it's a straight-up competition for the job, let's roll," the embattled Sanchez said in a recent sitdown with ESPNNewYork.com. "It really doesn't bother me at all. It really doesn't affect my confidence or anything like that. We're competing for something. All right, I'm going to win. That's just how I am."

Publicly, the Jets' coaches are calling it an even race, although it became clear that Sanchez outplayed Smith in the spring, culminating with last month's minicamp.

Fantasy owners should steer clear of this offense, other than RB Chris Ivory, who looks to be a nice value in the 5th round.

In the first eight games of the season, Rams QB Sam Bradford was awful in the RZ, completing 43.3 percent of his throws with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions for a weak passer rating of 62.5. That's abysmal.

During the bye week the Rams' offensive coaches reworked the red zone approach to come up with a better plan to achieve more positive results. It was an example of good coaching, and Bradford responded accordingly.

In the final eight games of the season, Bradford completed 67 percent of his red zone passes.... and he had 9 touchdowns and only 1 interception... his red zone passer rating in the season's second half was 101.8.

That's a big jump in performance.

Bradford ranked 25th in red zone passer rating over the first eight games. Over the last eight games Bradford ranked 9th.

Bradford is poised for an improved season due to consistency at OC and an upgraded receiving corps, including Tavon Austin, Jared Cook and Stedman Bailey. Unfortunately, playing in the NFC West, he has to play both the Seahawks and the 49ers twice.

Here’s the player feedback on Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill: He’s more instinctive, less mechanical, and less robotic in his reads.

Tannehill is a popular breakout candidate in the QB2 ranks. He was decent in his rookie season given a woeful receiving corps (which has been upgraded) and he has one of the easiest schedules in the league.

With a fresh new offense in tow, the sense of intrigue surrounding the offensive philosophy implemented by Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is among the biggest storylines of the 2013 season. Consider that Kelly’s teams at Oregon ran the ball 64.1 percent of the time during his four seasons as head coach. That’s an astoundingly high number, admittedly inflated by a different style of play in college and the not-so-occasional Ducks blowout.

But over that same four-year time frame, the average NFL team has run the ball about 44.6 percent of the time. That number has also decreased each of the last four seasons, as NFL teams ran the ball 43.9 percent of the time in 2012. The Eagles, meanwhile, have consistently passed more than the league average and are coming off a season in which they ran the ball only 40 percent of the time. That number is certainly set to increase under Kelly, but the mystery is just how much the Eagles will lean on a talented backfield that includes LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown. That the Eagles have such a dynamic duo, in addition to a group of talented backups, should allow Kelly to run whenever he sees fit. McCoy, meanwhile, has proven that he can handle a heavy workload, as evidence by his 321 offensive touches in 2011 (the fourth-highest total in the league that season).

McCoy has averaged 17.5 carries per game in the last two seasons, which projects to 280 carries over a full 16-game season. Kelly will be forced to pass more since this is the NFL and the blowouts will be less frequent. We're currently projecting the Eagles to run 45.3% of the time, which is a bit more than the NFL average. The team's ability to rack up rushing attempts will depend on how well Kelly's offense translates to the NFL. McCoy is a solid RB1, though we are a bit concerned that Kelly's offense could flop, dragging all the Eagles down with it.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski appears to be making strides toward returning from back surgery. But just how soon he’ll return to the field remains to be seen.

Gronkowski has resumed some light workouts, and Ed Werder of ESPN reported that people who have been working with Gronkowski describe him as being in good spirits, looking good and making significant progress.

That does not mean, however, that Gronkowski will progress well enough to play when the Patriots open the season on September 8. It’s simply too soon to say whether Gronkowski can play in Week One, and Gronkowski’s history has to be a concern: His previous back surgery, in September of 2009 when he was in college at Arizona, cost him his entire senior season.

The interesting phrase in this report is "light workouts" which means that Gronkowski is up and moving around and perhaps doing some physical activity. His recovery could go right up to Week 1, and the Patriots aren't going to be forthcoming with any updates. There were rumors that he might start the season on PUP (missing the first six games), but the prevailing notion seems to be that he'll miss a couple games at most. The bottom line is that Gronk provides outstanding production when he plays, but his health is a major question mark right now. Back injuries are tricky. Fantasy owners willing to risk a 3rd round pick on Gronk should try to grab someone like Jordan Cameron or Rob Housler (or one of the many vets available) in the later rounds to fill in for Gronk early in the season. At this point, we might use a 4th round pick on Gronkowski, who holds 2nd round value if healthy. Fantasy owners who pull the trigger early in drafts are doing so in the dark. It's a risky move that could pay big dividends down the line.

Cardinals WR Michael Floyd is veering on to being a given as a break out candidate this year.

Last year’s No. 1 draft pick looked better at the end of last season but more importantly clearly had a better handle on himself and his role this offseason – even with a brand-new offense. Floyd has been an important target during OTAs and minicamp and there is little question the coaches are prepping him to take on a large load.

WR Larry Fitzgerald isn’t going anywhere, but with Carson Palmer behind center and Fitz drawing the defense, Floyd has the potential to have a pretty big season under HC Bruce Arians’ offensive scheme.

Palmer and Arians should give a boost in value to the Cards' weapons, Floyd included. He currently sits at 43rd on our WR list with an ADP of the 11th round. We do see some sleeper potential there for Floyd this season.

TE Rob Housler is perhaps the most obvious choice for a breakout season in Arizona, for a multitude of reasons. With only three proven receivers, Housler should be necessary. QB Carson Palmer is the best quarterback Housler will have played with in his short career. HC Bruce Arians believe tight ends are important, and Housler – given his physical stature – can give the Cards some matchup advantages (Arians said he saw Housler as a big receiver coming out of college.)

The downfall is Housler's blocking is "a work in progress" yet, so it could limit his time and thus his production. Tight end is once again a pretty deep position this year, especially when looking for a TE2. Housler ranks 17th on our list and likely won't even get drafted in typical leagues. So he should be there for the taking very late if you like him and if you want to carry an extra tight end.

Isn't it looking like the backup Bengals QB job is Josh Johnson's to lose?

He's the crop's best runner, he can throw it deep, and he knows the system. Meanwhile, John Skelton is adjusting to the West Coast offense and Zac Robinson is bouncing back from missing the last part of the spring workouts when he rested his arm.

Johnson looks like the favorite to back up Andy Dalton, who we rank 17th with an ADP of the 12th round.

Lions QB Matthew Stafford is on the verge of agreeing to a three-year contract extension that will keep him a Lion through 2017 and make him – for the second time in his short career – one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.

The 25-year-old already owns team single-season records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts, and he should break Bobby Layne’s career passing mark this fall.

He’s thrown for more than 10,000 yards the last two years, and joined Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to top 5,000 yards in a single season in NFL history.

Stafford was a bit of a disappointment last season. After throwing for 41 TDs and over 5,000 yards in 2011, he finished with 20 TDs, 17 INTs in 2012. His mechanics have come under fire, and recently Ron Jaworski of ESPN rated him just the 16th overall QB. We rank Stafford 9th among our QBs this season with an ADP of the seventh round. He's just one of a group of QBs with big upside that you can wait on and take in the middle rounds if that's the strategy you choose. And, Stafford is surrounded by enough talent that could potentially land him in the top-five when all is said and done.

ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss said he thinks Julian Edelman is the Patriot's No. 2 receiver on opening day if he is healthy. Reiss added that he wouldn't undersell his athleticism and speed. He went on to say, naturally, losing part of the offseason as he rehabs his foot wasn't ideal, but one of the main things he has going for him is a trust built up with QB Tom Brady and a knowledge of the offense.

Danny Amendola is the team's WR1, which means Edelman will likely battle with WRs Aaron Dobson, Michael Jenkins, and Donald Jones to get WR2 snaps. Right now, we have Dobson as the Pats WR2 with Edelman third. Dobson is going very late in drafts with an ADP of the 14th. With potentially no TE Rob Gronkowski to start the season, the Pats could rely more on the run.

There's two significant factors weighing against RB Brandon Bolden's chances of making the Patriots 53-man roster this season.

The first is increased competition created by April's acquisition of LeGarrette Blount from the Buccaneers. If Blount makes a case to stick, Bolden will be hard-pressed for a spot. The second is an undisclosed injury that landed him in a walking boot at one point this offseason. Bolden could be a candidate to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, hardly ideal for a player entering his second NFL season.

The good news for Bolden is reports say Blount has been unimpressive in OTAs and Bolden did look good at times last year for the Pats. He'll have to keep healthy, and ESPN gives him a 60-percent chance of keeping his roster spot. He would likely end up behind RBs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen on the depth chart.

The Jaguars officially have an offensive weapon on their roster. And now, he's officially signed his contract.

That would be former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson -- who is actually listed on the roster as an “offensive weapon" and who just might be Jacksonville's most exciting storyline heading into the season.

Robinson said during offseason practices that he was meeting with the team's running backs, but with his “striking speed and explosiveness,” Robinson could line up as a receiver, a kick-returner or perhaps as some kind of read-option quarterback.

The original plan was to get Robinson 10-15 snaps a game, which isn't a whole lot in the fantasy world. We rank him 84th on our RB list, and he likely won't get drafted before the final round. But keep an eye on him, because on the Jags, he could find himself with an increased role at some point.

Free agent fullback Vonta Leach is perfectly content to wait it out.

Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported Monday night that the free-agent fullback is in no rush to make a decision about where he'll play this season. The Miami Dolphins remain the front-runner, according to Jackson, but Leach's camp is waiting to see if another team emerges with a more lucrative deal over the next two weeks.

Contract negotiations between the Denver Broncos and left tackle Ryan Clady resumed Monday with the team sweetening its offer. An NFL source said the Broncos improved their five-year, $50 million proposal from a year ago.

Clady rejected the Broncos' $10 million a year offer prior to the 2012 training camp and played last season on a $3.5 million salary.

Clady was eligible for free agency this year, but the Broncos greatly restricted his freedom by placing a one-year, $9.823 million franchise tag on the three-time Pro Bowler.

The sides are trying to work out a multiyear contract agreement this week. If a new deal cannot be reached by July 15, Clady would have to play the 2013 season on the one-year, $9.823 million salary.

The Denver Broncos Web site says the RB race seems to be relatively wide open after Willis McGahee's release.

HC John Fox's Carolina teams seemingly always had two big-time backs that could rotate every other series or so -- Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster, then Foster and DeAngelo Williams, then Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Could it be the same situation with Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman? Could Knowshon Moreno factor in? Something to keep an eye on as camp progresses. But to answer your question, yes, Ball will get to battle for the starting spot.

It appears Ball will have every chance to take over the starting role at some point this season. Of course it could end up being a committee with Hillman and even Moreno, who played well last year, getting chances. We rank Ball highest among the three at 25th, but he's trending down, so taking him in the fourth round where his ADP is could be a bit risky right now. It's definitely one of the bigger situations to monitor when camp starts.

The Giants would like to resign WR Hakeem Nicks at some point, but preliminary talks with his agent went nowhere, according to an NFL source, and in recent interviews Nicks has sounded very lukewarm about re-signing with the Giants before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next spring.

The Giants do have the option of placing the “franchise tag” on him next March, but that likely would cost them about $11 million for 2014.

CSN Philly reporter Geoff Mosher said RB Felix Jones needs to stay healthy and be productive this camp to make the Eagles roster.

Jones would likely be behind starter LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown, who stepped in and looked great at times last year when McCoy went down - and when he wasn't losing the ball. Even if Jones makes the team, he could be buried on the depth chart.

CNS Philly reporter Geoff Mosher said for the Eagles at tight end, it looks like a stretch for Clay Harbor to come back for year four. With Brent Celek, James Casey and Zach Ertz on the roster, it’s hard to imagine the Eagles paying Harbor’s $630,000 base salary if there’s no guarantee that he’ll be active on game day.

CSN Eagles reporter Geoff Mosher said Eagles WR Riley Cooper is one of several veteran Eagles who might not be around for the season opener. WRs DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Damaris Johnson can safely be considered locks to make the team.

That leaves one or two more openings for a committee that includes Cooper, Arrelious Benn, Ifeanyi Momah, B.J. Cunningham and rookie Russell Shepard.

CSN Philly Eagles reporter Geoff Mosher said QB Michael Vick could be a roster casualty if HC Chip Kelly is sold on QB Nick Foles and the promise of QB Matt Barkley.

Vick hasn't done a whole lot this offseason to help himself. He came out publicly and said the Eagles need to decide on a QB sooner rather than later, which many saw as a sign of weakness for Vick. While most feel the competition is between Vick and Foles, there are many who follow the team who are quick to not count out Barkley.

Giants and WR Victor Cruz have agreed to terms on new 5-year extension for $43 million on top of his one-year tender. Expected to sign it by tomorrow.

Reportedly, Cruz gets just over $15 million guaranteed from the Giants. Right now he ranks 14th among our receivers with an ADP of the mid-fourth round. We saw his production drop from 2011 (82-1,536-10) to 2012 (86-1,092-6), after getting banged up a bit and losing some targets per game. This year, we expect him to land somewhere in between those two seasons at 76-1,212-7, making him a pretty solid WR2.

I'm told Cowboys expect QB Tony Romo to be ready for start of training camp. He's been rehabbing daily and throwing regularly.

Romo comes in ranked 12th on our QB list, and with a very nice group of receivers around him, he's a great value in later rounds in you plan to wait at that position. In a 12-team league, you should be able to get Romo around the seventh round. He's not a bad option as the last starter off the board in 12-team formats.

At 6-3 and 244 pounds with 4.5 speed, TE Chris Gragg, the seventh-round pick out of Arkansas has been an interesting addition to the Bills tight end corps. With Scott Chandler out early on and Lee Smith dealing with an injury, Gragg had an opportunity to earn a lot of reps with the ones and the rookie took advantage.

Gragg has frequented the end zone during practice, as the offense has taken advantage of the athleticism he brings to the tight end position. Gragg’s versatility and athleticism allowed Arkansas to use him in multiple roles (H-back, split out, and lined up tight), and the Bills have similarly done so just as they said they would when Gragg was drafted.

The Bills receiving corps has openings behind Stevie Johnson, and the versatile Robert Woods is right in the mix.

“I wouldn’t say I have a distinct style,” said Woods. “I can be a possession receiver because I can catch the quick passes and pick up the first down, but I can also make a guy miss and go the distance. So I would say I’m probably more of a complete receiver because I can do it all. I can play inside or outside.”

In offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s versatile offense, Woods will have a great opportunity to contribute immediately from multiple spots.

With a high pick comes high expectations, and fans are understandably curious about what the first-round quarterback will bring to the table. The Bills, however, are understandably protective of their investment and are in no rush to throw QB E.J. Manuel into the deep end too early. Instead Manuel will enter training camp as part of the continued two-man competition with Kevin Kolb.

Though Kolb is the first man through in the rotation, Manuel has seen an increase in reps to the point where they were almost evenly split during the team’s three-day minicamp.

Bears TE Martellus Bennett has expressed that he's hungry to have a leading role in an offense and he finally emerged when he escaped the vast shadow of Jason Witten in Dallas and spent one season with the Giants, catching 55 passes for 626 yards and five touchdowns, all career bests.

The Bears believe Bennett is one of the better multidimensional tight ends in the league, meaning he's adept at blocking as well. That's a craft he had to master while Witten was getting most of the passes in the Cowboys offense. At 6-5, 265 pounds, he gives Cutler a big target in the middle of the field and, as importantly, in the red zone.

The story goes on to say that Bennett should be able to match the numbers he put up in New York, but perhaps approach double-digits in TDs. We're not quite as excited about Bennett, predicting about four TDs, but admit there is some potential there. Right now we rank him 19th among TEs which is just TE2 material. He should be available late in drafts.

Bears WR Brandon Marshall set franchise records with 118 receptions for 1,508 yards last season and the Bears scored 375 points, 22 more than they had the year before, when Johnny Knox led all wide receivers with 37 receptions.

To be a dynamic offense, the Bears have to have multiple threats on a weekly basis. Alshon Jeffery, who missed time in the spring with a hamstring injury, has to be more durable and advance in his second season.

With TE Martellus Bennett and RB Matt Forte also in the mix, it's probably going to be difficult for Marshall to match his production from a year ago. That's not a bad thing.

We rank Marshall fourth among our WRs with an ADP of the second round. We do predict a bit of a drop from last year in overall numbers, but the hope is new head coach Marc Trestman doesn't mess with the chemistry too much. Also be aware Marshall had minor surgery to clean up his hip and missed a great part of on-field work in minicamps - as a precautionary measure.

Projecting Bears RB Matt Forte in HC Marc Trestman's offense is exciting. If Trestman relies heavily on what he did while with the Raiders more than a decade ago, Forte will be a dual threat.

Trestman called former Raiders running back Charlie Garner one of his favorite players. Garner made 91 receptions for 941 yards in 2002 and rushed for 962 yards on 182 carries. It might be asking too much for Forte to catch 91 passes, but he sure could top the career-high 63 he had as a rookie in 2008.

We rank Forte 12th among our RBs. Michael Bush, ranked 51st, could still be a threat to take away carries as well as TDs in close, but Forte projects to be a second-round pick and a very high end RB2, perhaps especially in PPR leagues.

While speaking with the media during May's OTAs, Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter provided a hint on what to expect from RB Steven Jackson during the four-game exhibition season: not a lot.

The veteran enters his 10th season in the NFL and by the this point in his career, he knows how to use training camp to prepare for the regular season. A lot of touches for Jackson, according to Koetter, isn't really necessary, but he added the final decision is in head coach Mike Smith's hands.

Redskins RB Alfred Morris said having gone through an NFL season before has him feeling a lot more comfortable this time around as training camp approaches.

He looked pretty comfortable last year as well, becoming the Skins starter after getting picked in the sixth round. He finished 2012 with 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns. Not many thought he'd stick as the RB1, but he turned out to be a great later-round pick in last year's draft. This year he won't be a secret, and he's ranked 6th among our RBs. The only downfall to Morris was his lack of involvement in the passing game. But the team made him an every down back during the middle of last season, so there's a chance he's more involved this year. He's a late first round option in drafts.

Although Raven RB Bernard Pierce's workload is expected to increase this year after he averaged 6.75 carries per game as a rookie, the Ravens aren't planning to dramatically alter how they divide up the playing time.

RB Ray Rice remains entrenched as the featured back.

"I'm comfortable spelling myself at any time," Rice said. "I've been healthy and blessed, and I know I can still play at a high level. Last year was a very long year, and us being able to take the blows off of each other and being able to spell each other without having to worry about having to miss a beat, was really, really key for us. There is only one ball to go around, but at the same time, you were seeing what we were able to do with the run game."

It seems to be a given that Pierce will get more looks this year and as a result, Rice falls in our RB rankings a bit. He comes in at 8th on our list with an ADP of the late first round. Pierce is shaping up to be a must-have handcuff for Rice owners.

Some opponents suggest that Texans WR Andre Johnson has lost perhaps a half-step, and isn’t as explosive. Johnson had only four touchdown catches last season, his fewest since 2002 in a season in which he played at least nine games.

Johnson started all 16 games last year, the first time since 2009, and finished with a career high 1,598 yards with 112 catches. But perhaps the purpose of the blurb is to mention the team is hoping first round pick WR DeAndre Hopkins eventually takes over as the team's WR1 down the road. We ranked Hopkins 46th among our WRs, but he has an ADP of the 11th round so he's getting some attention. We rank Johnson 10th among our WRs with an ADP of the third round.

What separates good tight ends from great tight ends is making the tough catch and the ability to stretch a defense and make big plays. While Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph and QB Christian Ponder have yet to develop a deep downfield rapport, Rudolph has become Ponder’s security blanket in the red zone – the area of the field inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

In two seasons, Vikings quarterbacks have thrown to Rudolph 23 times in the red zone. He has caught 20 of them – a whopping 87 percent of those throws. They weren’t always accurate. They weren’t always easy. But he made them.

For the purpose of comparison, in that same span, Antonio Gates has caught 67 percent of red zone passes thrown his way. Rob Gronkowski has caught 65 percent. Tony Gonzalez has caught 63 percent. Heath Miller has caught 60 percent. Jimmy Graham has caught 53 percent.

Rudolph hasn't had enough non-red zone opportunities to be ranked among the league's elite TEs, though he certainly has upside in 2013.

Browns RB Trent Richardson has begun his running program, as scheduled, at home in Pensacola, Fla., so he’s still on track for camp. But the Browns will err on the side of caution and do whatever it takes to get him to the season healthy. If he’s somewhat limited early on in camp, it wouldn’t be the worst decision. 

T-Rich should be fine to start the season, but this latest injury is a reminder that he played virtually the entire 2012 while banged up.

The initial concern heading into training camp later this month was whether Bills TE Scott Chandler would even be ready to participate. Coming off of knee surgery in early January Chandler’s initial timetable to return was August with full clearance not happening until possibly the start of the regular season. Fortunately Chandler has had a remarkable recovery with all signs pointing to full participation at St. John Fisher perhaps with just a day off here and there. His expected availability however, leads to another pressing question concerning the offense. How quickly can the tight end be assimilated into a brand new offense?

Buffalo’s offense under coordinator Nathaniel Hackett still has a lot of ground to cover in training camp. The majority of installation was completed in the spring practices, practices in which Chandler was not a participant.

Browns QB Brandon Weeden on TE Jordan Cameron:

“Jordan is one of the most athletic big guys I’ve ever been around in any sport. He’s extremely talented. He’s still learning the game essentially; he’s a basketball player that has all of the athletic ability in the world and has great hands, great route runner. He creates mismatches; that’s what I tell people. You put a corner or you put a safety on Jordan, it’s a mismatch and that’s what we like to do offensively. I’m excited for Jordan, he’s going to be a great player for us. This offense [under Norv Turner] fits him extremely well, obviously seeing what they did with Antonio Gates in San Diego. It’s got to be exciting for him and I know it’s exciting for me to throw it to a guy like that because he has big-play capability and I’m excited to see what kind of year he has.”

Senior Editor John Paulsen recently watched all of Cameron's 2012 targets and came away impressed, issuing a Sleeper Alert for the young tight end.

The departure of Steven Jackson means the Rams' running back situation is wide open, with three inexperienced vets and one rookie competing for jobs. Daryl Richardson is the favorite, mostly because he's the only guy with a resume. As Jackson's understudy last season, he ran for 475 yards, averaged 4.8 yards per carry and demonstrated big-play capability. Isaiah Pead could push him, and the Rams would like that. But he was a huge disappointment as a rookie, with only 10 carries. That's not what the Rams were expecting from their second-round pick, nor is this: Pead must serve a one-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Nevertheless, look for him to compete with rookie Zac Stacy and journeyman Terrance Ganaway for carries in what could be a crowded, running-back-by-committee approach.

This is a take from a national site which basically summarizes what we already know about the Rams' backfield -- it's messy. We're expecting Richardson to be the lead runner, but things could change quickly if Pead or Stacy can separate themselves from the pack.

Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon recently had groin surgery but could be ready for the start of training camp in three weeks.

Even with a four-game suspension, Blackmon is being drafted ahead of the likes of Anquan Boldin, Lance Moore and Michael Floyd. He certainly could produce solid numbers once he returns in Week 5, but his suspension should be affecting his draft stock more than it is. A four-game suspension is more than a quarter of the fantasy football season.

Paul Perillo of Patriots.com believes that Patriots RB Shane Vereen is the player most likely to pick up the slack given the team's issues at WR:

"Vereen is a versatile running back with wide receiver skills. He came to New England with experience in a pro style passing game from his days at Cal, where he operated in Jeff Tedford's sophisticated system. He understands how to run routes and get open as well as catch the ball.

During the spring there were times when Vereen lined up as a receiver on the outside where the Patriots were looking to isolate him in space against a linebacker. It was similar to last year's divisional playoff win over Houston when he caught a long touchdown pass down the left sideline on a double move. I can see Brady and Vereen hooking up in a similar fashion – only more often – this year."

Meanwhile, writer Andy Hart believes that rookie WR Aaron Dobson will be ready to contribute immediately:

"In the past there have been other options that Tom Brady has felt more comfortable with and therefore life for the new guy hasn't always been easy. This year Brady won't have much of a choice. He's going to have to throw the ball to someone he's not overly familiar with – and Dobson is going to be that guy."

Both players likely get a boost given the team's issues at TE.

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch’s court date scheduled for today regarding a motion to suppress evidence in Alameda County Court was continued to Nov. 1, according to Teresa Drenick, assistant district attorney for the Alameda County District Attorney’s office.

Lynch’s court date stems from charges filed against him for driving under the influence of alcohol in July of last year.

Lynch’s next court date regarding the matter is a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Thursday, but the parties may negotiate and resolve the matter outside of court at anytime.

If the parties cannot come to an agreement, then the next likely step would be that the matter would be set for trial. At this time, no trial date has been set, but a readiness hearing is scheduled for Dec. 27.

With the readiness hearing not scheduled until Dec. 27, it's unlikely that Lynch will face any punishment that will impact his status for the 2013 season. Owners can now take him with confidence in the late 1st/early 2nd.

After Bengals RB Giovanni Bernard was selected, special assistant to the head coach/running backs coach Hue Jackson summed up his value like this: “We’re looking for a guy who would fit what we do, who can catch it and run with it. But you also have to be able to pass protect and be multifaceted, and the young man has that skill set."

Look further into what Jackson said, and find a clue as to what the Bengals now value. Gone are the days of coveting a back whose value lies almost solely as a rusher—Cedric Benson, Rudi Johnson, Corey Dillon—and in is an era where backs must excel in the passing game as well, whether it be receiving or protecting the quarterback.

And that’s not to say a back like Bernard isn’t capable of carrying the rushing load, if called upon.

“Having evaluated him and watched every game he played this year and had a chance to work him out, and having spent a lot of time with him,” Jackson said of Bernard, “he has that skill set where I think he could play and be an every down player.”

We don't believe this will happen in 2013, at least not at the start of the season. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a solid runner and he's going to get his 200-250 carries. Bernard will definitely eat into BJGE's workload, however.

With the leverage of free agency after this season, another productive year will put WR Eric Decker in position to receive a rich, multiyear contract extension from the Broncos starting in 2014.

We're expecting another good season out of Decker, but the arrival of Wes Welker makes it unlikely that he'll be able to repeat his top 10 finish in 2013.

Eagles beat writer Geoff Mosher on the Eagles' QB competition:

It’s obvious to me that Michael Vick actually has the toughest road to the starting job, more than Nick Foles or Matt Barkley. At 33, which he turned last month, he’s far and away the oldest quarterback on the roster. At more than $7 million this year, he’s also far and away the most expensive. New coaches tend to build their programs around young franchise signal callers, not aging ones whose best days are well behind them.

It also helps that Foles and Barkley are much more salary-cap friendly than Vick. Even if it’s a tie between Vick and Foles or Vick and Barkley as training camp progresses this summer, what impetus would Chip Kelly have to stick with Vick?

It’ll be interesting to see if Barkley can elbow his way into the competition. Logic dictates that if Barkley is just a hair behind Vick and Foles, the coaches will go with him and take their lumps for a few games if they believe he has the most upside, much like the Seahawks did last season with Russell Wilson and the Niners did with Colin Kaepernick.

Vick seemingly is the best fit for Kelly's offense, though Mosher's take certainly throws some cold water on his upside. This is a camp battle to monitor -- at this point, Vick's ADP (11.08) is too steep for a player embroiled in a bona fide QB competition.

Among the Patriots worth closely monitoring is running back Shane Vereen, a third-year pro who has natural talent as a receiver. Like Aaron Hernandez, he has the ability be used in various alignments around the formation, opening the door to the Patriots using him as a pre-snap motion player.

He might leapfrog from the backfield to a flexed out alignment to a wide receiver alignment in three successive plays. He was successfully used as a split wide receiver on occasion in 2012, taking advantage of man coverage against linebackers (a Thanksgiving night performance against the Jets was the pinnacle of his season). The Patriots have long excelled at dictating matchups, something they can explore further with Vereen this season.

Considering his late-season production and the fact that Danny Woodhead is out of the way, Vereen's prospects are looking good. He gained at least 38 total yards in six of his last nine games and scored five TDs in that span. Woodhead quietly finished as fantasy football's #25 RB in 2012, so Vereen could post similar numbers if given a similar workload. The Vereen/Woodhead duo posted #14 RB numbers in standard formats and #12 RB numbers in PPR. If Vereen will be used to replace Aaron Hernandez, his PPR value will be considerable.

The Broncos want Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman to get most of the carries this year. Knowshon Moreno is an ideal "third down" back because of his receiving and pass-protecting abilities.

Beware of the RBBC in Denver. If the Broncos don't feel comfortable with either Ball or Hillman on third downs, then Moreno's role will be large enough to keep both Ball and Hillman from reaching fantasy RB2 status since the team apparently wants both players to carry the ball.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on his surgically repaired knee:

"It feels great, it feels better than ever, like it's a brand new knee and I feel younger than ever, I feel good."

On a per game basis, Big Ben was QB12 in 2012 and QB13 in 2011, so as long as he stays healthy -- which isn't a sure thing these days -- he's likely to provide fringe fantasy starter numbers for owners in 2013. However, with Mike Wallace in Miami, Roethlisberger will be without his biggest weapon in recent years. Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders will try to pick up the slack, but it appears that Roethlisberger may be without TE Heath Miller to start the season as well.

Packers HC Mike McCarthy was confident in proclaiming to the media in “big letters” as OTAs wrapped up that Green Bay’s ground game would improve in 2013.

Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin are the drafted RBs, with Angelo Pease an undrafted rookie RB. DuJuan Harris, Alex Green and James Starks are still developing. There aren’t enough handoffs, or roster spots to go around, and every player involved knows it.

“It’s going to be very competitive,” Green said of the upcoming training camp. “Every back on the roster is capable of being a contributor to the offense, from the drafted to free agents. It’s going to be good for everybody. It’s going to push everybody in the backfield to get better.”

Himself included, Green believes. Now that he’s another year removed from reconstructive knee surgery, the third-round pick in 2011 may be the biggest wildcard in this competition.

Green got his chance to be the feature back last season when Cedric Benson was lost for the year in Week 5, but Green’s rebuilt knee wasn’t ready for the workload. He finished with a team-high 464 yards but averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. Green doesn't make it on our RB list as we give the edge to Lacy as having the most value of the GB backs once the season starts. Lacy has and ADP of the seventh round and could present great value if he develops.

The Falcons are set with Matt Ryan, but the backup to him is a little more unclear. Dominique Davis appears to be the frontrunner heading into training camp, and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter thinks the upcoming preseason will be big for the second-year signal caller.

Davis is battling rookie Sean Renfree and free agent QB Seth Doege. He was impressive in preseason last year, but was third behind Luke McCown. The team has since parted ways with with McCown pretty much leaving the job for Davis.

RB Giovani Bernard is the guy the Bengals vetted exhaustively at North Carolina before making him the first running back taken at No. 37 in the draft.

They were convinced his speed and versatility fit their needs better than the big backs that went 48 (Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell), 58 (Wisconsin's Montee Ball) and Alabama's Eddie Lacy at No. 61.

After seeing Bernard work for a month in this offense, Bengals RB coach Hue Jackson thinks he can do even more than that as a potential wide receiver in some sets.

The Bengals rave about Bernard's pass-catching ability and see him as more than a change-of-pace back to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green-Ellis will likely still see his share of work and get goal line chances, but Bernard is a guy to watch, especially in PPR leagues. We have him ranked 44th, but with an ADP of the 9th round - which is well ahead of guys around him. So, he's already getting noticed.

Dolphins WR Armon Binns came along, and was so dominant in practice during his three weeks with the team last year, coaches made him the slot receiver for the final three games and began calling plays for him. Fast forward six months and, fortunately for Miami, this waiver-wire find continues to deliver.

The articles continues that if Binns continues on his present pace during training camp and the exhibition season, he could push Brandon Gibson for his role as Miami's slot receiver.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden said we're going to see more of him:

"You’ve seen a lot of glimpses, though, but I can promise you that you haven’t seen the best of him at all."

This is a contract year for McFadden who is coming off another injury. The Raiders say they are switching back to a power running game which will help McFadden put up numbers provided he can stay healthy. We think he can be a top-10 back in an injury free world, but at the moment we rank him 17th among RBs. He's got an ADP of the mid-fourth round.

49ers WR Michael Crabtree continues to make his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered in May.

The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver tweeted Sunday that he planned to return to the gym this week, roughly six weeks after going under the knife on May 22 to repair a complete tear of his right tendon.

According to 49er beat writers, Crabtree is at a point in which he can begin to put weight on the foot and do some work on a stationary bike or elliptical machine. Best-case seems to be missing six months which would have him on target to play in the 2013 season, perhaps in November.

Cleveland Browns general manager Michael Lombardi once labeled Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace the fastest player he has ever seen on tape.

No deep threat takes the top off a defense quite like Wallace.

The criticism on Wallace is that he's not a complete receiver, doesn't run a full route tree and is unreliable as a go-to target. That hasn't proven to be the case with the Dolphins.

"It's not, 'If I can't get the deep ball, I can't do anything else,' " cornerback Brent Grimes told The Miami Herald. "He has good hands, can run other routes. He's not a one-trick pony."

Wallace's career average of 17.2 yards per reception ranks fourth among active receivers. Since entering the NFL four years ago, Wallace leads the league with 27 receptions of 40-plus yards. We see going from QB Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh to QB Ryan Tannehill in Miami as a drop off, so Wallace comes in at 22 among our WRs, which is low-end WR2, high-end WR3 range.

The offseason began with speculation and reports that Greg Schiano did not see Josh Freeman as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' long-term answer at quarterback.

In the months since, Schiano has done his best to shoot down that line of thinking. The coach has spoken positively about Freeman's progress, and he did it again Monday when NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano asked Schiano who his quarterback is.

"We only have one," Schiano said on "NFL Total Access." "It's Josh Freeman."

This is a big year for Freeman who is in the final year of his contract. We rank Freeman 16th among QBs which makes him a middle of the road QB2. He's got real nice weapons around him like WR Vincent Jackson and WR Mike Williams along with RB Doug Martin.

On ESPN, Chris Mortensen reported Giants WR Victor Cruz is expected to sign a long-term deal before training camp begins.

Cruz kind of lost some leverage when he signed a one year, $2.879 million deal in June. He is believed to be seeking at least $15 million in guarantees and around $9 million per season. Mortensen said "to a 100 percent degree of certainty" the deal gets done. Cruz had 168 receptions for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns the past two seasons. We have Cruz ranked 14th with an ADP of mid-fourth round.

Fourth-round Eagles QB Matt Barkley likely won’t figure into the Philadelphia Eagles’ competition for the starting quarterback job, a battle that should play out between Michael Vick and Nick Foles into training camp.

But the former USC standout, who began last season as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the eyes of many, has been fairly impressive in offseason workouts, and could loom as a key piece in the club’s long-term future. One reason is that Barkley has at least a cursory familiarity with Chip Kelly’s offense, having seen it from the sidelines in the Pac 12.

This report is consistent with those who follow the team closely out of Philly, and some have gone as far to not rule Barkley out of getting the job. It will be an interesting training camp for the Eagles as far as naming a starting QB.

2013 is a new season and for Lions WR Nate Burleson, who is way ahead of schedule in his broken leg rehab. He is expected to be ready to roll come Week 1 vs. Minnesota.

"He's a quick healer, man," Lions QB Matt Stafford said of Burleson. "Really from Day 1 of OTAs (he) has come on and looked really good. He couldn't do the quantity as he can now. Now, he's full go all the time and is ready to go.

"He looks great and that's been a big plus for us having him healthy going into this offseason. It helps us keep our stride."

It's considered good news for a Lions offense which, if healthy, could possess one of the largest collections of offensive weapons in the NFL. Burleson is expected to be the Lions WR3 with Ryan Broyles the WR2. Burleson likely won't get drafted in standard leagues, but is just another WR to monitor once the season gets started. He could be an option in deeper leagues.

The original hope was that Bills TE Scott Chandler would be full go for the start of the regular season in September, but his remarkable recovery from ACL surgery has him a month ahead of schedule. He’ll be set for the start of training camp. His only concern is being properly conditioned for the speed at which the offense is going to operate.

“My guess I’m not just going to go in there all the way,” Chandler told Buffalobills.com of his participation in camp practices. ”I’m just worried about getting my lungs in shape and my legs. That’s what this next month and a half is for. It’s not vacation. It’s nothing like that. I’m going to be working just as hard as I have been and I’m going to be ready to go.”

Chandler said the only possible restriction is he’ll be given a rest day every three or four practices as a precaution. We rank Chandler just 27th among our TEs. He was a red zone target when QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was at the helm, but it will remain to be seen if that will continue. Right now, he's just a low-end TE2 option.

Updating a previous post, the Union-Tribune reports that Chargers RB Ryan Mathews was not arrested after a bar fight Sunday night.

San Diego police Sgt. Robin Rose told U-T reporter Teri Figueroa that Mathews was not arrested.

The Examiner first reported Mathews was arrested Jun. 30 at 8:45 p.m. outside an up-scale San Diego nightclub, SideBar.

Seems like a lot has to be sorted out as far as this story goes, and another potential black eye for the NFL players this offseason. From a fantasy standpoint, Mathews' health has always been an issue and with Danny Woodhead in the fold, Mathews is ranked just 26th on our board.

Rams HC Jeff Fisher was hesitant to use TE Jared Cook in his early days in Tennessee, as Cook struggled at times in learning the passing game and with his blocking. But the second-year Rams coach sounded as if he has much more confidence in Cook now that he’s played four years.

“He’s obviously got years of experience under his belt, he understands the league, he understands defenses and he’s picked things up really well,” Fisher said. “We’re excited about creating mismatches, and offensive success these days is about creating mismatches.”

Just how do the Rams, who play the Titans on Nov. 3 this year, plan to utilize Cook?

“He’s going to play all over the place,” Fisher said. “We’ve even got him in the backfield, so we’ve got some good things for him.”

“From a weapons standpoint, we were just a little bit deficient over the years, so we kind of targeted and earmarked the tight end position,” Fisher said. “We were really surprised that Jared was available, but once free agency started and he was available, we brought him up and it’s worked out really well for us. Cookie and (Bradford) are working along great. They’re spending the whole summer together, just like you would think.”

Cook has been a tantalizing fantasy prospect for several years now, but to this point has been unable to put it together with any consistency. Part of the problem may be the QB situation in Tennessee. Cook is an intriguing upside TE2 available at the end of fantasy drafts. It is a plus that Fisher and Cook have worked together previously, so they know what to expect from each other.

Nobody in the Dolphins' offense helped his stock more this offseason than WR Armon Binns, who dropped two passes in the season finale. “That left a bad taste in my mouth,” he said. “I want to show Ryan I can be consistent, show them who the real Armon Binns is.”

Joe Philbin likes having bigger receivers in the slot: 6-0 Brandon Gibson or 6-3 Binns. “Sometimes, it’s easier when you have a bigger body at times cruising through the middle,” Philbin said. “I don’t want to jinx him – I’m usually the kiss of death – but [Binns] is playing faster.”

Tennessee tailback Chris Johnson has told people he could become the first player in league history to post a pair of 2,000-yard rushing seasons, and that’s because he feels the Titans’ guards will be so much better than they were last year. The club signed Andy Levitre, arguably the premier guard in free agency, and drafted Alabama’s Chance Warmack in the first round. Levitre has missed some time while he recovers from offseason knee surgery, but is making good progress. Warmack was probably the top “roadgrader”-type blocker in the draft. Beyond the pair’s noted in-line prowess, though, both are good at getting to the second level, and that’s key to Johnson’s success.

“It looks like, besides (mauling) people at the line of scrimmage,” Johnson assessed, “those guys can get up the field.”

It was a 56/44 split between Johnson and LenDale White back in 2008, when Johnson carried the ball 251 times for 1,228 yards and nine TDs and White toted it 200 times for 773 yards and 15 TDs. The Titans' rush TDs have fallen off considerably since then, so it sounds as if Shonn Greene could take a bite out of Johnson's fantasy value because CJ1K probably won't find the endzone nine times in 2013. He has only scored 10 rushing TDs in the last two seasons, so it's not like Johnson is TD-dependent. The Titans could offset this by using him more as a pass-catcher. He caught a career low 36 passes in 2012 after averaging 48.5 catches in his first four seasons. The Tennessee running game simply isn't as potent as it was in the days of Johnson/White -- the team has averaged 377 carries in the last two seasons after averaging 503.5 carries from 2008 to 2009. Johnson's 2nd round ADP seems about right.

There’s no doubt that San Francisco coaches are concerned about the absence of wide receiver Michael Crabtree (Achilles) from the passing game. But the suggestion that the 49ers are considering moving Vernon Davis full-time to wide receiver, based on his extensive “reps” at the position in recent sessions, are overblown, the 49ers tell NFP. There are some new wrinkles planned for Davis, who can stretch the field like few tight ends and who possesses unique abilities, but he won’t morph into a full-time wideout. The coaches note that, while it took Colin Kaepernick a while to develop the same chemistry that Alex Smith had with the tight end – Davis had 29 receptions (and 41 targets) in the nine games Smith started and just a dozen receptions (and 20 targets) in Kaepernick’s seven regular-season starts – the two hooked up 11 times in San Francisco’s final two playoff games. Although the Kaepernick-Davis tandem connected only six times in the last six regular-season outings, Davis was targeted 14 times in the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl. And he had over 100 yards in both those contests.

Still, it's nice to hear that the team has installed new "wrinkles" for Davis. The article is right about his strong finish. His 3.8 targets per game during the regular season ranked 29th in the league below guys like Anthony Fasano, Rob Housler and Lance Kendricks. Davis was 9th in that category in 2010 and 10th in 2011, so the 49ers should get Davis more involved in 2013. He followed up a 6-106-1 line against the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game with 8-104 in the Super Bowl. When he saw 6+ targets in 2012, he averaged 5.3-88-.83. Those are Gronk-type numbers.