August 2015 4for4 Player News Articles

The past calendar year been a surreal odyssey for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Rishard Matthews.

Since last summer, Matthews has been shopped around the league, has requested a trade and is now threatening to displace Kenny Stills in three-wide receiver sets.

After opening training camp on the roster bubble, Matthews started ahead of Stills in the third preseason game commonly referred to as the "dress rehearsal" for the regular season.

"This is the most consistent I've ever seen Rishard," offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said last week. "He's made plays in virtually every practice -- down the field, physical plays, fast plays. I'm really proud of him and rooting for him."

Although Matthews is a former late-round pick who has been in and out of coach Joe Philbin's doghouse, he has shown flashes of potential in the past. His career highlight came in Week 10 of the 2013 season, when he hauled in 11 catches for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Buccaneers. The disappoint is that Stills hasn't been able to secure the job after coming over in a trade from the Saints.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce left practice early on Monday because of a leg injury. Kelce walked off on his own power, but the extent of the injury is unknown. Trainer Rick Burkholder said the team will have an update on Kelce’s condition on Tuesday.

In Kelce’s absence Monday, the Chiefs turned to veterans Ryan Taylor and Richard Gordon, rookie James O’Shaughnessy and second-year pro Demetrius Harris, who recently returned to practice after overcoming multiple surgeries and a staph infection on his foot.

Kelce, 25, is being counted on to lead the tight end group, since veteran Anthony Fasano was released in February. Kelce caught 67 passes for 862 yards and five touchdowns in 2014.

DeVante Parker lined up across from a defensive back and ran his routes full speed for the first time since June, when he needed a screw replaced in his surgically repaired left foot.

The Dolphins have long targeted the Sept. 13 season opener at Washington as the return date for their 2015 first-round pick, and Monday the rookie receiver began testing out the stability his foot, which he initially injured during his senior season at Louisville.

Parker ran routes on his own after practice Monday, which was a positive sign. His hesitation when cutting hard on the foot backed up coach Joe Philbin's statement that Parker still has plenty of work to do on his route running.

"I watched some of the route timing, and it looks like it's been a while since he ran routes," Philbin said. "He looks good. He's moving well. He's working on the timing, the rhythm of the play and splits and depth. That's extremely valuable for him at this point."

After showing flashes in OTAs, Parker began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list, but he was taken off it two weeks ago. He began jogging last week. Monday's practice was the first time he was running while doing football activity, but it's unclear just how active he was because reporters couldn't watch the entire practice, the story said.

Trent Richardson's once promising NFL career took another major hit Monday when the Oakland Raiders cut him, a day before the mandated 75-player roster cut deadline.

Two NFL sources told ESPN.com the Raiders moved away from Richardson. Oakland gave Richardson $600,000 in guaranteed money this offseason after Indianapolis cut him. Richardson, 25, was the No. 3 overall draft pick by Cleveland in 2012.

Richardson missed the first portion of Raiders training camp because he was dealing with pneumonia. He didn't run well this preseason, finishing with 19 yards on five carries in a 30-23 loss to Arizona on Sunday.

Richardson's release may have opened the door for undrafted rookie Michael Dyer. The former Auburn and Louisville standout looked better than Richardson this summer. Roy Helu also just returned from his injury and is expected to be a pass-catching option.

Jaguars' TE Julius Thomas expected to need surgery on tendon in his finger and is expected to miss 4-5 weeks, per source. Second opinion Tuesday

Thomas was tied with Rob Gronkowski as the #1 TE through 10 weeks (in standard formats), but suffered an ankle injury which limited him to just five catches for 66 yards as he appeared in four of his team’s final seven games. He has considerable talent as a pass-catcher, but this is a huge system downgrade from Denver to Jacksonville. He'll no longer enjoy the benefits of playing in a Peyton Manning-led offense and will instead be relying on Blake Bortles to deliver the ball. He's also dealing with a finger issue which is going to require surgery and a 4-5 week recovery, so it appears that he'll miss the first three games at least. Move him down your draft boards.

Initial roster cuts brought a slightly somber mood to Dove Valley Monday morning, but receiver Emmanuel Sanders' return to practice revived the scene.

Sanders missed all but one practice since initially suffering a mild hamstring injury on Aug. 6.

Coach Gary Kubiak said last week that the team planned to be cautious with Sanders, but he expected him back at full practice this week.

The Detroit Lions have activated starting running back Joique Bell.

Bell, who had been recovering from knee and Achilles injuries, had been on the physically unable to perform list. On Saturday, he had indicated he was close to returning, adding that he and the doctors would play it by ear whether he would be activated this week.

Bell is coming off a year in which he rushed for a career-high 860 yards. He will join a backfield that includes rookies Ameer Abdullah and Zach Zenner along with Theo Riddick and George Winn. Adbullah figures to be a big part of the passing game but Bell should see a lot of the early down work.

Martavis Bryant's second-year leap will be put on hold to start the NFL season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers receiver has been suspended four games for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse after his appeal was denied Monday, the team announced.

Sources informed of the situation told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport that Bryant's suspension is for multiple failed marijuana tests.

The 6-foot-4 wideout with a 4.42 seconds 40-speed was a big-play machine in 10 games as a rookie. He led the NFL with a 21.1-yards-per-catch average. Bryant finished with 26 receptions for 549 yards and eight touchdowns in just 306 regular season snaps.

Bryant was slated to open the season in three-receiver sets behind All-Pro Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton -- who've flashed during the preseason. Bryant's big-play ability was one reason the Steelers have been mentioned as a candidate to lead the NFL in offensive production in 2015. Wheaton will at least get a four game bump in value while Bryant is out. Sammie Coates could see more time with Bryant suspended.

The Carolina Panthers added a new face to their depleted receiving corps.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday the Panthers traded for Seattle Seahawks receiver Kevin Norwood, per a source informed of the deal. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle first reported the news.

The Seahawks initially planned to cut the 2014 fourth-round pick out of Alabama, before finding a trade partner in Carolina.

The 6-foot-2, 199-pound Norwood appeared in nine regular season games last season in Seattle after foot surgery knocked him out of training camp and the preseason. The wideout finished with 102 yards on nine catches. He had just two receptions this preseason for 18 yards.

In Carolina, Norwood will join a struggling, banged up receiving crops. With Kelvin Benjamin (ACL) out and first-round pick Devin Funchess nursing a hamstring injury, the Panthers receivers have been a big disappointment in the preseason. Norwood will wrestle for a roster spot with Corey Brown, Jerricho Cotchery, Ted Ginn Jr., Brenton Bersin, Jarrett Boykin and Mike Brown, among others.

Jameis Winston may be going into the season with a limp.

The Buccaneers quarterback said that he's been dealing with a sprained ankle, but says it isn't bothering him.

"Pain is temporary," Winston told the media Monday. "I really don't focus on that at all. I played last year at Florida State with a sprained ankle, so that's the least of my worries. My job is to go out there and play quarterback and fight for the team."

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter confirmed that Winston is feeling the effects of an ankle sprain, but Tampa Bay fans shouldn't be worried.

"It's affecting him a little bit," Koetter added, "but he'll be ready to go. ... It's not anything he can't play on. Even in practice, Jameis, you can't keep him out."

Winston rolled his ankle in Tampa Bay's second preseason game against the Bengals, but still played meaningful minutes against the Browns on Saturday. Winston may not be 100 percent healthy by his rookie debut against the Titans in Week 1, but all indications are his sprained ankle won't hamper him too much.

The Colts have 13 days until they open the regular season and they’ll spend part of that time hoping to hear that wide receiver T.Y. Hilton has been cleared to return to action.

Coach Chuck Pagano said on Monday that Hilton is in the league’s concussion protocol after reporting symptoms of the injury following Saturday’s game against the Rams. He was subsequently evaluated by team doctors and will be monitored in the coming days. Hilton had three catches for 44 yards during the game and was probably unlikely to play in this week’s preseason finale even without the head injury.

There’s no way to guess whether Hilton will be cleared in time to face the Bills in Week 1, but having two weeks to get it leaves time before the Colts will have to seriously ponder alternatives in the offense. Youngsters Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett would be next in line to step up. We have Dorsett as the Colts WR3 so he could get a huge boost in fantasy value if Hilton misses time.

Miami Dolphins first-round pick DeVante Parker took another step forward in his rehabilitation.

Parker, who had foot surgery in the summer, practiced for the first time Monday since coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list. The rookie receiver did light running and worked on the side with a trainer in previous practices.

"When I run, my foot is feeling pretty good so I’m just glad about that," Parker said in the locker room before practice. "Having no pain in it is a good thing. It’s a start."

It is still unknown if Parker will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. He has been impressive throughout the offseason and the Dolphins are eager to see if it translates on to the field. He stock has fell a bit but owners are still taking a chance in later rounds.

Victor Cruz is still not cleared to return to practice as the days dwindle before the regular season opener.

But, the Giants wide receiver said, playing on Sept. 13 against the Cowboys is "still the goal, still the plan."

"They haven't cleared me just yet. I'm just listening to the training staff," Cruz said. "I think we're just being careful and cautious with it. Calves are tricky. Once they feel healed and once they feel OK, you can come out here and mess it up again. So you want to make sure it's fully healed and fully recovered before you step back out on the field."

Cruz will again miss practice on Monday as he battles a sprained left calf. The calf injury is not related to his surgically-repaired right knee - Cruz suffered a season-ending patellar tear 11 months ago - but it has turned out to be more of an issue than originally thought, the story said.

The settlement talks in the Tom Brady case haven’t led to a resolution, which means the decision on Brady’s four-game suspension will rest with Judge Richard Berman.

“We did not reach a settlement. The parties tried quite hard I think,” Berman said, via Stephen Brown of the New York Daily News. “In some case [a settlement] doesn’t happen. This is one of those cases.”

The story went on to say the ruling is likely to come on Tuesday or Wednesday. The two sides had asked Berman to rule by September 4, less than a week before the Patriots will kick off their regular season against the Steelers. Berman’s eventual ruling could uphold the suspension (while potentially allowing Brady to play pending appeal), wipe it out (which the NFL could appeal) or send the whole thing back for another appeal heard by someone other than NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Bills have made their decision, and it’s one no one would have expected this offseason.

According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the Bills are going with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback for the regular season opener.

Taylor has never started an NFL game and only appeared in 14 in four seasons as a backup in Baltimore, with just 35 pass attempts, but the HC Rex Ryan has seen enough of him to give him a chance - or maybe he just hasn't seen enough from Matt Cassel or E.J. Manuel. The story points out that Taylor gives the Bills a chance to make plays on the ground as well as in the air, but this is a run-first offense that likely won't make Taylor an attractive fantasy play.

The Steelers quest to find a healthy kicker has led them to trade for one.

According to Jeff Prosser of 1010XL in Jacksonville, Josh Scobee is already en route to the Steelers.

Scobee was the longest-tenured Jaguars player, having worked for them since 2004, when he was chosen in the fourth round. They’re now handing the job to rookie Jason Myers.

The Steelers lost Shaun Suisham to a torn ACL in the preseason opener, and replacement Garrett Hartley suffered a hamstring injury Saturday that looked like it was going to keep him out of the regular season opener.

Now the Steelers have a reliable veteran in the last year of his contract, giving them some stability at the position going into the season. Scobee should climb the rankings and get lots of chances in what is expected to be a high-powered offense.

The Bills have cut veteran running back Fred Jackson, making Jackson the most notable name of the early cuts leaguewide.

Jackson, 34, has amassed over 1,000 total yards in five of the last six seasons. He started nine games and played in 14 last season.

He was due to make $2.35 million this season.

The move indicates the Bills believe LeSean McCoy, who’s been out the last two weeks, will be ready for the team’s Sept. 13 season opener. It also gives Jackson, who’s played his entire career in Buffalo, the chance to catch on with another team as a free agent. With many teams across the league dealing with injuries at the running back or just looking to bolster their backfields, Jackson likely won’t be unemployed for long.

This was a cost-cutting measure, because the 34-year-old Jackson is still able to contribute. He was a top 18 RB in PPR formats over the past two seasons, and even though his YPC (3.7) wasn't good in 2014, he's still very adept in the passing game (66 receptions, 501 yards). Karlos Williams and Anthony Dixson will be behind McCoy now. Williams had an impressive camp but suffered an undisclosed injury. He had passed Bryce Brown on the depth chart.

The Detroit Lions have swung yet another preseason trade, although this one wasn't for a draft pick.

Detroit acquired tight end Tim Wright in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to NFL Network. There is no word yet on what it has given up.

That means Wright's addition casts some uncertainty of Joseph Fauria's future with Detroit.

The move is an interesting one because Wright is a pass-catching tight end, with 80 receptions for 830 yards and 11 touchdowns the past two years, according to the story. And Detroit already has two pass-catching tight ends in Eric Ebron and Fauria, plus blocking tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The story said Ebron and Pettigrew, both former first-round picks, aren't going anywhere.

The Redskins have decided to go with Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback for Week 1, per a report from ESPN. The news follows a series of conflicting reports yesterday about Robert Griffin III's future in Washington. Cousins started in last Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens. After a shaky start, he finished 20 for 27 for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Related Players: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon

As we stated yesterday, there are reports ownership is resisting moving on from RG3 while the coaches are ready, so things could get ugly. Cousins owns a career 7.4 YPA, but posted 8.4 YPA last season, along with a 10:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. As we also added, DeSean Jackson's numbers remained pretty much the same with Cousins under center while Pierre Garcon's production increased significantly. He averaged 4.2 catches for 53 yards and 0.5 TD in the six games that Cousins played last season. Those are high-end fantasy WR3 numbers. Both Cousins and Colt McCoy were having pretty good camps.

After letting league-leading rusher DeMarco Murray go in free agency, and not making a move for any replacement, or trading for a guy like Adrian Peterson, the Cowboys seem determined to go with their running back by committee.

In Saturday’s game against the Vikings, Joseph Randle started and had six carries for 15 yards. Darren McFadden took the second quarter and added four carries for 37 yards. While it may not be Murray, getting 10 for 52 out of the pair of them is a solid start.

“I thought they both did a good job,” quarterback Tony Romo said, via Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. “I thought the looks were a little tougher for Joe early on with the way they played it, then we got to some runs we could attack them with and it opened up some holes. Darren obviously did good on those and made some explosive runs.

“But sometimes the dirty ones are some of the best ones too.”

So as much as it made sense that they might pursue more of a bell-cow back, Jones seemed content going with the duo into the regular season.

“I see how we can line up certainly this coming week but I see how we can line up against the Giants, yes, I do,” Jones said. “You say, ‘Well, couldn’t you see it before?’ Now, I saw the same things before. I expect [Randle] to give us and has the talent to make some of the plays we saw him make tonight. I certainly know [McFadden] can make them and [Lance] Dunbar can do the same. If they’re healthy, I’ll take their skill and what they can bring and go to the game against the Giants and won’t ask for any more.”

Going with that approach is going to put more pressure on Romo and their offensive line this year, but they seem comfortable with that for the time being, the story pointed out. Maybe more importantly, it's going to be a headache for fantasy owners. Add Lance Dunbar in the mix, especially in the passing game, and there's potential for a three-headed backfield. Randle is still our pick to have the most fantasy value out of the three.

The first three plays of the Arizona Cardinals' win against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday night were clean and well executed.

Arizona gained 11 yards and a first down on two runs and a pass. Quarterback Carson Palmer stayed upright. Arizona looked like it was on its way to another offensive outpouring.

Then on the Cardinals' fourth play from scrimmage, right guard Jonathan Cooper got beat by Oakland defensive end Denico Autry, which ignited a chain of events that led to the offense crashing down. Autry then bulldozed Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, who nearly fell into Palmer, who had to tuck the ball for a moment to avoid getting hit and losing it. Palmer then missed the opening to hit Larry Fitzgerald, which led to an interception.

And it didn't stop there.

Palmer was sacked three times and threw two interceptions in the first half before backup Drew Stanton replaced him in the third quarter. After weeks of promising practices with air-tight pockets and pinpoint accuracy, the Cardinals' offense looked scattered. The tackles -- both Jared Veldheer on the left side and Bradley Sowell on the right -- were consistently beat, which led to Palmer getting hit 14 times in the first half.

It's not good news for Palmer and his owners, but it is just the preseason. The team had concerns about keeping Palmer upright and healthy this season all through the offseason. As we saw last year, Palmer is the key to making this talented offense run.

According to the report, front office officials and coaches are prepared to move on from Robert Griffin III but they are meeting resistance from ownership. There have been trade talks involving Griffin but there has been no interest.

But, in any case, it appears that Griffin’s time as the starting quarterback here is near an end. According to the report, from Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini, there is a “groundswell of support from a strong segment of football people within the organization to change quarterbacks.”

In terms of either trading or releasing Griffin, they are meeting resistance from owner Daniel Snyder. It is uncertain if coach Jay Gruden, general manager Scot McCloughan, and others in the football part of the operation have the authority to remove Griffin from the roster against Snyder’s wishes.

Related Players: Kirk Cousins, Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson

It's going to be an ugly divorce, especially if owner Daniel Snyder is not on board. Kirk Cousins owns a career 7.4 YPA, but posted 8.4 YPA last season, along with a 10:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The sample size is small (six games), but DeSean Jackson's numbers remained pretty much the same with Cousins under center while Pierre Garcon's production increased significantly. He averaged 4.2 catches for 53 yards and 0.5 TD in the six games that Cousins played last season. Those are high-end fantasy WR3 numbers.

Devin Funchess has returned to the Carolina Panthers' practice field, and the news could not have come sooner.

Funchess participated fully in Panthers practice on Sunday, according to the Charlotte Observer. The rookie wideout reportedly dropped a few passes, but otherwise looked as if his strained hamstring wasn't bothering him.

With Kelvin Benjamin out for the year, Funchess likely becomes the de facto WR1 for the Panthers. Provided he has no further setbacks, we would expect his ADP to climb into the 8th round after Benjamin went in the 7th/8th as a rookie. He's going to see a ton of targets as Cam Newton's primary target in the passing game.

Victor Cruz's comeback from his serious knee injury has hit an unexpected roadblock with what was thought to only be a minor injury to his calf. But now that minor injury is becoming a major issue, with Cruz on track to miss yet another practice week.

Tom Coughlin said the 28-year-old receiver has not yet been cleared to practice this week. "Not as far as I know," Coughlin said on a conference call with reporters. "I have not been told that. Progress, yes. But he's not definitely given the green light."

Cruz, who was seemingly making a remarkable recovery from the major knee surgery he underwent last fall, has been out since Aug. 19 and has yet to appear in a preseason game. If he is unable to practice Tuesday or Wednesday, it makes it unlikely he'll appear in the Giants' preseason finale on Thursday night in New England.

He's not going to get the same number of targets given Odell Beckham's emergence as a top-flight wideout. Cruz will likely play the Randall Cobb role in OC Ben McAdoo's offense, so there is some upside if his explosiveness is still there. He just needs to get healthy. All seems well with the knee, but it's not uncommon for athletes to suffer injuries elsewhere in the body when recovering from another injury.

The Rams used a first-round pick on Todd Gurley this year and drafted Tre Mason in the third round in 2014, but they may be starting Benny Cunningham in the season opener against the Seahawks.

Mason hurt his hamstring in the first half of Saturday’s game against the Colts and didn’t return to the field. Coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday that Mason won’t play in Thursday night’s preseason finale and that he’s questionable for Week One.

If Mason is out, Cunningham is sure to be involved, but the Rams may elect not to be quite so cautious with Gurley if it looks like he's close to 100 percent.

Montee Ball doesn't see the fire yet, but he sure smells the smoke. Despite being listed as the No. 2 tailback on the Broncos' depth chart, Ball didn't get a carry until the fourth quarter of their 19-12 preseason victory over the 49ers on Saturday.

The third preseason game usually is the one that best models the regular season, and Ball was stuck without a significant role in it.

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who has built a career out of getting the most out of running backs, defended his decision to not play Ball much by saying it's difficult to give carries to four running backs during a game.

"Special teams is a big factor with him and (Juwan Thompson)," Kubiak said. "We'll see. I'm fine with Montee."

C.J. Anderson, the Broncos' starting tailback, controlled most of the carries in the first half Saturday with Ronnie Hillman spelling him occasionally. Hillman and Thompson were the go-to backs to start the second half.

It's possible that on gameday, the Broncos will dress only Anderson, Hillman and Thompson, due to Thompson's role on special teams. The team could attempt to trade Ball, or just wait for an injury further up the depth chart before making him active on Sundays.

The Chicago Bears have announced that rookie wide receiver Kevin White is going on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

White was the 7th overall draft pick by the Bears, but his 2015 season is in jeopardy. White was fine at the beginning of OTAs, but he aggravated his shin towards the end of their offseason workout program. The Bears decided to start training camp with White on the PUP list, but once he started some light running, he felt discomfort.

He was re-evaluated and a stress fracture was discovered. White underwent surgery a week ago and had a rod inserted into his shin.

With White starting on the PUP list that means he's ineligible to play for at least the first six games of the regular season.

White's season is reportedly in jeopardy, but the Bears aren't closing the door on his rookie year. He may be able to make an impact later in the season, but he's only draftable in redraft leagues with large rosters and/or an IR spot. Eddie Royal's stock is on the rise since he'll be starting for at least the first six weeks, probably longer.

On the topic of the Cowboys' RBBC approach...

If you're seeking knowledge for your fantasy football draft, well, peace be with you.

Dallas isn't relenting on this. It's not a bluff. As it stands right now, this will be a committee in the purest NFL form. The Cowboys are adamant that their elite offensive line can be the glue that elevates a collection of parts into a greater whole.

Ultimately, what we saw Saturday night against the Vikings is likely a facsimile of what to expect this season. Joseph Randle came in and ended up playing the role of the guinea pig, with the Cowboys probing some inside runs for signs of weakness, then ending up sputtering with some third-and-long situations that weren't conducive to running. Lance Dunbar got one carry that went one yard. And then once Dallas identified some soft spots, Darren McFadden came in and cleaned up with 37 yards on four carries. Had this been a regular-season game, it's highly likely that Dallas would have ridden McFadden's hot hand as the lead, while mixing in Randle in both the run and pass, and then getting some situational opportunities to Dunbar. It wouldn't have played out that way because Randle is the No. 2 – it would have played out that way because he did the grunt work early and set the stage for McFadden.

That's how committees like this work.

Recent play has McFadden trending up with Randle trending downward. This has the makings of a full on committee, which means that the team is likely to ride the hot hand in any given week. This is not conducive to success in fantasy football, so we wouldn't recommend drafting Randle at his current ADP (#42). McFadden is the better value in the 9th or 10th round, but he may go early given the way things are trending. Keep in mind that his durability is a major question mark given his extensive injury history.

Packers WR Randall Cobb was injured on the team's third play from scrimmage against the Eagles. He appeared to land on his right side while attempting to catch a pass from quarterback Brett Hundley along the sideline. He was initially examined in the bench area by team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie. Shortly thereafter, he was taken to the Lambeau Field locker room for further examination.

Cobb initially feared he broke his collarbone, but tests showed that was not the case.

"I just caught the ball and was going down to the ground, and I had a guy land on top of me," Cobb said. "I was just jogging off the field at the end of the series, and I could feel the pain. I didn't know exactly what it was. It was discomfort, and I let Doc check it out and we went back and got X-rays. It's not what we think it could've been."

Cobb is scheduled for additional tests Sunday, but he expressed a feeling of relief after the game.

"It's been very unfortunate these few weeks for us," Cobb said. "At least there's a silver lining in this injury."

Cobb isn't sure if he'll be ready Week 1, but it appears that he avoided a long-term injury like a broken collarbone. For those drafting today, he's still a 2nd round pick in 12-team PPR leagues, but we'd draft him after the top seven receivers are off the board.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Saturday that Joique Bell is "moving along really well" in his recovery after being placed on the physically unable to perform list prior to training camp. Bell had offseason surgery to help solve knee and Achilles issues and missed the entire spring recovering from those injuries.

He's also missed all of training camp but has been running off to the side almost daily in an attempt to ramp up for his eventual return.

"After speaking to the doctors back in June, he said if I was running at all by the end of July, I'm making good progress," Bell said. "I feel by the end of July I was running. I'm not going to say I'm ready to go out there and take every play and run every down right now, but you never know how I feel in two weeks."

Bell did say he does not think he needs to take hits during the preseason to prepare for the season opener, mostly because he's been playing football his entire life. He said he and the Lions are "still playing it by ear" as for when he'll be activated.

When Bell does return, the Lions expect he'll be able to handle a full workload fairly soon after that.

Bell was the #14 RB in standard formats (#13 in PPR), while racking up 257 touches in 15 games. That works out to a 17.1-touch average. While he certainly benefited from Reggie Bush's injury-plagued season, Bell dominated the touches even when Bush was active and playing. We now project Ameer Abdullah for more touches, but not by much. Bell is likely to see the goal line work and is active in the passing game as well, so his 7th round ADP seems more than reasonable.

Darren McFadden didn't start -- those duties went to Joseph Randle, who finished the night with six carries for 15 yards -- but he did have the best carry of the night.

Deep in Vikings territory, McFadden took a stretch handoff to the left side and made two explosive cuts that extended the play, giving Dallas a first-and-goal situation inside the Minnesota 10. The carry spawned a thousand Vines wondering if McFadden is finally back. It beat his previous best on the night, a 13-yard carry with 13:59 to go in the second.

"I think that what you saw was vintage McFadden," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the game, per the Dallas Morning News. "You saw that acceleration. You saw his abilities."

The question with McFadden will always be health. There is no doubt that plays like these are still in his arsenal, but with a body that has betrayed him so many times, is it something that can be counted on?

While Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett won't go that far, he'll agree that it was a step in the right direction; a step away from uncertainty.

We're expecting Randle to be the lead back, but he didn't help his cause with just 15 yards on six carries. The Cowboys will use a committee to a certain extent, and McFadden's health is not to be trusted. but if he's healthy and active on game day, it may be difficult to trust Randle, either.

During the first half of a Week Three preseason game against a blitz-happy Seahawks defense, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers banged his throwing hand.

In the third quarter, Rivers told Tracy Wolfson of CBS that the hand recently used to sign a gigantic contract is fine.

“It’s good,” he said of the right hand, adding that he’d still be playing if it were a regular-season game.

Rivers played at an extremely high level for the first half of the season, completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 277 yards, 2.5 TD and just 0.6 interceptions through Week 8. He posted #3 QB numbers in that span, but he was the #19 QB down the stretch after injuring his hand in Week 9 against the Dolphins. He then suffered back and rib injuries and threw for multiple touchdowns in just two of his final eight games (averaging 1.6 INT) as the Chargers fell out of playoff contention. If he's fully healthy entering the 2015 season, he will once again be a fine value pick in the later rounds, but owners should be prepared to stream if the injuries start to pile up. The four-game loss of Antonio Gates doesn’t help, but Ladarius Green and Stevie Johnson should be able to pick up the slack.

Goodness gracious does Eagles QB Sam Bradford look sharp. Any tentativeness we saw Saturday night at the Linc vs. the Ravens was gone. Any jitters that were apparent in his first appearance in a year were nowhere to be seen. He used all his receivers, was remarkably accurate, made quick and smart decisions in the pocket and even threw a touchdown pass to Trey Burton while under heavy pressure from Packers safety Micah Hyde. Bradford played three series in his final preseason appearance, threw three touchdown passes and then gave way to Mark Sanchez. Add in his own series against the Ravens, and Bradford played four series this preseason and put up four touchdowns. His final numbers Saturday: 10 for 10 for 121 yards with three TDs and no INTs. Things aren’t going to come this easily in the regular season — I don’t think — but it’s hard not to be incredibly excited about where Bradford is and how far he’s come.

Over the last two seasons, Philadelphia quarterbacks have averaged 16.7 passing game-only fantasy points. Bradford isn’t much of a runner, but he adds about 0.7 FP per game as a rusher. That adds up to 17.4 FP, or about what Eli Manning averaged as the #10 QB in 2014. The Eagles’ offense has lost their top receiver – DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin – in each of the last two seasons, but Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz are emerging and the team added Nelson Agholor in the draft. This is a definite system upgrade due to the overall effectiveness of Chip Kelly’s offense.

What we saw from Stevie Johnson in Saturday night's exhibition against the Seattle Seahawks, the connection with Rivers that the Chargers hope to see so much this season, was borne in May and June and rekindled in August.

On the Chargers’ first possession, Johnson suddenly darted left, pulling away from the safety covering him in the slot to make a 34-yard reception-and-run that converted a third down. Before leaving with the rest of the first-team offense at halftime, Johnson had two more third-down conversions and finished with four receptions for 64 yards.

That is what replacing Eddie Royal looks like.

There is great potential in the marrying of Johnson’s ability to separate combined with Rivers’ ability to throw receivers open. When Rivers develops a rapport with a target, he anticipates where that receiver will be and makes connections that seemingly should never happen.

From 2010 to 2012, Johnson was one of the most consistent receivers in football, posting at least 76 catches, 1,004 yards and six touchdowns in three straight seasons. In PPR formats, he was the #10, #16 and #18 receiver in those seasons. The Chargers lost Eddie Royal, so there are targets to be had, especially with TE Antonio Gates suspended for the first four games. Johnson is having a good camp, so it appears that he’ll play ahead of retiring wideout Malcom Floyd.

For some reason, Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson called three running plays for Andy Dalton on the opening drive of Saturday night’s preseason game vs. the Bears.

After the third, a quarterback sneak, Dalton left the game with what the team called a neck injury. He was examined on the sideline by trainers and then remained on the sideline but didn’t return to the game. At halftime, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Dalton is fine and taking him out of the game was a precautionary measure.

This is probably nothing to worry about, but it's something to monitor over the next week. Dalton may be poised for a bounceback season now that all of his major weapons are healthy.

Browns running back Duke Johnson and cornerback Pierre Desir both left Saturday night's third preseason game in the first half with concussions.

Depending on the severity, this could impact Johnson's availability for Week 1.

The Packers announce that WR Randall Cobb has a shoulder injury.

Update: Ian Rapaport tweeted, "Sounds like Packers dodged a bullet with Randall Cobb’s injury. Teammates left believing it’s minor, that it’s likely just a sprain."

Cobb was knocked out of the Packers third preseason game. Rapoport later reported the Packers are awaiting word on the severity of Cobb's shoulder injury but are not concerned it is a broken collar bone. We'll have more as this story develops.

On the topic of Broncos WR Cody Latimer:

"You just want to see him making plays," said Broncos coach Gary Kubiak this week. "He's a hard worker. He does the right thing. He's in the right place, but it's time for him to start making plays on the ball, coming up with big plays. The good news with him is he has worked as basically a starter from OTAs through [training] camp and everything. Everything's in place for Cody to grow up and have a big year. I like the way he works, [he] just needs to keep coming."

Latimer had a disappointing rookie season and wasn't even able to beat out Andre Caldwell. Kubiak tends to favor two-TE sets, so Latimer’s snaps may be limited for that reason. The third receiver in Baltimore didn’t even play half the snaps under Kubiak. Latimer’s talent may earn him a larger role, but that remains to be seen.

Sources say the Redskins' plan is not only to start Kirk Cousins tonight in Baltimore, but also Week 1 against Miami.

Related Players: Robert Griffin III

Cousins owns a career 7.4 YPA, but posted 8.4 YPA last season, along with a 10:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The sample size is small (six games), but DeSean Jackson's numbers remained pretty much the same with Cousins under center while Pierre Garcon's production increased significantly. He averaged 4.2 catches for 53 yards and 0.5 TD in the six games that Cousins played last season. Those are high-end fantasy WR3 numbers.

Chargers beat writer Eric D. Williams: Stevie Johnson signed with the Chargers in free agency to help fill the void left by Eddie Royal's departure, and so far has looked rejuvenated in San Diego’s offensive system. Johnson’s developed a good rapport with Philip Rivers and will be used both in the slot and on the perimeter. He has a shot at 50 receptions and at least four touchdowns.

We project Johnson for 54-755-5.2 as the Chargers' WR2. From 2010 to 2012, he was one of the most consistent receivers in football, posting at least 76 catches, 1,004 yards and six touchdowns in three straight seasons. In PPR formats, he was the #10, #16 and #18 receiver in those seasons. The Chargers lost Eddie Royal, so there are targets to be had, especially with TE Antonio Gates suspended for the first four games.

Raiders beat writer Bill Williamson: Rookie tight end Clive Walford wowed coaches in offseason workouts, although he has been hampered by a hamstring injury much of training camp. He showed strong field-stretching capabilities. He is a favorite to start early in the season and he could rack up impressive numbers as a rookie.

Rookie tight ends rarely make much of a fantasy impact, but if he can get healthy and win the starting job, he will see a lot of playing time in an offense that is likely to be trailing a majority of the time.

Chiefs beat writer Adam Teicher: The Chiefs will expect bigger numbers from Alex Smith. He threw for under 3,300 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and those stats aren’t enough for a quarterback who started 15 games. Don’t look for Smith to lead the league in passing, or to even come close. But it’s a huge disappointment if his numbers aren’t better than in 2014.

Let's not forget that Smith was the #18 fantasy quarterback last season. He's a dirt-cheap quarterback option who could provide high-end QB2 numbers if he becomes a bit more aggressive. He’s dangerous as a runner, and given the addition of a bona fide receiver in Jeremy Maclin, the emergence of Travis Kelce, and the always-dangerous Jamaal Charles, Smith is an unexciting yet (usually) functional fantasy quarterback.

Texans beat writer Tania Ganguli: Tight end Garrett Graham is a player to watch on the Texans’ offense. The Texans’ tight ends had trouble getting open last year, and consequently Houston targeted tight ends less than any other team in the league. That was a surprising fact because of how tight end-friendly Bill O’Brien’s offense has been in the past. Graham looked impressive in camp, getting open with regularity, and it bodes well for his season.

There has been a constant positive buzz about Graham this offseason, so he could surprise in an offense that desperately needs playmakers in the passing game. It's worth noting that, while in Cleveland, Texans starting QB Brian Hoyer fed Jordan Cameron the ball at a 39-796-9 pace (over nine games from 2013-14).

49ers beat writer Paul Gutierrez: Coming off a 13-TD catch season in 2013, Vernon Davis was a forgotten man in the Niners' offense last year. He was not targeted in the red zone once after kickoff weekend. So why should we keep an eye on the 10th-year tight end this season? Because he is in a contract year, he was re-dedicated to the team this offseason – he did not “hold out” from OTAs and minicamps this summer as he did last year – and the Niners not only promised he would be a bigger part of the offense this year but, well, they need him. It has the makings of a perfect fantasy storm for the Niners ... in good way.

Davis is a talent, but the team didn't do a good job of using him last season. His 50 targets were his fewest since 2008, and his usage was way too low considering he has finished in the top 8 at his position in four of the last six seasons. He was targeted just once in the red zone after seeing 20 red zone targets in 2013. It's up to new OC Geep Chryst (formerly the team's QB coach) to get Davis more involved in the offense. Davis has reportedly looked fast in offseason activities. Given his 15th-round ADP, he's a very cheap lottery ticket at the tight end position.

Buccaneers beat writer Pat Yasinskas: Second-year tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins had only 21 catches as a rookie, but that was largely because he was dealing with an assortment of injuries. Seferian-Jenkins is healthy now and the Bucs believe he can turn in 60 or more catches. New offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter likes to use the tight end in the passing game as evidenced by what he did with Tony Gonzalez in Atlanta.

We currently project ASJ for 48-572-3.8, which makes him our #14 tight end in standard formats. If he turns in 60 catches at last year's YPC (10.5), it translates to 631 receiving yards. Throw in five or six touchdowns and we're looking at fringe TE1 numbers.

Falcons beat writer Vaughn McClure: No one figured Leonard Hankerson would emerge as a fantasy target based on his career numbers in four seasons with the Redskins. Hankerson has just six touchdowns in 31 career games (123 targets). Injuries have hampered his progress, but a healthy Hankerson has a legit chance to be a secondary threat behind Julio Jones. Hankerson already showed he could be a scoring target with a 2-yard touchdown reception from Matt Ryan in a preseason matchup against the Jets.

Hankerson's ADP has risen in the last few weeks behind some training camp buzz. He'll have a chance to see snaps as the Falcons third receiver, which has been a busy position in the last few seasons when Julio Jones and Roddy White struggled with injuries.

Bears beat writer Jeff Dickerson: Eddie Royal's value just skyrocketed in the wake of Kevin White's potentially season-ending shin injury. Royal can play all three wide receiver positions and he has a built-in relationship with Jay Cutler. I’d be surprised if Royal doesn’t exceed the numbers he put up last year in San Diego (62-778-7).

Last year, Royal was the #31 receiver in PPR formats and he's currently the 45th receiver off the board in the late 9th round. Royal is slated to fill the WR2 role for the Bears for at least the first six weeks (probably longer) with Kevin White sidelined with a stress fracture. In fact, White's season is reportedly in jeopardy, so Royal could potentially start the entire year. He finished in the top 40 in each of the last two seasons, and was the #16 fantasy receiver as a rookie in Denver (91-980-5). Who threw him the ball that year? Jay Cutler.

Cole Beasley caught a career-high four touchdown passes last year and emerged down the stretch as a Tony Romo favorite. So far in training camp, Beasley has not been defended. His quickness in the slot makes him a matchup nightmare. Cornerbacks just can’t stay with him and he has built-in options that whatever the defender guesses will be wrong. In an offense with Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, it will be hard to get a huge amount of opportunities, but with how camp is shaking out, Beasley looks like he should have a 50-55 catch season.

We currently project Beasley for 41-485-3 after he posted 37-420-4 last season. He averaged 3.7 catches over the final seven games (including the playoffs) which extrapolates to 59 catches over a full season, so the 50-55 projection is certainly possible. If he posts 53 catches at last year's YPC (11.35), he would gain 602 yards. Throw in five touchdowns and you have the makings of a fantasy WR5 in PPR formats. He'll be a waiver wire stopgap option that can get owners 8-10 points in a given week.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans says his sore left hamstring isn’t so sore that he wouldn’t be able to play this week if it were absolutely necessary. Still, he believes the Bucs are doing the prudent thing by shutting him down for the remainder of the preseason.

“I think it’s smart,’’ said Evans, who tweaked his hamstring early in the Bucs victory over the Bengals on Monday night. “There’s no reason to risk it. I’ve already proven myself. And this way I can just try to get back for Week 1 of the regular season.’’

It sounds like the injury isn't much to worry about and that Evans will be ready to go Week 1.

NFL's Independent Neurologist now recommending the Redskins not play Robert Griffin III against the Ravens on Saturday night.

Griffin still hasn't fully recovered from the concussion he suffered recently.

The base offense will feature two wideouts, Johnson and Hilton. But when the Colts go to their oft-used three-wide receiver lineup, it remains unclear who will be the first receiver off the bench.

"I think we have the fortune of having a wealth of talent at the skill positions," offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton said, being intentionally vague. "… In some cases, what the defensive strategy may be ... (will) dictate (that) the third and the fourth guy get more catches than the first and the second guy."

Whether they identify him or not, there is likely to be a third receiver who gets a bigger percentage of snaps than the remaining receivers. At the start of training camp, the possible choices seemed to be first-round pick Phillip Dorsett, second-year player Donte Moncrief and former Canadian Football League standout Duron Carter. Carter has failed to emerge in preseason games the way he did in training camp, so for the purposes of this discussion, let's remove his name.

That leaves Dorsett and Moncrief as the primary options – neither a bad one. Right now, it seems as if Dorsett offers a more varied skill set than Moncrief. But Moncrief possesses size (6-2, 222 pounds) that Dorsett does not. Dorsett seems to have the inside track here. He can play in the slot, runs solid short and deep routes, and he is the fastest receiver the Colts have. But Moncrief, while less consistent, is explosive in his own way.

The Colts are very high on Dorsett, so it seems likely that they'll put him in a significant role as a rookie. This means he may very well play ahead of Donte Moncrief, who was originally penciled in as the team's WR3. Dorsett is currently going in the 13th round, so he's an inexpensive flier and a potential handcuff for T.Y. Hilton/Andre Johnson owners.

Jets beat writer Rich Cimini: Chris Ivory is primed for a career year. He’s had his best camp since being traded to the Jets in 2013, mainly because he’s healthy. In the past, he was nagged by leg injuries in camp. It’s a contract year for Ivory, so there’s plenty of motivation. This year, his role could expand in the passing game. He’s not a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, but his receiving numbers could be up because Fitzpatrick likes to throw to his checkdown options. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he catches three or four balls per game, which would give him about 20 touches per week. -

Chris Johnson is out, Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy are in, but it doesn’t seem to matter to Ivory, who seems primed to lead the Jets’ backfield in touches in 2015. Ridley is probably his biggest competition, but he’s recovering from a knee injury, so Ivory’s lead seems to be large. Ivory is a career 4.7 YPC runner, and has averaged 4.4 YPC in two seasons with the Jets. Ivory is shaping up to be a nice middle round value, especially in standard leagues. Though if Cimini's prediction about Ivory's role in the passing game proves to be true, Ivory will be a nice value in PPR formats as well. Ivory was the #19 RB in standard formats and #23 in PPR leagues last season, so if he improves upon those finishes, he'll outplay his draft position.

Titans RB David Cobb has a calf injury and did not make the trip to Kansas City.

Related Players: Bishop Sankey

Bishop Sankey will likely get more reps against the Chiefs. This has been an interesting camp battle, but the Titans are likely to go with a committee all year, so it's tough to see either player having significant fantasy value this season.

Dolphins beat writer James Walker: I expect second-year receiver Jarvis Landry to do a lot of damage in the red zone. He had only five touchdowns in 2014, but I wouldn't be surprised if that number doubles this season. Landry runs precise routes, has the best hands on the team and the trust of quarterback Ryan Tannehill. With so many new receivers, I expect Tannehill to stick to what's most familiar (Landry) on “money” plays such as third down and in the red zone, especially early in the season.

Landry was the #42 WR in standard formats and #30 in PPR, so unless his touchdown rate increases, he's going to have more value in PPR formats. The Dolphins lost four of their top six most-targeted players: Mike Wallace, Charles Clay, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson. They have been replaced by Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker and Jordan Cameron, but Landry's role should expand as well. He only played 62% of the snaps on the season, and didn't start playing consistent starter's snaps until Week 9. Over the final nine weeks, Landry was the #15 WR in PPR formats (and #23 in standard). He is currently the 22nd WR off the board in PPR drafts.

Latavius Murray only has 82 professional carries, but he’s inspired great confidence in the Raiders coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, for one, has become a fan over the last six months. They’ve seen the tools required for success during the offseason program and the preseason. Murray doesn’t need many game reps to validate those sentiments, cemented by the third-year pro’s willingness to work on becoming a well-rounded back.

"He’s made very positive impressions,” offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said after Thursday’s practice. “He has been working a lot on his hands so he can be a good receiver out of the backfield, because we don’t want a guy that’s going to be a liability when we go to throw the ball. He’s really been working on that. Of course, he’s got the body and the ability to really be a good player at this level.”

Murray has found a way to turn small opportunities into big gains, by bouncing into a new rushing lane at as moments notice.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if those cuts are directly correlated to his vision,” Musgrave said. “He’s got great vision. Not just because he’s tall, even if he was 5-8. I think he’d have really good vision. He can anticipate things and jump through those cracks, almost before they open.”

On Roy Helu Jr.: “Roy brings a lot of experience. He’s had a lot of production there with the Redskins, and so glad to have him back out healthy. He’s been out a couple days. Hopefully, he can stay healthy.

“If he stays healthy. If he is available, we’re very willing to give him his opportunities (to be more than a third-down back).”

Murray rushed 82 times for 424 yards (a 5.2 YPC) and two touchdowns, including an incredible four-carry, 112-yard, two-TD performance against the Chiefs in Week 12. He still averaged a solid (if unspectacular) 4.0 YPC when that game is excluded. With good size (6'2, 223 lbs) and great speed (4.38 40-yard dash), Murray has all the physical tools to succeed at the position. He even showed solid hands with 17 receptions on 23 targets. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, a Raiders source said that Murray is “freak” and has a chance to have “a huge year” in 2015. Helu may eat into Murray's third-down work, so don't expect Murray to be a three-down back.

ESPN's Mike Reiss projected that Brandon LaFell may end up on the PUP list to start the season.

The vibes around LaFell are bad. No one seems to have any solid information, other than he's out of his walking boot. The Patriots aren't going to give us a meaningful update, so for now we should assume that LaFell is going to miss a few games to start the season. It's a shame since he was shaping up as an excellent sleeper in the 8th/9th round after a stellar 2014 season.

Nobody has separated themselves yet and it remains a question of how good and effective this Cowboys running game by committee can be.

Joseph Randle has shown flashes early in his career that he can be a difference-making player in the league, and is eager to prove he can handle the load. The Cowboys have raved how mature and professionally Randle has handled himself so far in camp on the field.

“He’s been on point with not only his run stuff, but his pass-game stuff,” running backs coach Gary Brown said. “I always try to tell him … ‘who are you without the ball? I know what you can do with it, what can you do without it?’

“We want to be complete football players. We don’t just want to be runners. Guys who are just runners don’t last in the league very long. We can get anybody to go out here and just run. We want guys who can catch the ball, pass protect, protect the football, do the things that are necessary to make an offense run.”

Darren McFadden, meanwhile, has shown the burst that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft. He said he feels he is past the hamstring issues that slowed him most of camp. McFadden showed last season he can get through an entire season healthy, albeit in a more limited role with the Oakland Raiders. He had 155 carries last season, fewer than 10 a game.

Based on Brown's comments, it sounds as if Randle is handling himself well in practice. We believe he's the team's best option as a primary runner, but as long as McFadden is healthy, he'll get some touches.

Rookie wide receiver Chris Conley played in his first NFL preseason game last weekend and will try to take the next step by making his first catch for the Kansas City Chiefs in Friday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium.

He should get enough chances. Conley led Chiefs wide receivers in snaps last week with 33, and offensive coordinator Doug Pederson promised he would get even more work this time.

“He was kind of getting his legs back last week,’’ Pederson said of Conley, who missed the early part of training camp with a sore knee and didn’t play in the Chiefs’ preseason opener two weeks ago. “We wanted to get him back out there and get a couple of snaps. His play will increase this week. He’s a guy that’s in the mix. We’ve got to have a lot of reps on tape to evaluate him properly and see where he fits into out scheme.’’

The Chiefs are still looking for the emergence of a wide receiving option to Jeremy Maclin. The other starter, Albert Wilson, has been mostly quiet in training camp and the preseason.

Conley likely fills the role but he's not likely to be much of a fantasy factor playing third fiddle to Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce.

Steelers WR Martavis Bryant’s looming 4-game suspension is for multiple failed marijuana tests, source said. Appeal is in the later stages.

This is worrisome because it shows a lack of good judgment and a lack of self control. It appears that Bryant may be going down the same road as Josh Gordon -- an incredibly talented receiver who can't stay clean while he plays professional football. The good news is that Bryant is set to return in Week 5 and should have a large role in the offense. We believe he'll be a good value in the 8th or 9th round after his ADP takes an understandable hit.

Cardinals writer Darren Urban on Chris Johnson and his ailing hamstring:

I would still lean toward CJ being on this roster heading into the regular season. But it’s not necessarily a lock, with what David Johnson has shown and Kerwynn Williams still lingering in the background and Stepfan Taylor so valuable on special teams. Can’t keep ’em all.

Johnson may be expendable with the way David Johnson is playing and how Williams played last season.

Aaron Rodgers on the Packers' receiving corps:

"The third receiver's going to get some opportunities. We have a talented two-headed run game, a great offensive line. We're going to have good balance this year. There's going to be some one-on-ones outside, and we look for matchups, so that third guy could get the matchup and is going to need to produce."

Rodgers just isn't quite sure who that third receiver is just yet. It could be rookie Ty Montgomery, a third-round pick from Stanford, or second-year pro Jeff Janis, who played sparingly last season.

Janis most closely resembles Nelson in terms of physical ability and stature, but he's currently running behind the rookie Montgomery in practice. Whoever wins the job will be fantasy relevant, but they may not be dependable. Davante Adams wasn't startable last year and James Jones was inconsistent in his days as the team's third receiver.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh said that there's no timetable for WR Breshad Perriman's return. Admitted that it's slower than anybody expected.

Perriman's stock continues to free fall. He's now going in the 10th round and we're betting he's going to fall even further. Perriman has one of the best opportunities of this year's rookie receiver class, so once healthy, he should be given plenty of snaps and targets in Marc Trestman's offense. If he's still around in the 11th/12th round, we can't think of too many players in that range with his upside.

Steelers WR Martavis Bryant is facing 4-game suspension for violating Substance Abuse Policy, per league sources. Suspension under appeal.

It looks like the Steelers will be without both Bryant and LeVeon Bell to start the season. Third year wideout Markus Wheaton will have every opportunity to live up to the hype Ben Roethlisberger has been sending his way this off-season. Bryant's stock will take a hit, but we'd expect him to have a big role when he returns. Our rankings are based on projections, and we've basically reduced his output by 25 percent, which makes him a high-end WR4 in standard formats and a low-end WR in PPR. If owners can get through the first month, he's a player who should really be able to help down the stretch. There's also the possibility that the suspension is reduced, which would boost his draft value. As for Wheaton, he should be startable while Bryant is out, but we're not too bullish on his season-long production once Bryant returns.

Jayson Braddock, co-host of HustleTown on ESPN 97.5 Houston provided an update on Texans RB Arian Foster: "Arian has been in Houston working out & expectations are for him to return to the field in some facet by week 2-4."

The good vibes continue for Foster. Expecting him to return to full form by Week 2 would not be wise, but the fact that his timeline continues to get shorter and shorter indicates that the injury was not as severe as once thought and that his recovery is going well. At this point, we're projecting him to play 10 games, which makes him our #19 RB in standard formats and #17 in PPR.

Connor Barth is returning to Tampa.

A mere hours after being released by the Broncos, Barth agreed to terms with the Buccaneers on a two-year deal, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is for a maximum value of $2.75 million, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a source informed of his decision.

Barth kicked for the Bucs from 2009 to 2013, drawing the franchise tag in 2012. One of the most accurate kickers of the past half-decade, Barth has drilled 85.3 percent of his field goals and 100 percent of his extra points. Patrick Murray was slated to be the Bucs kicker before this transaction.

Broncos beat writer Troy Renck answered a question about Montee Ball's future with the team.

Renck: I am not ready to say Ball's roster spot is in jeopardy. But clearly he needs to finish strong, beginning in the third week vs. the 49ers. Ronnie Hillman zoomed past him on the depth chart by leading the NFL with 120 yards in the first two preseason games. Ball has long gain of 12 yards, and 18 yards on his other 11 carries. That's not cutting it. I don't know if he's over thinking it or what, but he should be better in this offense. Juwan Thompson has played well and excels on special teams.

For Ball, the clock is ticking to make an impression on the new coaching staff. Without real improvement, anything is possible.

Hillman has gained a lot of press this camp and looks like he has the RB2 job behind C.J. Anderson. Once projected as the team's RB1, Ball seems to be sliding down the depth chart. Given how the team went deep into their RB stash last year, they may not be in a hurry to part ways with Ball. Thompson's ability on special teams would only help his cause.

In the Mile-High City, the San Francisco 49ers offense mostly kept the ball on the ground on Wednesday.

And while Carlos Hyde, Reggie Bush, Mike Davis and Jarryd Hayne all got their reps, the featured runner for the first day of the team’s joint practices with the Denver Broncos was none other than Kendall Hunter.

It appears as if Hunter, who missed 2014 with an ACL injury, has little-to-no lingering effects from the lost season.

The fifth-year running back began team periods with the first unit and went on to receive a hefty amount of touches. He recorded several lengthy carries, cutting up the field with ease. He also caught a couple passes out of the backfield and deployed some nifty moves to get past the first wave of defenders. Denver's front seven includes the likes of Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. Hunter ranks below Hyde and Bush on our RB list.

The Chiefs have given RB Jamaal Charles a remarkably light load in training camp and preseason games in an effort to keep him healthy, and that has meant more work for Davis.

But if his backup can be productive enough, the Chiefs may continue to give Charles a lighter load once games start to count, keeping Charles fresher over the 16-game grind than he has been the past couple of years.

"You just want to see that steady No. 2 running back right now that can come in in a pinch or come in and give Jamaal some needed rest, and has that explosiveness," Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. "He's more of your downhill type of runner."

In other words, he also gives the Chiefs that quintessential "thunder and lightning" look, not unlike they had with Charles and Thomas Jones a handful of years ago.

HC Andy Reid has always rode his RB1 since his days with the Eagles so it will be interesting to see if they try to limit Charles' workload in games. One thing is for sure, Davis makes a great handcuff for Charles owners and has proven that he can carry the load. He's getting a lot of reps in camp so far.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd walked through the team’s locker room at University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday without his injured left hand wrapped.

It was a sign of progress, but coach Bruce Arians said there is still not an estimate on when Floyd will return.

"He’s doing extremely well, so no, I don’t think there is an exact timetable," Arians said. "I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s ready (for Week 1), knowing Michael."

The Cardinals open the regular season Sept. 13 at home against New Orleans.

Floyd’s stitches were removed on Aug. 18, almost two weeks after he had surgery to repair three dislocated fingers in his left hand. Floyd has been working on his conditioning with assistant strength and conditioning coach Roger Kingdom before and after practices.

Wide receiver DeVante Parker was in full uniform for Wednesday’s practice. And he went through a few individual drills during the part of practice media was allowed to watch.

But officially, Parker was listed as “out” for the session.

Parker, who had a screw replaced in his left foot in June, said it’s feasible he could contribute early in the season despite not participating in training camp.

“That’s the plan,” said Parker, “but you never know. You’ve just go out there and see how you can do.”

It's at least a good sign Parker is getting closer. While it may be tough to jump right into the offense, it may be hard to keep him off the field once he's a full go. The story said the Dolphins’ first-round pick who has been sidelined while recovering from foot surgery has looked impressive during offseason workouts at least. Unfortunately, there is still no timetable for his return to the field.

Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula isn't dwelling over the loss of wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin for the season.

While Shula says it's a major loss, he points out the Panthers still have plenty of offensive talent even with Benjamin sidelined with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Shula said the Panthers will likely replace Benjamin's production at wide receiver "by committee," but is quick to add "eventually there might be a guy that emerges" into that No. 1 role.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Benjamin set Carolina rookie franchise records last season with 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns, so he will be missed.

Shula pointed to Corey Brown, rookie Devin Funchess and Ted Ginn Jr. as guys who are capable of filling that void at wide receiver — although the starting lineup hasn't been settled, the story said. Brown and Ginn are considered speed guys with big play ability, while Funchess is more of a possession receiver. Brown was an undrafted rookie out of Ohio State who emerged late in the season before suffering an injury. Ginn had one of his most productive seasons two years ago for the Panthers before signing with Arizona last season and then returning to Carolina this year. Funchess is our highest rated Carolina WR coming in at 39th on our list. We have Brown next at 67th.

Add Eddie Royal to the list of the walking wounded among Bears receivers. Royal missed Wednesday's practice at Halas Hall with a hip injury, further depleting the offense of playmakers and causing yet another round of shuffling as the Bears ready for Saturday night's exhibition game in Cincinnati.

Coach John Fox stamped his standard "day to day" label on Royal. But that, of course, means very little. When training camp began, the Bears referred to Kevin White as "day to day" with a shin injury. White, however, may now be lost for the season after having surgery this weekend to repair a stress fracture in his left shin.

Said quarterback Jay Cutler: "I've never been a part of anything like that — all four (top receivers) going down like that. It's a great opportunity for these (other) guys and it's given me an opportunity to work with them and do some hands-on stuff with them."

Alshon Jeffery has been "day to day" with a calf strain since Aug. 12 and was still not back at practice on Wednesday. Marquess Wilson also did not practice, dealing with a hamstring issue. So if you're keeping count, the Bears' top four receivers are now unavailable. Next men up: Josh Bellamy, Marc Mariani, Rashad Lawrence and Cam Meredith.

When the Eagles take the field for the regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Sept. 24, they may do so without tight end Zach Ertz.

Ertz underwent core muscle surgery on Aug. 14 and was expected to miss the entire preseason with an eye towards the season opener as a return date.

"No comment yet," Ertz told NJ Advance Media following Tuesday's practice at the NovaCare Complex when asked if he was still on target for playing Week 1. "I should know soon, though."

On Monday Ertz was seen catching balls from the JUGS machine and getting extra work in after practice for the first time since suffering the injury earlier this month. To make it worse for fantasy owners, the Eagles play Monday night of Week 1. Brent Celek is a possible late, emergency replacement at the position if you're really counting on Ertz.

Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss practice again on Wednesday, as the chances of him playing in Saturday's preseason game against the Jets continue to dwindle.

"No, he won't," head coach Tom Coughlin said when asked if Cruz could return to work from the calf sprain that Coughlin has said he is "concerned" about.

Cruz was on schedule to play last weekend against the Jaguars, but the sprain forced him out of practice and prevented him from playing in the game. He has not practiced since.

To make room for two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis, the Broncos on Wednesday released kicker Connor Barth, the team announced. Barth took over as the team's starting kicker in the last five weeks of the season last season and made 15 of his 16 field-goal attempts and all 15 PATs. He also made 11 consecutive field goals to begin his tenure with the Broncos and twice tied the team's single-game record for made field goals, going 5-for-5 at Kansas City and at San Diego. But Barth's inability to kickoff doomed him this year, as special teams coach Joe DeCamillis has reiterated that he wants to keep two dual-threat kickers — players who can both kick field goals and kick off, and punt and kick off.

Related players: Brandon McManus

The move means Brandon McManus has taken over the kicking and kicking-off job for the Broncos. Barth was ranked fifth on our kickers list and likely was picked if your draft took place already. Hopefully McManus can slide right into your roster spot if you were a Barth owner.

Add Randall Cobb to the list of people who expect big things from Davante Adams this year.

And he says he felt that way even before the Green Bay Packers lost Pro Bowl receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending knee injury this week.

Without Nelson, the 25-year-old Cobb becomes the senior member of the receiving corps in just his fifth NFL season, and the 22-year-old Adams moves into the No. 2 role in just his second season.

"He's poised for a breakout year," Cobb said Tuesday. "He's poised for a big year. I look forward to helping him accomplish that."

Perhaps the good news is Cobb said he sensed that since the end of last season, when Adams finished off his rookie season with eight catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs - seven of those catches, 117 of those yards and the touchdown came in the win over the Cowboys in the divisional round. Sounds like Cobb expected big things from Adams before Nelson's injury. We do too and have him ranked 18th on our WR list.

The Cleveland Browns officially break training camp today. Preparation for the regular season moves to the next phase. This time provides a good chance to look back at the highlights and lowlights of training camp.

Best player: WR Brian Hartline. Practiced hard, practiced well and was there every day. Availability is part of dependability, after all. Hartline is a clear pro and a solid addition.

The story added a close second WR Travis Benjamin. It never really made sense that some thought Benjamin was on the bubble to make the roster when camp started. After seeing him in camp, it makes less sense. Benjamin is vastly improved as a receiver and his speed is something the offense and punt return units badly need. Brown WRs are buried down our WR list but Hartine always attracted targets in Miami. The QB situation is an unstable one but Hartline, who isn't getting a lot of draft attention, could be a waiver wire claim at some point if he continues to play well.

If the Packers hadn’t re-signed wide receiver Randall Cobb this offseason, there would probably be a lot more concern in Green Bay right now about the impact that the Jordy Nelson’s torn ACL will have on the Packers.

Cobb had 91 catches last season, though, and that kind of connection with Aaron Rodgers makes it easier to see how the Packers offense can keep on rolling this season. Cobb said that there’s “no need” for him to put more pressure on himself with Nelson out because Rodgers will get the ball to the right people at the right times and because he doesn’t think he’ll be playing a different role on the field.

“If we’re in a three-receiver set, most likely I’ll be inside,” Cobb said, via ESPN.com. “If we’re in a two-receiver set, I’ll obviously be outside. It just depends on what we do. We’ll move around. We planned on moving around this year, so I don’t think our plan changes. It’s just finding that guy that’s going to be able to plug in and be able to fit into what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Cobb was playing inside with Nelson and Davante Adams outside in three-receiver sets this summer. Rookie Ty Montgomery stepped in for Nelson during Tuesday’s practice and the team could also look at Jeff Janis as they look for another receiver to count on behind Cobb in 2015, the story said.

The Denver Broncos have said for the past two weeks they were going to take the safety-first approach with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

As a result Sanders, who has been held out of practice since he suffered some hamstring soreness after warming up before the preseason opener in Seattle on Aug. 14 , may not play, as a precaution, for the remainder of the preseason. The Broncos open the regular season Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens.

“The expectations are for him to maybe be on the field [for practice] by the end of the week or beginning of next week,’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “We have good news on him and we’re doing everything we can to get him ready for our opening weekend, basically.’’

Both Kubiak and Sanders have said the receiver is on track to play in the opener. It's becoming a growing theme around the league and team's don't want to chance it with injured stars even with the third preseason game on the horizon.

Michael Vick is back in the NFL, as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup.

The Steelers announced this evening that they have signed Vick and placed Bruce Gradkowski, who had been slated as the backup quarterback, on injured reserve.

The 35-year-old Vick is a far cry from the star he once was, and he’s coming off a season in which he was largely disappointing when he played for the Jets. But he was the best veteran quarterback available to the Steelers when Gradkowski got hurt.

If Roethlisberger stays healthy, Vick may never see the field in Pittsburgh. But if Roethlisberger goes down, the Steelers know they have a backup with experience.

Vick struggles to stay healthy himself, especially because of his reckless running style. He's always had a strong arm, and given the talent around him should he see the field, the potential is there for him to put up fantasy numbers in this offense.

Lost in QB Jameis Winston's shadow is the play of running back Doug Martin in Monday night's preseason victory against Cincinnati. Martin had six carries for 59 yards (a 9.8-yard average), including 52 yards on an opening touchdown drive.

He looked more like the Martin who rushed for more than 1,400 yards as a rookie in 2012 than like the player who has struggled through injuries the past two seasons.

"First off, he's healthy and you know how much that means to a running back," coach Lovie Smith said Tuesday. "He's worked hard. He's looked good in training camp practices but you want to see him do it in a game. There were holes last night. But there was also a wall and he was stopped at the line of scrimmage a couple of times and he made something out of nothing a few times. He broke tackles and ran hard. Just a good game."

Martin's play in training camp has had the coaching staff talking and his performance against the Bengals only added to the excitement that he might be able to be the player he once was. Martin could also be inspired by his contract situation as the Bucs declined his 2016 option. There are plenty of backs behind Martin who have shown flashes at one time or another in Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey and Mike James.

Sure, the Washington Redskins would like the league’s top deep threat in their lineup this preseason, as the first-team offense works on gelling as a unit before the games start counting.

But most important for DeSean Jackson – and the team in general – is ensuring the wide receiver’s injured shoulder is at 100 percent when the Miami Dolphins come to FedExField Sept. 13 for Week 1 of the regular season.

“I think I’ll be ready to go,” Jackson said. “You won’t have to worry about me at all. I’ll be the same person I’ve always been, making plays and being the guy that brings the energy to this team.”

Jackson, who suffered an AC sprain in his right shoulder Aug. 6 in a training camp drill, told reporters Tuesday he’s not likely to see any game action in the remaining two preseason matchups – on Saturday vs. the Baltimore Ravens and on Sept. 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the story said. It went on to say, Jackson participated in practice drills Sunday for the first time since suffering the shoulder injury, taking part in individual and positional drills. He had a similar role in Monday’s practice, but was not wearing shoulder pads and is yet to take part in 11-in-11 action.

In a post-Jordy Nelson world, the Green Bay Packers are looking for someone to fill the void left by their sidelined big-name wideout.

As predicted, third-rounder Ty Montgomery appears to be the guy.

On the first snap of Tuesday's practice, the offense lined up in a three-receiver set with Randall Cobb wedged in the slot between Davante Adams and Montgomery out wide, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.

That lines up with what the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel projected Monday after the team announced that Nelson will miss the remainder of the 2015 season with a significant right knee injury.

Future practice time and game snaps will sort this out, but Montgomery holds the early lead over Jeff Janis, the second-year target still seen as a project despite his Nelson-like measurements. (Nelson is listed at 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, while Janis measures in at 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds.) Both Adams' and Montgomery's values are climbing in fantasy drafts, especially Adams who is all the way up to 18th on our WR list.

Robert Griffin III made it through a second straight practice without experiencing any lingering symptoms from the concussion that knocked him out of last Thursday’s preseason game against Detroit.

The quarterback on Tuesday handled a full workload, two days after practicing for the first time since suffering the concussion. (The Redskins had Monday off from practice). Griffin will see the team neurologist on Thursday, Coach Jay Gruden said, and if he remains symptom-free, he should receive clearance to play in Saturday’s game at Baltimore.

If healthy, Griffin will be the starting quarterback as Washington travels to take on Baltimore on Saturday evening. The fourth-year veteran will remain the starter despite having completed just 46.2 percent of his passes (6 for 13 for 44 yards), getting sacked three times, fumbling twice (one lost) and posting a passer rating of 54.6. Griffin didn’t play in the 2013 preseason because he was still working his way back from knee surgery. He last led the first-team offense to a preseason touchdown in 2012 the story pointed out. Meanwhile, but Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins have played pretty well in preseason games.

The Buccaneers have a short turnaround from Monday night’s game against the Bengals to Saturday’s matchup with the Browns and they aren’t going to risk further injury to wide receiver Mike Evans’s hamstring by playing him in that contest.

After that comes the fourth preseason game, which is usually conducted by players vying for spots on the lower rungs of the depth chart and/or the practice squad. Evans is in neither of those groups and, as a result, coach Lovie Smith announced Tuesday, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, that Evans will not play again until the regular season.

As for whether Evans will be ready to play when the regular season gets started, Smith said that the team will “take every precaution” during Evans’s recovery and not rush him back into the lineup before he’s healed, the story said. It's a situation to watch as hopefully the team is just being cautious with Evans and it won't affect the start of the real season. As the story pointed out, it's valuable live action he's missing with QB Jameis Winston, at least for the third preseason game.

Best-case scenario for Texans RB Arian Foster, if no setbacks in rehab from groin surgery, likely end of September, per sources.

Encouraging news. If he would return Sept. 27, it would mean only two missed games. The team would likely ease him in upon his return to the field. Depending on how he responds, he could be in for more touches in the weeks after that. Keep in mind, this is a best-case scenario. Up until now, we estimated more like eight missed games. This news could make Foster a more worthwhile gamble if you feel it's the right part of your fantasy draft to take the chance.

For nearly a month, the headlines surrounding the New York Jets have been dominated by Geno Smith's jaw/IK Enemkpali's fist, Sheldon Richardson's misdeeds, Muhammad Wilkerson's hamstring, Darrelle Revis' return and Brandon Marshall's mouth. At the same, unbeknownst to many outside the organization, Chris Ivory -- the most important non-quarterback on the offense -- has been enjoying his best training camp with the Jets.

When Ivory isn't smashing heads with his physical running style, he's turning them. Count coach Todd Bowles among those impressed.

When he greeted Ivory on the sideline after his 33-yard touchdown run last Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, Bowles told his No. 1 running back he didn't realize he was that fast. Ivory smiled and shrugged. A man of few words, he'd rather knock out your mouthpiece than be one.

Ivory doesn't create much buzz on a national scale, but there's no denying his importance to the Jets. If the Jets want to end their four-year playoff drought, Ivory must crack the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, the story said. (His previous high: 833.) He will likely share some carries Bilal Powell, but Ivory could prove to be a quality depth pick at RB later in drafts.

Speaking for the first time since suffering a leg injury at the start training camp, New England Patriots' WR Julian Edelman is uncertain whether he will be ready for the season opener on Sept. 10.

"Ask Bill [Belichick]. I’m taking it day by day and I think I’m 10 seconds better than the last 10 seconds, so we’re good," Edelman said.

"Any time you’re not able to go out there and play it’s difficult, but it’s part of the game," he said. "I’m just working hard, doing everything I can each and every day to improve myself each and every day."

When asked if he’s in game shape, Edelman said: "It’s one of those things where I don’t have an answer to -- I don’t know. We’ll see."

With still a while to go, it doesn't quite seem as dire as the headline indicates. Edelman feels he's getting better and it's clearly up to Belichick when Edelman takes to the field. The Patriots' receiver suffered the injury on Aug. 2 and said he’s been taking a lot of mental reps and is doing anything he can to stay mentally prepared for when he’s given medical clearance. He said it’s been difficult to watch from the outside while the team is already two games into the exhibition schedule.

The Vikings were in the shotgun or pistol about 65 percent of the time after Teddy Bridgewater took over as the starting QB in Week 4 last season -- the 13th-most in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information -- and their 565 shotgun snaps in that time were only 210 less than they had in 2012 and 2013 combined.

Adrian Peterson, of course, was in the backfield both of those seasons, and has yet to play his first game with Bridgewater at quarterback. In those two seasons, Peterson ran just 40 times out of the shotgun, or one fewer than Christian Ponder. Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon, on the other hand, logged a combined 114 carries out of the shotgun last season.

"I think the things we're doing out of the shotgun, he's very comfortable with, and getting more comfortable," Turner said. "We're going to give him a good dose of the things he does best and has done best his entire career. We're going to try to spread the field a little bit and do some things to give him more space."

There's little doubt the offense will require something of an adjustment for Peterson, who's made a career out of lining up seven yards deep in the backfield and hitting the line of scrimmage with a healthy fury, the story said. But between the Vikings having enough of Peterson's staples in the playbook and giving the running back enough practice snaps to adjust, offensive coordinator Norv Turner thinks Peterson will be fine with an offense that's a little more spread out. It should only help Peterson as long as Bridgewater and the receivers and prove to be a legit passing threat. It will be a lot for defenses to account for.

Giant wideout Rueben Randle should return to practice either Tuesday or Wednesday after missing some time due to knee tendinitis, and he expects to play Saturday against the Jets.

"It is just all about me keeping my body warmed up and make sure I’m properly stretched and not putting all the pressure on that knee tendon," Randle said. "So I’m just going to do a couple more exercises to make sure I keep that tendon loose."

It's a little bit of good news for the team as they are still without Victor Cruz. HC Tom Coughlin seems frustrated with the lack of WRs at practice as of late so Randle's return should help the cause a bit. Randle had a good finish to 2014, but we think if Cruz is healthy he's going to end up being more of a WR3 on the Giants. If Cruz's injuries linger into the season, Randle could be a guy to keep in mind if you need WR help.

The Buffalo Bills were given a big scare on Tuesday when their starting tight end, Charles Clay, left practice with an apparent knee injury.

Fortunately, it doesn't appear as if the injury is serious, with Clay saying he's "100 percent fine."

"I'm fine," he said after practice, via Mike Rodak of ESPN. "It was just something that they wanted to look out for me a little bit. It was something that started nagging, so they decided it would be best to pull me out."

Clay signed a five-year, $38 million contract with the Bills this offseason and projects to play a big role for Buffalo this season. He hasn't performed the way many expected, but he'll still be the team's No. 1 tight end for the regular season. Last season, Clay was hampered by a right knee injury. When asked if he injured the same knee on Tuesday, he was reluctant to comment, the story went on to say.

When Giants WR Victor Cruz missed a pair of practices last week because of a calf strain, he insisted that the issue was not serious, and that he would "definitely" be back in practice this week. So far, not so good. On Tuesday, the Giants began prepping for their Saturday preseason meeting with the Jets, and Cruz was not going to practice, coach Tom Coughlin said. The coach added that he is "concerned" about the situation. "Concerned? Yeah," he said. "Because obviously there were a couple of slotted opportunities (for Cruz to practice last week). Yeah, yeah I am." "I would like to see him get out there and be able to stay out there," Coughlin said. "As soon as that can be done, that's possible, then that's what would happen."

Coughlin did not rule Cruz, who is coming back from a torn right patellar knee tendon suffered midway through last season, out of Saturday's game against the Jets, although he did indicate that the receiver must practice first. He said Cruz is "day-to-day" and must first show an ability to practice for a few consecutive days before he would consider playing the receiver. Cruz has yet to appear in a preseason game, as his rapid return from action has come to a stuttering halt. Early in camp, and even during the joint practice sessions with the Bengals in Cincinnati, the receiver looked to be well on track in his recovery, the story said. In another story, Cruz believes he will be ready for Week 1.

Michael Vick said all along that a training camp injury would open a door for him to get back into the NFL.

That may have happened over the weekend.

Vick will be visiting with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. ESPN first reported the development.

His visit may have been caused by an injury to backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who left Sunday's game with a hand injury that will reportedly require surgery. This seems to be the ideal backup situation for Vick should the Steelers end up signing him. Unlike his short tenure in New York, he will not be forced into an awkward dual role of mentor and top competitor, the story said. Should something happen to Ben Roethlisberger, and Vick was indeed signed as the backup, he would have a ton of fantasy value in this impressive offense loaded with weapons.

Much has been made of the Panthers losing wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin for the season with a torn ACL.

A bigger loss would be TE Greg Olsen.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, receivers and tight ends made up 87 percent of Carolina’s total targets last season. That was the third-highest rate in the NFL even though the Panthers had only six games where individual receivers and tight ends were targeted 10 times in a game in 2014.

But if you take the tight ends out of the equation, specifically Olsen, the ranking falls to 17th.

In other words, Olsen is the most valuable piece of the Carolina passing game.

Olsen has been lining up all over the field for the Panthers in camp the story said. Since 2011, when Newton was the top pick of the draft, Olsen has been targeted 415 times. That’s the third-most of any tight end behind Jimmy Graham (548) and Jason Witten (457). Olsen has led Carolina in receptions the past two seasons, including a career-high 84 catches for 1,008 yards last season, the story added. We rank Olsen third among our TEs so we certainly see his value. And it could go up with the loss of Benjamin.

The hype machine has yet to start cranking for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson. When it comes to the team's offensive skill positions, running back Adrian Peterson, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a handful of other receivers have all generated more discussion than Johnson.

However, Johnson's 10-yard touchdown catch in a preseason win over the Oakland Raiders on Saturday served as a subtle reminder of what he brings to Minnesota's offense.

"You talk about that touchdown catch he had today with the defensive back all over his shoulders," Bridgewater said, per ESPN's Ben Goessling. "Charles, he’s a big, physical guy. He helps out in the run game with his blocking for the running backs and it showed tonight in the passing game in just the first half -- not even the entire first half, but the first quarter. He showed that he’s going to be big for us this year."

At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Johnson hides in a cast of receivers that includes Mike Wallace, Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie sensation Stefon Diggs, among others. He is listed as the starting "WR2," opposite Wallace, on the Vikings' preseason depth chart, the story said. Johnson is 34th on our WR list and hasn't really been that big of a secret in drafts this season. Teams are taking him in the middle rounds because he's got a lot of positive press since the end of last season.

It's been a good summer for New York Giants running back Andre Williams.

He's worked hard to shore up the holes in his game, most specifically his ability to catch the ball, and his improvements have led to a significant number of first-team reps in training camp and in the preseason. It's not out of the question that Williams overtakes Rashad Jennings for the Giants' starting running back job at some point this season, possibly even at the start.

But Williams isn't thinking about that. He's focused on getting better. And if you watched him wait patiently for the blocks to develop on his 11-yard run in Saturday night's preseason game, you saw the fruits of another specific offseason focus.

"I'm just really working on staying patient this year," Williams said after Saturday's game. "Not just 'go-go-go' as soon as you see the first hole, but remembering what's supposed to happen and waiting to make sure it's time to go. That's not an easy thing when you're working at game speed, but it's important."

Williams has been watching tape of Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, who established himself last year as one of the most patient runners in the league. It was Jennings who worked out with Bell two seasons ago the story said. Jennings said several times last year that the biggest thing Williams had to learn was to slow down and be patient, trust his blockers and the play. It appears those lessons are starting to take hold. The author didn't rule out Williams taking over for Jennings at some point this season, which should peak fantasy owners' interests a bit.

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said the hamstring injury wide receiver Mike Evans suffered in Monday night’s 25-11 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals does not appear to be serious.

“I talked to him and he didn’t feel like it was that serious,’’ Smith said. “We wanted to get our (starters) into the second quarter and then get them out.’’

Evans left the game in the second quarter and did not return. Obviously good news but the hope is this doesn't linger into the season.

If you don't think of Eddie Lacy and James Starks as one of the best running back duos in the NFL, you probably should.

Consider this: They're the only twosome who played together the last two seasons and totaled more than 3,000 rushing yards where the No. 2 back -- in this case Starks -- had at least 800 of those yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

So if the Green Bay Packers want to rely more on their running game to make up for the season-ending knee injury that Jordy Nelson sustained in Sunday's preseason game at Pittsburgh, then coach Mike McCarthy and play-caller Tom Clements certainly have that option.

While Lacy has been the workhorse, rushing for 2,317 yards combined in his first two NFL seasons, Starks' total of 826 yards the last two seasons has helped the Packers rank sixth in the league in rushing yards during that stretch. This could be great news for Lacy's fantasy value, but it also may give some value to Starks in deeper formats.

Rams running back Todd Gurley, the No. 10 overall pick in the spring's NFL draft, has been cleared to begin practicing. Head coach Jeff Fisher made the announcement in a Monday meeting with the media at Rams Park.

“So that's good news,'' Fisher said. “Now we're going to progress him slowly, but he'll be able to participate in seven-on-seven and team drills. To this point, he's just been participating in the one-on-ones. We'll take it slow, but it's going to fun to get him on the practice field.''

Fisher said that Gurley, who underwent ACL surgery on his left knee in November, will not play in the preseason.

“No, we don't have any intention of doing that,'' the coach said. “We're just going to slowly increase his reps and see how he progresses. He may need a day off here or day, but it's good news. Dr. (James) Andrews was really pleased with his progress, so he's cutting him loose... (but) he'll continue to wear the brace.''

When asked if the team was anticipating Gurley being ready for the season opener Sept. 13 against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, Fisher said, “Don't know. Gonna bring him along slow.'' That's been the motto so far this whole offseason, and some beat writers even went as far as saying they didn't think Gurley would have the type of impact this year one would expect from a back taken 10th overall. Tre Mason looks like he'll at least have some early season value. At some point, it's going to be hard to keep a back like Gurley on the sidelines.

Carson Palmer wanted it back, that deep ball he heaved down the sideline to wideout J.J. Nelson in the first quarter Saturday.

His rookie speedster had gained a step on cornerback Richard Crawford, but the veteran quarterback has thrown countless bombs in his career, and knows an overthrow when he lets one fly.

Except, this time, he was wrong. As the ball ended its descent, Nelson sat there waiting for it, actually slowing down in order to complete the 57-yard gain.

“I can’t wait to watch it on film,” Palmer said. “He must have hit the nitrous button because he took off.”

When the Cardinals selected Nelson in the fifth-round of the draft, they knew he had speed. The Alabama-Birmingham star had the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting combine and figured to come in and compete for kick and punt return duties immediately, the story said. His playing time at wideout was less certain, with Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown taking up the majority of the snaps and Jaron Brown and Brittan Golden battling Nelson for the fourth receiver spot. But with Floyd recovering from three dislocated fingers in his hand, it was Nelson who started alongside John Brown and Fitzgerald in a three-receiver set in the 22-19 preseason loss to the Chargers. Much like John Brown last year, Nelson could be a guy who comes out of no where on the Cards deep list of WRs.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Nelson, one of the top targets for NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, was injured Sunday in a preseason loss at Pittsburgh. The team said Monday only that he suffered a "significant right knee injury" that would cost him the season.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said the team had hoped for good news in a re-evaluation of Nelson's injury. Instead, the Packers will be without a playmaker who set career highs in receptions (98) and yards receiving (1,519) in 2014.

There was some hope leading up to Monday's MRI since Nelson was moving around on the sideline and walked to the locker room under his own power after the injury. The team is still only calling it a significant knee injury, however reports surfacing from Sunday said it was an ACL tear.

Ronnie Hillman is still listed as the No. 3 running back on the depth chart issued by the Broncos in their weekly press release Monday.

But he was the second running back up against Houston on Saturday. And after slashing through blocks and around the edges of the Texans' defense for 54 yards on just eight first-half carries, he is second to none in the league in rushing yardage so far this preseason, with 120 yards on 16 carries.

Yeah, yeah, it's just preseason. The Broncos know that. Hillman, in his fourth year, knows that. Last year's preseason rushing leader, Baltimore's Lorenzo Taliaferro, gained just 292 yards in limited duty in the regular season. No one's breaking out the streamers and balloons to herald Hillman's arrival.

But there's something different about the San Diego State product now. As the offense as a whole searches for consistency in a tweaked scheme, Hillman appears more comfortable now than ever before.

"He’s moved himself up. He’s had a really good camp," Head Coach Gary Kubiak said after Saturday's game. "... He deserves more reps and if he keeps playing like that he’ll continue to get some more."

Kubiak has always noted that he won't strictly have No. 1 and No. 2 running backs; instead, they will be 1 and 1a. The best example of how that worked for him came in the 2011 season with the Houston Texans, when backup Ben Tate had 175 carries -- 62.9 percent as many as first-teamer Arian Foster. They combined for 2,166 yards and the Texans sprinted to their first division title. The No. 2 back will play -- and he could see a lot of work, the story said. Right now, C.J. Anderson figures to be the lead back with Montee Ball also a factor. But Hillman has been good and the Broncos appear to have three legit threats. While Anderson is a popular early round pick after stepping up late last season, it looks like at least Hillman is trying to make a push for playing time.

Joique Bell has spent the majority of the past two weeks during Detroit Lions practices running off on the side. While the rest of his teammates go through individual drills, Bell lines up between orange cones and does a variety of sprints and lateral maneuvers.

He’s still on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, so there isn’t much more the running back can do until he is cleared. When that will be is still up in the air, but Bell doesn’t seem too concerned about potentially not playing much until the regular season.

“It’s just about how I feel physically,” Bell said. “And as far as my conditioning, I condition every day. So as far as that, I don’t think that’s going to be an issue as far as getting back into football shape. But right now, my main concern is just getting healthy.”

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Bell is still following the team’s return-to-play protocol and they are gauging when Bell could return. Bell injured his knee and Achilles last season and had surgeries in the offseason.

“There are no guarantees. You just don’t know in this league,” Caldwell said. “And you anticipate he’s young and strong and he’s one of those guys that has always been a workhorse, and we fully expect him to come back and be what he was last year for us and that was a bell cow.

“He was a tough, hard-nosed guy that set a great tone for us. We are anticipating that exact same sort of effort, and he feels like he’s close, so I feel good about that.”

He missed the entire spring workouts and has missed the first three weeks of training camp so far. The Lions hope Bell returns to the form he showed during the second half of last season, when he had more than 100 all-purpose yards in four of the last seven regular-season games. It's good news Caldwell expects him to return as the bell cow, but now it's up to Bell. When Bell returns, the story went on to say, he is likely to be the starter in a backfield that includes rookie Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, as well as George Winn and Zach Zenner fighting for a potential No. 4 running back spot.

Add the Ravens backfield to the positions hit by the injury bug.

Second-year running back Lorenzo Taliaferro suffered an MCL sprain in Saturday’s preseason game to the Eagles, which will keep him out a few weeks, Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday.

“I don’t have the degree on it yet, but it’s going to be a few weeks for Lorenzo,” Harbaugh said.

Taliaferro was listed as the Ravens No. 2 running back behind Justin Forsett, but now rookie fourth-round pick Buck Allen will likely see an increased workload for the rest of the preseason and potentially early in the regular season. Behind Allen is second-year back Fitzgerald Toussaint and undrafted rookie Terrence Magee.

Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery did not participate in Monday’s practice at Halas Hall, still hindered by the calf strain he suffered during a practice on Aug. 12. Marquess Wilson was also a spectator Monday, sidelined himself after suffering a hamstring injury during Saturday night’s 23-11 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

That left the first-unit offense significantly short-handed once again as the Bears dived into preparation for their third game of the preseason. It’s too early to say yet whether either Jeffery or Wilson will return to practice this week or play in Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jeffery, coach John Fox asserted, is still “day to day” with his injury. And the Bears will certainly focus more on assuring their top receiver’s ability for the season opener than pushing him back into action for exhibition action this week.

“When they clear him medically and we feel like it’s the smartest thing to do, he’ll be out there,” Fox said. “So I won’t be able to tell you (where he is) until we get closer to game day. … We’d prefer him out there and he’s doing everything he can to get out there. But it’s nobody’s fault. It’s not his fault. It’s not our fault. It’s part of football.”

During team drills at the end of Monday’s practice, the three receivers working with quarterback Jay Cutler and the starting offense were Eddie Royal, Josh Bellamy and Rashad Lawrence. That’s not exactly the murderer’s row of big-play targets that Cutler and offensive coordinator Adam Gase envisioned. But the Bears will push forward, hoping Jeffery and Wilson get well soon, the story said.

After having to earn a roster spot as a rookie free agent last summer, the main target this time for Damien Williams was solidifying his spot as the primary backup to starting running back Lamar Miller.

His two-touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte likely was a big step in that direction.

In the bigger picture, though, Williams is more concerned about continuing to improve as a running back and having that one year of experience has made a clear difference for him.

“Last year I was rookie,” Williams said. “It is kind of hard trying to catch up to game speed with guys who have been in the league five-plus years. This is going into my second year. I just have to get experience.”

Williams ended last season splitting time as the primary backup to Miller with Daniel Thomas, who wasn’t re-signed as a free agent. That left Williams to battle LaMichael James, Mike Gillislee and rookie fifth-round pick Jay Ajayi this summer for the No. 2 job.
Williams was listed as the second-team back when the first depth chart of the season was released, and he got the first carries after Miller in each of the first two preseason games, the story says. He looks to have the edge. James got some positive press a few weeks but Williams seems to be the favorite to get the RB2 job as it stands now. He could have deeper-league fantasy in the Dolphins offense under Bill Lazor, who worked in Philly for Chip Kelly.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Patriots have signed wide receiver Reggie Wayne to a one-year contract.

Wayne, who had triceps and knee surgery this offseason, took a physical with the Patriots over the weekend. It would appear he proved healthy enough for the Patriots to see if there’s still enough left in the tank for Wayne to help their offense during the 2015 season.

It’s an interesting signing by the Patriots, who seemingly have plenty of depth at receiver. Wayne joins Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson and Brandon Gibson. He’s likely going to compete with Amendola, Dobson and Gibson for WR3 snaps, though the signing may have something to do with LaFell’s mysterious foot injury. We’re not expecting much out of Wayne assuming Edelman and LaFell are (and remain) healthy, but he could work his way into fantasy relevancy in PPR formats if there is an injury or two ahead of him.

It is becoming apparent that the No. 2 quarterback in Washington will have a good shot at becoming No. 1 at some point during the season.

It’s not too much of a stretch to concoct a doom and gloom scenario for Robert Griffin III. Watching him on Thursday against the Lions and throughout his career since 2013, it seems almost inevitable that his season will be interrupted by either injury or ineffectiveness. That means that the winner of the competition for the No. 2 quarterback job is likely to start some regular season games and perhaps sooner rather than later.

So who is the leader in that competition between Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy? Jay Gruden said during training camp that performance in preseason games would be the primary determining factor. If there is a leader in the battle, Gruden has not tipped his hand to reveal which one it is.

“They’re doing extremely well,” said Gruden of the play of the two backups during the preseason.

The story went on to say throughout OTAs, minicamp and training camp, Cousins and McCoy have split the work with the second and third teams about as evenly as you can. Cousins has completed 77 percent of his passes averaging 9.4 yards per attempt while McCoy is completing passes at a 75 percent clip and also averaging 9.4 yards per pass. Both have been behind center for seven drives. Cousins has had better results, with the team scoring three touchdowns and a field goal with him in the game while McCoy’s possessions have resulted in two touchdowns, the story all said. As you can see, things are pretty close. It's a situation to pay attention to especially if you play in deeper leagues or leagues that start two QBs.

Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim was impressed by his team’s deep threats at receiver last Saturday night against the Chargers. But he’s also concerned that quarterback Carson Palmer won’t have enough time to pass the ball if the Cardinals don’t protect him better.

The Chargers had six sacks in the first half of the victory, including two on Palmer, who dropped back just nine times.

“If we can protect Carson, we have some guys who can not only create separation, but can be explosive,” Keim said Monday morning on his weekly appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

The story said both tackles gave up sacks, even though Keim didn't blame the offensive line entirely. He also pointed to missed assignments by running backs, which also happens to be an area bit by the injury bug so far in camp for the Cards. Palmer is a potential late-round starting option at QB who has a lot of weapons to throw to . But as the story said, he needs to be protected to allow his talented WRs to get open - on top of staying healthy.

Rob Gronkowski has been a full participant in practices this summer, but Patriots coach Bill Belichick has held his tight end out of each of the team's first two preseason games.

After watching the Packers lose star wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a torn ACL, it's easy to see why Belichick might be cautious with Gronkowski.

In an interview on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan radio show this morning, Gronkowski said that he's ready to go whenever summoned, but he's always taking his marching orders from Belichick.

“It’s always up to the coach’s decision,” Gronkowski said. “I’m ready to play when my number’s called, whenever they want me to go in. I mean, it is preseason, we’ve been practicing hard, we’ve been going against each other. We had great practices with the Saints; it’s been going well.”

The good news is there isn't anything keeping Gronk from playing in preseason games outside of the coaching staff. It's a trend we're starting to see more and more - teams just aren't risking losing players in a game that doesn't count. He's still the top TE available in fantasy drafts.

Mark Ingram on Saturday showed he can play a big part in the New Orleans Saints' passing game. The fifth-year NFL running back caught the first two pass attempts from Drew Brees and gained 11 yards on the first play, and 29 on the next.

The 25-year-old Ingram said Sunday he always had the hands and route-running ability but "I really wasn't asked to do it much early in my career, when we had (Darren) Sproles, Pierre (Thomas)."

With running back C.J. Spiller reportedly having undergone arthroscopic knee surgery to keep him out of practice, Ingram has received more chances to catch passes. Ingram in 2014 set career highs in rushing and receiving marks, with 226 carries for 964 yards and nine touchdowns, and 29 catches for 145 yards, the story said. The Saints won't be able to throw to Spiller every time he's on the field, so changing things up will be key to the Saints passing success. With Ingram a threat to catch passes, it will only keep defenses on their toes and it could be a nice bonus for fantasy owners.

It seemed Chargers TE Ladarius Green was off and running toward a fine career, until he faded from the offense last season.

Green didn't have a bad year, but the Chargers want, and likely need, better from him now.

With Antonio Gates guaranteed to miss the first four games, Green will be asked to move the chains and make blocks.

The Chargers, to put it in culinary terms, need him to supply something hearty and reliable -- along with his rare long speed that is fine etoufee.

Green, 25, got that done Saturday against the Cardinals in a preseason game the story pointed out. It was a workmanlike, if limited, performance, and that was encouraging. He moved the chains on third down, with a Gates-type play we've seldom seen from him. As the story said, Green has a chance to open some eyes as he fills in for Gates for the first four games. The team will likely include Gates back in the offense upon his return, but this is a big chance for Green to prove he's at least in the conversation as future TE1 for the Bolts.

One of the best examples of competition bringing out the best in football players came in the New England Patriots' 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Saturday night.

Through the first drive of the third quarter, Dion Lewis played 23 offensive snaps as he made his case to be considered the top option to replace Shane Vereen as the team's top "passing back." His combination of blitz pickup, pass-catching ability, knack for picking up yardage after the catch, and determination in the red zone (11-yard touchdown run) was impressive.

Up to that point in the game, Lewis' primary competition for the job, James White, had played three snaps. All three of those snaps came out of the "pony" grouping in which he was on the field at the same time as Lewis.

"I thought Dion did a good job with his opportunities," coach Bill Belichick said in his day-after-game conference call. "He's had a solid spring and camp for us. He missed a few days there [because of injury], but I thought he ran well [Saturday] night."

As it turned out, White did too, the story said. Essentially taking over for Lewis from the second drive of the third quarter until the end of the game (the two were on the field together six snaps after that point), it was almost as if White felt the urgency to match Lewis.
That was what stood out most to me when reviewing the offensive snap counts from the game; how the competition between the two has raised the bar at a critical position in the Patriots' offense. White was drafted by the team for this role so he may have the edge because of that. Whoever wins the job should get a Shane Vereen-like role in the offense which would have PPR league value.

Brian Hoyer has been named the Houston Texans starting quarterback, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Both QBs really struggled in their last preseason game with the Broncos. Mallett got the start, going 5-of-7 passing for just 23 yards on two drives. Despite boasting a strong arm, not once in his seven passes did Mallett even look to throw deep, an NFL.com article said.
Hoyer entered the game and didn't fare any better, going 7-of-11 for 52 yards. He did try to look deep but failed to connect. Hoyer does have a WR1 in DeAndre Hopkins and could have QB2 or streaming value to fantasy owners. He's said to be a much better fit than Mallett in Bill O'Brien's offense.

With a weapon like WR Andre Johnson, the Colts are giving him several opportunities to showcase his unique range.

Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton is moving Johnson all around the Colts offense, lining the seven-time Pro Bowler up both outside and in the slot, more frequently than he did in Houston.

Hamilton could pop in the film and see what the Colts were getting in Johnson from a pure football standpoint. The Colts offensive coordinator is also seeing the side of Johnson inside the classroom.

“One of the things that’s allowed Andre to be such a good pro for so long is his ability to focus and pay attention to the details,” Hamilton says.

“He approached joining our team as if he was a rookie. He took copious notes and he was always focus and engaged in meetings. He’s constantly asking questions and he’s working overtime to build a relationship with Andrew Luck and the rest of our guys.”

Moving Johnson around the formation is a way to create mismatches. Johnson is already a mismatch against a lot of corners but seeing him in the slot more could provide a nice option for Luck. The Colts have plenty of talent at the position to allow Johnson to do this, but it sounds like the team is doing what it has to to make Johnson a key part of the passing attack.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy almost certainly won't ask any one player to take on the kind of yeoman's work that WR Jordy Nelson gave them, but they've made it clear throughout the offseason that Davante Adams was ready to a step forward even with Nelson in the mix. This spring, McCarthy called him the MVP of the offseason after Rodgers said he has a "humongous upside, and he's starting to reach that upside."

The Packers might look to add a veteran receiver but if not, then Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery will get increased opportunities. Physically, Janis (at 6-3, 219) most resembles Nelson, but he remains raw. He played in only three games last year as a rookie, although he has three preseason touchdown catches in his career. The rookie Montgomery, a third-round pick, has proven to be a quick study and can probably play on the edge or in the slot. Packers college scout Sam Seale described the 6-foot Montgomery as a bigger Cobb.

"We've got a lot of guys right now fighting for spots, and we're still trying to figure out who's going to be the impact players for us on our team," Aaron Rodgers said. "That could change after this week or that could not. We'll see what happens."

The Packers seem confident in their depth but it remains to be seen how they react to the potential loss of Nelson if the ACL reports prove to be true. The story went on to say in the red zone, they already were preparing for Richard Rodgers to play a bigger role, and the second-year tight end showed his potential in that area of the field with a 21-yard touchdown catch from backup quarterback Scott Tolzien in the second quarter Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers would leave Sunday's game to injury, after being sacked for a safety by James Harrison late in the first quarter. Rodgers sustained a bruise to his right arm. Mike McCarthy said Rodgers would’ve remained in the game had it been the regular season.

“Into the second quarter was the plan. Aaron got hit on the sack but it was nothing that he couldn’t play in the game,” McCarthy said.

The real focus was on the loss of WR Jordy Nelson to an ACL injury, but the Packers were taking no chances with Rodgers. He should have no issues for Week 1 since McCarthy said he would have returned had the game counted in the standings.

Rookie running back Duke Johnson practiced in pads Saturday for the first time since Aug. 1, and hardly looked like he'd been nursing a sore hamstring for the past three weeks.

Johnson churned out some yards in a 9-on-9 inside running drill and then had a pass from Josh McCown glance off his hands in 7-on-7s. He later caught a post route from Johnny Manziel in 7-on-7s and then a right screen from McCown, which he turned upfield for a long gain.

"His legs looked fresh,'' said Pettine. "I am not sure who he beat on the inside post – He looks explosive."

On one play, fellow back Isaiah Crowell blocked for him.

Johnson is ranked 36th on our RB list but may start to climb if he continues to look good. The Brows backfield is a bit crowded but is searching for that lead back that has escaped them for a while now. Johnson has also created some buzz in the passing game and may have more PPR value.

Jags RB T.J. Yeldon is expected to make his NFL debut Friday.

As he does, the Jaguars’ rookie running back apparently will make it pretty much with the first team.

Yeldon, who missed the first two preseason games with a finger injury, is expected to play against the Detroit Lions at EverBank Field Friday in Preseason Week 3. A starter hasn’t been determined, but Head Coach Gus Bradley said Yeldon likely will work extensively with the starters.

“I would see him getting some reps with the ones and twos – mostly ones, though,” Bradley said Sunday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 22-12 loss to the New York Giants in Preseason Week 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Yeldon is already rated 24th among our backs putting him at low-end RB2 range. Yeldon may not see as many scoring chances as the other backs rated around him, but we think he gets plenty of touches behind an 0-line that should be improved.

Falcons HC Dan Quinn said WR Roddy White will have minor right elbow surgery but will be back for Week 1.

McClure added in a recent story the elbow injury White suffered last week was a cause for concern. The team didn't provide many details about the injury, which sidelined White from the second preseason game against the New York Jets. Although the initial word seemed to imply nothing significant, White experienced swelling. The team said White's elbow flared up last Thursday after a light practice without pads. If you're already a White owner or plan to take a look at him, it's something to monitor. If the elbow injury leads to White to miss the start of the season, the Falcons appear to have full confidence in newcomer Leonard Hankerson stepping into a complementary role alongside Julio Jones, McClure added.

The initial diagnosis on Packers WR Jordy Nelson is a torn ACL, source said. Horrible news. Awaiting MRI results to confirm.

This is a bit surprising since he was reportedly moving well along the sideline. We would recommend waiting until the MRI confirmation before cutting Nelson loose as it's still pretty early in the process. This is a big blow to the Packers offense, but the team does have some depth at the position. If Davante Adams is available on the waiver wire, pick him up immediately, as he suddenly becomes a fantasy WR2. Jeff Janis and rookie Ty Montgomery will compete for snaps as the team's WR3.

It didn’t take long to go from Redskins coach Jay Gruden announcing that quarterback Robert Griffin III suffered a concussion after getting crunched by the Lions on Thursday night to reports that Griffin was fine, which caused some media members covering the game to wonder if the diagnosis was a convenient way to keep Griffin from talking to the media after a rough night.

People holding that opinion probably won’t be swayed by what they saw on the field at Sunday’s practice. There hasn’t been much time for Griffin to get cleared through the league’s concussion protocol, but multiple reporters at the practice report that Griffin is running the starting offense during 11-on-11 drills against the Redskins defense.

The quick turnaround from a concussion to being cleared for a full practice will likely lead to questions for Gruden, Griffin and others in the organization about the evaluation and treatment processes. Either way, it appears Griffin is fine.

Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne is visiting with the New England Patriots and will take a physical Sunday with the reigning Super Bowl champions, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Wayne, who parted ways with the Colts earlier this year after spending 14 seasons with Indianapolis, arrived in New England on Saturday night, sources told Schefter.

The Patriots are currently dealing with injuries to several members of their receiving corps:

• Top receiver Julian Edelman has been out since Aug. 2 with what is believed to be a leg/ankle injury.

• No. 2 receiver Brandon LaFell, who was spotted in the offseason with a boot on his left foot, has been on the physically unable to perform list since camp opened.

• Brian Tyms, a candidate for a spot as the fourth or fifth receiver, sustained a foot injury Wednesday that could threaten his season.

• Aaron Dobson, a 2013 second-round pick, has reportedly been slowed by a hamstring injury.

It would be an interesting add to the Pats WR group which has been banged up most of camp as the story said. We haven't really got a good grasp of the injuries because the Pats are pretty hush, but this could be an indication they are worried about one or two of their current wideouts. Wayne seems like a WR who could end up having a good connection with Tom Brady, when he returns from suspension.

WR Jordy Nelson injured after first quarter catch, currently being examined in Packers locker room.

Click the link to see a clip of the play. Nelson stayed down for a moment then hopped up and jogged off the field. He was limping badly at first but as he made it to the sideline the limp was less noticeable. He was examined on the sideline and reportedly walked to the locker room under his own power.

Charles Johnson isn't one of the three Vikings-drafted receivers on the roster, nor is he the prized offseason acquisition.

But since Johnson was plucked off the Cleveland Browns' practice squad nearly a year ago, he's been one of Teddy Bridgewater's favorite targets in a receiver room that has been recently bolstered with developing young talent, like fifth-round pick Stefon Diggs, and a new face in Mike Wallace.

Johnson led the team with 40 receiving yards on four catches, including a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the Vikings' 20-12 preseason win over the Oakland Raiders on Saturday night.

"Charles continues to make plays," coach Mike Zimmer said. "Catches the ball, runs good routes. The touchdown he caught, I thought the guy was grabbing the heck out of him the whole way."

After the Vikings jettisoned Jerome Simpson last fall, Johnson joined the Vikings after spending the 2013 season rehabbing a torn ACL under then-Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Less than two months later, Johnson became the Vikings' starting split end over 29th-overall pick Cordarrelle Patterson and turned 25 catches into 415 yards as Bridgewater's go-to target in the rookie quarterback's best stretch of play in December, the story added. We see potential for Johnson and think he could at least put up low-end WR3 numbers, like he did from Week 11 on last year when he finished as WR31 in that span. We rank him 39th on our WR list, and he's getting some mid-round draft attention.

The Cowboys play their second preseason game Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

Tony Romo is expected to get his first action, albeit briefly, but this game will mean more for the running backs: Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar. None played last week against the San Diego Chargers and all three will be available Sunday.

Nobody will run away with the job, but they can at least ease the fears some have about the position group with a positive showing, the story said. But, fantasy owners will hopefully be able to get a look into the future in terms of which one has the most value for their team. The odds-on favorite is Joseph Randle, of course, but all three are expected to have some role in the offense.

Chris Johnson wasn’t able to stay healthy for long in Arizona.

Johnson, the running back signed by the Cardinals last week, did not play in last night’s preseason game against the Chargers even though the Cardinals had initially planned to get him at least a few carries. Afterward, coach Bruce Arians explained that Johnson pulled a hamstring in Thursday’s practice and will be out for a week or two.

Johnson has been very healthy in his NFL career: The only game he’s ever missed was a meaningless Week 17 game. The Cardinals will try to get him healthy in time for Week One, when they hope he looks like the Chris Johnson of old.

If he’s out two weeks, that means he won’t play at all for the Cardinals, and his first live action in their offense wouldn’t come until the regular season. HC Bruce Arians said about rookie David Johnson that he wouldn't play in the season without the proper time in camp, so it remains to be seen how the team treats CJ2K. The Cards RBs have been banged up all camp and the hope was CJ2K would add some stability.

Rams WR Brian Quick hasn't really been limited except for the yellow beanie he wears, which reminds his teammates to avoid contact with him.

Other than that, to my eye, he's clearly been the team's best and most consistent receiver. He looks healthy, he sounds determined and he has a greater appreciation of the game after having it taken from him last year because of a devastating shoulder injury.

Does that mean Quick will become the No. 1 type of dominant wideout many hope he can? I don't know if I'd go that far. But barring a setback, I expect him to be the team's most productive pass catcher in 2015.

You've probably read a few stories on 4for4 about the Rams WRs, mostly how they don't have one standout but they expect to excel as a group. That's not always a good sign for fantasy owners, and while we have Quick rated the highest of the Rams WR, he's only 52nd on our list. The Ram WRs are more of late-round adds to fantasy teams for depth with the hope one stands out. Quick may at least give you the best odds.

For all the issues the Seattle Seahawks still have to work out on offense, the chemistry between their quarterback and top pass-catcher isn't one of them.

It was again evident Friday night in Seattle's 14-13 preseason loss to Kansas City. Jimmy Graham caught all three passes that Russell Wilson threw his way during the two quarters in which the Seahawks' offensive starters played, but one of them stood out.

Lined up in the slot on second-and-18, Graham released up the seam against tight coverage from safety Ron Parker. Graham wasn't open when Wilson delivered a perfectly placed pass toward his back shoulder for a 21-yard gain. Then again, he didn't need to be.

"He's hard to miss, being 6-7 and being able to show up and run as fast as he can," Wilson told reporters.

Call it whatever you'd like -- chemistry, trust, rapport -- but Wilson and Graham certainly seem to have built plenty of it already, the story said. It's good news for those who were worried about Graham switching offenses. It sure looks like he's going to be a key part of the Seattle offense, too, and is of course one of the top TEs in fantasy drafts.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was apparently doing well Saturday after leaving Thursday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions with a concussion.

"Robert's fine," Washington tight end Je'Ron Hamm said on a conference call as the Redskins enjoyed a second straight off day. "He got a little banged up. I (don't) like to see any of my teammates down there on the ground, (but) I'm glad to know that he's going to be all right."

Griffin, who's expected to be Washington's opening day starter for a fourth straight season, was injured when Lions defensive end Corey Wootton landed on him while trying to recover his fumble early in the second quarter in a 21-17 Redskins victory.

It remains unclear if Griffin will be in the lineup in Washington's next game on Aug. 29 at Baltimore, the penultimate matchup on the Redskins' preseason schedule. Since NFL teams generally rest their starters in preseason finales, if Griffin is held out against the Ravens, the hope is he would be ready for the Sept. 13 regular season opener against Miami, the story said

Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan said Saturday that both wide receiver Percy Harvin (hip) and running back Karlos Williams (undisclosed) will be ready for the Bills' regular-season opener Sept. 13 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Harvin has missed over a week of practice with hip soreness and received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection last week.

"He’ll definitely be back for the opener," Ryan said. "We’re hoping that he comes back and is able to play in one of these preseason games."

Williams underwent an unspecified medical procedure to a "sensitive area," per Ryan, after being hospitalized last week.

"He looked like Fred Sanford walking into a meeting today," Ryan said Saturday. "But other than that, he’s fine. Like I said, everybody tells me that he’s going to be ready to go when we kick the thing off for real."

Good news for the Bills, especially at the running back spot with starter LeSean McCoy dealing with a hamstring issue. Williams very well could earn the RB3 spot on the Bills ahead of Bryce Brown.

Rookie running back Duke Johnson set up a bit of a red alert Saturday when he admitted he’s struggled with hamstring issues since high school.

“I’m not a flexible guy,” Johnson said after taking part in the Cleveland Browns' slow-motion practice two days after the preseason loss to Buffalo, Johnson’s first time on the field since Aug. 1.

Johnson also said the hamstring strain that sidelined him was essentially the same issue that limited his running at the scouting combine. It should be said that even with hamstring issues and a lack of flexibility, Johnson left the University of Miami as the school’s all-time leading rusher.

“’I’ve never let it really stop me from producing and being the player than I am today,” said Johnson, the team’s third-round draft pick.

The Browns have big hopes for Johnson, to the point that they left minicamp in June thinking he had a chance to be the team’s every-down back. That progress was slowed by missing three weeks of practice. While Johnson has lived through the issue to have success, it may be something to deter fantasy owners if it comes down to Johnson and another RB to draft.

In the second quarter of the Redskins’ preseason game against the Lions rookie running back Matt Jones had the kind of run the team hopes to see from the rookie on a regular basis.

On first down from the Washington 20, he took a handoff from Colt McCoy and headed up the middle. In the hole he planted, made a slight change of direction and quickly rolled into the second level. About 12 yards downfield a defensive back flew in to try to make the tackle but Jones made a move and dodged him. He kept heading north until he was brought down after a gain of 24 yards.

Jones finished the game leading the team in rushing with 52 yards on 10 carries. He blasted his way into the end zone from a yard out. His head coach was impressed.

“Matt Jones continues to hit the hole the way we want him to—hard,” Jay Gruden said after the game. “He gets through the second level, he’s a problem.”

At 6-2, 231 Jones can be a big problem. He is doing what Scot McCloughan hoped he would do when he drafted Jones out of Florida in the third round. There were plenty of skeptics among draft analysts when they turned in the card with his name on it as the 95th overall pick last May. The instant conventional wisdom was that the third round was way too high to take Jones, who wasn’t even the Gators’ full-time running back. After Thursday, many of them are singing a different tune, the story said. Jones has the ability to take over for Roy Helu as the team's third down back, but reports all summer say Jones is also a hard, physical runner. For now, Alfred Morris is expected to get a bulk of the work, but Jones is certainly getting noticed so far in camp.

Rams beat writer Nick Wagoner answered a question about RB Todd Gurley having the impact many are expecting of him this season:

Wagoner: I suppose the answer to that question starts with what your perspective is on what type of impact you believe Todd Gurley is supposed to have. For me, I don't think we can expect him to come in and instantly become the game-breaker that he was drafted to be. Some of that is a function of his rehab from the knee injury and some of it is from the likelihood that his offensive line is going to take some time to develop.

I expect Gurley to have a very limited role or potentially even sit the first game or two before he slowly starts working his way into the mix. He probably won't take on a full workload until a bit later in the season. If he comes in at that pace, then I suppose the answer for this year is no. We all know he brings a lot of talent to the table but as with any rookie -- let alone ones coming off major knee injuries -- there's always the possibility he won't pan out and play to his draft status. Gurley is no exception.

It doesn't sound very positive for potential Gurley owners who are expecting him to come in and be an instant RB1. It sounds like the Rams are going to bring him along slowly, perhaps very slowly. He's not going to play in preseason which means which means his chances of having an early impact don't seem very good. Later on this season could be a different story, but Wagoner didn't seem all that optimistic he's going to have the impact everyone might expect of a RB taken early in the first round of the NFL Draft. Tre Mason looks like he'll at least have early season fantasy value and may even continue to be productive further into the season than most thought.

The bulky black brace Cards QB Carson Palmer wears on his left knee is about the only sign he is less than nine months removed from his second torn anterior cruciate ligament.

That and, well, the way head coach Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians still sometimes shakes his head in disbelief that three weeks into training camp, Palmer isn’t just healthy, he’s better.

And maybe better than he’s been at any point since he made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2005 and 2006 while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Carson is in great shape, mentally and physically,” Arians told USA TODAY Sports.

Plenty of coaches gush these sorts of platitudes about their quarterback this time of year. But it means something coming from a quarterback guru like Arians, who has tutored passers like Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck.

The story said that through three weeks of training camp, Palmer has been among the Cardinals’ most consistent players, something that backs up numerous reports we've had here at 4for4. In a recent fully-padded practice, he zipped pass after pass across the middle of the field to Larry Fitzgerald, and nailed several deep touchdown passes to second-year receiver John Brown — all while playing against a secondary that includes stars Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. Then, in his first live action since suffering the knee injury on Nov. 9, Palmer went 4-for-4 for 77 yards to lead the Cardinals to a touchdown in his one series of work in the preseason opener against Kansas City last week. All signs are pointing to Palmer having very nice, later-round value at the QB position, definitely something to note if you're waiting to draft at the position.

Early in practice, Titans tight end Delanie Walker bobbled and dropped a Mariota pass, the kind that he usually hauls in with ease. I asked him if his injured thumb — he needed 12 stitches to close a cut earlier this month — was causing him any problems. He said the thumb is still tender but improving. Walker said he’ll test the thumb Sunday before a decision is made on whether he plays against the Rams.

Last year, Walker finished #9 in standard formats and #8 in PPR leagues even though he missed a game and a half in the middle of the season due to a concussion. He was #12 and #11, respectively, in 2013. In his last 22 games with the Titans, he has averaged 11.9 PPG in PPR formats, which would have been enough for a #6 finish last season. In Marcus Mariota, he should get an upgrade at quarterback and figures to remain a big part of the team’s passing attack. We're not too worried about the thumb injury, but it's something to monitor as the offseason draws to a close.

Falcons WR Roddy White will be on the sideline for the game. The team announced that White, who practiced all week, has an elbow injury and said that there will be more information about his status after the game.

Once known as an iron man, White missed a couple of 2014 games due to injury, but when he played, he was a solid WR2 in both PPR (#17 PPG) and standard (#20 PPG) formats. He’s 33, but as long as he stays healthy, he should be a very solid WR2/WR3. Hopefully this elbow injury isn't too serious.

The Cardinals defensive backs were asked about how QB Carson Palmer is playing in camp...

Safety Rashad Johnson: “The timing, the zip, the placement of the ball. He’s just been on fire. I’m surprised to see how well he’s come back from the (knee) injury. I think it took us a week and half to get an interception off of him. With the secondary we have, that’s very impressive. He’s playing at a very, very high level. You can tell he understands the offense way better than he did a couple years ago. I’m excited, man. I’ve never seen a quarterback play this well in person, besides Kurt Warner.”

Safety Tyrann Mathieu: “His arm has gotten so much stronger. And just his confidence. He’s throwing the ball into double coverage and against our best cornerback. That confidence he has and the trust in his receivers, that’s what stands out to us the most. We practice against him but we don’t play against him. He’s on our team so we’re pretty excited for the season to get here.”

Cornerback Patrick Peterson: “The way he’s going through his progressions, as far as one, two, three reads. You can tell he’s much more comfortable within the offense and Coach Arians’ play calling. And his arm looks so much stronger than the years past. Just look at him, his demeanor, his confidence is different. I wish we could just wrap him up in a whole bunch of bubble wrap and keep him safe leading up to the season.”

In the 15 games since his team’s 2013 bye, Palmer is averaging 277 yards 1.8 touchdowns and 0.8 interceptions. Those are fringe QB1 numbers, and he has a nice receiving corps (including Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown) to throw to. Everything is going smoothly with his recovery from ACL surgery, so he's our favorite late-round sleeper at the QB position. For more on Palmer, be sure to read the Sleeper Alert that Senior Editor John Paulsen issued back in June.

Andrew Mason of the Broncos website:

I was asked recently on a radio appearance about Cody Latimer's fantasy value, and I think he's worth a late-round flyer based on his potential, and if there's an injury to one of the top two receivers, he's going to be targeted frequently. But with the Broncos making use of "12" and "21" personnel more often than in past years, I don't know that Latimer will see enough targets to be an every-week fantasy starter, even though his performance, skill set and improved command of the scheme screams, "quality NFL starter."

Latimer had a disappointing rookie season and wasn't even able to beat out Andre Caldwell. As Mason stated, new HC Gary Kubiak favors two-TE sets, so Latimer’s snaps may be limited. The third receiver in Baltimore didn’t even play half the snaps under Kubiak. However, Latimer’s talent may force him into a larger role, but that remains to be seen.

Ravens beat writer Jeff Zrebiec:

The Ravens defensive backs will be seeing Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews in their sleep over the next couple of days.

The second-year wide receiver out of Vanderbilt has been the best player on the field when the Eagles' first-team offense goes against the Ravens' first-team defense.

He's caught balls underneath, he's caught deep passes, he's drawn pass interference penalties. Nobody on the Ravens has been able to match up. If Matthews stays healthy, I'd be shocked if he didn't have a big year.

The offseason buzz has been strong. With Jeremy Maclin gone, Matthews will have to play more than the 65% of the snaps that he played as a rookie. He was the #24 WR in standard formats, so increased playing time should lead to a better finish. He won't be limited to the slot in 2015.

Ravens beat writer Jeff Zrebiec:

I’ve been saying for months that Marlon Brown is a lock for one of the wide receiver spots in what has been the most-scrutinized position competition of training camp. But now, I’m not so sure.

Brown, to no fault of his own, missed most of the first couple of weeks of training camp with back and hamstring injuries. But since his return, he hasn’t looked right.

He isn’t getting a ton of reps and he’s been extremely tentative, failing to get much separation on defensive backs. I’m sure the injuries have a lot to do with it, but Brown may be playing himself onto the roster bubble, especially if Michael Campanaro stays healthy and Jeremy Butler and Darren Waller have good preseasons.

Two weeks ago, I would have predicted with some confidence that the Ravens’ regular-season roster would include seven receivers: Steve Smith, Kamar Aiken, Brown, Campanaro, Breshad Perriman, Waller and Jeremy Butler. Now, I’m not so sure.

Campanaro is making a push to be the team's slot receiver, and if Perriman returns and takes over as the WR2, then Brown will be vying with Aiken for snaps as the team's WR4. If Perriman remains sidelined, then Aiken/Brown could be battling for a starting job.

Panthers HC Ron Rivera says Devin Funchess’ high football IQ will soften the slope of his learning curve.

“Absolutely, that should help a lot. He is really a solid young man,” Rivera said. “He knows two positions, and obviously he’ll concentrate on Kelvin’s and work to handle that spot for us.”

“We drafted Devin Funchess for a reason and this is one of them,” Rivera said. “You want to have a big, quality receiver, and Devin gives us that still.”

With Kelvin Benjamin out for the year, Funchess likely becomes the de facto WR1 for the Panthers. Provided he has a good camp, we would expect his ADP to climb into the 8th-10th range after Benjamin went in the 7th/8th as a rookie. It's unlikely that Funchess has the same type of year, but he and TE Greg Olsen will likely lead the team in targets.

On the topic of Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham...

“He’s added a new dimension to our offense,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell told Peter King. “He’s been amazing. Awesome. He’ll help on third down, help in the red zone. In some of those areas you feel like he will be able to be a big factor. I think he will have the effect that you imagine a tight end would, pulling some coverage, and maybe changing some stuff for guys outside and guys other places as well.”

Graham finished with 85 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, but his season was somewhat disappointing, especially down the stretch. He averaged 4.0 catches for 44 yards and 0.2 TD in his final five games, including a weird zero-target goose egg in Week 13 against Pittsburgh. Now he heads to Seattle, where the Seahawks have been looking to upgrade at tight end for a while. Graham's value takes a minor hit as he heads to the run-oriented Seahawks, though he'll continue to be a target hog given the current state of the Seattle receiving corps.

Jay Cutler, for one, expressed confidence in the 22-year-old Marquess Wilson.

"He can do anything," Cutler said. "You can put him inside. You can put him outside. He can break in, he can break out. Man-to-man, he's good off the press. He has a huge array of routes that he can do."

Now, Wilson has the opportunity to prove it. And the Bears are counting on him.

Wilson will get a bump in snaps with Kevin White sidelined, but we're expecting Eddie Royal to be the other fantasy starter in the team's receiving corps.

Three weeks into his first training camp, Dorial Green-Beckham is making strides in his development, looking more confident in his patterns and getting open more often. But like most rookies, Green-Beckham – who missed almost all offseason work because of a hamstring injury – is still learning as well.

“I don’t think there is any question that Dorial Green-Beckham is making progress,” Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said when asked to update the rookie’s status.

“He is in a little better shape. He’s lost some weight, he’s made some plays out here in practice, and he made a play in the (Atlanta preseason) game. For him I just think it’s trying to expose him to more things and get him more comfortable.”

If Green-Beckham picks up things quickly and proves he’s not as raw as his detractors say — one offensive coordinator said he was “completely lost” at the whiteboard in a pre-draft interview — he could certainly contribute early in the season. If he sees starter’s snaps, he should be fantasy relevant as a rookie, though he'll have to prove he's ready for the mental side of the game. Long-term, he has a chance to flourish if both he and Mariota are the real deal.

Running back Joseph Randle aggravated a strained oblique, sidelining him for most of practice Thursday and making him doubtful for Sunday’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s the same injury that Randle suffered in practice last week, keeping him out of the preseason opening loss against the San Diego Chargers.

“It’s the same thing I had earlier,” Randle said. “It flared up on me again. We will will get it right. I always want to be out there with my teammates. I can only do what I can do. It’s just something we have to keep fighting through.”

We'd prefer he be at practice and getting reps as the team's lead back, but this injury on its own isn't too worrisome. He should be fine by Week 1, probably sooner.

Despite being surrounded by only laughable talent — nothing but down-roster receivers and emergency-signee running backs — the Bills shifty QB, Tyrod Taylor, impressed for the second time in as many preseason games.

Only this time, he showed he could do it not just when pass plays break down, but from the pocket, an integral and increasingly elusive attribute in the 2010s NFL.

In front of as many empty orange seats as people at FirstEnergy Stadium, Taylor was sharp through the air (7-of-10 for 65 yards), deadly on the ground (four keepers for 41 yards) and smart with his decisions on his three first-half drives.

The Bills are desperate for good play out of the quarterback position, and Taylor is pushing Matt Cassel hard for the starting job. There are some weapons in the passing game -- Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Robert Woods, Charles Clay and LeSean McCoy -- so Taylor could work his way into the streaming/QBBC conversation if he wins the starting job.

Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan told reporters Thursday he is "cautiously optimistic" that running back LeSean McCoy can return in time for the Bills' regular-season opener Sept. 13 against the Indianapolis Colts.

McCoy suffered a hamstring injury in a joint practice Tuesday with the Cleveland Browns. Ryan did not reveal the results of an MRI on McCoy's hamstring, but had said after Tuesday's practice that McCoy's hamstring was intact and that no separation from the bone occurred.

It’s safe to say that McCoy’s situation hasn’t improved. Sure, he’s going to a run-heavy system, so carries shouldn’t be a problem, but the Buffalo offense isn’t likely to be as efficient as Chip Kelly’s offense in Philadelphia. Throw in an offensive coordinator (Greg Roman) who isn’t known for utilizing his running backs in the passing game and it’s likely that McCoy’s red zone chances and targets will both decrease in 2015. Now he has a hamstring injury that could affect his Week 1 availability. We're steering clear of McCoy in the 2nd round.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, under siege during limited action versus Detroit on Thursday, exited early with a stinger and a possible head injury and was ruled out for the game.

Update: Griffin does indeed have a concussion. Expect him to miss some time.

RG3 averaged 12.0 fantasy points in the six games that he started and finished in 2014. That's what Blake Bortles averaged as the league's #24 fantasy quarterback. We know Griffin is capable of more, but he hasn't been the same player since his rookie season. Specifically, he's not running the ball as often or as effectively. A concussion would force him to miss valuable practice reps.

Packers HC Mike McCarthy on WR Davante Adams: "I think he's had a heck of a camp. Looking for big things from him."

Adams had his moments during his rookie season, specifically against the Patriots (6-121 on 11 targets) in Week 13 and in the postseason against the Cowboys (7-117-1 on 11 targets). However, he only saw 66 passes come his way since he played alongside target hogs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Aaron Rodgers has been highly complimentary of Adams this offseason and says he has “humongous upside.” In 20 games from 2012-13, the team’s WR3, James Jones, managed WR3-type numbers (3.7-50.3-.60 on 5.6 targets) with both Cobb and Nelson in the lineup, but that was mainly due to his unusually high TD rate. In 13 games that Cobb and/or Nelson missed, Jones averaged solid WR2 numbers (4.6-58-.46 on 7.3 targets), but his TD rate regressed. We’re bullish on Adams since he has more potential than Jones. The Packers are also without a tight end of Jermichael Finley’s caliber, so there may be more targets available for the team’s third receiver. Owners should expect fantasy WR2 numbers if Cobb or Nelson go down, making the second-year wideout a great handcuff for either player.

David Cobb will get an extended look Sunday night says Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt.

He may just play more with the backups, but if he gets a chance to run extensively with the starters it could be a sign that he's passing Bishop Sankey on the depth chart. Stay tuned.

In drills coming out of the backfield, no one has really been able to cover David Johnson, making one think about the matchup issues he can provide. Now, we wait to see what it looks like in a game.

“I’ve been waiting since January, since the draft, to prove what I’m worth,” Johnson said.

HC Bruce Arians likes to use his running backs as receivers, and this isn’t just about throwing swing passes to a guy — which is why it will be interesting to see how Chris Johnson adapts to the offense. Andre Ellington runs out of the slot and has shown good hands (remember, Arians has said he thinks Ellington could have been a wideout in this league) and that is something Johnson has already shown. There is no fighting the ball when it comes to him.

With the addition of both Johnsons, Ellington suddenly has to compete for touches. He should post solid RB2 numbers in PPR formats, but if he struggles to run the ball -- like he did last year with his 3.3 YPC -- he isn't likely to have a long leash.

Dispatches have been coming out of Chiefs camp in all forms of media, like Bigfoot sightings from the wilderness: I saw the Chiefs throwing the deep ball today. And lest anyone doubt them, HC Andy Reid took the opportunity to punctuate this expected staple of the offense, dialing up Alex Smith to Jeremy Maclin right out of the preseason gate. Much to the liking of his quarterback and wide receiver tandem.

"(Reid) came to us and said, 'This is what we're going to do,'" Smith said.

Spend a few days watching the Chiefs and you will see some evidence that Smith and Maclin have an exciting connection. A bond that is typically tough to come by for wide receivers reeled in via free agency, then tossed into a soup of new offensive terminology and concepts.

"It may not be bombs over Baghdad every play," Maclin said of the Chiefs' offense. "But is that something we can do? Do we want to do more of it? Yes, we do."

Maclin was the #9 wide receiver in both standard and PPR formats last season, though he faded down the stretch. Now he’ll have Smith as his quarterback and should dominate the targets along with up-and-coming TE Travis Kelce. Reid is very familiar with Maclin, so we would expect his transition to be a smooth one, though this is a system downgrade. Maclin averaged 4.6 catches for 61 yards and 0.50 TD (solid WR2-type numbers) from 2010-2012, while playing for Reid. One concern: Chiefs’ WR1 Dwayne Bowe only averaged 6.3 T/G in 2014, while Maclin averaged 9.0 T/G for the Eagles. Maclin is a much better player, so the Chiefs should target him more than they did Bowe, but it’s something to weigh when evaluating his fantasy value.

Ravens WR Breshad Perriman is watching from sideline with a brace on right knee. He has a sprained PCL.

A sprained PCL usually requires 2-6 weeks of recovery, and Perriman has been out since July 31, when he injured the knee. If he can get healthy, he'll have a tremendous opportunity to make a splash as a rookie in Marc Trestman's offense, but he continues to miss valuable practice reps. He should be ready for Week 1, but may get off to a slow start.

Falcons beat writer Vaughan McClure says Leonard Hankerson is "on the rise": He was signed as a free agent primarily because of his familiarity with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme from Washington. Hankerson made plays that make you wonder why he wasn't more productive with the Redskins. Then again, he had a serious knee injury in 2013 that stunted his growth. If Hankerson continues to shine on Sundays like he did in practice, then the Falcons might be unstoppable in the passing game.

It appears that Hankerson is in line for WR3 duties behind Julio Jones and Roddy White, so he'd be a very cheap handcuff for either on draft day. There has been a consistent buzz about him during the offseason.

Who has impressed Sean Payton most this camp? Saints WR Brandon Coleman.

He’s competing with Nick Toon for snaps behind Brandin Cooks and Marques Colston, but his teammates have said that the 6’6” receiver is “night and day” from last season, so he could quickly work his way into fantasy relevance with an injury or two in the Saints’ receiving corps.

Saints QB Drew Brees is adamant that Ben Watson is the starting TE, not Josh Hill.

With the Jimmy Graham trade, the door was open for Hill to emerge for the Saints, but it appears that Watson will be the guy to start the season. Hill only played 288 snaps in 2014, but still managed to catch 14 passes for 176 yards and five touchdowns on just 20 targets. That was the 5th-highest fantasy points per snap at his position. HC Sean Payton has spoke highly of Hill, but referred to “two-TE sets” when discussing Hill’s potential playing time. This indicates that he may not be on the field in one-TE sets. Hill is still an interesting prospect in case the 34-year-old Watson goes down with an injury. His value would explode in starter's snaps.

Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner: For second straight 11-on-11 Marvin Jones running with the first team on outside. Mohamed Sanu enters in slot at three-wide. First time this year.

Jones was one of our favorite sleepers last summer, but his season was derailed by an ankle injury. His 51 catches for 712 yards and 10 touchdowns resulted in the 3rd-highest FP/T in 2013. He’s poised to surprise if he can prove he’s fully healthy and win the starting job opposite A.J. Green. Mohamed Sanu played pretty well last season but he struggled with drops, and Jones was ahead of Sanu when disaster struck. Both players are free agents after the season, so this is one of the more interesting camp battles to monitor this summer. One thing to note -- Sanu only saw 5.2 targets in the 12 games in which Green played, so Cincinnati’s WR2 it wasn’t a high-volume role in OC Hue Jackson’s run-oriented offense, but Jackson said that he is planning to open things up a bit in 2015.

The Ravens didn’t seem to have any answer for Eagles WR Jordan Matthews over the middle, be it shallow crosses or intermediate seam passes, and his touchdown grab was a thing of beauty, beating his man clean to the outside and extending to make the catch. Of course, this is nothing altogether new—Matthews has been tearing it up all camp. Regardless, it was nice to see him as a focal point of the Eagles offense while going up against another team. Big things appear to be in store for Matthews this season.

With Jeremy Maclin gone, Matthews will have to play more than the 65% of the snaps that he played as a rookie. He was the #24 WR in standard formats, so increased playing time should lead to a better finish. He won't be limited to the slot in 2015. He's primed to build on a strong rookie season.

"Richard Rodgers has definitely taken a step from last year," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said earlier in training camp. "He's taken a step offensively in the passing game and completely understands it. You think about where he was this time last year. He's comfortable and he's catching the ball very well."

Rodgers, a third-round draft choice who's still just 23, certainly has more upside (than Andrew Quarless). And the Packers appear ready to give Rodgers a greater role in the offense in 2015.

Rodgers has some of the best hands on the team, which has earned him points from his quarterback. He's also a dependable short-to-intermediate receiver, even though his yards after the catch (1.9 in 2014) must improve.

Rodgers caught 20 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. We shouldn’t be too quick to write him off as a budding fantasy asset since rookie tight ends rarely make much of a fantasy impact. Andrew Quarless is dealing with a legal issue and may be suspended to start the season, which opens the door for Rodgers to play big snaps. He is reportedly a ‘frequent target’ in the red zone in practice, so it’s possible that he works his way into TE2 numbers in his second season.

Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Wednesday, an injury that the team announced will sideline him for the season.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera told reporters earlier in the day Benjamin had a sprained knee and remained hopeful everything would be fine. However, Benjamin was taken back to Charlotte, North Carolina where an MRI revealed the tear.

Rookie Devin Funchess has had a good offseason and seems like the likeliest candidate to replace (some) of Benjamin's production. He tweaked his hamstring today, so hopefully he's not out too long. Second year speedster Philly Brown flashed last season and could be headed for a starter's role, though Ted Ginn, Jerricho Cotchery, Brenton Bersin and Jarrett Boykin are in the mix as well. Funchess' ADP is probably headed for the 8th/9th round; Benjamin went in the 7th/8th last year, but had an outstanding camp. Consider Brown a late-round flier. This is obviously bad news for Cam Newton, who loses his best weapon in the passing game. Greg Olsen looks like an even better value as a mid-round tight end.

"Yeah," Eagles RB DeMarco Murray said when asked if he would play. "Yup."

Murray suiting up in Week 1 is clearly the goal for the Eagles as well, as head coach Chip Kelly has admitted he is the reason the running back hasn't been taking part in many team drills.

"The only thing holding back DeMarco is me," Kelly said last week.

Murray increased his workload on Wednesday, taking first-team reps throughout the day against the Ravens. He looked sharp doing so, running hard and not having to spend anytime with trainers.

Murray had a career year in his fourth season, racking up 2,261 total yards and 13 touchdowns on 449 touches. He should get plenty of work in Philadelphia, though the signing of Ryan Mathews and the presence of Darren Sproles make it very unlikely that he’ll approach 450 touches in 2015. LeSean McCoy averaged 353 touches over the past two seasons, so that’s probably Murray’s ceiling if everyone stays healthy. He’ll hold low-end RB1 value, though the presence of Mathews and Sproles may make even that a stretch. The local beat writers are predicting a 50-30-15 split in carries among Murray, Mathews and Sproles. The history of 380-carry running backs isn't pretty when we look at the next season, but those players didn't have Chip Kelly's sports science program to lean on.

Head Coach Gus Bradley on Wednesday said while Marqise Lee likely will miss at least two more weeks, there initially was concern he could miss six-to-eight weeks with a four-week absence the best-case scenario. Bradley said it now appears likely Lee’s return will come close to four weeks from the time of his injury. “Everything I hear, he’s making really good progress,” Bradley said. If Lee returns four weeks after the injury, that would be the week of the final preseason game.

Lee is currently behind Allen Hurns, who is shaping up as a nice sleeper in the final rounds of fantasy drafts. The longer Lee is out, the more time Hurns has to establish himself as the WR2 opposite Allen Robinson.

Bills RB Fred Jackson has been on the shelf for almost two weeks with a hamstring injury, but he was moving well in work on the side with the strength and conditioning staff Tuesday night. At this point however, he’s got to follow doctor’s orders.

“We’ve got to follow the protocol, but we want to get back out there,” said Jackson in reference to himself and Anthony Dixon. “Obviously we’re hurting, but the more numbers that we have that’s going to take a lot (of reps) off everybody’s plate. So we’ll try to get back out there as soon as we can.”

Jackson figures to back up LeSean McCoy, who is dealing with a hamstring injury of his own. Running backs coach Anthony Lynn said he’d like to cut Jackson’s snaps/workload in half, so barring a long-term injury to McCoy, don’t expect F-Jax to rack up 14-plus touches per game like he did in 2014. However, even if we slice his PPG in half (to 6.7 per game in PPR formats) and extrapolate over a full, 16-game season, we end up with RB4-type numbers. He has upside from there if anything happens to McCoy.

A calf injury kept Alshon Jeffery from playing in Chicago’s preseason opener and Bears General Manager Ryan Pace said that the wideout will be on the sideline again this week, although he added that the team isn’t worried about a long absence.

“He has a mild calf strain,” Pace said, via ESPNChicago.com. “He’s not going to participate versus Indianapolis. But this isn’t a long-term injury with Alshon,” Pace said. “We don’t anticipate that [he’ll] miss the Green Bay game.”

In PPR formats, Jeffery finished #8 in 2013 and #10 last year. With Brandon Marshall gone, there is no serious threat to his targets, so he should once again post WR1 numbers. Sure, Marc Trestman is gone, but it’s not like the Denver passing game suffered under Adam Gase. Jeffery will play the Demaryius Thomas role in Gase’s offense. The calf injury is a minor concern, and while the Bears have lied about injuries before (e.g. Kevin White), we would think that they'd be making major moves at the position if they thought Jeffery would miss regular season action.

Dolphins WE DeVante Parker had foot surgery more than two months ago. Despite being off the PUP list, he’s not expected to practice yet. The move was done so both he and Jones can become involved in team activities.

It’s still a promising move for Parker, who hopes to return by the team’s Sept. 13 regular season opener in Washington.

Coach Joe Philbin said earlier this week that he’s optimistic Parker will be able to play at some point in the preseason, but it will depend on how he responds from running activities. Parker began running this week.

Parker's bid for a starting job was put on hold after foot surgery. He'll have to beat out Greg Jennings or Kenny Stills if he hopes to play starter's snaps as a rookie. There is some upside here, but foot injuries can be tricky. He's making progress with the return to camp.

Cowboys writer Bryan Broaddus: I like what I saw from Darren McFadden in his first extensive work during the various team periods in which he took snaps. He looked decisive and committed to what he was handed from this Rams defense in the running game. He was in position to execute the check downs when needed and when asked to step up for pass protection, he was up to the task.

McFadden is perfectly capable of producing behind the team's talented offensive line, but we believe Joseph Randle will be more effective and is more likely to stay healthy.

Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry caught 84 passes to lead the team in receptions as a rookie in 2014. He is clearly quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s go-to receiver, so there are questions whether he might eclipse the team record of 90 catches in one season.

Except Landry doesn’t seem to care about any team record except the wins and losses.

“Honestly, the focus right now is on winning,” he said. “Things like [the catch record] come. But It’s about this team. It’s about overcoming I wouldn’t say a couple of bad years but it’s about overcoming what the Dolphins standards are and redefining them.”

Landry was the #42 WR in standard formats and #30 in PPR, so as a high-volume slot receiver, he's going to have more value in PPR formats. The Dolphins lost four of their top six most-targeted players: Mike Wallace, Charles Clay, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson. They have been replaced by Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker and Jordan Cameron, but Landry's role should still expand. He only played 62% of the snaps on the season, and didn't start playing consistent starter's snaps until Week 9. Over the final nine weeks, Landry was the #15 WR in PPR formats (and #23 in standard). He is currently the 24th WR off the board in early PPR drafts.

In preparation for his preseason debut, Saturday, and facing an opposing team for the first time in close to a year, Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford looked good.

Wednesday, the Eagles practiced for the first of three days against the Baltimore Ravens, who they will host Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field in the second preseason game for both teams.

Bradford, who sat out the Eagles preseason opener last Sunday, faced a good Ravens' defense in both 7-on-7 drills and full 11-on-11 team drills and showed the same velocity and accuracy on his passes that he showed practicing against his teammates the first two weeks of training camp.

Over the last two seasons, Philadelphia quarterbacks have averaged 16.7 passing game-only fantasy points. Bradford isn’t much of a runner, but he adds about 0.7 FP per game as a rusher. That adds up to 17.4 FP, or about what Eli Manning averaged as the #10 QB in 2014. The Eagles’ offense has lost their top receiver – DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin – in each of the last two seasons, but Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz are emerging and the team added Nelson Agholor in the draft. If Bradford ends up starting for the Eagles, we wouldn’t expect anything more than high-end QB2 numbers, but this is a definite system upgrade due to the overall effectiveness of Chip Kelly’s offense.

Star wide receiver Victor Cruz is expected to miss practice with a calf injury. It is not believed to be serious.

Coach Tom Coughlin said it's not related to the serious knee injury Cruz suffered last season against the Eagles. The calf problem is believed to be dehydration-related.

It appears so minor that quarterback Eli Manning said he didn't even know about it until informed by the media. And that was after the Giants ran a walkthrough on Wednesday morning.

The Giants thought Rueben Randle would be back after taking a few days off because of knee tendinitis. It's not happening. Randle is still struggling with the injury.

We were just starting to feel better about Cruz, but this doesn't sound too serious. When healthy, he'll fill the Randall Cobb role in OC Ben McAdoo's offense, so he has some upside if he can return to form.

Greg Jennings got no guarantee from Dolphins he'd be one of the top 4 WRs. Now coaches love him for his route-running, professionalism, leadership.

Jennings still has some gas left in the tank. He was the #42 fantasy receiver last season, and he'll vie for targets with Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker behind Jarvis Landry. The presence of Jennings and Stills makes us wonder how quickly Parker will make an impact once he recovers from his foot injury.

GM Ruston Webster: "David Cobb has kind of shown what we saw from him at the Senior Bowl and in college, his ability to run the football, his vision and his feet. If he continues along that path he can help us."

Cobb outplayed Bishop Sankey in the first preseason game, but this is likely going to be a committee. If Cobb continues to perform well in camp, then he'l likely be the better value on draft day.

Saints HC Sean Payton confirmed Adam Schefter's report that C.J. Spiller will be ready Week 1.

Spiller’s knee scope doesn’t really damper our optimism about Spiller having a big fantasy impact in 2015. A scope to remove loose/rough cartilage is usually a three-week injury, so Spiller should be good to go for Week 1. While New Orleans may not be an ideal landing spot in the carries department, Spiller should have a major role in the passing game with Pierre Thomas, Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills no longer on the roster. He’ll likely take over the role of Thomas, who averaged 11.6 touches in the last two seasons. Thomas finished with a top 30 PPG (PPR) in six of the last seven seasons, so that's a reasonable floor for Spiller. Darren Sproles twice finishee in the top 15 in a similar role. New Orleans running backs caught 275 passes in the last two seasons, so there are plenty of catches to go around. In short, he has significant PPR upside in this offense, but his workload will be somewhat limited since he'll be part of a committee. For more on Spiller, Senior Editor John Paulsen lays out his case for the Saints' passing-down back.

Despite injuring his hamstring Tuesday, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is expected to be ready for the team's regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The 27-year-old McCoy strained his hamstring in training camp Tuesday and was set to undergo an MRI to determine its extent.

Bills coach Rex Ryan said McCoy's hamstring was intact and that no separation from the bone occurred.

We were already avoiding McCoy at his current price, and this hamstring injury only further dissuades us from drafting him in the 2nd round. Sure, McCoy is in a run-heavy system, so carries shouldn’t be a problem, but the Buffalo offense isn’t likely to be as efficient as Chip Kelly’s offense in Philadelphia. Throw in an offensive coordinator (Greg Roman) who isn’t known for utilizing his running backs in the passing game and it’s likely that McCoy’s red zone chances and targets will both decrease in 2015. We would assume Fred Jackson would be the main beneficiary if McCoy misses any games, but he's dealing with a hamstring injury of his own.

Kelvin Benjamin suffered what appeared to be a left knee injury during Wednesday's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. The Panthers receiver went down when he tried to make a cut against Miami defensive back Don Jones on a play in which there was no contact. He stayed on the ground for several minutes before being carted off. Following practice, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Benjamin suffered a sprained knee and will undergo an MRI.

An ACL injury is possible here, but the on-the-field test often indicates a tear, so there is hope that this is just a typical sprain. Technically, a torn ACL is considered a "knee sprain," though the recovery time is obviously far longer than the run of the mill knee sprain. When our injury expert Russell Manalastas saw the footage, he said, "Oh man, that doesn't look good at all. Has the makings of an ACL (tear) for sure with his body going one way and his leg going the other when trying to plant. Most guys don't just collapse and grab their knee if they tweak something, not encouraging."

All we can do is wait for the results of the MRI. For now, there's enough concern here that we would avoid Benjamin in fantasy drafts until the point in the draft when we're willing to burn the pick if things go the wrong way. This depends on the particular owner, but typically a player of Benjamin's upside is worth the risk in the 10th-12th rounds. If Benjamin misses extended time, Devin Funchess would get a major bump, but he tweaked his hamstring late in practice. If it is an ACL tear for Benjamin, look for Funchess's ADP to head towards the 8th/9th round. Benjamin went in the 7th/8th round last season. The diminutive speedster Philly Brown is also a name to remember in the final rounds. He posted seven catches for 66 yards on nine targets against the Steelers in Week 3, while playing 83 percent of the snaps. He also caught touchdown passes in back-to-back games later in the year.

The Washington Redskins only know that tight end Jordan Reed won't play Thursday because of a hamstring issue. Beyond that, the only thing they're sure of is they'll need him for the season opener against Miami and that they hope he's available.

Reed has been sidelined since Aug. 11 with a hamstring injury. Coach Jay Gruden said even if they had a regular-season game this week that Reed would not play.

"We've got to get him right," Gruden said. "I've got to make sure he's 100 percent for Miami."

Gruden said he's hoping Reed can play in the third preseason game against Baltimore, but there's no guarantee he'll be ready by then. Even without injuries to tight ends Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen, the Redskins needed Reed to be healthy. Now with those two out, Reed's return becomes even bigger.

The story went on to say the Redskins want Reed to be a big part of their third-down package if nothing else. The problem is that Reed's durability has always been an issue. He's missed 12 games in his first two seasons and has missed time each of the past two training camps. When he plays he's put up fantasy numbers but potential owners will need a backup plan because even as it stands now, it's not certain he's ready for the season.

It wasn’t only that RB Andre Williams did not possess the best hands, it was that he seemed to lose track of the football and displayed poor depth perception when asked to come out of the backfield to catch a pass.

The Giants are working on this with Williams, their muscular second-year running back and leading rusher from 2014. Williams figures to do the heavy lifting this season, with Rashad Jennings doing a little bit of everything and newly signed Shane Vereen used mostly as a pass-catcher and safety-valve option for Eli Manning after excelling in that role for Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Williams’ primary role will not be as a pass-catcher, but if he is not somewhat of a threat, opposing defense do not have to play him honestly. So Williams has made several changes to make himself more proficient.

In mid-March, he underwent Photorefractive Keratectomy laser eye surgery and now no longer needs contact lenses.

“I don’t have to worry about the strain from the lenses, and I also don’t have to worry about getting knocked in the eye and having my contact get loose or fall out,’’ Williams said. “If your contacts are cloudy or something, it’s a problem.

“It’s cool to wake up in the morning and see right away and not go to bed with the ‘I forgot to take my contacts out and my eyes hurt.’ It’s nice. Best money I ever spent so far.’’

Williams also has been working on his hand-eye coordination by catching tennis balls. Before games, Williams takes part in a blind-ball drill. With his back to running backs coach Craig Johnson, Williams has to turn and quickly locate the ball in the air as Johnson flips it to him. Like the story said, Jennings and Vereen are likely to see a bulk of the passes at the RB position, but Williams will only help himself if he can at least make defense aware. His main role looks like a change of pace back who could see short yardage and goal line situations.

The Jets plan to sign veteran free agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

It'll be a one-year contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

On Friday, the Jets hosted Flynn for a physical, but not a workout. A day later, Jets coach Todd Bowles said the organization was still in talks with Flynn's camp.

Flynn will be the Jets' No. 2 quarterback, behind new starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was elevated on the depth chart after a teammate punched Geno Smith and broke his jaw. Smith probably will miss four games, according to general manager Mike Maccagnan, though that timetable is not set in stone.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton doesn't mind where he plays, as long as he's on the field.

That's good news for the Steelers, who are moving the talented wide receiver to the slot during training camp to add another dimension to an already-dangerous offensive attack.

''We have a lot of potential,'' Wheaton said. ''I guess we'll see how it goes.''

The results were positive in 2014 as the Steelers flourished on offense, breaking franchise records and finishing No. 2 in the league. Wheaton was a big part of the attack, playing on the outside and in the slot at times.

That the Steelers' 2013 third-round pick now gets an entire offseason to learn the nuances of a position he never played in college at Oregon State.

''We ran a lot of two-receiver sets in college, so I was outside a lot,'' Wheaton said.

Wheaton estimated the switch to slot came around mid-season last year, when he had a package of simplified plays designed for him.

Wheaton has worked on the outside and in the slot during training camp practices, and says he doesn't have a preference on where he plays. A few weeks ago, QB Ben Roethlisberger said Wheaton would break out this year and see time on the outside while moving to the slot in three receiver sets. The statement had those expecting Martavis Bryant to bust out this season wondering what exactly was going on, even though Bryant was injured at the time. Meanwhile, we continued to rank Bryant as a WR2 after an impressive season playing only about 60-percent of the snaps. It looks like Wheaton could play both inside and outside, but the WR2 value still seems to be with Bryant.

Bills running back LeSean McCoy limped off the practice field on Tuesday. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the initial diagnosis is that McCoy has a strained hamstring. The severity of the injury isn’t yet known. Hamstring injuries not sufficiently severe to require surgery will heal with rest. The challenge becomes giving them the rest they need to fully heal. For McCoy, the severity will determine the duration of the absence. And it could require the Bills to get some short-term help at the position, with plenty of reps to be distributed during practices and preseason games.

In an update, McCoy will have an MRI, but HC Rex Ryan said the hamstring was intact, which he called a "positive." Fred Jackson is also banged up and Karlos Williams was hospitalized with an unknown injury and was expected to miss a lot of time so the Bills are currently hurting at the RB position.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that tight end Dennis Pitta will miss at least the first six games of the regular season.

Pitta will remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list as he recovers from a second surgery on his hip. Harbaugh revealed Tuesday that the best-case scenario is a midseason return for Pitta, who has played just seven games the last two seasons after dislocating the same hip twice.

"There's no urgency at this time," Harbaugh said via ESPN.com. "We'll be talking about a midseason type of thing if he did it. We just have to see where it goes."

Crockett Gillmore is currently atop of the Ravens' depth chart at tight end, with second-round rookie Maxx Williams looking like a solid No. 2 so far. Fifth-round pick Nick Boyle will also be in the mix for playing time. As we said about Gillmore, he's improving as a pass-catcher but is more of a blocker while Williams could be the team's long-term solution at the position.

Jerome Simpson, a leading candidate to be the 49ers' No. 3 wide receiver, has been suspended the first six games of the season, stemming from a July 2014 arrest and previous off-field incidents.

This is Simpson's third NFL-issued suspension in four years, and this was for violating the league's substance-abuse policy last year with the Minnesota Vikings.

"The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome," general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "Since joining the 49ers, Jerome has proven to be a great teammate.

"Although he will not be able to participate in the first six weeks of the season, Jerome has done everything asked of him, both on and off the field. We are in full support of the NFL's decision, and look forward to Jerome's future contributions to our organization."

After sitting out last season, Simpson has impressed upon joining the 49ers in March, both with his quick receiving skills on the field and proper behavior off it. Simpson had two catches for 31 yards in Saturday's exhibition opener at Houston, including a 25-yard catch. Simpson won't count against the 49ers' 53-man roster until he's eligible to come off suspension Oct. 19, a day after the 49ers host the Baltimore Ravens. He is able to continue practicing and playing through the final exhibition, Sept. 3 against San Diego, the story said.

On Monday, the Bills announced that rookie running back Karlos Williams was hospitalized after waking up “in a lot of pain” but didn’t disclose exactly what was bothering Williams.

There’s still no word about the specific ailment, but it looks like the rookie is going to be out for a while. Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports, via a source, that the injury is “serious” and that Williams will miss multiple weeks while he recovers.

Williams’s injury adds to the injury woes that have thinned out a position of strength for the Bills over the last few weeks. Anthony Dixon has been out with a calf injury and hamstring woes have sidelined Fred Jackson and Bryce Brown, which left the team with LeSean McCoy and Bronson Hill as their healthy backs heading into Tuesday’s practice. Williams had passed Brown on the depth chart putting him as the team's RB3 so it's unfortunate timing for Williams.

Good news for Ravens first-round pick WR Breshad Perriman. The No. 26 overall pick should be back on the practice field in about a week.

Perriman underwent a precautionary MRI on his nagging knee injury on Monday and the results were normal.

Perriman's knee has been slow to heal after the team thought it was just a bruise. Perriman was expected to compete for a starting job opposite Steve Smith Sr., but he's fallen behind as Kamar Aiken is now the front runner. However Aiken just returned to action himself.

T.J. Yeldon, Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart are the top three backs, but Bernard Pierce is making a pretty strong push to not only earn playing time but be a main piece of the running back rotation.

"His toughness and his work ethic and mentality I think has been great," HC Gus Bradley said. "It's been great for that running back room. He's been a great teammate on offense and in that room, and his leadership [has been good].

"I didn't know much about him [when the Jaguars claimed him in March]. I heard good things but it's been even better."

Pierce has had a good camp and then followed it with a strong performance in the Jaguars' 23-21 victory over Pittsburgh last Friday. He ran five times for 15 yards and caught three passes for 22 yards. He had one drop but he also had one of the highlights of the night when he hurdled potential tackler B.W. Webb. The story added Pierce can be used as an every down back or a third down back, giving the Jags some flexibility. Yeldon is expected to be a big piece to the running game.

Giants TE Larry Donnell demonstrated last season he can be a impact player in the passing game.

But his ability to produce in the other critical area for a tight end - run blocking - has been suspect at best. Giants tight end coach Kevin M. Gilbride said earlier this summer Donnell has the physical gifts to be a "special player," but that he needed to improve his game, with blocking being one of the main focuses.

So Donnell has diligently worked on becoming a better blocker. And in the Giants' preseason opener against the Bengals, the fourth-year former undrafted free agent out of Grambling State felt he blocked better than he ever has.

"This last game, that's the best I've felt blocking since I've been here," Donnell told NJ Advance Media. "I graded out well, and I actually felt good about myself in my blocking."

Size isn't the issue for Donnell, who is 6-6, but keeping the proper technique is more the problem the story pointed out. With WRs Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz now a full go at practice, there are a lot of weapons who could open up the middle for Donnell. The Giants have always tried to put the TE position to good use, so Donnell has some potential to at least be a streaming TE option. Being a better blocker should help him stay on the field more.

After long months of debate about whether or not Peyton Manning can fit into coach Gary Kubiak's run-heavy Broncos offense, we're about to get our first look when Denver meets Houston on Saturday night.

"I've said many times I believe I can play almost any offense and do what is required," Manning said Monday, per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold. "Maybe not Tubby Raymond's (Delaware Wing T), but I can make good decisions, make good throws, get us in good plays, and as long as we can score points, move the ball and win games, that's important. My job is to execute the plays that are called, and I'm all-in on what we're doing."

Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian argued this month that Manning would thrive in Kubiak's attack. Strip away some of the bootleg action, and Polian pointed out that Denver's new playbook "is really conceptionally no different" than the scheme Manning made sing with the Colts and Broncos.

"He'll be great at it," Polian said. "He's a great ball-handler, he has a great ability to carry out fakes. He has no peer when it comes to selling a fake and then coming and focusing on the defense, so he'll be wonderful."

The real question surrounds Manning's durability and arm strength, and he showed some signs of slowing down at the end of last year because of an injury. But Manning still finished fourth among fantasy QBs last year. His ADP slips a bit this year and it looks like you can take him in about the fifth round of drafts. But, he comes with some risks as the Broncos may put more of an effort on the run, slowing down the offense.

Bengals WR Marvin Jones is bound to have more impressive stat lines this season than the one he had in Friday night's preseason opener.

One catch, 17 yards.

But the numbers aren't what Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has been paying attention to this training camp with respect to his young receiver who is coming back from a season-long stint out of the rotation because of injuries.

Jackson has been more concerned with the way Jones has been running routes. Jackson is watching how Jones comes out of his breaks, seeing where he puts his hands as passes come his way, and he looks for how aggressively the receiver turns up field after securing a reception.

From what Jackson is seeing, the pre-injury Jones is nearly back.

"He's starting to look like Marvin Jones again," Jackson said. "The more he works at it every day."

Jones was thrown to twice in last Friday's 23-10 win against the Giants. He caught the one pass and turned upfield for additional yards before being tackled for a first down. He also nearly had a chance to catch a touchdown pass. As Jones went long on one "go" route, backup quarterback Josh Johnson threw under pressure. As a result, he left the throw a little short, and the ball ended up deflecting off the back of the cornerback who was covering Jones. Jones was one of our sneaky picks last year before the injury derailed his season. Mohamad Sanu emerged a bit last year but we still rank Jones as the team's WR2, coming in at 61st. He's worth a later-round flier and his ADP indicates that's where owners are taking him.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who missed two days of practice last week because of a left thigh bruise, returned to practice today. He participated in some of the individual drills, but stayed on the sideline for the 11-on-11 portion of the fully-padded practice.

Peterson didn’t play in Saturday’s 26-16 preseason win over the Buccaneers. But he wouldn’t have played even if he was healthy. He won’t play until the regular season starts on Sept. 14 at San Francisco so there's no need to rush him back to practice.

After a long offseason out of work, Chris Johnson has finally found his new NFL home.

Johnson has agreed to terms one a one-year contract with the Cardinals, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports.

The Cardinals had Johnson in for a physical and workout today, and that revealed that he’s ready to go and fully healed from the shoulder injury he suffered when he was shot this offseason.

Now the question is whether Johnson has anything left. He’s coming off a season in which he had career lows of 155 carries for 663 yards and one touchdown, and he appears to be a far different player now than he was in 2009, when he ran for 2,006 yards. Johnson turns 30 next month and isn’t the player he used to be.

David Johnson and Andre Ellington have been banged up through camp and HC Bruce Arians expressed frustration the team wasn't able to install plays designed for their top-two backs. The thought here is Chris Johnson's skill level will at least allow the team to install that part of their game plan, something they weren't able to do with the other backs on their roster. David Johnson is expected to return to practice on Monday after missing significant time, but if he would miss more time in the future, Arians already stated he wouldn't see the field for real games. Ellington has a history of injuries dating back to last year so Chris Johnson is expected to give the team some security in the running game. Ellington should still be a big factor in the passing game at least and Arians said Ellington would get about 20 touches a game. Johnson may cut into some of Ellington and David Johnson's carries, though.

For the last two weeks, Arizona Cardinals rookie running back David Johnson has been trying to find the right balance between returning to the field and making sure his hamstring injury doesn't linger.

It wasn't easy for the third-round pick, who coach Bruce Arians said will return to practice Monday.

"You can feel good but you don't know until you start running," Johnson said. "I got to take it day-by-day."

Johnson's return couldn't have come sooner for the Northern Iowa product. He's missed every padded practice of training camp and Arians' frustration with Johnson was mounting every day.

"(It's ) killing him," Arians said. "There's no way a rookie is going to play in September and miss training camp. There's just no way in hell I'm putting him out there -- not in any expanded role of any kind."

Arians said Johnson and Andre Ellington are the foundation of Arizona's offense. Without both of them at practice for most of the last two weeks, the Cardinals weren't able to install packages specifically built for Johnson and Ellington.

"It's a pain in the ass when you got two guys that aren't out there practicing, and you got packages for them and you can't install them because it's not fair to the other guys because that's not their skill set," Arians said. "So you modify your practice and all your scripts to do something that's beneficial for all those guys."

This was Johnson's first "significant" injury of his football career. After tweaking his hamstring on Aug. 2, the rookie panicked a bit, unsure how to approach his comeback, the story said. With Andre Ellington also out, it put a damper on practices because they are considered the top two backs. Arians said he expects to get Ellington 20 touches a game but that also includes receptions so it looks like there will be plenty of opportunity for Johnson to be involved in the offense, too.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III has done some good things, but he’s still not “there” yet. The quarterback definitely looks more comfortable running the offense now that he’s in his second season with Gruden and Sean McVay, and thanks to the hours he has put in with quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh.

Griffin is doing a better job of scanning the field, getting the ball out of his hands more quickly and making better decisions. His fundamentals have improved, and that helps delivery. There are times, however, where those fundamentals get sloppy, and his accuracy wanes. Or sometimes, Griffin misses an opportunity downfield because he’s so intent on getting the ball out more quickly. He still has a habit of staring down receivers, which helps telegraph to defenders where he’s going with the ball.

But all in all, Redskins coaches and officials believe that they see better play and confidence. In practices, Griffin has been the most consistent of the three quarterbacks. However, the Redskins need more from him. It’ll be good to see Griffin go through two quarters of action on Thursday night. The more he plays, the better. It’s the only way he’s going to improve.

The next two preseason games are extremely important for Griffin. He hasn’t led the first-team offense to a touchdown in a preseason game since his rookie season. He has to be able to put points on the board. Each week he must take another big jump forward in his development. If he regresses, and this offense doesn’t produce, Gruden will begin running out of patience and will be forced to try another quarterback, even though they each have their limitations. Kirk Cousins has had ball security issues, but looked good last week against the Browns. Colt McCoy has had a rather rocky training camp. Griffin must produce, and he must stay healthy, the story went on to say. Most of the news out of Skins camp has been positive about RG3 so there are some encouraging signs there. In terms of fantasy, he's more of a QB2 prospect to take with the hope he gets back close to his rookie form.

On the Giants list of injuries this week, two prominent names have not been mentioned. That's because any limitations on wide receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham have been lifted.

Both were on a "pitch count" earlier this summer. For Beckham it was the result of a tender hamstring that kept him sidelined in the spring. Cruz was making his way back from a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

While Beckham played in the preseason opener, Cruz watched from the sideline. The Giants have been more careful to limit his snaps and action this summer.

That no longer seems to apply.

"We'll pick when he goes [in a preseason game], but he's done everything. [Sunday] he did everything [in practice] — we didn't even have a ... he and Odell both had a full practice [Sunday], and both did well and both are back ready to go [Monday]," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Cruz expects to be a full participant in practice on Monday evening. There were no negative effects from the increased workload in the Giants' first practice since returning from Cincinnati.
When the Giants scrimmaged against the Bengals last week, Cruz did very little. He did not participate in team drills (only individual) on Tuesday in Cincinnati, the story said. It's good news for the Giants who lost Ruben Randle for at least a week with knee tendinitis.

Buffalo Bills running back Karlos Williams is hospitalized, coach Rex Ryan announced Monday.

The rookie tailback "was in a lot of pain" when he woke up Monday, Ryan said.

The extent of the injury is currently unknown.

Williams led the Bills in carries with 14 during Friday night's 25-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He earned 40 yards on the ground with one touchdown and added two catches for 23 yards.

Williams has impressed the coaching staff during training camp enough to leap Bryce Brown on the depth chart. Williams is a tough, aggressive, physical runner and possesses good hands in the passing game. With Fred Jackson injured at times last year, the Bills RB3 job could end up having a fantasy impact at some point this season, so it's something to watch.

Raiders QB Derek Carr answered questions about WR Amari Cooper:

What was your reaction when the Raiders drafted Amari Cooper?
Derek Carr: Excitement. I knew we were going to get a good player with the No. 4. We were going to get someone good, and we did. I was very excited to see Amari come to this team.

What does he bring to this offense that was missing last year?
Carr: He’s really good in and out his breaks. He has good command of his route tree. He’s going to be a productive player for us.

What are your expectations for Cooper in Year 1? Do you think he can have an impact.
Carr: I think my expectations of him are the same as he has for himself. I just want to see him come in, compete and make plays, and I think we will see him do that.

The Raiders were hurting for WR help and seem to have helped Carr and the offense by signing Michael Crabtree and drafting Cooper. Cooper already ranks as a low-end WR2 on our list, an area you haven't often seen Raiders ranked in the recent past. Crabtree is having a nice camp and that should only help Cooper, who we project for a line of 75-1,042-6

The contract extension Philip Rivers signed with the San Diego Chargers provides the quarterback a no-trade clause that significantly increases the likelihood he will play his entire career with the franchise, according to league sources.

While many wondered whether the deal would include language that voided the agreement or contained other out clauses if the team relocates to Los Angeles, the opposite actually occurred.

Rivers, 33, is firmly committed to the organization for the next five years. He previously expressed a reluctance to raise his family in Los Angeles, where the Chargers could move. The quarterback and his wife are expecting their eighth child.

The new contract provides Rivers $65 million in guaranteed money, the most of any NFL player currently under contract, the story said, so both sides are committed. Even though the Chargers have tried to focus on the run the last few years, Rivers has proved he can still flash some big fantasy stats for owners. Injuries over the second half last year did limit those numbers. But Rivers is again one of those QBs available in the middle-late rounds of drafts who could prove to have some value at the position, especially if you're looking to wait and stream your QBs.

The Indianapolis Colts have talked up rookie receiver Phillip Dorsett since the moment he was drafted in the first round. On Sunday, we finally got to see what all the hype was about for ourselves.

With T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief both sitting out the preseason opener, Dorsett got the start and was targeted often by Andrew Luck in the Colts' 36-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"He's a big play waiting to happen, but again he has to take care of the football," coach Chuck Pagano said, per the team's official website. "You're looking at a guy that's going to be an outstanding football player, but you know what you're going to remember is the turnover. But again, he's going to be a dynamic guy for us."

Dorsett finished with a team-high four receptions for 51 yards, displaying game-speed, solid route running and a quick-cut capability. His day wasn't perfect, as the rookie left a few plays on the field and was stripped after a 20-yard catch. It's a crowded group of WRs in Indy and right now Dorsett owners best hope is he turns out to be the team's WR3 behind Hilton and Andre Johnson, however he'll have to battle Moncrief for that spot.

The Eagles haven’t given running back DeMarco Murray all that much to do during training camp and his light workload shifted to non-existent during Sunday’s preseason opener against the Colts.

Murray sat out the game as the Eagles continued to tread lightly with a player who had 497 touches by the time the Cowboys were eliminated from the playoffs by the Packers. In an interview with Peter King of MMQB.com, coach Chip Kelly admitted that his approach to Murray this offseason has been fueled by concerns raised by the history of backs returning from a heavy workload in the previous season.

“I think there is a lot of validity to it,” Kelly said. “But how do you manage him going into a season? Our plan all along was to get another running back with him. I wanted to have two running backs, and that’s why we got Ryan [Mathews]. I don’t think you can have a guy carry it 370 to 400 times per season and be successful. We’re going to run it a lot — we always do — but we’ll have more than one guy doing it.”

Kelly hasn't really come out and said to the media that this has been his plan, which is fueling speculation there is more to the story - but that could be just how Chip wants it, for everyone to think Murray is hurt. It's pretty obvious the team is going to give Mathews his share of carries but the Birds run enough plays that Murray should put up his projected RB2 fantasy numbers. Mathews is looking like a pretty decent add for those who also grab Murray.

The running back competition predicted at the start of camp will take a little more time to get going for the Cowboys.

Darren McFadden made his camp debut Saturday but will be worked into practice slowly. Lance Dunbar also returned Saturday, but he will be worked in smartly too. Dunbar took the team drills Saturday and showed no signs of worry with the oblique strain.

Running backs coach Gary Brown predicted "hellified running" with his top guys available.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're right on schedule, as far as having a back or backs ready to go for the New York Giants," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "I'm not in any way anxious. When we practice the running game, we practice the physical aspect of it. It takes a lot of players to make the running game work -- not just the back."

Joseph Randle is the leader to be the Cowboys' lead back, but he has had more than 10 carries in a game just three times, and he has not averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry in those contests. McFadden hasn't averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry since 2011. Dunbar has 80 carries in his first three years. But for now, the story said, the Cowboys are going with what they've got at the RB position, saying only they will continue to evaluate talent. Gus Johnson signed as an undrafted free agent and scored a TD in the team's last preseason game, but now has a slight separated shoulder. If the injuries continue to pile up, Dallas may not have a choice but to bring in someone from the outside.

The Colts want to see RB Vick Ballard in game action so they can make a better assessment of what he can give the team after basically missing the past two seasons with injuries. It turns out the Colts will have to wait a little longer to see Ballard play in a game because he was inactive against the Eagles. Ballard missed about a week of practice recently because of a hamstring injury.

Ballard’s latest injury was unfortunate, but the longer he’s out of action, though, the less likely it’ll be that he makes the final roster because he faces competition for a spot at that position.

It’s uncertain how many running backs the Colts will keep on the roster. They kept four running backs and a fullback on the roster at the start of the 2014 season.

Ballard missed all but one game in 2013 because of a torn ACL and then all of last season with a torn Achilles. He led the Colts in rushing as a rookie in 2012 with 844 yards.

Frank Gore is the starter and Daniel Herron is the front-runner to back him up.

After that, things get interesting the story said. Gore and Herron both sat out Sunday’s game, which meant there were plenty of opportunities for the rest of the running backs. Zurlon Tipton started and finished with 34 yards on 16 carries. Josh Robinson took over in the second half where he rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

News of the stress fracture in WR Kevin White's left shin on Saturday rattled a Bears fan base with high expectations for the receiver's rookie season.

Inside the team, however, business continued as usual. After all, the Bears have been practicing without White since his stress fracture was first detected in mid-June.

Now that White's chances of playing in 2015 seem dim, Bears receivers have a clearer sense of their challenge in replacing his contribution.

Veteran Eddie Royal, who signed as a free agent in March, was likely to be a starter regardless of White's health. The Bears like him as a slot receiver because of his suddenness and ability to gain yards after the catch. Without White, though, he could play more outside.

Royal came into the league with the Broncos in 2008 playing outside and has done so throughout his career.

"I've been trying to learn the whole system just so if anything happens that I'll be able to step in and play wherever," he said after Sunday's practice. "We've got a number of guys that are doing that."

With Alshon Jeffery also a bit banged up, chances are good Royal at least gets some practice on the outside in camp. If Jeffery is fine, as expected, third-year receiver Marquess Wilson is another one who can play on the outside. Wilson wowed the crowd Sunday with a leaping catch on a deep throw down the right sideline from Jay Cutler. It's possible with Wilson around, Royal continues to play in the slot, but the news here is because of injuries, Royal may have a little more fantasy value than we've been used to him having during his time with the Chargers.

Loins beat writer Justin Rogers was asked if RB Joique Bell is still the starter.

Rogers: Yes. Not only that, as long as he's healthy, I expect Bell to get the majority of carries each week.

Ameer Abdullah's start was electric, but that doesn't mean he leaps straight to the top of the depth chart.

The story continued to say in an ideal world for the Lions, the starter tag won't matter. Bell, Abdullah and even Theo Riddick will form a balanced attack that keeps opponents guessing and the chains moving. That's not the ideal fantasy situation but we can at least conclude Bell gets his share of early down and short yardage carries while Abdullah sees a lot of work in the passing downs and as an electric change of pace. Abdullah's value comes in PPR leagues. The addition of Abdullah puts Riddick's role in question as well as his fantasy value. If there's an injury, Riddick will be a popular waiver pickup.

He’s not hurt. He’s not struggling with the playbook. He’s not dogging it.

Eagles RB DeMarco Murray will be ready on opening day, and that’s really all Duce Staley cares about.

"He will respond,” Staley said. “He will come back out here and he will be DeMarco Murray. …

“What you have to understand about DeMarco is that he's a true professional. He brings that professionalism to the game. He works hard. There's no doubt in that. We knew that before we signed him We did our due diligence as far as doing research on him. So we know what type of player we have.”

Murray has watched more practices than he’s participated in through the first two weeks of Eagles training camp, and at least judging from Saturday’s walk-through — which he didn’t participate in — it looks like he won’t play Sunday in the preseason opener against the Colts at the Linc.

The Eagles have explained some of Murray’s absences or limited participation by saying he was sick or dehydrated. Others have gone unexplained.

Head coach Chip Kelly has been vague about Murray, leading to a lot of speculation. Kelly did say Murray’s light preseason workload has something to do with his 497 touches last year, sixth-most in NFL history . Then again, Staley said Saturday that has nothing to do with the way the Eagles have brought Murray along slowly. While it still remains a bit of a mystery, the team is at least publicly ruling out injury.

In Friday night’s preseason Week 1 match-up, the Buffalo Bills held their own in a tight 25-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Among the three quarterbacks competing for the starting job, Tyrod Taylor was arguably the most impressive of the bunch. He managed to convert his two drives into touchdowns and also put his feet to work, tallying 47 yards on the ground in six rushing attempts. Additionally, Taylor completed 5 of 8 pass attempts for 49 yards.

This was enough progress for head coach Rex Ryan to decide that Taylor will start in the second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns next Thursday.

Quarterback Matt Cassel, who opened for the Bills in Week 1 as the starter, passed for 45 yards on seven completions. E.J. Manuel was hit-and-miss, completing 4 of 8 passes for 77 yards, which included a 51-yard touchdown bomb to Deonte Thompson. He also had trouble with snaps, which resulted in a couple fumbles, the story said. The piece added: Ryan all along has talked up Taylor, despite his limited NFL starting experience as the Baltimore Ravens' backup quarterback for four years. During that time, he completed 19 of 35 passes for 199 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Maybe the purpose behind Ryan's decision is it serves as a wake-up call for either Cassel for Manuel to step up and win the job.

The 8-yard touchdown run was nice.

But more than anything, San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead appreciated being healthy and out on the field with his teammates on Thursday in his team’s exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Woodhead had not been in a game since suffering a broken ankle in a Week 3 contest at Buffalo, which ended his 2014 season. Woodhead scored the first touchdown of the game for the Chargers against the Cowboys on an 8-yard draw up the middle.

Woodhead only carried the ball once and was in Thursday’s game for a total of three plays, so it’s clear the Chargers want to ease him into live games. However, Woodhead appears to have the same explosion he showed two years ago, when he finished with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns, the story said. Woodhead could be huge in the Chargers passing game with rookie Melvin Gordon likely getting the early down work. Rookies often struggle in pass protection which means Woodhead should return to having PPR value.

Tight end Jordan Reed (strained hamstring) remained sidelined as the Washington Redskins resumed practice Saturday afternoon, but said he will try to play in next Thursday’s preseason game against Detroit.

“I might be able to play against Detroit,” he said. “I feel pretty good.”

With Niles Paul out for the year because of a fractured and dislocated left ankle suffered in the preseason opener at Cleveland, and Logan Paulsen due to have season-ending surgery on his right big toe on Monday, Reed is the only experienced tight end on the roster.

The others are Chase Dixon and Je’Ron Hamm, who spent a portion of last season on Washington’s practice squad, and Devin Mehina, an undrafted rookie out of BYU. The team could make some moves to bring in more help. As stated in a previous news item, whomever ends up second on the depth chart is just an injury away from getting significant time.

Finally, the Dallas Cowboys will get to see what they have in running back Darren McFadden. McFadden said Saturday after the team's morning walk-through practice that he'll be full-go for the first time in practice this evening and will take part in team drills.

McFadden has missed the first 11 practices of training camp while recovering from a strained hamstring he suffered the week before the club's first practice in California. McFadden also missed several practices during the Cowboys' offseason practices while nursing a different hamstring injury.

As if the news that rookie receiver Kevin White needs surgery on a stress fracture in his shin wasn’t bad enough, the Chicago Bears will also continue holding their breath with distressing injury news about top receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Jeffery suffered a calf strain last week, sat out the team’s preseason opener against the Dolphins on Thursday night and isn’t likely to return to practice for more than a week. On Saturday morning, general manager Ryan Pace framed Jeffery’s injury as minor while confirming that the fourth-year receiver won’t be back on the field at any point before the team’s next preseason game Aug. 22 in Indianapolis.

“This isn't a long-term injury with Alshon,” Pace asserted.

The Bears are going to be very careful with Jeffery after the news of White broke today. The Bears GM also said he has no reason to worry that Jeffery won’t be fully healthy again by the start of the regular season four weeks from now. But any outside skepticism surrounding the team’s injury updates seems to be warranted. The Bears cast White’s shin injury as minor when training camp opened, labeling the receiver as "day to day," the story said.