Team news: Chicago Bears | Page 58

While Keenan Allen likely will garner the majority of attention from Arizona's secondary on Sunday, receiver Malcom Floyd will be a likely target on backside routes for Philip Rivers. In San Diego's last four regular-season openers, Floyd has averaged seven targets with an explosive play of at least 16 yards in all four contests. Allen is San Diego's No. 1 receiver, but Floyd has been Rivers' most consistent target during training camp and in preseason play.

We've been recommending Floyd as a late-round option all summer. From 2010 to 2012, Floyd finished #36, #32 and #36 as the second or third option in San Diego.

The most significant Chiefs cup is the release of K Ryan Succop, who has served as the Chiefs' starting placekicker for the last five seasons.

Succop made 81 percent of his field goals over five years but got beat out by rookie Cairo Santos, despite a strong preseason performance. Succop's large cap numbers - $2.7 million this year, $3.5 million next year and $3.2 million in 2016 - could have also played a role, as Santos will only make a fraction of that.

By cutting Succop, the Chiefs stand to gain roughly $2 million in cap space this year, $2.5 million next year and $3 million in 2016.

Succop was a decent fantasy option last year but the job now belongs to Santos. Santos is already ranked as K1 heading into Week 1 as he's 10th on our list.

I wrote several weeks ago that expectations might be too high for wide receiver Justin Hunter entering his second season, considering he only caught 18 passes as a rookie.

But I'm now more inclined to jump on the hype wagon. Hunter has progressed faster than I imagined. He's bigger, more confident and is doing a better job of using his freakish athletic skills to full effect.

While it's true the regular season is a different animal, Hunter appears ready to become a consistent big-play threat.

As a rookie, Hunter checked in with the #18 FP/T (1.41), which is encouraging, especially if he’s able to beat out Nate Washington and get on the field as more than a just a passing-down specialist. He only played 36% of the team’s snaps, while Washington played 82%. The good news is that under then-OC Ken Whisenhunt, Keenan Allen, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal all played at least 67% of the Chargers’ snaps. So with Whiz calling the plays in Tennessee, there may be room for both players in the lineup if Hunter hasn't already won the job outright.

Throughout training camp and in the preseason, Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter has made the fade pattern look all too easy.

When the Titans get anywhere near the goal line, quarterback Jake Locker simply lofts a soft spiral toward the corner of the end zone. That's when the 6-foot-4, 203-pound Hunter turns into a jack-in-the-box, leaping over defenders to haul in a touchdown pass – just as he did in last Friday's loss to the New Orleans Saints.

It's been all but unstoppable so far.

As a rookie, Hunter checked in with the #18 FP/T (1.41), which is encouraging, especially if he’s able to beat out Nate Washington and get on the field as more than a just a passing-down specialist. He only played 36% of the team’s snaps, while Washington played 82%. The good news is that under then-OC Ken Whisenhunt, Keenan Allen, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal all played at least 67% of the Chargers’ snaps. Hunter's prowess in the redzone bodes well for QB Jake Locker.

Titans WR Justin Hunter continued his run of strong training-camp catches. In seven-on-seven play, he hauled in a Locker pass at the left sideline despite strong coverage from Coty Sensabaugh. A few plays later, Hunter blew past rookie defensive back Marqueston Huff and caught a long pass from Charlie Whitehurst. Hunter also made two leaping receptions during team drills – once in the red zone and once down the left sideline, going up and over cornerback Ri'Shard Anderson.

As a rookie, Hunter checked in with the #18 FP/T (1.41), which is encouraging, especially if he’s able to beat out Nate Washington and get on the field as more than a just a passing-down specialist. He only played 36% of the team’s snaps, while Washington played 82%. The good news is that under then-OC Ken Whisenhunt, Keenan Allen, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal all played at least 67% of the Chargers’ snaps. So with Whiz calling the plays in Tennessee, there may be room for both Washington and Hunter in the lineup.