Keys to Training Camp: AFC West

Posted 7/28 by Jason Wood - Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Denver Broncos

Link: http://www.denverbroncos.com

Location: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Centre (Englewood, CO)

Dates: July 31 - August 20

Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/14 - @San Francisco (10 PM Eastern)
8/22 - @Seattle (10:30 PM Eastern)
8/30 - Chicago (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - Arizona (9 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Signs of progression under the new regime - To say this was a tumultuous offseason would be an understatement, and new HC Josh McDaniels has a lot to prove in his first training camp. Expectations are inordinately high for a team with so many question marks, and fantasy owners will be looking for some indication that the new "Patriots West" approach is yielding results.

Is WR Brandon Marshall on board and healthy? - Marshall is a proven and dynamic offensive weapon, but his off-the-field issues are well known and only the tip of the iceberg this offseason. Will Marshall be the good soldier after asking for a trade this offseason, and more importantly is he healthy after offseason hip surgery?

Will RB Knowshon Moreno be the offensive centerpiece? - The Broncos stockpiled veteran RBs in free agency only to then use the 12th overall pick on Knowshon Moreno. A lot of fantasy owners are skeptical of whether McDaniels is willing to commit to one workhorse back, particularly with so many viable options on the roster. But Moreno has the talent and the contract to warrant a major workload right away.

Is TE Tony Scheffler worth your attention? - Scheffler has ranked 20th, 10th and 12th in his three seasons but the regime change has led to questions about Scheffler's future with the team. If healthy, Scheffler should be a perfect complement to Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal in what will be a spread passing attack, but many believe McDaniels plans on using Daniel Graham as a blocker and Scheffler only sporadically.

(IDP) Can Mike Nolan cure an awful defense with so many new pieces? - The Broncos defense has been the Achilles heel of late, and new coordinator Mike Nolan will be implementing a new scheme and also layering in a ton of new players into the mix. Will LB D.J. Williams deliver Top 5 numbers as the lone star in the front seven? Will veteran All Pro S Brian Dawkins provide IDP owners with valuable stats in addition to the leadership we know he'll bring? Can rookie Robert Ayers earn a starting spot at OLB?

Kansas City Chiefs

Link: http://www.uwrf.edu/chiefs/welcome.php
Location: University of Wisconsin-River Falls (River Falls, WI)
Dates: July 30 - August 20
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/15 - Houston (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/21 - @Minnesota (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/29 - Seattle (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - @St. Louis (8:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Does RB Larry Johnson get another chance to be a work horse? - When the Chiefs hired a new GM and head coach, most thought they would make a clean break with Larry Johnson. But Johnson avoided controversy, worked hard and by all accounts enters camp in good standing. If he's really being given a fresh start, Johnson could offer enormous value to fantasy owners at his current ADP.

Is QB Matt Cassel a franchise caliber passer? - The Chiefs new GM Scott Pioli certainly thinks the world of Cassel, which is why he acquired him from his old team and then signed him to a monster extension before ever seeing him suit up as a Chief. But there are plenty of questions about whether Cassel can flourish on a team that needs him to be great, versus his position of keeping Tom Brady's seat warm in arguably the best offensive system in the NFL last year.

Who will catch passes opposite WR Dwayne Bowe? - Todd Haley understands the passing game and had great success with a bevy of receivers in Arizona. Dwayne Bowe is the clear star of the corps, but Haley needs others to produce. Can Mark Bradley (30 catches last year) stay healthy and deliver? Will sure handed, wily veteran Bobby Engram be the safety valve and serve as a savvy late round option in PPR leagues?

Is there a TE in the house? - You don't replace a Hall of Famer easily and the Chiefs aren't going to try; but someone has to suit up at tight end in Kansas City. Entering camp, it's as wide open a competition as any in the league, with Brad Cottam, Sean Ryan, Tony Curtis and Jake O'Connell all trying to carve out a role in new HC Todd Haley's system.

(IDP) Where are the playmakers in the new 3-4 scheme? - New DC Clancy Pendergast is implementing a 3-4 front but there remain questions about whether the Chiefs have the personnel to succeed in that system. Veteran LBs Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas offer more in the locker room than they do on the field at this point, and neither Tamba Hali nor Derrick Johnson have convinced anyone they're stars in waiting.

Connor Barth vs. Ryan Succop - Rookie PK Ryan Succop will wage an intense camp battle with Connor Barth for the place-kicking duties. The winner could have surprising fantasy value, and will be largely ignored by the less informed members of your league.

Oakland Raiders

Link: http://www.raiders.com
Location: Napa Valley Marriott (Napa Valley, CA)
Dates: July 29 - August 20
Open to the public? - NO

Preseason Game Schedule

8/13 - Dallas (10 PM Eastern)
8/22 - @San Francisco (8:15 PM Eastern)
8/29 - New Orleans (4 PM Eastern)
9/03 - @Seattle (10 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Will TE Zach Miller be the Raiders best fantasy player? - Miller caught 56 passes for 778 yards last season and is the Raiders best pass catcher, bar none. The question remains whether the Raiders will produce enough offensive snaps and red zone looks to turn Miller from a solid fantasy option into an elite one.

Who on Earth (besides Zach Miller) is going to catch the ball? - Javon Walker has the big dollars, but is hurt and out of favor. Darrius Heyward-Bey is the high priced rookie 1st rounder, but even his fans acknowledge he's raw and will need time to develop; and a hamstring injury isn't helping. Which leaves Chaz Schilens and Johnnie Lee Higgins. If you don't know those names, don't feel bad, most fantasy owners don't. But someone will emerge in camp as the clear #1, and that guy is going to be worth targeting late in your draft.

Do the Raiders plan on using a RB committee? - Darren McFadden was considered a can't miss prospect but that sheen wore off after a rookie season marred by injuries and inconsistency. His 45th place fantasy finish has a lot of owners ignoring him this year. But a big camp, and a clear indication he's the team's work horse would dramatically change expectations. But will the Raiders instead use McFadden in a mix with the bruising Michael Bush and veteran starter Justin Fargas?

Is QB JaMarcus Russell's job safe? - Conventional wisdom is that Russell would have to implode in order to lose his hold on the starting job, but that belies Jeff Garcia's history. Garcia isn't the kind of veteran backup who happily mentors his young teammates. Garcia is already telling the media he thinks he should be a starter; will the Raiders coaches give him a shot at the job?

Can Tom Cable build a dominant offensive line? - There are plenty of question marks on the Raiders offensive line, but luckily that's a specialty of head coach Tom Cable. Can either Marcus Johnson or Khalif Barnes earn roles in camp? Is Samson Satele up to the task of replacing C Jake Grove?

San Diego Chargers

Link: http://www.chargers.com
Location: Chargers Park (San Diego, CA)
Dates: July 26 - August 13
Open to the public? - NO (there will be three public practices only - see site)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/15 - Seattle (10 PM Eastern)
8/22 - @Arizona (10 PM Eastern)
8/29 - @Atlanta (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/04 - San Francisco (10 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Is RB LaDainian Tomlinson still an elite back? - LaDainian Tomlinson is coming off his least productive season that was marred by a toe injury and a groin tear; and many have decided we've seen the end of LT as a dominant fantasy commodity. But he finished as RB7 last year and has looked great in preseason practices. Entering camp, HC Norv Turner has gushed over LT and suggested he'll push for the rushing title. Does LT still have the magic? If so, he offers great value right now in drafts.

Speaking of toes, is TE Antonio Gates fully healthy? - Antonio Gates is the most physically dominant tight end in the NFL when he's healthy, but one could argue it's been a few years since he had a clean bill of health. This is a big season for Gates, as he wants a new contract and his presence holds the key to Philip Rivers maintaining last year's All Pro productivity.

Sorting through the WR depth chart - When you consider that Antonio Gates wasn't completely healthy and the Chargers receiving corps leaves much to be desired, it's hard to fathom how Philip Rivers put up the numbers he did. This season, will they once again capitalize on Vincent Jackson and then minor contributions from everyone else? Can Malcolm Floyd stay healthy; and could youngsters Legedu Naanee, Buster Davis and Demetrius Byrd push for playing time?

(IDP) Are Merriman and Cromartie ready to bounce back? - In what's a theme for the Chargers, two of its defensive stars were disappointments in 2008. OLB Shawne Merriman missed 15 games last year with a bum knee while CB Antonio Cromartie looked nothing like the star Pro Bowler from 2007. If they're back, that could mean huge things for ILB Stephen Cooper and S Eric Weddle, the Chargers true IDP stars.