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Hi Folks,
Good Thursday to you. Hope you're having a great week as we roll into the Summer. We've got the My Fantasy League import set up now and we've got all the news and notes you need so let's get to it.
J
For users of the Draft Dominator that also use My Fantasy League for league management, you're about to be real happy as our MFL League Import is now set up and ready to roll. Enjoy.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier made it clear on the final day of minicamp that QB Christian Ponder will arrive at training camp as the team's starting quarterback, and that there will be no open competition for the job.
Footballguys' view: No question Ponder is going to get every chance to prove himself this year as the team's starter. He flashed big time ability in college at Florida State, but was inconsistent with his mechanics and injured quite a bit. If he can stay healthy and develop there's no reason to think he couldn't be the franchise QB the Vikings are looking for. Joe Webb will continue to work as a backup QB.
San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Mathews is the unquestioned starting tailback, but it gets murky after that on the depth chart. RB Ronnie Brown is viewed as being at the tail end of his career. Brown will try to hold off RB Curtis Brinkley for the primary backup role behind Mathews. RB Edwin Baker and FB Le'Ron McClain will also be in the mix for carries.
Footballguys' view: McClain had nearly 1,000-yards rushing for the Ravens in 2008, but hasn't been asked to carry the rock in recent years. Baker has good lower body strength, elite quickness, and good initial burst. However, he lacks top end speed and is nothing more than a change of pace back in our eyes.
San Diego Chargers WR Malcom Floyd is expected to enter training camp as the No. 1 receiver with WR Robert Meachem being the No. 2 receiver, but the designations likely will not matter since both will receive plenty of playing time.
Footballguys' view: Either way we feel San Diego will have a tough time finding someone to fill the shoes of Vincent Jackson. Floyd has great chemistry with QB Philip Rivers and could perform like a WR3 with upside in 2012.
Chicago Bears LB Brian Urlacher said he is not sure if franchise free-agent RB Matt Forte will be at training camp but believes Forte will be ready for the start of the regular season.
Footballguys' view: The Bears are prepared for a Forte holdout. In free agency they added RB Michael Bush from the Raiders. If Forte misses any time in the regular season they could easily turn to Bush as their feature back.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier indicated on the final day of minicamp that the starting job belongs to QB Christian Ponder, leaving QBs Sage Rosenfels and Joe Webb to fight for the primary backup spot.
Footballguys' view: Rosenfels is the wily veteran, but we expect Webb to win this job. Webb is incredibly athletic, has a strong arm, and does a good job of throwing on the run. His scrambling ability makes him a better option when the play breaks down. Originally drafted to play WR, Webb will work at QB during camp to improve his raw skill set.
Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy is the unquestioned start up top, but it remains to be seen if RB Dion Lewis could step up and fill his role should McCoy miss any time due to injury. If that scenario occurred, the team might be hesitant to lean on Lewis, and they might use more of a committee approach. Lewis saw just 42 offensive snaps during his rookie season last year.
Footballguys' view: Lewis is a compact runner, with good balance, vision, and patience. His lack of experience could lead the Eagles to use a RBBC with either rookie Bryce Brown or Chris Polk. At this time the true handcuff to McCoy is Lewis. Make sure to monitor this situation in the preseason.
Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman will get a chance in training camp and the preseason to show what he can do, and it is possible he can emerge as the primary backup to RB Willis McGahee if RB Knowshon Moreno is cut. Hillman is also viewed as a better fit in the stretch running game with QB Peyton Manning at the helm, so the thinking is that Hillman could conceivably take over as a starter at some point.
Footballguys' view: Our very own Cecil Lammey has been saying this for months. The Broncos drafted Hillman to replace McGahee eventually. Pass protection will be the key for the rookie's playing time this year. If he can block then Denver could use him as their primary back as the season goes along. Hillman reminded many in the scouting community of Eagles RB LeSean McCoy and has high upside in dynasty leagues.
Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice felt QB Joe Flacco not had total command of the offense in last season's playoffs, but he outplayed New England Patriots QB Tom Brady in the AFC Championship Game. 'It was his show,' Rice said. 'It was his show on offense, and as much credit that I was getting and as much respect I was getting from defenses, all Joe really had to do is prove that we can drive the ball down the field and score, and he did that. Quite frankly, he outplayed Tom Brady the last game.'
Footballguys' view: Rice sticking up for his QB here, and that's okay. Flacco is seeking a new long-term contract with the Ravens and feels he should get top 5 money. Problem is, top 5 QBs have championships and Flacco has failed to win it all during his pro career. We think he plays out his contract this year and the team slaps the Franchise Tag on him next offseason.
Oakland Raiders FB Owen Schmitt has a chance to make the final roster even though FB Marcel Reece is on the roster. Schmitt could be used in short-yardage situations and has a history with offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.
Footballguys' view: Reece is a quality blocker, runner, and receiver out of the backfield. Schmitt is more of your classic Fullback. He loves to hit people, and can regularly win collisions with Linebackers.
The Dallas Cowboys could consider keeping only QBs Tony Romo and Kyle Orton on the final roster and use the spot that would have went to a third quarterback at another position.
Footballguys' view: Third-string QB Stephen McGee has failed to develop the way the team envisioned when they picked him up out of Texas A&M a few years ago. They reportedly have no interest in trading for Browns QB Colt McCoy, so two QBs may be all they carry in 2012.
The New England Patriots may receive calls from other teams about the availability of QBs Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett during training camp or before the trade deadline if they lose their starting quarterback to injury.
Footballguys' view: Hoyer is a smart player who is athletic enough to keep plays alive with his feet. Mallett is more statuesque, and has a rocket arm. The Patriots could easily trade one if the right offer came along.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel said the team has high expectations entering the upcoming season. 'With every season, there's a lot of changes,' Cassel said. 'But I feel like as long as we go out there and execute and play good football my expectations are very high for this team.' Cassel added he is fine again after missing the last seven weeks of the season with a hand injury. 'I feel great, I'm ready to roll,' Cassel said. 'I feel like our team will come out stronger. We suffered through a lot of injuries last year to some key people but they should be coming back stronger and the coaches are very optimistic.'
Footballguys' view: We feel the Chiefs will compete for the division title in the AFC West. They have a very strong defense, and a ground game that can grind down opponents. The one thing holding them back is their QB. Cassel is not elite, and if the team ever needs him to make a play at a crucial moment he's likely to fail. It wouldn't surprise us if they make the playoffs, but a Super Bowl run is extremely unlikely with Cassel under center.
St. Louis Rams seventh-round draft pick RB Daryl Richardson impressed during organized team activities and minicamp practices.
Footballguys' view: Our very own Cecil Lammey watched Richardson during the week of practice for the Players All Star Classic earlier this year in Little Rock, AR and came away impressed. Richardson is Bengals RB Bernard Scott's cousin and has world class speed. Richardson is not creative or elusive in the open field, but only needs a small crease to take any carry the distance. He should be an exciting change of pace back for the Rams.
Chicago Bears LB Lance Briggs thinks the team has all the pieces to contend for a Super Bowl this upcoming season. 'On paper, we look like a champion, but we have a lot of work to do before we can be called a champion,' Briggs said.
Footballguys' view: We like the mindset from Briggs here. There will be no "Dream Team" collapse for the Bears. All they need to do is keep QB Jay Cutler healthy and they should contend for the playoffs and perhaps a Super Bowl run.
Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III acknowledged the possibility he would have been selected by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Draft had the St. Louis Rams accepted Cleveland's trade offer in the weeks preceding the the draft. 'The first thing Phillip Daniels (the Redskins' player development director) said: 'You could have been playing here.'' Griffin said. 'It could have been a possibility, but it turned out a different way ... Once I declared for the draft, Cleveland was a place I thought I would be just because they had the most firepower when it came to draft picks and tradeability.' Griffin is in Cleveland for the NFL Rookie Symposium.
Footballguys' view: The Redskins made the power move in the draft, moving up from 6th overall to 2nd overall so they could land the Franchise QB. Griffin should have an immediate impact, and we like him as a QBBC option in fantasy football. His rushing ability and arm strength (plus the design of the bootleg heavy Shanahan offense) could make him a top 12 fantasy QB at the end of the year.
Philadelphia Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin has reportedly looked outstanding in offseason workouts, and the team is expecting a huge year of production.
Footballguys' view: Maclin only needs to stay healthy to ensure another top 15 season. We think he'll be helped greatly by a re-energized DeSean Jackson on the other side of the line too. Maclin is coming off the board at WR23 somewhere near the middle of the 5th round in standard 12-team leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs SS Eric Berry (knee) said he is 100 percent physically after recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Footballguys' view: A healthy Eric Berry plays like a young Ed Reed, and his presence on the field will help the Chiefs defense incredibly.
Cleveland Browns DT Phil Taylor (pectoral) is expected to start this season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He would miss the first six games of the season and then would three weeks to begin practicing. Taylor said he has not started lifting weights yet but is doing range-of-motion drills.
Footballguys' view: The Browns rush defense was weak with Taylor in the lineup, so they'll be especially soft against the run without him. Browns GM Tom Heckert said Taylor could return by late October or early November but there is no timetable on his return.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Hope you have a great Thursday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. Thanks for reading.
Peace,
J