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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Saturday - hope you're having a great Weekend. The preseason is HERE. And not a minute too soon. We've got the drafting tools you need updated plus the news and notes you need so let's get to it.
J
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Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles looks fine 45 minutes into practice, Friday, Aug. 3.
Footballguys' view: We just want to see him really open up the throttle once like he did in 2010 before we feel 100% ready to take him in the late second round. Everything appears to be on track for Charles to make a full recovery from his ACL tear.
Kansas City Chiefs RB Peyton Hillis is in outstanding shape and looks ready to be a contributor in the offense this year. He's running with urgency and physicality in training camp, and he's shown soft hands in the receiving game during practice.
Footballguys' view: Hillis is a steal if you can get him in the eighth round or later. He'll get close to a starter's workload as long as the Chiefs are a competitive team, and they should be even better than last year with Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles back in the lineup.
San Diego Chargers WR Eddie Royal (groin) is expected to miss one to two weeks because of a groin injury. He likely will miss the first preseason game because of the injury.
Footballguys' view: Royal had been building some buzz, but his fantasy upside was limited to begin with as a slot receiver. This could make it harder for him to have great chemistry with Philip Rivers to open the season.
Arizona Cardinals RB Ryan Williams (knee) said he will not play in the first preseason game because he does not think the risk is worth it to play in while rehabbing knee. He said there is a chance he plays in the second preseason game.
Footballguys' view: The Cardinals are doing the safe thing here, but they are denying us fantasy nerds a chance to get even more excited for the first game of the year.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel has been impressive leading the offense in the early portion of training camp. He is confident and decisive in the pocket and has displayed accurate throws. Cassel is showing complete command of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's offense, allowing the passing game to thrive without WR Dwayne Bowe.
Footballguys' view: Cassel is still only a low-end backup fantasy quarterback at best, but if he is looking good, that helps the case of Jon Baldwin and Dwayne Bowe.
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said he does not think the team will be running more this season but does believe the team has to run more effectively. 'Run more?' Rodgers said. 'I don't see it happening drastically at all. It's not our identity. But running more effectively and picking the five or six or seven runs that we really like and are our best opportunity for those 12-yard gains? That's what we're going to try to do.'
Footballguys' view: As if you needed any more reason to avoid James Starks. Even Alex Green is less attractive as a late-round pick because of Green Bay's unwillingness to lean on the run.
New York Jets RB Bilal Powell continues to have an impressive training camp, and he will be a factor in the regular season in the Jets' running game.
Footballguys' view: Powell should move onto your late-round sleeper target list and should not be on any deep dynasty waiver wires any longer.
Miami Dolphins QB David Garrard appears to be the clear favorite for the starting quarterback job, but his performance during the first two preseason game will factor in heavily in the decision.
Footballguys' view: Garrard offers more as an athlete than Matt Moore, and he's a much better practice player, which what the coaches have to go on right now. The job will still be decided on the field in the preseason.
Green Bay Packers RB James Starks hasn't shown the team much to be excited about in training camp even though he's taken around three times as many snaps as RB Alex Green (knee). Green has been more dynamic than Starks, but the team is limiting Green because of reconstructive knee surgery he had last year. Starks isn't making strides as a ball carrier or pass blocker.
Footballguys' view: The Packers don't have a true feature back anyway, and Starks didn't seize an opportunity to win a bigger job last year. The team seems excited about Alex Green, making Starks very easy to pass on at his current 8th round ADP.
Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas stood out during practice Thursday, Aug. 2, making several big catches during the day with WR Eric Decker (groin) sidelined. 'Demaryius is a guy that we are going to feature. His size and strength and speed just allows you to do certain things with him that other players just can't do,' QB Peyton Manning said. Manning added Thomas is the biggest receiver he has played with since being in the NFL and has a rare combination of speed and size. 'I look forward just to getting more and more comfortable with him and just kind of growing through this process,' Manning noted.
Footballguys' view: Decker is the better pick in PPR and Thomas is probably the better pick in nonPPR, but both are quality WR2 candidates that you can get in the fifth round, or even later in Decker's case. Look for their ADP to rise once Denver plays some preseason games.
Kansas City Chiefs OT Eric Winston has shored up the right side of the offensive line with athleticism and quickness. The team has been able to use more zone-base schemes as a result.
Footballguys' view: Winston could help the HIllis/Charles backfield look like the Jones/Charles backfield of 2010. The Texans and Arian Foster will miss him.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin has improved dramatically, and it's showing early in training camp. He appears to be finding out how to use his physical traits to dominate on the perimeter of the field. Baldwin has demonstrated to the coaching staff an uncanny ability to make tough plays look easy, and he continues to make acrobatic catches on the field.
Footballguys' view: Baldwin's hot camp and Dwayne Bowe's holdout have moved Baldwin into the late-round sleeper group in drafts. If both keep it up, he could be worth drafting as early as the 11th or 12th round soon.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said RB Bernard Scott (undisclosed) is considered questionable for the first preseason game because of an undisclosed injury.
Footballguys' view: Durability has been an issue for Scott that has contributed to him not getting a shot at a larger role in the past, so this won't help him in a year that he could force a committee backfield with Benjarvus Green-Ellis.
Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson (groin) was held out of practice for precautionary reasons Friday, Aug. 3.
Footballguys' view: Johnson missed the whole offseason after surgery, so this is nothing to be worried about. He played through the injury last year and was decently productive, so he could be flirting with WR1 status this year.
Denver Broncos QB Brock Osweiler is on track to win the No. 2 quarterback job this season. Osweiler has done well learning the offense and has been working with the second-team offense during training camp.
Footballguys' view: Adam Weber and Caleb Hanie were merely speed bumps in his development. Osweiler can start for the Broncos in three years or so if he doesn't screw this up.
Green Bay Packers TE DJ Williams has performed well during training camp so far and has a chance to earn the No. 2 tight end job.
Footballguys' view: Williams is an underrated talent as a pass catcher who is worth carrying in deep dynasty leagues with a tight end premium. He could be the Packers starting tight end after Jermichael Finley. Finley has also had knee issues in the past, so the backup job makes him possibly relevant this year.
Updating a previous report, Baltimore Ravens OT Bryant McKinnie (back) returned to practice Friday, Aug 3. McKinnie passed his conditioning test earlier in the day.
Footballguys' view: The Ravens got off easy on this one as it seemed like McKinnie's status for 2012 wasn't a sure thing just a week ago.
Washington Redskins WR Joshua Morgan (hamstring) said he has made progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury but does not want to return to practice too early and aggravate the injury. He said this is his first hamstring injury so he does not know when he will be completely recovered. Head coach Mike Shanahan said Morgan could return to practice as early as Monday, Aug. 6.
Footballguys' view: Morgan and Leonard Hankerson both came back from offseason-long layoffs after surgery, but Hankerson is doing much better in his full return to the field. Morgan's sleeper status is wearing off and Hankerson is rising up draft boards.
Green Bay Packers WR Greg Jennings undressed a couple cornerbacks in training camp Thursday, Aug. 2, including catching a 60-yard touchdown pass.
Footballguys' view: Jennings is still a WR1 and borderline second-round pick despite the emergence of Jordy Nelson. He's a safe pick if he falls to the third round in PPR leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs SS Eric Berry (knee) looks perfectly healthy in training camp coming off surgery on his ACLE last year. He is capable of becoming a dynamic player on defense and making the defense dominant as a whole.
Footballguys' view: Berry is the Chiefs best player on defense, and he could help them contend for a division title. Consider him an elite IDP defensive back again.
Minnesota Vikings DE Jared Allen said he is not interested in having in playing time reduced at all this season. 'I understand that you have to have rotations and I'm going to do what's asked of me. There will be a diplomatic conversation if they ask me to roll back too much. But, no, I feel good. I work my butt off to be able to make sure I can play 60-70 snaps a game,' Allen said. Head coach Leslie Frazier said the team is considering rotating defensive linemen during games to keep the starters fresh. Allen 1,000 of 1,058 gradable snaps last season.
Footballguys' view: Don't worry at all if Allen plays a hundred or two fewer snaps this year. He'll still be dominant in IDP leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs LB Justin Houston is showing good first-step quickness off the edge during training camp. He totaled 5.5 sacks in the team's final five games last season, and he could be emerging as a superstar. Houston should thrive in isolated matchups opposite LB Tamba Hali.
Footballguys' view: Houston is worth carrying in big play and sack-heavy IDP leagues. He had a few outbursts last year and should only get better in year two.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for letting us a be a part of your Fantasy Football season. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
Peace,
J