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Hi Folks,
Good Saturday to you. Big day in the Bryant House as my oldest is heading off to college today. I often say of the NFL that "Things Move Fast". They move fast in your family too. Take time there.
It's a big weekend for drafting and we've got another big round of Preseason Football on tap too. Fun time of the year - let's get to it.
J
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This FanDuel deal just keeps getting better and better. They've added a new contest just for our Footballguys readers that has a $75,000 prize pool just for you. IMPORTANT NOTE: Just like with the Free Footballguys Insider promotion, you MUST use this link to get the Footballguys Insider Subscription promotion. If you go to the regular FanDuel.com page, you won't be able to get the deal. Make sure you use this link.
One of the fun features of the Footballguys Players Championship leagues we host are that several of the leagues are "exposed" where the owners allow us to publish the draft. The advantage for you guys is that it shows a glimpse into a mid stakes league where some of the best fantasy owners in the world are drafting. See where they're taking players and get some valuable Average Draft Position info.
In addition to the Footballguys Players Championship (FPC) drafts, we also have draft position data for the High Stakes FFPC drafts. See where the high dollar leagues are drafting players.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount (knee) suffered an apparent knee injury in the preseason game Friday, Aug. 17. He was able to walk off to the locker room on his own power but the trainers went with him. He may undergo an X-ray or MRI on his knee.
Footballguys' view: Doug Martin is an even better third-round pick as Blount appeared to be in pain and stayed down for a while after the hit on his knee. He was seen walking gingerly on the sideline, so that's a good sign that there is no major damage, but he could still have an MRI and miss enough time to install Martin as the starter and lead back. Martin is one of few running backs to actually gain value this preseason.
The New England Patriots have reached an undisclosed agreement with free-agent RB Jeff Demps (Florida).
Footballguys' view: Demps is only of interest in return yardage leagues, but he may help the value of the Patriots defense/special teams in traditional redraft leagues.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Isaac Redman (hip, groin) will not play in the preseason game Sunday, Aug. 19, but will not need surgery on his hip injury. He could return to practice as early as next week.
Footballguys' view: That there was even a possibility of surgery at any point to rule out is a good reason for the Steelers to rush Rashard Mendenhall back before week 8 of the regular season. Redman is a risky RB4 level play in the 10th round or later at this point
New England Patriots RB Stevan Ridley (leg) did not participate in practice Friday, Aug. 17.
Footballguys' view: RIdley's knee injury is not serious, but it has loosened his grip on the lead back role, along with his loose grip on the ball in practice this week. Ridley and Shane Vereen are getting closer on our board, but neither is worth anything but a bench slot right now.
San Diego Chargers WR Vincent Brown, a second-year receiver, feels much more comfortable in the system this year. He felt the lockout hurt him last season in his transition to the NFL. 'This offseason, being with the guys and being familiar with the offense, it's been an easier transition and it's helped me trying to make plays,' Brown said. Head coach Norv Turner said Brown has grown up since last year. 'He's had a great offseason, he's in the middle of having an outstanding training camp, and he obviously is a playmaker so he's a guy that's going to figure real strongly in what we do,' Turner said.
Footballguys' view: Robert Meachem is not having a strong camp, on the other hand, so we could see more of Brown than Meachem in 2012, especially on the stat sheet. Brown is worth taking in the 12th round or later on the basis of his talent, Malcom Floyd's long injury history, Meachem's inconsistency, and the quality of quarterback Philip Rivers.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee) likely will not be ready for the start of the regular season but is expected to play before Week 6.
Footballguys' view: Mendenhall is still not worth anything but a very late pick, but his activation certainly hurts Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer's value.
Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman (hamstring) will likely miss the team's preseason game Saturday, Aug. 18, after re-aggravating his hamstring earlier in the week.
Footballguys' view: Hillman did get back on the field for practice, so it doesn't look like this will sideline him for long. If he has any hopes of making an impact this year, he needs to see some preseason action and otherwise show he can handle his responsibilities.
Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning will likely play into the second quarter when the Broncos host the Seattle Seahawks Saturday, August 18.
Footballguys' view: Manning hitting a downfield pass with some zip would help make it easier to take him among the top 10 quarterbacks.
Kansas City Chiefs franchise free-agent WR Dwayne Bowe has signed his one-year tender and will join the team soon. He is scheduled to make around $9.5 million this season.
Footballguys' view: We never assumed anything else would happen. This holdout is not long enough to hurt Bowe's regular season prospects. He was actually a top 10 receiver with Matt Cassel last year, so he's a value at his early 20's ADP in the fifth round.
Washington Redskins RB Alfred Morris may get the start in the preseason game Saturday, Aug. 18, because the team wants to see what he can do against starters. Morris wants to improve on his yards per carry average and prove he can pass block.
Footballguys' view: Time to add Morris to your deep sleeper list. He's similar to Mike Anderson, and we all remember what Mike Shanahan made out of Anderson in Denver. Morris should not be on the waiver wire in any deep dynasty leagues, and if he plays well this weekend, he'll be worth a pick late in the typical redraft league.
Tennessee Titans WR Kenny Britt is likely to be suspended by the league, but his suspension isn't expected to be for a lengthy period of time.
Footballguys' view: This should reinforce the value he presents in the 8th round or later. Britt is risky, but he has demonstrated top five wide receiver upside when he's on the field.
Cleveland Browns rookie QB Brandon Weeden looked a bit better in his second preseason game. He hit 12 of 20 passes for 118 yards Thursday, Aug. 16, against the Green Bay Packers. Weeden said he thinks he is improving. He took a big hit during the second quarter but was able to stay in the game despite getting up slowly.
Footballguys' view: Weeden made some good throws downfield and saw the field with clarity when he wasn't pressured. He isn't worth a pick in redraft leagues, but he could make Greg Little a nice receiver to own in PPR leagues.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Baron Batch (knee) has seen a lot of reps in practice this week due to injuries to other running backs on the team. Batch is returning from a torn ACL himself, so the extra work has been helpful in building his confidence this week. 'Last week, I brushed off a lot of rust ... Early on, I was kind of hesitant. As the game went on, I started feeling like my old self,' Batch said.
Footballguys' view: Batch should get the Mewelde Moore role in the backfield and made it tough for any Steelers running back to be a fantasy RB1 this season. The team loved him in training camp last year before his injury.
Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (knee) said he didn't feel any soreness in his surgically repaired knee after practicing Wednesday, Aug. 15. 'My workload was pretty light, but when I was out there on a couple of runs it felt pretty good. Didn't feel any weakness or any soreness in the knee at all,' Peterson said. Peterson said he's been told to just do straight-line running, but he isn't going to do that. 'When I'm out there I'm gonna make sure that I'm getting good work in and I'm out there playing my game,' Peterson said.
Footballguys' view: It's going to get harder and harder to land Peterson in the third round. Even the second could be tough if he looks good in the preseason and running back issues continue to mount in the top 15.
Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton helped quiet the critics surrounding questions about his arm strength during the team's preseason game Thursday, Aug. 16, against the Atlanta Falcons. Dalton hooked up with WR A.J. Green on a 50-yard touchdown bomb in the second quarter. 'My arm feels great, and you can tell everybody that it's not even close to what I've got if I need it,' Dalton said of his arm strength. He finished 8 of 14 for 125 yards and the touchdown. Dalton was under duress during most of the game as the offensive line's pass protection struggled to protect him.
Footballguys' view: Dalton still needs to prove that he can make stick throws into small windows. Deep ball distance has never really been a question. He is still at worst going to be an above average NFL starting quarterback. Whether he can develop more zip on the ball will determine just how effective he can be in his prime.
Pittsburgh Steelers LB James Harrison (knee) said he would like to play in a preseason game but is considered week-to-week at this point.
Footballguys' view: Harrison is nothing but a late-round flier in IDP leagues with his latest knee surgery.
Arizona Cardinals RB Ryan Williams (knee) will play in the preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, but is not expected to see much playing time during the game.
Footballguys' view: We won't get to see WIlliams really open up the throttle until the third preseason game. With the state of the Cardinals quarterback and offensive line, it's probably better to avoid their running backs altogether, unless one falls to the 11th or 12th round.
Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden said he has been working on his chemistry with WR Josh Gordon during practice. The two have had trouble connecting at times during training camp and preseason.
Footballguys' view: Weeden has much better timing with Greg Little and college teammate Josh Cooper right now. Gordon will be a work in progress, but one with significant upside in the long term. He's probably not worth a pick in redraft leagues right now.
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy says QB Graham Harrell has grown as a quarterback and is getting a full dose of what it is like to play in the NFL.
Footballguys' view: The coach is trying to put a smiley face on the fact that he is standing between the Packers and the hopes of the fanbase if Aaron Rodgers gets hurt. The Packers have to be evaluating other options to back up Rodgers via trade right now.
Philadelphia Eagles RB Chris Polk could be used as a fullback at times this season if he makes the final roster and the team does not keep a fullback on the roster.
Footballguys' view: Polk has proven to be a better than average undrafted talent. His tremendous production at Washington was not a fluke, so he'll likely be claimed if the Eagles try to slip him through the practice squad. It makes sense that they would be trying to find a way to keep him on the roster.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Dallas Clark and WR Vincent Jackson should both see playing time in their game against the Tennessee Titans Friday, Aug. 17, although the starters should not see extended playing time until week three of the preseason.
Footballguys' view: Jackson's performance this week and next should be a good indicator of whether he is underrated at this 5th round ADP. Reports are that he and Josh Freeman are on the same page, and Freeman certainly has the game to unlock Jackson's potential. He might end up being a steal if he can stay healthy this year.
The Cincinnati Bengals cut WR Jordan Shipley and K Thomas Weber Friday, Aug. 17.
Footballguys' view: Andrew Hawkins has a better chance of making the team as a slot receiver now, but the performances of rookies Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, along with Brandon Tate and Armon Binns, made Shipley expendable. He was hurt enough in college to get a sixth year of eligibility at Texas, so it might just be a case of Shipley's body not bouncing back quickly enough.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee) from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Footballguys' view: Isaac Redman's fantasy stock was already sliding, now it's in a free fall. Mendenhall is still only worth a late pick, as the Steelers won't rely on him as a bell cow back this soon after an ACL tear he suffered in week 17 last season, but he'll also keep Redman from being more than a flex play. Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette thinks this could be a desperation move, which isn't good for anyone involved.
Washington Redskins TE Chris Cooley said he is willing to work at fullback and wide receiver in addition to tight end because he would give the offense some options. 'I don't think I'm in any case best suited to be a Pro Bowl fullback or a wide receiver,' Cooley said. 'But I'm capable, I think, in some capacity to fit all those roles. I think that if I can do that well, it gives us our offense a lot of diversity.'
Footballguys' view: Cooley still doesn't have fantasy value.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Isaac Redman (groin, hip) hopes to be able to return to practice by Monday, Aug. 20. He had an MRI on his troublesome groin injury Thursday, Aug. 16, and was not able to practice during the day.
Footballguys' view: Redman's injuries are still worrisome because he is not a back with a lot of burst to begin with. He is looking like a less attractive pick in the mid-rounds until this clears up.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being a part of Footballguys. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
Peace,
J