Training Camp Daily Dose: Dose: Swan Song For Smith Sr.
With the preseason officially underway, news is firing out of NFL training camps with blazing speed and team depth charts are being flipped upside down as organizations begin to evaluate the talent on their rosters. Plenty of interesting fantasy nuggets surfaced on Monday as another busy day of practices took place, and we will cover the most pertinent depth chart developments below as the upcoming fantasy draft season begins to come into focus.
Before digging into the news of the day, Steve Smith Sr. deserves a moment of our time as he announced that he will be retiring from the NFL after the 2015 season. Smith, who is 36 years old, turned in a memorable NFL career since first lacing up his spikes with the Carolina Panthers way back in 2001. Smith is the owner of eight 1,000 yard seasons and has been a source of quality entertainment for fantasy aficionados as this high-level production exploded from a 5’9’’, 195 pound frame. Smith’s 2005 season was a fantasy football gold mine as the fiery wide receiver erupted for 103 catches, 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns, which were all career-highs. Smith will attempt to finish his career with a second consecutive 1,000 yard season and will get ample opportunity to do so with Baltimore adding little receiving competition this offseason outside of rookies Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams. Smith’s 8th/9th round ADP is fair and will provide quality depth to fantasy football rosters.
Editor’s Note: For updated rankings, projections, exclusive columns, mock drafts and tons more, check out our Draft Guide!
In Other News…
The Arizona Cardinals running back group received some heat from coach Bruce Arians on Monday as he spoke about his disappointment with the Cardinals backs and discussed the team’s intent to sign a free agent at the position. Arians did go as far as to state that the team is not interested in free agent Ray Rice, so we do have one name to cross off the Arizona shopping list. No matter what the Cardinals front office decides, Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson will be under heavy scrutiny from their leader as the regular season draws closer.
Good news came from New England’s training camp on Monday as running back LeGarrette Blount (knee) was seen running hills during practice. Last week’s MCL sprain was deemed insignificant after Blount’s MRI results gave him the green light to practice and the Patriots back remains a solid mid-round fantasy selection despite a looming one-game suspension.
More backfield news came from New England on Monday, as the Boston Herald reported that Brandon Bolden is the “leader in the clubhouse” for the role of Patriots third-down back. James White was considered a strong candidate for the pass catching role in this backfield, but has reportedly struggled so far in camp once the team began practicing in pads. This battle will continue throughout the preseason, so keep tabs on developments out of New England as Bill Belichick searches for his new Shane Vereen.
Pittsburgh kicker Shaun Suisham will miss the entire 2015 season with a torn left ACL, leaving the Steelers to shop in free agency for a replacement. Pittsburgh was seventh in the NFL in points scored a season ago and with no signs of Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense slowing down, the kicker who claims this job could be a decent producer at fantasy’s most frustrating position.
Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford hasn’t missed a single rep so far in training camp and has shown “no signs” of injury, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. Bradford is currently being drafted as the QB19 (via FantasyPros ADP) and presents major upside appeal after the first few tiers of fantasy quarterbacks get drafted. Stacking up a healthy stable of running backs and wide receivers before drafting Bradford late is an extremely appealing draft approach at this point in the summer.
Don’t forget, for everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @Jeff_Brubach on Twitter.
Depth Chart Slants
Miami rookie Jay Ajayi is listed fourth among Dolphins running backs on the initial Miami depth chart of 2015 as his offseason shine continues to fade. … Montee Ball is listed behind C.J. Anderson in Denver’s backfield and is expected to battle Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson for backup duties this preseason. … Rams wide receiver Brian Quick was left out of the St. Louis starting lineup in the first installment of the Rams 2015 depth chart, but ESPN Rams reporter Nick Wagoner thinks Quick will earn the starting nod by Week 1. … Percy Harvin and Robert Woods were listed as “co-starters” alongside Sammy Watkins for the Bills, with neither expected to be big fantasy producers in a low-volume offense. … C.J. Spiller was listed third on the initial Saints depth chart but will undoubtedly rake in piles of points in PPR leagues playing alongside Mark Ingram. … Trent Richardson was listed second behind Latavius Murray in Oakland’s backfield but fantasy owners with functioning brains will focus on Murray and Roy Helu among the Oakland running backs. … Tight end Niles Paul was listed in front of Jordan Reed on Washington’s depth chart and Paul was labeled a “more complete tight end” by coach Jay Gruden. The Washington depth chart could remain the same and Paul could indeed be a more complete player but expect Reed to still be involved in the passing game when healthy. … Amari Cooper and early training camp star Michael Crabtree are listed as the starting wide receivers for the Oakland Raiders. … The Bengals initial depth chart listed Marvin Jones behind Mohamed Sanu among the Cincinnati wide receivers. The slow progress of Jones could mean more opportunities for tight end Tyler Eifert, who remains an excellent fantasy draft target. … Jace Amaro popped up third among Jets tight ends on New York’s depth chart, which is not a death sentence but hardly good news for the second-year player.
Quick Slants
Martavis Bryant (elbow) had his cast removed over the weekend and could see preseason action in coming weeks. … Marquess Wilson is expected to play a “significant role” in Week 1 if rookie Kevin White isn’t ready to play. With White reportedly a candidate to sit out the entire preseason, both Wilson and Eddie Royal will see spikes in usage early in 2015. … Tight end Eric Ebron is building a better rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford this season, according to DeroitLions.com. Ebron could certainly build on his 25 catches from a year ago, but is better left on the “stream team” right now in redraft leagues. … Zac Stacy has been running as the Jets third running back in camp thus far, keeping him firmly off the fantasy radar. … Browns rookie running back Duke Johnson has been handled with care so far in camp, but ESPN’s Adam Caplan thinks that Cleveland is simply “being very conservative” with the youngster, who could be battling Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West for snaps early in 2015. … Rookie Ameer Abdullah has “held his own” so far in pass-blocking drills at Lions camp. This is nice news to hear for any rookie as preseason games approach. … Matt Cassel will start Buffalo’s first preseason game on Friday. … Chiefs rookie wide receiver Chris Conley (knee) returned to practice on Monday. … Dynasty league obsession Christine Michael has “played well” so far at camp, according to the Seattle Times, and is holding down the third running back spot for the Seahawks behind Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. … Ryan Lindley was signed by New England to back up Jimmy Garoppolo during Tom Brady’s suspension.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
