Training Camp Daily Dose: Dose: Chris Johnson A Cardinal
The preseason rolls on as NFL training camps continue to produce nuggets of fantasy news and injury concerns by the barrel full. With each hamstring strain and tweaked ankle, be sure to stop in at Rotoworld to get the latest analysis on the ever-changing fantasy landscape that will help make your fantasy drafts wildly successful. Before we dive into Monday’s training camp developments, a front office move stole the spotlight as the NFL preseason approaches Week 2.
Chris Johnson nudged his way back onto the fantasy scene as he inked a one-year, $2 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. Johnson has given the fantasy football community incredible seasons of top-flight production and memorable quotes over the course of his seven-year career, and will get a chance to revive his fantasy stock after a disappointing 2014 season in which he tallied just 663 yards on the ground with the New York Jets.
Although he will turn 30 just before Week 3, the new Cardinals back should have a shot to see some field time early in the year with rookie David Johnson still not practicing in full and Andre Ellington no Tony Stark himself. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has expressed disappointment in this position group over the summer, so the addition of Chris Johnson will certainly add some much needed competition. More cooks in the kitchen generally makes things difficult to project in terms of NFL backfields, so the arrival of Johnson in the desert has the potential to muddy up the outlook for all three Arizona running backs. Ellington remains the safest fantasy bet of this group but stay tuned to Rotoworld for the latest news from Arizona.
Editor’s Note: For updated rankings, projections, exclusive columns, mock drafts and tons more, check out our Draft Guide!
In Other News…
Randall Cobb talked about the new offensive pace of the Green Bay Packers as he referred to the team running 33 plays in the first quarter of their opening preseason contest. More plays from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense would be a huge boost for the fantasy forces on this team and would also create a pounding headache for opposing defensive coordinators.
“We’re going to run it a lot – we always do – but we’ll have more than one guy doing it,” said Eagles coach Chip Kelly as he discussed his 2015 backfield. Chip’s offenses have finished in the top-ten in both rushing attempts and rushing yards in his two seasons as an NFL coach, so this isn’t a death sentence for DeMarco Murray. Ryan Mathews will be mixed in, but expect Murray to handle the bulk of the workload in Kelly’s offense.
Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (calf) is off crutches and out of his walking boot, which is fantastic news for the top Chicago target. With Brandon Marshall out of town and rookie Kevin White (shin) on the shelf, the Bears are going to need Jeffery at the top of his game when the regular season begins.
Colts rookie wide receiver Phillip Dorsett was referred to as “a big play waiting to happen” by coach Chuck Pagano on Monday. Andrew Luck has no shortage of targets at his disposal this season, but Dorsett will have plenty of chances to shine throughout the year although his week-to-week consistency may provide a challenge for fantasy owners.
Both Atlanta Falcons running backs were back on Monday as Devonta Freeman (hamstring) and Tevin Coleman (hamstring) made their way from the training table to the practice field. This backfield will be a tough nut to crack for fantasy purposes with the Falcons unsure of which back will shoulder the load this season. Both Freeman and Coleman have reasonable ADP’s at the moment, making them decent upside plays in the mid-late rounds of fantasy drafts. Hopefully clarity will be gained soon as both players get into the preseason mix.
Don’t forget, for everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and@Jeff_Brubach on Twitter.
Quick Hits
Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is now 100% and had his practice restrictions removed as he returns from a patellar tendon injury. A healthy Cruz would be a nice addition for Eli Manning and the Giants offense alongside 2014 dynamo Odell Beckham. … Justin Hunter has been “trending up” at Titans practices said coach Ken Whisenhunt. Unfortunately, Hunter’s fantasy stock has been trending in the opposite direction since the summer of 2014 and it will take some serious on-field production for fantasy owners to jump back onboard. … Miami wide receiver Kenny Stills (calf) was back at practice on Monday after missing the last couple weeks. … DeSean Jackson is “feeling pretty good” according to coach Jay Gruden as he works his way back from a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. … Dez Bryant will be on the sidelines for Dallas’ second preseason game as he nurses a minor hamstring injury. Don’t worry, this first-round fantasy beast will be just fine for Week 1. … Seattle backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has a high ankle sprain and is now 4-6 weeks from being back in the saddle as Russell Wilson’s backup. … The Jaguars are confident that recently injured tight end Julius Thomas (hand) will be ready for Week 1. Blake Bortles will be happy to have his jumbo red zone target back when the regular season begins and fantasy owners should enjoy the dip in ADP Thomas will continue to see this summer. … Eli Manning is looking for a new contract and the sides are reportedly not close in negotiations, which is to be expected after two monster quarterback contracts were just dished out to Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers. … Rookie Ameer Abdullah is still listed second on the Detroit Lions depth chart, but is number one in the hearts of fantasy owners, who are snatching the youngster up earlier and earlier in drafts this month. The stock of Abdullah will continue to rise as Joique Bell returns from injury. … Miami rookie DaVante Parker (foot) was seen jogging at Dolphins practice on Monday, which was the first time the youngster had been observed running this preseason. Parker looks to be a longshot to lace up his cleats in Week 1, but could have some fantasy value as the season moves along. Keep your ear to the waiver wire. … Bills wide receiver Robert Woods was called “one of the most consistent players in camp” but likely won’t see enough attention in the Buffalo passing game to make a dent in the fantasy world. … Eddie Royal was “the camp MVP” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. There should be plenty of Jay Cutler targets available for Royal, who has been receiving praise from all angles in Chicago this summer. … Bills rookie Karlos Williams is fighting for the chance to backup LeSean McCoy in Buffalo but found himself hospitalized Monday with an unspecified illness. No return date has been made public, but this is a situation to monitor as we dig deeper into the preseason.
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