RADIO
NFL Training Camps are in full swing which means savvy fantasy football owners are keeping a close eye on what's happening. There is lots of interesting news to digest, and RotoBaller has a handle on all the big stories. We'll be bringing you training camp analysis all throughout fantasy football draft season and help you determine which players' stock is up or down.
NFL Training Camp: Stock Up
RB David Wilson NYG
Although Rashad Jennings has been referred to as a "Bell Cow" often in PR engagements, it's hard to imagine the New York Giants avoiding giving the ball to the most explosive running back currently on their roster.
Wilson was cleared for contact earlier this month, and with news that rookie RB Andre Williams is "well behind the other RBs," Wilson's stock goes up a bit.
Don't get me wrong though-- he's probably not going to take the lead role from Jennings-- but at the very least, you can count on Wilson as an RB3 on certain weeks. Additionally, Wilson has apparently worked on his ball security, getting praise for taking a direct swipe at the ball during a play and holding on. Small steps, but valuable steps.
TE Travis Kelce KC
Andy Reid just announced the retirement of Sean McGrath, a sort of fan favorite tight end in Kansas City who began to make impact after Tony Moeaki got injured. Kelce was drafted by the current regime in the third round last year, so they're invested in him making some sort of impact. Kelce is 6'5'', 255 pounds, and he runs a 4.64 40-yard dash. He's a real weapon if the Chiefs use him. Even more importantly is the frequency with which Alex Smith uses his tight ends. Vernon Davis had his best year as a pro the last year that Alex Smith started a full season for the 49ers, thanks to Smith's penchant for checkdowns and aiming for the biggest target. If Kelce is on the field all season, he could easily find himself finishing in the top 14 among tight ends.
QB Ryan Tannehill + RB Lamar Miller MIA
The Dolphins have finally decided to start making use of Ryan Tannehill's natural athleticism (he was a wide receiver up until his final year of college), and they have installed read option plays into the playbook. This brings Tannehill's value up a lot, as the read option will give him the opportunity for rushing yards and more play-action will give him the potential for better throws.
Lamar Miller also sees his value rise, because if Tannehill becomes a running threat, teams have to account for both of them by playing more conservatively. Miller's been the first-team back in all practices, and he's much more talented as a runner than Knowshon Moreno. This is a group to monitor because if Tannehill builds on last season's growth, he'll easily find himself amongst the top six or so fantasy scoring quarterbacks. Miller could see his value rise to a solid RB2.
RB DeAngelo Williams CAR
DeAngelo Williams has been stuck in the Carolina Panthers mess of a backfield for what feels like forever. Last season though, for a short period, Williams was all alone playing the single back role while having goal line touches taken from him by Mike Tolbert. While Tolbert's vulture tactics hurt Williams, he was still a viable flex play for those weeks where he was the only back playing.
As it turns out, Jonathan Stewart has again been injured prior to the season. Reports out of training camp are that he's hurt his hamstring, a terrible injury for someone who's job is running. He's out two-to-four weeks minimum, and it opens up the chance that Stewart might miss even more time. If he does, Williams will be a great RB3 for a 13th-round pick.
WR Brian Quick STL
A second-round pick in the 2012 Draft, Brian Quick is 6'3'', 218 lbs., and he runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. He's been considered a guy just waiting to break out for a while now, and three years into the league, it may finally be his time. According to training camp reports, Quick has been making plays all over the field, having learned to use his body to box out defenders and make big plays. Maybe it's the addition of Kenny Britt showing him the works. Quick is going undrafted in standard 12-team leagues, so he could be a real steal. It's very important that he be on your radar during preseason.
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WR Charles Johnson CLE
An UDFA in 2014, Charles Johnson has become one of the most raved about players in Browns camp. Pettine has come out talking about how explosive he is and all media reports have said the same. Someone has to catch the balls in Cleveland, and who it's going to be outside of Cameron is anyone's guess. Johnson might still not be draftable (he went undrafted, after all), but because of recent training camp developments, he should be monitored in redrafts. In dynasty leagues, he should be picked up in any deep league.
QB Teddy Bridgewater MIN
That's right, the hype on Teddy Bridgewater is coming. After falling in the draft due to a bad pro day, concerns about his arm and physical stature, it's become more than obvious that Bridgewater was the QB he showed he was on tape and not what the media made him out to be. He's been taking all first team reps in training camp and has been receiving tons of praise from media and coaches. It's likely that Bridgewater starts for the Vikings and finds himself in a great situation throwing to Adrian Peterson, Kyle Rudolph, Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson.
WR Michael Floyd ARI
Michael Floyd's sophomore year was good enough to see him finish as the 22nd-highest-scoring wide receiver last year in standard formats.
When he headed into camp this year, there was a lot of buzz around Michael Floyd being one of the leagues potential big breakout stars. So far in camp, Floyd has been impossible to deal with, especially after having developed what's being described as pinpoint timing with quarterback Carson Palmer.
Floyd could see himself finishing this season among the league's elite top 15 wide receivers. He's currently going on average as the 23rd WR off the board.
NFL Training Camp: Stock Down
WR Cecil Shorts JAX
Cecil Shorts is low on radars already, and now there's a good chance of him being completely off of anyones altogether. Shorts tweaked his hamstring in practice and will be kept out of training camp a couple of weeks. Hamstrings are the kind of repeat injury that can bother a WR all season long and being that Shorts wasn't a top flight Wide Receiver as it was, it should set off alarms that he might be a wasted spot this year altogether. Adding insult onto injury, he still has Chad Henne for a Quarterback and the new front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars went and drafted Marquise Lee and Allen Robinson.
