FFToolbox - Ram's QB Sam Bradford is shaking off the rust plus 30 more

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Ram's QB Sam Bradford is shaking off the rust
Crown Royal Brickyard 400 Practice Recap: Sleeper Drivers to Watch
Cowboys QB Tony Romo: You'll see the best of me over next 4-5 years
Saints QB Drew Brees thinks he can play at 45
Panther's RB Jonathan Stewart not concerned about his hamstring
300 carries 'not out of the question' for Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart
Packers WR Jordy Nelson gets four-year, $39 million extension
ESPN's John Clayton predicts Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch will report next week
UPDATE: Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts to miss 'several weeks' with hamstring strain
49ers RB Kendall Hunter has torn ACL
Inside the Toolbox: Strong Finishers (PREMIUM PREVIEW)
Panthers QB Cam Newton still not 100% healthy
Raiders QB Matt Schaub named the starter in Oakland
Bills RB Fred Jackson injured
49ers RB Kendall Hunter injured
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant confident he’s still on the rise
UPDATED: Colts RB Vick Ballard has torn Achilles
Arizona RB Andre Ellington to be a 'bellcow'
The Mock Draft World Championship: Introduction and Pick Analysis
New England TE Rob Gronkowski not 100% yet
Colts RB Vick Ballard injured during camp
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will get long-term deal after 2014
Browns QB Brian Hoyer expected to be Week 1 starter
Inside the Toolbox: Running Backs Age 29 and Over (PREMIUM PREVIEW)
Colts RB Trent Richardson says he was playing injured last year
Texans WR Andre Johnson reported to camp today
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert has 'attention-grabbing receptions' in camp
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant 'not close' to new deal with team
Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch to hold out on training camp
The 10th Annual RotoBowl: Draft Analysis (PREMIUM PREVIEW)
2013 Fantasy Football Auction Values

Ram's QB Sam Bradford is shaking off the rust

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 07:10 PM PDT

As reported by ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Sam Bradford practiced on Friday and Saturday. This is the first time that Bradford has practiced on consecutive days since his injury in 2013. Bradford was reportedly extremely excited to practice, enough so that Jeff Fisher has to watch the quarterback carefully and throttle down the amount of throws he's taking. Bradford is coming of a 2013 season in which he only played seven games, but he still managed to acquire 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Rams have slowly but surely been building a very solid team. With talent such as Tavon Austin and Zac Stacy slowly emerging, there is a massive amount of potential in the Ram's offense. For the first time in his career, Bradford may have a productive running game backing up his offense. Even with this, though, the St. Louis quarterback should only be drafted as a capable backup with potential.

Crown Royal Brickyard 400 Practice Recap: Sleeper Drivers to Watch

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 04:53 PM PDT

Six drivers to watch in the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Cowboys QB Tony Romo: You'll see the best of me over next 4-5 years

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 02:19 PM PDT

Playoff failures aside, Tony Romo has been a very productive quarterback over the course of the past seven or eight seasons. But now, at the age of 34 and coming off his second back surgery in as many years, Romo says he has finally become the player he's always wanted to be. Because of that, quot;I think over the course of the next four or five years, you'll see the best version of me that I've had throughout my career," Romo told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Here's another example of how deep the quarterback position is this season: Over the past three seasons, Romo has averaged about 4,300 yards and 30 touchdowns. Yet, he's not even being drafted as a QB1 in 10-team leagues. Yes, back surgeries are always a cause for concern, but Romo has played in 47 of the past 48 games and is in a pass-first offense with one of the game's best wideouts. Plus, Romo practiced on Saturday, so it looks like he has healed up. The team's brass can say that the Cowboys will run more often this season, but with Scott Linehan calling the plays, do you really believe that?

Saints QB Drew Brees thinks he can play at 45

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 01:43 PM PDT

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is entering his 14th year in the league. Very few players are physically able to live an NFL life for that long, but Brees' body is in good shape, and he believes that he may have 40 percent of his career still ahead of him. Speaking with NFL.com's Albert Breer on Friday, Brees said there's quot;no doubt" he could play into his mid-40s. "I'm not getting ahead myself, like it's a pipe dream, at 45," Brees said. "I understand the challenges that come along with that. But why not? If I can stay healthy, and I'm having fun and playing at a high level, why wouldn't I wanna do that? The biggest challenge is physically, the maintenance, the recovery, the way you train. You gotta hope that you stay healthy, but why not?" Brees has been able to stay healthy for the past decade. He's missed just one game since 2004. FANTASY ANALYSIS: We've heard this before from Brees. He's entering his age-35 season and shows absolutely no signs of his age other than how his vast experience allows him to school young defenders. You can lock Brees into 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns this season and probably at least a couple more seasons. It sounds crazy, but that's become the norm for him.

Panther's RB Jonathan Stewart not concerned about his hamstring

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 01:38 PM PDT

Jonathan Stewart told reporters at Saturday's training camp, quot;It's definitely frustrating, but it's nothing that I'm really too concerned about considering my past and my history with my ankles." The 27 year old running back hasn't played 16 games in a season since 2011. Stewart says it's frustrating and the only thing he wants to do is contribute. The Panther's running back feels as though recovering from the torn hamstring injury won't be problem. Stewart is expected to miss 2-4 weeks, but will be back for the regular season. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Stewart hasn't been a relevant fantasy running back since the 2011 season. An accumulation of injuries and the sharing of touches with DeAngelo Williams in the backfield does not bode well for Stewart. Some may see Stewart as a decent change-of-pace back when he's healthy, but he should only be considered in deeper leagues. With the new re-worked offensive line and the lack of passing options for Cam Newton, the Panther's running game may suffer dramatically. If you're considered a Panthers running back, think again.

300 carries 'not out of the question' for Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 01:09 PM PDT

If you need any further proof that the Jaguars want running back Toby Gerhart to be the engine of their offense, ESPN's Michael DiRocco is here to give it to you. quot;The Jaguars also need [Gerhart] to be the workhorse back," DiRocco said Friday. "250 to 300 carries, 1,200 yards I think is not out of the question for Toby Gerhart." DiRocco also said Gerhart is a "first-down menace" who has the hands to play on third downs as a pass-catcher. FANTASY ANALYSIS: All of this talk about Gerhart and his huge carry count has helped move his ADP into the early portions of the fourth round in standard leagues. It's hard to disagree with that spot. Eleven RBs carried the ball at least 250 times last season, and only one of them is currently not being drafted in the first four rounds: Chris Johnson. Gerhart is looking more and more like a solid RB2 with each passing day.

Packers WR Jordy Nelson gets four-year, $39 million extension

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 12:58 PM PDT

Nelso signed an extension with the Packers that will tie him to the team through the 2018 season, and includes $14.2 million in guaranteed money. The 29-year-old Nelson has spent his entire career in Green Bay, and produced some of the highest numbers for WRs in the NFL since he joined the team in 2008. Last season, Nelson caught 85 passes for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This news really solidifies Nelson's presence in Green Bay. Dynasty league owners should consider this new contract as a slight boon to his long-term value. Nelson and Packers WR Randall Cobb can be considered options 1A and 1B for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, with Nelson holding the sight edge. The players complement each other on the field, with each opening up opportunities for the other. Either receiver would serve well as a low-end WR1 or very elite WR2 on fantasy teams.

ESPN's John Clayton predicts Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch will report next week

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 12:33 PM PDT

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is holding out of training camp because of money. ESPN's John Clayton said Friday that he expects Lynch's holdout to end rather quickly because of money. Specifically, the money he is bound to lose by staying away from the team. quot;My prediction is [Lynch] comes in on Tuesday, because starting Tuesday, which will be the sixth day of his holdout, he'll have already incurred about $180,000 in fines," Clayton said during Friday's edition of ESPN's NFL Live. "But the team would then have the ability to reclaim $900,000 of his signing bonus of $6 million. And each day after that, they can reclaim more. If he misses a preseason game, they can start eating into his regular-season salary of $315,000 a game. I don't know if you want to try to hold out to get a little bit more money when you could be losing over a million dollars by having this go, say, 10 days. "So I would anticipate he's going to evaluate it over the weekend, see if he can get the team to budge -- and at the moment, the team's not budging, they're not going to try to give him any more money. They are going to try to go with the other backs. They want him back in, but it's going to cost him so much money to hold out, I don't think it's going to be worth it, and I think he's smart enough to evaluate that." FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's not based on inside information; Clayton's just guessing here, but he knows the pulse of the Seahawks more than any other team, and it's a very reasonable argument. Lynch is due to make a healthy $5.5 million this season, and the Seahawks don't need to give in to his demands with Robert Turbin and Christine Michael on the roster. While the Seahawks would obviously love to have Beast Mode, Turbin is a solid backup, and Michael is a future star. Lynch will have to blink first here. We'll see if he indeed does on Tuesday. He is still a first-round fantasy pick,

UPDATE: Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts to miss 'several weeks' with hamstring strain

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 11:35 AM PDT

Update: The Jaguars have given a more specific timetable for Shorts. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts will be out for quot;several weeks" with a hamstring strain, head coach Gus Bradley announced Saturday. Shorts couldn't finish Friday's practice due to what was initially labeled as hamstring tightness, but it was obviously more than that. The timing is awful for Shorts. Besides missing valuable time in training camp, the team had recently expressed desire to give a long-term deal to Shorts, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's just the latest setback in a growing line of maladies for Shorts. He missed most of the Jaguars' offseason program due to a hamstring injury. He missed the last three games of 2013 after sports-hernia surgery and was generally dinged up throughout the season. He's also missed games due to a concussion and a seperate hamstring injury during his three short years in the league. If Shorts isn't healthy for the start of the season, that will put more responsibility on the shoulders of rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson. Both are lottery tickets in re-draft leagues.

49ers RB Kendall Hunter has torn ACL

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 11:14 AM PDT

The results are in from Kendall Hunter's MRI, and they show the worst-case scenario. The 49ers confirmed Saturday that Hunter tore the ACL in his right knee during Friday's practice and will miss the entire season. Hunter was set to compete in camp to remain the team's direct backup behind Frank Gore. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Without Hunter around, everyone moves up a rung. Rookie Carlos Hyde is now clearly in the lead for the No. 2 job. Hunter's injury raises LaMichael James' chances of making the final roster. Marcus Lattimore might have a shot at the backup gig, but he has to prove he is all the way back from a brutal 2012 knee injury. Hyde was already the team's most popular secondary back in fantasy circles. He's an RB4 who could be a touchdown maven this season. He is the team's running back of the future and with Gore in his 30s, the Niners would be well-served to give Hyde a significant role right away if he can handle it.

Inside the Toolbox: Strong Finishers (PREMIUM PREVIEW)

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 08:04 AM PDT

A free look at one of our Scout Fantasy premium articles which provides additional insight on one of FFToolbox's world famous tools.

Panthers QB Cam Newton still not 100% healthy

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 03:59 AM PDT

ESPN's Panthers beat writer David Newton described QB Cam Newton as 'looking rusty' on the first day of training camp. He also noted a quot;scary moment came when Newton walked away with a slight limp after stepping into a throw that wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery dropped." Newton is recovering from an offseason surgery to repair loose ligaments in his ankle. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The situation with Newton isn't too concerning. It seems he is healed up enough to practice, but isn't 100% yet which is normal for players that had surgical procedures in the offseason. He can be considered a low-end QB1 but may not meet expectations with a lack of WR prospects. The ankle and WR chemistry are something to monitor throughout camp.

Raiders QB Matt Schaub named the starter in Oakland

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 02:38 AM PDT

Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen, in only the first week of training camp, confirmed that veteran QB Matt Schaub will start this season for the Raiders. When asked about who the starting quarterback would be, Allen responded quot;It's Matt. Matt's our quarterback" and then reiterated the statement again by saying "I'm really excited about Derek Carr, I think he's got a chance to be a top-level quarterback in this league. But he's young, and he's a rookie. That's a tough proposition in this league." There were questions of whether there would be a camp battle after the Raiders selected Carr in the second-round of the NFL draft after signing Schaub in the offseason. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This doesn't come as a surprise as Schaub was always the favorite for starting duties. He doesn't have many options but WR James Jones and RB Maurice Jones-Drew were brought in from the Packers and Jaguars this year to give the offense a boost. He can be looked at as a QB2 after coming off one of his worst seasons last year in Houston, which saw him benched and eventually cut after the season.

Bills RB Fred Jackson injured

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:56 PM PDT

Jackson suffered a quot;lower leg injury" during practice Friday, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak. He was able to leave the field under his own power, but did not return to drills. Jackson, who is 33 years old, is coming off a 2013 season in which he tallied 1,277 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Jackson's stock is down this year, and that has a lot to do with concerns about his age and ability to hold up physically. There aren't many effective 33-year-old running backs in the NFL. Not much is known about his injury at this point, and we'll continue to follow the story. But if Jackson misses time, RB Bryce Brown stands to benefit the most, as he'll have a much easier road to carries. Bills RB C.J. Spiller's value will receive a slight bump, as will the draft stock of RB Anthony Dixon. Prior to the injury, Jackson was being taken 46th among running backs. If he's hurt in any significant way, that number will rise a bit higher. Draft Jackson with extreme caution.

49ers RB Kendall Hunter injured

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:44 PM PDT

Hunter sustained a right knee injury during practice Friday, according ESPN's Bill Williamson. Hunter was hurt when attempting to catch a swing pass, and was down for several minutes. He was able to walk off the field under his own power without limping, but reportedly looked upset. Hunter previously missed five games in 2012 with a torn Achilles tendon. FANTASY ANALYSIS: There isn't much known about the injury at this point, but if it ends up being serious, or the start of a lingering issue that nags Hunter throughout the season, the crowded situation in the 49ers backfield will become somewhat clearer. Hunter was widely expected to be rookie 49ers RB Carlos Hyde's primary competition for the No. 2 RB spot behind 49ers RB Frank Gore. If Hunter's out of the lineup, Hyde will have a much clearer path to playing time. 49ers RB Marcus Lattimore will also seek to get into the mix, but until this point Lattimore has been working individually in training camp as he recovers from major knee surgery. If it's a big injury to Hunter, Hyde is the 49ers back who stands to benefit the most.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant confident he’s still on the rise

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:43 PM PDT

Dez Bryant said in a post-practice interview, quot;Truthfully, to be honest, I feel like, man, I'm still rising." The fifth year wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys is entering a contract year and will be working as hard as ever to keep on improving himself. At 25 years old, he is the Cowboy's oldest wide receiver and is seen as role model to the other wideouts. In the 2013 season, Bryant totaled 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns. In an offense that could very rarely produce at a consistent level in 2013, Bryant was the lone star. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Cowboys struggled to get Bryant the ball in 2013. The Cowboy's wide receiver tallied 160 targets last season, a statistic that puts him as the sixth most targeted receiver last year. Of those 160 targets, only 93 were receptions. If the Cowboys can get the ball to Bryant on a more consistent basis, he will be able to post monstrous 2014 numbers. With Bryant, the sky is the limit. If he continues to put in the work he has been, we can expect a stellar season from him.

UPDATED: Colts RB Vick Ballard has torn Achilles

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 04:48 PM PDT

Updating an article by my colleague Stephen Englert, it is now confirmed Indianapolis Colts RB Vick Ballard has a torn Achilles and is likely done for the season. This was following reports from earlier in the day that saw Ballard being carted off the field with an ankle injury. He missed 2013 after a torn ACL which required surgery. The Colts only real depth at the position is Ahmad Bradshaw. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This should give a boost to Bradshaw and Richardson as they are the only two capable running backs on the roster. Chris Rainey is also on the depth chart but is more of a special teams asset. You can consider Richardson a RB2 with upside, and follow Bradshaw in case there are any struggles in the running game.

Arizona RB Andre Ellington to be a 'bellcow'

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 04:35 PM PDT

Bruce Arians stated that Andre Ellington is ready to be a 'bellcow' in the Arizona offense, according to Darren Urban, a reporter that has covered the Arizona Cardinals for 15 years. In the offseason, it has been confirmed that Ellington has added an additional 10 pounds to his frame. Ellington became the featured back of the Arizona Cardinals after the retirement of Rashard Mendenhall earlier in the year. Ellington still faces competition from Stepfan Taylor and Jonathan Dwyer, two backs that may share a workload with Ellington. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Ellington showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie campaign. Because of the limited amount of touches he received, his fantasy production was severely diminished. However, when he did get his hands on the ball, he lit it up. With only 118 carries Ellington racked in 652 yards and three touchdowns in the 2013 season. He also caught the ball 39 times for 371 yards and a touchdown. Ellington currently has an ADP of 37, placing him behind the likes of Doug Martin and Zac Stacy. If Ellington truly becomes the 'bellcow' of the Arizona offense, 1,000 all-purpose yards is extremely likely. With his unique talents for rushing and catching he is a must-own in PPR formats.

The Mock Draft World Championship: Introduction and Pick Analysis

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 03:01 PM PDT

Our fantasy football expert completes his own team entry into the Mock Draft World Championship!

New England TE Rob Gronkowski not 100% yet

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 01:25 PM PDT

After the Patriot's second training camp practice on Friday, Rob Gronkowski stated, quot;If it was 100 percent, I'd be doing ever single little thing." The New England Patriot's tight end has only been participating in individual drills. While the team drills are taking place he has been forced to watch from the sidelines. Gronkowski states that there is no timetable for him to start taking repetitions in team drills, but he will be dressed in full pads on Saturday to practice running routes and cutting. Gronkowski says, "I'm going to go full speed and I'm going to keep smashing and bashing everything I do." FANTASY ANALYSIS: When Gronkowski is healthy, he is one of the biggest red-zone threats in the NFL. In the three seasons before his injury, Gronkowski never caught less than 10 touchdowns. He is as reliable as they come and if injuries were not a concern, he would easily be coming off the board after or even before Jimmy Graham. With a current ADP of 30, Gronkowski has a lot of question marks. His play style is extremely physical and there's no telling whether he can hold up for an entire season. If you love high risk-high reward players, Gronkowski is your obvious target. If you don't fancy risk, however, I would stay away from the tight end.

Colts RB Vick Ballard injured during camp

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 01:22 PM PDT

Ballard injured his ankle running a route during the Colts practice Friday and was carted off the field. He was unable to put any weight on the injured ankle when attempting to leave the field. Ballard is part of a Colts RB corps that also includes RB Trent Richardson and RB Ahmad Bradshaw. FANTASY ANALYSIS: If the injury turns out to be as serous as it sounded, this will have some fairly strong fantasy implications for the Colts other RBs, Richardson and Bradshaw. With Ballard potentially out of the mix for carries, both those backs stand to benefit. Richardson is definitely the guy you want out of these two, as Bradshaw has far too many durability concerns. Earlier this week Richardson told reporters that he'd played most of last season with an injured collar bone and a separated shoulder. If he is truly back to 100% this year and taking a large majority of touches, Richardson would be a decent RB2.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will get long-term deal after 2014

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 12:48 PM PDT

Ben Roethlisberger and his agent, Ryan Tollner, have recently met with the Art Rooney in hopes of signing a new contract. Although there are still two years left to his $102 million dollar contract, Roethlisberger wants to be a Steeler for the rest of his career. Rooney has made no objections to the starting quarterback's wishes and supports his idea of retiring as a Steeler. The Steelers hope to sign Roethlisberger after 2014 because they would first like to get the expiring contracts of Jason Worilds, Cortez Allen and Marcus Gilbert taken care of. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Roethlisberger has always been a very consistent fantasy producer and this contract ensures that he will be throwing to Antonio Brown for a long time. Last season he topped 4200 yards and 28 touchdowns without a consistent running game to back him up. With the emergence of Le'Veon Bell in the backfield and the passing game, Roethlisberger could be looking at another great season in 2014. With a current ADP of 129, he has significant upside as a late round pick and can easily be an every week starter.

Browns QB Brian Hoyer expected to be Week 1 starter

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 11:39 AM PDT

According to Bob Holtzman, an ESPN reporter, the Cleveland Browns fully expect Brian Hoyer to be the starter for Week 1. A player within the organization revealed to Holtzam, quot;We're all expecting Hoyer to start." This decision does not come as surprising considering earlier this week Mike Pettine, head coach of the Browns, revealed Johnny Manziel may only be a "package quarterback." FANTASY ANALYSIS: If last year was any indication of what Hoyer can accomplish with the Browns, I feel as if there is no reason to place Manziel in the starting lineup this early. Before Hoyer's ACL tear, he averaged 300 yards in his first two games as a starter and threw five touchdowns, leading his team to two victories. The Browns organization would be smart to give Manziel at least a year to fully learn the offense, while letting Hoyer lead the team in 2014. With the probable suspension of Josh Gordon though, Hoyer is left throwing to Jordan Cameron, Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin and Nate Burleson, not the most formidable of receiving options. Without Gordon, Hoyer is currently only a waiver wire QB.

Inside the Toolbox: Running Backs Age 29 and Over (PREMIUM PREVIEW)

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 09:12 AM PDT

A free look at one of our Scout Fantasy premium articles which provides additional insight on one of FFToolbox's world famous tools.

Colts RB Trent Richardson says he was playing injured last year

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:59 AM PDT

Richardson told ESPN's Mike Wells that he played much of last season with a chipped collar bone and a separated AC joint. quot;Toward the end of the season I felt more comfortable, but the other time I was more injured," Richardson said. Richardson struggled to assimilate into the Colts offense after being traded to the team by the Browns after Week 2. In total last season, Richardson took 223 touches for 879 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns. FANTASY ANALYSIS: While the injury story is interesting, the biggest problem for Richardson last year was that he was completely lost in the Colts offense. He never had a chance to learn the scheme in a camp setting, and that showed in the ways he was used. When he came in to the game, it was almost always to rush, and rarely to pass-protect, and as a result defenses were able to stack the box against him, which helped contribute to his 3.0 yards per carry average. This year he'll have an opportunity to learn the system in camp. Colts management seem committed to Richardson - they don't want to look like fools for making the trade with Cleveland - so it seems like he'll get plenty of chances, especially early in the year. Richardson is currently ranked 40th overall by FFToolbox.com.

Texans WR Andre Johnson reported to camp today

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 07:33 AM PDT

ESPN's Adam Schefter says that Johnson arrived at the Texans facility and reported to camp on time Friday morning. Johnson and his agent are still in talks with the team about the $1 million roster bonus Johnson forwent by skipping out on team activities this spring, but those talks will apparently continue with Johnson present for training camp. Just a few weeks ago, reports surfaced that Johnson wants to be traded from the Texans, but at least one reporter familiar with the situation says that a trade is unlikely to happen. It looks like Johnson will be a Texan for at least one more year. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Although Johnson showed up to camp, one doesn't get the sense that he's happy about it. His contract makes him the eight-highest paid WR in the NFL, so his dissatisfaction probably has more to do with the organization's losing ways than with his pay check. This situation should make Johnson's potential fantasy owners nervous. The record isn't good on players who publicly express unhappiness with their teams. Still, Johnson was the 12th-highest scoring fantasy wideout last year, and he's probably appropriately valued at his current position of 20th WR taken in drafts.

Bengals TE Tyler Eifert has 'attention-grabbing receptions' in camp

Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:02 AM PDT

ESPN Bengals reporter said TE Tyler Eifert had quot;attention-grabbing receptions" in the first day of training camp. This comes after there were some worries that Eifert wouldn't be ready to go for camp while still healing from a shoulder injury. All systems are a go for the second-year tight end with Jermaine Gresham on the PUP list due to a back injury. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Eifert is a name to keep track of. He's poised for a breakout season if he can stay healthy. Gresham is almost guaranteed to be playing backup after last years underwhelming performance and starting this year's camp on the PUP list. The only concern will be OC Hue Jackson's run-heavy tendencies which could be a damper on Eiferts numbers.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant 'not close' to new deal with team

Posted: 24 Jul 2014 09:51 PM PDT

ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon says that the Cowboys and Dez Bryant have had several contract discussions, but are 'not close' to a new deal for the receiver as training camp approaches. Bryant, now in the final year of his rookie contract, is scheduled to make $1.78 million this season. That's very low when contrasted against salaries for comparable receivers. When asked whether he was concerned by the lack of a new deal, Bryant replied quot;I'm just going to keep on working." FANTASY ANALYSIS: To take a contrarian stance here: this is good news for Dez Bryant's fantasy value. Yes, typically when a player comes into camp unhappy about their contract situation, things don't turn out well. But Dez sounds remarkably mature when speaking about the issues. He sounds motivated. Of course he wants his money. And he deserves it. But he seems to understand that it's probably not coming until next season. Reading into his quotes, Bryant sounds like he sees the unsettled contract situation as an opportunity to demonstrate and capitalize upon his value, and that is good news for anybody lucky enough to own the star WR in their fantasy league. Don't be surprised if he ends up as the top-scoring wideout at the end of this fantasy season.

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch to hold out on training camp

Posted: 24 Jul 2014 05:46 PM PDT

Star running back Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks told ex-teammate Michael Robinson that he plans to hold out until a new deal is had. Lynch is 28 years old and must have saw the new deal Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles recently recieved for holding out of training camp, that allowed him to become the second highest paid RB in the league behind Adrian Peterson. If there isn't a deal done, except fellow RBs Christine Michael and Robert Turbin to compete for starting duties. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Lynch is a RB1 if he plays this year. Expect a deal to get done sooner rather than later but the whole situation is worth monitoring. You may also see your stock rise for your fantasy teams if you have been holding onto either Michael or Turbin. They both can be considered RB2's with RB1 upside if no deal is reached.