Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 103 (Friday, July 31st)
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Hi Folks,
Good Saturday to you. Hope you're ready for a nice weekend. We are here. We've got lots of news and notes for you so let's get to it.
J
SITE NEWS
A.
Top 300 Draft List
My partner David Dodds has created a top 300 Draft List that merges his player rankings and Average Draft Position (ADP).
B.
163 Cheatsheets
Don't have time to enter your data to get a custom cheatsheet? No problem. Use our 163 Cheatsheets where our Clayton Gray runs the Footballguys Stat Projections through 163 different league scenarios. You're sure to find one that is close to what you're doing.
C.
Top 300 Players
My partner David Dodds unveils his Top 300 Players included with highlights for under and over valued players.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. SD - RB LaDainian Tomlinson says he is 100 percent healthy2. IND - Moore, Mudd return to former roles
3. BAL - OC Cameron says RBBC again this year
4. DAL - WR Roy Williams has a chip on his shoulder
5. DEN - McDaniels happy to have WR Brandon Marshall on field
6. CHI - QB Jay Cutler and TE Greg Olsen have instant chemistry
7. MIA - WR Greg Camarillo could lead the team in receptions
8. CIN - QB Carson Palmer shows good velocity Friday
9. KC - Team has hopes for RB Jamaal Charles
10. KC - Larry RB Larry Johnson has the right attitude
11. OAK - RB Darren McFadden lining up at wideout, Cable promises expanded role
12. OAK - TE Zach Miller improving
13. SEA - Ruskell: RBBC, but RB Julius Jones will get 'bulk of carries'
14. BAL - OC Cameron: 'Everyone excited about WR Demetrius Williams'
15. WAS - WR Devin Thomas off to a fast start
16. DEN - RB Knowshon Moreno missing valuable time
17. DEN - HC McDaniels impressed with RB Ryan Torain
18. STL - RB Steven Jackson focused on aggressive weight training
19. NYJ - Bad morning practice for the quarterbacks
20. TB - QB Josh Freeman signed to compete for starting role
21. SD - TE Antonio Gates regains jumping ability
22. NYJ - RB Leon Washington 'not confident' deal will get done
23. TEN - QB Vince Young outplays QB Patrick Ramsey 'by a good bit'
24. MIN - RB Adrian Peterson weighs in at 220 pounds
25. BAL - Saunders hired as offensive consultant
26. DAL - RB Marion Barber lighter, more wiggle
27. DEF - MIN - DE Jared Allen says he is in phenomenal shape
SD - RB LaDainian Tomlinson says he is 100 percent healthy
Source: Kevin Acee - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Kevin Acee, of The San Diego Union-Tribune, reports San Diego Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson appeared more cut than he usually does at the start of training camp.
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Tomlinson said he is at full strength after using the offseason to rehab his groin injury. 'I wasn't 100 percent at minicamp,' he said. 'Now I am 100 percent.'
IND - Moore, Mudd return to former roles
Source: Colts.com
Colts.com is reporting two of the Colts' longtime offensive assistants are back. And notably, they're back in their previous roles. Tom Moore, the Colts' offensive coordinator from 1998-2008, and Howard Mudd, the offensive line coach during the same span, are back with the team and will perform the same duties, Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said Friday. The two retired in May over concerns with the NFL's pension program. "Howard and Tom are both returning, doing the same job they've been doing over the years," Caldwell said Friday as the Colts prepared to report Sunday to 2009 training camp at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.
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Somewhere Peyton Manning is smiling. The loss of Tony Dungy would be tough enough. But losing Moore and Mudd would have been really tough. This is excellent news for Manning and the Colts offense.
BAL - OC Cameron says RBBC again this year
Source: BaltimoreRavens.com
BaltimoreRavens.com reports that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said it will be a RBBC again this year. Cameron said, "I think all our running backs are the healthiest they've been. It will be running back by committee. You could see all three of them in the game at the same time. You could see any combination of the two. We've got three good running backs, and I think everybody is clear that you need three guys, at least." Head coach John Harbaugh also commented that Willis McGahee looked "explosive", had a good day, and "ran over a couple of people out there."
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We still think the odds are that McGahee gets hurt and Rice gets the most work of the threesome. It is important to note that even though a ton of talk swirled in the offseason about LeRon McClain becoming a fullback, he is still clearly a running back in Cameron's mind.
DAL - WR Roy Williams has a chip on his shoulder
Source: Josh Ellis - DallasCowboys.com
Josh Ellis, of DallasCowboys.com, reports Dallas Cowboys WR Roy Williams was receiving pointers at practice from former Cowboys WR Michael Irvin. When asked whether it mattered, Williams replied: 'Everybody has an opinion, that's fine. It's cool with me. I suck, remember?' Williams said he always enters seasons with a chip on his shoulder, but this year sounds different for him. 'Everybody thinks I suck, and I just have something to prove, not to prove that I don't suck, just to prove I can be a consistent ballplayer,' he said. Williams, who caught just 19 passes with the Cowboys in 10 games last year, said he is not uncomfortable, and it all comes down to him putting together a consistent pattern of catching the ball on the field over a whole year. According to Williams, when he and QB Tony Romo trust each other, allowing Romo to throw him the ball: 'Then I won't suck anymore.'
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Wow. Roy Williams is being a little touchy here. It seems like the pressure is already getting to him and we haven't even played a single preseason game. Those expecting big numbers from the career underachiever may be disappointed by him in 2009.
DEN - McDaniels happy to have WR Brandon Marshall on field
Source: denverbroncos.com
Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said WR Brandon Marshall (hip) made some good plays during morning workouts Friday, July 31. 'He is an explosive guy, and it is a good sign to see him out there running,' McDaniels said. 'We'll see how his body reacts to it. This is really the first full practice.'
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Brandon Marshall was able to run crisp routes and wowed the crowd with several great catches, including a one-handed grab that received the biggest cheer of the day.
CHI - QB Jay Cutler and TE Greg Olsen have instant chemistry
Source: Vaughn McClure - the Chicago Tribune
Vaughn McClure, from the Chicago Tribune, reports Jay Cutler obviously has a chemistry with Greg Olsen. The two have connected on some outstanding plays, including Olsen stretching for one on the sideline in front of Kevin Payne.
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Another day, another story from us raving about Greg Olsen. One of Cutler's favorite targets in Denver was TE Tony Scheffler (and he was Jay's best friend on the team) so it makes a lot of sense that he would befriend Olsen both on and off the field. Instead of checking down all day to Matt Forte (like Kyle Orton did) Jay Cutler should challenge the defense deep and Olsen could be in line for the best season of his career.
MIA - WR Greg Camarillo could lead the team in receptions
Source: Omar Kelly - the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Omar Kelly, from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, notes that it's anyone's guess who might become Pennington's go-to target. But considering Camarillo was slightly favored most of last season -- before he tore his ACL in late November -- it's possible the Stanford grad could regain that status if his surgically repaired left knee is healthy.
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Camarillo is a nice play in PPR leagues, but even though he's set to get a ton of catches that might not translate into a ton of yards or touchdowns. This drops his fantasy value in traditional leagues. We love the work ethic, hustle, and desire of a player like Camarillo but don't draft him too high just because he may be Pennington's favorite target.
CIN - QB Carson Palmer shows good velocity Friday
Source: Joe Reedy - The Cincinnati Enquirer
Joe Reedy, of The Cincinnati Enquirer, reports Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer (elbow) showed some good velocity with his throws during practice Friday, July 31.
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Palmer seems to be completely over the elbow problems that plagued him last season. Even though he lost T.J. Houshmandzadeh the weapons around him should be able to pick up the slack easily. Palmer is a good bet to outperform his current ADP of QB12.
KC - Team has hopes for RB Jamaal Charles
Source: KCChiefs.com
KCChiefs.com recently interviewed head coach Todd Haley and he commented on RB Jamaal Charles. "I won't necessarily get into what his weight is, but Jamaal is a guy we have hopes for. As a guy coming out of college he is a player I thought a lot of as far as ability. Now, it'll just be more of a deal of what he wants to do with it."
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Jamaal Charles looked very good in limited carries last year, with a healthy 5.3 yards per carry plus 40 targets in the passing game. New head coach Todd Haley could use Charles similarly to the way he used Tim Hightower or J.J. Arrington with the Cardinals. He could be in line for 100+ carries in this offense, and being the main pass catching back for a team that will have to pass to stay in games means that he could get around 50+ targets this year too. He could easily outplay his current ADP of RB53, and be a sneaky play in most fantasy leagues.
KC - Larry RB Larry Johnson has the right attitude
Source: KCChiefs.com
KCChiefs.com recently interviewed head coach Todd Haley and he commented on Larry Johnson's attitude. "I have not had an issue with Larry Johnson. Larry has obviously proven in the past that he capable of being a very good running back in the league. He's a top echelon guy and right now running back in general is one of the groups I'm excited to see how it plays out because I think we have some talent there and we've got some competitive guys. It should be an interesting battle as we go forward. I just told the team that there's opportunity for everyone, so every position is wide open right now."
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Larry Johnson has been kissing the backside of the new Chiefs regime in an effort to preserve his roster spot. Haley likes what he's seen from LJ so far, but will a reduced role for the big back make him happy? The Chiefs could decide to use Jamaal Charles more because of his explosion and playmaking ability. Add in the fact that the Chiefs may be playing from behind a lot in 2009, and it could mean fewer touches for Larry Johnson.
OAK - RB Darren McFadden lining up at wideout, Cable promises expanded role
Source: David White - the San Francisco Chronicle
David White, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports that Oakland RB Darren McFadden "continues to line up often as a wideout, and Cable promises an expanded role for last year's No. 4 overall pick".
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McFadden is going to catch 50+ balls this year as long as he stays healthy. He's a steal in the 4th round of PPR leagues, and in the 5th round of non-PPR leagues. Worried about his durability? Just take Michael Bush in the late rounds.
OAK - TE Zach Miller improving
Source: Bill Williamson - ESPN.com
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports that TE Zach Miller is "getting better in all phases of the game", and advises to "keep an eye out for him".
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Miller should get to run more routes with the addition of blocking TE Brandon Myers through the draft. He is part of a nice second tier at TE that includes John Carlson and Greg Olsen, making it a good idea to wait until seven or eight TEs are off the board before you take one, unless your leaguemates let Jason Witten fall too far.
SEA - Ruskell: RBBC, but RB Julius Jones will get 'bulk of carries'
Source: Eric Williams - the Tacoma News-Tribune
Eric Williams, of the Tacoma News-Tribune, reports that Seahawks GM said at his press conference that "what we have is running back by committee. I believe what the coaches are saying is that Julius Jones will get the bulk of the carries, but those other guys have their roles as well." Ruskell also said the team is pleasantly surprised at how well Justin Forsett has done in the zone blocking scheme, and that undrafted free agent back Devin Moore is fast and has taken to the one-step-and-go concept.
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We won't blame you if you take Jones in the 8th-10th round of your draft. It seems like a great value for a starting running back. Just make sure you trade him when he gets hot, because we don't trust him to do it all year. Look at his game logs from last year if you don't believe us.
BAL - OC Cameron: 'Everyone excited about WR Demetrius Williams'
Source: BaltimoreRavens.com
BaltimoreRavens.com reports that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said everyone in the organization is excited about WR Demetrius Williams. Cameron said, "I think we've all made it clear how much confidence we have in him. If he can stay healthy, there is no doubt that he is a player. He's got to continue to battle to stay healthy. Everyone around here is excited about Demetrius. We know he's a player. We've got to do everything we can to get him the football, and he needs a little bit of luck. Luck plays a factor in this thing. He's had some bad luck and maybe luck is on his side this year."
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His value could take a hit if Derrick Mason comes back after all (Adam Schefter said he had a hunch that would happen on his Twitter feed today), but it's clear that the Ravens coaching staff has seen what we have seen in Williams in the past. He is definitely a starting quality NFL receiver, he just needs to stay healthy.
WAS - WR Devin Thomas off to a fast start
Source: Matt Mosley - ESPN.com
Matt Mosley, from ESPN.com, is reporting it looks like WR Devin Thomas has made up a lot of ground and may be poised to make a major impact this season.
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Zorn commented that Thomas was now very familiar with the offense and that has helped his development. No longer does Thomas have to worry about what route he's running, because he knows the plays by heart. Now he can focus on beating his man, getting open, and looking the football in. If Thomas can stay healthy he could be everything the Redskins hoped for - and more.
DEN - RB Knowshon Moreno missing valuable time
Source: denverbroncos.com
Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said every day that rookie RB Knowshon Moreno misses hurts his opportunity to create a role with the team.
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He noted it is obvious Moreno will have a role, but said missing meetings, walk-throughs, practice time and film study will put him behind. He is hopeful Moreno signs sooner rather than later. As of right now there is now word on how close the two sides are to getting a deal done.
DEN - HC McDaniels impressed with RB Ryan Torain
Source: denverbroncos.com
Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said RB Ryan Torain (knee) had some good runs Friday, July 31, and is a physical, big guy. '(He is) the kind of back that we are looking for,' McDaniels said. He noted it will be exciting to see Torain progress. 'This is really the start, for Ryan, of this year because he wasn't there all spring,' McDaniels added.
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Ryan Torain was running strong today, showing power and a quickness that he didn't have in last year's camp. He will still be a long shot to make the final roster because of all the running backs the Broncos signed this offseason, but he made a great impression today. He was still running too upright, which could lead to more injuries because so much of his midsection is exposed.
STL - RB Steven Jackson focused on aggressive weight training
Source: CBSSports.com
St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson said the only thing he really changed during the offseason was hitting the weights more aggressive than he had in the past. 'My body fat is still five percent. ... But I do feel leaner,' Jackson said.
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Jackson has missed four games each of the last two seasons, and has let down fantasy owners that were expecting him to match his numbers from 2006. The Rams want to feature a run-heavy offense with Jackson leading the way. If he can stay healthy he could finally live up to the hype, and even if the Rams have to play from behind he is still a good fantasy option because he's a great receiver out of the backfield.
NYJ - Bad morning practice for the quarterbacks
Source: Dan Leberfeld - Scout.com
Dan Leberfeld, from Scout.com, is reporting the Friday morning practice was ugly for the passing offense. Not to make excuses for the players, but it was pouring out. Mark Sanchez explained the problems well. They were twofold - "A lot of it was (it) was just raining out here and we're trying to get our footing down," said Sanchez. "The timing is a little off anyway just with the first day (and) guys coming back. We have that break and you don't quite get your timing with the receivers. And add the rain to it. That threw us off a little bit."
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Head coach Rex Ryan praised Sanchez even though the rookie went 2 for 5 in 11-on-11 drills. It's early, and the weather was bad, but this isn't exactly the way the Jets wanted to start out camp.
TB - QB Josh Freeman signed to compete for starting role
Source: Roy Cummings - the Tampa Tribune
Roy Cummings, from the Tampa Tribune, reports rookie QB Josh Freeman signed a five-year $36 million contract early Friday morning and made it sound as if he might have left some money on the table in an effort to assure that he got into camp on time. "I expressed to my agent that one of my main goals is to become a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the best way to do that is to be in camp on time," Freeman said. "So that was definitely something where maybe there was a little compromise, but it ended up working out."
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Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich may have the edge on experience, but Josh Freeman may be the best option for the Buccaneers. The team may decide to start one of their veterans, but if the season gets out of hand they could turn to Freeman in order to get a jump start on next year.
SD - TE Antonio Gates regains jumping ability
Source: CBSSports.com
CBSSports.com reports that Chargers TE Antonio Gates said Friday that he has regained the jumping ability he lost last year because of ankle and foot problems. "The ability to jump was something that (injuries) took a toll on the most," he said.
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That's reason for optimism, but Gates still has to share with Vincent Jackson and LaDainian Tomlinson. The days of him being the primary target in the passing offense are over, but he is still a top three fantasy TE. If your league lets him fall to the sixth round or later, it might be time to pounce.
NYJ - RB Leon Washington 'not confident' deal will get done
Source: Roderick Boone - Newsday
Roderick Boone, of Newsday, reports that RB Leon Washington doesn't think he'll get a new contract. "Nah, I'm not confident," Washington said. "I don't feel confident something will get done. It kind of hurts me a little bit because I've been here three years, and busted my tail off, and played hard for the organization. And for me not to get rewarded or at least to me to be put on some type of situation, I'm unhappy about that. But what I am happy about that is I can still play football."
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We would say Washington has extra motivation, but he has always played like a very highly motivated player. The Jets might be overplaying their hand on this one, because Washington has provided the team a shot in the arm at crucial times on special teams and offense, and he is the best offensive playmaker they have.
TEN - QB Vince Young outplays QB Patrick Ramsey 'by a good bit'
Source: Paul Kuharsky - ESPN.com
Paul Kuharsky, of ESPN.com, reports that QB Vince Young had a good day of practice and outperformed Patrick Ramsey "by a good bit". Kuharsky also writes that Young was generally on target whether he was in the pocket or on the move.
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If reports like this continue to roll in, we might even recommend trading for Young in your dynasty leagues. The competition with Ramsey could re-light the fire under Young that has been missing since 2007.
MIN - RB Adrian Peterson weighs in at 220 pounds
Source: Chip Scoggins - the Star Tribune
Chip Scoggins, of the Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson said he managed to reduce his body fat while adding three pounds. Peterson said, "I came in at 220. I feel like that's a pretty good weight if I can stay in the 220-range. I'm feeling good. I'm not feeling too heavy. I put on some good weight this offseason. I'm just ready to get it going."
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Peterson originally wanted to weigh in at 230 pounds earlier this offseason, but decided against gaining that much weight. It's doubtful that he's lost any of his burst or quickness because of the added weight but the team will monitor him closely. He is already one of the most bruising backs in the game and added muscle only means more punishment for anyone trying to tackle him.
BAL - Saunders hired as offensive consultant
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN.com
Adam Schefter, of ESPN.com, reports on his Twitter feed that the Ravens have hired Al Saunders as a consultant.
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Cam Cameron is quite possibly the best offensive mind in the league, and now he gets Al Saunders help, the guy who oversaw the offensive juggernaut in Kansas City earlier this decade.
DAL - RB Marion Barber lighter, more wiggle
Source: Matt Mosley - ESPN.com
Matt Mosley, of ESPN.com, reports that Cowboys RB Marion Barber is five pounds lighter this year, and "he's still administering punishment to linebackers,, but he appears to have a little more wiggle than I recall at this point in camp."
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Barber won't get worked the way he was last year, but he has already proven that he can be a strong fantasy back without a feature back workload. The main question is whether the Cowboys offense will be as potent as it was when Barber was a top 10 back with limited touches back in 2007.
DEF - MIN - DE Jared Allen says he is in phenomenal shape
Source: Chip Scoggins - the Star Tribune
Chip Scoggins, of the Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings DE Jared Allen said he is in "phenomenal" shape and has not felt so good after the first day of training camp in years.
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Let's hope Allen has ditched the bear-skin hat he wore on Jim Rome is Burning on Thursday.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Saturday and thanks for reading. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J
