 Bell reports to camp out of shape
Tatum Bell, RB DET
News: According to mlive.com, Lions RB Tatum Bell reported a little overweight and Lions coach Rod Marinelli is aware of it, but isn't making a big deal about it. Yet. "He might be up there a little bit more," Marinelli said of Bell. "Like I told these guys, 'Just make sure of where you're at.' It's still the offseason but I want to make sure we're working toward the perfect weight when they enter (training) camp. I'm aware of every guy. Right now, it's making sure we're on course to where we should be." Bell will likely open the season as the backup to rookie Kevin Smith. Bell is competing for playing time with Aveion Cason, Brian Calhoun and Artose Pinner.
Analysis: Bell didn't help his situation by coming into minicamp out of shape. Smith will be motivated to win the job, so Bell could be looking at another season of coming off the bench.
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McFadden could see time at WR
Darren McFadden, RB OAK
News: According to the Sacramento Bee, Raiders rookie RB Darren McFadden could line up at wide receiver or tailback. He also could be used in the backfield with Justin Fargas, the starting tailback at the end of last season. Coach Lane Kiffin's greatest success at USC came when he had two very different running backs – Reggie Bush, who could play all over the field, and LenDale White, who could batter opponents. Kiffin won't be able to see how Fargas, McFadden and Michael Bush work together this weekend at the team's minicamp, but McFadden already likes how the coach has rotated backs. "I feel it's something I can bring to Oakland, being a versatile player, that I can move around and give them a different style," McFadden said.
Analysis: McFadden is going to play plenty of roles for the Raiders and could be lined up wide like the Saints use Bush. Expect McFadden to get plenty of touches and consider him a No. 2 Fantasy option in 2008.
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 White not worried about Johnson
LenDale White, RB TEN
News: Titans RB LenDale White is not concerned about losing carries to rookie Chris Johnson and said playing with Johnson will be like playing with former college teammate Reggie Bush. "It gives us a one-two punch," White said in the Tennessean. "After I bang 'em up for so long, you get him in there and he can run by them. At USC, Reggie ran by them and I ran through them. It was a good one-two combination because you had defenses having to prepare for two different style backs. It was like that with me and Reggie and it can be like that with me and Chris — I feel like with me and him in the backfield, we can get it done." White, heading into his third NFL season, is still working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery and will be limited at the team's minicamp practices over the next week.
Analysis: The paper reports White will continue to get the carries, and in 2007, he had 1,110 yards on 303 attempts. As for his knee, White said he's been "rehabbing like crazy" and the decision to hold him back during minicamp practices was made more for precautionary reasons. White said he's "anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds from where I need to be." He played in the 245-pound range last season and said he wanted to come to training camp around 230 or 235. Go into 2008 with White as a No. 2 Fantasy option and hope his production doesn't slip because of the addition of Johnson. White will still get the touchdowns, and he should still gain well over 1,000 yards.
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Schaub to go through drills
Matt Schaub, QB HOU
News: Texans QB Matt Schaub, who underwent surgery on his left shoulder, will participate in drills when Houston opens minicamp Friday. Coach Gary Kubiak said "since we're in shorts, he'll be able to do everything. If we were in pads (hitting), I'd hold him out."
Analysis: It appears Schaub is on target to be ready for training camp. Last year, Schaub appeared in 11 games and passed for 2,241 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions and had 17 carries for 52 yards. He has a solid WR in Andre Johnson and a developing offense, so there is a lot of potential for Schaub to succeed.
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Alexander would be backup in Cincy
Shaun Alexander, RB SEA
News: According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, RB Shaun Alexander has returned home to Seattle following two free-agent visits this week, first to Cincinnati on Sunday and Monday and then to New Orleans on Wednesday. The Bengals have a glut of running backs but are believed to be interested in Alexander as a possible backup to starter Rudi Johnson. Coach Marvin Lewis said Chris Perry, a first-round draft pick in 2004, is ready for on-field work beginning Tuesday. Perry spent last season on the physically unable to perform list because of an ankle injury. Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey are other members of the Bengals' backfield at tailback. Kenny Irons, the team's second-round draft pick in 2007, is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in July. He tore an anterior cruciate ligament last August.
Analysis: Alexander would likely get a few carries with the Bengals, but this is not a good sign if he signs in Cincinnati. Previous reports from New Orleans indicate Alexander might wait until minicamps or even training camp starts to make a decision based on possible injuries to other backs on other teams. Keep an eye on what happens but hope Alexander does not sign with the Bengals at this time.
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Packers part ways with WR Robinson
Koren Robinson, WR GB
News: The Packers announced the release of WR Koren Robinson on Friday. Because he was serving a suspension, Robinson missed the first seven games of the 2007 season. But in the nine games he did play in, Robinson caught 21 passes for 241 yards (11.5 avg.) and a touchdown with a 5-yard rush. He was used mostly on kick returns.
Analysis: Robinson is useless to Fantasy owners until he signs with a WR-needy (or special-teams needy) franchise. Ignore him for now.
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Ryan ready for Falcons minicamp
Matt Ryan, QB ATL
News: Matt Ryan will have his first chance to prove he can be more than just another clipboard-toting rookie observer when the new Atlanta Falcons quarterback participates in a three-day minicamp beginning Saturday. Ryan, the No. 3 overall selection in last month's NFL draft, is the Falcons' quarterback of the future. Can that future begin as early as the 2008 season? First-year Falcons coach Mike Smith says he's open to the idea of a rookie starting at any position. "I want them to have the mind-set that they're going to come in here and compete to play from day one," Smith said. "I think it's very, very important as a football player that you compete to be the starter. If he's the best player, whether he's a rookie quarterback or rookie offensive lineman or rookie linebacker, we want those guys to come in here and compete. We're going to put the best player out there on the field."
Analysis: Ryan has a lot of ideal intangibles (leadership, measurables, intelligence) but doesn't have the talent of most other quarterbacks picked this high in drafts. In the long run, he'll be the starting QB for the Falcons, but not in 2008 (and if he does play, there shouldn't be too much expected from him statistically). Fantasy owners in standard leagues can pretty much ignore Ryan, but owners in keeper leagues should grab him with a late-round pick. In rookie-only drafts, Ryan is worth a first-round choice, but nowhere close to No. 1 overall.
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Brohm wants to play
Brian Brohm, QB GB
News: Packers rookie QB Brian Brohm is not content on competing for the backup job behind Aaron Rodgers, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I'm going to be preparing as if I'm going to be playing. I think that's how everyone needs to look at it," Brohm said. "I need to prove in the preseason, and in the camps, that I can go out there and do that."
Analysis: It's obvious Brohm wants to get on the field, but he will be behind Rodgers to start the season. If Rodgers is injured, then maybe Brohm would get a chance to play. Brohm should only be drafted in keeper formats in 2008 Fantasy leagues.
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Henry behind White, Johnson
Chris Henry, RB TEN
News: The selection of RB Chris Johnson marked the third time in three years the Titans picked a running back in the first two rounds of the draft. LenDale White was a second round pick in 2006, while Chris Henry was taken in the second round in 2007. White will continue to get the carries, and in 2007, he had 1,110 yards on 303 attempts. Johnson will work in as the backup. What it means for Henry remains to be seen. His lack of productivity and improvement led the team to draft Johnson, who could aid the return game. "We haven't had a change of pace like this," Coach Jeff Fisher said of Johnson in the Tennessean. "We've either had running backs or we've had receivers, but we've never had a guy that can do both, that you can create mismatches with."
Analysis: Henry had a shaky rookie season in 2007. On the field, he appeared in seven games with 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns and caught six passes for 53 yards. But Henry was also suspended four games due to violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, which he initially fought before serving. He also was inactive for the first five games of the year and then split carries with White and Chris Brown. Now, Henry will remain No. 3 on the depth chart. Consider him a late-round selection in deep Fantasy leagues in 2008.
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Flacco ready for minicamp
TQB Ravens, TQB BAL
News: According to the Carroll County Times, no rookie will be under more scrutiny than Ravens QB Joe Flacco, the first-round centerpiece of a group of 10 draft picks about to experience their first NFL practice with Baltimore. "I'm ready to get down there and work really hard to prove to everybody that they made a good decision in picking me," Flacco said. "I was the coaching staff's first pick here at this organization, and I want to prove to everybody that they made a good decision in doing that. I have confidence in my abilities. It's not about talking about it. It's about going out there and proving it. So, I’m anxious to do that."
Analysis: Flacco has plenty of potential and eventually may grow into the role of a quality starter. But is a raw product that could take time to develop. For now, don't plan on drafting Flacco in Fantasy leagues even if he's named the starter ahead of Kyle Boller. In keeper leagues, consider Flacco a middle-round selection.
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Bironas signs one-year deal
Rob Bironas, K TEN
News: Titans kicker Rob Bironas has signed a one-year deal with the team worth $1.47 million, according to the Tennessean. The Titans made Bironas a one-year tender offer in February, but the team remains interested in signing him to a long-term contract. Bironas was named to the Pro Bowl last season after making 35 of 39 field goal attempts.
Analysis: After his season in 2007, Bironas has elevated himself to a No. 1 Fantasy option. Consider drafting him in the latter rounds of all 2008 Fantasy drafts.
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Irons could miss start of camp
Kenny Irons, RB CIN
News: According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Bengals RB Kenny Irons, the team's second-round draft pick in 2007, is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in July. He tore an anterior cruciate ligament last August and missed the 2007 season.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens, but this is not a good sign that he is scheduled to miss the start of training camp. The Bengals are considering adding RB Shaun Alexander, which would push Irons down on the depth chart. For now, Irons has minimal Fantasy value.
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Campbell hurts hamstring
Jason Campbell, QB WAS
News: Redskins QB Jason Campbell Campbell strained his left hamstring during Wednesday's practice session, reports the Washington Times. Campbell said his hamstring grabbed a little early in practice. He expects to be 100 percent in a couple of weeks. "I just pulled my hamstring a little bit," said Campbell, who last year missed the final three-plus regular-season games and the wild-card loss at Seattle with a dislocated left kneecap. "I won't be running for a while." Jim Zorn found a bright side to the injury because it meant his quarterback lowered himself under center as the new coach has asked him to. "He was feeling his hamstrings all along, and I think it was because I have him sinking down a little bit," Zorn said. "It's the change. I was kind of excited about it. Not that I wanted him to tweak his hamstring, just the fact that different things are happening to his body. He's going to be fine."
Analysis: Look for Campbell to be fine for the start of training camp. He has the chance for a big year in 2008 with the additions of rookies Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly to go with Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. Campbell is going to play in a new offense with Zorn, which should help his completion percentage. Consider Campbell a No. 2 Fantasy option in 2008 and a decent sleeper.
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Portis strains hip
Clinton Portis, RB WAS
News: Redskins RB Clinton Portis sat out Wednesday's practice with a strained hip flexor, reports the Washington Times. Coach Jim Zorn said Portis will be ready for June 2 but might have injured himself with the 40-yard match race against safety LaRon Landry that followed the end of minicamp Sunday. "Clinton's OK," Zorn said. "I'm wondering if it was that sprint ..."
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Portis heading into training camp. He should be 100 percent, but he does have an injury history. This should be a big year for Portis in Zorn's offense. If healthy, consider Portis a No. 1 Fantasy option.
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Colts re-sign RB Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes, RB OAK
News: The Colts have put their tag-team runners -- Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes -- back together. The tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts. Rhodes' agent, Mike McCartney confirmed the signing Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. The transition should be smooth for Rhodes, who is expected to share reps with Addai, albeit not to the extent he did in 2006.
Analysis: Rhodes could earn as many as 10 carries per game, carries that might have otherwise gone to Addai. As far as Fantasy owners are concerned, treat Rhodes as a middle- to late-round choice in seasonal drafts this summer, especially as a key insurance policy for Addai.
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McGinest to retire after 2008
Willie McGinest, OLB CLE
News: Browns linebacker Willie McGinest says the 2008 season will be his last. McGinest told SI.com that he wants to finish his career on one last playoff run. McGinest played 12 seasons and won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Browns in 2006. In two seasons with Cleveland, McGinest hasn't been the pass-rushing threat that he was with the Patriots. He has seven sacks and 107 tackles in 27 games for the Browns.
Analysis: McGinest is more of a specialist at this point in his career. He's not going to do much to help your Fantasy team and should not be drafted in any IDP leagues in 2008.
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