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Fantasy Updates
Favre off to Pack camp; trade coming?
Brett Favre, QB GB
News: NFL Network reports that Brett Favre told the Packers that he'll be coming to the start of the team's training camp this weekend, the ramifications of which could determine his NFL future in the coming days. Favre is currently retired but is expected to ask for and receive reinstatement from the league in the very near future, forcing the Packers to either keep him or cut him. If the Packers opt to keep him, which they've said they would do, they would seek out trade offers, which they've reportedly done. Meanwhile, ESPN reports that the Jets have received permission to speak with Favre about coming to play in New York, and Fox Sports reports that the Buccaneers have also received permission to chat with the future Hall of Famer. Finally, NFL Network also reports that Favre and the Packers may reconsider their respective positions and come to some sort of agreement on his future in Green Bay, which might be a smoke screen for eventually dealing him.
Analysis: As the days pass and the news develops, it becomes increasingly clear that Favre will play in 2008. Where? No one can say for sure, though you can expect it to be with a team that runs a version of the West-Coast offense (the Bucs and Jets do). If you're in a draft in the immediate future, taking Favre with a middle- to late-round pick is a low-risk, high-reward proposition. The worst he'd be is a low-end No. 1 Fantasy QB if he came back and was a starter in the NFL. As always, we'll deliver the latest news on Favre as we get it.
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  Marshall sluggish in Friday workouts
Brandon Marshall, WR DEN
News: The Denver Post reports that Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall was noticeably out of shape during Friday morning workouts. He took a knee to rest after almost every route he ran.
Analysis: Like Marshall needed any more trouble for himself. Marshall met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for off-the-field issues and could still be suspended for two games or more. That hiccup changes him from a low-end No. 1 Fantasy WR to a No. 2. And the fact that he came into camp sluggish just reiterates that fact. It's official, he's a No. 2 wideout.
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Ravens place Reed on PUP list Fri.
Ed Reed, FS BAL
News: The Baltimore Sun reports the Ravens have placed DB Ed Reed on the physically unable to perform list on Friday.
Analysis: Reed will be on the field when the regular season begins, but cannot practice with the team until he passes his physical. Still, he's one of the better IDP DBs in the league. Consider Reed a No. 2 DB in IDP leagues in 2008 and hope for more tackles and continued turnovers.
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Gates placed on PUP list Friday
Antonio Gates, TE SD
News: San Diego TE Antonio Gates was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Friday. Gates remains on the team’s 80-man roster, however he is ineligible to participate in practice until he passes his physical. Gates can remain on the "Active-PUP" list until the final roster cutdown date on Aug. 30. Gates is recovering from a toe injury.
Analysis: Gates has already said his toe is close to being healed, so he shouldn't take much longer to pass his physical and be activated. Barring any setbacks, Gates remains an elite tight end in all Fantasy leagues. Consider him a No. 1 TE option worthy of about a fourth-round pick, but continue to monitor how well he is recovering.
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 Harrison's first day a good one
Marvin Harrison, WR IND
News: Marvin Harrison's knees are healthy enough to play football again. The eight-time Pro Bowler seemed to enjoy himself Friday, defying the doctors' early prognosis by returning from offseason knee surgery for Indy's first training camp practice. As he trotted onto the field in his familiar No. 88 jersey, nearly 1,000 fans chanted his name and cheered virtually every time he got his hands on the ball. The usually quiet Harrison declined to take questions after the workout but the Colts liked what they saw from their 35-year-old teammate. "I thought he looked good," tight end Dallas Clark said. "He's like anyone who hasn't been on the field for a while. I wish it was like riding a bike, but the things we do, the footwork and stuff, that's not natural and that's why you practice. He'll come around like everyone else here."
Analysis: Throughout the offseason, Harrison continued rehabilitating the injured left knee and then had surgery on his right knee. He also was interviewed by police about a shooting near his North Philadelphia car wash in the spring, but wasn't arrested or charged. Dungy said the Colts will monitor Harrison's progress closely, although there are no immediate plans to scale back his work. Questions still linger about how fast he'll play on his veteran knees, but Fantasy owners should expect Harrison at close to 90 percent of what we saw from him before he got hurt last season. Don't expect him to get the 100-catch, 1,200-yard and 12-touchdown production from Harrison we got in the past, but he could get closer than we initially believed. Consider him a medium-risk high-reward option as a low-end No. 2 WR worth a look between Rounds 5 and 6, significantly higher than where he was earlier this offseason.
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Jags' Williams sprains knee
Reggie Williams, WR JAC
News: Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams sprained his right knee earlier in the week and will miss at least the first few days of camp.
Analysis: This is a tough blow to a receiver already low on most Fantasy owners' wish list despite his 10-touchdown campaign in 2007. Consider Williams a late-round reserve Fantasy WR with decent upside thanks to his red-zone ability.
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Jackson holding out of camp
Steven Jackson, RB STL
News: Rams RB Steven Jackson, entering the final year of his contract, was a no-show for the opening team meeting of training camp Friday. Coach Scott Linehan said Thursday after the team arrived at its new training site in suburban Milwaukee that Jackson had told him he would not be on the team charter flight from St. Louis. The coach apparently was unaware that Jackson didn't make his own arrangements, either. Linehan also said Thursday that getting a contract extension for Jackson was a "priority." The team has been in contact with Jackson's agent. "I know within the last couple days there has been dialogue," Linehan said Thursday. "Our hope is that will be done pretty soon." Jackson was considered a holdout after missing the meeting Friday morning, the team said on its Web site. Jackson is in the final season of a five-year contract he signed after the Rams drafted him in the first round in 2004. He has had three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons after totaling 1,002 last year despite injuries that sidelined him for four games.
Analysis: It appears Jackson is going to make a stand in an effort to get a new contract. Hopefully this will get resolved soon, but we like the idea of Jackson playing in the final year of his deal. Keep an eye on what develops, but still draft Jackson as a No. 1 Fantasy option and take him with a first-round pick in all leagues.
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Burress misses practice
Plaxico Burress, WR NYG
News: The Newark Star-Ledger reports Giants WR Plaxico Burress was on the sidelines watching practice Friday morning. "I'm not sure what that issue is," coach Tom Coughlin said after practice. "Until I have more information, I'm not commenting. I just said all I can say." Burress sat out minicamp practices because he was upset with the progress of contract negotiations. He was fined because he made his reasons clear -- money, not an injury, was keeping him off the field. He was fined $42,000 for sitting out those five practices. This time, it was supposedly and ankle injury that would limit him. But now, after Coughlin spoke this morning, it's not certain.
Analysis: This could be an ongoing saga in training camp until Burress gets a new contract or decides to play under his current deal. It could hurt his Fantasy value. Right now, Burress is a low-end No. 1 Fantasy option, but if he doesn't get on the field, he could drop to a No. 2 WR. Keep an eye on what develops and hope there's some resolution soon.
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Johnson says knee is fit
Andre Johnson, WR HOU
News: The Houston Chronicle reports Texans WR Andre Johnson pronounced himself fit and ready to go despite undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery after minicamp. "I was out here(Wednesday) running routes full speed for (QB) Matt (Schaub)," Johnson said. "I feel real good. I haven't had a problem." He missed seven games because of a knee injury last season and still finished with 80 catches for 851 yards (14.2 average) and eight touchdowns.
Analysis: Johnson will remain an injury risk this year, but he is still a great option as a No. 1 Fantasy WR. Keep an eye on his progress in training camp, but it's safe to draft Johnson with a second-round pick in all leagues.
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Freeney will start on PUP list
Dwight Freeney, DE IND
News: The Indianapolis Star reports Colsts DE Dwight Freeney still isn't fully recovered from surgery on his left foot that forced him to miss the final seven games of the regular season and the playoff loss to San Diego. Freeney will open camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He expects to miss the first three weeks of the preseason, but perhaps play in the fourth or fifth preseason game.
Analysis: Keep an eye on Freeney's progress during training camp and hope he can return at 100 percent. When healthy, Freeney is a No. 2 DL in IDP leagues. He is a good source of sacks, which is his best asset in Fantasy play.
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Jacobs goes camping without new deal
Brandon Jacobs, RB NYG
News: The New York Daily News reports that Giants RB Brandon Jacobs said he is stopping his efforts to get a new contract with the club and is planning on playing out the 2008 season and become a free agent at the end of the year. "I just wanted to be able to prove myself," Jacobs said. "I see what guys are getting when they hit the market. And that's not what I was asking for. I was asking for half of what they got and half of the years. I thought that was fair. But I can't be the one to say what I think was fair and what's not. Now I've got a whole season to prove myself."
Analysis: Jacobs had offseason wrist surgery but is expected to participate fully in training camp this summer. He finished last year, his first as a starter, with 1,009 rushing yards and four touchdowns and 23 catches for 174 yards with two more touchdowns in 11 games. Jacobs is injury prone because of the physical style of his running, but he should be willing to play through nagging injuries this year in an attempt to cash in this offseason. The motivation factor should be high now that he'll be in a contract year, and that will only help the Fantasy owners who draft him. He remains a quality No. 2 Fantasy RB worth a pick between Rounds 2 and 3.
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Colston's knee drained, should be OK
Marques Colston, WR NO
News: The Biloxi Sun-Herald reports that Saints WR Marques Colston had his swelled left knee drained on the first day of training camp, but was still able to practice later that day. Colston recently signed a three-year contract extension that keeps him from being a restricted free agent after the 2008 season. "It's something that I feel like is best for me and the training staff feels like it's best for me to ease in and get started on the right foot and setting myself back from Day 1," Colston said.
Analysis: Colston is entering his third NFL season with two highly productive years already under his belt. There's no doubt that he's the Saints' No. 1 WR and a No. 1 WR in Fantasy play as well. Consider him as such and expect to draft him between the middle of Round 3 and the beginning of Round 4 in all drafts this summer.
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Bengals waive Irons
Kenny Irons, RB CIN
News: The Bengals waived RB Kenny Irons, under the category of Waived/Failed Physical, on Friday. Irons failed the team physical earlier this week. Irons, from Auburn, was Cincinnati's second-round choice in the 2007 draft. He has been unable to play or practice since suffering a torn left knee ligament (ACL) in the 2007 preseason opener last Aug. 9 at Detroit. He spent the 2007 season on Cincinnati's Reserve/Injured list.
Analysis: Irons was expected to be the future starter for the Bengals when he was drafted last year. But now he might have to latch on with a new team just to prove he can still play. As of now it's safe to ignore Irons in all Fantasy leagues and see if a team will sign him this season.
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Return game: Hester back at camp
Devin Hester, WR CHI
News: WR/KR Devin Hester was at Bears training camp Friday, although there was no word if signed a contract. He is expected to practice, according to the Chicago Tribune. Hester skipped the first practices this week as a holdout. He has two years remaining on his initial deal.
Analysis: Hester spent the entire offseason working with the club on his receiving skills in hopes of reaching his potential of being a big-play wide receiver for the Bears. Additionally, he's the best special-teams return man in the NFL today and adds to the Bears' potential of scoring each week. He is now back on track to be a middle-end reserve Fantasy WR worth a late-round pick in seasonal drafts -- and obviously much higher in those leagues that reward special-teams production.
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Lions counting on Tatum Bell
Tatum Bell, RB DET
News: The last 12 months have been a roller coaster for Lions RB Tatum Bell. After starting the 2007 training camp as the lead rusher in Detroit, he slipped "from starter to scout team" when Kevin Jones came back, according to Bell. Citing a falling out with former offensive coordinator Mike Martz, Bell didn't think he'd be back in Detroit, but he is. The Lions are going to a zone-run scheme much like the one Bell thrived in with the Broncos (nearly 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons). "I really respected how he handled last year and what he went through," Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said. "He was a pro all the way. This system that we're in right now is what he was used to in Denver. I think he's got a great opportunity. He's in tremendous shape. He's lean and he's fast. We're counting on him."
Analysis: Bell will have to hold off rookie RB Kevin Smith, who is also familiar with the zone-run scheme, in training camp this summer. Bell's been around for a while and Fantasy owners have been burned on him before, which is why he won't be drafted until the middle rounds in leagues this summer. Think of him as a low-end No. 3/top-end No. 4 Fantasy RB worth a pick in those middle rounds. Expect Smith, the rookie currently behind him on the depth chart, to be drafted ahead of him.
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McDonald opens camp on PUP list
Shaun McDonald, WR DET
News: The Detroit Free Press reports that Detroit WR Shaun McDonald opened Lions training camp Thursday on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury.
Analysis: McDonald is a low-end Fantasy receiver worthy of a draft pick only in the deepest of leagues. He should be ready to go by the regular season.
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