July 2018 4for4 Player News Articles

Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich has made no secret about his affinity for the tight end position, and a week into training camp, we’re starting to see slivers of how much he envisions using the likes of Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron, Erik Swoope, and Ross Travis in the coming weeks and months.

For starters: a lot.

The story said Doyle and Ebron might’ve been the two most active pass-catchers in Tuesday’s workout, and expect Ebron—the free agent from Detroit—to work all over the field. He has lined up on the end of the line, in the slot, out wide, and has even joked about begging Reich for handoffs out of the backfield. Ebron is athletic enough to look like a wide receiver; don’t be surprised if Reich uses him like one come the regular season. Reich comes from the Eagles who used three TEs a lot last year, including Trey Burton, who was the team's third TE.

Ezekiel Elliott has the weight off him—literally and figuratively.

Having served a six-game suspension last season, the Cowboys running back can get back to football—and nothing but football—this season. He also has reported lighter than a year ago.

The story said Elliott was stressed last year at this time and wasn't quite his usual self and "looked big." Of course, Elliott is one of the top running backs to draft this season.

One player who definitely won't be playing in the Hall of Fame game is Bears running back Jordan Howard, who told NFL Network on Tuesday that he'll be sitting out. He suggested quarterback Mitch Trubisky will be in street clothes, too.

Howard said the extra week of camp has benefited the offense, according to the story and Howard. Howard said the offense will be more exciting and put up a lot of points. Look for several vets to possibly sit this game out.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin is expected to miss "a couple weeks" with a knee injury, coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday.

Baldwin has been sidelined for the past three days of training camp. Carroll didn't specify the nature of the injury beyond describing it as a sore knee, but he called the situation "a little bit of a problem," according to the story.

The New England Patriots have a significant void to fill with receiver Julian Edelman’s four-game suspension for violating the league's PED policy to open the 2018 season, and the first five practices of training camp have provided an early snapshot of how it might unfold.

The biggest winners? Receiver Phillip Dorsett, tight end Jacob Hollister, and running back Rex Burkhead.

Things can always change, the story said, and they probably will in some form, but what the initial stretch of training camp reinforced is that the Patriots are going to tap into all positions to account for the loss of Edelman. The story said the Pats were also using sets with two RBs on the field and it mentioned more two-TE sets could be in store, which may put Hollister on the fantasy radar.

Through the first week of practices, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been the star of the show and shown no ill effects of a shattered right ankle that ended his season in Week 5 of 2017, whether he has lined up outside or in the slot.

Related players: Eli Manning, Saquon Barkley

The story added the additions on the O-line seem to have given Manning a boost at this stage in his career. Overall, the Giants offense looks to have a lot of fantasy potential this season.

With all the recent talk about the contractual status of Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, one key fact likely has gone overlooked: Josh McCown continues to be QB1 in New York.

“Josh is one, Teddy Bridgewater is two, Sam Darnold is three right now,” coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Monday. “That’s what I can tell you.”

McCown likely did enough last year to at least be the top guy as things stand now early in camp. HC Todd Bowles said McCown would have to be beat out by Bridgewater or Darnold. With Darnold just signing on Monday, he's obviously behind in the process.

According to league sources, the Vikings will sign wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a five-year contract extension on Tuesday, retaining another one of its core players that was scheduled to hit free agency in March. Diggs’ deal is expected to be worth around $14 million a season, according to an NFL source, which would put his deal in line with recent contracts the Green Bay Packers gave Davante Adams and the Chicago Bears gave Allen Robinson.

Diggs caught eight TDs last season, trying him for the team lead. He had 64 catches and 849 receiving yards while playing 14 games.

Rico Gathers said he used to watch a lot of film of tight ends Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham earlier in his career but eventually started viewing highlights of New England star Rob Gronkowski.

"I feel like me and Gronkowski got the same kind of run style, play style, so I watch him a lot nowadays," Gathers said. "And Witten, just watching him. I think for a transition player it's about finding out what is comfortable for you and being able to execute your assignments as well as you can."

Related players: Blake Jarwin, Geoff Swaim

With Witten retired, Gathers has a chance to see the field this year ... something that hasn't happened over his first two seasons thanks mostly to a concussion. Gathers is also working on his blocking. We currently have Gathers third on the depth chart behind Jarwin and Swaim.

No matter how many times he’s asked or how well Baker Mayfield performs, Browns coach Hue Jackson insists he won’t change his mind. Barring injury, Tyrod Taylor will begin the season as the team’s starting quarterback.

Related players: Drew Stanton

Jackson is likely making up for his comments on Sunday, saying Mayfield is "exceeding expectations" in camp. Despite that, it's not an open competition for the starting QB job and Jackson was quoted in the story that he's not tempted to go with Mayfield. As the story also pointed out, the big question could be who gets the QB2 job—Mayfield or Stanton.

Tight end Tyler Eifert was cleared to practice on Monday after working out on a side field the first four days of camp.

Eifert mostly worked out with the backups on Monday. He made a couple of diving plays late in practice, drawing applause from fans.

”I could understand how it would be frustrating as fans, hearing, `Oh, he’s on (injury) list again or whatever,”’ Eifert said. ”But trust me, it’s 100 times more frustrating for me because all I want to do is be out there, and I’m doing literally everything I can, spending all my time trying to get back out there and stay out there with the guys.”

After a monster season a few years ago, Eifert was limited to two games last season before more back problems required another surgical procedure. He signed a one-year contract loaded with incentives.

Speedy receiver John Ross from Washington expected to show his big-play ability during his first season in Cincinnati. Instead, he missed most of camp while recovering from shoulder surgery and wound up playing in only three games.

He didn’t catch a pass and fumbled on a reverse—the only time he got the ball—before another shoulder injury ended his season.

Ross has made some big plays in camp on deep balls from QB Andy Dalton, and the Bengals are hoping that continues right into the regular season. The Bengals had one of their worst seasons offensively in franchise history, finishing last in yards, the story said.

At HC Adam Gase's press conference, he was asked about WR Albert Wilson and his role with the team.

"He's not a slot [receiver]," said Gase. "He's an outside guy."

Gase went on to say Wilson has a larger skillset which is suited for the outside.

Related players: DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola

The media seemed to try to compare Amendola with Wilson, but Gase was quick to point out the two play different positions. Gase wouldn't commit to a role for any of the receivers and said a rotation will need to be set. We list Wilson third on the depth chart behind Stills and Parker, but it doesn't seem like he'll be in the slot with Parker and Stills on the field.

TreQuan Smith, a third-round pick from Central Florida, seems to be relishing the competition in his first Saints training camp as he's been one of the surprise stars through the first five practices. The 6-foot-2 receiver has made some of the most impressive catches in practices, making plays at all levels of the field while showcasing his speed and strength.

Related players: Michael Thomas, Cameron Meredith, Brandon Coleman, Ted Ginn

Smith has spent a lot of time with Drew Brees and the first team thus far, the story said, as the Saints seem anxious to see what the rookie can do. But realistically, Smith seems like he could be buried down the depth chart, at least behind the names listed above.

Detroit Lions running back LeGarrette Blount returned to training camp a day after walking off the field during practice.

The story said Blount declined interviews Monday, so we don't know what the issue was that caused him to leave practice on Sunday.

It took longer than expected, but the New York Jets are finally getting quarterback Sam Darnold under contract.

Following a contract dispute, the Jets and Darnold are expected to reach an agreement on a deal and the rookie quarterback is expected to be at the team facility Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Related players: Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater

The Jets will sign their first-round draft pick to a four-year contract for the slotted amount of $30.2 million. The holdup, as we reported yesterday, was specific clauses and language. The big sticking point appears to be default language pertaining to the guaranteed money, the ESPN story said. Darnold, although behind at this point, is still expected to compete with Bridgewater and McCown for the starting QB job.

The excitement about Taywan Taylor’s game gradually quieted during a frustrating rookie season, but it’s time to crank things back up.

The Titans need him. The Titans have demonstrated they believe in and will rely on him. And in the first week of camp—for whatever a first week of camp is worth—he’s justifying that faith.

“I know it takes more than just enough to be great—and I don’t want to be good, I want to be great,” said Taylor, whose offseason included a week in Florida doing some unique training with mentor and teammate Rishard Matthews.

Related players: Corey Davis, Tajae Sharpe

Taylor has been getting the injured Matthews’ first-team reps on the outside and is ahead of Sharpe in the pecking order for the No. 3 WR spot, the story said. Davis sat out Sunday's practice so the story said Taylor was getting a lot of work and taking full advantage. Taylor appears to be third on the depth chart for the Titans and seems to be worth monitoring this summer.

The Eagles have an MVP candidate at starting quarterback and a Super Bowl MVP as his backup. It’s a good problem to have (then again, the best problem is no problem at all), but a real question lingers as to when Carson Wentz will be ready to go.

Coach Doug Pederson told Peter King of NBC’s Football Morning in America that Pederson sees “a little hesitation” in Wentz. “I think that’s natural,” Pederson said. “It’s more about his head than his knee right now.”

Related players: Nick Foles

This falls in line in what we reported Sunday that Wentz had a rough practice. While many who follow the team feel Wentz will start the season, the Eagles could be in a tough spot. Wentz has worked hard to seemingly be in position to start, but at the same time Foles appears to have not missed a beat during his practice reps.

The Vikings will be wearing full pads for Monday’s practice and RB Dalvin Cook showed no reticence about what lies ahead when he was asked if he’s set to take a hit.

“I’m ready to deliver it,” Cook said, via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “That’s what I’m ready to do. That’s my mind-set, man. I’m going to go out there and play and be me. I know my knee is fixed. I know I’m healed up. Put the time in, go out there and play.”

Cook was given the green light for full practice heading into camp, the story said, and he was feeling comfortable enough about his recovery from a torn ACL that he ditched his knee brace. The story added there hasn't been any details about the team's plan for Cook in preseason games but he appears set to play Aug. 11.

Based on how snaps were divided during OTA and minicamp practices it once again became apparent that Ty Montgomery remains a significant part of coach Mike McCarthy’s running-back-by-committee plan.

"I feel really good about the running back group," McCarthy said. "I think Ty’s transition has been pretty special. Not only what he’s done from a position change but you look what he’s done to prepare himself -- you look at his body and the added muscle that he’s put on. Ty and just the other young guys, I think it’s going to be a very, very competitive position."

Related players: Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones

The story went on to say no one will talk about reps, but early in camp Williams has gotten the bulk of the work with the starters during normal down-and-distance situations while Montgomery has handled the two-minute and no-huddle drives where his receiving skills could come back into play. Jones, who must serve a two-game suspension to the start the season, dropped out after two practices with a hamstring injury. It appears Monty will have more value in PPR formats this season.

For the third straight day, Jets quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown split the reps evenly in 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven play, and, on the first day of hitting, both quarterbacks started slowly. Both got better later. Unofficially, McCown was 7-for-12, with two touchdown passes and one “sack’’ in 11-on-11 action. He had one throwaway. He was 6-for-6 in seven-on-sevens. Bridgewater was awful in seven-on-sevens—1-for-4 with a pick-six by cornerback Derrick Jones. But Bridgewater was better in the 11-on-11s, going 13-for-18 (one throwaway) with two TDs, including the play of the day on the final play of practice, when he threw a ball to the back corner of the end zone and it was grabbed by a diving Tre McBride, who had a man on him.

Related players: Sam Darnold

Darnold continues to be a no-show at camp which leaves all the work for Bridgewater and McCown. Of course, Bridgewater is coming off a major knee injury and McCown is 39. The holdup for Darnold is apparently "offset" language in his contract.

Baker Mayfield has yet to throw a pick in camp, has developed amazing chemistry with Rashard Higgins, and is starting to look comfortable under center.

On Sunday, he had his best day of camp, and Hue Jackson acknowledged that he's exceeded expectations.

"Baker Mayfield has been everything I thought a quarterback should be for our organization thus far,'' Jackson said after practice. "He's doing the things that we want him to do the way we want him to do it and he's exceeding those things because he's putting in the time. He doesn't have a pride or (arrogance) any kind of way. His thing is, 'you guys tell me what you need me to do and I'm going to do it' and that's what he's done since he's walked in the building and that's exciting, because that's a player that's eager to learn.''

As the story said, in practice, Mayfield has displayed the traits that led the Browns to select him No. 1 overall in the draft: A quick release, good vision, a strong arm, and nimble feet. He's working exclusively with the second-team offense, but making guys like third-year pro Rashard Higgins look like starters. The two have consistently connected on deep balls, with Mayfield often fitting it into tight windows.

Quincy Enunwa said he had “no uncertainty” if he’d make a return to football.

After starting practice in a no-contact jersey, the Jets wide receiver fully participated in the no-pads practice on Day 2 and only wore the no-contact jersey during team drills on Day 3.

The 26-year-old, entering the last season of his rookie contract, now has his sights set on the rest of his football career.

Enunwa showed flashes in 2016 before suffering a season-ending neck injury that was later revealed to be a bulging disk in August of last year. As the story said, with an injury like Enunwa had, a slow return is better than no return so it may be a bit before he's completely back to form.

Another Chargers tight end has been lost for the year to a torn ACL.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn announced on Sunday, via Eric Williams of ESPN.com, that undrafted rookie Austin Roberts tore his ACL during Saturday’s practice.

Related players: Virgil Green, Braedon Bowman, Sean Culkin, Cole Hunt, Ben Johnson, Antonio Gates

The Bolts are looking to get a deal done to bring back Gates with the loss of Hunter Henry. If they don't, the remaining TEs on the roster are Green, Bowman, Culkin, Hunt, and Johnson.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Travin Dural was in obvious pain after one play in team drills during Sunday's practice, and as he left the field, a trainer helped hold up his left arm.

Soon, Dural will undergo surgery because he suffered a broken humerus on the play, according to a league source.

The 24-year-old spent 2017 on the Saints' practice squad and was competing this summer for a spot on the active roster, the story said.

If there’s a competition in the wide receivers room to become Alex Smith’s favorite target, Jamison Crowder has taken the early lead.

The slot receiver has been open throughout training camp, and he and his quarterback seem to have developed some quick chemistry. Smith has finished in the top 10 in the NFL in completion percentage the past four seasons, including third in 2017 at 67.5 percent. In other words, he will find the open man, and Crowder has been that guy.

Smith always has been adept at working the intermediate and underneath routes—the crossing routes and outs at which Crowder specializes. The 5-foot-9, 177-pounder isn’t running many go-routes, the story said.

Cowboys sixth-round pick Cedrick Wilson injured his shoulder during Saturday’s practice and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports it is believed that Wilson tore his labrum.

The pool of competitors for playing time in the Cowboys wide receiver corps appears to be a little shallower, the story said. Wilson is set for more tests to determine the next steps, but, if the diagnosis is accurate, it seems likely he will miss a good chunk of time.

For all of the talk about the improved arsenal around Giants quarterback Eli Manning, there has yet to be a practice where the full potential of the offense was on display.

That changed on Sunday.

During what was arguably his strongest performance of the offseason, Manning put on a show and hit every target as wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, tight end Evan Engram, and running back Saquon Barkley all benefited from Manning's accuracy and, at times, his arm strength on the deep ball.

As the story said, it was only one practice, but Manning seemed dialed in and more than ready to maximize the talent that the Giants put around him this offseason.

After watching Carson Wentz during the first four days of training camp, he seems to look like he did at this time last year, before the torn ACL.

Doug Pederson agrees.

“I think if you didn’t know he had the injury or had the brace on his leg, you’d probably assess that everything was good,” the head coach said.

Of course, Wentz is still going through his recovery process.

During Sunday's practice, Wentz did 7-on-7 drills, but did not participate in 11-on-11 drills after doing them the last two days.

“It’s just the plan that we have,” Pederson said. “I’m not going to divulge the plan, but there’s a plan. There’s a progression. There are steps that we’re going to take with him. But this is all a part of that progression.”

Wentz reportedly didn't look good on Sunday after sitting out a majority of the drills before finally getting in. Luckily we're early in camp so there is time to get back on track. For what it's worth, Nick Foles looked great. Many of those who follow the team feel Wentz is still on track to start the season.

Wide receiver Corey Davis was a no-show at Sunday's practice after fully participating — and looking great — Saturday. Davis, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, might be the most important player on the Titans outside of quarterback Marcus Mariota this upcoming season.

"By plan, there’s a lot of guys who will be practicing and a lot of guys that won’t," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. "I would say that he’s one of these guys that, by plan, wasn’t working today."

Vrabel then elaborated further:

"It’s based on the fact that one, we’re going to need Corey Davis to play a lot of football for us," he said. "Two, there’s a difference between somebody like me running out there for two hours and a guy like Corey… It’s a lot of powerful movements, explosive movements, so we just wanted to make sure that he’s ready to go tomorrow (when) we’ll put the ball down in a more simulated-type scrimmage."

Seems as if it was by design so no need to worry. As the story said, Davis has looked good so far after some big fantasy expectations and lots of fantasy disappointment last year.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck took some time on Sunday to reflect on his first practices of training camp before getting ready for the team’s first padded practice of the summer.

Luck worked in full on Thursday and Friday before taking a day off from throwing on Saturday as part of the plan to get his right shoulder ready for the regular season. After missing an entire season, Luck said there were times he looked “pretty silly on film” in those two practices but that his arm is “responding well” to the work he’s put in thus far.

Most importantly, the story said, is that his arm isn't hurting when he throws the ball. However, his arm is sore and tired, the QB said. He's expected to play in the team's first preseason game on Aug. 9.

The Detroit Lions' revamped running game took a hit Sunday when LeGarrette Blount left practice early with an undisclosed injury.

It's unclear what exactly happened, but Blount headed for the locker room shortly after Detroit went through a couple rounds of Oklahoma drills. He was walking under his own power, though escorted by a trainer.

Related players: Theo Riddick, Kerryon Johnson

The practice was Detroit's first in pads, and several players noted how intense it was, both as compared to the last two days of practice as well as last year, the story said. New coach Matt Patricia is trying to ramp up the physicality, and that was easily evident in a series of blocking and hitting drills that were unveiled Sunday. That includes the Oklahoma drill, which was not run under former coach Jim Caldwell.

Jimmy Graham isn’t worried about developing chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. The Green Bay Packers' new tight end knows how good his new quarterback is, and through the first three days of training camp, they’ve already made plenty of progress.

But when will Graham know that he and Rodgers are truly on the same page?

“I’ll be with the ball in the end zone,” Graham said after Saturday’s first in-pads practice of camp. “That’s really when you know.”

As the story said, they haven't connected for a TD yet in any of the 11-on-11 team periods of the first three practices, but the two have connected plenty of times during drills and expect to be on the same wavelength in time for the team's Sept. 9 regular season opener against Chicago. Rodgers said the two "just need more reps."

WR Danny Amendola had two TDs and continues to develop into a trusted WR.

QB Ryan Tannehill threw his first interception in camp, trying to hit Amendola.

TE Mike Gesicki probably ran more snaps with the first team than in any other practice. The kid seems to be making progress. He had TD receptions from Tannehill and QB Bryce Petty.

It seems as if the Dolphins offense continues to look solid so far in camp. Amendola remains a top WR threat as well, but durability is going to be a concern, as it has been the last few years with the WR.

The Lions got a scare on Saturday when receiver Marvin Jones collided with cornerback DeShawn Shead. On Sunday, coach Matt Patricia downplayed the notion that Jones suffered any type of lingering injury.

“He’s good, he’s fine,” Patricia told reporters regarding Jones, via Tim Twentyman of the Lions’ official website.

Trainers had looked at Jones’ left leg after the practice mishap. He’s back at practice on Sunday, the first day of padded practices for the Lions, according to the story.

It appears the Eagles are willing to give RB Donnel Pumphrey an opportunity as he has been getting reps with the first- and second-team offenses so far in training camp. Although he likely won’t carry the ball a ton this season, it does seem the Eagles are preparing to make him a part of the passing game.

“I expect to move to the slot a little bit more. At least that is what the coaches are telling me,” Pumphrey said. “They want me to do a lot more crossing routes with me and different stuff. Just looking forward to it.”

Related players: Matt Jones, Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams

Pumphrey ended up on IR before the season started last year and just didn't appear ready to play in the NFL. That hasn't been the case so far this year, and the story said he's catching everything thrown to him. Pumphrey is in a battle to make the team but should have an advantage as the Eagles spent a valuable draft pick on him two drafts ago.

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert has been stellar at times, securing a diving catch from Carson Wentz on Friday and Saturday, converting one catch that had him turning around and falling on his back in tight coverage. He made the catch and held onto it.

If Zach Ertz wasn't around, I'm increasingly convinced Goedert would acquit himself just fine as a team's No. 1 tight end.

Related players: Richard Rodgers

His athleticism is impressive, as are his hands, according to the author of the story. Goedert is in a battle with Rodgers for the Eagles' No. 2 TE spot behind Ertz. Last year, all three Eagles TEs saw significant action but Ertz is the clear top option at the position and one of our top TEs overall.

The Jets entered training camp with five running backs on their roster. Two days into practice, they're down to four.

That's bad news for Elijah McGuire, the man who went down with a broken foot that will require surgery. He was expected to be the team's third back.

Related players: Bilal Powell, Isaiah Crowell, Trenton Cannon

The story was mainly about how the injury could end up being a blessing for the likes of Cannon. Cannon, the Jets' sixth-round draft pick, was mostly viewed as a potential return man entering this summer. Of course, a team's third RB certainly has potential fantasy value, especially as a handcuff, as he's just one injury away from more significant time.

Brady Henderson of ESPN reports that Chris Carson has worked as the No. 1 running back through the first two days of Seahawks camp.

Seattle selected Rashaad Penny in the first round of the NFL Draft, but appear to be smitten with Carson so far this summer. We still believe Penny will ultimately be the lead back, and have him projected for 143 more carries than Carson.

Ian Rapoport reports that the injury suffered by Jason Verrett in practice is believed to be a torn Achilles. This would end his season.

UPDATE: Verrett's injury has been confirmed to be season-ending.

The Titans signed tight end Delanie Walker to a two-year, $17 million extension with an $8 million signing bonus. The extension totals $12.6 million in guaranteed money.

It's big money for a 33-year-old tight end and speaks to just how important Walker is to the offense. After leading the team in targets in 2017, Walker is likely to be one of the target leaders at the position yet again.

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones has ended his holdout, and the team has moved money around in his deal to pay him $13.4 million in 2018, $2.9 million more than his previous cap number of $10.5 million.

This move makes Jones the sixth-highest paid receiver for 2018. After previously making less than guys like Emmanuel Sanders and DeSean Jackson, and seeing big free agency deals go to Allen Robinson and Sammy Watkins, this should keep Jones plenty happy for now. The Falcons have said they will talk about a re-structuring/extension of Jones' contract at the end of the season.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that Danny Amendola took most of the first-team snaps on Thursday, while Albert Wilson "mostly did a lot of work with the No. 2's".

The Dolphins brought in both Amendola and Wilson this offseason in free agency, and it appears as though the former Patriot has the early edge for the starting slot role. Miami committed more guaranteed money to Wilson, but it is fair to wonder if Amendola would have left the confines of New England if he wasn't going to be a starter. The Dolphins may look for more creative ways to get Wilson the ball this season.

According to Gregg Rosenthal, Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan talked up Michael Gallup’s red zone ability and catch radius.

The easy connection here is that the Cowboys see Gallup as the red zone replacement for Dez Bryant, who the team cut in the offseason. Bryant has not played good football the last two years, but still had 14 touchdowns in a low-volume pass offense. There appears to be upside right away with Gallup, who is going as the No. 62 wideout in fantasy drafts.

Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon left practice early with a hamstring injury and did not return.

There has been no indication as to the severity of the injury, but it is not a good start to camp for Dixon, who missed all of 2017 with a torn meniscus. He is likely battling Javorius Allen for the receiving work out of the Baltimore backfield.

Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant has heard nothing from the NFL with regards to a possible suspension, and will report to training camp.

There were rumors circulating back in June that a suspension was coming for the former Steeler, but nothing has come of it. You can expect Bryant to play in 3-WR sets for Oakland come Week 1.

Speaking with the Washington Post's Kimberley Martin, Redskins tight end Jordan Reed indicated that he is "feeling great".

"It feels (like a) 360 turnaround, man. I'm feeling a lot better than I felt last year. Much more explosive, much more strong and just in better shape. I'm feeling great."

Reed's geometry skills notwithstanding, this is exactly what fantasy owners want to hear entering training camp. A healthy Reed would be a fantasy force, finishing first at the position in points per game in both 2015 and 2016. Reed has missed 16 games over the past three seasons.

Texans general manager Brian Gaine expressed concern about running back Donta Foreman being ready for Week 1.

"Work in progress right now, recovering from this injury," Gaine said. "We need a little bit more time to determine if he's going to be ready for the season. We're not there at that stage. We think he's getting better. He's improving, but time will tell whether he's available to us when we kick off."

This news does not seem promising for Foreman's Week 1 status, and he is still a candidate to open up the year on the PUP list, which would keep him sidelined for six weeks. When he does get on the field, he will be facing an uphill battle given what we know about the nature of Achilles injuries. There is very little that should stop Lamar Miller from being a workhorse to open the season. He is still going as the No. 26 running back in fantasy drafts.

Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter says Ryan Fitzpatrick is the planned starter at quarterback to open the season.

With Jameis Winston suspended for the first three games of the season, it will be Fitzpatrick who opens the year as the starting quarterback. It would take a mammoth effort by Ryan Griffin to usurp him at this point.

Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list after tweaking his back in the spring. Eifert recently tweeted that he was "feeling good" from his personal account.

It's more of the same from Eifert, who has struggled with injuries ever since entering the league. The Bengals could really use his touchdown scoring ability, and it would give Andy Dalton a boost if he could be ready in time for Week 1. Unfortunately, that is not something fantasy owners can bank on right now.

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz did not start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Wentz is expected to be limited at the start of training camp, but just practicing will be a big accomplishment after tearing his ACL late in the 2017 season. It's a good sign towards his progression in advance of Week 1.

Colts head coach Frank Reich says he plans on playing Andrew Luck in the team's first pre-season game at Seattle.

It is not uncommon for starters to not play at all in the first pre-season game, so this is notable in that there is no real pressure to put Luck on the field if he is not ready. Luck looks like all systems go for 2018.

Agent Tom Condon, the Chargers, and Antonio Gates are "actively negotiating" his return to the team.

This is more likely to happen than not. The Chargers have a huge hole at tight end after losing Hunter Henry for the season, and Gates is more than familiar with the offense and quarterback. Henry and Gates combined for over 200 PPR points in 2017, so Gates will become an interesting flier if/when he comes back.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh says rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson will be part of the quarterback rotation, even as Joe Flacco remains the starter.

“One way or another, he’s going to be out there, taking snaps,” Harbaugh told John Kryk of the Toronto Sun. “Lamar is also a weapon for us, who can play quarterback. And we’re going to play Lamar at quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “So we’re going to play all of our good players. I don’t see why we wouldn’t. You’ve got this first.”

The writing is already on the wall here for Flacco to not make it through the 2018 season as the starter. The Ravens have already been seen installing designed quarterback runs, and their offensive coaching staff has extensive time working with mobile quarterbacks like Michael Vick and Colin Kaepernick. Fantasy gamers already recognize that Jackson starting is a matter of when, not if, as he continues to go higher than Flacco in drafts.

Adam Schefter reports that the Rams and running back Todd Gurley agreed to a four-year extension worth $60 million. The deal includes $45 million in guarantees.

Since Gurley still has two years left on his current deal, this extension will keep him a Ram for the next six seasons. Gurley is comfortably one of the better assets in both redraft and dynasty fantasy football.

Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said running back Doug Martin “jumped out” in camp with his quickness and ability to pick up the offense.

We've heard this story before, but Martin has been good once every three years, and averaged under three yards per carry for the last two, so maybe the trend will continue. Marshawn Lynch was solid last year for the Raiders, but it is clear he cannot handle the same kind of workload he had in Seattle. There is a chance for Martin to carve out a sizable role here, but it is fair to question just how much fantasy value that would have. Oakland was just 19th in total PPR points at the running back position in 2017.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera told ESPN that he "wouldn't be surprised if McCaffrey reached 200 carries" this season.

This appears to contradict an earlier report that had C.J. Anderson as the lead running back. Regardless, it does not appear that the team is interested in making McCaffrey an every-down workhorse, but he should continue to be used heavily in the passing game. We have the second-year back projected for 162 rush attempts and 71 receptions.

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones will not report to camp, and is "comfortable sitting out the entire time" while seeking a new contract.

Most NFL holdouts end up being resolved rather quickly—players such as Odell Beckham and David Johnson reported on the first day despite wanting to be paid. This situation appears to be different, and Jones is digging in his heels. The Falcons have no interest in re-doing his deal at this time but may give him an advance on some future money to keep him happy enough to play.

The Providence Journal's Mark Daniels reports that wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell had a procedure done on his knee. He followed up by saying it would be an "uphill climb" for him to play in 2018.

UPDATE: Ian Rapoport reported that Mitchell's procedure was not a surgery, but rather to "promote healing" in his troubling knee. This is still not great for his 2018 prospects, but a clarification on what happened was necessary.

Mitchell's health has been a constant problem since entering the league, and it explains why rumors of the Patriots attempting to trade him leaked earlier today. Mitchell being out of the picture clears the way for players like Jordan Matthews and Kenny Britt to seize starting roles during Julian Edelman's suspension to start the year.

Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reports that he heard from Leonard Fournette that the second-year running back now weighs 223 pounds.

It is the lowest weight of Fournette's career, and far slimmer than the 240-ish pounds he weighted at LSU. A between-the-tackles grinder as a rookie, this could be an indication that Fournette wants to be a bigger asset in the passing game as well

In a statement posted on his Twitter account, Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon stated that he will be away from the team at the start of training camp as part of his "overall health and treatment plan". General manager John Dorsey said Gordon will be placed on the non-football injury list until he is ready to return. There is no pending suspension.

While this seems very out of the ordinary, Gordon is obviously in a very unique situation with respect to his personal life, as well as his football career. It sounds like this is just planned maintenance to make sure Gordon is healthy, happy, and safe.

Nate Taylor of The Athletic reported that Chiefs running back Spencer Ware was present to participate at Monday's practice.

This is big news for Ware, who is coming off of PCL and LCL tears last summer. There was concern that he would not be ready for the start of the season, but that does not seem to be a worry now. Ware had over 1,300 total yards in 2016, and should be considered a real threat to the workload of Kareem Hunt, particularly in the passing game.

ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley reports that the quarterback depth chart for the Ravens is "well-defined" right now, with Joe Flacco at the top, and Lamar Jackson as the backup.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had some good things to say about both Flacco and Jackson today, but the veteran clearly still has a stranglehold on the position. Jackson is actually going ahead of Flacco in drafts right now (quarterback No. 29 vs No. 31), which presents a unique buying opportunity for the former Super Bowl MVP.

Bears RB Jordan Howard says he’s improved his hand placement in terms of becoming a better receiver. He was active in the passing game in practice Saturday.

Howard still finished as RB14 in PPR last season, despite a terrible offense and coaching staff that illustrated some of the worst playcalling in the league. New head coach Matt Nagy is expected to open up the offense more this season, but Howard will have to be reliable as a pass-catcher to maintain his snap counts. He has not reached 30 receptions in either of his first two seasons.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard tells reporters that quarterback Andrew Luck is “good to go” for training camp. He will not have any limitations on the field, but will not throw for seven consecutive days.

Things continue to look up for the Colts star quarterback. He appears to be on-schedule to start in Week 1, which boosts the value of all relevant Colt skill players. Luck has finally cracked the top 12 of quarterback ADP, and it should only rise as we approach September.

Jets wide receiver ArDarius Stewart is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances. The suspension is not yet official.

A third-round pick just a year ago, Stewart did not appear to be in line for major playing time as a sophomore prior to this infraction. He is stuck behind Robby Anderson, Terrelle Pryor, Jermaine Kearse, and Quincy Enunwa. This suspension likely makes it even more difficult for him to make an impact. Stewart is not a fantasy option.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph indicated a committee approach to the backfield in 2018.

“We want two or three guys to be our main core backs,” Joseph said during minicamp last month.

Fantasy owners have been quick to anoint rookie Royce Freeman the starter and bell cow in Denver, but there is a reason to believe that will not be the case. Devontae Booker, meanwhile, is coming off the board in the 11th round of drafts.

Colts running backs coach Tom Rathman reiterated that the team does not plan on utilizing a bell cow running back in 2018.

"You’re not going to have a bell cow, so to speak, a guy that’s going to carry the load," Rathman said. "We’ve got a lot of different styles, and I think anytime you have a lot of different styles, you want to try to utilize that. So you run one of the players with a certain style, and then you change it up the next series, and it keeps the defense on their toes. So that’s what we would anticipate doing."

This has been a constant theme of the offseason for the Colts and new head coach Frank Reich. We should expect a committee in Indianapolis, which makes it difficult to buy Marlon Mack at his late-seventh-round ADP. Rookies Nyheim Hines (14th round) and Jordan Wilkins (17th round) are much more appealing options.

Deshaun Watson expects to be “full-go” for the first day of training camp.

“I feel great,” Watson told the NFL Network on Thursday night, via Adam Wexler of KPRC. “I’m getting ready for next week when we report to The Greenbrier; I’m going to be full-go.”

After practicing without a knee brace during minicamp last month, it appears Watson will be all systems go for the start of training camp. This is great news for one of the best dual-threats in football. Watson averaged 42.2 rushing yards per game in his six rookie-year starts. Of course, all of this is already baked into his ADP, coming off the board as the No. 2 quarterback.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that no Bears are expected to start camp on the PUP list. That means wide receiver Allen Robinson is healthy following his ACL injury last fall.

This is a great start to the three-year, $42 million contract the Bears signed Robinson to this spring. The former Jaguar projects to be the clear leader in targets for Chicago this season.

Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb was spotted without his walking boot during his football camp.

This is great news, as Cobb should easily be the No. 2 wide receiver in the Packers offense when healthy. Last season, Cobb averaged eight targets per game in contests where Aaron Rodgers was healthy—a 128 target pace. He averaged 13.2 PPR points in those games as well. Cobb is currently going off the board as the No. 40 WR in fantasy drafts.

The Saints are signing former Giants and Patriots running back Shane Vereen.

Related Players: Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara

UPDATE: The Saints have waived Daniel Lasco in a corresponding move.

The Saints continue to add reliable veterans to the fold in the wake of Ingram's four-game suspension. Vereen is not much of a runner, but has averaged 3.2 receptions per game over his last five seasons. If he makes the team, he will likely be a factor in the New Orleans passing game, which could impact the bottom line of both Ingram and Kamara.

ESPN's Mike Reiss listed Jordan Matthews as a "roster lock" in his Patriots wide receiver preview. Here is Reiss' explanation of the projection:

"Some might view Matthews as an aggressive choice as a lock, but the projection is that the Patriots will ultimately come to value his versatility, smarts and cheap contract, which is why he lands in that category. Furthermore, I don't think it's a stretch to say Edelman's four-game suspension to open the season further increases Matthews' chances of sticking around."

The logic used by Reiss is certainly reasonable. It is worth noting that New England projects to keep five wideouts on their final roster, and one of them is likely to be return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson. Matthews has a great chance to start in two-wide sets while Julian Edelman serves his four-game suspension, and is the No. 66 wide receiver off the board in fantasy drafts right now.

Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was arrested in Scottsdale on July 14 for assault, disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing, according to the Scottsdale Police Department. The incident in question involved Seals-Jones attempting to use a bathroom at a Scottsdale hotel where he was not a guest, which led to him pushing a hotel employee. Reports say he "appeared intoxicated".

Hopefully this ends up being nothing for the sophomore tight end, but it is something to monitor. The NFL has certainly suspended players for less. Seals-Jones is the No. 25 tight end off the board right now in fantasy drafts.

Despite its complexity, Mitch Trubisky feels more comfortable in Matt Nagy's system than the one Dowell Loggains ran last season.

“It’s more complex, but it’s easier [to execute], as opposed to simpler but more difficult.

"That’s how I would describe it last year. Last year, there were probably less words, but they didn’t necessarily fit together. Or it was just more difficult to process. This year, it’s more complex but it’s easier to execute and memorize and remember because everything builds on something. You start with a base concept, and it gets more and more complicated.”

Trubisky is using flashcards this offseason to help him learn and process. The story said Nagy's offense took five years to master in Kansas City, and any success this year will circle back to how well Turbisky operates. The QB certainly has the weapons around him to succeed and there is some fantasy hype around the Bears this season.

The Los Angeles Rams have signed Brandin Cooks to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.

The deal is worth $80 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"Brandin Cooks has shown himself to be a class act on and off the field since the first day he joined our team," HC Sean McVay said in a statement. "He's a proven professional in this league and signing him to a long-term contract was always our goal."

Acquired in an offseason trade with the New England Patriots, Cooks, 24, has yet to play a snap for the Rams, but coach Sean McVay liked what he saw from the receiver throughout the offseason program. Cooks said he knew he wanted to sign a long-term contract shortly after arriving at the team's training facility and observing the culture established by McVay, the story said.

The Saints signed restricted free agent wide receiver Cameron Meredith this spring, but they haven’t had much of a chance to see him work.

He’s hoping that changes when veterans report to training camp next week.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s almost a 10,” he said. “I haven’t had a setback along the recovery process. I’m gaining strength day by day, month by month. I’m excited to see how soon I can get back, ... But the main objective for me is to do as much as I can with the trainers to get ready for the season."

The former Bears wideout missed last season after tearing his left ACL in the preseason, and he’s been limited through Saints OTAs and minicamp so far. He said it shouldn't be a problem to take part in camp.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski is expected to report for the start of New England Patriots training camp on time, according to an ESPN report Tuesday.

Gronkowski missed all of the Patriots’ voluntary offseason workouts and has been working with the team on a tweak of his contract for the second consecutive year. But he did show for New England’s mandatory minicamp, and he is not expected to hold out for any portion of training camp.

Gronk flirted with the idea of retirement and reports he didn't get along with HC Bill Belichick were dismissed. We reported a story earlier this offseason that a new contract for the TE is likely at some point, but not imminent.

WR Cole Beasley will be a key player for Dallas to re-establish what it's calling a "Dak-friendly" offense. In the slot in 2016, Beasley epitomized that role as the line protected for Prescott and Beasley grabbed underneath balls when Dak Prescott didn't hand off to Ezekiel Elliott. Now, Beasley's working on expanding his route tree under new receivers coach Sanjay Lal.

The story said Dallas plans to shift several receivers across different positions with routes similar that Prescott will know where they're going regardless of who he is targeting. It's likely going to be a receiver by committee approach with Dez Bryant released and Jason Witten retiring.

Running back LeVeon Bell didn’t get the long-term deal he was hoping for, and he apparently isn’t going to put in any extra time.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Bell’s plan at the moment is to skip training camp “but be ready for the regular season.”

There’s also no plan to skip regular season games, likely because doing so would be forfeiting $852,000 a week and his quest for more money isn’t furthered by leaving piles of it on the table. As we reported earlier, last year Bell got off to a slow start over the first three weeks, perhaps as a result of missing most of camp, so it's something for fantasy owners to keep in mind.

Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill had to work his way back while growing accustomed to new receivers Danny Amendola and Albert Wilson, plus two tight ends drafted in the first four rounds.

That’s enough to throw at any quarterback, let alone one who, assuming he starts the opener, will be taking a snap that matters for the first time in 637 days, or 1 3/4 calendar years.

“You could tell he has a total grip of the offense,” coach Adam Gase said. “Everything just moves smoother. That’s just experience, whether it’s in this offense or just football in general. He’s been in the league for a little bit. When the defense throws something different at him, he has a way to solve the problem faster than probably what he did three or four years ago.”

The story was mostly about how Tannehill has looked good so far this offseason. Other items of note from the story included Tannehill not wearing any kind of brace and there was no evidence of a limp. The story quoted Gase as saying Tannehill is "going to play his game," meaning he has the green light to take off and run.

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be back for a 15th season in 2018 and he said this offseason that he hasn’t come to a decision about whether it will be his last year as a player.

If Fitzgerald does decide to play another year, he’ll need to sign a new contract as his current pact with the Cardinals expires after this season. Life as a free agent doesn’t appear to be in the cards, however. Fitzgerald said on Monday that there won’t be any need for other teams to come up with sales pitches designed to lure him away from Arizona.

“If I’m not playing in Arizona, I won’t be playing anywhere,” Fitzgerald said, via the Pioneer Press. “I’ve built a good life for myself down there. Playing in the same place for 15 years is a true blessing.”

As the story said, Fitz has over 100 catches and 1,000 yards each of the last three seasons, so he doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Falcons receiver Julio Jones didn’t show up for the team’s offseason program or mandatory minicamp, but he is working with Matt Ryan at the quarterback’s passing camp. Calvin Ridley posted a photo on Snapchat of 10 players posing with Ryan after a pre-camp workout.

The Falcons report to training camp July 26, and it remains to be seen whether Jones will show up. His contract has three years remaining. It averages $14.25 million, only eighth-highest at the position, and pays him a $10.5 million base salary this year.

Wide receiver Devin Smith won’t be headed to training camp with the Jets this year.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Jets will release Smith.

Smith was a second-round pick in 2015 after starring at Ohio State, but injuries have kept him from doing much of anything for the Jets. He tore his ACL late in his rookie season, which sidelined him for much of 2016, and then missed all of last season after he suffered the same injury last April. He had 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown in 14 total games.

It appears that C.J. Anderson will take the lead in the traditional running back role.

Related players: Christian McCaffrey

The author feels we will see McCaffrey's receiving numbers rise from last year's 80-651-5 line. He doesn't think McCaffrey's carries will go up by much, but he's not ruling out 900 receiving yards for McCaffrey. McCaffrey is our No. 12 ranked PPR running back.

Aaron Rodgers wants to play his entire career in Green Bay but understands the business, the quarterback told Peter King in King’s Football Morning In America debut column.

Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy wants to make sure Rodgers retires a Packer, saying Monday that signing the franchise quarterback to a long-term deal is a priority for both sides.

“Obviously, he’s an important player,” Murphy said, via Rob Reischel of Forbes. “He wants to be here, and we want him to be here. When both sides have a common interest, you get deals done.”

Rodgers, 34, has two years remaining on a five-year, $110 million deal, but his $22 million salary this season makes him only the ninth-highest paid player at his position. Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins, and Jimmy Garoppolo all signed lucrative deals this offseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and running back LeVeon Bell failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension before Monday's 4 PM franchise tag deadline, and his agent says that means it is likely Bell's last season with the team.

"His intention was to retire as a Steeler," Adisa Bakari told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But now that there's no deal, the practical reality is, this now likely will be Le'Veon's last season as a Steeler."

Bell will play on the franchise tag for the second consecutive year barring an unforeseen development. He tweeted after Monday's deadline passed that "2018 will be my best season to date."

The Patriots, meanwhile, are well-insulated from an injury hampering their running attack. Mike Gillislee struggled at times early in 2017. But he's still effective. It speaks volumes for the Patriots' running back depth that he was inactive for much of last season. With Dion Lewis gone, it's very possible that he could re-take a spot in the running back rotation.

Related players: Rex Burkhead, James White

The story was mainly about comparing the Patriots' RB situation with that of the Steelers and LeVeon Bell's holdout. The Pats still have White and Burkhead but still lack a between-the-tackles type of runner. With Gillislee around yet, it's possible he once again emerges, but the New England backfield lately seems to need many weeks of understanding before someone is deemed a safe fantasy play.

Don't expect Aaron Rodgers to hang up his spikes anytime soon. The star Packers quarterback may be coming off a season during which he broke his collarbone for the second time in his career, but he's still supremely confident that he's going to stick around in the league for a long time yet.

Rodgers is headed into his age-35 season, and if he gets his way, he'll stick around for at least five more years after 2018.

"I'd love to play to 40," Rodgers told NBC's Peter King.

Rodgers said he wants to be able to move like he does now, or close to it, when he turns 40. That will be the key. He mentioned Tom Brady and Brett Favre as examples. Rodgers also said he wants to stick with the Packers, but his current contract has two seasons left.

From the player’s perspective, the ultimate leverage isn’t staying away until Labor Day; it’s staying away until the Tuesday after Week 10.

That’s the deadline for LeVeon Bell's arrival and acceptance of the franchise tender. Specifically, if Bell shows up before then, he gets $14.5 million (or $852,000 for each of the 17 weeks he’s with the team). If he shows up after then, he can’t; he’d be done for the year.

Adam Schefter of ESPN said this morning on SiriusXM NFL Radio that it’s “possible” Bell stays away until the middle of the year. Of course it’s possible. But the far more important question is whether it’s likely.

The story said Bell would lose $8.5 million if he holds out for 10 games. He'd also have no leverage because the Steelers wouldn't be able to sign him until after the regular season at that point. The deadline for a deal is 4 p.m. Monday.

After an injury-riddled 2017 season, Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles has announced that he will play one more season before retiring from the NFL.

Sproles, 35, played in just three games last season, posting 14 total yards. Although he earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the three seasons before 2017, he tore his ACL and suffered a broken arm on the same play during the Eagles' 27-24 week 3 victory over the New York Giants.

In a letter, Sproles expressed his interest to return for a final season.

"An injury is different; It’s something you don’t have any control over but I feel like I left a lot out there, and I couldn’t let my career end like that," Sproles said.

Sproles currently sits eighth all-time in all-purpose yards with 19,155. He will likely pass Steve Smith (19,180), Marshall Faulk (19,190), and Tim Brown (19,682) to move into fifth place this season. He'll like see plenty of punt return action this season as well as some passing-down duties on offense.

Appearing at the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation football camp over the weekend, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin told WAVY Channel 10 that he would like the Steelers to sign LeVeon Bell to a long-term contract before Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline.

"Obviously we want to get a deal done, he wants to get a deal done; everybody has said that," said Tomlin, who returns to his hometown of Hampton, Virginia, every summer for the camp. "Now it's just about the negotiators getting into a room and doing what it is they need to do. I'm excited and hopeful. Hopefully we'll have some exciting news before Monday."

As the Steelers and Bell are pressed against the deadline for the second straight year, the running back is prepared to play on this year's tag—worth $14.5 million—in the absence of what he considers a fair deal. Bell told ESPN this offseason that he won't sign an extension offer worth less than the tag number on an annual basis. Talks stalled in the spring after Bell turned down an offer, but both sides reopened negotiations over the past week, according to the story.

As characterized by an article appearing on the Lions’ official website (and of course that means nothing at all . . . other than it appears on the sliver of the Internet owned and operated by the Detroit Lions), RB Ameer Abdullah is on the roster bubble as training camp approaches.

Related players: LeGarrette Blount, Kerryon Johnson, Theo Riddick

As the story went on to say, the top of the depth chart will consist of veteran Blount, rookie second-rounder Johnson, and third-down-specialist-plus Riddick. Abdullah will need to win the fourth roster spot (or leapfrog one of the other three) in order to remain. That makes special teams a key for Abdullah, since any running back buried that deep will need to be able to do other things. And, as noted in the article, Abdullah spent time as the kick returner during offseason workouts.

Adam Schefter reports that free agent running back DeMarco Murray is retiring from football.

Murray's retirement can put fantasy owners of players in unsettled backfields at ease. With him off the market, the lone big-name veteran at running back is Adrian Peterson.

According to Mickey Spagnola of DallasCowboys.com, tight end Geoff Swaim worked with the first team during OTAs and minicamp.

With Jason Witten's retirement, the Cowboys have a huge hole at tight end, and while Rico Gathers has been the darling of fantasy Twitter, Swaim appears to be in the lead for the position right now. No matter who wins the job, it is unlikely that the player is fantasy relevant. Dallas is likely to focus on their wide receiver group and Ezekiel Elliott in the passing game for 2018.

Bears offensive guard Kyle Long indicated that quarterback Mitch Trubisky will be able to "showcase his skills" more in 2018.

“My little boy is becoming a man,” Long said. “They’ve taken the training wheels off of Mitch’s little bike. So he’s going to be able to do some things creatively and get to showcase his skills a little bit more in an open range. We’re excited to see him.”

It would not take much for the Bears to ask Trubisky to do more than he did in 2017 under John Fox, who famously had the rookie quarterback throw the ball just seven times in a win against Carolina. Still, it is encouraging to hear from a player in the offense that new head coach Matt Nagy is willing to open things up.

Considering the backgrounds of both Nagy and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, expect the Bears to showcase a lot more spread-based concepts in 2018. With the added weaponry of Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel, and Anthony Miller this offseason, Trubisky will likely be a priority streamer and sleeper candidate.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio believes that Bills running back LeSean McCoy could wind up on the Commissioner Exempt List regardless of the legal outcome of his domestic abuse allegations. He believes that the nature of the attacks on Delicia Cordon and possible P.R. backlash could compel the league to keep McCoy off the field.

It is still too early to jump to conclusions on what could happen to McCoy legally, but there is a real threat that he misses time regardless of his guilt or innocence. Last season, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was suspended six games for a domestic violence issue he was not ever charged with in court. Chris Ivory would be the lead running back if McCoy were to miss time, but the Bills may also look to a veteran such as DeMarco Murray or Adrian Peterson in free agency.

Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann said that he loves the pairing of quarterback Derek Carr with new head coach Jon Gruden. He went on to say that some of Carr's 2017 struggles may not have been his own doing, and that Gruden would have only come back to coaching a team with a solid quarterback in place.

Typically we wouldn't consider commentary from former players news, but Theismann is considered a bit of a quarterback expert around the league, making this particular item noteworthy. Carr reportedly struggled to stay healthy in 2017, and regressed mightily in terms of his play. He is currently the No. 19 quarterback off the board in fantasy drafts.

Mike Kaye of First Coast News said, "fans should expect an increased role on offense for Grant this season" after receiving a second-round restricted tender back in March.

Kaye also considers T.J. Yeldon the "clear-cut No. 2 back", so it is difficult to ascertain exactly where this increased role is coming from. Still, Grant was an explosive playmaker for the Jaguars in the AFC Championship game loss to the Patriots. He should have a more consistent receiving role on offense.

Brian Costello of the New York Post expects Bilal Powell's production to "drop dramatically" in 2018. Costello cites new addition Isaiah Crowell's health as a major reason for this prediction, as well as the emergence of second-year running back Elijah McGuire.

This prediction doesn't seem outrageous given the Jets' investment in Crowell (three years, $12 million). If McGuire can prove he can do the third-down work effectively, Powell becomes expendable for the team. The Jets can save $4 million on the cap by cutting Powell.

"There was a point in the offseason when there was trade chatter around Bears running back Jordan Howard, but no deal ever happened and coach Matt Nagy said that he is prepared to have Howard as the team’s featured back again this season," said Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.

"Nagy and others have also spent some a good amount of time talking up Tarik Cohen‘s playmaking ability, however, and there are plenty of examples when plans in spring workouts are thrown out in the fall. One way for Howard to hold onto a big share of the job would be to do a better job of holding onto passes thrown his way."

Howard has been credited with 14 drops over the last two seasons, the story said. It's something he said he can improve on and he's "going to fix it." Cohen burst onto the scene last year but then seemed to be used less as the season went on, so the new coaching staff could make it a point to get Cohen the ball more, especially if the drops continue for Howard.

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore and running back Alvin Kamara made history last season when they became just the second pair of teammates to sweep the NFL Rookie of the Year awards, with Lattimore claiming the defensive honor and Kamara claiming the offensive title.

The two young players hope those are just the beginning of their accolades in the NFL.

"We talk about it all the time, we're just trying to be the best," Lattimore said Monday during Kamara's youth football camp at Tad Gormley stadium. "You know we won rookie of the year. We're trying to win like Defensive Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. We're going to see."

Kamara obviously didn't have to train for the combine this year, something rookies need to do before the NFL Draft. That training leaves less time for football technique. Kamara went on to say this offseason felt long because of fewer demands.

A disturbing post was submitted to Instagram on Tuesday morning which accuses Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy of allegedly taking part in domestic violence and the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The post was submitted by an account which appears to be a friend of a loved one in McCoy’s life. The post alleges that McCoy has also used violence against his child and dog.

Dianna Russini added, "The Buffalo Bills are aware of the LeSean McCoy allegations, told it is being looked into per sources."

If true, McCoy is in serious trouble. It's difficult to focus on the fantasy implications in situations like these, but depending on the validity of the accusations and the league's response, McCoy's 2018 season is in jeopardy. Chris Ivory and Travaris Cadet are next up on the Bills' depth chart.

It is now incumbent on Giants QB Eli Manning to maximize the potential of the talent on the roster, and he believes that WR Sterling Shepard in particular could be poised for a breakout.

"I thought Sterling Shepard had a great camp during the spring," Manning told NJ Advance Media prior to the Gatorade Offense/Defense camp at Sean University on Tuesday. "He's understanding the coverages, understanding the route combinations, he understands zone and man, and how to make little moves to get open against different techniques.

"I think he's primed for a big year," Manning said. "And I've been really impressed by his work ethic."

The story pointed out that wide receivers typically hit their stride in their third NFL season, and Shepard is coming off a 2017 campaign where he saw an expanded role after Odell Beckham Jr. shattered his ankle in Week 4, accounting for 59 catches for 731 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 12.4 yards per reception before his season was cut short due to injury in Week 11. In two seasons, Shepard has caught 124-of-189 targets from Manning for 1,414 yards and 10 touchdowns. Shepard is our No. 36 ranked WR and has a 12th-round ADP, which potentially makes him a later-round target.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk broke down Le'Veon Bell's contract situation with the Steelers. This was notable: "This year, if the Steelers and LeVeon Bell don’t do a long-term deal by Monday at 4 p.m. ET, many presume he’ll holdout for most of camp again. And while it’s useful for Bell to have the Steelers think it will happen that way (since it creates more of an incentive to sign him), there’s a case to be made for Bell showing up for training camp and the preseason.

If Monday’s deadline passes without Bell signing a long-term deal, Bell will have a clear path to the open market in March 2019, because the Steelers would have to apply the quarterback tender if he’s franchise-tagged a third time. So if that’s the post-July 16 scenario, Bell arguably would have an incentive to be as prepared as possible to have the best season he can, maximizing his value as he prepares for his better-late-than-never shot at unrestricted free agency."

The story pointed out that Bell produced nice numbers—1,291 rushing yards and 655 receiving yards—last year, but he struggled out of the gate with just 32 rushing yards in the team's first game, and a 3.2 YPC in the team's first two games, along with just one score over the first three weeks of the season.

"Entering his second NFL season, Wayne Gallman has the inside track for the job as a change of pace complement to Saquon Barkley, who will rarely come off the field. Gallman has some burst and elusiveness in the open-field, but it is his ability to make plays as a receiver that will give him the leg-up on spelling Barkley over the likes of Jonathan Stewart and Robert Martin," wrote Matt Lombardo recently on NJ.com.

The story went on to say Stewart has "looked more like a plodding veteran running back trying to hang on," and the author questions how much he has left in the tank. The thought seems to be Stewart is more of a veteran presence in the locker room at this point as opposed to a back who can carry a significant workload. For those drafting Barkley, this may be a tidbit to remember.

Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst said both Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson have quickly gotten comfortable throwing the ball to their new teammate.

“It’s been awesome,” Hurst said on Sirius XM NFL Radio with Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn. “They both bring different things to the table. Joe has an extremely talented arm. He’s been doing it for years, Super Bowl MVP. And, of course, Lamar brings a whole different dynamic with his legs to the game. Both of those guys can throw it where they want it. They’ll put it up even when I’m not open and they trust me to go make a play. And that’s what I tell them I’m going to do: ‘If you’re ever in trouble, just put it up. I’m going to make a play for you guys.'”

Hurst is our No. 19 ranked tight end list. Rookie tight ends often need time to adjust to the NFL and don't make immediate fantasy impacts, but the position is such a big need for the Ravens that Hurst should get some chances to produce fantasy numbers. At this point, he's more of a late-round flier in deeper leagues.

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, Ravens RB Alex Collins looks to be the team's No. 1 RB: "With Terrance West departing for the New Orleans Saints and Danny Woodhead retiring, Alex Collins, who ended last season ranked 11th in the league in rushing with 973 yards, no longer has to worry as much about sharing carries. He enters camp as the favorite to open the regular season as the No. 1 running back. But if Kenneth Dixon can prove that the health of his knee is not a problem, the 2016 fourth-round draft pick could challenge Collins atop the depth chart. Javorius Allen, who caught 46 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns last season, is a reliable target out of the backfield. Patrick Ricard’s versatility in playing fullback and defensive end is a strength."

Dixon was a hot fantasy commodity before getting suspended and then missing all of last year with an injury. In that time, Collins emerged as the team's top back and looks to be the favorite heading into camp with Dixon having some work to do to catch him. But as our own John Paulsen said: Collins averaged 5.60 YPC in the eight games before Baltimore’s Week 10 bye, and just 3.80 YPC after. His fantasy production was better after the bye (16.7 points per game versus 7.3 before the bye), but as his workload increased, his rushing efficiency dropped. Head coach John Harbaugh would not to commit to Collins as his starter heading into 2018, so this is a situation to monitor.

Mike Clay of ESPN ranked the backfields of each NFL team, with the Philadelphia Eagles coming in at No. 18. From a post on NJ.com, here's Clay's reasoning:

"The Eagles leaned heavily -- and successfully -- on a committee last season, with LeGarrette Blount leading the way in snaps (337) and carries (173). Jay Ajayi joined the team in Week 9 and, including three playoff games, handled 39 percent of the backfield snaps during his 10 games. Blount is gone, but Darren Sproles is back after missing all but three games due to injury last season. Ajayi is expected to be the first man up in rushing situations, especially considering that his 2.4 YAC since entering the league is best among all backs with 500-plus carries during the span. Sproles is now 35, but he could still be the primary back on passing downs. Corey Clement was a solid find as an undrafted free agent last season who will see some snaps."

There is no denying the loss of Blount is notable, according to the story, but the piece also feels Ajayi has proven to be a true No. 1 back and is expected to get a much bigger role that he's capable of handling. The story also said Ajayi has looked good this spring and appears to be in great shape.

"Can TE Vance McDonald untap his vast potential?" That was the question posed by Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter.

"The Steelers thought enough of McDonald to trade for him in the final week of the preseason last summer. Team officials believe a full season learning the Steelers system will benefit McDonald, who has never surpassed 30 catches or 391 receiving yards in five NFL seasons. Of course, he needs to stay healthy, which was a difficulty for McDonald in his first year with the Steelers. He also has been plagued by drops in his career," Rutter went on to answer.

Related players: Jesse James

James is entering the final season of his rookie contract, but don't forget, McDonald had the best game of his career in the divisional playoffs with a line of 10-112-0. The story said the Steelers think McDonald can be among the top tight ends if healthy. McDonald is our No. 20 ranked TE and is another late option in drafts.

"I expect the Jets to give Teddy Bridgewater plenty of reps during training camp and the preseason games to see what he can do. He and rookie Sam Darnold should get a lot more work than Josh McCown, who is more of a known commodity," said NY Post writer Brian Costello.

"If Bridgewater outplays McCown in training camp and the coaching staff does not think Darnold is ready, I don’t think they would hesitate to give him the starting job.

If Bridgewater and McCown both play well in camp and the Jets trust Darnold enough to make him the No. 2 quarterback, Bridgewater could find himself on the trading block at the end of the summer."

The story went on to say Bridgewater has looked good during the spring and he moved around without any problems. Costello went on to say he thinks the only way Bridgewater stays with the Jets is if the team doesn't think Darnold is ready and they want him to be more of a third quarterback.

TE Trey Burton said that he sees things in the Bears that remind him of where the Eagles were heading into last season.

“There are a ton of similarities,” Burton said. “You look at Philly two years ago, the majority of our games we lost by less than a touchdown. If you look at Chicago last year as well, there’s a good amount of games that they lost. It’s just getting over that hump. You gotta be able to win the close games and here’s so many small detail things that happen in order for you to lose those games.”

Related players: Allen Robinson, Mitch Trubisky

There is a lot of excitement around the Bears offense coming into this year with the additions of Burton and Robinson, and the hope Trubisky takes the next step in his development. The story pointed out the Bears lost six games by eight points or less last season.

Running back DeMarco Murray passed on a chance to work out for the Saints last month, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t looking for a job for the 2018 season.

Murray told Adam Schefter of ESPN that he hopes to sign before training camp gets underway and that he’s had conversations with a handful of teams about that possibility.

Murray said he's talked with "four or five teams" he feels will be a great fit for him and he's recovered from knee and hamstring issues.

The biggest question mark at WR for the Steelers, as noted by Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, comes at the slot position.

Yes, JuJu Smith-Schuster could operate from the slot, if the team feels comfortable with rookie second-rounder James Washington in an outside role.

Veteran candidates include Justin Hunter and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Rutter thinks Marcus Tucker, a practice-squad player in 2017, could earn a roster spot specifically to play in the slot.

Eli Rogers, who suffered a torn ACL, is still looking for work. The Steelers could bring him back, and he could earn reps in the three-receiver set.

The story puts it best, whoever gets the gig should have favorable matchups, given the attention that will be paid to Brown and Smith-Schuster. Which will put even more pressure on the slot receiver to perform.

The tight end of the future in Cincinnati may indeed be named Tyler. But maybe not the Tyler it was supposed to be.

Tyler Kroft could be the guy more likely to remain over the long haul. And he’s hoping that’s the case.

“There’s definitely momentum off of [2017],” Kroft told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I think I’ve done a good job learning and understanding the offense as much as I can. Just the confidence level is up there and I think there is confidence between me and Andy Dalton and the coaching staff because Bill [Lazor] is still here and he saw it. It’s exciting.”

Related players: Tyler Eifert

Eifert‘s short- and long-term health is still an unknown, the story said. With Eifert limited to two games in 2017, Kroft caught 42 passes for 404 yards and seven touchdowns. As tight ends go, that should be good enough to give him security.

While the Dolphins are counting on Kenyan Drake to be the featured back, Frank Gore isn’t being brought in strictly as an aging mentor to the young guys.

“We’ll figure it out,” HC Adam Gase said of the workload. “This is no different than what we were kind of doing with Damien Williams and Kenyan last year. I mean it’s a long season. We got caught in a couple of situations last year where Kenyan was the only guy we had and he had to take the majority of the carries. Really, that’s not what we want over a 16-game season. That’s going to be tough. We’ll make sure that we spread this thing out well. We’ll use both of those guys the right way.”

The story mentioned a game last year where Gore carried 36 times for 130 yards against Buffalo, and how the team isn't concerned about Gore being 35 years old. It looks like Drake will be the feature back, as expected, but like most teams, the Fins plan to use multiple backs. The story also mentioned Gore's size and ability to run inside, so it's possible he steals some goal-line TD chances from Drake.

According to John Reid of the Florida Times-Union, Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette plans to be at 224 pounds when training camp opens, which is 11 pounds less than his playing weight last year when he ran for 1,040 yards and helped them to the playoffs.

″I feel like I play my best at that weight – 223, 224 – that’s what I played in college,″ Fournette said. ″Why not? I don’t want to be average. I want to be above average, be the greatest one to play this game. I feel lighter, quicker and I have a lot of my burst."

The story went on to say Fournette is hoping that playing lighter can help with endurance and burst. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry over the course of the season, but 3.5 yards per carry in the playoffs. Part of that was because of the attention defenses paid to him.

In June, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck said that workouts with wide receivers are part of his pre-training camp plan without saying when those workouts will take place.

It appears they will be taking place in California this week. Wide receiver Chester Rogers said in a tweet on Sunday that he was on his way to Stanford, where Luck played his college ball and spends time during the offseason.

Related players: T.Y. Hilton

The story said Rogers, who has played one season with Luck, may have the upper hand on the 11 other receivers in camp who have never worked with the QB. Of course, this story is also good news for Luck and any potential fantasy owners.

Washington receiver Josh Doctson, a first-round pick in 2016, hasn’t done much in two NFL seasons. He hopes to do a lot more in year three.

“Every new year I’m looking to be better. I have been better,” Doctson said Saturday at a football camp at TCU. “Just off the field maturing, off the field understanding how to be an NFL player. There’s just a lot that goes into this game that people overlook when they first get into the league. I lost my first year [to injury], last year I was able to play and then this year looking to do huge things.”

Doctson has shown flashes, especially last season, but as the story points out, he's never had a 100-yard receiving game and hasn't caught more than four passes in a game.

Cardinals beat reporter Mike Jurecki on Twitter singled out tight Ricky Seals-Jones as breakout offensive player for the 2018 upcoming season.

Jurecki went on to say Seals-Jones' targets should be a lot higher this year with an expanded role. He’s still working on becoming a better blocker, though. Seals-Jones is our No. 24 ranked tight end, so he's someone who will be available later in drafts

If LeVeon Bell plays under terms of the franchise tag, don't expect to see him until the first week of September, giving other players the chance to get first-team reps in training camp. At stake is a $14.55 million tender, which is about the same amount of money Bell is requesting yearly in a long-term contract. If a deal isn't reached by July 16, Bell won't be anywhere near Saint Vincent in July and August.

Bell didn't show up to preseason practices until almost the regular season last year as well. There's no fantasy concern here unless he indicates he might skip regular season games without a long-term contract.

Rams head coach Sean McVay had nothing but positive things to say about new receiver addition, Brandin Cooks.

“I think you’ve just liked what you’ve seen overall,” head coach Sean McVay said. “He’s got a great rapport already with Jared, and he feels really good with the receiver group. I think he’s done a nice job kinda fitting into that room and really endearing himself to his teammates. We sure like him as coaches, too.”

This could just be coach speak, but it certainly seems to be the complete opposite of what the Rams had last year with Sammy Watkins, who had just 70 targets in 15 games. Cooks figures to lead the Rams in targets in 2018. He is currently the No. 23 wide receiver off the board in fantasy drafts.

Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show on Thursday, wide receiver Jarvis Landry was effusive in his praise of Tyrod Taylor.

“Amazing,” Landry said of how Taylor looked this offseason. “Amazing, man. His leadership, his arm, his accuracy and he’s ready, man. He’s the starting quarterback, and I’m sure that, obviously, the decision is up to Hue and the offensive staff, and stuff like that. But I’m sure they’ve been highly impressed with what he’s done through OTAs and minicamp.”

The writing continues to be on the wall that Taylor will not only open the year as the Browns' starting quarterback, but that he could have a prolonged stay in that position. Taylor finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in both 2015 and 2016, and appears undervalued as the No. 24 quarterback off the board in fantasy drafts. This is by far the best receiving group he has ever had.

Colts running backs coach Tom Rathman suggested that Indianapolis will rotate running backs frequently in 2018.

“We’re going to play a lot of running backs,” running backs coach Tom Rathman says. “You’re not going to have a bell cow, so to speak, a guy that’s going to carry the load. We’ve got a lot of different styles and I think anytime you have a lot of different styles, you want to try to utilize that. So you run one of the players with a certain style and then you change it up the next series and it keeps the defense on their toes. So that’s what we would anticipate doing.”

This fits with head coach Frank Reich's history as a coordinator the last four years with both the Eagles and Chargers, and takes some of the shine off of Marlon Mack's eighth-round ADP. Receiver-turned-running back Nyheim Hines appears to be a much better value in round 12. With Andrew Luck back in the fold, you can expect the back who can pass block the best to receive the most playing time.

Julian Edelman will officially miss the first four games of the 2018 season.

The New England Patriots wide receiver's appeal of his four-game suspension was denied, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday. Edelman's ban stems from a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy.

An NFL spokesperson later confirmed the decision.

Since becoming a full-time starter in 2013, Edelman has seen 25.8 percent of the targets from Tom Brady. As we stated when Edelman was first suspended, in his absence, expect Chris Hogan to see a bump in target share, while Jordan Matthews, Malcolm Mitchell, and Kenny Britt fight for an opportunity to start in two-wide sets. Of those players, Matthews has the best fantasy finish in a given year, completing 2015 as the No. 16 scoring fantasy wide receiver in PPR formats.

Bears WR Anthony Miller is part of the offseason's offensive overhaul centered around providing Mitch Trubisky with explosive weapons heading into his second season as the team's starting quarterback. Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Miller will combine with a healthy Kevin White to give the Bears a formidable receiving corps capped off by tight end Trey Burton, one of GM Ryan Pace's big free-agent buys.

Miller knows any success he has will depend on the chemistry he builds with Trubisky, not only this season, but for years to come.

Miller is currently looking to build chemistry with Trubisky. So far, he said it's been going great and the two see and talk to one another every day. Miller is our No. 62 ranked WR and can be had in the later rounds of drafts.

Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones has been suspended for the first two games of the 2018 NFL regular season for violating the league's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Jones will be eligible to return in Week 3 when Green Bay faces Washington.

Related Players: Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery

With Jones out of the picture for the first two weeks, Green Bay’s three-man backfield is down to two. Jamaal Williams figures to start, but Ty Montgomery will likely come in on passing downs and could overtake Williams with a strong camp. Montgomery is the better runner, but Williams is solid between the tackles and in pass protection.

In Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, and Whitney Mercilus, the Texans have several key players coming back from serious injuries but they won’t be getting tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz back.

Fiedorowicz signed a three-year deal with Houston after a 54-catch season in 2016, but three concussions limited him to five games in 2017 and led to his decision to retire once the year came to an end.

“I think they all have different strengths and weaknesses that they have to work on,” tight ends coach Tim Kelly said, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “As far as replacing anybody, I don’t know if one person is going to do it. I think it will be more of a collective effort. But again, if you look at the tight ends and how they played last year, it’s more of a collective group, even when C.J. was in the room.”

Related players: Ryan Griffin, Stephen Anderson, Jordan Akins, Jordan Thomas

The Texans have seven tight ends on the roster right now and tight ends coach Tim Kelly said several of them will be tasked with filling the role come the regular season. The story said Griffin will likely be at the top of the group, but the team drafted Akins and Thomas, so they are likely the future. It's a situation to watch, as it would be hard to believe anyone who emerges offensively wouldn't get more snaps and opportunities as the season goes on.

LeSean McCoy is about to hit a big milestone when he turns 30 next week. But the Bills running back has a few big ones on the field he wants to reach before he’s done.

Speaking to reporters at his hometown football camp, McCoy said he’s motivated to reach 12,000 yards, after topping 10,000 last season.

“I have more to prove,” he said, via PennLive.com. “It’s just like, ‘How long can he do it? How long can he keep being productive?’ And that drives me. It really does.”

McCoy said he still has a few pounds to lose and has tightened up his diet.

Ben Roethlisberger is searching for a balance between rest and readiness.

"It's a fine line I walk at this age, of resting and getting my body enough rest for the season and working out to prepare," said Roethlisberger, 36, before retreating for some down time like the rest of his teammates. "My trainer will get me as prepared as I can be. But it is a fine line of what you can do at this age."

How does he navigate that line? He pays trainers to define it, he says.

"You've got to listen to your body," Roethlisberger said, "any aches and pains you might have, your arm being sore if you're throwing too much, just things like that."

Big Ben is entering his 15th training camp with the Steelers the story said. While he has hinted at retirement before, at this point in his career, the team gives Roethlisberger days off during camp as a way to keep him fresh.

Although CB Patrick Peterson thinks Sam Bradford is the Cardinals' starting quarterback, he didn't hold back from heaping a mound of praise on first-round pick Josh Rosen. He said Rosen "blew my mind" during the first week of practice because of his football IQ and advanced skill set.

"Just to see him run hurry-up offense, to see him make all different checks, to see him put guys in position, I was completely stunned when I saw it," Peterson said. "I was like, 'This guy's only been here a week, and he's already doing what? We're already running two-minute offense now?'"

Peterson added he thinks Rosen is the future of the franchise and was "very, very impressed," according to the story.

The Green Bay Packers are going to pay Aaron Rodgers. It's only a matter of two things: How Rodgers wants to structure the deal and when it happens.

If the Packers have anything to say about it, that deal will be fairly imminent. CEO Mark Murphy, who previously pointed out how enthused he was with Green Bay's offseason, told WTMJ at the Packers SummerFest event he hopes a deal is done "soon."

The story said the running theory is the team wants to kick off camp with an announcement of a new deal.

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson continues to dispel any notion that he will attempt to return to the NFL.

“Megatron” retired in 2016 at the age of 30, and has been routinely asked over the past two-plus years if he is considering a return to football.

“I don’t want to play,” Johnson said when asked by TMZ Sports at Los Angeles International airport on Monday. “See these fingers, man? I ain’t trying to catch no more footballs.”

Johnson has never wavered on that stance, saying in January that he doesn’t miss playing football.

Packers RB Aaron Jones has also focused on building up his body after dealing with knee injuries that dimmed some of the promise he showed early in the 2017 season. Running backs coach Ben Sirmans wanted Jones to focus on building his lower body and Jones said that he’s already seen a difference.

Jones said he got bigger all around, which will help in pass protection. Helping in pass protection could also get him on the field more, because, keep in mind, the Packers are planning a committee at RB this year so roles will likely need to be sorted out.

Jags OC Nathaniel Hackett promised a different approach this season because of what they saw from QB Blake Bortles last year.

“We’re in a great situation, because a very good line, and we have very good running backs, which will allow us to run the ball,” Hackett said. “Now it’s going to allow us to be a lot more aggressive, because you can trust that Blake is going to make right decision more consistently.”

The story said the team went back to the beginning with Bortles because all he knew how to do was throw deep to Allen Robinson, the story said. But last year Bortles began to check down to RBs and change plays. The team feels this year he can take another step thanks to what is around him in the offense.

With tight end Hunter Henry out for the year after suffering a season-ending knee injury during offseason work, the Chargers will rely even more on Keenan Allen to make things happen in critical situations, such as on third down and in the red zone.

The story said the engine for the Chargers last year was already Allen, who had 102 catches for 1,393 yards. Over the final 12 games, the Bolts won nine of those contests with Allen going over 100 yards in five of those games. We have Allen ranked as our No. 6 WR as we head into camps.

Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is signed through the 2019 season, but he knows he isn’t certain to be in Denver that long.

There’s no more guaranteed money on Sanders’ contract, which led to some discussion early in the offseason about the team possibly moving on without him. They didn’t go that route, but did draft a pair of receivers and Sanders said no one “knows what situation might play out” over the next year.

Sanders says he has something to prove to the Broncos this year, and if not them, for another team. As the story pointed out, Sanders and the Broncos are hoping for a much better offense this year with the addition of Case Keenum at QB.

Browns tight end David Njoku showed flashes of talent after Cleveland took him in the first round of last year’s draft, but his rookie numbers of 32 catches for 386 yards and four touchdowns weren’t exactly earth-shattering. This year, Njoku should be better.

That’s the word from Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who said he sees Njoku doing a lot more in the offense this year.

Jackson was quoted as saying he expects "to see a huge jump" from Njoku this season. He's only 21 and tight ends do tend to need at least a year to adjust to life in the NFL. We have Njoku ranked as our No. 22 TE in PPR formats, but his late-round value may be worth a flier for those in deeper leagues.