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Training Camp News & Notes (Sun, July 28)
AJ Green expected to miss Week 1
NEWS: Cincinnati Bengals wideout AJ Green is looking at a 6-8 week recovery time from an ankle injury suffered in practice this week. An MRI showed torn ligaments in the left ankle. The perennial Pro Bowler is doubtful at best for Week 1 and could miss up to the first three games of the season. He has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons and isn’t starting out this season on the right foot.
ANALYSIS: There is no silver lining in this news for the Bengals offense. This is bad for everybody. Andy Dalton obviously takes a major hit, but this isn’t good for anybody else either. WR2 Tyler Boyd struggled last season when Green was on the shelf while otherwise having a great season. Unless he continues to improve, WR1 coverage is just too much for Boyd. This doesn’t help running back Joe Mixon either. The defense will now stack the box and he will be the clear-cut focal point of every team they face until Green returns. The bottom line is this is a one-dimensional offense without Green and running significantly less plays with no true outside threat is bad for everyone but the opposing team.
Derrick Henry injury is nothing major
NEWS: Reports out of Tennessee are that Titans’ running back Derrick Henry has a lower leg injury, however, it’s not anything overly serious. He is currently in a walking boot and expected to miss some time at training camp, but this should not impact his availability for Week 1. The team has been vague when talking about the injury so an exact diagnosis is not clear.
ANALYSIS: Henry was a monster in the Fantasy playoffs last year and he will look to carry that over into 2019. He has the potential to be a breakout star this season, especially in standard format. This is great news for his prospects after reports surfaced yesterday that he left practice in a walking boot. If all goes as planned this season Henry should be a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside in all formats.
Antonio Brown activated off NFI list
NEWS: Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown was activated after a two-day stint on the NFI list. He passed his physical and is now available to practice with his new team and new quarterback Derek Carr.
ANALYSIS: While being on this list was insignificant if news at all, it is important that he is getting on the field to build chemistry with Carr. AB hasn’t always performed particularly well when playing with quarterbacks other than Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh and Carr didn’t exactly raise the level of play from his former WR1 Amari Cooper who has clearly been better without him. Brown’s success is highly dependent on timing and his precise route running which is among the best in the league. He will need to be on the same page with his downgraded quarterback to come close to posting the numbers he put up with the Steelers.
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Browns seek special clearance to keep Kareem Hunt around team during suspension
NEWS: Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslem is lobbying the NFL to allow suspended running back Kareem Hunt to stay with the team during his eight-game suspension. This is generally not allowed and would require a special clearance from the league office. He’s set to return to action Week 10.
ANALYSIS: This news is more significant than it may seem. Clearly the Browns feel Hunt needs to be treated like a child and for obvious reasons. If Hunt can keep himself out of trouble, which hasn’t been easy for him over the past year, his upside is immense. If Nick Chubb struggles or gets hurt at some point before Hunt returns owners could have a gold mine on their bench of a high-end RB1 joining their roster just in time for a playoff run. More importantly dynasty owners could still have a superstar for years to come. Nonetheless, that all hinges on his ability to stay out of trouble off the field.
Seahawks rookie wideout DK Metcalf running with the starters
NEWS: Seattle Seahawks 64th overall pick DK Metcalf has been lining up as a starter opposite Tyler Locket in two-wide sets at training camp. Both his quarterback and coach have heaped praise upon him and it looks like he could open up the season as a starter after falling in the NFL Draft.
ANALYSIS: Metcalf has huge upside with massive bust potential. We see it every year with the freak athlete who doesn’t seem particularly good at his position. These players bust more often than they don’t but if he doesn’t he has potential to be special. I’m far from sold on the rookie at this point, however, Metcalf is absolutely a player to keep an eye on this summer and worth a late-round flier on a team with a great quarterback and no true standout WR1.
N’Keal Harry not lining up with the starters in New England
NEWS: After a lackluster minicamp Patriots’ rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry is playing with the second stringers in New England. Currently the starters in camp are Maurice Harris and Phillip Dorsett. Harry has plenty of work to do to make it up to the starting lineup.
ANALYSIS: Bill Belichick simply doesn’t use rookie wideouts, however, he usually doesn’t draft them so high either so perhaps Harry is an exception. At least that’s what his owners are hoping. With that said, he’s a tough sell for me this season. He’s currently sitting behind Harris and Dorsett and from what I’ve heard from camp both of them have been significantly better especially Harris. On top of that Julian Edelman is still on his way back with Josh Gordon possibly looking at a reinstatement at some point this season. There are also rumors of Gronk unretiring. Combine that with the way the Pats will use guys like James White along with other running backs and tight ends in the passing attack and Harry could be very low on the totem poll for targets.
