Fantasy Football 2017: Training camp, Week 1 roundup
By Dan Thomas
Some NFL teams have been in training camp for about a week now. What are the biggest fantasy football takeaways from camp so far?
It’s a glorious time for NFL fans because training camp has officially started. Not all teams have been practicing for a full week but there are still a lot of news, notes and observations from all 32 camps.
Here are the most important pieces of information fantasy football owners need to know as they prepare for their upcoming drafts.
Injuries
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is opening the season on the active/PUP list and according to the Indianapolis Star, Luck would not commit to playing in Week 1. We all know Luck has top-five ability in fantasy football, but he’s trending in the wrong direction.
Vikings running back Latavius Murray is starting the season on the active/PUP list. He’s still recovering from ankle surgery and the longer he sits out, the more Dalvin Cook gobbles up first-team reps. Oh yeah, Jerick McKinnon is also missing time with a leg injury.
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Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon is out for the entire season after getting surgery on his knee. He was expected to miss Weeks 1-4 with a suspension but now that he is out for the season, Terrance West‘s stock skyrockets.
Broncos running back Devontae Booker is out for 6-8 weeks after getting surgery on his wrist. This can only help C.J. Anderson especially if the Broncos realize during camp Jamaal Charles has nothing left in his legs.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is going to miss some time with a back injury. Nobody in their right mind was going to draft Flacco in fantasy football drafts but if he was to miss some time during the regular season, it could impact his wide receivers. Right now, it’s nothing worry about.
Chargers rookie wide receiver Mike Williams will not practice during training camp with a back injury. There’s still a chance he might not play at all this season. If he’s out for an extended period of time, Tyrell Williams will be an important name to know for the second straight season.
Redskins tight end Jordan Reed is on the active/PUP list with a foot injury. It doesn’t appear to be serious but it’s another reminder there’s a lot of risk with Reed.
According to Kent Somers, Cardinals wide receiver John Brown will be out a week with a quad injury. It’s not a good start to Brown’s 2017 season after injuries derailed his 2016 season.
Notes
Browns running back Duke Johnson could open the season as the team’s starting slot receiver as reported by Mary Kay Cabot. Johnson was the 23rd PPR running back in 2015 before dropping to the 31st PPR running back in 2016. If the coaching staff can find more ways to get Johnson on the field, it’ll help his stock.
NFL.com’s Greg Rosenthal reported 49ers running back Carlos Hyde could be a surprise cut this training camp. I honestly can’t see it happening, but it just goes to show how shaky Hyde’s situation is with the 49ers new coaching staff.
Mike Reiss observed Patriots running back Mike Gillislee got first crack at goal line carries. If Gillislee can win the job, he might be the most important fantasy football running back on the Patriots.
Reuben Frank from CSN believes Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood could have a significant role this year. Between this and the positive reports about Donnel Pumphrey, the Eagles running back situation looks like it could be a cluster fudge of a situation in 2017.
Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins will not have to sit out of any practices due to his offseason foot surgery. If Watkins can manage to stay healthy, he could be a steal at his fourth-round ADP.
Next: Fantasy Football 2017: So You Want to Wait on Tight Ends?
Paul Dener Jr. has reported Bengals running back Giovani Bernard has looked “incredible”. Bernard looks to be fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered last season.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine believes it’s no guarantee Doug Martin gets the starting job back when he returns from suspension. Jacquizz Rodgers is becoming more valuable by the day.