2016 Training Camp Position Battles
Arizona Cardinals TE
Darren Fells vs Jermaine Gresham vs Troy Niklas
Let’s lead things off with what is likely to be the least interesting position battle listed in this Draft Guide. With the tandem of David Johnson and Chris Johnson coming out of the backfield and a strong receiving corps of Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown and J.J. Nelson, there really doesn’t seem to be a pressing need for a tight end to be front and center. Sure, they’ll see a few targets here and there, but given the need to keep Carson Palmer healthy and provide him with plenty of time to throw, a good pass-blocking tight end is probably the Cardinals biggest priority here. Fells was the Cardinals lead tight end last year and actually hauled in 21 catches for 311 yards and three touchdowns. The numbers aren’t great for fantasy unless you were somehow able to predict those three scores, so you can already see just how lame this position is on Arizona with regard to its fantasy upside. Gresham will push for snaps if he manages to stay healthy and Niklas, who the Cardinals know and trust will also likely find his way into the mix at some point. Bottom line is that Fells is probably going to end up as the top tight end option here but someone who the fantasy community can avoid.
Atlanta Falcons RB
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Devonta Freeman vs Tevin Coleman
Is this really a position battle or are we still overestimating Tevin Coleman’s place on this team? The Falcons drafted Coleman last year because they didn’t have enough faith in Freeman who had trouble beating out Jacquizz Rodgers for touches back in 2014. But lo and behold, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan implemented a system in which Freeman could thrive. And thrive he did. Last season was a breakout year for the running back and Coleman took a very distant back seat until Freeman was injured. Are we looking at more of the same this year or will Coleman work his way into increased touches? Some say that Coleman’s training camp injury cost him his job and that he could have thrived just as easily as Freeman did, but that could just be the cries of those who drafted too early and took Coleman first. As the incumbent, Freeman will open camp as the top dog, but keep a close watch here and see just how much Coleman can push for in the early goings of the preseason. You just might be pleasantly surprised.
Baltimore Ravens RB
Justin Forsett vs Javorius Allen vs Terrance West vs Lorenzo Taliaferro
If you’re just looking at the Ravens depth chart, you’d think figuring out this ground attack would be pretty easy. Justin Forsett had a disappointing start to his season last year, posted a pair of decent games, but ultimately stayed a mediocre and disappointing option despite all the hype surrounding his first season in a Marc Trestman offense. Then he broke his arm and he was done for the rest of the season. Then came Javorius “Buck” Allen who posted some pretty solid numbers (particularly for PPR leagues) in four of the last six games. Unfortunately, that came with a case of the fumbles which immediately sparked concern for his future as a full-time NFL running back. Both enter this season, seemingly primed as the top two option, but there seem to be a few wrinkles. First off, Lorenzo Taliaferro is back after missing virtually all of last season to a knee injury. The Ravens also drafted Kenneth Dixon out of Louisiana Tech in the fourth round of the draft. And finally, there’s offseason acquisition of Terrance West. Now normally you can look at these names and dismiss, but for some inane reason, there’s a whole bunch of hype coming out of camp that West could push for touches. Obviously we’re inundated with a ton of hype coming from coaches and beat writers right now, so it’s difficult to accept these statements as truth, especially if you know West and saw him in Cleveland. But yet here we are, supposedly believing that this is a wide open contest. Is it? I don’t think so. I’m looking at Forsett as the starter with Allen as the change-of-pace back. Maybe he’ll see some short-yardage situations. Taliaferro can be mixed in for third-down work which then leaves us with West who appears to be the one kid left without a seat once the music stops. Listen, could he get a few touches here and there? Maybe. But regardless of what they’re saying this early into camp, he is not someone upon whom you should take a flier, let alone expect to make much of a meaningful contribution. Perhaps there’s a game or two in him where people turn their heads, but unless we see a major injury to Forsett or Allen, West is someone destined to clog a roster spot on your bench.
Baltimore Ravens TE
Benjamin Watson vs Crockett Gillmore vs Maxx Williams vs Dennis Pitta
What a weird position for the Ravens to be in here, but I suppose when you’re relying on a return of Steve Smith from injury and only have Kamar Aiken and an always-disappointing Mike Wallace as your wideouts, then bulking up on the tight end position might not be such a bad idea. Watson is a savvy veteran who has been around the league for some time. He is a decent blocker and a decent receiver, so seeing him on the field regularly shouldn’t be a surprise. Gillmore was a nice surprise last year but had multiple surgeries during the offseason, so while he is expected back in camp at some point, he is likely to fall behind the others after a late start. Williams is super-cool because he spells his first name with two x’s, but didn’t really develop into the pass-catcher we had hoped to see last year in his rookie season. His blocking was also much-needed for his development, the shakiness of the offensive line and a back-up quarterback. And then there’s Pitta who has been out injured for the last two-plus seasons. He is a quality pass-catcher, or at least he was, but he’s going to need to prove to the coaches that he is capable of staying on the field. Look for Watson to stand out as the primary with Williams likely a close second. At least that’s the thought for now.
Chicago Bears RB2
Ka’Deem Carey vs Jacquizz Rodgers vs Jordan Howard
With the expectation that Jeremy Langford will open as the primary running back, Carey, Rodgers and Howard will all be competing for touches, both in camp and the regular season. However, before you go running out and over-draft Langford, keep in mind that head coach John Fox has also said that he wants to rest his running backs often to keep them fresh and could employ a committee approach. Nightmare? For fantasy owners, yes. I’m not a huge fan of either Rodgers or Carey, so I’m looking at Langford and Howard as the two guys I’d own first. Rodgers should get some third-down work, but I like Langford for the primary and Howard as the short-yardage and goal-line back.
Cleveland Browns WR3
Andrew Hawkins vs Taylor Gabriel
Well this was going to be about who was going to be the WR2 to complement Corey Coleman, but with the reinstatement of Josh Gordon, things are rapidly changing in Cleveland. Both Hawkins and Gabriel had strong moments last season but neither is of the class of receiver you’re looking to draft outside of some really deep leagues. Of course, it may not be long before someone Periscopes Gordon at a club smoking a blunt and doing a line off some hooker’s chest, so they should be left on a watch list in leagues of 14 teams or fewer. You can probably expect them both to stay on the 53-man roster and float in and out of the game filling in various roles. Gabriel is a better deep threat while Hawkins is more of a possession, move-the-chains, type of player.
Denver Broncos QB
Mark Sanchez vs Paxton Lynch vs Trevor Siemian
Step away from the hype machine, people. Please keep a safe distance. While there’s a tremendous buzz around the possibility of Siemian earning the starting job, it is more likely to be Sanchez as the “proven” veteran. What has he proven? Well, he’s no match for his offensive lineman’s ass, but that’s another story. The Broncos didn’t bring him in to ride the bench. They brought him in to be a placeholder; a guy to maybe teach (what not to do) the youngsters. But the fact remains that he has the NFL experience that both Lynch and Siemian lack and the team should give him the starting nod unless he is so bad at camp that his ineptitude forces the team into a different decision. The leash may not be long, but Sanchez has a fantastic set of receivers to help mask some of his issues.
Detroit Lions RB2
While last season was a disappointing one for rookie Ameer Abdullah, the Lions still have full confidence in the youngster to adapt to the NFL and be a highly productive back. But they aren’t going to keep the pressure of a full load on him and will utilize another third-down back to serve as a change of pace. Abdullah will still see his share of receptions, but let’s face it…in a Jim Bob Cooter offense, there’s plenty to go around. Theo Riddick proved more than capable of being that complementary third-down back and actually finished the season tied for the league-lead in running back receptions (80) with Danny Woodhead. The team was very pleased with his level of production but still brought in Stevan Ridley to challenge for the job. It seems unlikely that he will supplant the fourth-year runner, so look more for Ridley to compete with the likes of Zach Zenner, George Winn and Dwayne Washington. If the 27-year old can outplay that trio, then he just might prove to have some fantasy value in deeper leagues.
Green Bay Packers TE
Everyone remembers Richard Rodgers for his Hail Mary catch on Thursday Night Football that helped the Packers beat the Lions last year, but he’s actually been the primary tight end for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers for a few seasons now. He knows the schemes and he knows Rodgers’ tendencies. Cook will certainly get his reps, but much like when the Packers were using both Rodgers and Andrew Quarless, he’s not overtaking the starting gig
Indianapolis Colts RB2
Robert Turbin vs Jordan Todman vs Josh Ferguson
With Frank Gore still leading the charge out of the backfield for the Colts this year, fantasy owners are going to have to make sure they grab the right handcuff here. The team still hasn’t posted their depth chart on their official site, but expected to follow Gore on the list is Turbin, then Todman and then Ferguson. But is that the way it’s going to stay? Probably not. It all depends on how Ferguson performs in camp. The 5-foot-10, 200 lb undrafted free agent out of Illinois probably should have been drafted in the later rounds, but slipped through the cracks. To ensure landing him, the Colts threw a pretty hefty signing bonus his way. He’s considered to be a strong pass-catcher and the coaches liked what they saw from him in OTAs. Listen, we all know what Turbin and Todman are about and frankly, neither is particularly appealing both in reality and fantasy. If Ferguson has a solid camp, he should be able to leapfrog both veterans and become Gore’s primary back-up. And considering Gore’s age, Ferguson could end up the starter before the year is out.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR3
For fantasy owners, it’s a bit of a snooze-fest once you get past Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. But with defenses expected to focus a little more on pass coverage against the Jags this year, whomever steps up as the WR3 could be in for some decent target numbers. Not great, but decent. Last season, with Lee injured, Greene was given an opportunity and even became a bit of a short-term waiver darling as his speed enabled him to make some nice downfield plays. But Lee is the bigger receiver and seems to be the guy the Jags want as their third wideout, though, more than likely, when he is on the field would be the fourth look behind the Allens and tight end Julius Thomas. He’s not someone to draft unless the league is super-deep with equally deep benches, but should someone get hurt, he will quickly move up the list for waiver adds.
Kansas City Chiefs WR3
Rod StreaterThe Chiefs are a run-first offense with a quarterback who possesses limited ability to air the ball out downfield, so drafting receivers from this team can be a bit tenuous. Jeremy Maclin and Albert Wilson seem to have the top two spots, but not only is Wilson currently dealing with a calf injury, but the team has also discussed having him line up in the slot more often this year. For both of those reasons, the third wideout job could see some decent action. Streater looked extremely promising during his first two years with the Raiders, but has played just four games over the last two years due to injury. He’s got great speed which made him a nice downfield threat, but again, these are the Chiefs and this is Alex Smith under center, so the deep threat isn’t as much of a pressing need. We also need to see if Streater can stay healthy or if there are any lingering concerns. Meanwhile, Conley spent the offseason working with Maclin on his cutting and running. He’s a big guy at 6-foot-3 and can be tough to tackle once he’s running with momentum, so if the offseason workouts have helped, he just might be the answer. Should Wilson line up on the outside, having a guy with Conley’s size out of the slot could be a nice asset.
Los Angeles Rams QB
Here’s another one which may not really be considered a position battle as Keenum is expected to start off as the Rams No. 1 quarterback but only until either the coaches feel Goff is ready to take over the starting job or if Keenum gets hurt. I still cringe when I think about Keenum getting crushed last season, followed by his attempt to stand, crumpling back to the ground and then carried to the huddle to somehow run another play. Hurts my head just to think about it. In any event, The Rams took Goff No. 1 overall in the draft, are in a new city and need to put some butts in the seats. Keenum isn’t doing that for the entire season, so again, it’s just a matter of time. Goff should be drafted in all dynasty formats, but with the lack of a supporting cast, save for Todd Gurley, there’s really not a whole lot here for the 2016 fantasy season.
Miami Dolphins RB1/2
Arian Foster vs Jay Ajayi vs Kenyan Drake
The signing of Foster during the offseason and the drafting of Drake officially put Ajayi on notice that the coaching staff are not firm believers in his ability to be an RB1 in the NFL just yet. He does have tremendous talent and strong upside, so it’s just a developmental thing right now. Of course, this bone bruise in his knee he’s nursing isn’t really helping his cause either. It would seem that Foster, if healthy, will open the season as the Dolphins top running back, but given his frailty over the years, he isn’t going to get all of the work. Not by a long shot. So really this comes down to Ajayi and Drake for the RB2 position. Drake has tremendous speed and great big-play ability, but he’s also a little on the small side (just 210 lbs) for a running back who is 6-foot-1. Not to mention some big injuries of his own back at Alabama. Personally, I like Drake more than Ajayi, but if both are healthy, Ajayi could have the edge just from experience. Watch closely in camp and see who is getting the heavier workload with the first-team offense. That should prove to steer you in the right direction.
New Orleans Saints RB2/3
C.J. Spiller vs Tim Hightower vs Travaris Cadet
There’s always one guy who seems to emerge as a fantasy savior despite the fact that absolutely no one, not one single expert, even mentioned his name back in the preseason. Last year it was Hightower and now you’re guaranteed to see someone in your league over-value him, either on draft day or in the first couple of weeks of the regular season when guys are haphazardly bidding on free agents. He is likely to be used in short-yardage situations and, much to the chagrin of Mark Ingram owners, likely to see some goal-line work as well. That will leave Spiller and Cadet as the two options for a change-of-pace/third-down back. There were a ton of people high on Spiller’s move to the Saints last year, but between a knee injury and just a general lack of consideration from the team, he only saw 70 touches (34 rush, 36 rec.) over 13 games and was one of the biggest busts of the year. Will he get a bigger opportunity this season? Meh. Maybe. He’ll have to beat out Cadet who returns to the team after trying to catch on with both the Patriots and 49ers last year. There’s really not much difference in style between him and Spiller, so the latter may have the edge. Unfortunately, though, neither is going to have much value to fantasy owners as the expected touches are going to be minimal.
New York Giants WR2
Sterling Shepard vs Victor Cruz
I will make no secret of my love for Shepard this season. Everyone who has taken part in the Mock Draft Army knows he is high on my list and anyone who has heard me on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio knows the pro-Shepard diatribe all too well. I have very little confidence in Cruz making it back to the level which made him a dominant receiver worthy of a little salsa dancing and firmly believe that with even just a decent camp, Shepard could prove to be the solid No. 2 receiver the Giants so desperately need right now. I think he turns into a PPR monster. But, if healthy, Cruz is likely to come back and steal some targets. Enough to be considered the clear-cut WR2? Probably not. There is still plenty of work to be done to get him back on the field at 100-percent and that should be just enough time for Shepard to dig his hooks into the job and hold it all year.
Philadelphia Eagles QB
Sam Bradford vs Carson Wentz vs Chase Daniel
Another situation where we don’t really have a position battle here, but we do know that change is coming. Sam Bradford will likely get the nod as the Eagles starting quarterback as he has….well…some experience. He’s spent an awful lot of time on Injured Reserve and has been an extremely big disappointment since entering the NFL, but alas, still has more NFL minutes logged than both Wentz and Daniel combined. He did seem to impress during OTAs which is something in his favor, but again, all roads eventually lead to Wentz taking over the job. Daniel could find his way into the mix should there be a serious injury, but he will likely spend most of his time as a back-up specializing in mop-up duty. It seems unlikely that you would be targeting Bradford in any way, but if you’re in a deep, 2-QB league, then maybe he becomes a late-round option while Wentz is the guy you look to pick up in the mid-to-late rounds of a dynasty league.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR3
Darrius Heyward-Bey vs Sammie Coates
The suspension of Martavis Bryant has opened up a bit of a door here in the Steelers’ wide receiver corps as Coates and Heyward-Bey vie for the third wideout job. Coates had a lousy rookie season last year which was marred by reports that his conditioning and work habits were less than admirable, but he still seems to have the edge over Heyward-Bey who, as we’ve all seen dating back to his Oakland days, is pretty much all speed and no hands. Recent reports have Coates on a new workout regime and looking much more fit, so if he can prove to be reliable in all facets of the game, receiving, route-running, blocking, etc. then he could earn himself the job. We’re not talking world-beater targets, but enough for fantasy owners in really deep leagues to use when you need a bye-week filler.
San Francisco 49ers QB
Blaine Gabbert vs Colin Kaepernick
Ugh. This situation is just ugly. Kaepernick has been a huge disappointment after failing to develop and take his game to the next level. He has trouble seeing the field and has a nightmarish habit of looking for his primary receiver and no one else. If that receiver is covered, he tries to take off running which, nowadays, is no more than a handful of yards or he just throws it away. No look to his second or third options and he would sooner just keep it himself than dump it off on a check-down to his running back. In addition to all that, he’s also recovering from multiple surgeries this offseason, including the repair of a torn labrum in his shoulder. But Gabbert is also a pretty big slouch himself. He never really amounted to much in Jacksonville and never got a chance to emerge after coming to San Francisco. He’s got an average arm it seems more likely that he remains destined to play the role of second fiddle. However, with Kaepernick recovering, Gabbert took all the first-team reps at OTAs and is starting to build a rapport with the rest of his offense. Chip Kelly, the supposed savior of San Francisco, has the two splitting first-team reps here at the start of camp and doesn’t figure to make a final decision much later into camp. If you’re asking who could emerge as the starter, the answer is simple: who cares? Whichever guy wins the job is virtually irrelevant as neither of them should be looked at on draft day. Neither.
Tennessee Titans RB2
Derrick Henry vs Antonio Andrews vs David Cobb
Remember when Cobb and Andrews were highly-touted up-and-comers? It really wasn’t all that long ago. But now the Titans go out and not only trade for DeMarco Murray, but they also drafted Henry as their new flavor-of-the-month running back of the future. Now Murray will hold down the fort as the No. 1 guy, but Henry is likely going to serve as his primary back-up and the potential third-down, pass-catching back. He’s been impressing the coaches thus far, but still has some work to do before he’s even remotely entrusted. That means it’s an uphill climb for both Andrews and Cobb now and both could be spending a considerable amount of time either on the bench or on the inactives list. It’s going to take a lot for one of them to get past Henry at this point, but with a full month left to go in the preseason, anything can happen.