The NFL Preseason is one typically filled with excitement as fantasy players and fans alike get a glimpse of what their favorite team may be capable of this upcoming season.  The most impactful developments during camp however are the positional battles as two or three players may be on the cusp of earning the starting nod which can boost or lower a players fantasy appeal come draft day.  In the 2015 Fantasy Alarm NFL Draft Guide Howard Bender takes a closer look as some intriguing camp battles that could have an impact on the fantasy world come Week 1.

Here is a sample of some of the content inside the BRAND NEW 2015 Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Football Draft Guide that is on newsstands now and available online RIGHT HERE. 

Draft Guide: NFL Training Camp Battles

By Howard Bender

 

ARIZONA CARDINALS

No. 2 Running Back

David Johnson vs. Stepfan Taylor vs. Kerwynn Williams

We already know that Andre Ellington will be the top dog in this backfield, but given his lack of durability, where does the team go next? Both Taylor and Williams have shown some talent in limited doses, but neither has done enough to warrant standing out. That should leave the door wide open for Johnson, the rookie out of Northern Iowa, to step through and serve as a complementary back in Bruce Arians’ system. His size and running style allude to that of a between-the-tackles, bruising back, but he’s also got soft hands and is already impressing coaches with his pass-catching abilities. Expect a prominent role for the youngster this season.

Tight End

Troy Niklas vs. Darren Fells

With the retirement of John Carlson, the Cardinals are looking for someone to step up and take over as the team’s primary tight end. Troy Niklas and Darren Fells appear to be the front-runners though neither of the two are particularly enticing. Niklas underwent a minor ankle procedure in June and Fells is a late-blooming bench player with minimal experience. The team selected former Louisville tight end Gerald Christian in the seventh round of the 2015 draft, but he doesn’t figure to make any sort of an impact. Regardless of which player wins the job, this is not a situation fantasy owners want to use this season.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Running Back

Tevin Coleman vs. Devonta Freeman

Jeff Mans, Ted Schuster and a number of other experts will all say the same thing: Tevin Coleman will be the Falcons starting running back this season and will likely out-perform most, if not all, rookie running backs this year. However, he won’t be handed the job outright. Coleman will have to earn it, which means outplaying Freeman throughout camp. This task shouldn’t be too daunting as Freeman struggled to develop and was unable to surpass either Steven Jackson or Antone Smith last year. He has apparently impressed the Falcons new coaching regime with his pass-catching skills, but we were fed that same line last season.

Tight End

Levine Toilolo vs. Jacob Tamme vs. Tony Moeaki

When Tony Gonzalez retired after the 2013 season, he left a gaping hole in the Falcons passing attack. The talent at wide receiver obviously helped minimize the loss, but quarterback Matt Ryan lacked that go-to third down target to help consistently move the chains. With so many injuries on the offensive line last year, Toilolo was forced to spend the majority of his time blocking. While he certainly deserves a bigger opportunity, the team still brought in Tamme and Moeaki, who are both underachieving pass-catching options. With a new coaching regime in place, none of the three have any real advantage over the others.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Tight End

Maxx Williams vs. Dennis Pitta vs. Crockett Gillmore

Pitta is still hoping to make a comeback after back-to-back seasons lost to a major hip injury. However, the Ravens went out and used a second round pick on Williams, a 6-foot-4, 250 lb. pass-catching tight end out of the University of Minnesota. Williams is actually expected to be the long-term solution at the position, but given the struggles of most rookie tight ends, the team will have him compete with the veterans and earn his place. Gillmore filled in relatively well last year, but he is only expected to make an impact if Pitta fails to return healthy.

You can read the rest of this article and much more by purchasing the Fantasy Alarm NFL Draft Guide found HERE