Courtesy of Footballguys.com
HOU - WR DeAndre Hopkins returning Source: ESPN.com - Tania Ganguli
Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins will end his holdout and return to the Texans Sunday, July 31, the first day of training camp. Hopkins expressed his disappointment in Houston's lack of contract negotiations, but he also stated his desire to help the Texans win a Super Bowl.
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As expected, this won't affect Hopkins' ADP. He is criminally underpaid, but such is the life of NFL players until they are no longer playing under their rookie contracts.
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PIT - WR Sammie Coates wows in practice
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Mark Kaboly
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Sammie Coates made several spectacular catches in practice Saturday, July 30, including a 40-yard touchdown and a one-handed grab.
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Coates is trying to win the outside receiver spot opposite Antonio Brown. He has a high ceiling if he can win the role as a deep ball and potential red zone specialist in the hole left by Martavis Bryant. This is as good a start as you could have hoped if you're targeting Coates in the second half of your draft.
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MIA - RB Arian Foster activated from PUP list
Source: NationalFootballPost.com - Aaron Wilson
Miami Dolphins RB Arian Foster (Achilles') was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list Sunday, July 31.
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This is a good development if you are targeting Foster. It shows that he is recovered from his achilles tear. If he can stay healthy through training camp, he could get the majority of the work in the backfield. Look for his ADP to rise and possibly surpass Jay Ajayi.
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DAL - WR Dez Bryant sloppy in first practice
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Drew Davison
Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant dropped multiple passes in individual drills during his first practice Saturday, July 30.
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Nothing to worry about yet, and Bryant being on the field is a good sign that his foot issue is not a problem heading into camp. Still, Bryant did not look like himself last year, and he himself has said the problem was partly mental. Seeing Bryant make a vintage Bryant play in the preseason would go a long way towards giving us a sense of security when we take him in the first round.
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BUF - WR Sammy Watkins passes conditioning test
Source: NFL.com - Marc Sessler
Buffalo Bills WR Sammy Watkins (foot) has passed the mandatory conditioning tests but remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list as a precautionary measure. However, he has been running for several weeks.
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Watkins should be ready for Week 1 on his current schedule, but the more important immediate issue is Watkins getting through reconditioning without any soft tissue injuries. He's still worth a third-round pick as long as he's ready for Week 1 at Baltimore.
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DEN - RB Ronnie Hillman tweaks back
Source: The Associated Press - Arnie Stapleton
Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman (back) left practice and jogged to the locker room Sunday, July 31, after taking a hard hit to his back.
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Hillman is fighting just to stay on the roster at this point. Kapri Bibbs could push him for that spot and Hillman can't make the club in the tub.
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SD - Stevie Johnson injures knee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Michael Gehlken
San Diego Chargers WR Stevie Johnson (knee) was carried off the practice field Sunday, July 31, after injuring his right knee during a passing drill.
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Tyrell Williams, a great athlete (4.43 40, 39.5" vertical, 6.74 3 cone) with size (6'3" 204 at his Western Oregon pro day) could be the next man up if Johnson's injury is serious. Deep dynasty leaguers should keep an eye on Williams, who scored an 80-yard touchdown against the Broncos in Week 17 last year.
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BAL - Slow transition for Keenan Reynolds
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Don Markus
Baltimore Ravens WR Keenan Reynolds said he is not where he wants to be as he transitions from playing quarterback in college to receiver in the NFL. He said he is trying to learn from the veteran receivers, and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said Reynolds will be given opportunities to show what he can do as a returner.
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Reynolds had a great offseason and the Ravens injuries at wide receiver could open up a roster spot at the beginning of the season if Breshad Perriman or Steve Smith are not ready to go for Week 1. Reynolds' ability to contribute as a returner and core special teams player could help his cause.
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GB - WR Jared Abbrederis making plays in camp
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Ryan Wood and Tom Silverstein
Green Bay Packers WR Jared Abbrederis has impressed in camp while WR Davante Adams and WR Jeff Janis have been quiet in the early going.
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Abbrederis should be Aaron Rodgers' choice to win snaps at the third wide receiver position because of his precise route-running and timing. The Wisconsin product has to stay healthy to fulfill those wishes, but if he can, he'll be on our early season waiver wire watch list.
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SEA - RB Christine Michael emerging as leader
Source: 710 ESPN Seattle - Liz Mathews
Seattle Seahawks RB Christine Michael is 'kind of the leader in the (running back) group now', according to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who added the third-year veteran has 'always been explosive, but he's come a long way (maturity-wise)'.
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Michael has impressed in a vacuum before, and to be clear he's still not assured of a roster spot with three draft picks and Thomas Rawls at the position. If Rawls isn't ready to take his full workload to start the season, Michael is the best candidate to help lighten his load.
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HOU - DE J.J. Watt uncertain about return date
Source: NFL.com - Marc Sessler
Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt (back) acknowledged Sunday, July 31, he isn't certain when he'll return from back surgery.
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Watt's back surgery is the kind of procedure that tends to take on the long side of the recovery timeline, although Watt played extremely well through a plethora of injuries last year. He's still a good candidate to be the first IDP off of the board, but a lot later than he would be going if he was completely healthy.
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HOU - WR Jaelen Strong in great condition
Source: Houston Chronicle - Aaron Wilson
Houston Texans WR Jaelen Strong showed up to training camp in 'optimal condition,' according to the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson. He has lost a lot of weight since last year and looks quicker.
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Strong should be considered the Week 1 favorite to start opposite DeAndre Hopkins. He's on the borderline of draftable as first-round pick Will Fuller surely will steal snaps and threaten Strong's spot on the depth chart if he doesn't continue to play at a very high level.
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IND - WR Donte Moncrief almost at full health
Source: The Herald Bulletin - George Bremer
Indianapolis Colts WR Donte Moncrief (toe) said his surgically repaired toe is 96% to 97% healthy.
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Moncrief's draft stock shouldn't be affected by this issue unless it slows him in the preseason. We'll watch to make sure Moncrief looks like his old self. He could easily outperform his ADP as long as Andrew Luck returns to form.
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NYG - Odell Beckham suffers minor injury
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. (foot) was cleated, has a cut or two and will be sore for a couple of days, according to head coach Ben McAdoo.
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So far, so good with the injury scares to wide receivers at the top of our board. If Julio Jones' potential foot issue lingers, Beckham could become a top two wide receiver.
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PHI - RB Ryan Mathews timeline update
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Philadelphia Eagles RB Ryan Mathews (ankle) is not expected at practice until later this week, according to head coach Doug Pederson.
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If he does return later this week, it will be a best case scenario for his ankle injury. It's possible Mathews has an uneventful camp and starts the season as the lead back, with a chance to return value on his fifth-round ADP. His injury history suggests that this will be just the beginning of a string of maladies this year that keeps him from hitting his ceiling. We'll watching this closely, with newly extended Darren Sproles likely playing a large role again too.
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CAR - RB Cameron Artis-Payne impressing
Source: The Associated Press - Steve Reed
Carolina Panthers RB Cameron Artis-Payne's speed has been impressive early in training camp.
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Artis-Payne is trying to hold off Brandon Wegher to back up Jonathan Stewart, a role that could see multiple starts if Stewart's injury history is any indicator. Artis-Payne wasn't overly impressive in his late season opportunity last year, but he still managed two double-digit PPR point games in the three weeks Stewart missed (Weeks 15-17).
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OAK - TE Clive Walford not being restricted
Source: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
Oakland Raiders TE Clive Walford (knee) has been a full participant in training camp following an offseason all-terrain vehicle accident.
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Walford isn't a TE1 for fantasy yet, but he had some plays showing surprising downfield speed last year, and with a strong wide receiver group, he could face some of the better matchups each week in the middle of the field. He's worth a late pick if you wait at tight end, and he is certainly on our breakout TE candidate list.
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MIA - RB Kenyan Drake running with second offense
Source: Sun-Sentinel - Omar Kelly
Miami Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake ran with the second-team offense Sunday, July 31. He did not appear to have a firm grasp of the offense, in the opinion of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly.
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Drake was a very raw runner at Alabama, but he has great size and speed. The Dolphins could make use of Drake on plays designed to get him the ball in space, but he is unlikely to play a large role in the backfield unless multiple injuries strike on the depth chart ahead of him.
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MIA - Isaiah Pead working with first-team offense
Source: Sun-Sentinel - Omar Kelly
Miami Dolphins RB Isaiah Pead received plenty of repetitions with the first-team offense Sunday, July 31.
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Pead was a bust of a second-round pick for the Rams, at least in part because his rookie year sapped his love of football. Damien Williams' conditioning issue has given Pead an opening to make the team as the #4 running back.
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LA - WR Tavon Austin carted off
Source: USA TODAY Sports - Lorenzo Reyes
Los Angeles Rams WR Tavon Austin (leg) was carted off the practice field with an apparent leg injury Sunday, July 31.
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Jeff Fisher updated the media and clarified that the problem was cramps and that Austin didn't eat lunch, so this shouldn't be anything to worry about going forward.
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Source: footballguys.com