ESL Blogs

With NFL s underway, fantasy news and tidbits are swirling around like a tornado of information and misinformation. Each week we'll keep you informed with a round-up of the most fantasy-relevant news to emerge from the 32 NFL training camps underway. We'll do our best to sift through the smoke and see what insight can be lifted as you prepare for your fantasy drafts this fall.Arian Foster suffered a serious groin injury NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, Leonard Floyd Jersey per a source informed of the situation, that Foster suffered a major groin injury that will likely nece sitate surgery.Our analysis: The Foster news hit the fantasy world hard on Tuesday, removing one of the few trusted elite backs from an already thin pool. As I wrote about , fantasy owners would be wise to not rush out and pick up , , or just yet. visited the team, but couldn't come to terms. On Wednesday, Bill O'Brien indicated that the team will likely use a committee approach: "Each (RB) will have a role. We want a guy who can do a bit of everything. I don't think you can ever replace experience," he told reporters after practice. This backfield went from being one of the NFL's best, to one of the most confusing committees in fantasy land in a span of a few days. We'll need to wait for the the preseason to play out to see who rises to the top before making any sort of fantasy investment here. Stay tuned.Cowboys' starting RB job is Joseph Randle's to lose NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported from ' training camp that from everything he's heard, will be the starting running back unle s he face plants in the preseason.Our analysis: With each pa sing week, it seems like Randle is gaining more and more separation from in this backfield competition. Of course, that could all change once they play in actual game action, but McFadden will (sigh) have to get healthy before he can do that as well (although he's "" right now). Keep pushing Randle up your draft board until further notice. His Round 8 ADP on NFL.com is likely to rise significantly.Latavius Murray "can do it all" GM Reggie McKenzie, on if Murray could be a 1,000-yard rusher: "No question. ." Offensive line coach Mike Tice: "For a big guy, Latavius has extremely good quickne s. And when he gets behind his pads, he is hard to tackle."Our analysis: Murray has been one of the trendiest sleepers this season after the fantasy world witne sed his impre sive (but brief) outburst in 2014. It's encouraging to hear the offensive staff and bra s rallying behind their young player. We want to see Murray perform more consistently in the preseason, though, as his limited game action (82 carreer carries) has been a mixed bag of boom (like this ) and bust plays. Keep an eye on him in the middle rounds until we see how he looks as the featured back during preseason games.Broncos want to use a bell-cow back Gary Kubiak: " ... I think if a guy goes out there Trey Burton Jersey and he shows he can play three downs, can protect the quarterback, and can handle it, then he should stay out there."Our analysis: fans rejoice! Kubiak's track record proves that he stands with his bell-cow back if one emerges, and right now that figures to be Anderson. He was not only the most impre sive Denver rusher on the field in 2014, but was also capable in pa s protection. He graded out as the best at that trait among the Denver backs, per Pro Football Focus. This should help a suage the worries of fantasy enthusiasts targeting Anderson in the late-first or early-second round territory. He's for sure on the fringe of the RB1 discu sion in 2015.Washington to run the ball A LOT NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported via 's "Total Acce s" on Sunday that Washington is going to in 2015. "... my understanding is the are going to want to pound it and run the ball a lot more than they ever did, especially Bobby Massie Jersey since they drafted physical running back ... No, he's not the bell cow yet -- it's still going to be ."Our analysis: owners can breathe a sigh of relief at that last note. Morris has seen his carries dip in each of the last three seasons, but head coach Jay Gruden must believe that a healthy running game will be the best way to improve the erratic play of . This news further cements Morris as an RB2 in both standard and PPR formats, although it also hints that his goal-line disappearing act could continue in 2015, thanks to Jones. The rookie makes for an intriguing late-round flier in best ball formats, or a handcuff to Morris in redraft.Ravens will emphasize running game Offensive coordinator Marc Trestman: ", and that doesn't mean you're not going to throw the ball. But the emphasis here is we want to be a great running football team and we have the players to do that. So that's where we start."Our analysis:, one of 2014's most surprising fantasy stars, will enter 2015 as a relatively safe RB2, despite the fact that he is turning 30 this season. The other name to watch in this backfield is , whom NFL Media's Albert Breer said has been "" already in camp. Forsett figures to be the bell cow, but don't be surprised if Allen gets worked into the mix. He could be worth a late-round flier, especially in PPR formats.Tyler Eifert standing out in Bengals camp Per Paul Dehner Jr., has had several great practices, catching a ton of pa ses and looking smooth in the proce s.Our analysis: Eifert showed promise in his rookie season, but lost nearly all of his sophomore campaign to an elbow injury suffered in the first quarter of the first game of the 2014 season. He did record three catches for 39 yards on only eight snaps, though. With several stars healthy again, the offense could be this season, especially from a fantasy perspective. Of course, all of that promise and hope relies on the inconsistent right arm of . Given Eifert's injury history and quarterback situation, he definitely carries some risk in 2014. Then again, what tight end doesn't? Still, as Matt Franciscovich , Eifert presents tremendous value at his current ADP.Sam Bradford takes all first-team reps for Eagles Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that for the on Sunday's practice, and head coach Chip Kelly told reporters "We don't have any restrictions on (Bradford)."Our analysis: This is great news for the fantasy fortunes of the , and for Bradford himself. The former No. 1 overall pick could thrive in a Chip Kelly offense that turned into a 27-2 TD-INT pa ser for a season, and made fantasy viable for a few weeks in 2014. Bradford's play will need to be watched during the preseason to see how he gels with his talented young pa s catchers. Reports are that he and sophomore receiver have been in sync early and often. Still, if you wait on the quarterback position Khalil Mack Jersey or play in a deeper league, Bradford is a nice QB2 target in the later rounds. He plays the defense indoors in Week 1 in what could be an early-season shootout.Richard Rodgers a sleeper at the tight end position? Jerry Fontenot, tight ends coach: () is capable of being a at the tight end position in the league." Our analysis: While host James Koh has Rodgers pegged as the late-round tight end on his all-Cal team, most fantasy enthusiasts won't have the second-year tight end on their radar, and for good reason. The haven't had a fantasy relevant tight end since Jermichael Finley finished 17th in 2012. Furthermore, with the emergence of and as one of the league's most dangerous wide receiever combos, there aren't a ton of targets to go around. However, Rodgers found his groove with Prince Amukamara Jersey late in 2014, hauling in 13 of his 20 pa ses over the final half of the season, tacking on five more for 48 yards and a touchdown during the playoffs. The Green Bay offense will put up oodles of fantasy points, but most will funnel through the established stars. However, when it comes to late-round flier tight ends, Rodgers has some upside.Woodhead, Johnson impre s at Chargers camp , offensive lineman: "Having back on the field ." and appears to be at full health, while has done well with the No. 1 offense, according to reports.Our analysis: Many want to forget about Woodhead, even though he was a frequent top-25 fantasy back in standard leagues over the last few years. Woodhead was the quiet motor that made the San Deigo offense hum, catching 76 pa ses for 605 yards in 2013. Now fully recovered from a broken ankle that stole his 2014 season, Woodhead figures to see plenty of work and will be on the RB3-4 radar, with an even higher stock in PPR formats. His resurgence and role out of the shotgun and on third down also puts a cap on 's fantasy potential. He's more in line as an RB2-3 considering he should lose out on plenty of snaps to Woodhead. Meanwhile, hasn't quite caught on as a household fantasy name yet, but he should. With sidelined on a four-game suspension, aging and fil