With Training Camps in full swing, there are some additional news items from Tuesday you need to stay up on before your drafts:
- The Washington Redskins signed Adrian Peterson on Monday, which could be a concern to many fans given his poor performances the last two years. Unfortunately, that is not the only thing Redskins fans should be worried about this season when it comes to their running backs. Both Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson are banged up at the moment too. NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay reported that, according to Jay Gruden, Perine is approaching a full return to practice after spraining his ankle in the team's second preseason game. Thompson, on the other hand, might miss the entire preseason according to Gruden as reported by Finlay. This could be just a precautionary measure with the Redskins already losing rookie running back Darius Guice for the season to an ACL tear. If Thompson misses any regular season time, expect Perine and Peterson to split the role since Rob Kelly has never been much of a pass catching back. Needless to say, the Redskins entire backfield is about as clear as mud. Even if fantasy owners can figure out which running back will get the most touches/snaps/carries/etc, they should not expect much fantasy value from whichever running back emerges as it will most likely be a running back by committee situation.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars have themselves in a pretty murky spot as well. They have many talented wide receivers, including Marqise Lee, Keelan Cole, Dede Westbrook, offseason pickup Donte Moncrief, and their rookie DJ Chark. It is unclear at this point who will be the top two receivers for the Jags, and drafting any of these guys right now can be pretty risky. But there may be light at the end of the tunnel for people drafting in the upcoming weeks. Mike Kaye of First Coast News reports that Lee and Cole are getting the most first team reps in practice right now. This is a situation to keep your eye on as there could be some significant value in drafts if two of these players emerge as the primary options in this offense.
- The New York Giants were able to see at least some of what Saquon Barkley had to offer in their first preseason game when he had 5 carries for 43 yards, including his impressive first carry. However, since then, he has been sidelined with a hamstring. He did not play at all in the Giants' second preseason game against the Detroit Lions, and he is unlikely to play this Friday when the Giants take on the New York Jets. On a positive note, head coach Pat Shurmur said today that Barkley is doing more and more at practice. This hamstring injury shouldn't be too concerning to fantasy owners as the Giants are probably just playing it safe and protecting their recently drafted franchise player.
- The Cleveland Browns are still waiting for wide receiver Josh Gordon to be ready to practice. Mary Kay Cabot, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reported that head coach Hue Jackson said he will practice "very soon." Jackson also said he wouldn't be opposed to having Gordon in the final preseason game according to Nate Ulrich of The Akron Beacon Journal. These are positive signs for fantasy owners that will need to draft him in the 4th or 5th rounds in order to get him on their team. Gordon's MFL10s ADP is currently in the top 50 picks overall in the last month.