NFL Barometer: Bigger, Better Bryant

RISING

Todd Gurley, RB, STL

The Rams announced Tuesday that Gurley would begin training camp on the active roster, meaning he'll be a part of training camp and avoid the NFI-list despite suffering a torn ACL in November. It doesn't guarantee he'll be active Week 1, nor does it mean Gurley will take the starting role away from incumbent starter Tre Mason right away, but it does strengthen the idea that Gurley earning a workhorse role in 2015 is a matter of "when" and not "if." The Rams selected Gurley with the 10th overall pick obviously intending to make him the team's foundational piece on offense, and that arrangement should materialize no later than the second month of the regular season.

Martavis Bryant, WR, PIT

Bryant generated plenty of excitement with his exceptional rookie season last year, but the hype is getting even louder as Bryant earns high praise during his first NFL offseason. Not only has Bryant received rave reviews for his training camp performances to this point, but he's also increased his weight to nearly 225 pounds, making him an even more imposing red-zone threat at 6-foot-4. Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson said Bryant looks "amazing" and has "absolutely made big strides" during the offseason. Considering he totaled 26 catches for 549 yards and eight touchdowns on just 48 targets last year, it's scary to think what a bigger, better version of Bryant might look like this year.

Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh

Bell's owners received some encouraging news Tuesday, as his three-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy was reduced to two games in a settlement. Bell was arguably well worth the first overall pick even with the three-game suspension, particularly in PPR formats, and the argument is obviously a bit easier to make now that the suspension is two games.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET

Teams generally don't use second-round picks on running backs unless they plan to make heavy use of said running backs, so Abdullah was always expected to have a notable presence of some kind in the Detroit backfield this year, even with Joique Bell and Theo Riddick already in the fold. Bell was and still is expected to be the lead runner in the backfield, but the margin between Bell and Abdullah might not be as big as it was initially expected to be. Bell had minor cleanup surgeries to his Achilles' tendon and knee in the offseason, and Abdullah has earned a good amount of hype while Bell sat. Bell could be limited to start training camp, too, and the Lions might have to make more room for Abdullah in the offense if his padded practices are as impressive as his padless ones from earlier in the offseason.

FALLING

Tom Brady, QB, NE

Brady and the Patriots hoped his four-game suspension might be reduced after appealing the suspension, but Roger Goodell was not moved. The league announced Monday that Brady's four-game suspension was upheld, leaving him ruled out for the first four games barring a court intervention. The wheels are already in motion for Brady to seek a court-issued injunction against the league's suspension, allowing him to play while the conflict worked its way through the court system, but a positive outcome for Brady can't be counted on. Sports Illustrated legal analyst Michael McCann guessed that Brady has a has a "good chance" to secure an injunction to play in Week 1, but he considers the odds "more like 60-40 than 90-10."

Terrance West, RB, CLE

West went in the third round of the 2014 draft, but it was always known he was the lesser athlete between himself and undrafted fellow 2014 rookie Isaiah Crowell. It's not surprising, then, that Crowell showed better efficiency than West, producing 607 yards and eight touchdowns on 148 carries (4.1 YPC) while West finished with just 673 yards and four touchdowns on 171 carries (3.9 YPC). The offseason selection of third-round pick Duke Johnson leaves West in line for another potential demotion this year, as the rookie from Miami possesses rare explosiveness and is easily the best receiver among the three backs. With Crowell maintaining the lead role on early downs and Johnson pulling away as the passing-down option, it's hard to see West earning more than a reliever role.

Percy Harvin, WR, BUF

I was admittedly high on Harvin as a mid-to-late round PPR target earlier this offseason, but I'm probably jumping ship at this point. The Buffalo News' Vic Carucci reported that Harvin still needed special instruction with his routes in offseason practices, and as a result Carucci expects Harvin to rank behind Robert Woods in the wide receiver rotation. The Buffalo passing game figures to struggle with the likes of EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, so there might not be much production left for Harvin after Woods and Sammy Watkins have their stab at the pie.

Stephen Hill, WR, CAR

Hill's rare combination of size (6-4, 215) and speed (4.36-second 40) helped make him an intriguing flier asset in dynasty formats on a Carolina team lacking receiver depth, but a drug paraphernalia citation from Wednesday could lessen Hill's traction within the Carolina organization. It's obviously not a big deal of a charge, but Hill's historical lack of consistency and Carolina's minimal investment in him probably had him on thin ice to begin with. Assuming Carolina keeps him on the roster, Hill might struggle to earn favoritism over the likes of Ted Ginn and Jerricho Cotchery, let alone Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess.