• Both Le'Veon Bell and LaGarrette Blount are expected to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Panthers, despite their recent run-ins with the law. In case you missed it, the teammates were both arrested for possession of marijuana last Wednesday, with Bell also facing DUI charges related to the incident. Neither player is expected to be officially punished by the league until next season, but the Steelers have indicated they may take a proactive approach in disciplining their top two running backs. The team has done this in the past, and it may be a solid strategy to ensure they have their top backs available later in the season for a potential playoff run. The real questions here involve both the length of the suspension, and whether or not they are handed down in the same week. Based on previous discipline issued in similar situations, it wouldn't be irrational to assume an eventual one-game suspension for both players. However, is Pittsburgh confident enough to head into Week 1 against the division-rival Cleveland Browns without both players? That part remains to be seen. Either way, it would be unwise to let the looming suspensions drastically effect their fantasy outlooks for 2014.

• The Patriots and Buccaneers completed a trade Tuesday afternoon, with the Pats sending Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to the Bucs in return for tight end Timothy Wright and a 2015 fourth-round draft pick. Although it may not seem like it at first, this deal certainly has effects in the fantasy world. An improved offensive line only bodes well for Doug Martin's prospects, while Wright is another target to consider in New England. Early analysts have called it an "insurance policy" for Rob Gronkowski (who is still expected to play Week 1), but don't be surprised to see both players featured in 2-TE sets. Physically, Wright isn't anywhere near Aaron Hernandez, but he could see roughly 60-65 targets in this scheme. Of course, that number will warrant a huge increase if the injury-prone Gronk happens to go down again.
• Washington head coach Jay Gruden recently took to the papers to defend his quarterback, claiming that Robert Griffin's preseason struggles can be attributed to his lack of comfort with the new offense. Over three preseason contests, Griffin has 13-of-20 passes for 141 yards, failing to throw a touchdown but recording two picks. They way I see it, his inability to protect himself is much more concerning than his overall lack of production. If you take Griffin in a draft, the fact that you'll have to back him up with one of your next 2-3 picks is certainly concerning. As DVR and I discuss on Tuesday's Fantasy Football Podcast, the difference between the No. 4 and No. 14 quarterbacks really isn't all that great, so unless the value is perfect, I'm passing on Griffin this year. DVR is a little higher on him than me, but I'd much rather own Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler or Phillip Rivers -- all of whom currently lie behind RGIII in NFFC ADP. Not the popular opinion, but potentially advice to live by if you're a risk-averse fantasy owner.
• Knowshon Moreno is expected to be ruled out for the Dolphin's preseason finale, but the good news is that it looks to be more for rest than anything injury-related. Typically the starters all sit in Week 4 of the preseason anyway, but with Moreno missing time earlier in camp, one would think that the Dolphins would have wanted to get their recent acquisition a few extra reps. Moreno is eventually expected to compete with Lamar Miller for the starting job, but a timeshare seems most likely at this point. The two backs are so close together in ADP at the moment, so I think the only thing that separates the two would be league format. I like Miller in standard, and Moreno in PPR, even though his targets through the air may be set to decrease in 2014.
• Now that the quarterback battle appears to be settled in Cleveland, it's time to focus on the less-than-stellar group of targets that Brian Hoyer will have to throw to. Assuming Josh Gordon is suspended for the better part of 2014, the Browns are looking at Miles Austin, the 5-foot-7 Andrew Hawkins, and Nate Burleson to lead the group. Burleson is set to see his first action of the preseason Thursday, after a hamstring injury forced him to miss the team's first three exhibition contests. Without Gordon, one could argue that Burleson will step in as the No. 3 target, but younger options Travis Benjamin and Charles Johnson may contain more upside. We'll see how he's used Thursday, but until then, there's likely not much fantasy utility to find here.
• Speaking of Cleveland targets, Jordan Cameron returned to practice Tuesday after missing Monday's action with an undisclosed injury. He did deal with a sprained AC shoulder joint earlier in the preseason, but has played in the team's last two exhibition games, and his status for Week 1 doesn't appear to be in jeopardy. The 6-foot-5 redzone threat should be poised for another 100+ target season, which will only increase if Josh Gordon is handed a season-long suspension. By the way, the NFL has apparently reached a ruling on the Gordon appeal, and is expected to announce it over the next few days. If Gordon is fully exonerated (seems unlikely), he's easily a top-5 wideout.

Monday Follow-Ups:

• Tony Romo returned to practice Tuesday after missing Monday, easing concerns that he may be a little banged up after taking a few hits in his most recent preseason game.
• Broncos receiver Wes Welker seems to be progressing well through NFL concussion protocol, and the team thinks that a return for the September 7 season open remains within the realm of possibility. Head coach John Fox called his progress "fantastic," as the team remains confident that Welker's third concussion in a 10-month period won't cause him significant time. In the meantime, the uncertainty knocks the slot receiver back a few notches on my draft board, with Emmanuel Sanders jumping up a bit as well.
• Matt Schaub is still dealing with elbow soreness, and is now expected to miss the Raiders' preseason finale. Derek Carr is expected to see the majority of first-team reps, and who knows where this QB race is headed if the rookie exceeds expectations. Schaub is still expected to be the Week 1 starter, but how long will this last if the veteran starts to show shades of last season's struggles? Regardless, stay away from either option in remaining drafts/auctions outside of the deepest 2-QB formats.