Training Camp Notes: Backup Bishop

Written by

Jake Letarski

Published on September 2, 2014

The Titans' first regular season depth chart was released Tuesday, and veteran Shonn Greene was listed as the team's No. 1 running back. This clearly doesn't meet the expectations of fantasy owners who drafted Sankey as their RB2, nor does it coincide with NFFC average draft position (Sankey 65, Greene 197). The good news is that is that the rookie has surpassed RB/WR Dexter McCluster on the depth chart, however the announcement still doesn't bode well for his early-season prospects. Shonn Greene is still available in an astounding 71 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and is worth a look (or a few dollars of FAAB money) if you're desperate for a temporary fill-in. We fully expect Sankey to take over a larger workload over the coming weeks, but for now, look for Greene to see more snaps and overall touches.

The LaGarrette Blount/Le'Veon Bell saga continues, but this time with a bit of good news -- at least for fantasy owners. Both players are set to suit up for their Week 1 matchup against the Browns, who own a fairly stout run-stopping unit and run deep on the defensive line. Bell will be the guy the team will lean on most, with Blount filling in on some short yardage situations. Head coach Mike Tomlin doesn't appear eager to discuss any prospective internal punishment that could be handed down by the team, so there remains a decent chance that no discipline is issued until next season. Bell was considered a top-10 back in terms of ADP this season, and it doesn't appear that this status is at all in jeopardy.
In other running back news, Lamar Miller is listed as the No. 1 back on the Dolphins' first regular season depth chart, suggesting that he has barely edged out Knowshon Moreno for the starting job. If coach Joe Philbin could announce "co-starters," that may be the more accurate description, as the two are expected to see a relatively even distribution of carries. The main producer could change on a week-to-week basis, which will end up being mutually destructive for each players' fantasy value.
2012 AP Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt got considerably richer late Monday night, signing a six-year, $100 million extension with the Texans. This will ensure a fearsome pass-rushing combo from both sides of the line for several years to come. Already made evident in the preseason, this is a matchup nightmare that fantasy owners using quarterbacks with sub-par offensive lines need to take note of.
Buccaneers' running back Charles Sims is expected to be placed on the injured reserve/designated to return list, meaning he won't be able to play until the halfway point at the minimum. Despite this misfortune, everything that's been happening in Tampa Bay up to this point seems to be going Doug Martin's way. First, he got himself a new guard after the Logan Mankins trade, and now, he seems to have a clear path to becoming an every-down back. I snagged Martin with the first pick in the third round of a 10-team, non-PPR league, and was absolutely thrilled about it. Other fantasy owners who have a similar opportunity should be too.
Christine Michael was a trendy sleeper in early drafts this season, but his prospective fantasy value seems to be on a landslide. He sat out Monday's practice with a hamstring injury, and is expected to see a limited role in Thursday's opener -- if he's even active. Robert Turbin has now become the favorite Marshawn Lynch handcuff, and rightfully so, as he turned in a rushing average of 0.8 yards better than Michael's during the preseason. Granted, those are preseason stats, but it still looks like Michael has some catching up to do.
Brandon Bostick also didn't practice for the Packers on Monday due to a leg injury, which may pave the way for Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers to see more looks from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Maybe it's the Cal-Berkeley connection, but I have a very good feeling about the pass-catching Rodgers' fantasy prospects this season. Quarless is average at best, and I could easily see R. Rodgers and his 6-foot-4, 257 pound frame taking on a more prominent role in his place. We probably won't see Julius Thomas-type numbers, but Jermichael Finley's 2012 numbers (61 receptions, 667 yards & 2 touchdowns) seem like a reasonable ceiling.