As we enter the final days of the preseason- teams will be preparing for Week 1 in just a few days, we still have plenty of injury news and job battles to monitor, and we'll start today's Training Camp Notes with the Seahawks' backfield:
• While Chris Carson was running defenders over this preseason, Rashaad Penny was in a cast after suffering a broken finger, but the good news for Penny is that his cast is getting removed, placing him on track for Week 1. While injured, the rookie's ADP has been falling by the week, but those who believe in his talent should be able to get him for 'pennies on the dollar' (I couldn't resist that). Personally, I've been grabbing every share of Carson possible, as he's been running with power and urgency while adding extra yardage to just about every carry he sees, which is something I expect Penny to struggle with.
• Sticking with the RB position, both Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder) are working on their conditioning and seem to be nearing a return to action when the 49ers face the Vikings in the season opener. There's no reason not to expect this duo to be the primary runners for the team, but many have gotten excited after seeing Alfred Morris carve up the Colts last weekend. However, those who watched the game easily saw how atrocious the Colts defense was and that there were too many rushing yards to count before contact, and that game was no real indicator of Morris' progress.
• Moving over to New England, Sony Michel (knee) may have returned to practice this week, but he was limited, and Kevin Duffy of the Boston Herald is reporting that his Week 1 availability is unclear. He's expected to have a role in the Patriots backfield committee, but ultimately, he'll determine his workload based on performance and ball security. For those still drafting, this is good news, and his depressed draft value makes this an opportunity to buy for those who think that he's a star in the making.
• Those looking for clarity in the Denver backfield will be disappointed after learning that head coach Vance Joseph said that the starter could be either Royce Freeman or Devontae Booker, depending if the team wanted to run or pass. This is far from a ringing endorsement for either RB, but unless one significantly outplays the other, this could be a tricky situation to navigate. When given chances in the past, Booker was disappointing, and he didn't show much more this preseason, so Freeman appears to have a chance to seize a large role, but at his ADP, a significant amount of risk is being assumed when selecting him.
• With Alshon Jeffery expected to miss the start of the season, Zach Berman of the Philly Enquirer expects Neslon Agholor to lead the undermanned WR corps to start the season. Along with Zach Ertz, Agholor could find himself seeing an increase in targets, making him a solid lineup choice in season-long and DFS lineups.
• Not that there was any question about who the starting QB for the Jets, with Teddy Bridgewater being traded to the Saints, Sam Darnold seems likely to be under center to start the season for the Jets. Of course, there hasn't been an official announcement, and there's always a chance Josh McCown is considered, but with the rookie having had an impressive preseason, it would be an upset if Darnold isn't running the offense right away.
• Love 'em or hate 'em, kickers are still a part of most fantasy leagues, so in the news that's least likely to move the fantasy needle, Jason Sanders is in the driver's seat to be the Dolphins kicker. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Sanders merely needs to hang onto the job in this week's preseason game to hold off Greg Joseph.
That's all for today- enjoy the Labor Day weekend as we near the start of the regular season!