We're another day closer to August, so we'll keep hearing about plenty of players with the letters P-U-P next to their names, but in addition to those items, today's Training Camp Blog feature is on Jameis Winston.
- Even though veterans aren't required to report until Thursday, the Bucs website is reporting that Jameis Winston arrived today to work at a three-day QB school the team has organized. This is clearly a great sign that Winston appears to be invested in Bruce Arians' offense. Between the excellent weapons at WR and TE along with Arians' propensity to feature a vertical passing attack, Winston could be in for a monster season in the last year of his rookie contract. For those looking to wait on QB, I have him ranked as my QB8, though he has a positional ADP of 14. Also, playing in the NFC South, he should be in plenty of shootouts, which certainly is something to consider when drafting him.
- Moving on to the Browns- according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, disgruntled RB Duke Johnson is still hoping to push his way into a preseason trade. However, with Kareem Hunt suspended for the first eight games of the season, it wouldn't make much sense for the Browns to deal away a valuable player, who would be their best option behind Nick Chubb while Hunt is unavailable. There's certainly a better chance for Johnson to get dealt closer to the in-season trade deadline, but if he was somehow traded soon, based on situation, his fantasy value could skyrocket.
- Next, we have some great news from the Titans' website- Delanie Walker (ankle) avoided the PUP list and will be ready to start camp on Friday. Although he's 35-years-old, he posted at least 800 yards in each of his last four (full) seasons while averaging five TDs. Assuming he's back to full speed, he should be viewed as a mid-level starting-caliber TE for fantasy purposes.
- It comes as no surprise that the Jagaurs' website is reporting that Marqise Lee will start camp on the preseason PUP list as he recovers from the ACL tear that caused him to miss the entire 2018 season. It's still the hope of both Lee and the team that he's ready for Week 1, but the bigger issue is that while the team's WRs are gaining chemistry with Nick Foles, Lee will be missing out on that opportunity. The more time he misses, the more I'll continue to drop Lee on my draft board, though I currently have him as a WR5 or WR6.
- Sticking with the Jaguars, according to the team's website, backup Jacksonville RB Ryquell Armstead (hamstring) will start training camp on the preseason PUP list. Even though Alfred Blue appears to be set as the Jaguars' top backup to Leonard Fournette, should Fournette miss time, Armstead is stylistically the same type of power runner, which is why they likely drafted him. If he's able to fully shake his hamstring woes in the next week or two, he's the player I'd draft if I had to have a handcuff for Fournette in deep leagues, though in either case, Blue would likely remain in the change-of-pace role.
- Probably not much in the way of fantasy value coming from this player, but the NFL Network reported that Allen Hurns is fully recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in last year's playoffs, and after being released by the Cowboys today, he's an unrestricted free agent. Although he may latch on with a team, he hasn't reached 500 yards or exceeded three TDs in any of the last three seasons, so it's unlikely he'll be a player who's drafted in most fantasy leagues.
That'll do it for today- there'll be another Training Camp Blog tomorrow by one of my teammates, and I'll be back with another one on Friday.