Training Camp Eyes

Since training camps across the NFL have yet to begin, there a several guys that I cannot properly evaluate before I see what they do with their pads finally on in training camp. Training camps are important for determining starting gigs and for determining how inexperienced players or players on a new team acclimate themselves with the NFL and their team.

For this reason, ranking running backs at this point in the off-season is a mortifying ordeal for me. Without the playing out of training camp battles, it is nearly impossible to determine certain players' true value. All the running backs in contention for winning a starting gig in training camp will be on my radar for the next 3-4 weeks. For example, the Texans' starting RB job is up in the air for the entire preseason; whoever impresses the most and is the best fit for the team will be the starter. And whoever is the starter in that offense will be an extremely valuable fantasy commodity. As of right now, I have the rookie Ben Tate as the Texan RB that will have the best fantasy season. I think he will win the starting job, or at least win the red-zone gig since Slaton has serious fumbling issues and is a smaller, more elusive back while Tate is a bigger, bruiser-type back who did not fumble the ball in four years at Auburn (which I might add is quite remarkable--not once in 678 attempts).

Another important training camp battle to watch is in Cleveland. Jerome Harrison marveled many in the fantasy playoffs last year as the Browns' featured back with 561 yards and 5 TDs in his last three games. However, Cleveland drafted Montario Hardesty in the 2nd round of the draft, and he has already made an impression on the coaching staff. Heading into training camp, most people see a split-situation with each back getting approximately half of the workload. The Browns have a fantastic offensive line and any running back on the Browns is in the position to be very successive running behind that front 5. However, as of right now, I have the greatest concerns with Harrison's size and I flat out just don't think he has the talent to be a successive running back for an entire season. Hardesty, on the other hand, I believe not only has the talent to be a quality NFL back, but also has the intelligence that will take him to the next level. Mike Holmgren has already been raving about Hardesty's ability and burst, and Hardesty was already splitting carries with the first team in mini-camp. The fact that the rookie is already taking reps with the first team makes him the favorite in my eyes, and I think he has a real potential to be a significant factor in 2010.

Additionally, there are many running back prospects that I simply want to see with pads on and how well they perform in training camp. Sure, Ryan Matthews has looked good with shorts on and his coach has already said he would get 290 total touches this year, but how will he play with pads on and getting hit daily and repeatedly? How will Shonn Greene look taking reps with the first team offense? How many of those reps will go to LaDanian Tomlinson? Will Beanie Wells continue to progress and stay healthy through the pre-season to become a real breakout threat in 2010? Will Tim Tebow be given his own unique formation and swoop in to be a touchdown vulture of Knowshon Moreno? Or how will Moreno progress in his first full training camp (he held out last year), when he now knows the playbook? Can Kevin Jones make any type of comeback for the Lions to land him in a split with Jahvid Best? What will end up happening in Dallas? Houston? Buffalo? Oakland? Kansas City? New York (x2)?

In other words, once training camps start, you have to put your training camp eyes on...always alert on good and bad words about players and even slight shifts in relative positions as far as workload goes, because those shifts could become more intense through good/bad play in the season. Training camp not only lets you evaluate players before your draft based on their current situations, but they also let you try to predict players that might hit a wall halfway through the season and players that might be given an opportunity halfway through the season--AKA sleepers and dudes. Rookies report to most camps in less than a week, so time to get up 2 and let the preparation begin