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Training Camp Notes 8/5

·         The 1st WR taken in the 2009 draft, Darrius Heyward-Bey, is signed, in camp and 100% healthy. DHB had hamstring trouble earlier this offseason that limited him during the team's OTAs. He dropped a pass on his first target of training camp.

·         Vikings HC Brad Childress isn't sure how he'll split up 1st team reps between Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson. "We might pitch horseshoes or something like that," Childress said. That would be a first. Regardless of who's named starter, you'll probably want to avoid this situation in fantasy leagues.

·         Cowboys RB Coach Skip Peete believes 2nd year RB Tashard Choice will ;have an opportunity to play a lot this year". Choice is 3rd in line for carries behind Marion Barber and Felix Jones, so the prediction isn't likely to come true. Realistically, he probably won't receive more than 5 or 6 carries per game.

·         Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has reported to training camp out of shape once again. According to beat writer Jerry McDonald, Russell said, "I'm probably a little heavy. But I'm not 300 pounds like you all said last year." Well that's a relief, JaMarcus! It's tough to believe he's not in prime physical condition after he held a personal passing camp with his WRs a few weeks ago.

·         Marques Colston and Reggie Bush will both enter training camp at 100% after offseason microfracture surgery. This is excellent news, but both guys still come with some risk. They both had the same procedure done last year, so durability is an obvious concern. Colston has a chance to sneak into the top-5 at WR this year, but Bush will be far from a similar fate. He'll lose touches because of the emergence of Pierre Thomas, but he's still a PPR asset.

·         Vikings HC Brad Childress reiterated the importance of getting his rookies signed, hinting particularly at WR/KR Percy Harvin's absence. "You hate to see players miss, because those reps are vital, those meetings are vital," he said. "We go at a very rapid pace here, and we usually don't go back and start to re-do those things." Harvin will be used in a ;jack-of-all-trades" role this season, playing WR, kick returner, punt returner, and even wildcat QB. His fantasy value is tough to peg, but his late 9th round ADP sounds about right.

·         Raiders RB Darren McFadden says that the injuries that plagued him last season are behind him and that he is more comfortable with the Raiders offense this year. "I'm looking forward to seeing how much more they want to put me out there," McFadden said. ;But I think you're going to see me a lot more this year." There aren't many 4th or 5th round picks with more upside than Run DMC.

·         QB Mark Sanchez will start Jets camp as the #2 guy behind Kellen Clemens. HC Rex Ryan has clearly stated that this is an ;open competition" for the job. Sanchez has a little catching up to do, but we still expect him to come out of training camp as the Jets starting QB.

·         Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell said Julius Jones is set to receive ;the bulk of the carries." There were talks of a committee being used with T.J Duckett and possibly Justin Forsett, but Jones will toe the majority of the workload. Duckett will get the red zone looks, but Jones is still an excellent value going in the 9th round in most 12-team drafts.

·         According to the Ravens' official website, RB Willis McGahee has been activated from the PUP list and is ready to participate in camp. McGahee underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during the offseason, so the Ravens wanted to be cautious about his return. He has a steep hill to climb if he wants to see considerable carries this year.

·         Saints WR Lance Moore will not start camp on the active/PUP list. Just 3 and a half months removed from shoulder surgery, Moore will be limited for the first few weeks, but this is good news. He's currently being drafted in the 6th or 7th round. If he's 100% by Week 1, he should have no problem outplaying that price.