Mini-Camp Tour - AFC North
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Those expecting Steve McNair to be an elixir for all that ails the Ravens should get real. The former Titan is lauded for his ability to play through injuries, but that's only because he's always injured. There's little reason to believe that will change in his mid-30s. McNair has solid skill position talent around him but he has to learn a new offensive system and was rarely healthy to practice in Tennessee. McNair has to play behind a struggling offensive line that Baltimore did very little to fix in the off-season. I have McNair putting up average No. 2 quarterback stats but that may only be 12-14 games. Kyle Boller isn't done starting quite yet.
Second-year receiver Mark Clayton is another player who struggles with injuries. The talented breakout candidate missed a good portion of OTAs with a hamstring injury. A similar injury arrested Clayton's development last season and is something to watch in camp. ... Ed Reed and Ray Lewis have taken a break this off-season but both should be ready for Baltimore's veteran-friendly training camp, affectionately dubbed "Camp Creampuff" by the Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston.
Rising: Mason — Reunion with McNair can't hurt.
Falling: Boller — Ravens weren't fooled by his late-season run. Good for them.
Cincinnati Bengals
The most-watched knee in America is doing as well as can be expected. Carson Palmer practiced on back-to-back days and faced live defenses for the first time since tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL last January. The coaching staff and trainers are "cautiously optimistic" he'll be back for Week 1. I don't understand why they don't try to finish 2-2 before their Week 5 bye in rushing Palmer back. A setback remains very possible, but Palmer is worth drafting as a top-five quarterback if he starts by Week 3. Anthony Wright remains the favorite for the backup job.
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| Chris Henry had a productive 2005, but his legal issues may have sealed his fate with the Bengals. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images) |
Chris Henry is a persona non grata in Cincinnati after his four arrests. The coaching staff and beat reporters talk about the team's receiver corps as if Henry doesn't exist. I get the strong feeling he won't play another down for the Bengals. Henry is way too talented, however, not to receive another chance elsewhere. Knowing the NFL, he'll probably get two more. ... The vacated No. 3 slot will probably go to Kelley Washington or Antonio Chatman. Unlike Henry, neither player has a stand-alone fantasy value. It would take an injury to Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a third Bengals receiver to be worth owning. ... Rudi Johnson played all last season with torn cartilage in his knee but returned to the field without restrictions last week during. Chris Perry, struggling with knee and ankle injuries, may not be ready for the start of training camp. The injury-prone third-down back will move down RotoWorld's boards for now ... Chad Johnson scared many fantasy owners after being carted off the field with a groin injury last Friday. The spill looked nasty on tape, but he returned healthy on Saturday.
Rising: Palmer — Could be back in September.
Falling Henry — He's probably done in Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns
Known as one of the "good guys" around the league, Reuben Droughns legal troubles this off-season came as a big surprise for the Browns, especially after they signed him long-term. It probably won't affect his playing time in 2006, but the team was already looking to lessen Droughns' load. Lee Suggs, William Green and rookie Jerome Harrison will compete for third-down back duties. Suggs remains a total mystery. A RBBC, which Romeo Crennel talked about last year but didn't follow through, remains a possibility. Droughns is one of our least-favorite starting running backs in fantasy leagues. ... For all the optimism in Cleveland, their offense remains as unsettled as any in football. Second-year quarterback Charlie Frye reportedly had a good minicamp, but there is very little depth behind him. The Browns are expected to bring in Vinny Testaverde, probably after training camp. Digging Testaverde up isn't a terrible move on its own. But the fact the Browns need to sign Testaverde should make Browns fans shudder. Frye better stay healthy.The wide receiver position is also in flux. Braylon Edwards has been slow to recover from torn ACL surgery and is likely to miss the first month of the season, if not more. Dennis Northcutt is lining up as a starter across Joe Jurevicius, but he's better suited for the slot. Brandon Rideau, Frisman Jackson and third-round pick Travis Wilson are battling for reserve duties. Wilson, from Oklahoma, is a player I'm high on, but Crennel seems unimpressed. ... With one exception, I don't expect to own any Browns in fantasy leagues. That exception is Kellen Winslow, who oddly looks like a very safe pick. He may not have all his speed back, but he's practicing fully again and is being drafted at the very end of fantasy drafts as a No. 2 tight end. At that price, there is virtually no risk and a very high possible reward. The risk is the inverse of popping wheelies in a parking lot.
Rising: Winslow — Cleared for all football activities.
Falling: Edwards — October may be an optimistic return date.
Pittsburgh Steelers
I wrote about my thoughts on "Big Ben's accident last week. It doesn't appear if Roethlisberger will miss any playing time, but it's still very early in the recovery process and few teams are more ill-equipped to deal with an injury to their starting quarterback. Fantasy leaguers were already cautious about drafting Roethlisberger because of Pittsburgh's well-earn reputation as a running-mad team. If he looks healthy in the preseason, the 24 year old could strangely be undervalued. ... Rookie wide receiver Santonio Holmes had his second arrest, this time for domestic abuse and assault. He's not going to sit well with coach Bill Cowher. The Steelers are already a team that isn't afraid to bring young talent along slowly (see Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward, Willie Parker and Troy Polamalu). In the unlikely possibility that Holmes is convicted for both arrests before or during the season, a league suspension is also possible. Veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson has a better chance to be the team's starting wideout in Week 1. Rookie third-round pick Willie Reid, who has impressed all off-season, could also push Holmes for playing time.
The weak field at No. 2 receiver only makes me more confident that Heath Miller will finish second on the Steelers in receptions. He probably won't fall past the Top 10 tight ends in most drafts ... There has been very little talk about the running backs in Pittsburgh. Our mole, Rocco DeMarro, still says Verron Haynes has a 50-50 chance to replace Duce Staley for the third-down and short-yardage role. It wouldn't be a shock if the Steelers picked up another veteran.
Rising: Wilson — Slight favorite to start at receiver.
Falling: Holmes — Rookie wideout wasn't likely to make big noise this season anyhow.
Gregg Rosenthal directs the football coverage for RotoWorld.com and Fantasy Sports Monthly. You can reach him at GRosenthal@Rotoworld.com.
