11 Training Camp Position Battles With Fantasy Football Implications
Baltimore Ravens'... Everything
Even with elite center Ryan Jensen departing in free agency, the Baltimore Ravens still have a solid offensive line. We should want exposure to this offense. There's just nothing totally assured here, even at quarterback.
It seems to be a given that Joe Flacco will enter the season as starter. But with Lamar Jackson already poised to take away snaps, according to head coach John Harbaugh, that's not a guarantee. Keep an eye on the packages the team runs during the preseason because if Jackson gets heavy run, it'll put a lid on Flacco's potential as a cheap starter in two-quarterback and superflex leagues.
At running back, things may have been sorted out a bit already on Thursday, though the clarity came in unfortunate fashion.
Ravens RB Kenneth Dixon left the field with a trainer about 40 minutes into practice and didn’t return.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) July 26, 2018
Kenneth Dixon was superbly efficient as a rookie, but he may be dealing with yet another injury after missing all of 2017 due to a torn meniscus. It's reportedly a hamstring injury, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, which would hurt Dixon's chances of earning a big role.
If Dixon does miss time, then Alex Collins will be a lot easier to stomach at the beginning of the fourth round. Collins eventually gained the trust of the coaching staff, but fumbling issues delayed that coming-out party. He could be a few mistakes away from a reduced role, and a healthy Dixon would give the Ravens an alternative. If Dixon's healthy, he's worth a shot in the 13th round. If not, then feel free to move Collins up your internal ranks.
Then you get to wide receiver, which is a total crapshoot. Michael Crabtree is the most expensive asset, coming off the board in the middle of the sixth, but John Brown's the one grabbing the early headlines.
Joe to Smoke. Rinse repeat. 🙌@JoeFlacco @Jwalk_back12 pic.twitter.com/mzyhz8U5Hd
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 26, 2018
Again, Twitter videos don't mean anything. But the fact that Brown is catching those passes from Flacco does because it indicates he's currently in the starting lineup. Brown doesn't have an ADP, and that needs to change immediately.