The Broncos lead running back gig has seen a lot of turnover the last few years. The starter last season, halfback Travis Henry, has been let go. Tailback Selvin Young, going in Round 6, on average, is the odds-on favorite. Rookie running back Ryan Torain tumbled in the NFL Draft due to foot surgery but has talent and bruising size. He could be worth an exploratory selection in the late rounds.
Tight end Tony Scheffler re-injured the same foot that kept him out of the first five weeks of 2007 in May, which opened the door for veteran tight end Daniel Graham.
Potential breakout performers
Quarterback Jay Cutler will be looking to build upon his 3,497-yard sophomore campaign with an interesting cast of wide receivers: troubled-playmaker Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley and 2007 flop, Darrell Jackson. Going early in Round 8, Cutler is a low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback with good upside.
Despite the aforementioned foot injury, Scheffler was the first Broncos tight end to finish with more than 40 catches in a season since 2003. Consider him a solid No. 2 tight end and bargain 12th-round pick.
Potential disappointing players
In '07, Marshall averaged nearly 83 receiving yards per game and hit pay dirt seven times. While the production on the field was great, his numerous off-field issues could lead to a multi-game suspension during the upcoming season. That cloud of uncertainty creates some significant risk for a fifth-round choice.
Injury update
Cutler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in May, but his doctor confirmed it's manageable and should not affect his performance. Scheffler has recently commented his foot is feeling much better.
Rookie Jamaal Charles is challenging second-year man Kolby Smith for the backup running back job. Anyone who drafts high-mileage halfback Larry Johnson should pay close attention to this battle, with the winner on your bench as a handcuff selection.
Third-year quarterback Brodie Croyle is the starter at the opening of camp, but veteran signal caller Damon Huard played surprising well when called upon last season. Regardless of who gets the gig, neither is worth drafting.
Potential breakout performers
Given the health concerns surrounding Johnson, whoever wins the backup job could potentially carry solid fantasy value. While Smith performed fairly well (112 carries, 407 yards) as a rookie, Charles showed big-play ability during his time at the University of Texas. As a junior in 2007, Charles ran for 1,619 yards and 18 touchdowns. The rookie boasts considerable deep sleeper potential, assuming he can outlast Smith for the No. 2 role.
Potential disappointing players
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe fell five yards short of a 1,000-yard rookie season. Impressive by any measure, it was made even more so considering Croyle and Huard were juggled in and out of the lineup. For 2008, Bowe is a No. 3 fantasy wide receiver with limited upside. Improvement over last season's line seems hard to imagine given the shaky quarterback situation. Expect similar totals to last season, which makes him a reach at his current average draft position in the beginning of Round 6.
Injury update
Johnson missed the second half of '07 with a broken bone in his foot but claims to be 100 percent. Owners are taking a more cautious approach in '08 than past seasons, selecting the two-time 1,700-yard rusher near the end of the first round.
The running back situation in Oakland is an intriguing unknown. Rookie Darren McFadden is the team's future at the position but '07 wavier-wire wonder Justin Fargas is coming off a career-high 1,009-yard season. Although head coach Lane Kiffin has yet to show his hand, look for McFadden and Fargas to see a pretty even split of the carries with tailback Michael Bush garnering little more than scraps.
Potential breakout performers
Quarterback JaMarcus Russell is set to command an offense that depends greatly on receivers Javon Walker and Ronald Curry to stay healthy. The one-two punch in the backfield could open up the field for Russell to go vertical with his cannon-like arm, which gives him some potential. Russell also has good size and can bootleg and scramble when needed. He offers a decent amount of upside as a third quarterback and a late-round pick.
Potential disappointing players
Perhaps McFadden is going in the fourth or fifth round because no one wants to miss out on the next Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings). Remember, Peterson got his opportunity to go full-time due to injury. The expected timeshare with Fargas is not something an owner can afford from their No. 2 back.
Injury update
The Raiders list Walker as probable for training camp due to injuries resulting from the Las Vegas robbery. Walker has missed 23 regular season games in the past three seasons due to two knee injuries, both requiring surgery to repair.
Running backs Darren Sproles and rookie Jacob Hester are jockeying to back up LaDainian Tomlinson. Hester is the favorite given Sproles' diminutive size and role on special teams, but owners who select Tomlinson should monitor this competition very closely and tap the victor as a handcuff pick in the later rounds.
Potential breakout performers
In the postseason, wide receivers Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson ended '07 with very strong performances. In three playoffs games, the Chargers passing offensive had to go to the air often. Following key injuries to Tomlinson (knee), tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and quarterback Philip Rivers (knee), Chambers (278 receiving yards, one touchdown) and Jackson (300 receiving yards, two touchdowns) stepped up big. A lingering injury for Gates may force the wideouts to see more action.
Potential disappointing players
Spending a third- to fourth-round choice on tight end Antonio Gates (toe) is a risky decision a lot of fantasy owners have been making. Gates is recovering from offseason toe surgery, unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp and possible for the start of regular season, perhaps not at 100 percent. The tight end position is the deepest it has been in recent years - wait a few rounds for a better value.
Injury update
Quarterback Philip Rivers (knee) told reporters that he is fully recovered from reconstructive surgery to repair his knee and is expected to be ready for Week 1.
Tight end Antonio Gates (toe) is expected to miss the rest of the offseason and perhaps Week 1. His status is tenuous and should be monitored closely.
Eric McClung is a FSWA member and has been a KFFL contributor in addition to fantasy NASCAR consultant since 2008. His work has been published on several prominent NASCAR websites, and McClung is one of KFFL's featured fantasy NASCAR experts.
