Below we take a look at five key storylines, questions, trends and position battles heading into the second slate of preseason games.
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How does the Chris Johnson signing impact the Cardinals’ backfield?
(Saturday, Aug. 22 vs. San Diego)
Head coach Bruce Arians spent the early portion of camp bemoaning Arizona’s backfield situation, then went out and signed free agent Chris Johnson this week. According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, Johnson’s deal is for one year at the NFL minimum of $870,000, which becomes $2 million if he rushes for 1,300 yards and makes the Pro Bowl. Before rolling your eyes, from the team’s standpoint it’s effectively a no-risk looksee at a once-elite player who turns 30 in September.
Playing second fiddle to Chris Ivory in New York last season, Johnson rushed for 663 yards and caught 24 passes. It was the first time in six pro seasons Johnson failed to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground, although he did average 4.3 YPC while his 2.61 yards after contact was tied for the 11th-best average in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. The odds may be against the veteran to regain vintage ‘CJ2K’ form, but if he’s still on the roster come Week 1, he’ll no doubt have a role. Arians believes plenty enough in Johnson, saying he remains “one of those guys that makes you hold your breath.” In summary, the signing is not good news for Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson, both of whom have seemingly missed their respective windows to become “the guy” in Arizona this season.
Ameer Abdullah vs. Joique Bell/Theo Riddick
(Thursday, Aug. 20 @ Washington)
You’d be hard-pressed to find anything but glowing praise heaped upon Lions rookie Ameer Abdullah on an almost daily basis since camp began, although he is still technically behind pass-catching back Theo Riddick on the team’s depth chart. He continued to impress in Detroit’s first preseason game, so much so that Jets coach Todd Bowles compared the rookie’s quicks to Barry Sanders after watching Abdullah carve up New York’s defense for 67 yards on seven carries. Meanwhile, incumbent Joique Bell remains sidelined following offseason ankle and Achilles surgeries.
The 29-year-old Bell ran for a career-high 860 yards last year, although he averaged just 3.9 YPC for a second straight season and saw his receptions total dip from 53 to 34. Bell may have the leg up upon his return due to veteran deference, but his continued absence isn’t helping his cause. And really, the more coach Jim Caldwell sees of Abdullah’s explosiveness, the harder it will be to take him off the field. The Nebraska product racked up more than 5,000 scrimmage yards and 40-plus TDs over his last three collegiate campaigns. He then tore it up in pre-draft workouts and has since continued to turn heads at every stop since joining the Lions.
Joseph Randle vs. Darren McFadden/Lance Dunbar
(Sunday, Aug. 23 @ San Francisco)
Joseph Randle has seen his draft stock rise as the presumed leader of the Cowboys’ RB corps, as I predicted here a couple of months ago. But don’t go assuming the competition is over just yet. In fact, it’s only just beginning after Randle missed the preseason opener (oblique) along with free-agent acquisition Darren McFadden (hamstrings) and third-down specialist Lance Dunbar (ankle). All three returned to practice this week.
DMC was sprinkled in with the first team following his 19-day absence, which led to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wasting little time drooling over his fellow Arkansas alum. Beat reporter Jon Machota also noted that McFadden looked real good in one-on-one pass drills on Monday (as did Randle), while Dunbar continues to struggle with fumbles. The verdict here is no different than it was earlier this summer; it’s still Randle’s job to lose with McFadden and Randle combining to siphon off roughly half of the total backfield touches. Sunday’s game in San Francisco is a big one for all three as they each get their first taste of game action to try and make a case for the starting job.
Stock rising: Eddie Royal
(Saturday, Aug. 22 @ Indianapolis)
Former No. 1 receiver Brandon Marshall is no longer in the Windy City. Current No. 1 receiver Alshon Jeffery was donning a walking boot and crutches over the weekend and will not suit up again this week due to what the team has called a “mild” calf strain. Kevin White, the team’s No. 1 pick, could miss anywhere from six weeks to the entire season due to a stress fracture. While these developments may be cause for concern for Bears fans, one man who now finds himself with a golden opportunity is Eddie Royal, who was signed as a free agent in March after totaling 1,409 yards and 15 TDs in 14 starts over the previous two seasons with San Diego.
While the Bears like Royal in the slot because of his suddenness and ability to gain yards after the catch, he has played outside previously with Denver, where his quarterback during a 91-catch rookie season in 2008 was none other than current Bears QB Jay Cutler. Third-year wideout Marquess Wilson is another name to watch, but keep a close eye on Royal when the Bears face the Colts this weekend. Royal said he has been trying to learn the whole system so that if anything happens he can step in and play wherever. Well, anything has happened for Royal, whose ADP has been on the rise over the past week (up to No. 184, in between the likes of Jaelen Strong and Dorial Green-Beckham).
Stock falling: Kenny Stills
(Saturday, Aug. 22 @ Carolina)
Miami’s new deep threat had begun to fall off draft radars (ADP 170) after missing more than two weeks of practice with a calf injury. But Stills returned to practice on Monday and, according to the Miami Herald, it was Kenny Stills Highlight Day. He burned Brice McCain on a go route and caught a perfectly thrown ball from Ryan Tannehill. Stills finished practice with several receptions, showing little rust from his time off.
It may be a bit too optimistic to expect the Dolphins’ offense to be able to support three fantasy-relevant receivers with go-to slot man Jarvis Landry and first-round rookie DeVante Parker also in the fold, although the unit has been making strides in the second year of coordinator Bill Lazor’s system. The coaches want Stills to use his sub-4.4 speed to fill the Mike Wallace role after averaging 14.8 YPC with the Saints last season. Coach Joe Philbin said he is optimistic about Parker playing in the preseason, but no one knows for sure. Assuming Parker doesn’t pull an Odell Beckham Jr. upon returning from injury, there is value to be had at Stills’ ADP late in drafts.
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Mike Castiglione is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, you can view his archive or follow him @RickDancin.