Welcome to the 2015 NFL Training Camp Report!! Loyal readers of Fantasy Alarm know that every summer I like to keep a finger on the pulse of NFL training camps and offer up my analysis to help you prepare for and dominate the upcoming fantasy football season.

Remember that the Fantasy Alarm news department is always on top of every breaking and developing story will be aiding the cause of keeping our readers informed.

Here is the Training Camp Reports for Wednesday August 2nd:

Wounded

Let’s start out with some injury updates, as there have been many over the past couple of days. The season is over already for Broncos WR Kyle Williams who tore his right Achilles tendon during Saturday’s practice. Williams was participating in a special teams drill when he felt a pop in his right ankle. It’s been a disastrous career for Williams, who happens to be the son of Chicago White Sox Executive Vice President Kenny Williams. You may remember Williams was the return man for the 49ers in 2011 when he fumbled twice which allowed the Giants to win the game and advance to Super Bowl XLVI. William has suffered two ACL tears in the past three seasons, which combined with this, new injury makes you wonder if we have seen the last of him in the NFL.

Many of us are looking forward to a breakout season from Steelers WR Martavis Bryant in 2015. But Bryant had to undergo an emergency procedure on his elbow in order to relieve an infection that had settled in there. It is unclear exactly what the nature of the original elbow injury is or when it was suffered. He did dive for an overthrow at Friday nights practice but the organization claims he had trouble with it prior to camp starting.

The Jets will be without second round pick WR Devin Smith for 4-6 weeks after he suffered broken ribs on a leaping grab in Friday’s practice. The rib actually punctured a lung as well for which Smith had to be admitted and stay overnight at a nearby hospital. He will miss the rest of training camp and be playing behind Jeremy Kerley when the season starts.

 

Grounded

Please believe me when I say that I am already so tired of writing about the Browns RB situation. But this afternoon we saw both Terrance West and rookie Duke Johnson leave due to injury.

West hobbled off the field due to a calf injury that initially appeared pretty bad. He had ice on it however after practice and said that he though everything would be fine. I’d expect him to miss a few days at the worst.

Duke Johnson felt some cramping in his hamstring and decided to take himself out as a precaution. Johnson said afterward that the hamstring was “tugging at him a bit” and that the medical staff would be looking into it more tomorrow.

The injuries left just Isaiah Crowell and Shaun Draughn to carry the load for the Browns backfield today. Draughn is a guy the coaching staff is raving about early on by applauding his one cut ability and pass catching prowess out of the backfield.

 

Keep Your Eye On

Saints WR Brandon Coleman is the opening weekend “Belle of The Ball.” The 6’6” 225 pound behemoth had a real good offseason and has been reeling in everything thrown in his vicinity at the start of camp. His most spectacular grab was a Ryan Griffin hail marry that Coleman leapt over three defenders to haul in on Saturday.

The natural suggestion here is that Coleman is in line to take over for Marques Colston as age and injuries continue to drive down the veteran’s value. But I am curious to whether the Saints may wind up replacing Jimmy Graham with a big WR instead of TE as we all have been assuming. After all, Graham as we all know lined up as a split end or WR far more than he ever did on the line as normal TE’s do. Thus, it would be easy for a big, strong WR to step in at assume Graham’s role as well.

Consider that Jimmy Graham has averaged 138 targets for the Saints over the past four seasons. In that time he has also averaged 89 receptions, 1,009 receiving yards and 11.5 TD’s per season in that time. That is such a monumental loss of production that whoever scoops it up will have amazing fantasy value this coming season. Keep a close eye on Coleman in the coming days and weeks up until the start of the regular season.

 

No Deflategate I Promise

Did you know that Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount failed his first conditioning test this week? Did you further know that Blount is suspended for the first game of the 2015 regular season? Did you further know that Blount has had problems in college at Oregon (punching an opponent), at Tennessee with the Titans (punching a teammate), in Tampa Bay (arguing with a coach) and in Pittsburgh (walking out on his team)?

This is a highly volitale player that just so happens to be in a very lucrative fantasy position here in New England. The Patriots backup RB’s such as James White, Travaris Cadet and Jonas Gray are very appealing in larger leagues because of the sheer lack of stability with Blount.

So far, James White a second year RB out of Wisconsin has show a lot more aggressiveness in camp than he had a year ago. This kid has some great pass catching ability and seems to be a natural fit to take over the Shane Vereen role in the Patriots offense.

 

Don’t Be A Melvin, Melvin

It’s the first NFL training camp for Chargers RB Melvin Gordon and he is looking every bit like the rookie that he is. Chargers defenders are making a point to attack the young RB when he is in pass block mode in order to hold his feet to the fire. It hasn’t gone very well early on as defensive lineman after defensive lineman shredded the rookie early on Saturday.

The good news is that Gordon did get better as practice went on, holing his own several times when facing second and third team defenders. He did show off his running ability on a couple very powerful runs that demonstrated just how aggressive a runner the Heisman finalist could be.