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Training Camp Notes: A Happy Jordy Is A Productive Jordy

News and notes from around the league on Saturday:

  • Jordy Nelson has re-signed a four-year deal to remain in Green Bay. With Aaron Rodgers' top receiver now locked up and happy, and some loose targets potentially available in the offense with James Jones' departure, it's entirely possible that Nelson is headed for a career season in 2014 if both he and Rodgers can stay healthy. Double Nelson's numbers from the eight games both of them were on the field last year, and you get eye-popping 98 catch, 1620 yard, 14 TD totals. Tasty.
  • Cam Newton admitted after Friday night's practice that his surgically-repaired ankle isn't 100% yet. That's not really surprising considering the surgery took place just four months ago, but given the wasteland that his receiving corps has become (when Jerricho Cotchery tops your depth chart, something is seriously wrong) any reduction in Newton's mobility could destroy his fantasy value. The Panthers don't seem worried that the issue will affect Newton come Week 1, but keep a close eye on his progress in camp if you're thinking about drafting him.

  • While the Browns' quarterback battle sucks up all the oxygen in Cleveland's training camp, there's still the little matter of who those QBs will be targeting (if and when Josh Gordon's suspension becomes official) to clear up. Jordan Cameron will be leaned on heavily at tight end, and Andrew Hawkins got a four-year deal as a free agent to man the slot, but that still leaves the two outside spots to fill. Both Nate Burleson (arm) and Travis Benjamin (knee) were at practice on Saturday, and if he's healthy the much-traveled Burleson's reliability should give him an edge on winning one of those jobs over Miles Austin and his chronically-sore hamstrings. Benjamin doesn't have much of a resume, but he was a top kick returner before blowing out his ACL last year and if he's regained his speed, he's the only plausible deep threat among the competitors. None of the Browns' wideouts will be heavily coveted at the draft table (unless Gordon gets a miraculous reprieve), but someone will emerge from this group as a useful fantasy option in deeper leagues.
  • Cecil Shorts has inherited the top wide receiver spot in Jacksonville almost by default, but after failing to play 16 games in either of the last two seasons due to a variety of injuries he's now going to miss the first few weeks of training camp with a strained hamstring. He could be fine by the time Week 1 rolls around, but given his track record, the quality of the pivots who will be throwing him the ball, and the clear signal the Jags' front office sent when they used two second round picks on WRs this offseason (Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson), what name value Shorts has seems likely to inflate his fantasy price tag above where it should be considering the risk he carries.
  • With Kendall Hunter now out for the season due to a torn ACL, the Niners will use camp to sort out who Frank Gore's main backup and potential heir apparent is. Second round pick Carlos Hyde seems like the current front-runner, if only because Marcus Lattimore hasn't yet proven he's fully recovered from his own 2012 knee injury. LaMichael James, previously ticketed for a kick return role, might also get a look, but in all likelihood Hyde and Lattimore are the guys to watch, and the battle might be closer than some people think should Lattimore quickly prove he's ready for action. The formerly fragile Gore has had three straight seasons in which he's played all 16 games, but he's on the wrong side of 30 with over 2600 career touches to his credit. When the end comes for Gore it'll come quickly, so rostering the winner of the Hyde/Lattimore battle could be a lot more than just an academic exercise this season.
  • Speaking of backup battles, Marshawn Lynch's holdout will afford Robert Turbin and Christine Michael a chance to share first-team carries while Lynch remains away from camp. With cap concerns making it very likely that Beast Mode will be in another uniform in 2015 (the same concerns that prompted the holdout in the first place), this Turbin/Michael clash also seems like a battle for the future of the Seahawks' backfield. Michael has the prospect juice, but Turbin has the proven production from two years ago. A protracted holdout from Lynch could leave the bruising runner susceptible to injury when the impasse is finally broken and he does get back on the field, so as with their NFC West competition down the coast, it's not out of the question that the winner will have real fantasy value a season earlier than expected.
  • The Ravens got a scare when Bernard Pierce left the practice field in the company of a team doctor, and the mystery deepened after the running back deleted a tweet saying he was fine and Gary Kubiak said he knew nothing at all about the situation. Pierce likely is fine, but given his offseason shoulder surgery and the collapse of his YPC last year, concern is justifiable. With Ray Rice set to miss Weeks 1 and 2, and fourth round pick Lorenzo Taliaferro also dealing with his own legal issues, Justin Forsett suddenly looks like he might be relevant again.