With all NFL teams having started training camp, we'll have plenty of news to talk about. But of course, the most important part of preseason news is to not read too much into most of it while identifying those reports that we need to factor into our draft prep.
A great way to start today's news is with a training camp battle between Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage- Ballage received the first snap in each of Miami's first-two practices while the duo split the work. After today's practice, Adam Beasley of the Palm Beach Post reported that Drake isn't worried about how the touches have been split in practice, and he talked about only being able to control what he can control. Obviously, this camp battle has a long way to go, but based on the way the coaching staff has handled it, at least for now, we have to see this as a fairly-even split, unless one RB separates from the other. In drafts, it's been costing a premium pick to acquire Drake while Ballage has been just about free. Look for adjustments in drafts to start happening immediately.
Let's move to the 'trouble in paradise' section-
• After whispers leaked over the last few days, Ezekiel Elliott didn't show up the Cowboys' camp today, but ESPN's Josina Anderson is reporting that progress is being made in discussions for a contract extension. Due to Elliott having just three years of service, if he doesn't report by August 6, he won't accrue a season toward free agency, so he really has no leverage of being able to hold out for more than 12 days. There's no reason to move him down draft boards based on this situation.
• Adam Schefter is reporting that Melvin Gordon may take his holdout into the regular season. Well, this certainly throws a wrench into upcoming fantasy drafts. The uncertainty leaves us with no reliable valuation of Gordon, Austin Ekeler or Justin Jackson. And with GM Tom Telesco suggesting the sides aren't close to reaching a deal, all three players could end up being a value or a waste of draft picks. For the draft capital it will take to acquire any of these players in fantasy, consider drafting a player in a more stable situation, but if playing in a huge tournament league, taking a shot on Gordon, if he falls into the middle of the second round, could be the type of risk/reward move that gives you an edge.
And what would a day of training camp be without a number of injuries to follow-
• We'll start out with some good news, as Alex Smith of SportsNet New York stated that Sterling Shepard (thumb) is expected to miss the preseason, but the team is hopeful he'll be back for Week 1. Even if it's not Week 1, the optimism lends itself to thinking that he'll certainly be ready early in the season. Based on this news, I would draft Shepard at his ADP if I had him as the best player on my board at that point in the draft- he could easily end up being the top WR on the team, and that's worth something, even with bad QB play working against him.
• In another positive development- According to John Keim of ESPN.com, Jordan Reed looked quick and explosive in Washington's first practice, which although highly subjective, has context in that Reed had surgery on both big toes in the offseason. The toe injuries may explain why Reed wasn't as productive as expected, despite being in the lineup for most of the season. If that truly was the reason for his disappointing 2018 performance, he's well-priced as the 20th TE going off the board in drafts. If selected as a TE2, he could crush his ADP as long as he stays healthy (and yes, we know his injury history could fill a computer's hard drive!)
• Staying in Washington, Paul Richardson (shoulder) participated in the team's first practice after having surgery in November. Sure, he hasn't had a productive career, and he's been hurt a lot, but if he's healthy, he could easily be the best WR on the team, and he could be worth a late-round pick in deep leagues.
• Well, we had to go negative on the injuries at some point! After suffering an ACL tear during the 2018 preseason, Jerick McKinnon was placed on the training camp PUP list after suffering a setback in his rehab. Although this type of news should concern fantasy owners, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle relayed John Lynch's comments that McKinnon isn't expected to be sidelined for long. For those drafting in the very near future, this news makes him a much riskier pick than he would've been a few days ago, but should this end up being a non-story, don't forget that this was Kyle Shanahan's main target in free agency last year. Yes, there are three good RBs on the 49ers, but none is the elite athlete (based on all measurables) that McKinnon is- he could have incredible upside at a very low cost on draft day.
• After more promising news was reported earlier in the day, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com contradicted that news by reporting that Calvin Ridley needs an MRI on his hamstring. At this point, hopefully it's a minor injury, but until more information is available, those drafting before the results are made known should consider using this injury to break ties between another player and Ridley that you have ranked closely together. For a player who's likely to be a deep threat for the Falcons, this is a concerning injury.
• The Broncos' website is reporting the DaeSean Hamilton's hamstring injury will keep him out for at least the short-term. Yes, this is a common training camp injury, but it's kept many players out of action or from returning to full health for long periods of time. Until we see Hamilton back on the field, there'll be concern that the lost time could hurt. He'll likely be competing for the No. 3 WR role in what should be a run-heavy offense, so he may lack the type of upside fantasy owners usually look for late in drafts.
• On the same day that Sterling Shepard was injured, Corey Coleman tore his ACL. Coleman had a great chance to open the season as a starter in three-WR sets for the Giants, as he hoped to finally get his career on track after being selected in the first round of the 2016 draft, and now he'll hope do so in 2020, which will be his fifth year in the NFL.
We also have a player signing to close out the day-
• It only took a couple days, but Allen Hurns latched on with the Dolphins- inking a one-year deal for $3 million. Between the amount of the contract and the fact he's just joining the squad, it seems most likely that he'll begin the season as a backup, but it's not like Miami has elite WRs, so Hurns could work his way into a more prominent role over time.