WR Donald Driver DOWN

Driver had two knee surgeries in the offseason and is still not practicing. This might not be a big deal if he was 25, but he’s 35. Driver already started to drop off in production late last season and now he’s pretty badly hurt, not practicing, and won’t heal like he used to. I can see him being pretty ineffective this year. He still is, presumably, a starter in Green Bay’s high powered offense, which gives him some fantasy value, but chances are, he’ll be overdrafted.

WR James Jones UP

It’s a stretch, but if Driver misses any time with injury, or gets benched because of ineffectiveness, Jones would be the guy to step into the lineup, which obviously gives him fantasy value, as Green Bay’s offense in one of the best in the league.

RB Cedric Benson DOWN

Cedric Benson is officially a true Bengal. Benson was arrested on charges of assault in Texas. As someone who thought he had his life back on track, this was a major facepalm moment for me. However, this is not a good sign for his fantasy prospects. Roger Goddell does not look kindly on repeat offenders so a suspension could very well be looming and, if history is any indication, it’ll be about 4 games. If you draft this guy in the first or second round and he gets suspended for 4 games, that’s about 1/3 of your fantasy regular season that you’ll be missing him for. That’s a good way to lose your league. Wait for someone else to snatch him early until this situation gets sorted out.

RB Bernard Scott UP

If Benson gets suspended, Scott looks like the go to back. He’s very talented and can put up numbers for you. Scott was already a fantasy sleeper of mine because of Benson’s history of injuries and arrestes, but now he becomes even more of a fantasy sleeper as Benson’s history rears it’s head again.

 

WR Torry Holt DOWN

Brandon Tate is getting the first team looks in New England. This is nothing official, but if Holt doesn’t win a starting job, he’s fantasy worthless. I might still draft him in the really late rounds because he has some upside, but I’m not too excited about him.

WR Brandon Tate UP

Tate looks to have the advantage to be the starter in New England, which gives him a ton of fantasy value, especially if Welker stays hurt. He’s worth a late round flier.

WR Steve Smith DOWN

Smith broke his left arm recently. He is expected to return for the regular season, but he’ll miss valuable training time with two quarterbacks, Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen, who he doesn’t have an extensive history with. He also may not be 100% come regular season. He may be out of shape. His recovery may also run long and he could miss a game or two. I’m knocking him down just a bit.

WR Brandon LaFell UP

If anyone is going to benefit from Smith’s injury, it’s LaFell. LaFell hasn’t been seeing a lot of time with the first time in practice, but that’s because Carolina coach John Fox always gives veterans the first shot at winning a starting job and LaFell is a 3^rd round pick rookie. 4^th year receiver Dwayne Jarrett has been getting all the first team reps in camp opposite Smith, but with Smith out, Fox really has no choice but to give LaFell more work. If he impresses with the first team, he could take the job from Jarrett. There’s no question in my mind that LaFell is more talented than Jarrett, even as a rookie. Jarrett has been horrible in his first 3 years since being drafted in the 2^nd out of USC. He has, on many occasions, looked completely lost on the football field. If LaFell takes the starting job from him, he could have some fantasy value, especially if Smith doesn’t come back 100% opposite him. I’m not ready to make him a sleeper yet, but keep your eye on him.