NFL Barometer: Mack Attack On Track

As camps start to head into their respective "dog days", the nicks and bruises are piling up. Conversely, some players are beginning to separate themselves from the pack in job battles, and a few transactions in the form of trades and releases also hold the potential to change certain players' fortunes for the better. With plenty happening all around the league this week, let's see if certain fantasy assets are looking bullish or bearish heading into the first full week of preseason games.

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Quarterback

Blake Bortles, Jaguars: Bortles has reportedly looked especially accurate in Jaguars camp thus far, with offseason wrist surgery to correct a long-standing problem apparently to thank. Bortles had been playing with a partially torn ligament in his right wrist since the 2016 season, nursing it through last year with multiple cortisone injections, and apparently, an admirable degree of pain tolerance. The injury may at least partly explain why Bortles has thrown a combined 29 interceptions the past two seasons, but the good news for Jags fans and Bortles owners is that he's chucking away like a new man thus far. He no longer has Allen Robinson (Bears), Allen Hurns (Cowboys) or Marcedes Lewis (Packers) on the other end of his throws, but Jacksonville believes it has the talent to make up for those subtractions with Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief, Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole and Austin Seferian-Jenkins serving as Bortles' top five pass-catching options.

Sam Darnold, Jets: Darnold isn't the odds-on favorite to win the Jets' starting quarterback job yet, but the strides he's apparently made over a brief period are undeniably noteworthy. The rookie didn't even sign his contract until July 30, putting him on the field for his first practice just over a week ago. Since that point, he's impressed enough that a team source has indicated the first-round pick has a "fair shot" at winning the No. 1 job by the regular-season opener over veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater. While preseason will ultimately serve as the true proving ground, Darnold appears more than capable of lining up under center against the Lions in Week 1 if he progresses through the exhibition slate at the same pace he has on the practice field thus far.

Running Back

Marlon Mack, Colts: Mack is apparently the latest apple of mercurial Colts owner Jim Irsay's eye, and it does bear keeping in mind the latter is prone to hyperbole on occasion. However, the fact Mack undoubtedly projects for plenty of volume – if not the starting job – in the coming season should give him plenty of opportunity to make good on Irsay's recent proclamation that the second-year runner will approach 1,500 total yards. A healthy Andrew Luck is certainly going to help Mack's cause, given the respect defenses will be forced to give the Indianapolis passing game. The University of South Florida product has the college resume to substantiate Irsay's faith in him, having amassed a total of 4,107 yards from scrimmage and 33 touchdowns over his three seasons. He followed up those totals with 583 combined rushing and receiving yards as a rookie over 14 games. Mack will face competition all season from talented rookies Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines, but he profiles as a workhorse back if he can remain healthy.

Rex Burkhead / James White, Patriots: Given head coach Bill Belichick's tendency to mix and match running backs from quarter-to-quarter and game-to-game, Burkhead and White both see an equal bump for the moment with the news that rookie Sony Michel will likely be sidelined for the entire preseason after a knee procedure. There had already been rumblings this offseason that Burkhead would be the preferred choice for goal-line work in the coming season, while White is entrenched as a trusted option in both the running and passing game. With Michel very likely also limited to some extent to start the regular season – both due to any potential lingering effects from the injury and as a result of missing plenty of practices and the exhibition slate – both Burkhead and White could see expanded roles as the presumed top two backs in the New England offense.

Wide Receiver

John Ross / Tyler Boyd, Bengals: Another two-headed entry is warranted over in Cincinnati, where the recent release of Brandon LaFell brightens the outlook of both Ross and Boyd. To what extent each will benefit is too close to call at this point, with upcoming exhibition games offering the platform for one to separate as the true No. 2 receiver alongside A.J. Green. The development gives Ross a golden opportunity to quickly put a forgettable rookie campaign firmly in the rear view mirror, while Boyd will also have a chance to bounce back from a pedestrian sophomore campaign after flashing with a 54-603-1 line as a rookie in 2016. No matter how the final depth chart shakes out, both young wideouts figure to be on the field plenty and should benefit from defensive attention heaped on the likes of Green and talented second-year back Joe Mixon.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Patriots: While Patterson projects as strictly a deep-league option for fantasy purposes this season, there are a couple of reasons he currently warrants a mention. One is the recent release of Jordan Matthews (hamstring), which presumably bumps Patterson up another rung in the receiver hierarchy. The second is his head coach, who has a history of putting "role players" into bigger roles and getting creative with his personnel when necessary. Patterson always seems to be thought of more as a returner, but he has plenty of skins on his NFL wall as a receiver (163 receptions, 1,625 yards, seven touchdowns) and has the size (6-foot-2, 228 pounds) to complement his impressive speed. He's reportedly stood out at camp on multiple occasions with his routes and hands, and the four-game suspension of Julian Edelman to open the season also sets him up for a potentially strong start to 2018.

Ryan Grant, Colts: A healthy Luck and a clear-cut starting opportunity could be the right recipe for success for Grant, who's listed as the No. 2 receiver on the first iteration of the Colts depth chart. That slotting apparently has some legs to it, however, as reports out of Indy have him clearly separating from a cast of candidates that includes third-year pro Chester Rogers. The 27-year-old Grant is looking to build on a breakout of sorts in 2017, when he logged 45 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns in Washington.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos: Sutton has apparently put any questions about who'll fill the Broncos' No. 3 receiver role behind Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to rest with an outstanding training camp. The rookie racked up an impressive 31 touchdowns over his last three college seasons and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in the last two campaigns. He's been putting his 6-foot-3 frame to good use according to reports out of Denver's camp, regularly making spectacular leaping grabs and earning rave reviews from none other than All-Pro cornerback Chris Harris. With a capable quarterback in Case Keenum to throw him the ball and often facing off against what will likely be the opposition's third-best cornerback, Sutton could be headed for a productive rookie campaign.

Tight End

Chris Herndon, Jets: The tight end was nearly a forgotten position in New York until Austin Seferian-Jenkins was able to breathe a hint of life into it last year. Now it may see an even bigger revival under Herndon, who's reportedly taken the lead for the No. 1 job in the early stages of camp. The former Miami Hurricane brings a 6-foot-4, 250-pound-plus frame to the table and has been parlaying it into a productive string of practices heading into the first preseason game. Herndon also has a balanced skill set that's vital to maximizing a tight end's snaps – he's an impressive blocker who can also get downfield and was tops at his position in this year's draft class in both yards after catch per reception (8.13) and missed tackles forced per catch (0.19). His college experience playing in a pro-style offense projects to also speed up his NFL learning curve.

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Running Back

Sony Michel, Patriots: Michel underwent a procedure to drain fluid from his knee, likely ruling him out for the entirety of preseason. The rookie was also reportedly exhibiting the same fumbling issues that plagued him in college during early camp practices, so he'll have some ground to make up in multiple ways once he's able to return. However, given his first-year status, health situation and head coach Belichick's ample willingness to sideline players who turn the ball over, Michel looks headed for a potentially sluggish start to his rookie campaign once he's able to get back on the field.

Samaje Perine, Redskins: Perine was listed as the third running back on the Redskins' first unofficial depth chart, which appears to be a relatively accurate reflection of where he currently stands in the backfield pecking order. In fact, it might even artificially prop up his standing a bit, as it's worth noting rookie Derrius Guice, who's reportedly been impressive and mixed in plenty with the first team, is nevertheless listed behind him in fourth. While Guice's slotting appears largely disconnected from reality – he's not going anywhere, nor is he the team's fourth-best back – Perine could be in real danger of losing his roster spot with a pedestrian preseason. In addition to Guice, a slimmed-down Rob Kelly has apparently impressed, while third-year man Kapri Bibbs brings more quickness and adds as much pass-catching ability to the equation as Perine.

Wide Receiver

Antonio Callaway, Browns: Callaway was actually headed to the opposite end of the spectrum until just a couple of days ago, when he was cited for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license. That significantly sullied what was shaping up as an increasingly brighter outlook for the rookie, who stood poised to significantly benefit from the trade of Corey Coleman to the Bills. Instead, he's staring right in the eyes of some NFL discipline, considering he's already in the league's substance-abuse program thanks to a diluted urine sample at the Combine this past spring.

Martavis Bryant, Raiders: Another player with a history of off-field issues is Bryant, and he's not making a good impression thus far in his new Oakland digs, at least not in the eyes of the guy whose opinion matters most. Head coach Jon Gruden has already taken to expressing some frustration with his receiver in the media, citing Bryant's lack of preparedness in learning the offense and missed practices due to illness. The 26-year-old has an abundance of physical talent, but without mastery of Gruden's offense, he could conceivably be passed over for the No. 3 role by Seth Roberts, who's carved out a niche as a dependable third option and displayed a nose for the end zone over his first three seasons (11 touchdowns in part-time duty).

Tight End

Maxx Williams, Ravens: Williams is facing plenty of competition at tight end from Nick Boyle and a pair of rookies in Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews, and now he may have a nagging injury to contend with. Williams' ankle was rolled up on in Tuesday's practice, which could lead to a relatively extended absence if it results in a dreaded high-ankle sprain. Williams had just scored a touchdown in last Thursday's Hall of Fame Game, but any significant amount of missed time could push him back in the battle for the starting job.

Vance McDonald, Steelers: McDonald and the injury bug have historically enjoyed a close relationship, and things appear to be no different thus far in 2018. The sixth-year pro has a chance to claim to the top tight end job over Jesse James, but he's been sidelined since July 29 with a foot injury and has already been declared out for Thursday's preseason opener against the Eagles. The 28-year-old offers an intriguing size/speed mix, but as has been the norm, his inability to stay on the field is once again significantly dampening his fantasy prospects.