Draft Preview: Ten camp battles

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July 12, 2006 Dave Richard Senior Fantasy Writer Tell Dave your opinion

It won't be long until all 32 NFL teams will have their players participate in two-a-days, 7-on-7 scrimmages and grinding out Oklahoma drills. Training camp has become the official start of the Fantasy Football preseason, and prospective owners are hot on the trail of the next big stars.
However, sometimes those stars are hard to find. One of the reasons is because they aren't at the top of the depth chart. Just like in the real working world, NFL players have to earn their jobs -- and that means performing well enough in practice and through the preseason to oust another guy from the gig. And that kind of development happens in every NFL city.

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Instead of bringing you every team's camp battles, we've narrowed down the best and most intriguing camp quandaries. Don't worry, we listed some equally juicy competitions after our top 10 just to give you even more eye-candy for you to keep tabs on between now and when the season starts.
Dominic Rhodes vs. Joseph Addai

Rhodes was Edgerrin James' understudy last season and didn't play much despite scoring four TDs, but he has previously proven that he can carry the load for Indy (he started 10 games as a rookie in '01). However, Addai was the Colts' first-round pick and is basically a clone of James minus the bling-bling teeth and dreads. Addai will have to earn the job, but his biggest problem is digesting the Colts' massive playbook. Assuming he's been doing that since he was drafted, he'll probably be a rookie starter with Rhodes stealing around 10 touches a game.
Projected winner: Addai
Kyle Boller vs. Steve McNair

Boller ended 2005 on a high, playing above expectations in his 13th, 14th and 15th games (he laid an egg in the season finale). Still, the Ravens felt they couldn't just hand him the starting gig again and nabbed McNair from Tennessee after a much-publicized hullabaloo between McNair and the Titans. Upon his arrival, McNair was given the starting job, which was probably done to light a fire under Boller. Do not expect Boller to be given every chance to win the position back from McNair, who has clear intentions of playing a few more seasons and leading the Ravens to the playoffs. Just keep in mind that McNair is capable of being hurt (despite years of being listed as 'questionable'), so we will probably see Boller at some point this season.
Projected winner: McNair
Thomas Jones vs. Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson will look to be the Bears' primary rusher. (Getty Images)

This may be a battle where contract status outweighs on-field performance. Unhappy with his lack of a new deal, Jones sat out a minicamp this offseason, forcing head coach Lovie Smith to put Benson atop his depth chart. That gave Benson the platform to really show off, looking great according to a number of sources and prompting us to put him ahead of Jones on our preseason depth charts. Still, Jones should report to training camp in awesome shape and really press Benson for the starting job. What he may also be doing, though, is auditioning for other teams in case another RB goes down elsewhere. We may have two winners here come Week 1.
Projected winner: Benson
Deuce McAllister vs. Reggie Bush

Another case of the talented veteran matching up with the promising young rookie. While we expect new Saints head coach Sean Payton to find ways to use both runners at the same time, there is still the issue of who will touch the ball more, and that's where Bush is lacking. McAllister, however, is coming off a torn ACL and could be off his game this season. That plays into Bush's hands, but will he be on the field enough for it to make an impact? Bush is going as a second-round pick in drafts, so the consensus is that he will play enough. Twenty-five touches a game? That's Deuce's job to lose, so camp will be very interesting.
Projected winner: Bush, but not immediately
Ernest Wilford vs. Matt Jones

When Jimmy Smith retired this offseason, the Jaguars needed to fill a gaping hole. Suddenly, 70 catches and 1,000 yards per season went up for grabs, and the Jags have two receivers with potential to make up for most of that with Wilford and Jones. Wilford really stepped up last year though he did go up and down some en route to posting two 100-yard games. Jones has one 100-yard game but is viewed as more versatile since he can also pick up points running and throwing the ball. Both are sure to play a lot this season (regardless of third-year receiver Reggie Williams' progression), and they may even cut into each other's statistics for the greater good of Jacksonville's offense. Neither one should be viewed as more than a No. 3 Fantasy WR until someone emerges as the go-to receiver. If anything, Jones may land it first because he's a top-round pick.
Projected winner: Jones
Chris Brown vs. Travis Henry vs. LenDale White

Tennessee has a "good problem" at running back: Brown has put on weight and stands to be more effective, Henry is healthy and comfortable with Tennessee's offense and White is the star second-round pick that may begin his career bowling over defenders for short-yardage touchdowns. So which of these three will be the best Fantasy back? In time, White will be since he's the youngest and healthiest. Working with offensive coordinator Norm Chow will benefit him, too. Henry has a big hole to dig out of, but we've all been witness to his success in Buffalo. Brown fits in well and can do it all from running up the gut to blocking for his QB. This is one that a long, strenuous training camp will decide, but for those owners who cannot wait, play it safe and consider Brown the starter -- for now.
Projected short-term winner: Brown
Projected long-term winner: White
Frank Gore vs. Kevan Barlow

You may not realize it, but on paper the Niners have an offensive line crew that is deep with plenty of upside. That's obvious when discussing the running game, but what also helps will be the presence of offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who has helped make rushers like Emmitt Smith and Stephen Davis stars (and LaMont Jordan last year). Gore is the more talented of the two backs, but Barlow should also be in the mix for the starting job. And although their stats were not that different in 2005 (both had three TDs and were within 30 rush yards of each other), Gore finished with more yards per rush and per catch, and that's the kind of production that will sway a coach on who to give the ball to (plus it didn't hurt that he was solid statistically in the last three games of the season, two of them 49ers wins).
Projected winner: Gore
Cedrick Wilson vs. Santonio Holmes

This one may appear to involve low-end Fantasy receivers, but they will be competing for a huge role with the Steelers: The starting gig opposite Hines Ward. True, Pittsburgh's offense leans heavily on the run game, but as long as they have Ben Roethlisberger under center, they will take advantage of his strong arm. So somebody has to catch passes when Ward is double covered. It might end up being TE Heath Miller, but there will still be a need for a capable No. 2 WR. Holmes should be the one to take it, but with his off-the-field problems this summer, who knows if he has the maturity for it. Pittsburgh may have dealt up in the first round to take him, but they are one of the rare franchises that will sit a highly paid player if he won't help them win.
Projected winner: Wilson
Jon Kitna vs. Josh McCown

The Lions turned over their coaching staff, and the new crew turned over the QB position. Outside of second-year passer Dan Orlovsky, the Lions have a fresh group of gunslingers. Kitna is the veteran of the group and widely considered to be the best backup in the NFL last season while in Cincinnati. McCown is more of a loose-gun type (think a less accurate Brett Favre) who could scramble if a play breaks down. Kitna is on top of the depth chart for now, so it's his job to lose. With Detroit's talented but troubled trio of receivers and new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, whoever comes out of Motown with the gig could be the biggest Fantasy QB sleeper of the season.
Projected winner: Kitna
Tatum Bell vs. Ron Dayne

Could this be Tatum Bell's breakout season? (Getty Images)

We end with what may be the most intriguing and significant battle of all: The right to tote the ball for the run-intensive Denver Broncos. There are plenty of Fantasy owners who always shoot for whomever Mike Shanahan gives the keys to, and with Denver's offense progressing this offseason, 2006 is no exception. Dayne did not play like the plodding slug we've witnessed in the past last season, and for now it looks like he will take the reps Mike Anderson left behind when he went to Baltimore. Bell, however, is a strong back with great speed and capable hands -- almost a smaller version of Larry Johnson. He was limited in '05 thanks to being in Shanahan's doghouse and still was within 100 yards of Anderson's team-high 1,014 rush yards. If you draft by depth chart, Dayne is the pick; if you draft by talent, Bell is the pick.
Projected winner: Bell
Other camp battles to watch this summer:

Julius Jones vs. Marion Barber
Whoever is running the ball in Big D should be a star.
Chad Pennington vs. Patrick Ramsey
Not a big battle, especially since the Jets are looking to the future.
Chester Taylor vs. Mewelde Moore
Taylor was considered a lock for the RB job until he started to look iffy in minicamp.
Michael Jenkins vs. Roddy White
A decent-sized player with great hands, White could emerge as Atlanta's go-to receiver in 2006.
Drew Bennett vs. David Givens
Bennett's dream 2004 season is a memory; Givens has No. 2 Fantasy WR potential.
Joe Klopfenstein vs. Dominique Byrd
Who? What?! The Rams re-tooled their TEs this offseason, and one of these rookies will play a lot.
Kelly Holcomb vs. J.P. Losman
The Bills have some explosive receivers and could help one of these QBs.