Daily Dynasty Update – July 28th

Breathe easy Panther fans: rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin just has a bone bruise.
Get ready for the Carlos Hyde-hype machine to kick in to overdrive as Kendall Hunter is now out for the year with LaMichael James out a month. All of this could lead to Hyde being the first running back off the board in rookie drafts.
In a positive sign, rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will split first team snaps with Matt Cassel. The arrow is pointing up on Bridgewater to start the season and provide the most impact from this years rookie quarterback class.
All signs point to Bengals running back Jeremy Hill being the primary back up to Gio Bernard in Cincinnati. Hill is bigger and faster (and cheaper) and should get some decent playing time right off the bat in Hue Jackson’s run-based offense.

Updated Dynasty Running Back Rankings – July 2014

Complete dynasty running back rankings can be found here.

Top five remains the same with LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy, Doug Martin and Gio Bernard staying in that order.
The big movers this month include Broncos backup C.J. Anderson, who ended last season ahead of Ronnie Hillman, up to 59 after not being ranked; and Browns rookie Isaiah Crowell up to 57 from 62, who moves up after more talk of a committee in Cleveland.
The drops this month include Darren Sproles from 51 to 55 after assurances that LeSean will still get his; Kendall Hunter from 59 to 64 after it appears Carlos Hyde is most likely to take over Frank Gore’s carries; and LeGarrettee Blount from 61 to 65.

49ers running back Marcus Lattimore says he’s ready to go. Lattimore sat out all of 2014 with a knee injury he sustained in college but should challenge both Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter for carries.
While Mason Foster’s hold on the middle linebacker position in Tampa’s new defense initially looked shaky, it appears he’ll get first crack at the position. Foster came on strong in IDP leagues last year and should replicate that success. He’ll be an ideal LB3 heading in to 2014.
The Raiders are fully expected to waive quarterback Terrelle Pryor today. No one really knows what the Raiders plan is but it apparently doesn’t involve Pryor. And if you can’t make it Oakland, you probably can’t make it anywhere.
In other quarterback news, it’s going to be an open competition in New York between Mike Vick and Geno Smith. This won’t help dynasty drafters but neither were supposed to be hot dynasty commodities anyway.

Giants running back David Wilson now has his neck brace off after surgery. It’s good news for Wilson but dynasty owners are still in a holding pattern. Wilson’s availability right now is a complete question mark.
New Browns coach Mike Pettine is a fan of quarterback Brian Hoyer. At the very least, Hoyer will enter the season as one of the better backup prospects in all of football. It’s even possible the Browns take a project at QB and allow Hoyer the starting job one more year.
In an interesting stat, Texans quarterback Case Keenum lost more yards per sack than any other quarterback in the league. Keenum is not the long-term answer at quarterback for the Texans who are widely expected to draft one in May with the first overall pick.
The Frank Gore contract with San Francisco is finally becoming an issue with Gore due $6 million next year at age 31. Even an amateur Madden player in Franchise mode would know that is too much for a 31-year old. It shouldn’t be an issue as Gore is expected back next year but his days are numbered as a reliable fantasy back. Trade him now and look for Kendall Hunter and Marcus Lattimore to get more looks in 2014 no matter what.