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Training Camp Notes: (Tap Tap) Is This Thing On?

Don't worry, folks, these daily training camp recaps will get more interesting once every team is actually in camp. At the moment though, news is a bit scarce.

  • Although the Dolphins are saying positive things about DaVante Parker's readiness for Week 1, it seems like the first round pick will be very limited throughout training camp and the preseason as he recovers from foot surgery. Head coach Joe Philbin dropped phrases like "can't necessarily run full speed yet" and "gradual process" during an interview, which doesn't bode well for Parker's chances of getting the reps he'll need. Odell Beckham may have become an instant star despite missing pretty much his entire rookie preseason, but I don't think that's a reliable path to NFL success for a wide receiver. Parker's current ADP puts him in the 12th-13th round range in 12-team leagues, but even that seems a bit high to me. Picking in that neighborhood, I'd rather have a Cody Latimer or Kendall Wright than a rookie who is almost certain to get off to a slow start
  • Giants tight end Larry Donnell, who injured his Achilles during offseason workouts, is out of his walking boot and should be a participant from the jump at camp, although maybe not a full participant. Too much of his red zone production last season came when Beckham was out for Donnell to be anything more than a possible bye-week fill-in, and he doesn't have the foot speed to have a high ceiling, so last season's numbers could well end up being his career high. That said, he does have a starting job in a fairly proficient passing offense and basically no competition, so that counts for something in deep formats
  • The 'big' stories out of the first day of Vikings' camp on Sunday: second-round pick Eric Kendricks is getting second-team reps at middle linebacker behind Audie Cole, although that is expected to change soon enough; and Mike Wallace (pictured above making the play that probably got him signed by Minnesota) drew praise for setting a great tone with his work ethic. Given the reputation he's carried throughout his career, that may be a bit of surprise, but Wallace has become a 'last guy off the field' sort of player the last few years. Oh, and kicker Blair Walsh signed a four-year deal with a $5.25 million guarantee
  • Nothing much happened of note on Day One of Steelers camp. James Harrison barely saw the field, but as Mike Tomlin said, he's "too old to be working right now." Being a grizzled veteran has its benefits
  • Just to round this out, here's some trends I've been observing in early, pre-camp mock drafts: Travis Kelce is quickly separating himself from the pack as the third tight end off the board, and you might have to start pulling the trigger in the fourth round (assuming a 12-team league) if you want to make sure you get him. Second-year wideouts Brandin Cooks and Jordan Matthews also have a lot of helium relative to their ADP, and I've seen both popped in the third round. On the flip side, the C.J. Anderson market has been softer than I expected, and I'm seen him far too often slip into the second round, getting selected behind Matt Forte, DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy