San Francisco 49ers

Even without recently injured and released RB Kendall Hunter, the 49ers have one of the deepest backfields in the NFL. Frank Gore, Carlos Hyde, Marcus Lattimore and LaMichael James will compete for touches. The 31-year-old Gore put up very respectable numbers last season, finishing as the No. 13 fantasy back. He totaled 1,269 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs. Hyde was arguably the most talented back in this year’s draft and could be a breakout star. Lattimore is a super talented red shirt rookie who has been recovering from a gruesome knee injury. He tore his ACL, MCL and PCL, due to an injury that drew comparisons to the injury Willis McGahee suffered in the National Championship game against Ohio State that was stolen from his Hurricanes. James was a college star that is most likely the odd man out in the niners backfield. Gore will certainly get the first crack at the starting job, however, by the year’s end Hyde could secure his role as the RB of the future in San Fran. Expect Lattimore to be eased in to lineup and be limited until we get deeper in to the season.

Seattle Seahawks

Now that Marshawn Lynch ended his holdout and is back to work, there will likely be one last season of “Beast Mode” in Seattle. They agreed to increase his $5 million base salary this season to $6.5 million. The standout RB this preseason has not been Christine Michael as expected, it has been Robert Turbin. Turbin rushed for 81 yards and a TD in the first half of their second preseason game. Still, Michael and Turbin will most likely have to wait their turn because Lynch’s assumed downfall could be a premature assumption. Lynch is coming off a season in which he tallied 1,573 yards from scrimmage and 14 TDs.

In a scary moment for the Seahawks, the oft injured Percy Harvin limped off the field after suffering from a potentially devastating flat tire. It appears Harvin has become so fragile that somebody stepping on the back of his shoe has become breaking news. He has a ton of talent, nevertheless his health risk is so high it may be best to avoid him. The former Florida Gator may be approaching Derrick Rose status.

TE Anthony McCoy ruptured his Achilles tendon in camp. He missed last season after rupturing his other Achilles in 2013. Luke Wilson and Zach Miller will be competing for the TE1 job in Seattle. Neither is going to blow anybody away and they will probably split targets. Unless something dramatically changes neither is draft worthy unless you are in a very deep league.

Arizona Cardinals

The coaches have said all offseason that Andre Ellington will be a workhorse back and receive up around 20 carries per game. They are sticking to that story despite the fact that he is only 200 pounds. Last season with limited touches, Ellington averaged 5.5 YPC. He carried the ball 118 times for 652 yards and caught 39 passes for 371 yards. He also scored four total TDs. The second-year back has been climbing the RB rankings all offseason, and if he can stay healthy, he may be a very strong RB play this year. He has low-end RB1 potential.

The buzz around Cardinals’ camp is about who will emerge as the WR1 this year. Long time staple Larry Fitzgerald or the incumbent, young star-in-the-making, Michael Floyd. In 2013, Fitzgerald caught 83 passes for 954 yards and 10 TDs. Floyd had 65 receptions, 1,041 yards and five TDs. Many people surrounding the Cards’ organization believe Floyd could surpass Fitzgerald this year. If not now, soon. Their ADP has them being drafted back-to-back at the WR position in the fourth round. Fitzgerald is the safer pick, however Floyd could be the home run pick and the better dynasty/keeper league pick.

The TE battle in Cardinals’ camp has been quite intriguing. Jake Ballard reportedly looked good and then retired leaving John Carlson, Robert Housler and Troy Niklas to battle it out. Things have not gone well for athletic TE Housler in Arizona. Head coach Bruce Arians has come out and said, “I don’t want a guy that’s really a wide receiver and you’re only hope to run the football is if they put a nickel in there and he can block him and in base defense, not going to block anybody. My experience (is) it’s always been a detriment rather than guys who can do both.” Housler is that “guy” he’s referring to. It’s looking like Carlson is now the heavy favorite to take his job. Carlson has been tremendous in minicamp. He has picked up the offense exceptionally fast. He’s shown impressive quickness and fantastic hands. The former Seahawk plays very hard and while he’s not a great blocker, he’s more than serviceable. Niklas has been impressive as well, still he will be the TE3 unless something changes between now and week one.

St. Louis Rams

There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the Rams RB situation ever since they drafted rookie Tre Mason. Zac Stacy who rushed for 973 yards and seven TDs (eight total) in 2013, is still the top rusher in St. Louis. He brings very little to the passing attack though. Expect Mason to do most of his damage in the passing game if he can develop as a pass-catcher. He could be a sleeper in PPR leagues. Stacy will be much more valuable in standard leagues.

BREAKING NEWS: RB Isaiah Pead was carted off the field with what appears to be a serious non-contact injury.

The Rams’ WR corps is a mess. Former Rams wide out Torry Holt has said that Tavon Austin has been “very quiet.” “For a guy picked eighth overall, it’s bothering me that he’s been so quiet” said Holt. He went on to say he believes Austin will be more productive as a special teamer this season. He disappointed as a rookie with only 40 receptions, 418 yards and four TDs. Steadman Bailey has been the best WR in St. Louis, unfortunately he will be suspended for the first four games of the season. That leaves Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Chis Givens and Austin Pettis. Britt and Quick have pulled away as the likely WRs one and two to start the season with Austin in the slot, while Givens and Pettis are falling down the depth chart.