Top 20 camp competitions to watch With training camps slated to start this week, it's now time for fantasy football owners to put their nose to the grindstone and seek out every little nugget of information to help them in that ever-important quest for a league championship. While camp performances and preseason contests won't affect the value of studs like Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson and Steve Smith, it will make a major difference in the stock of players who will be entrenched in depth-chart competitions. With that in mind, we've listed 20 important camp battles that owners need to watch over the next several weeks and how these competitions could alter drafts. Brodie Croyle vs. Damon Huard, Kansas City: Reports out of Chiefs camp is that head coach Herman Edwards doesn't want a short-term solution at the quarterback position, which is the reason Croyle is the current favorite in this competition. Although Croyle -- who has a mere seven pass attempts at the NFL level -- would have to crumble in the preseason to lose the top spot, he still won't have much draft value in seasonal formats. Derek Anderson vs. Charlie Frye vs. Brady Quinn, Cleveland: Frye was considered the favorite to start under center for head coach Romeo Crennel, but Anderson overtook him after some impressive work in offseason workouts. Brady Quinn is also in the mix, but he's considered the least likely candidate to start in Week 1. The rookie has the most potential, but it could be Anderson who comes out of camp atop the chart. Marshawn Lynch vs. Anthony Thomas, Buffalo: Bills head coach Dick Jauron won't hand Marshawn Lynch the top spot on the depth chart, but the rookie out of California is the favorite to open the regular season as the No. 1 back. Reports that Jauron would rather use a committee of Marshawn Lynch, Thomas and Dwayne Wright aside, it's still hard not to favor Marshawn Lynch as the prominent runner and the most valuable option of the trio in all formats. Reuben Droughns vs. Brandon Jacobs, N.Y. Giants: Tiki Barber's retirement created a hole in the Giants backfield, and it appears Jacobs is the man to fill it. Recent reports indicate he is the favorite to start for head coach Tom Coughlin, while Droughns will see no more than a series or two with some work on passing downs and as a fullback. That scenario makes Jacobs a tremendous sleeper pick. Adrian Peterson vs. Chester Taylor, Minnesota: The first running back selected in the 2007 NFL Draft, Adrian Peterson has a load of upside and should be allowed a chance to unseat Taylor atop the depth chart. With few experienced and consistent options in the pass attack, however, owners should expect Adrian Peterson and Taylor to both see a lot of work in the offense of head coach Brad Childress regardless of the depth chart. Brandon Jackson vs. Vernand Morency, Green Bay: One of the most important battles in all of fantasy football, Jackson will look to unseat Morency atop the Packers depth chart. A talented rookie runner, we like Jackson to emerge as the starter for head coach Mike McCarthy sooner than later. The Nebraska product is a terrific sleeper candidate and could serve owners well as a No. 3 fantasy back in a best-case scenario. Marion Barber vs. Julius Jones, Dallas: Recent reports indicate that neither Barber nor Jones will see a vast majority of the carries in Big D, but Barber's role could increase a bit compared to last season. Jones will be motivated to produce in a contract year and is still the favorite to start, but a shared workload should be expected under new head coach Wade Phillips. Jones and Barber should be seen as No. 3 fantasy backs. Tatum Bell vs. Kevin Jones, Detroit: The final decision on this backfield battle depends on the status of Jones, who continues to recover from a surgical procedure on his foot. Should he be available for the start of training camp, Jones would be the favorite to start but would share carries with Bell and T.J. Duckett. If Jones is still out of action, however, Bell could emerge as a terrific middle-round value in Martz's offense. DeShaun Foster vs. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina: This is less of a battle for the top spot on the depth chart (Foster is the favorite to start) and more of a competition for carries in the new offense of coordinator Jeff Davidson. Both backs should benefit from his new zone-blocking scheme (not to mention Davidson's intention to use more screens out of the backfield), but Williams has more potential and is more valuable. Warrick Dunn vs. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta: Dunn, 32, is considered the current favorite to start for head coach Bobby Petrino, but Norwood is in line to receive just as many touches as his veteran teammate. As a result, both runners will take away from each other's value and drop them to No. 3 fantasy backs or flex starters. However, Norwood has more potential and could be drafted ahead of Dunn in some formats. Chris Brown vs. Chris Henry vs. LenDale White, Tennessee: White was considered the favorite to start for the Titans, but the addition of Henry and signing of Brown has created an open competition. In fact, head coach Jeff Fisher has stressed that no one has the upper hand for the prominent backfield spot. White and Henry have the most upside, but none of this trio will be consistent in a backfield committee. Kevan Barlow vs. Najeh Davenport vs. Verron Haynes, Pittsburgh: None of this trio has a chance to unseat Willie Parker as the Steelers' featured back, but this three-man battle is important in the world of fantasy football for situational and handcuff purposes. Davenport is considered the favorite for the role at this time, but Haynes' return from an injured knee could make this competition far more interesting. Mike Furrey vs. Calvin Johnson, Detroit: Furrey, who finished second to Andre Johnson in receptions last season, is now expected to be moved into the slot while Johnson takes over as a starter at split end alongside Roy Williams. Furrey will still see his share of opportunities in Mike Martz's pass-laden offensive attack, but Johnson will be far more attractive in both seasonal and long-term formats. Nate Burleson vs. D.J. Hackett, Seattle: The offseason trade of Darrell Jackson to San Francisco has opened the door for the sure-handed Hackett to start opposite Deion Branch, but Burleson will also be in the mix. Hackett, who is one of the top sleeper candidates on NFL.com, is our choice to start for head coach Mike Holmgren with Burleson as the fourth wideout behind Branch, Hackett and veteran Bobby Engram. Hank Baskett vs. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia: The Eagles love Curtis' speed and skills in the vertical pass attack, so he is considered the favorite to start opposite Reggie Brown. However, head coach Andy Reid was also impressed with what he saw from Baskett, who posted 464 yards -- 21.2 yards per catch -- in his rookie season. Curtis is the more valuable of the two, but Baskett is a nice low-end sleeper. Matt Jones vs. Ernest Wilford vs. Reggie Williams, Jacksonville: Jones and Williams are considered the favorites to start, but each has spent some time in the doghouse of head coach Jack Del Rio during the team's offseason workouts. The Jaguars want to throw the football more often this season, so owners need to keep tabs on whether Wilford or rookie Mike Walker can impress the coaches and enter the mix. Devery Henderson vs. Robert Meachem, New Orleans: This competition would have been much more interesting had Meachem not hurt his knee and required a surgical procedure in the offseason. Current team reports indicate Henderson is the favorite to start with Meachem at less than 100 percent, so he should be considered the more attractive choice across the board and worth a middle-round selection in all drafts. Drew Carter vs. Dwayne Jarrett, Carolina: Carter is expected to enter training camp ahead of Dwayne Jarrett on the depth chart, but the rookie out of Southern California will be allowed every chance to start opposite Steve Smith. Carter will no doubt be motivated to produce solid numbers in what is a contract year (he is an unrestricted free agent in 2008), but neither he nor Jarrett will warrant more than a late-round selection. Michael Clayton vs. Maurice Stovall, Tampa Bay: This battle doesn't seem like it will matter much in the world of fantasy football, but the fact that Stovall was impressive in offseason workouts and could pass Clayton on the depth chart is notable. Head coach Jon Gruden likes to throw the football downfield, and his receivers' inconsistency could thrust Stovall into a far more prominent position. Desmond Clark vs. Greg Olsen, Chicago: Olsen comes out of Miami, which has spawned such tight ends as Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow, so his potential at the NFL level is apparent. However, the presence of Clark and John Gilmore, who will see his share of time as a blocker, could stunt Olsen's rise to stardom. He is worth a late-round flier, but neither he nor Clark should be a fantasy starter. See
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