The fantasy world NOT revolving around Brett Favre…

Here's a look at some of the latest non-Favre related news and happenings.

Broncos rookie Eddie Royal is having a good camp, and the Denver Post recently reported he was running with the first-team offense. He has a strong chance to start while Brandon Marshall is out, and while he could struggle to produce consistently from the statistical perspective, he is looking like a fine keeper and dynasty league choice.

The loss of rookie Ryan Torain takes an upside pick away in the later rounds, and makes the Denver RB picture a bit clearer for now. It’s Selvin Young’s job to lose, although the more physical Andre Hall could conceivably share some carries if Young doesn't prove to be an effective inside runner.

The Baltimore Sun noted that rookie running back Ray Rice is looking good in camp. Willis McGahee has been battling some knee problems, so keep an eye on Rice's progress during the preseason. He certainly is a solid late-round selection.

The Associated Press reported that Patrick Crayton is becoming comfortable as the Cowboys second receiver. Crayton has good body control and upside as a playmaker.  He can be a nice value selection in the later rounds and is a good bet to be a quality fantasy starter in 2008.

LenDale White has been getting banged up in camp, and recently missed some time with a back injury. If White misses time during the regular season, there could be a significant void in the Tennessee backfield. Rookie Chris Johnson doesn't appear cut out for a heavy workload, so don't draft him simply because White may be a risky pick this year.

The Miami Herald reported that WR Derek Hagan has been working more with the first-team offense. Hagan should eventually become a quality possession target for the Miami QBs. Hagan's numbers won't be too good because of the QB issues this year, but watch his development, as he and Ted Ginn Jr. may eventually form a solid WR pair for the Dolphins. Hagan is another guy I am watching in keeper and dynasty leagues.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Willie Parker has been trying to convince Mike Tomlin to use him in more goal-line packages. Parker obviously sees rookie Rashard Mendenhall as a threat to his playing time. The newcomer should get a solid opportunity to prove himself as a short-yardage runner and possibly more. Mendenhall has some upside and Parker's fantasy stock appears to be dropping.

According to the Bills' official site, Trent Edwards has been accurate in camp workouts. Edwards looks like he is on the verge of becoming a consistently respectable game manager and decent fantasy backup. He can keep defenses honest, and can help Lee Evans perform better than he did last year while preventing defenses from loading their fronts against Marshawn Lynch.

Bears rookie Matt Forte appears to have already solidified his role as Chicago's No. 1 RB, even while Kevin Jones reportedly makes good progress in his attempt to get back into playing form. Forte should be a quality No. 2 fantasy RB as a rookie, as you can look for the Bears to use him as a central figure in their conservative and methodical offensive approach.

Arizona TE Leonard Pope was having his starting job threatened by Ben Patrick, but Pope has reportedly responded to the challenge and has looked good in camp recently. Pope has considerable upside, especially as a red zone target, but he still has a lot to prove and may still go undrafted in many leagues.

The longer Steven Jackson holds out, the more I worry about him. Missing quality time in training camp could affect his conditioning and ability to get up to speed with his teammates. That could lead to injuries, and I may have to drop Jackson in my player rankings soon.

Tatum Bell told the Lions' official site he believes he has an edge in the race for the starting job because of his familiarity with the new zone blocking scheme being installed by the team. Bell may be confident about himself, but he is far removed from Denver, and I doubt he can hold off a real push from rookie Kevin Smith.

The San Jose Mercury News reported Michael Bush could be in line to get some opportunities as a short yardage and goal-line runner. Still, I love the upside of Darren McFadden and believe his TD numbers could be quite respectable as he scores on a handful of longer runs. I won't believe anything with Bush until I actually see it.

This week's Fantasy Football Magazine Review
If you are an experienced player looking for unique perspectives, then go for Fantasy Football Weekly's 2008 Annual Guide, published and powered by Fanball.com. Right away, you can tell this isn't your ordinary fantasy football preview, as top candidates for the No. 3 overall pick are highlighted instead of focusing on the usual Tomlinson/Peterson debate. The sleeper selections are very bold and contain detailed supportive stances. The rookie review contains some of the most in-depth fantasy scouting reports I have seen this year on first-year players. There are distinctive pieces on trends on subjects such as running back by committee, and the biggest plus is the plethora of cheat sheets, for both standard and unique scoring systems. The FFW/Fanball.com Guide is a great pickup for the veteran fantasy owner.

Keep those e-mails coming. Tomorrow, I break out the first full-scale Angles Mailbag!

Scott Engel has been covering fantasy sports as a professional since 1996. E-mail Scott at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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