2012 NFL training camp schedules, key questions, fantasy advice and more
Roughly a month from now, NFL players will return to work as the annual journey to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy officially gets underway.
Here is the complete schedule of training camp start dates (or arrival dates) and sites for each team, along with a key question and a few other tidbits.
Site: St. Fisher College
City: Rochester, N.Y.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Will Mario Williams' addition turn the Bills' D-line into one of the league's best?
Fantasy spin: The Fred Jackson-CJ Spiller situation has a definite DeAngelo-Jonathan-Stewart vibe. But we've learned that either back can be a fantasy star, if they're getting 14-18 touches.
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Miami Dolphins
Site: Team practice facility
City: Davie, Fla.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: Will incumbent Matt Moore hold off newcomers David Garrard and Ryan Tannehill at QB?
Fantasy spin: This is a team that only a dynasty owner could love. Speedy rookie Lamar Miller is a back to stash for the future, a big-play threat whenever he touches the ball.
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New England Patriots
Site: Gillette Stadium
City: Foxborough, Mass.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Will rookie defenders Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower have an instant impact?
Fantasy spin: New WR Brandon Lloyd is a favorite of coordinator Josh McDaniels; they clicked in Denver and were first reunited in St. Louis last season.
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New York Jets
Site: SUNY Cortland
City: Cortland, N.Y.
Rookies and veterans report: July 26
Key question: Can Mark Sanchez hold off Tim Tebow at QB?
Fantasy spin: Dustin Keller has increased his yards per catch every season, and has played in 64 straight games
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Site: McDaniel College
City: Westminster, Md.
First full-team practice: July 26
Key question: Will Joe Flacco channel Eli Manning and deliver the Ravens a Super Bowl title?
Fantasy spin: With sackmaster Terrell Suggs on the sidelines, Baltimore defense is no longer an elite fantasy target.
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Cincinnati Bengals
Site: Paul Brown Stadium
City: Cincinnati, Ohio
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: Will rookie sensations Andy Dalton and A.J. Green avoid sophomore slumps?
Fantasy spin: The Bengals' shiny new toys (Dalton and Green) helped spark a five-win increase in 2011; beware ""The Plexiglass Principle", which calls for a notable regression.
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Cleveland Browns
Site: Team training facility
City: Berea, Ohio
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 28
Key question: How will rookies Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson fare?
Fantasy spin: Greg Little quietly delivered 61 catches and 709 yards as a rookie, despite having Colt McCoy as his QB. He has clear 1,000-yard potential.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Site: Saint Vincent College
City: Latrobe, Pa.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: How will QB Ben Roethlisberger adapt to the change in offensive coordinators?
Fantasy spin: With Rashard Mendenhall (ACL) set to start the season on the PUP, Isaac Redman is looking at a featured role for a team with a long history of success running the ball.
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Site: Methodist Training Center
City: Houston, Texas
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 28
Key question: Can QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson stay healthy after missing a combined 15 regular-season games in '11?
Fantasy spin: Even with Schaub, and hopefully Johnson, back in action, the Texans' two-step of Arian Foster/Ben Tate remains one of fantasy's finest tandems.
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Indianapolis Colts
Site: Anderson University
City: Anderson, Ind.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 29
Key question: How severe will the growing pains be for No. 1 pick Andrew Luck?
Fantasy spin: Coby Fleener and Luck were attached at the hip at Stanford. Expect the chemistry to bubble once again in Indy. Fleener is a legit TE1 in 12-team leagues.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Site: EverBank Field
City: Jacksonville, Fla.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: Will RB Maurice Jones-Drew show up?
Fantasy spin: Justin Blackmon is a major talent, but he landed in the wrong spot for fantasy purposes. If you draft the rookie, hope for a Chad Henne takeover.
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Tennessee Titans
Site: Baptist Sports Park
City: Nashville, Tenn.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 28
Key question: Will Jake Locker overtake Matt Hasselback at QB?
Fantasy spin: With a big arm and fleet feet, Locker packed a lot of fantasy production into his limited playing time in '11. If he earns the Titans’ QB job, he's got top 15 fantasy QB potential, easily.
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Site: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Centre
City: Englewood, Colo.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Is Peyton Manning fully back?
Fantasy spin: Ronnie Hillman, a Darren Sproles prototype, is the Broncos back to own, particularly in PPR formats. Fifty-plus receptions are in the offing for the slashing San Diego St. product.
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Kansas City Chiefs
Site:Missouri Western State University
City: St. Joseph, Mo.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: Is there really any threat of Matt Cassel losing his starting job?
Fantasy spin: The Chiefs had big plans for tight end Tony Moeaki last year, but a preseason ACL injury delayed his breakout. He remains a sleeper, though his position is deep.
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Oakland Raiders
Site: Napa Valley training complex
City: Napa, Calif.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 30
Key question: Can Darren McFadden stay healthy?
Fantasy spin: Denarius Moore was brilliant at times during his rookie campaign. A full year with Carson Palmer could send him soaring in Year 2.
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San Diego Chargers
Site: Chargers Park
City: San Diego, Calif.
First practice for rookies: July 23; Veterans: July 26
Key question: Will Philip Rivers cut back on the turnovers?
Fantasy spin: Many owners remain apathetic about Ryan Mathews, but everything is in place for him to possibly finish as the No. 1 RB in virtual pigskin.
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Site: Oxnard training complex
City: Oxnard, Calif.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 30
Key question: Is this the year Tony Romo gets his critics off his back?
Fantasy spin: Miles Austin was a top 12 fantasy wideout in '09 and '10, but hamstring issues wreaked havoc on his '11 campaign. Said to be 100 percent healthy again and drawing rave reviews in offseason team workouts, Austin is looking like a nice bounce-back candidate.
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New York Giants
Site: University of Albany
City: Albany, N.Y.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: Will they go farther this time around compared to the disappointing second-round loss following their previous Super Bowl title?
Fantasy spin: Rookie wideout Rueben Randle can be a factor right away; Eli Manning doesn't throw much to his backs and tight ends.
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Philadelphia Eagles
Site: Lehigh University
City: Bethlehem, Pa.
First practice for rookies: July 23; Veterans: July 26
Key question: Is this the year they live up to the "Dream Team" hype?
Fantasy spin: Shoulder and hamstring injuries derailed Jeremy Maclin's breakout campaign last season. If he can stay healthy in '12, he's a receiver with a top 10 ceiling that you can land outside the top 20 at the position.
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Washington Redskins
Site: Redskins Park
City: Ashburn, Va.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Will Robert Griffin III prove to be Superman in Year 1?
Fantasy spin: Buyer beware of the committee politics: Redskins haven't had a 750-yard rusher since 2008.
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Site: Olivet Nazarene University
City: Bourbonnais, Ill.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Will RB Matt Forte show up?
Fantasy spin: Jay Cutler has been reunited with Brandon Marshall, plus the Bears added Alshon Jeffery in the draft. Don't be surprised if Cutler is a top-8 fantasy QB.
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Detroit Lions
Site: Team practice facility
City: Allen Park, Mich.
Rookies report: July 23; Veterans: July 26
Key question: Will the on- and off-field discipline concerns prove to be in the past?
Fantasy spin: Will volume be Matthew Stafford's friend again? His 663 pass attempts in 2011 were the third-most all time.
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Green Bay Packers
Site: St. Norbert College
City: DePere, Wis.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Have the Packers ironed out the kinks that caused them to crash last postseason?
Fantasy spin: It's tough to get shares of this offense on the cheap, but receiver Randall Cobb is an explosive talent to target late, a smart final-round flier.
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Minnesota Vikings
Site: Minnesota State University
City: Mankato, Minn.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: When will Adrian Peterson return?
Fantasy spin: Tight end Kyle Rudolph wasn't exactly overworked as a rookie (26 REC, 249 yards), but many of his catches were highlight-quality. Expect a breakout.
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Site: Team training facility
City: Flowery Branch, Ga.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Will "Matty Ice" finally get his first postseason victory?
Fantasy spin: Jacquizz Rodgers is expected to see a considerable bump in touches to help limit Michael Turner's workload. "The Quizz Show" is a fantastic high-upside target after the middle rounds.
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Carolina Panthers
Site: Wofford College
City: Spartanburg, S.C.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 28
Key question: Will Cam Newton have an even better sophomore season than his rookie record-setting campaign?
Fantasy spin: Backfield is crowded with DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, but there could be plenty of production since the trio might be working behind NFL's best offensive line.
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New Orleans Saints
Site: Team training facility
City: Metairie, La.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 26
Key question: Can they overcome the bounty scandal?
Fantasy spin: Rob Gronkowski may have set the TE market last year, but this time around, look for Jimmy Graham to emerge as the pack leader.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Site: One Buccaneer Place
City: Tampa, Fla.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 27
Key question: Which Josh Freeman will show up?
Fantasy spin: Rookie RB Doug Martin has been compared to Ray Rice, and that should resonate with new Bucs head coach Greg Schiano, who coached Rice at Rutgers. Don't be surprised if Martin becomes the lead back in the Bucs' ground attack starting Week 1, and a top 20 fantasy back when all is said and done.
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Site: Northern Arizona University
City: Flagstaff, Ariz.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 25
Key question: Will Kevin Kolb start to pay dividends on the Cardinals' huge investment?
Fantasy spin: With uncertainty growing regarding Beanie Wells' health, Ryan Williams – who is recovering smoothly from a patellar tendon injury – could be salvation in the desert, and in Fantasyland.
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St. Louis Rams
Site: Russell Training Facility
City: Earth City, Mo.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 29
Key question: Will Sam Bradford prove that his sophomore slump was a fluke?
Fantasy spin: Steven Jackson, desperate for a playoff berth, has already publically challenged wideout Brian Quick. The motivated rookie just may deliver on his WR3 promise
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San Francisco 49ers
Site: Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center
City: Santa Clara, Calif.
First practice for rookies: July 23; Veterans: July 27
Key question: Will Randy Moss' addition help elevate the passing attack?
Fantasy spin: Don't buy too heavily into Vernon Davis' struggles in '11.Things didn't start to click for him in Jim Harbaugh's new offense until very late. In two postseason games, he had 292 yards and four touchdowns.
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Seattle Seahawks
Site: Virginia Mason Athletic Center
City: Renton, Wash.
First practice for rookies and veterans: July 28
Key question: Will newcomer Matt Flynn beat out incumbent Tarvaris Jackson and rookie Russell Wilson at QB?
Fantasy spin: Doug Baldwin became the first undrafted rookie to lead his team in receptions and receiving yards in more than 50 years, finishing as a top 40 fantasy wideout. Yet he's going outside the top 60 receivers in early '12 drafts. Recognize the bargain.
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