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2 Titans training camp battles fantasy football managers must have their eye on
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- 2 Titans training camp battles fantasy football managers must have their eye on
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While Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh tries to get a grip on things, the team's fortunes are tied to Cam Ward . And his main helpers will be determined by two training-camp battles fantasy football managers need to keep an eye on.
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The Titans aren't expected to be in the playoff mix. Saleh doesn't have a roster that figures to be strong enough to make that kind of noise.
However, perhaps the offense can be better than it was last season.
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Titans WR Elic Ayomanor vs. Calvin Ridley
Certainly, Ridley has the upper hand as a veteran. But Ayomanor has been making plays during camp. Included in the mix have been a touchdown reception and another potential score that drew a pass interference call.
Plus, he led the Titans receivers in catches in the early days of camp. And Saleh has taken notice , according to nashvillepost.com.
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"Everyone can do it once," Saleh said. "The great ones can do it multiple times over time. [But] when you prepare at his level, both mentally and physically, you feel confident. And your body language is going to project that. Your voice is going to project that.
"[Ayomanor has] worked relentlessly this offseason to put himself in position to have a successful second year, both on the field and off the field mentally. He's got great confidence just because he knows he's prepared as well as he can, and he knows he's putting himself in the best position he can be."
Ayomanor is trying to make sure he considers every angle of the game. That includes his posture.
"I think it's more about being forward, like a forward lean," Ayomanor said during offseason workouts. "Honestly, there's not a phase of the game where you shouldn't be at a forward lean.
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"Maybe when you're running like a 40-yard route or you're down the field trying to track the ball. But it's really about having your nose forward, your body forward, staying in and out of routes, especially."
However, Ridley had been making his case , according to tennesseetitans.com.
"Ridley had his best day of camp on Monday," Jim Wyatt wrote. "In addition to his gain of 30-plus yards early, Ridley also made a nice spinning catch later in practice near the goal line, on another ball thrown by Ward."
He's even playing a key role as a mentor.
"Ridley, who had two catches on the day, was seen chatting extensively with rookie Carnell Tate during one break in the action, presumably giving him some advice and encouragement," Wyatt wrote.
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And Ridley seems to know he's facing no easy battle to stay in the starting lineup.
"To me, Elic is a star," Ridley said. "Hard worker. The kid's a stud. He's going to continue to get better. I'm going to be right there to help him, root for him."
Tyjae Spears in RB2 battle with Nick Singleton
The first question might be why this would matter from a fantasy perspective. There are two answers, with one being league depth. In bigger leagues, having a potential fantasy contributor on the bench when injuries occur can be a difference-maker. Secondly, Singleton offers enough upside to be intriguing but only if he's RB2.
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Saleh made it clear that Tony Pollard is the lead dog. And Spears is important in the offensive plan. But Singleton, a rookie, has juice , according to atozsports.com.
"It's early, obviously. Big back, fast," Saleh said. "He's learning it all, he's got a long way to go from that regard, like all rookies do. But to be clear, Tony (Pollard) and Tyj (Tyjae Spears) are the bell cows of this football team. And Nick's (Singleton) got to compete his way in to find his way into that group."
Spears is taking things seriously, according to tennesseetitans.com.
"In this league," Spears said, "you have to prove yourself each and every day, each and every year.
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"Consistency overrules everything. I am trying to consistently improve … as a person and a player. And if I do that, everything is going to be good."
For now, fantasy managers can still focus on Pollard first and Spears second.
"We'll decide that as time goes," Saleh said. "But those two complement each other very, very well. They're both really, really good third-down backs. I remember studying last year, you're not beating Tony one-on-one in a protection system. The guy's an elite blocker, and he's also really good out of the backfield.
"And then Tyj, from a route-running ability, he's really good in that regard. They do a really nice job complementing one another. So, like I said, we'll figure all that out as time goes, but both are really good."
Related: How Titans' Robert Saleh punished Jeffery Simmons after training camp punch
