Injuries in training camp always open up the door for a lesser-known name to step up in the pecking order and receive extra reps. It's a crucial time for many players and even more important when a starting spot is at stake.
Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman have been locked in a position battle since OTA's kicked off months ago and the competition was only going to intensify with padded practices at training camp and upcoming preseason games. When rookie Tevin Coleman went down with a hamstring strain within the first days of camp opening, it opened the door for Freeman to pick up an advantage. Unfortunately, Freeman suffered his own hamstring injury.
While both injuries aren't considered serious, we've seen again and again that hamstring injuries can linger for multiple weeks. It's not an easy recovery and with all of the running, hamstring injuries can be re-aggravated easily. So Atlanta should take the time to make sure both running backs can come back healthy and run at 100 percent without further risking a more severe hamstring strain.
With Coleman and Freeman sidelined, all of the first-team reps have opened up for Antone Smith. If you remember that name, you surely remember some of his big plays from last season. A 54-yard touchdown catch-and-run against the New Orleans Saints, a 38-yard touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 48-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings, a 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown against the New York Giants and a 41-yard catch-and run-touchdown against the Chicago Bears.
Those five plays came in a six-week span and made up for 251 of Smith's 366 total yards last season. His season was over in November after a broken leg but he has fully recovered and was going to play a role in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's offense. Now he will be heavily involved in the offense for at least the next week in training camp and Atlanta's first preseason game. If he impresses, his role in this offense can only grow.
Fantasy Spin:
Smith currently isn't being drafted in fantasy drafts, which makes sense given his role was going to be limited and he had two running backs ahead of him. While Coleman and Freeman are both expected back long before the regular season opener, a strong showing by Smith over the next week could expand his role in the offense and maybe make him worth a very late-round flier in deep PPR leagues.
As for Coleman and Freeman's fantasy value, both entered the week outside the top-30 running backs by ADP. There was uncertainty over who would win the starting job and the hamstring injuries will just further delay an eventual result. There should be more caution around the players if your draft is within the next two weeks, which might make them just not worth drafting and instead using your pick on a player in more certain roles.