Ricky Could Offer High Rewards

With training camps opening around the country, there are certain situations worth keeping an eye on from both an NFL and a fantasy football perspective. With wide receivers Javon Walker and Terrell Owens both caving after threatening to hold out (can't you just hear Drew Rosenhaus crying in the background), and agreeing to report to their respective training camps, it appears safe to pencil them into your fantasy rankings based on last year's production.

But a more interesting situation, in my view, is brewing in the Miami camp, where reports of a rejuvenated Ricky Williams have flowed from several sources. Obviously, with a four-game suspension looming for South Florida's prodigal son, he's not a solid option as a starter to begin the upcoming campaign. But if rookie Ronnie Brown, who has yet to ink a deal with the club, doesn't have the starting job nailed down by week six (the Dolphins have a bye during week four), Williams could be an interesting option to put on your roster as a backup.

Williams has reportedly bulked up from earlier reports that had him down to as low as 185 pounds during his ganja-smoking hiatus from football --which makes little sense to those who have partaken in the munchie-inducing practice of smoking marijuana-- but he is still significantly below his playing weight of previous years. However, observers say Ricky appears significantly quicker in and out of his cuts, and with the first five weeks of the season off, he should be fresh over the second half of the season. Spending a high pick on him would be foolish based on his recent history with the club, but he could be a high-reward pickup after all the premiere starters are gone.