Important battles this NFL Preseason

Each year there are battles for a roster spot and sometimes a gem of a top fantasy football player will come out of it. Here is a small list of some battles to watch for.

Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton

Miles Austin

Austin sat out the last couple of weeks of OTAs with a hamstring injury. According to the Dallas Morning News he’s now healthy and enjoying an impressive start to training camp. As we all know Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin are battling for the No. 2 job opposite Roy Williams. Both players can and will post serviceable numbers opposite Williams however I feel Austin is more of a threat deep as he is both faster and more physical than Crayton. If Austin wins the battle I’d pick him up as late as possible things could turn out really good for his owners.

Tarvaris Jackson versus Sage Rosenfels

Not that you’ll have either of these quarterbacks on your fantasy football roster but who wins the job affects Bernard Berrian. Berrian was targeted with at least two or three deep balls a game by Gus Frerotte. Sage Rosenfels is used to tossing the deep ball and won’t be lost in translations like Jackson when it comes to picking his moments. If Rosenfels wins the QB competition you’ll want to knock Berrian up several spots on your draft sheet.

Domenik Hixon versus Hakeem Nicks

Steve Smith stepped when Burress shot himself (and his career) in the leg playing OG at the club. But I view Smith more like a Santan Moss or Lee Evans type player who really needs another strong WR on the field to make a difference. The Giants just signed rookie WR Hakeem Nicks, the No. 29 overall pick, to a five-year, $12.54 million contract. The deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus. Hakeem Nicks has the size and talent to make a different this year however learning the NY Giants offense will be tough. Running routes is one thing but picking up run blocks is another and you can bet the Big-G will run like its not bodies business this year. According to the Newark Star-Ledger Giants DE Mathias Kiwanuka thinks WR Domenik Hixon will be a “breakout” player this season. Kiwanuka said Hixon is one of the fastest guys you’ll see with the football. Who lands where?