By John Miller

I’ve spent the last few days calling and emailing NFL reporters around the country, digging for info on key fantasy players and conflicts. Here you go:

1. From Kevin Acee at the San Diego Union Tribune:

Antonio Gates:  “He’ll start the season (on that sore foot). That, I know for almost certain. Feet are tricky. I don’t know how good he’ll be or that he’d continue playing if he is less than 100 percent. I believe he wants to be the old Antonio when he comes back, so he is healthy for the end of the season.”

(Note: We just lowered Gates’ projections despite Acee’s understandable homer optimism. Gates is no longer our #1 TE.  The question you have to ask yourself is, with this foot/toe problem, would you take Gates over Witten or Winslow?)

2. From Dan Bickley at the Arizona Republic:

Matt Leinart vs. Kurt Warner: “My gut feeling is that Leinart starts.  I think it’s a mistake, but I’ve been in China for two weeks and don’t know what’s been going on at practice… I’ll be on the story as soon as I get back.”

3. From Gene Collier at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Rashard Mendenhall: “He looks good to me. Not as instinctive as I thought he might be, but very promising.”

4. From John McClain (our good friend) at the Houston Chronicle:

Texans RBs: “I wouldn’t touch any of them. Ahman Green is hurt. If he stays hurt in preseason, I think they’ll cut him. Chris Brown will flash and get hurt. They like Chris Taylor and Steve Slaton but won’t say it publicly. Slaton has good speed. Even though he’s a third down back now, I’d take him over the others.”

5. From Nick Cotsnika at the Detroit Free Press:

Tatum Bell vs. Kevin Smith: “Kevin Smith looks good so far. Let’s see what he can do in some games. I’d think he’ll be the starting back before long.”

6. From Vito Stellino at the Florida Times Union:

Jerry Porter’s leg: “The Jags say he’ll be ready (after hamstring surgery) for the regular season but it’s too hard to tell.”

7. From Brad Biggs at the Chicago Sun Times:

Matt Forte getting 300 carries: “That would be a lot of work for a rookie. I think the Bears would ideally like to have him in the 250-275 range with Kevin Jones getting some work as a complementary player. We’ll see how it shakes out though. Jones won’t play tonight and he needs to prove he deserves a roster spot.”

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