Champ Bailey practices in full pads; Denver defense a fantasy must

Denver Broncos defensive back Champ Bailey was participating in full pads during the team's Thursday practice, according to USA Today Sports NFL writer Lindsay Jones. Expectations are that he will officially be listed as "limited" when official practice reports come out.

Bailey has been inactive through the Broncos' first two games this season - both wins - with a foot injury, but he's been making progress, and looks possible-to-likely to make his season debut on Monday Night Football against the Oakland Raiders.

Fantasy impact: The fact that Denver's defense is fantasy's fourth-highest-scoring unit despite Elvis Dumervil being on the Ravens and Bailey and Von Miller combining for zero games is pretty crazy, and a testament to the team's coaching and the poor outings by Baltimore and the New York Giants.

Bailey's return comes just in time for the Broncos' defense and special teams to face a very poor offense in the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders have scored 36 points in two games against the very underwhelming defenses of Indianapolis and Jacksonville; bringing quarterback Terrelle Pryor and among the league's poorest corps of receivers into Denver does not bode well. Denver's defense is a must-start in virtually all leagues.