NFL Training Camp News & Notes
NFL Training Camp News & Notes The NFL preseason is underway. That means fantasy football is right around the corner. With all 32 teams in camp, myriad stories and developments can impact the 2024 fantasy football rankings. Our NFL Traning Camp News & Notes will catch you up on the latest and how it impacts your upcoming fantasy football draft. Arizona Cardinals • Looks like RB James Conner remains a solid sleeper target. Rookie Trey McBride has not impressed head coach Jonathan Gannon. Emari Demercado has been getting some third-down reps. 2 minutes and 23 seconds of #Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon telling you to stop drafting Trey Benson at his current ADP (115 on @UnderdogFantasy) pic.twitter.com/9wXw71Bnhv — The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) July 31, 2024 • Greg Dortch has impressed and may be in the lead for WR3 duties ahead of Zay Jones per Bob Manaman. • QB Kyler Murray will not play in the preseason. This is good news. Murray has nothing to prove and only risks getting hurt. Atlanta Falcons • Ray-Ray McCloud has been running ahead of Rondale Moore as Atlanta’s WR3. • Kirk Cousins has an apparent chemistry with Darnell Mooney. • WR Rondale Moore was carted off the field and seen with an air cast on his leg. That generally means a fairly significant injury. This all but locks Ray-Ray McCloud in as Atlanta’s WR3. UPDATE: Moore was placed on season-ending IR with a knee injury. Baltimore Ravens • QB Lamar Jackson returned from an illness. He did not appear to be impacted at all. Seems like a non-issue. • Per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec “Rasheen Ali is the front-runner to earn the No. 3 role. Aside from a fumble last week that dredged up some of the ball-security issues he had at Marshall, Ali has had a solid camp and has looked comfortable catching balls out of the backfield.” Buffalo Bills •WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s first-team reps have dwindled amidst a slow start to training camp, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports. •The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia reports Khalil Shakir “has been one of the most consistent, dependable players” in Bills training camp. Shakir, entering his third NFL season, finally has a chance to function as an every-down player in Josh Allen’s offense, and has made the most of his training camp opportunities. Shakir’s big plays during camp, Buscaglia said, is “a reminder of how important he is to the scope of the Bills offense in 2024.” Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady said last week that Shakir is “as consistent as they come.” So far, it looks like Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Keon Coleman are the favorites to run in three-receiver sets for Buffalo this season. Khalil Shakir looked like a superstar on Day 7 of #Bills camp. That and more in my observations: 🏈 Kaiir Elam szn 🏈 2 rookie Olinemen 📈 🏈 Keon Coleman 😎 🏈 LB w/ tough path to 53 making his run 🏈 Safety woes 🏈 Let James 👨🍳https://t.co/W09Iesb7Av — Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) August 1, 2024 Carolina Panthers • Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo has earned praise from those around the first week of training camp, showing improved route-running and a strong grasp of the new offense. Former Panthers WR Steve Smith Sr. also revealed this week that he worked with the former second-round pick over the summer. • Xavier Leggette (day-to-day) is dealing with a foot injury. MRIs came up clean. • Jonathon Brooks won’t play in the preseason and could make his NFL debut in “Week 3 or 4.” • Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, and Jonathan Mingo were listed as starters on Carolina’s first official depth chart. Chicago Bears • Caleb Williams has been as good as advertised. • D.J. Moore signed a 4-year, $110 million extension with $82.6 million guaranteed. Cincinnati Bengals • The Athletic’s Paul Dehner suggests Andrei Iosivas is the favorite to win the Bengals’ No. 3 WR job. “The more Iosivas stacks practices, the more you wonder whether he won’t just soak up nearly all of [Tyler] Boyd’s 824 vacated snaps from last season,” Dehner writes. Joe Burrow finds Andrei Iosivas for the touchdown during a grueling, hot 11-on-11 period. Most competitive period of camp so far for the #Bengals pic.twitter.com/MfCMRtIGhv — James Rapien (@JamesRapien) August 1, 2024 • Bengals RB Chase Brown has been taking the majority of first-team snaps at RB for the first few days of camp, per Charlie Clifford. • Zack Moss is listed ahead of Chase Brown on Cincinnati’s depth chart debut. Cleveland Browns • RB D’Onta Foreman was released from a local hospital with a head injury. • Deshaun Watson has looked sharp this offseason but the club has not determined if he’ll play in Cleveland’s preseason opener. Dallas Cowboys • Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle was mentioned as “battling it out” with RB Malik Davis by EVP Stephen Jones. He was highly complimentary of RB Royce Freeman. • The Athletic’s Jon Machota said Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle “has to be the favorite to lead the team in rushing.” Denver Broncos • RB Javonte Williams has resurrected his 2024 fantasy value. “Javonte Williams, who shed 10 pounds this offseason, looks quicker and is another year removed from his ACL surgery. And fifth-round pick Audric Estime has been one of the stars of camp thus far.” https://t.co/dRaktieieW — 32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters) August 1, 2024 Detroit Lions • Lions WR Jameson Williams had a strong spring and has rolled that momentum into the start of training camp, according to The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy. “Williams is firmly entrenched as one of the guys,” Pouncy writes. “This is the best I’ve seen him look with Jared Goff.” • Daurice Fountain is making a case for the Lions’ WR3 gig. Ben Johnson on WR Jameson Williams: “Things have started to slow down mentally for him. We’ve locked him into a couple spots and as a result, his route tree has grown, it’s developed. And his mind, there’s nothing he can’t do.” 💭: @colton_pouncy | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/U22F2j1WE6 — 𝔗𝔥𝔢
NFL Training Camp Update August 29
The NFL preseason has concluded and roster cut day is now on the horizon. Our NFL Training Camp Update August 29 catches you up on all the fantasy-relevant news you may have missed this weekend while drafting your fantasy squad. At this point, we’re updating our 2022 fantasy football rankings constantly. Also, our 2022 team outlooks and Billy Muzio’s updated fades are great draft-prep tools. A lot of news will be flying in this week as NFL rosters are trimmed to 53. Before that, here is the final NFL training camp update August 29. Brian Robinson Shot Multiple Times Just as rookie RB Brian Robinson appeared to seize a significant role in Washington’s backfield, the rookie rusher was shot multiple times in an attempted car-jacking. Robinson was shot in the leg and rear end and emerged from surgery in “good spirits.” The wounds aren’t expected to cause significant long-term damage and Robinson is tentatively expected back at some point this season. That is great news and we’ll certainly be rooting for Robinson in 2022. Logan Thomas Expected Back Week 2 ESPN’s John Keim reports that Washington expects Thomas to suit up in Week 2. Coming off a torn ACL he was activated off the PUP list last week. If healthy, he is a sneaky good sleeper tight end. That has been a productive position for the Commanders, and he’s been the most impressive in that role. Elijah Mitchell Good to Go Mitchell who had questions surrounding his health circling him for weeks returned to practice on Sunday. He is now a safe bet to be ready to start the season. He can now confidently be drafted as an RB2. Check out where we have Elijah Mitchell ranked in our 2022 Fantasy Football Rankings. J.K. Dobbins Could Be Limited in September According to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, “it would be optimistic” to expect J.K. Dobbins to have a full workload early in the season. Dobbins has not shown he is fully healthy and there is even a chance he lands on IR to start the season. He’s a high-upside flex option at the moment but carries plenty of risks. Robert Tonyan Returns to Practice A fantasy darling last year after a breakout 2020 campaign, Tonyan got off to a slow start before tearing his ACL last season. The big tight end returned to practice this week and could be ready for the start of the season. With the lack of proven targets in Green Bay, he could see an increased role once fully healthy. He is worth monitoring. Diontae Johnson Injures Shoulder Steelers’ stud wideout was forced from the team’s final preseason game and immediately ruled out after coming down awkwardly on his shoulder. The extent of the injury is not yet known but could have a major impact on fantasy drafts. If the injury is serious, Chase Claypool and George Pickens will see their stock skyrocket. Ty Montgomery Injured Montgomery has been a popular PPR sleeper this year as he was expected to take over pass-catching duties in the Patriots’ backfield. However, he was carted off this week in the Pats’ final preseason game with an ankle injury. The extent of that ailment is still unknown. Unsurprisingly the team isn’t giving us much to go on, but this could be significant news for Rhamondre Stevenson and to a lesser extent Damien Harris if Montgomery misses significant time. Skyy Moore Doesn’t Do Much Moore wasn’t targeted in the Chiefs’ final preseason game and is currently at best fourth on the depth chart. He also appears to be the team’s primary punt returner. The rookie totaled 3 receptions all of the preseason. Do not bank on early-season production from Moore for your fantasy team. He’s a bench stash at best until something changes. Cowboys’ Tyron Smith Tears Hamstring We usually don’t report on offensive linemen here, but this is a massive loss for the Cowboys. The team has been noticeably worse when Smith misses time and Dak Prescott has significantly struggled. Smith underwent surgery last week to attach his left hamstring to his knee and is expected to be out until at least December. This is a brutal blow for the Cowboys’ offense. Michael Gallup Avoids PUP List Coming off a torn ACL, Gallup will not be placed on the PUP list to start the year. He also will not be ready for Week 1. This appears to give him a timetable of returning between weeks two and four. He could see an increased role once healthy with Amari Cooper now in Cleveland. Michael Carter Still Starter According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Carter is still the Jets starter over star rookie Breece Hall. While this may not last, everything the team has done this preseason points to this being true. A limited role and gauntlet of a schedule could make the first half of the season an uphill battle for Hall to be startable in fantasy leagues. Tom Brady Returns Brady returned to Tampa last week and even played in the team’s final preseason game. There were a ton of rumors swirling regarding his absence, but it was all just noise. Brady is back and is a sure-fire QB1. Sony Michel Waived The Dolphins released veteran RB Sony Michel ahead of Tuesday’s cut-down day. The move assures that Chase Edmonds should be heavily-featured with Raheem Mostert as the direct backup. Michel won’t have trouble latching on somewhere, perhaps reunited with the Rams. Now that you’ve read our NFL Training Camp Update August 29, you know everything there is to know about the upcoming fantasy season. Ready to dive right in? Jump into a Fulltime Fantasy league today for as low as $35 and start your quest to become the next Fantasy Football World Champion. Other useful links: ADP (average draft position) based on our Fulltime Fantasy leagues. Billy Muzio’s Tiered Cheatsheet (#1 Ranker in the country) Draft Rankings Dynasty Rankings (by
NFL Training Camp Update August 27
We are now just days away from NFL action. Building a championship roster starts with our NFL training camp update August 27, which keeps you up-to-date on all the fantasy-relevant news and notes. At this point, we’re updating our 2022 fantasy football rankings constantly. Also, our 2022 team outlooks and Billy Muzio’s updated fades are great draft-prep tools. NFL squads are completing their preseason games and roster cut day is approaching. Here are the important NFL training camp updates for August 27. Geno Smith Named Seattle’s Starting QB We’ve been ahead of this one all offseason and Pete Carroll made it official last night. Smith is not a difference maker but Drew Lock sealed his fate with three interceptions in the Seahawks’ preseason finale. In the latest FullTime Fantasy Podcast, I mentioned Smith winning the battle would be an upgrade for both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Draft accordingly. Dameon Pierce To The Moon Pierce once again looked explosive, churning out yards after contact and even punching in a goal-line score in Houston’s shutout victory over San Francisco. The days of Pierce going in the 8th or 9th round are long gone and he’s now creeping into the 5th. Expect Pierce to be drafted as a low-end RB2 by the time Week 1 rolls around. With that, he’s still a nice target if he falls outside the top 60. Chris Godwin Looking Good Even though Godwin tore his ACL in December, he’s been well ahead of recovery pace all summer. This week, Godwin participated in seven-on-seven drills, indicating the team is growing more confident in Godwin’s recovery timeline. It’s still too early to say if Godwin will be on the field in Week 1 but he is starting to look like a massive value at his cautiously-low ADP. Godwin was the WR7 in fantasy points-per-game in 2021. Ty Montgomery Carted Off Field The battle to replace James White got more complicated Friday when Ty Montgomery had to be carted off the field after an ankle injury. Montgomery had started to take a good amount of backfield targets and mixed in some rushes. If an upcoming MRI reveals a severe injury, Pierre Strong could mix in on some passing downs. It’s also a potential boost for Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson is now a solid mid-round target with considerable upside. Treylon Burks Struggles It hasn’t been a good summer for No. 18 overall pick Treylon Burks. Burks has been plagued by conditioning issues and reportedly is well behind Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as the club’s second perimeter starter. Now Burks is dealing with a left leg injury that kept him sidelined. We still like the long-term dynasty potential, but at this point, Burks is barely a WR4/5 in redraft leagues. Jahan Dotson Continues to Shine After the 2022 NFL Draft, the Commanders supposedly considered Jahan Dotson as the most NFL-ready wideout. That actually looks reasonable now as Dotson has been Carson Wentz‘s favorite target all summer. Dotson has locked up a starting spot and could have a clear path to a ton of targets. He’s an excellent mid-to-late round value as his current ADP. Ronald Jones Could Be Released According to ESPN, Ronald Jones could be left off Kansas City’s 53-man roster. Despite looking solid with an 8/43 line against Green Bay’s second-team defense, Jones appears to be fourth on the Chiefs’ depth chart. While Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco excel at pass-catching, Jones is a one-dimensional option who will have a hard time earning snaps even if he makes the team. Joe Flacco Poised to Start Week 1 There was cautious optimism in New York when the ugly injury that felled Zach Wilson turned out to reportedly be a bone bruise and torn meniscus. Wilson had surgery and still has no timetable to return, which puts Joe Flacco in a position to make at least one start. Flacco is a savvy veteran and probably a better downfield passer than Wilson, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Flacco could steal the starting job. Flacco should be on the radar in Superflex formats but can be safely ignored in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. Kenny Pickett Gaining Ground Steelers’ first-round QB Kenny Pickett has closed the gap with presumptive starter Mitchell Trubisky. The battle is now so close that Pickett might have a legitimate shot at winning the job outright with a strong showing in Pittsburgh’s final preseason tilt. We still anticipate the club starting Trubisy in Week 1 but the leash will be short. It’s a situation to avoid in redraft but Pickett has some dynasty appeal. Jaguars Sign PK Mike Badgley Kickers matter too, sorta. Badgley spent his first three seasons as the Chargers kicker before bouncing around the league. He was solid subbing in for the Colts in 2021. Badgley comes in as a top-25 option in our rankings but is well off the fantasy radar. Now that you’ve read our NFL Training Camp Update August 27, you know everything there is to know about the upcoming fantasy season. Ready to dive right in? Jump into a Fulltime Fantasy league today for as low as $35 and start your quest to become the next Fantasy Football World Champion. Other useful links: ADP (average draft position) based on our Fulltime Fantasy leagues. Billy Muzio’s Tiered Cheatsheet (#1 Ranker in the country) Draft Rankings Dynasty Rankings (by Scott Atkins) Become the next Fantasy Football World Champion. Here’s how it works. Enter one of our Starter Leagues for $25. CLICK HERE to learn more Win incredible prizes using our On-Demand Simulator! Takes Minutes to draft! Win Your Choice of a Trip for Four to Maui or a Panini 2020 Football FLAWLESS Hobby Briefcase! How it Works: –Draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. (Great practice for the real thing!) -If you like your roster, enter it into the Bestball contest. Just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard! -Winner gets to choose from the amazing prizes below: If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless
NFL Training Camp Update August 22
The regular season is getting tantalizingly close. But before it arrives, our NFL Training Camp Update August 22 catches you up on all the fantasy-relevant news and notes you’ll need to crush your fantasy football draft. Also, FullTime Fantasy’s training camp battles to watch for both the AFC and NFC are a good starting point for staying up-to-date on fantasy-relevant news. It’s also important to keep an eye on those 2022 fantasy football deep sleepers this summer. Here are the news and notes from the third week of preseason and don’t forget to check out Jody’s ZERO-RB Targets and Scott’s 2022 Team Outlooks. Deshaun Watson Suspended 11 Games The NFL and NFLPA agreed on an 11-games suspension this week for Watson. This is the final decision so you can now draft accordingly. He will return just in time to play non-other than the Houston Texans. He is expected to immediately be the starter upon his return. Mike Gesicki to See Fewer Opportunities Gesicki is still the primary pass-catching tight end for the Dolphins, but word out of camp is that his role will be significantly diminished this season in a new scheme with weapons added on the outside. He should be viewed as a fringe TE1 per our 2022 Fantasy Football Rankings. Irv Smith Returns Despite undergoing recent thumb surgery, it looks like he could be ready to go for Week 1. He’s back at practice and looks like his recovery has gone as well as possible. Injuries are still a concern for Smith, however, he should be viewed as a high-upside tight end option later in your drafts. We could see his ADP climb quickly with this news. Treylon Burks Continues to Struggle Top wideout prospect and first-round pick Treylon Burks has struggled at Titans’ camp to this point. It was a bad sign when he played into the fourth quarter in this weekend’s preseason game and contributed next to nothing. He caught just one of three targets for four yards. He’s looking like a redraft afterthought this season. Ronald Jones on the Outs? All the buzz out of Chiefs’ camp is that Jones is in serious jeopardy of losing his roster spot. The team is expected to keep three running backs and the ascension of rookie Isaiah Pacheco appears to have potentially made Jones expendable. Matt Corral to Miss 2022 Season The Panthers’ rookie quarterback suffered a Lisfranc injury this week and could miss the entire season. He was unlikely to play this season anyway, but a year of practice on an NFL team could help his development. It’s also not out of the realm of possibilities that Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold could falter this year. Brian Robinson Makes Play for RB1 Role After a disastrous preseason Week 1, word out of the nation’s capital is that Antonio Gibson was running with the backups and special teams. This was proven true this week as Robinson served as the starting running back and Gibson was the kick returner. This offseason has been a disaster for Gibson managers and Robinson may be a potential flex option with upside. Patriots Lose Standout Rookie Tyquan Thorton Thorton has been the best receiver at Pats’ camp this summer. They will now be without him for about eight weeks after he suffered a collarbone injury in this week’s preseason game. This should give a boost to the other wideouts. The biggest beneficiary may be DeVante Parker. Dameon Pierce #SZN Initially during the Texans’ Week 2 preseason game fantasy owners began to panic as Pierce didn’t see a snap in the first half. When he didn’t play in the second half the fantasy community celebrated as it’s being speculated, he was held out of the game because the team views him as their starter. He has been skyrocketing up draft boards this summer. Miles Sanders Dealing with Hamstring Sanders has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but the Eagles believe he will be ready for Week 1. He’s not a lock to be out there, however, things are trending in the right direction. If he misses Week 1, Kenneth Gainwell will be a popular sleeper, but you should not overlook Boston Scott either. Is it Still Romeo Doubs #SZN? This week the rookie wide receiver who has been so hyped up all summer was dragged back down to earth. First, his quarterback Aaron Rodgers had some criticisms of him. Then, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports that he expects Doubs to be the WR4 in Green Bay this year. His value took a hit this week. Donald Parham Week-to-Week Parham gained rave reviews early in the summer at Chargers’ camp as he battled Gerald Everett for snaps at tight end. However, a hamstring injury has set him back and that job is very much up in the air now. The team hopes he can start easing his way back into practice next week, but his role to start the season is looking very dicey. Michael Gallup Running Routes Gallup got out on the field Thursday and ran routes for the first time since tearing his ACL last season. It’s still unlikely he’s ready when the Cowboys kick off Week 1 and he’s a candidate to open the season on the PUP list. That would keep him out the first four games. Still, this is a good sign for his fantasy value this season. Jaylen Warren Running as Pittsburgh’s RB2 The undrafted rookie looks to have surpassed Benny Snell as the RB2 in Pittsburgh. While the RB2 in Pittsburgh has very little stand-alone value if Najee Harris was to miss time, he could be a significant fantasy factor. We’ve seen it in the past with James Conner and DeAngelo Williams. They like having a bell-cow back so Warren is worth a look if you want to handcuff Harris. Now that you’ve read our NFL Training Camp Update August 22, you know everything there
NFL Training Camp Update August 16
At this point into August, fantasy-relevant news is flying in daily. Staying informed is crucial and our NFL Training Camp Update August 16 will help you stay informed. Also, FullTime Fantasy’s training camp battles to watch for both the AFC and NFC are also a good starting point for staying up-to-date on fantasy-relevant news. It’s also important to keep an eye on those 2022 fantasy football deep sleepers this summer. Let’s get into the breaking news that fantasy managers need to know heading into the second half of August. Zach Wilson injures knee but escapes disaster Jets starting quarterback Zach Wilson went down with a non-contact injury in the Jets’ preseason game. What was speculated to be a potentially torn ACL turned out to be just a bruise and torn meniscus. This will cost him up to four weeks and his Week 1 status is now in question. It’s not nearly as bad as it could have been. However, Wilson playing could actually be worse for the Jets’ offensive weapons fantasy value this year. He is a bottom-of-the-barrel option, especially if his rushing ability is now hindered. Devonta Smith returns to practice After missing about two weeks with a groin injury, Smith has returned to Eagles’ practice. A.J. Brown separated himself as the clear WR1 in Philly during his absence. Smith should serve as the clear WR2 this season and could look to carve out a role as the 1b to Browns’ 1a. Kadarius Toney suffers a setback with his knee injury The uber-athletic, but oft-injured Giants’ wideout will be sidelined for a while after injuring his knee this week in practice. Originally only expected to miss a few days, Toney is now expected to miss at least a week. The talent isn’t a question with him, but the injury concerns are real. Jump in one of our real-money drafts at the FFWC tonight! $25 and $50 options, Slow Drafts, BestBall, Superflex and more. Our LIVE drafts in Las Vegas are only TWENTY FOUR SLEEPS away! There’s still time to join us! Geno Smith starts for the Seahawks Smith got the start in the Seahawks’ first preseason game and played the entire first half. Drew Lock came in and played the second half. It appears that Smith has a leg up on the starting job for Seattle. This is most likely good news for the Seahawks’ pass-catchers although neither option is ideal. Baker Mayfield gets the start over Sam Darnold Everyone expects Mayfield to be the starter in Carolina, but the team insists he’s not a lock so we are forced to report on it. Mayfield got the start over Darnold and played one series. It would be truly shocking in Mayfield isn’t the Week 1 starter. Darnold somehow winning the job would be a disaster for the Panthers’ offense. Isiah Pacheco gets reps for the Chiefs before Ronald Jones Clyde Edwards-Helaire got the start in the Chiefs’ preseason opener, however, it’s notable the second backup was the rookie Pacheco and not Rojo or even Jerick McKinnon. Pacheco has been a star at training camp and that has translated to the preseason. He may be the top handcuff or more in Kansas City. Trey Lance lights it up in the preseason opener Generally, stat lines are irrelevant for relevant players in preseason, but with plenty of question marks surrounding Lance, this was a confidence-building performance for his fantasy owners. He went 4 for 5 for 92 yards and connected with rookie Danny Gray for a 76-yard touchdown bomb. There are still questions surrounding Lance but this was a step towards answering some of them. Drake London suffers a knee injury Stud rookie wideout London went down in the Falcons’ preseason opener with a knee injury. While it initially looked pretty bad it appears he avoided any serious injury. This is something to monitor but it looks like he should be good to go to start the season. Get the Award-Winning #1 Ranked Cheatsheet in the country before your big fantasy drafts! Updated daily. Miles Sanders is struggling to catch passes in camp According to The Athletic’s Bo Wulf, Sanders continues to regress as a pass-catcher and continues to “fight the ball at times” in the receiving game. It looks like his workload could take a hit due to his struggles as a pass-catcher. This could lead to more snaps and touches for fellow back Kenneth Gainwell. The third man in the RB trio Boston Scott suffered a concussion last week and has been sidelined. Zach Ertz has been sidelined with a calf injury Ertz has been out with a calf injury since August 4. There isn’t much information on the matter besides that, but it’s a situation worth monitoring. Calves can be tricky injuries and are prone to lingering and re-injury. However, as of now, there is no reason to believe his Week 1 status is in jeopardy. Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson are splitting snaps Reports out of Los Angeles are that Akers and Henderson are splitting touches evenly at camp. Akers is still the favorite to pull away with the starting job, but this could be a full-blown committee. Especially early in the season. Akers is a favorite of many fantasy owners, nonetheless, he is far from a lock to be a bell-cow back or return to form pre-Achilles injury. Ameer Abdulah acting as third-down back According to SI’s Albert Breer, Abdulah is expected to play the “James White role” in Josh McDaniels’ offense for the Raiders. This is just another bad sign for the workload of Josh Jacobs this season. All signs point to Jacobs seeing fewer touches this season as part of a committee and his time in Vegas coming to end following this season. Rashaad Penny is sidelined with a groin injury The oft-injured running back is missing camp in Seattle due to a groin injury. To make matters worse for Penny, head coach
NFL Training Camp Update August 9
Now into the second week of August, fantasy football draft day is rapidly approaching. Staying informed with the latest NFL Training Camp Update August 9 is a crucial part of draft prep. Our training camp battles to watch for both the AFC and NFC are also a good starting point for staying up-to-date on fantasy-relevant news. It’s also important to keep an eye on those 2022 fantasy football deep sleepers this summer. Here are some of the important news items we’re monitoring this second week of August. Odell Beckham to Miss Half the Season? Odell Beckham is not expected to sign with a team any time soon after tearing his ACL for the second time in the Super Bowl. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be drafting him expecting to get a steal. The best-case scenario is that he returns around Thanksgiving. Historically a second ACL tear is a 12-15 month recovery. There is a chance we don’t see him this year or at the very least don’t see him close to 100%. Kareem Hunt Requests Trade Browns’ RB Hunt has been sitting out of team drills at training camp due to discontent with his current contract. He has requested a trade out of Cleveland. However, the team has fined him for not practicing and informed him they have no intentions of trading him. This is a situation to watch. Hunt being traded could have a massive impact on both his and Nick Chubb’s value. For the time being it looks like he’ll be staying put in Cleveland though. Matthew Stafford’s Elbow Injury Stafford has been dealing with an elbow injury described as “tricky” by his head coach Sean McVay. The team has said it’s an injury more common in baseball than football and is a matter of pain management. To this point, it hasn’t impacted his ability to throw the ball, however, it is a situation to take into consideration if drafting him this year. This is a non-issue until it becomes an issue. This adds risk to the Super Bowl-winning QB’s value in 2022. N’Keal Harry Suffers an Ankle Injury Harry went down with an ankle injury that appears to be severe at Bears’ camp on Saturday. He has been competing for the WR2 job in a wide-open WR corps. This could not only cost him time but it’s possible it cost him his job. The WR2 job in Chicago is something to watch leading up to the season. Adam Thielen Will Remain Red-Zone Threat According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the new coaching staff for the Vikings has “embraced” Adam Theilen in the red zone. This is good news for the veteran wideout. Most of his value over the past few seasons has come from touchdowns. He’s no longer a guy that’s going to pile up catches and yards but has a knack for finding the end zone and posting boom weeks because of it. Dameon Pierce is Houston’s Best RB All reports out of Houston point to Pierce being the best running back on the field. He has a real shot to be the Week 1 starter in Houston and perhaps be an every-down back. Pierce could far exceed his RB38 ADP if the team decides to make him a feature back. It wouldn’t be shocking if he emerged as a viable flex option or even an RB2 in 2022. Rookie RB Isiah Pacheco Turning Heads With Clyde Edwards-Helaire limited at Chiefs’ practice, Pacheco has been splitting first-team reps with Ronald Jones. Both CEH and Jones have struggled to establish themselves as legitimate NFL starters so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Pacheco can wrestle away the starting job from them this season. I wouldn’t expect him to have a major impact early, nonetheless, he could have fantasy relevance as we get later in the season. Nico Collins is the “Clear” WR2 in Houston According to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime, sophomore Nico Collins has been extremely impressive at camp and has a stranglehold on the WR2 job. A popular dynasty asset last year, Collins could begin to emerge this season as a valuable fantasy commodity. He’s been described as uncoverable this summer. Kenny Pickett is Third on the Steelers’ Depth Chart Pickett will start the preseason as the QB3 on the Steelers depth chart. This doesn’t appear to be a case of the coaching staff trying to make the rookie earn it either. He is operating as the QB3 in practice. If you are investing in a Steelers quarterback for redraft leagues this season, Mitchell Trubisky is the clear-cut QB to select. Romeo Doubs Drawing Massive Praise After every practice at Packers’ camp, we’ve heard the same thing, that Romeo Doubs has been the star pass-catcher. With fellow rookie Christian Watson out with an injury and the rest of the WR corps being underwhelming, there is a real chance Doubs emerges as the WR2 in Green Bay which could lead to him having a ton of value. He has as good a chance as any pass-catcher to be Aaron Rodgers’s top target this season. Elijah Mitchell is Operating as the Clear RB1 for the 49ers There has been a lot of speculation regarding the 49ers’ backfield this offseason. However, the team has been utilizing him as the clear RB1 in practice and he’s looked like the most talented back on the field. The belief around San Francisco is that as long as he can stay healthy, Mitchell will be the top guy in San Francisco’s backfield this season. Chicago to Utilize a Committee Backfield? Khalil Herbert has been getting a lot of first-team reps at camp and it sounds like the new regime is looking for a split backfield this year which is bad news for David Montgomery managers as his value comes primarily from his abundant workload. Oddly, Montgomery has also gotten some special team reps. This could lead to Herbert being more than a handcuff and having some standalone value as well. Chris Godwin Returns
NFL Training Camp Update
The calendar now reads August and the excitement about the 2022 fantasy football season is palpable. The preseason is right around the corner which means it’s time for an NFL training camp update. Our training camp battles to watch for both the AFC and NFC are a good starting point for staying up-to-date on crucial news. It’s also important to keep an eye on those 2022 fantasy football deep sleepers this summer. Here are the fantasy-relevant training camp update notes for fantasy football fans to be aware of this week. Ezekiel Elliott to be Focus Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came out this week insisting that Ezekiel Elliott would be the focal point of the team’s run game in 2022. He added there was “room for [Tony] Pollard” but clearly he wants this coaching staff to get his money’s worth out of Elliott. We could see heavy usage from him this season now that he’s fully healthy. Travis Etienne Turning Heads According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, the young back has been the offensive star for the Jaguars thus far and is living up to his billing. After missing his rookie campaign with a foot injury, Etienne looks primed to explode this season. If we keep hearing reports like this his ADP is going to skyrocket. If these reports are accurate he’s probably worth paying up for. Etienne was also a topic on the latest FullTime Fantasy Podcast with our own Jody Smith and reigning FantasyPro’s No. 1 draft ranker Billy Muzio. Tyler Allgeier Could Win Starting Gig According to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, Tyler Allgeier has a strong chance of winning the starting running back job in Atlanta. He just has to show in camp what he showed in college. If this is true it significantly increases his value and hurts Cordarrelle Patterson’s value. More importantly, dynasty owners need to take notice because his long-term value looks solid. J.K. Dobbins Not Practicing Coming off a torn ACL last preseason, Dobbins has been asking to get on the practice field. However, the Ravens aren’t willing to take that risk just yet. The hope is that Baltimore is just being overly cautious with their potential young star. The fact that he wants to practice is a good sign that he’ll be ready to go in Week 1. For now, Gus Edwards continues to look like a solid late-round investment. Editor’s Note: John Harbaugh indicated that Gus Edwards is already questionable for Week 1 and appears to be behind Dobbins in rehab. That’s better news for Dobbins, who indicated he feels great. The club also signed Corey Clement, so the prudent thing to do here might be to simply avoid this backfield altogether. Isaiah McKenzie Winning Slot Receiver Role With Jamison Crowder sidelined with soreness, Isaiah McKenzie has gotten a chance to start in the slot at camp. According to the Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, he’s been a “standout” every day at camp. It appears Gabriel Davis is locked in as the WR2 and McKenzie has a shot to steal Crowder’s job and replace Cole Beasley in the Bills’ passing attack. A role we’ve seen has a ton of value for fantasy owners. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold Splitting First-Team Reps This is unreasonably dumb to me because there is nothing that can convince me Baker won’t be the starter in Carolina Week 1. However, I do have to acknowledge that this is allegedly an open competition and fantasy owners need to consider the possibility that Darnold could win the job when drafting any players in the Panthers’ offense. John Metchie III Expected to Miss 2022 After Leukemia Diagnosis In sad news, Texans’ rookie wideout John Metchie is expected to miss the entire season after being diagnosed with leukemia. The good news is that it is treatable and he does plan to resume his NFL career once he recovers. There is even an outside he plays this year. More importantly, however, is that he gets healthy first. Our thoughts are with Metchie. Raiders to Deploy Committee Backfield? Early buzz out of Vegas is that the new regime will look to use a full-blown committee out of the backfield. Josh McDaniels who came over from New England is likely to deploy the same fantasy nightmare at running back that he did with the Pats. This is terrible news for Josh Jacobs’ fantasy value. Between this news and the team already declining his option for next season, the writing is on the wall for him to be a bust this year. Editor’s Note: If the first preseason game is an indicator, Jacobs still has a firm grasp of lead-back duties. Jacobs got a ton of touches in that game versus the Jags. Ameer Abdullah also managed to score. We’ll keep an eye on this but might boost Jacobs a spot or two. Allen Robinson Wows The Rams coaches haven’t stopped gushing about Allen Robinson since camp started. There have been nothing but overly positive reviews. His downfall appears to have been vastly overstated and the team believes he is in line for a massive bounce-back season. I expect his ADP to continue to climb this summer. Those glory days of Robinson’s ADP being in the 40s are long gone. Miami’s Passing Attack Clicking All reports out of Miami have been positive in regards to the Dolphins’ new and anticipated to be improved passing attack. This was highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown catch by Tyreek Hill that traveled about 55 yards through the air on a rope and hit him in stride. QB Tua Tagovailoa has looked good while Hill and Jaylen Waddle have looked uncoverable. There is a chance a lot of players in the Dolphins’ offense outperform their ADP if camp translates into regular-season games. Mac Jones Has Shown “Dramatic” Improvement According to head coach Bill Belichick, second-year quarterback Mac Jones has improved significantly from last season. This is fantastic news for the entire Patriots’ offense, especially the receiving options. Jones is still little more
NFC Training Camp Battles to Watch
One step outside tells you the summer is here. Along with the rising temperatures, the NFL rumor mill is heating up. Before we know it, the preseason will begin. But before it does, we need to know what NFC training
Not every NFC squad has a battle that is noteworthy, but every team does have something fantasy-relevant that football fans should monitor.
In addition to our committee backfield article, here are battles for all 16 NFC teams that fantasy enthusiasts should keep an eye on this summer. Also, check out our AFC Training Camp Battles to Watch.
Arizona Cardinals – The looming six-game suspension for WR DeAndre Hopkins will lead to a big void in targets. If Rondale Moore moves inside full-time, as expected, he should have a huge role. Christian Kirk’s big 2021 showing came via the sixth-highest slot rate in this league. RB James Conner also has a rather checkered injury history, so if Darrel Williams wins the club’s RB2 job, he has significant value if Conner misses games again.
Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta arguably has the league’s thinnest roster. That lack of depth and talent certainly extends to the receiving corps. The Falcons’ 193 vacated targets at wide receiver is the fifth-most in football. Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts should be locks for 120-plus looks but the rest of the depth chart is wide open. Also, monitor the backfield. Cordarrelle Patterson will open the season…
WHAT OTHER NFC TRAINING CAMP BATTLES SHOULD FOOTBALL FANS WATCH?
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AFC Training Camp Battles to Watch
One step outside tells you the summer is here. Along with the rising temperatures, the NFL rumor mill is heating up. Before we know it, the preseason will begin. But before it does, we need to know what AFC training camp battles to watch ahead of our fantasy football drafts. Not every AFC squad has a battle that is noteworthy, but every team does have something fantasy-relevant that football fans should monitor. In addition to our committee backfield article, here are battles for all 16 AFC teams that fantasy enthusiasts should keep an eye on this summer. Baltimore Ravens – WR Rashod Bateman has become a popular breakout candidate for good reason. But after Bateman, the Ravens don’t have any proven wideouts. Devin Duvernay will compete for a job in three-wide sets, but James Proche ran 86.4% of his routes from the slot in 2021; the 10th-highest rate in the NFL. Baltimore’s backfield is also worth watching. J.K. Dobbins is expected to lead the way but might not see a preseason snap as he recovers from a torn ACL. Gus Edwards routinely outplays his ADP and the Ravens will use multiple backs. Edwards looks like a very good late-round value once again. Buffalo Bills – As Super Bowl favorites, the Bills don’t have a lot of question marks in their high-powered offense. It will be exciting to see how WR Gabriel Davis performs as the club’s No. 2 wideout. Off the heels of his four-score playoff performance, Davis is being targeted rather high in drafts. That makes him a candidate to be a rather risky boom/bust option. Jamison Crowder should be an upgrade over Cole Beasley out of the slot. Also, we’ll watch Isaiah McKenzie who is also making a play for that role. Keep an eye on second-round rookie RB James Cook, who could be a solid PPR option. Incumbent starter Devin Singletary should maintain most of the carries and offers top-15 upside if he retains short-yardage work. Cincinnati Bengals – Looking for a real sleeper tight end? Hayden Hurst will take over the starting role vacated by C.J. Uzomah. Even playing a reserve role in Atlanta, Hurst was far better than Uzomah in most metrics last season. Uzomah earned 63 targets en route to a top-20 fantasy finish a year ago. Drew Sample caught 40 balls in this offense in 2020- most of which was without QB Joe Burrow. Hurst has a real shot at 75 targets and could even contend for TE1 numbers. Cleveland Browns – Everything in the Cleveland passing attack is up for grabs. QB Deshaun Watson is looking at a likely year-long suspension at a minimum. With Jacoby Brissett poised to be the starter, it’s a downgrade for the offense overall. Rooke WR David Bell has impressed and could offer some upside as the big slot receiver. Donovan Peoples-Jones should start on the perimeter opposite of Amari Cooper. David Njoku finally has the chance to be the full-time starter but has lost some luster without Watson under center. Denver Broncos – We’ll watch how new QB Russell Wilson builds a rapport with his talented teammates. The biggest question in the passing game is which wideout will emerge as Wilson’s favorite- Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy. Also, we expect Javonte Williams to take on a larger share of carries, so watching Melvin Gordon‘s role will be crucial. Houston Texans – Outside of Brandin Cooks, the Texans don’t have many established pass-catchers. Nico Collins is the favorite for WR2 duties and a decent target share. Rookie John Metchie is battling cancer and is unlikely to play in 2022. Our thoughts are with Metchie. The Texans will also have a competition for lead-back duties between Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead, and rookie Dameon Pierce. Mack is the favorite to open the season but a committee backfield looks likely. Indianapolis Colts – Can WR Parris Campbell finally stay healthy? Campbell has been an “offseason standout” once again but has missed 34 of his possible 49 games so far. In OTAs, Campbell was running with the first team and flashed a good rapport with new QB Matt Ryan. Campbell is the favorite to earn slot duties while second-round rookie Alec Pierce is expected to start opposite Michael Pittman. We’ll monitor how Ryan divides his targets this summer, as the Colts offer a ton of offensive and fantasy potential. Jacksonville Jaguars – It’s another complete re-start in Jacksonville. Fortunately, Doug Pederson should be a significant upgrade for the entire offense. The Jags spent big money to upgrade weapons for sophomore signal-caller Trevor Lawrence, who needs to show rapid growth for that money to be well-spent. Keen an eye on all three wideout spots and how Pederson rotates TEs Evan Engram and Dan Arnold. Pederson has a history of heavily featuring his tight ends. Doug Pederson’s TEs in PPR pts/game: 2013- Fasano 6.8 (39th) 2014- Kelce 11.5 (9th) 2015- Kelce 11.8 (9th) 2016- Ertz 13.1 (3rd) 2017- Ertz 14.6 (3rd) 2018- Ertz 17.5 (2nd) 2019- Ertz 14.4 (4th) 2019- Goedert 9.9 (13th) 2020- Goedert 10.6 (10th) Evan Engram current ADP TE24 — #TagsStrong💪 (@JodySmithNFL) June 21, 2022 Kansas City Chiefs – Another excellent offensive-minded coach with an influx of new talent, Andy Reid will have to rebuild his playbook for the Chiefs to remain serious contenders. With Tyreek Hill gone, Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, and holdover Mecole Hardman will all compete for targets. The backfield is also unsettled, with Ronald Jones competing with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders declined to extend RB Josh Jacobs and added promising rookie Zamir White to the fold. Will they choose to load Jacobs up with all the touches he can handle on his way out the door or go full-blown committee? As for the passing attack, the biggest topic will be the rapport between QB Derek Carr and newly acquired WR Davante Adams. Los Angeles Chargers – There has been some talk of trying to limit Austin Ekeler‘s workload, so watching the preseason role for fourth-round rookie Isaiah Spiller will be imperative. Spiller was considered to be the draft’s No. 2 RB before slipping after an uninspiring Combine. Josh Palmer should be the clear WR3 and has a lot of late-round value appeal. Miami Dolphins – Miami
Training Camp News & Notes (Mon, July 29)
Stay up-to-date on the latest training camp news & notes with added analysis from Fantasy Football expert Mark Morales-Smith!