Our 2024 NFL Training Camp News articles are intended to be a one-stop shop for the most important news from around the NFL during training camp. I’ll post a new Market Report every week during August to help our subscribers keep the pulse of what’s happening in the fantasy marketplace. I’ll update this article daily during the week so make sure to check back for the latest training camp buzz.
This article will focus mostly on news, beat reports, and injuries coming out of team practices. Be sure to check out Graham Barfield’s Preseason Game Reviews for key takeaways on player performances and playing time implications from preseason action.
ADP in this article is based on our ADP tool’s PPR setting, which pulls from NFFC drafts over the last 14 days.
CATCH UP ON PREVIOUS TRAINING CAMP MARKET REPORTS
2024 NFL Training Camp News: Week of Aug. 12
2024 NFL Training Camp News: Week of Aug. 5
2024 NFL Training Camp News: Week of July 29
UPGRADES
Players whom we’re feeling more optimistic about based on training camp reports and injury news.
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert (LAC) — The Chargers shut down Herbert at the start of training camp for a plantar fascia injury. He wore a boot for two weeks before shedding it on Aug. 15 and he returned to practice on Aug. 19 (per Daniel Popper). Dr. Edwin Porras believed the Chargers were making the right decision to give Herbert time to heal and rehab, but he’s at a higher risk of injury moving forward in 2024. His rehab from the foot injury is on schedule but he’s still a player we are shying away from. We were already concerned about Herbert with his passing volume set to plummet under Jim Harbaugh, and now he’s at risk of running less and aggravating the injury in season. (Updated Aug. 19)
Bo Nix (Den) — HC Sean Payton named Nix as the team’s Week 1 starter. He was the heavy favorite to be the team’s starting quarterback after they selected him 12th overall in April, and he’s only strengthened his lead with a pair of strong performances in the preseason. His odds to start the season opener moved from -162 (61.8% implied odds) to -245 (71.0%) after he completed 15/21 passes for 125 yards and 1 TD in his first NFL appearance. The odds were taken off the board after he led a pair of scoring drives with the starters in the second preseason game. Nix will receive ideal coaching from Payton, who coaxed a QB14 finish (18.0 FPG) out of Russell Wilson despite Mr. Unlimited being washed up and a terrible fit for his quick-processing offense. Nix should provide immediate help in Superflex/2-QB leagues despite being drafted as the QB31 (221.5 ADP). (Updated Aug. 21)
Gardner Minshew (LV) — Aidan O’Connell was the odds-on favorite to be Las Vegas’ starting QB in the season opener, but the Raiders decided to roll with Minshew as their starting quarterback (per Tom Pelissero). The journeyman QB made 13 starts and 17 appearances behind Anthony Richardson last season. He completed 305/490 passes (62.2%) for 3305 yards (6.7 YPA), 15 TDs (3.1%), and 9 INTs (1.8%). He added 34/100/3 rushing to finish as the QB31 with 13.1 FPG in 13 starts and 17 appearances. He failed to make a fantasy despite playing in one of the league’s friendliest offensive systems, and it’s tough to get too excited about his prospects in Las Vegas’ run-heavy offense with Antonio Pierce calling the shots. Minshew has at least proven he can funnel the ball to his top weapons, which he’ll need to do to keep Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Brock Bowers happy, but he’s nothing more than a QB3 option for as long as he stays in the starting lineup. (Added Aug. 19)
Running Backs
Najee Harris (Pit) — Jaylen Warren left Pittsburgh’s Aug. 17 game with a hamstring injury, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Warren will miss multiple weeks, which has his status for the season opener “up in the air.” He has a little over three weeks to play against the Falcons on Sept 8, and Edwin Porras wrote that 80% of RBs with a hamstring injury since 2018 have returned within two weeks. The bad news is that the risk of re-injury is around 24%, which typically results in another two-week absence. Mike Tomlin said on Aug. 21 that Warren will miss the rest of this week but his injury isn’t a “long-term concern.” The Steelers also lost C Nate Herbig for the season to a torn rotator cuff. Warren could be looking at a bell-cow role to open the season if Warren misses the start of the season and any additional time after that. Warren had pulled dead even with Harris in ADP before his injury, but Najee is now being selected three picks ahead of Warren (79.6 and 84.37) just four days after the injury and his advantage is likely to grow. I’m more inclined to buy the incoming dip on Warren, especially if his ADP falls by 1-to-2 rounds than to draft Najee at his rising ADP. (Updated Aug. 21)
Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman (Cle) — Pierre Strong suffered a rib injury during an Aug. 21 practice, which required him to leave practice in an ambulance despite walking off the field under his own power (per Zac Jackson). It’s a potentially notable injury for Ford and especially Foreman, who worked behind Strong in the second preseason game. Foreman is trying to drill down Kareem Hunt’s old role next to Ford early in the season, which included short-yardage work. Nick Chubb started training camp on the PUP list, and he's a likely candidate to remain on the injury list through at least the first four games of the season, if not longer. He’s making his way back from a gruesome multi-ligament knee injury suffered in Week 2 last September, which required two surgeries to repair the damage. It was also the second time he sustained a multi-ligament injury to his left knee after he previously injured it while at Georgia in 2015. ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote that the organization believes he’ll play “some time” this season, but they don’t want to pressure him by putting a timetable on a return. Ford could be headed toward a bigger role than expected to start the season if Strong is banged up and they don’t completely trust Foreman outside of short-yardage situations. He remains an ideal early-season target at his cheap ADP (111.2, RB37) for those who take a zero-RB approach, while Foreman will get a chance to solidify his spot ahead of Strong. (Added Aug. 21)
Wide Receivers
Washington Commanders Receiving Corps (Was) — The Eagles acquired Jahan Dotson and a fifth-round pick from the Commanders in exchange for a third-round pick and a pair of seventh-round picks (per Adam Schefter). Washington put Dotson on notice in mid-August when HC Dan Quinn told reporters they’re “in the middle of” a search for their WR2 behind Terry McLaurin. The Athletic’s Ben Standig noted that Dotson had been uneven in practices this summer, which was why he played a team-high 32 snaps in their preseason opener. Dotson leaves behind an 82.7% target share, an 18.0% air yards share, and a 12.6% target share to be divvied up to the likes of McLaurin (52.6, WR31), Dyami Brown (N/A), and eventually Luke McCaffrey (236.8, WR88). The move could also open up more targets and more 12 personnel snaps for late-round targets Ben Sinnott (227.7, TE26) and Zach Ertz (236.8, TE28). All five Commanders receivers should see their ADPs rise in the next two weeks, but they’re currently each draft-day values. (Added Aug. 22)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Sea) — The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar observed a growing rapport between JSN and Geno Smith, and Titans HC Brian Callahan referred to him as “one of the better slots as a young player” during joint practices last week. Tyler Lockett sat out the joint practices with a minor leg injury, and JSN took advantage of his extra reps with Smith. Geno and JSN flew to Miami to do one-on-one work this off-season and Smith said his second-year WR continues “to grow and blossom.” JSN will need to cut into Lockett’s work a bit, and the 32-year-old WR could naturally start to take a step back in his ninth season. JSN finished well behind Lockett in route share (82.6%>71.0%) and target share (20.5%>16.2%), but they were relatively tight in targets per route run share (22%>21%). JSN’s production should tick up and Lockett’s could tick down based on the natural progression of their respective careers. (Added Aug. 19)
Brian Thomas (Jax) — Thomas could be more than a vertical threat as rookie based on recent camp reports. Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles called him a “talented, great wide receiver” during joint practices in mid-August. OC Press Taylor said on Aug. 21, “You can see his development and the player he’s becoming. He’s already showing more than we saw before, and he’s still far from reaching his peak, even two weeks or 18 weeks from now.” Thomas initially looked like a boom-or-bust WR4 depending on if his deep connection with Lawrence was clicking in a given week, but he’s potentially developing into Jacksonville’s #1 option as a rookie. (Added Aug. 22)
Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir (Buf) — Curtis Samuel is week-to-week with a turf toe injury, which has his availability for the season opener up in the air with Week 1 less than three weeks away. Samuel’s injury is a concerning development since he missed a game for a toe injury last season and managed just 3/11 receiving in the two games after his return. Buffalo’s WR depth is currently being tested with Marquez Valdes-Scantling also week-to-week with a neck injury. Second-round pick Coleman and Shakir will get extra face time with Josh Allen in the final weeks of training camp. Buffalo’s top three WRs are each being selected 100-to-115 picks into drafts, but Coleman and Shakir should see their ADPs surge while Samuel’s sags in the final weeks of fantasy drafts. (Added Aug. 19)
Josh Downs (Ind) — Downs suffered a high-ankle sprain in an Aug. 7 practice, which will keep him out for 4-to-6 weeks (per Ian Rapoport). He was off to a strong start in training camp, distancing himself from Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce for the #2 WR job, but he’ll be in a race to be ready for the season opener against the Texans, which was 4.5 weeks away at the time of the injury. Our Edwin Porras wrote that 80% of high-ankle sprains in WRs since 2014 are resolved in 0-to-4 weeks, and receivers return to 94% of their baseline production by their second week back from a high-ankle injury. He shed his walking boot this week, which gives him a chance to start practicing in the near future. Downs is in danger of getting off to a slow start, but he should be back on track by the end of September at the latest. We viewed Downs as a value when he was being drafted as a WR5, and he’s become even more of a draft-day discount (153.4, W66) after his injury. (Updated Aug. 23)
Ja’Lynn Polk (NE) — The Patriots coaching staff has been making Polk and Javon Baker earn playing time, playing them behind K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton in the first two preseason games. They’re finally letting Polk loose in practice this week, promoting him to the first-team offense with fellow rookies Caedan Wallace at right tackle and Layden Robinson at left guard (per Doug Kyed). It was only a matter of time before Polk started to mix in with the starter, which is why we’ve been targeting him at the end of drafts. New England’s second-round pick has a chance to stand out quickly in a receiving corps filled with #3 WR types or worse. (Added Aug. 20)
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill (NO) — Yahoo announced they’re adding TE eligibility for Hill so he’ll now be listed as a QB/TE this season. Taysom now has TE eligibility at Yahoo, ESPN, Sleeper, and NFFC among the top platforms. He’s yet to throw a pass in the preseason, but he’s seen reps at fullback and running back, which has propelled him to 5/21/1 rushing and 1 target in his first two games. Hill’s positional eligibility is split between quarterback and tight end at most sites. He can be left for the waiver wire in leagues where he’s listed as a quarterback, but he’s worth a late-round flier at sites where he’s listed as a TE. Hill’s weekly usage and production is going to be all over the map, but he could turn into a low-end TE1 option if he continues to get backfield work if Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams continue to disappoint behind a declining Alvin Kamara. (Added Aug. 22)
Juwan Johnson (NO) — The Saints activated Johnson from the PUP list about eight weeks after he underwent surgery on his foot in mid-June. The hope was that he’d be ready for the start of the season, and he should have enough practice time to be ready for the Panthers in Week 1 — he returned to team drills on Aug. 22. He’s seen his ADP tumble from the TE20 in best ball drafts in mid-June to the TE25 in mid-August, but he’s still in a great situation to potentially have a career season entering his fifth campaign. Derek Carr has limited options at WR behind Chris Olave, and Johnson will be competing with Rashid Shaheed and Alvin Kamara for targets behind him. Jimmy Graham is also gone and Taysom Hill has seen more backfield reps in August, which clears a path for Johnson to improve his 61.1% route share and his 13.6% target share from last season. The converted WR has shown the ability to find the end zone with 15 scores on 146 targets (10.3%) in the last three seasons, which makes him a good longshot bet given his potential standing in this offense. (Updated Aug. 22)
DOWNGRADES
Players whom we’re feeling less optimistic about based on training camp reports and injury news.
Quarterbacks
None of note.
Running Backs
Jaylen Warren (Pit) — Warren left Pittsburgh’s Aug. 17 game with a hamstring injury, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Warren will miss multiple weeks, which has his status for the season opener “up in the air.” He has a little over three weeks to play against the Falcons on Sept 8, and Edwin Porras wrote that 80% of RBs with a hamstring injury since 2018 have returned within two weeks. The bad news is that the risk of re-injury is around 24%, which typically results in another two-week absence. Mike Tomlin said on Aug. 21 that Warren will miss the rest of this week but his injury isn’t a “long-term concern.” The Steelers also lost C Nate Herbig for the season to a torn rotator cuff. Warren could be looking at a bell-cow role to open the season if Warren misses the start of the season and any additional time after that. Warren had pulled dead even with Harris in ADP before his injury, but Najee is now being selected three picks ahead of Warren (79.6 and 84.37) just four days after the injury and his advantage is likely to grow. I’m more inclined to buy the incoming dip on Warren, especially if his ADP falls by 1-to-2 rounds than to draft Najee at his rising ADP. (Updated Aug. 21)
Dameon Pierce (Hou) — The Texans have tried their best to talk up Pierce heading into his third season, but he’s in real danger of falling behind Cam Akers because of a pair of poor preseason performances (per Jonathan Alexander). HC DeMeco Ryans said this spring that Pierce “put in the work” and he could form a one-two punch with Joe Mixon, before telling the NFL Network that Pierce has taken advantage of his additional starter’s reps in training camp. His work hasn’t translated to the field as he’s collected just 9 yards on 8 carries in two preseason games. It comes after Pierce had a truly dreadful first season in Bobby Slowik’s zone scheme, ranking dead last in YPC (2.87) and yards before contact per attempt (.41) among 49 RBs with 100+ carries. Pierce has been so bad I removed him from our “Mr. Relevant” article as a potential late-round flier. (Added Aug. 20)
Wide Receivers
Jahan Dotson (Phi) — The Eagles acquired Dotson and a fifth-round pick from the Commanders in exchange for a third-round pick and a pair of seventh-round picks (per Adam Schefter). Washington put Dotson on notice in mid-August when HC Dan Quinn told reporters they’re “in the middle of” a search for their WR2 behind Terry McLaurin. The Athletic’s Ben Standig noted that Dotson had been uneven in practices this summer, which was why he played a team-high 32 snaps in their preseason opener. He’s coming off a dreadful second season, ranking third in overall routes (608) but last in targets per route run (.13) and ahead of only Jonathan Mingo in YPRR (.85). The Eagles are betting on Dotson’s first-round pedigree to fill their massive #3 WR hole behind studs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. He’ll give them some much-needed depth at the position, but his chances of being a fantasy-relevant option have decreased despite moving to a better offense. (Added Aug. 22)
Philadelphia Eagles Receiving Corps (Phi) — The Eagles acquired Dotson and a fifth-round pick from the Commanders in exchange for a third-round pick and a pair of seventh-round picks (per Adam Schefter). The Eagles are betting on Dotson’s first-round pedigree to fill their massive #3 WR hole behind studs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and he’ll give them some much-needed depth at the position. Dotson’s addition is a small target volume downgrade for Brown, Smith, and Dallas Goedert. The one small victory for this receiving corps could come in the form of more slot routes for Smith — Dotson ran 57% of his routes out wide last season. Smith’s slot rate has risen in his first three seasons (33%>25%>12%), and he averaged 2.35 YPRR with a 24.2% target share inside in 2023 compared to 1.76 YPRR with a 19.4% target share on the perimeter. I’m still targeting Smith (34.4, WR22) and I’m willing to select Brown (9.5, WR6) and Goedert (121.4, TE12) at their ADPs, but their ceilings will be capped a little more with Dotson in the fold. (Added Aug. 22)
Curtis Samuel (Buf) — Samuel is week-to-week with a turf toe injury, which has his availability for the season opener up in the air with Week 1 less than three weeks away. Samuel’s injury is a concerning development since he missed a game for a toe injury last season and managed just 3/11 receiving in the two games after his return. Buffalo’s WR depth is currently being tested with Marquez Valdes-Scantling also week-to-week with a neck injury. Second-round pick Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir will get extra face time with Josh Allen in the final weeks of training camp. Buffalo’s top three WRs are each being selected 100-to-115 picks into drafts, but Coleman and Shakir should see their ADPs surge while Samuel’s sags in the final weeks of fantasy drafts. (Updated Aug. 23)
Ricky Pearsall (SF) — Pearsall won’t practice this week because of his ongoing shoulder injury, which means he won’t see any preseason action as a rookie. The Athletic’s David Lombardi believes that Pearsall could be inactive in the season opener since he’s seen so few live reps. Pearsall could be headed to a limited role as a rookie, but he’s not buried just yet as the Brandon Aiyuk situation continues to play out. (Added Aug. 21)
Roman Wilson (Pit) — Wilson, Pittsburgh’s third-round pick, will not play in a single preseason game (per Brooke Pryor). Pittsburgh’s already thin WR depth chart took a hit when the Michigan slot receiver had to be carted off the field during a July 30 practice. Wilson avoided the worst-case scenario of a foot injury but he’s still yet to practice since then. Wilson is going to be the slow out of the gates as a rookie in what is set to be a run-heavy attack under Arthur Smith, and he can be left for the waiver wire to start the season. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin will compete for targets at WR behind George Pickens to open the season. (Added Aug. 21)
Tight Ends
Jelanie Woods (Ind) — Woods’ rough training camp got even worse when he picked up a toe injury that’s expected to result in surgery (per Joel A. Erickson). Woods found himself buried on the depth chart behind Kyle Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, and Drew Ogletree during training camp practices after missing his entire second season due to a hamstring injury. Woods is going to miss games to open the season and the odds of being fantasy relevant this season and during his career are quickly diminishing. (Added Aug. 21)
WATCH LIST
Players who we’re not ready to upgrade or downgrade but whose situations demand monitoring based on training camp reports and injury news.
Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson (Cle) — Watson played in just six games in 2023 before his season ended for throwing shoulder surgery, and he missed an Aug. 21 practice to deal with what HC Kevin Stefanski described as “general arm soreness” (per Daniel Oyefusi). Stefanski went on to say that he’s “not overly concerned” about the issue, and he did return to a full practice on Aug. 22. The ship has likely sailed on Watson returning to his Houston form when he finished as a top-5 fantasy QB in 2018-20, but he’s playing in a friendly scheme with excellent weapons to crack the top 12 if he can stay healthy. His ability to stay healthy is a massive question but he’s at least a late-round dart throw (169.7, QB21) if you want to roll the dice with him. (Added Aug. 22)
Running Backs
Jahmyr Gibbs (Det) — Dan Campbell said on Aug. 20 that Gibbs and Sam LaPorta could both return to practice as early as Aug. 25 or at some point next week (per Dave Birkett). Both Gibbs and LaPorta have missed chunks of training camp with minor hamstring issues but both players appear to be well on track to be ready for the season opener against the Rams. Hopefully, you took advantage of Gibbs’ slight ADP dip (13.8, RB5) over the last week. (Added Aug. 20)
Elijah Mitchell (SF) and Isaac Guerendo (SF) — The 49ers backfield is getting back to full strength with Mitchell, Guerendo, and Patrick Taylor rejoining practice this week. Mitchell and Guerendo were out for hamstring injuries, and the 49ers are ramping up Christian McCaffrey in side workouts as he nears a return from his minor calf injury. San Francisco’s backfield absences have enabled Jordan Mason to get extra run with the starting offense in training camp, which could give him a leg up on Mitchell in the battle for the backup role to CMC. It wouldn’t be shocking if the 49ers trade one of their backs around cutdown day if they’re squeezed trying to get down to 53 players. (Added Aug. 22)
Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb (Dal) — Lamb is currently set to play out the fifth and final season of his rookie contract, but he’s yet to report to camp, which means the Cowboys can fine him for not showing up. Justin Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension this summer that includes $110 million guaranteed, which is the template for Lamb. Owner Jerry Jones said of the ongoing negotiations with Lamb, “I don’t have any urgency to get it done.” Lamb tweeted, “lol.” on a repost of Jones’ quote, which was subsequently retweeted by Micah Parsons. The Cowboys have been putting off some bad vibes this off-season with no deals looming for Lamb, Parsons, or Dak Prescott through early August. Beat reporter Clarence Hill wrote that “there is no one on the Cowboys who doesn’t believe ground will be made up and Lamb will be back with the team before the start of the season.” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wrote on Aug. 20 that she’s “heard from two different league sources that Lamb’s deal in Dallas is getting done soon.” (Updated Aug. 20)
Ja’Marr Chase (Cin) — Chase is in search of a new contract and he skipped his first practices of training camp last week, but he was back to observing practice on Aug. 19 (per Ben Baby). Ja’Marr is under contract through 2025 after the Bengals picked up his fifth-year option, and the Bengals typically move at their own rate when it comes to locking up players to long-term deals. However, Chase is among the NFL’s elite WRs and holding in at camp, which puts more pressure on Cincinnati’s front office to get a new deal done. (Updated Aug. 19)
DeAndre Hopkins (Ten) — Hopkins has been rehabbing a knee strain since the early part of training camp, and HC Brian Callahan said on Aug. 18 that they expect to have Nuk back for the season opener. Dr. Edwin Porras believed Hopkins was dealing with an LCL injury and that he was in jeopardy of missing Week 1 in the worst-case scenario. Nuk previously needed surgery to his right MCL in 2021 and his current injury appears to be to his left knee based on training camp video, which is a small consolation for Hopkins. He ranked inside the top 10 in target share (26.9%), end-zone targets (14), air yards share (43.6%), and targets per route run (29%) last season. The Titans added target competition in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, but Tennessee is expected to completely flip how they play under Callahan. Hopkins hadn’t shown many signs of slowing down with the Titans moving to a potentially pass-heavy scheme, but his latest injury is a major red flag heading into his age-32 campaign in his 11th season. He has a solid chance to return for the season opener, and drafting him is a little more palatable since his ADP (96.5, WR46) has fallen by a round and a half. (Added Aug. 19)
Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta (Det) — Dan Campbell said on Aug. 20 that Jahmyr Gibbs and LaPorta could both return to practice as early as Aug. 25 or at some point next week (per Dave Birkett). Both Gibbs and LaPorta have missed chunks of training camp with minor hamstring issues but both players appear to be well on track to be ready for the season opener against the Rams. LaPorta has been slightly overvalued at his early fourth-round ADP (38.5, TE1). (Added Aug. 20)
