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.
UPGRADES
Players whom we’re feeling more optimistic about based on training camp reports and injury news.
Quarterbacks
Anthony Richardson (Ind) — HC Shane Steichen said he doesn’t plan on limiting Richardson as a runner after injuries derailed his rookie season. Steichen said, “It’s just like, ‘Hey, are you going to limit the run game?’ And I kind of think like, ‘Shoot, are you going to limit Steph Curry from shooting 3-pointers?’ Well, that's one of Anthony's strengths, right? So, we’re not going to get away from that. That’s what he does.” Richardson said during spring workouts that he doesn’t plan on changing his dual-threat playing style. He underwent season-ending throwing-shoulder surgery last October for a severe AC joint injury, which ended his rookie campaign after just 173 snaps. His fantasy impact was still felt with a QB4 and QB2 finish in four starts, and he averaged an incredible .76 FP per dropback. For perspective, Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud had the same number of top-4 finishes and last year’s QB1 Josh Allen averaged .64 FP/DB. Richardson is worth the risk at his ADP (63.8, QB6) because of his QB1 upside. (Added July 26)
Joe Burrow (Cin) — Burrow has been fully cleared for contract after undergoing season-ending wrist surgery to his throwing arm last year. He’s angling for his first normal training camp after having his typical “range and power” in his throwing wrist during the spring. Burrow dealt with a COVID camp (2020), an ACL recovery (2021), an appendectomy (2022), and a calf injury (2023), which has resulted in slow starts to his seasons. Burrow has averaged 246.0 passing YPG with a 4.2% TD rate in Games 1-4 in his career, which pales in comparison to his 281.9 passing YPG and 5.5% TD rate in Games 5-18. We’re getting an injury discount on Burrow, who is available at a multiple-round discount compared to where he was drafted last summer. (Added July 26)
Jordan Love (GB) — The Packers and Love agreed to terms on a four-year, $220 million extension, which ties him with Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow as the highest-paid players in annual average salary at $55 million. He also landed a record $75 million signing bonus and $155 million guaranteed. Love finished behind only Dak Prescott with 32 touchdown passes in his first season as a starter, and he threw multiple TDs in 10 of the final 11 games (postseason included). He impressively did it with a receiving corps made up primarily of first- and second-year players. Love’s ADP is being slightly overvalued (76.4, QB7), but drafters are rightfully optimistic about his second season as a starter after his impressive end to 2023. (Updated July 27)
Tua Tagovailoa (Mia) — The Dolphins and Tagovailoa agreed to terms on a four-year, $212.4 million extension with $167 million in guaranteed money. Tua had lackluster finishes to his last two seasons, and he accounted for 1 or fewer TDs in 10-of-18 games (postseason included) in 2023, including in five of his last six games. He led the NFL with 4624 passing yards and still finished as a mid-QB2 because he brings zero to the table as a runner. He averaged just .48 FPG as a runner in 2022-23, which capped both his ceiling and lowered his weekly floor and it makes it tough for him to compete with the best fantasy options at the position. (Added July 26)
Deshaun Watson (Cle) — Browns GM Andrew Berry told ESPN’ Dan Graziano that the organization brought in former Bills OC Ken Dorsey to help Kevin Stefanski cater his offense more toward Watson’s strengths as a quarterback. Berry said of Dorsey, “He’s a real good quarterback guy, a real good pass-game guy, and then just philosophically, we wanted to be better in the dropback game, the RPO games and really kind of expand our use of motion in our core concepts — and also increase our tempo.” Watson has thrown for just 14 TDs in appearances over the last three years, but he did log three top-10 fantasy performances in six appearances before suffering his season-ending shoulder injury. He averaged 18.7 FPG in his five full games, which would’ve tied him for the QB11 over the entire season. The additions of Dorsey and Jerry Jeudy have Watson’s arrow pointing up, but Watson’s ADP has plummeted from last summer. He’ll be making an appearance in our Mr. Relevant article in a few weeks. (Added July 30)
Geno Smith (Sea) — Smith is working through a hip injury early in camp, but he told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that he wants to run more this season. He said, “ I’m still very athletic. I play within the pocket, that’s the base of my game, but I think I could add an extra element to what defenses have to account for if I get a couple of extra first downs or a couple of extra touchdowns.” Geno’s rushing YPG (21.5>10.3) and rushing FPG (2.5>1.4) plummeted from 2022 to 2023, and he also saw his overall fantasy production decline from 2022 (18.8, QB8) to 2023 (16.0, QB22). His leash is a little shorter with a new coaching staff and a new backup QB (Sam Howell), but he’s still one of my favorite low-end QB2 targets if this offense can get a bump from Ryan Grubb’s new offense. (Added Aug. 3)
Running Backs
Breece Hall (NYJ) — Aaron Rodgers heaped praise on Hall’s ability as a receiver near the goal-line after the Jets offense scored 6 TDs on 16 red-zone plays in a July 31 practice. Hall scored two of the touchdowns, which prompted Rodgers to say “What he’s shown talent wise out of the backfield is pretty impressive. If you look at some of the plays he ran today, it says a lot when your bell cow running back is No. 1 in the progression on red zone routes.” Hall led all RBs in targets (90) and receptions (76) last season, and an improved offensive line and a massive jump in QB play give him a chance to improve his 17.1 FPG (RB6) from last season. He’s competing with Bijan Robinson to be the RB2 in fantasy drafts, and he faces little competition for touches while Robinson is likely to concede some touches to Tyler Allgeier. I’ve preferred Hall over Robinson in the middle of the first round, but Bijan is out-pacing Breece in ADP (3.5 to 5.0) to start August. (Added Aug. 1)
Joe Mixon (Hou) — OC Bobby Slowik gushed over his newest running back Mixon at the start of training camp. He said, “He’s an absolute workhorse, in every regard. Not just as a ball carrier. He embraces protections. He embraces the other things he can do outside of carrying the ball, as an eligible [receiver], as a decoy.” Dameon Pierce will try to push Mixon for work after being demoted for Devin Singletary in the second half of last season. The Texans also added another body to their backfield by signing Cam Akers, who will compete for a roster spot after being a sixth-round pick last season. Houston acquired Mixon from the Bengals and promptly signed him to a three-year extension with $13 million guaranteed, which is another indication they want Mixon to be a “workhorse”, as Slowik said. Texans RBs posted the second-fewest targets (71) with the aggressive C.J. Stroud at quarterback, so Mixon should take a small step back in the passing game after averaging 6.7 FPG as a receiver over the last three seasons. Mixon is still in a solid spot to reach 9+ TDs for the fourth straight season and to be a volume-based RB2 if he doesn’t fall off a cliff in his eighth season. He’s missed practices at the start of camp for a tight hamstring, which is something to keep an eye on. (Added July 26)
Alvin Kamara (NO) — Kamara reported to training camp and participated in drills despite seeking a new contract. He’s effectively in the final year of his current contract, which has $22.4 million in unguaranteed money on it for 2025. Kendre Miller is coming off a miserable, injury-plagued rookie campaign with just 41 carries in eight games because of knee and hamstring issues. His sophomore campaign got off on the wrong foot after picking up a hamstring injury at the start of training camp, which prompted HC Dennis Allen to tell the press, “It’s hard to make the team when you’re in the training room all the time.” Taysom Hill could still be a factor near the goal line, and he notably hasn’t thrown a pass at practice to start training camp. HC Dennis Allen said Hill has been playing a lot of different positions and alignments in new OC Klint Kubiak’s offense. If Miller can’t earn a bigger role in his second season, Kamara could be eyeing a huge workload once again despite coming off a career-worst 4.5 yards per touch average. (Updated July 29)
Javonte Williams (Den) — Williams reported to camp at 220 pounds, which was 11 pounds lighter than last season, and he dropped the weight at the urging of Sean Payton. Williams reportedly still looked sluggish during OTAs after he averaged 3.6 YPC in his first season since tearing his ACL four games into the 2022 season. Payton suggested this spring that Williams trim down to his college playing weight after he bulked up last season after his surgery. Payton said he could see Williams’ old explosiveness back in early practices, and he reiterated a week later when he said, “He looks like a completely different player…He’s fully healthy now. You can see it in his play.” Williams listened to Payton’s advice but it’s still a little concerning that he didn’t slim down on his own. This is a messy backfield with five players vying for a role in potentially one of the league’s worst offenses, but he’s at least trending in the right direction. (Updated Aug. 2)
Jerome Ford (Cle) — 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 is expected to play in the same role as the lead back while Chubb is out, and the plan was for D’Onta Foreman to step into Kareem Hunt’s old role, which included short-yardage work. Foreman’s availability is up in the air after he needed to be taken to the hospital for a neck injury suffered in an Aug. 1 practice. Foreman was released from the hospital later that day after CT scans on his neck came back negative, which is a good sign he could be back sooner rather than later. Pierre Strong would be elevated into a bigger role if both Chubb and Foreman miss time early in the season, but Ford should be expected to take on even more work if Foreman remains out of the mix early in the season. Ford’s ADP (111.8, RB38) has been steadily rising since Chubb started training camp on the PUP list. (Updated Aug. 1)
Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason (SF) — Isaac Guerendo is expected to miss multiple weeks because of a hamstring injury (per Adam Schefter). The multi-week injury crushes the fourth-rounder’s slim chances of claiming the backup job to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco’s elite offense. Mitchell was the favorite to claim this spot entering training camp, and his competition has been thinned down to Mason and Patrick Taylor. HC Kyle Shanahan said Mason is pushing Mitchell for the #2 job after a strong start to training camp. Mitchell will need to hold off Mason and he’d be the top waiver wire pickup if CMC missed time this season, but he has a minimal role when the 49ers are at full strength. (Updated July 30)
Wide Receivers
Malik Nabers (NYG) — New York’s sixth overall pick Nabers has been getting heavy work with the starters in his first week of NFL training camps. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan charted 4 targets and a carry for Nabers in 20 first-team offensive plays in a July 25 practice. He had just 1 target through the first 10 plays before Brian Daboll talked to Daniel Jones and Nabers while the backups ran plays. Raanan believes it’s not crazy to think Nabers could see 150 targets as New York’s #1 WR. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Nabers will be utilized in the quick passing game because of New York’s pass protection issues, which will give the rookie plenty of after-the-catch opportunities. Nabers will challenge Marvin Harrison for the highest target share among rookie receivers, but his ceiling isn’t as high playing in a Danny Dimes-led offense, which is why he’s going about two rounds later than Harrison at an ADP of 36.8 (WR23). (Updated July 29)
DeVonta Smith (Phi) — Slot CB Avonte Maddox said he’s noticed Smith lining up in the slot during training camp under new OC Kellen Moore (per Brandon Lee Gowton). Moore said earlier in camp that he’s trying to create mismatches for Smith and A.J. Brown by moving them around the formation (per Jimmy Kempski). Brown (79%) and Smith (67%) ran more than two-thirds of their routes on the perimeter under Brian Johnson last season. Smith averaged 2.35 YPRR with a 24.2% target share compared to 1.76 YPRR with a 19.4% target share on the perimeter. (Added July 29)
D.J. Moore (Chi) — The Bears and Moore agreed to terms on a four-year, $110 million extension that includes $82.6 million guaranteed, which was the richest deal in franchise history. Moore had two years remaining on his current contract but the Bears decided to get ahead of his future contract situation because of the exploding WR contract and since Caleb Williams is playing on a rookie deal. Chicago is convinced Moore is a massive piece of their future success after playing like an elite WR1 in an overall bad offense. He showed last season he has a WR1 skillset in an overall bad offense. He’s now priced as a mid-WR2 because of target share concerns in what should be a much-improved offense. (Added July 31)
Cooper Kupp (LAR) — The Rams believe Kupp is all the way back from his injury-riddled last two seasons, and a source close to the 31-year-old receiver told Jeremy Fowler, “He’s on an absolute mission. He was deeply affected about not being out there for parts of last year.” Fowler noted that Matthew Stafford couldn’t stop throwing to Kupp during the practice he attended, and he wrote that the offense “clearly runs through him.” Kupp could go down as an early-round value and he could challenge Puka Nacua as the focal point of this passing attack if he’s anywhere close to being back to full health. (Added Aug. 3)
Rashee Rice (KC) — Rice created a tumultuous off-season for himself with his off-the-field behavior. He was arrested in Dallas for his role in a street race in late March before allegedly assaulting a photographer at a Dallas nightclub in May. His assault charges in his nightclub incident were dropped, and it appears that the justice system is moving slowly on his street-racing case. He has a civil trial date set for Dec. 9 but no criminal trial has yet to be scheduled. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said the NFL has yet to reach out to them about a potential suspension as of late July. Rice’s ADP plummeted by multiple rounds because of the potential of a suspension, but it’s looking more likely that Rice could avoid a suspension during the 2024 season. Rice has more competition for targets since the Chiefs signed Marquise Brown and drafted Xavier Worthy, but he’s an ascending second-year player who already has chemistry with Patrick Mahomes. Rice has league-winning upside if you’re willing to stomach some declining risk of a suspension. (Added July 26)
Diontae Johnson (Car) — HC Dave Canales told reporters he’s going to move Johnson around the formation and their passing game will be dictated by how other teams decide to cover him. Canales said, “As we build our offense, we really try to feature someone. And for us right now, ‘where is Diontae Johnson at?’” Diontae told the media in the spring that Canales said he’d be the “first read in the progression” on almost every play. Johnson will have the chance to rack up catches and targets to beat his ADP (71.6, WR37) easily, and he has some upside potential if Bryce Young makes a leap under the QB whisperer Canales. (Added July 26)
Ladd McConkey (LAC) — Quentin Johnston has been the odd man out in three-WR sets in the early days of Chargers training camp, which continued into the second week of camp. Rookie McConkey, D.J. Chark, and Josh Palmer have been working with Justin Herbert and the first-team offense. The Athletic’s Daniel Popper believes that McConkey is the early leader to fill in Keenan Allen’s old role as Herbert’s go-to receiver in critical situations. McConkey has a chance to become a weekly WR3 in PPR formats because of his path to become Herbert’s #1 target even with Los Angeles’s 37.2 pass attempts per game (5th most) set to fall dramatically. (Updated July 31)
Jameson Williams (Det) — Williams has received plenty of praise this off-season, and the latest came from The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner who believes Jameson looks like a different player from last year. He wrote on July 24, “Williams looks stronger through the middle, more explosive with better body control in the air and near the sideline. If he had one hit the dirt today I didn’t see it.” HC Dan Campbell talked up Williams at the start of OTAs, calling him a “man on a mission” and the most improved player since the start of the spring (per Colton Pouncy). OC Ben Johnson got in on the Jameson praise on Aug. 1 when he made a point to say “his route tree has developed” this off-season. I still can’t resist selecting Williams at his current ADP (95.5, WR45) since the Lions handed him the undisputed #2 WR spot in one of the league’s best offenses after Josh Reynolds left for Denver. (Updated Aug. 2)
Michael Wilson (Ari) — Second-year receiver Wilson opened training camp running with the starters ahead of Zay Jones, whom the Cardinals signed this off-season. Marvin Harrison and Greg Dortch are expected to join him in three-WR sets with Jones mixing in behind them, and Wilson will primarily line up on the perimeter after he ran 74.5% of his routes out wide. He’s off the radar in all but deeper fantasy formats (180.0, WR72) with Harrison and Trey McBride expected to dominate targets. (Added July 26)
Andre Iosivas (Cin) — Iosivas has received extra reps early in training camp with Ja’Marr Chase searching for a new contract and, by all accounts, he’s taken full advantage of his opportunity. The Athletic’s Paul Dehner called the second-year pro the “offensive star of camp”, which continued when he made his debut playing in the slot in a July 30 practice. Dehner noted that third-round pick Jermaine Burton has received most of the hype as the potential Tyler Boyd replacement, but there’s no denying the “Iosivas hype” to start camp. Joe Burrow added more fuel to the hype train when he said, ““Andre is going to have a big year. I’m really excited about how he’s coming along. Wherever he ends up playing, whether it’s outside or inside, he’s able to do it all.” The 2023 sixth-round pick out of Princeton is big (6’3”, 205 pounds) and athletic (92.9 SPORQ score) receiver who is forcing his way into the picture in deeper formats. He’s also likely to be a popular preseason DFS play. (Updated Aug. 2)
Tight Ends
Colby Parkinson (LAR) — The Rams placed Tyler Higbee on the PUP list to start training camp as he continues to recover from ACL and MCL tears that he suffered in Los Angeles’ Wild Card loss in January. Higbee is likely to open the season on the PUP list and he could miss well into the season, and the Rams prepared to be without Higbee by handing Colby Parkinson $15.5 million guaranteed in free agency. He’s been a standout as the top TE to open training camp, and he’s ahead of Davis Allen and Hunter Long as the fill-in for Higbee (per Cameron DaSilva). Parkinson has a runway to take this job and run with it, and he’s one of my favorite late-round darts at the position in TE-premium formats playing with fantasy kingmaker Matthew Stafford. (Added Aug. 1)
Greg Dulcich (Den) — Dulcich has been limited to just 12 appearances out of a possible 34 games (35.3%) because of injuries through his first two seasons, including just two games in his first season under Sean Payton — he didn’t even finish either contest. Hamstring injuries have severely hampered his career and he spent the off-season strengthening his hamstring and rewiring his running gait (per Parker Gabriel). Gabriel wrote that Dulcich is focused on “striking the ground with better alignment under his hip and closer to the middle of his foot rather than on his toes.” Payton had plans to use Dulcich all over the field last August before his hamstring started to act up. Dulcich has his work cut out for him to become fantasy relevant with Payton also set to rotate Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull at the position. At least the Broncos have a wide-open passing-game pecking order behind Courtland Sutton, so there are worse dart throws than Dulcich in TE-premium formats. (Added July 29)
DOWNGRADES
Players whom we’re feeling less optimistic about based on training camp reports and injury news.
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert (LAC) — The Chargers announced they’ve temporarily shut down Herbert in training camp for a plantar fascia injury. He’ll wear a boot on his right foot for about the next two weeks before gradually ramping him up for the start of the season. Dr. Edwin Porras believes the Chargers are 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. It’s overall bad news for a Chargers offense that’s installing a new system under Jim Harbaugh, and the only player it may slightly benefit is Josh Palmer since he already has a significant track record with Herbert. Palmer scored 9.7+ FP in seven of eight games from Week 3 on when Mike Williams tore his ACL, and he averaged 1.89 YPRR on 30.7 routes per game overall. We were already concerned about Herbert with his passing volume set to plummet under Harbaugh, and now he’s at risk of running less and aggravating the injury in season. (Added Aug. 2)
J.J. McCarthy (Min) — HC Kevin O’Connell said Sam Darnold will take the majority of first-team reps in training camp with McCarthy also mixing in with the starters. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis observed Darnold taking every first-team rep that the media saw during spring workouts. Darnold is the prohibitive favorite to open the season as the starter, but McCarthy could break into the lineup as soon as Week 7 after their bye. McCarthy has some untapped potential as a runner and he’ll play in a fantasy-friendly attack with Justin Jefferson, but he’ll open the season off the radar in all but 2-QB/Superflex drafts. (Added July 26)
Running Backs
Nick Chubb (Cle) — 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. Jerome Ford is expected to play the same role as the lead back while Chubb is out, and the plan was for D’Onta Foreman to step into Kareem Hunt’s old role, which included short-yardage work. Foreman’s availability is up in the air after he needed to be taken to the hospital for a neck injury suffered in an Aug. 1 practice — the team reported he had movement in all of his extremities. Foreman was released from the hospital later that day after CT scans on his neck came back negative, which is a good sign he could be back sooner rather than later. Pierre Strong would be elevated into a bigger role if both Chubb and Foreman miss time early in the season, but Ford should be expected to take on even more work if Foreman remains out of the mix. Chubb is far from guaranteed to return to his previous form in 2024 or ever again, and he carries far too much risk without enough upside to select him this summer. (Updated Aug. 2)
Kendre Miller (NO) — Miller is coming off a miserable, injury-plagued rookie campaign with just 41 carries in eight games because of knee and hamstring issues. His sophomore campaign got off on the wrong foot after picking up a hamstring injury at the start of training camp, which prompted HC Dennis Allen to tell the press, “It’s hard to make the team when you’re in the training room all the time.” Miller is struggling to stay healthy and, if he does manage to play, he’s likely to lose receiving opportunities to Alvin Kamara and goal-line touches to Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams. Hill notably hasn’t thrown a pass at practice to start training camp. HC Dennis Allen said Hill has been playing a lot of different positions and alignments in new OC Klint Kubiak’s offense. Miller is falling behind for the second straight season so look elsewhere for RB help late in the double-digit rounds of your drafts (132.8, RB43). (Updated July 29)
Isaac Guerendo (SF) — Guerendo is expected to miss multiple weeks because of a hamstring injury (per Adam Schefter). The multi-week injury crushes the fourth-rounder’s slim chances of claiming the backup job to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco’s elite offense. Elijah Mitchell was the favorite to claim this spot entering training camp, and his competition has been thinned down to Jordan Mason and Patrick Taylor. Mitchell would be the top waiver wire pickup if CMC missed time this season, but he has a minimal role when the 49ers are at full strength. (Added July 29)
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins (Ten) — Hopkins is set to miss four to six weeks with a knee strain (per Paul Kuharsky). Dr. Edwin Porras believes Hopkins is dealing with an LCL injury and that he’s in jeopardy of missing Week 1 in the worst-case scenario. Brian Callahan confirmed that Hopkins will miss “several weeks” for the injury and that the injury didn’t require surgery. 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, but his ADP (80.8, WR40) will need to slip by a round or two for me to jump back in on him. (Added Aug. 3)
Quentin Johnston (LAC) — Johnston has been the odd-man out in three-WR sets in the early days of Chargers training camp, which continued into the second week of camp. Rookie Ladd McConkey, D.J. Chark, and Josh Palmer have been working with Justin Herbert and the first-team offense. There’s still plenty of time for the second-year WR to climb the depth chart in training camp, but it's still an ominous start for Johnston under a new regime after a disappointing rookie campaign. (Updated July 31)
Adonai Mitchell (Ind) — Mitchell is splitting first-team reps with Alec Pierce early in camp, and Pierce has been making more of an impact with the starters in early practices (per James Boyd). Boyd wrote that Mitchell has been relatively quiet during team periods and that Pierce “remains firmly in place as the Colts’ third starting receiver”. Michael Pittman and Josh Downs are the top dogs in this passing game, and Mitchell will need to separate from Pierce as a downfield threat to become a starter. He has a tough path to consistent production even if was to earn a starting role, and he may battle with Pierce for routes and snaps for at least the early part of the season. His ADP (159.2, WR72) has steadily fallen this summer and it should continue to dip in August. (Added Aug. 1)
Roman Wilson (Pit) — Pittsburgh’s already thin WR depth chart took a hit when third-round pick Wilson had to be carted off the field during a July 30 practice. It appears that Wilson avoided the worst-case scenario of a foot injury as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that he’ll miss a few weeks for an ankle injury. Wilson’s absence could speed up Pittsburgh’s search for additional WR help now that they’re down to Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson as the top options behind George Pickens. Wilson could be the slow out of the gates as a rookie in what is set to be a run-heavy attack under Arthur Smith. (Added July 31)
Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid (Buf) — Top Bills beat reporter Joe Buscaglia wrote at the start of training camp that early indications are that Kincaid won’t usurp the full-time role from Dawson Knox this year. Kincaid had a slow start to his rookie season until Knox missed time in Weeks 8-12, which paved the way for Kincaid to see an uptick in production. He averaged 6.2/56.2 receiving with 2 TDs on 7.4 targets and 31.8 routes per game for 14.0 FPG in those five weeks. When Knox returned in Week 13, Kincaid dipped to 3.5/43.3 receiving with 1 TD on 5.3 targets and 23.4 routes per game for 8.8 FPG in seven games from Week 13 through the Divisional Round. Kincaid is in a better position to stay more involved in the passing game after Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis departed this off-season, but he’ll still fend with Knox for opportunities in an offense that went more run-heavy after Joe Brady took over. I’m gravitating toward drafting Mark Andrews slightly before Kincaid goes off the board or waiting for a round or two to snag Evan Engram and Jake Ferguson. (Added July 26)
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
None of note.
Running Backs
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum(LAR) — OG Jonah Jackson suffered a bruised left scapula (per Adam Schefter) that will keep him out for the preseason and potentially up to six weeks, which could put him in jeopardy of missing a regular season game or two if he’s slow to heal. The Rams handed Jackson a three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million guaranteed to beef up the interior of their offensive line. Williams was already one of the league’s best inside runners before Jackson’s signing, leading the league in rushing yards (647) and ranking second to Christian McCaffrey in TDs (10) on carries in the A and B gaps. Jackson’s injury is one to monitor in late August but not one to panic about right now. Sean McVay has preferred bell-cow options to start his coaching career but that could change this season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote that multiple people with the Rams said that Corum was a “F*ing stud”, and he believes that Corum could make his impact on third downs and in the passing game. Corum’s presence makes Williams slightly overpriced in the second round, especially given Williams’ foot/ankle concerns to start his career. (Updated Aug. 3)
Isiah Pacheco and Kadarius Toney (KC) — Toney is taking snaps at running back to start training camp, which is notable since the Chiefs have been quiet at the position this off-season. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Deneric Prince are currently at the top of the depth chart behind Pacheco with previous passing back Jerick McKinnon still unsigned. Prince notably took first-team snaps behind Pacheco and ahead of CEH at the start of camp, which is a situation to monitor as training camp continues. Toney is off the fantasy radar in all but the deepest leagues and he’s unlikely to be anything more than a situational passing back, but his activity at the start of training camp is worth monitoring since he could impact Pacheco’s potential workload. Of course, Toney couldn’t stay healthy for long as he picked up a leg injury during a July 31 practice. There’s been no indication of how serious the injury is but a prolonged absence could put his roster spot in jeopardy. Pacheco is still set up for a big workload regardless of Toney’s role, and he’s a player we’re targeting at his third-round ADP (29.5, RB11). Andy Reid singled out Pacheco and CEH as players who can fill the third-down role if McKinnon isn’t resigned. (Updated August 3)
Jonathon Brooks (Car) — Brooks opened training camp on the NFI list for the ACL injury he suffered while at Texas last November and Dave Canales said his rookie RB won’t play in the preseason. The move doesn’t come as much of a surprise as the Panthers have been expected to ease the 46th overall pick back into action. I’m hoping the move will cool off Brooks’ already friendly ADP (90.8, RB28). The Panthers traded up and used second-round capital to select Brooks, which means he’ll be given every opportunity to be the team’s top back. Brooks is valued as an RB3 because of a potentially slow start to his season, but he could become a league-winning player if he can secure a three-down role by the second half of the season. (Updated Aug. 3)
D’Andre Swift (Chi) — ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote that Chicago’s backfield situation is “a bit muddy”, with Swift’s role as a passing back the most defined through the first couple of weeks in camp. He wrote that Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert are battling for an early-down role but Swift will also mix in during those situations — Graziano believes Johnson is the favorite since the current staff drafted him. Both Johnson and Herbert were forced to play in the Hall of Fame Game and Johnson notably played ahead of Herbert. The Bears paid Swift like a potential bell-cow back but Johnson and Herbert are going to take work away from him, which makes him a player to fade at his ADP (76.4, RB23). (Added Aug. 3)
Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears (Ten) — HC Brian Callahan said he sees both Pollard and Spears as “starting players” at the start of training camp, which is consistent with his previous statements that he views his top backs as “interchangeable”. It’s fair to project slightly more work for Pollard considering the Titans handed him $10.5 million guaranteed in free agency. Spears is going to push Pollard for weekly touches and could pass him at some point as the younger, ascending player. Spears is a round or two cheaper than Pollard, and he has more appeal with the Titans moving to a more pass-heavy approach. (Added July 26)
Chase Brown and Zack Moss (Cin) — Brown has seen the “majority of reps with the 1s” through the first three days of training camp (via Charlie Clifford). HC Zac Taylor opened training camp by saying that Brown has “earned” a bigger role, and GM Duke Tobin said Brown has the opportunity “to be the guy, or the second guy, or in tandem with Zack [Moss]”. Brown has a chance to lead this backfield in carries, but he could lose opportunities to Zack Moss in passing and short-yardage situations. Keeping Joe Burrow upright is most important for the Bengals this season, and Moss excels in pass protection while just 12 of Brown’s 97 snaps last season came on third and fourth down. This competition has a long way to go and is likely to evolve early in the season, but early camp returns show that the Bengals are giving Chase a chance to earn as much work as he’s capable of. (Added July 29)
Los Angeles Chargers Backfield — HC Jim Harbaugh originally said Gus Edwards was being eased back into action after having an unspecified surgery this off-season, but he backtracked on Edwards having surgery a couple of days into camp. Edwards did injure his left hand in the Divisional Round but played through the injury during the Conference Championship game. J.K. Dobbins has been a full participant to start training camp as he’s nearly 11 months removed from his Achilles injury in last year’s season opener for the Ravens. Dobbins said he felt like he was back in college again after two catastrophic leg injuries that slowed his career through four seasons, and he believes he’ll be one of the league’s best backs if he gets volume. Edwards saw his first action in team drills on July 31 after being limited to individual work to open camp. Edwards, Dobbins, and Jaret Patterson were working with the starters while Isaiah Spiller, Kimani Vidal, and Elijah Dotson were rotating with the second-team offense. This backfield battle is going to be one of the most closely watched in training camp because there’s no clear favorite in what is projected to be a run-heavy attack under Harbaugh. (Updated July 31)
Wide Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Brandon Aiyuk — Chase, Lamb, and Aiyuk are each in search of new contracts at the start of training camp. 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 one of the elite WRs and holding in at camp, which puts a little more pressure on Cincinnati’s front office to get a new deal done. 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. Aiyuk had his fifth-year option picked up like Chase and he’s taken his contract dispute public this summer — he’s also holding in at camp like Chase. Justin Jefferson just signed a four-year, $140 million extension that includes $110 million guaranteed, which will be the template deal for both Chase and Lamb. Aiyuk is looking more for the $77 million guaranteed that Amon-Ra St. Brown received from the Lions this off-season. These contract disputes are worth monitoring but it’s not time to panic in fantasy drafts yet. (Added July 26)
Amari Cooper (Cle) — Cooper and the Browns came to terms on a restructured one-year deal that gives Cooper a $5 million raise and guarantees the $20 million left on his deal. He previously skipped mandatory minicamp as he sought a new deal from the Browns. Cooper posted career-highs in YPR (17.4) and receiving yards (1250) and ranked 12th in YPRR (2.47) in his age-29 season. He’s once again looking like a value in fantasy drafts as he’s made a career out of beating his ADP. (Added July 26)
Courtland Sutton (Den) — The Broncos and Sutton agreed to a restructured contract that adds $1.5 million in incentives, which means he can earn up to $15.2 million. The Broncos have been open to trading Sutton since Sean Payton came aboard, and we’ll see if it happens later this season if this young passing game behind Sutton is unable to remain in contention. Either way, he’s a bad bet to duplicate his 10-TD performance from last season after Russell Wilson departed to Pittsburgh and with rookie Bo Nix stepping in at quarterback. (Added July 26)
Kendrick Bourne (NE) — Bourne opened training camp on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL in Week 8 of last season. The Patriots are having a camp battle at WR so they could opt to open the season with Bourne on the PUP list to open up a roster spot for at least the first four games of the season. Bourne, DeMario Douglas, and K.J. Osborn are locks to make the roster as long as they’re healthy with rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. That leaves JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, and Kayshon Boutte among the WRs competing for the one or two remaining WR roster spots. (Added July 26)
Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson (Min) — The Vikings placed Hockenson on the PUP list to start training camp as he continues to recover from his ACL and MCL surgeries in January. He said in May that he doesn’t have a timeline for his return from major knee surgery, and he wouldn’t commit to being ready to play for Minnesota’s London game against the Jets in Week 5. Kirk Cousins will no longer be peppering Hock with targets in the middle of the field, and he’ll get limited reps in with the scattershot Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy, who will be learning on the job. We’re content to let someone else draft Hockenson, and we’ll only consider adding him off the waiver wire if he’s dropped since it could take until later in the season for him to round back into form. Hockenson’s recovery appears to be ahead of schedule based on his level of activity on side fields during camp, but Kevin O’Connell said they’ll mostly stick to his medical timeline while giving him opportunities to shrink it. (Updated Aug. 3)
Tyler Higbee (LAR) — The Rams placed Higbee on the PUP list to start training camp as he continues to recover from ACL and MCL tears that he suffered in Los Angeles’ Wild Card loss in January. Higbee is likely to open the season on the PUP list and he could miss well into the season, and the Rams prepared to be without Higbee by handing Colby Parkinson $15.5 million guaranteed in free agency. Parkinson has a runway to take this job and run with it, and he’s one of my favorite late-round darts at the position in TE-premium formats. (Added July 26)
