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The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey's chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert continues to blossom in Year 2 and described it as a "seemingly telepathic connection." McConkey knows when to sit down on routes against certain defensive looks, when to manipulate defensive leverages and when to expect the ball from Herbert on either shoulder. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said this week that McConkey "is uncoverable right now by one guy." For the 23-year-old Georgia product to really thrive, he needs one of Quentin Johnston or rookies Tre Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith to threaten defenses deep down the field. McConkey was a stud in his first year in the NFL, catching 82 of his 112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite being in a run-first offense, he's a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in fantasy.

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Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre Harris got more opportunities with the first-team offense in training camp practice on Wednesday with Jalen Reagor out with an undisclosed injury, but The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that Harris was inconsistent. Meanwhile, rookie fifth-round wideout Keandre Lambert-Smith elevated his stock the most on Wednesday, making a couple nice adjustments on underthrown deep balls from quarterback Trey Lance. He missed most of the practices in the spring with an injury, but Lambert-Smith is healthy now and has an intriguing mix of deep-field speed, natural hands and elite body control. Ladd McConkey is the clear WR1 in L.A.'s passing attack, but Harris, Lambert-Smith and Quentin Johnston will all be battling for targets behind him this summer. Harris has gotten off to a slow start, but it's still early.

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Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (undisclosed) will miss another day of training camp practice on Thursday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Ford is dealing with something from the last couple of weeks but that "he'll be OK." Ford should join the rest of the team on the field sooner than later, and with rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins still unsigned in the wake of his domestic-violence charges, Ford will operate as Cleveland's RB1 going forward. With both Judkins and Ford out this week, rookie Dylan Sampson and Pierre Strong Jr. will more opportunities to impress the coaching staff. Judkins is expected to take over primary rushing duties for the Browns by season's end, but it remains to be seen when he'll join the team, and he could be facing a suspension on top of it.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston had five touchdown catches in the first five days of training camp, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, and his ball-tracking looked vastly improved on throws down the field over his shoulder. However, Johnston took a step back on Wednesday and dropped a pass that hit him in the chest when he was wide open in the middle of the field. Popper writes that the fact that these type of lapses are still happening for the former first-rounder in his third season is concerning. The confidence that the 23-year-old showed early in camp appears to have dissipated somewhat. Mike Williams retired just before the start of camp, but Ladd McConkey will remain a target hog in L.A, and the Bolts also drafted Tre Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith. Johnston must prove it to earn substantial playing time in 2025.

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Penn Live's Nick Farabaugh reports that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson is starting in three-wide sets with the first-team offense alongside DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III to start training camp practice this week. Wilson, a third-rounder (84th overall) last year out of Michigan, missed the majority of his first season in the NFL due to injury and was active for just one game. With George Pickens in Dallas, there's plenty of opportunity for Wilson to make a statement in what will essentially be his first year in the league. Behind Wilson and Austin, the Steelers have only veteran Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek -- not exactly the most threatening competition. Wilson will have opportunity, but as a speedy deep threat across from Metcalf, it might be hard for him to stand out on a weekly basis.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (undisclosed) is considered day-to-day with an unspecified injury, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. The 2024 Pro Bowler participated in individual drills on Thursday but was held out of team drills. Given his limited practice participation, this should not be viewed with much concern by fantasy managers. Smith was traded to the Steelers from the Miami Dolphins for a late-round pick swap following the most productive season of his career. Smith tallied career highs in receptions (88), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight) in 17 games a season ago. Now in Pittsburgh and back with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the 29-year-old is unlikely to replicate his fantasy TE1 season in 2025. The Steelers project to have a low-volume passing offense led by an aging Aaron Rodgers.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith went "on a tear" during Thursday's training camp practice, according to team reporter Tim McManus. After a slow first day, the Slim Reaper was one of the standout performers for Philly. The former first-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama was held under 900 receiving yards for the first time in his career last season, but he missed four games, and the Eagles ranked last in passing attempts per game (25.7). The 26-year-old is likely to be a volatile fantasy option once again in 2025, but the Eagles have a significantly tougher schedule compared to last year, meaning the passing volume could see at least a slight uptick. Either way, Smith has weekly WR1 upside at a WR3/WR4 pricetag.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (undisclosed) did not practice on Thursday after landing uncomfortably on a catch attempt on Wednesday, according to team reporter Jonas Shaffer. However, head coach John Harbaugh said the reason for his absence was an "abundance of caution," so this should not be viewed as a serious situation. Hopkins, who has 178 career games played on his resume, is likely to be in and out of practice throughout training camp and during the regular season. The team will opt to be smart with the 33-year-old in an attempt to keep him fresh and healthy through a 17-game season and the NFL playoffs. The five-time Pro Bowler appears to still have some ability left in the tank, but it would be a surprise if he's a consistent fantasy producer in a run-heavy offense led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. He will likely be behind at least Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews in the target pecking order.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift said rookie Kyle Monangai is a "great addition" to the running back room. Monangai was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft following a productive final two seasons at Rutgers. The 23-year-old tallied at least 1,200 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. Now in Chicago, he could be competing for the RB2 role behind Swift with Roschon Johnson. "He don't really lack anything from what I'm seeing," Swift said. "Confident in his style of play, real low to the ground, great catching the ball out of the backfield. Solid, real solid." While seventh-round picks rarely make significant fantasy football impacts in Year 1, the Bears have one of the weaker RB units in the NFL, making Monangia one to watch as training camp progresses. He should be stashed in deep dynasty leagues.

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Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (hand) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (leg) exited Thursday's training-camp practice early due to hand and leg injuries, respectively. Both are being further evaluated by the team, but not much information is available yet. While it's early in the offseason, it's never good news to have players being knocked out of practice, especially after Detroit's defense was decimated by injuries at the tail-end of the 2024 campaign. Barnes, a fifth-year veteran out of Purdue, and Arnold, a second-year pro out of Alabama, are projected starters for new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. If Detroit wants to break through and win the NFC, its defense must find better injury luck in 2025.

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis said he has lost 26 pounds this offseason and is at the team's goal weight for him at 330 pounds. Without compromising too much size, this could help Davis play more snaps and be a backfield disruptor in 2025. The 2022 first-round pick out of Georgia has tallied just 20 quarterback pressures in three NFL seasons. Overall, the 25-year-old has racked up 90 tackles (41 solo), 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four pass deflections, and 13 run stuffs in 47 career games. This season, he'll continue to contribute to one of the league's best defensive fronts, and added mobility could be significant for his development.

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New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (toe) has avoided serious injury and will not miss "significant time," according to the team. Fields was carted off the field during the Jets' practice on Thursday, terrifying fans and fantasy managers alike. Thankfully, it appears as though he will not need surgery or any other significant procedure. Fields should be fine for the start of the regular season, but he may miss practice time. That's important given he's learning a new offense and playing with new teammates this year in New York. The talented former first-round pick is looking to get his career as a starter back on track after serving as Russell Wilson's backup with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. Given his prowess as a rusher, Fields is an intriguing fantasy option. Unless there's an indication that this injury will hamper his mobility, he's a fringe top-12 QB

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Reagor did not participate in the team's Wednesday practice after tweaking "something in his lower half" on Tuesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Notably, Popper writes that Reagor had been "playing consistently with the first-team offense as an outside receiver through the first five practices." Reagor played in eight games for the Chargers in 2024, recording just seven receptions for 100 yards. The Chargers appear to be holding an open competition for playing time at wide receiver behind Ladd McConkey. Reagor, Quentin Johnston, and rookies Tre' Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith should be considered the main contenders. Depending on the severity of this injury, it threatens to derail Reagor's chance to win a starting role.

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Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele "looks like the clear WR2" early on in training camp, according to Ryan Edwards of KOA Colorado. Vele played in 13 games for Denver as a rookie last season, recording 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos have Courtland Sutton entrenched as their WR1, but opportunity exists behind him. In addition to Vele, the top contenders for targets in the wide receiver room are Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and rookie Pat Bryant. A former seventh-round pick, Vele isn't as explosive as the speedy Mims and might not have the upside of Franklin or Bryant. However, he's a big-bodied target who started seven games as a rookie. Vele could be an intriguing late-round pick in fantasy if he can seize the WR2 job in Denver and run with it.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore (knee) "looks good" and feels "great" coming out of the team's first training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Mark Craig of The Minnesota Star Tribune. Moore missed all of 2024 after suffering a season-ending knee injury during a joint practice last August while playing for the Atlanta Falcons. The 25-year-old played in 17 games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, recording 530 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 40 receptions and 28 rush attempts. Moore could be in line for a similar gadget role in Minnesota and also could be called upon to return punts. He's behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor on the Vikings depth chart at receiver. However, with Addison likely facing a suspension due to an offseason arrest, Moore could get a chance early in the season.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver/running back KaVontae Turpin is seeing an increased workload in the backfield during training camp, according to Patrick Walker of DallasCowboys.com. Turpin is an All-Pro return man, and Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer wants to get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways. He logged 31 catches and 16 carries for a career high 512 yards from scrimmage in 2024. Walker writes that Turpin has taken handoffs in both first and second-team drills and "made the most of each opportunity." The Cowboys' running back room is an uncertain one, as veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders appear to be competing with fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue for the starting job. Turpin is unlikely to take over a significant portion of Dallas' available carries, but it sounds as though there will be a concerted effort to utilize him on offense.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have used running backs Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Huntand Elijah Mitchell, as well as a "sprinkling" of Brashard Smith, with the first-team offense, according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. Pacheco is coming off an injury-marred season in which he played just seven games, rushing for 310 yards (3.7 yards/attempt) and one touchdown. Hunt was Kansas City's primary fill-in for Pacheco in 2024, rushing for 728 yards and seven touchdowns on 200 carries. Mitchell is in his first season with the Chiefs after spending the first three seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers. He flashed at times in San Francisco but struggled last season, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt on 75 carries. Smith was drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 draft out of SMU, where he rushed for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024. Pacheco is the highest-drafted Chiefs running back by ADP, but early reports indicate that he may not be the workhorse back that fantasy managers are hoping for.

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Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals "took most of his repetitions with the first-team offense" during the team's practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. Taylor notes that Royals worked alongside Chiefs wideouts Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, while Rashee Rice was "oftentimes" on the sideline. With Rice facing a suspension to begin the season, it appears as though Royals may be the leading candidate to earn playing time in his absence. Kansas City drafted Royals in the fourth round of the 2025 draft out of Utah State. He played in just seven games last year in college but still managed 55 catches for 834 yards and six touchdowns. The Chiefs also have veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Skyy Moore, who could step into a bigger role while Rice is sidelined. It's a good sign for Royals that he appears to be the preferred option early in camp.

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Tennessee Titans rookie first-round quarterback Cam Ward said that wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee) is going to be one of the team's top receivers this year and said he's excited to have him out there, according to Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt. We'll believe it when we see it. Burks has been a bust for the Titans after they took him with the 18th overall selection in 2022, mainly due to injuries that have kept him off the field. The 25-year-old product of Arkansas tore his ACL last year but is back practicing with the team in training camp this summer. The good news is that Burks could still make his mark behind Calvin Ridley if he's healthy, although Tennessee did add veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson in free agency and Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor in the draft. Burks will have to prove it before fantasy managers consider him off the waiver wire.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. started his training camp press conference on Thursday making sure that everyone noticed how they got tight end Kyle Pitts involved at practice. "See we got KP the ball? Gonna be a lot of that," Penix said. Pitts missed offseason work this spring due to a foot injury, but he's been cleared at training camp and worked with the team on Thursday. Fantasy managers that have burned by Pitts before are probably rolling their eyes and will want to see it to believe it in 2025. The 24-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of Florida had a 1,000-yard season but only one touchdown in his rookie campaign but hasn't gone over 667 yards in the last three years. Pitts is healthy now, and the Falcons expect big things from him, but Penix targeted him just 10 times in his three starts to close out 2024. Target Pitts as a TE2 in fantasy with the possibility of a bounce back.

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