Mon Jul 15 11:09am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Prescott in make or break season
This is the first in a series of training camp previews. The previews give you a quick look at each team, going over position battles and injuries to watch in camp. The season is right around the corner.
Cowboys
The Cowboys are always a team to watch in training camp, mainly because of the high expectations for the team. But this year the expectations could be even higher with Dak Prescott possibly in a make or break year. He will need to play at a high level and produce in the playoffs if he hopes to continue to start and land a big contract with the Cowboys. There will be a lot of pressure on Prescott this season. The Cowboys open camp on July 24 at the Marriott Residence Inn in Oxnard, Calif.
Position battle: The running back spot is the big one for the Cowboys this training camp. This spot is truly up for grabs with Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman battling it out for playing time. Elliott is the favorite to start but will need to show he still has something left in the tank. Dowdle is the big wild card. He is the younger option that showed well at times last year. If he can take a step forward, he could emerge as the lead back in this high-powered offense.
Injury watch: Dak Prescott scared some when he was spotted in a boot recently. He was battling some sort of ankle injury but it was considered minor. He is expected to be just fine for the start of camp. It is something to maybe keep an eye on, though, just to be sure. Ankle injuries can linger.
Eagles
Philadelphia had a great regular season but fizzled towards the end and in the playoffs. This will put more pressure on the team to perform the entire season. There is a ton of talent on this team, especially after adding running back Saquon Barkley to an already high-powered offense. It will be intriguing to see how Barkley is used on the offense, making it one of the big storylines in camp. Barkley and his teammates get things started on July 23 at the NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia.
Position battle: There really isn’t much to decide in Philadelphia but one spot to watch is the backup running back position. Kenneth Gainwell is the returner but he will have rookie Will Shipley to compete with for that job. Shipley is a talented three-down back that has already impressed in his short time in Philadelphia. Gainwell has produced well at times but been a little inconsistent. Starter Saquon Barkley can have some injury issues, so figuring out the back that might end up getting the most work if he were to get hurt could be a big plus for fantasy owners.
Injury watch: Dallas Goedert is not currently injured but injuries have been an issue for him in recent seasons. He has missed games each of the last five seasons. Injuries are always a concern when it comes to Goedert. But if healthy, he can be a big producer at fantasy tight end. Keep an eye on him during training camp to see how he looks and plays.
Giants
New York has a lot of questions once again, mainly offensively. Do they have the right quarterback to lead the team? Who is going to step up at receiver? How will the team replace superstar Saquon Barkley at running back? And lastly, will the offensive line hold up over a full season? All these questions will be closely monitored this training camp, which kicks off July 16 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility in East Rutherford, N.J.
Position battle: The Giants are a mess at receiver. They have all sorts of openings. Rookie Malik Nabers might be about the only sure thing out of the group. He is expected to be the No. 1 receiver this season. But after him, you have Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Isaiah McKenzie, Isaiah Hodgins and Allen Robinson vying for playing time. It really is anyone’s guess who might emerge out of that big group of receivers. We should have a better idea after seeing these guys in camp and preseason action.
Injury watch: Starting quarterback Daniel Jones is returning from a torn ACL, suffered in Week 9 last year. This is a major injury to return, so Jones is no sure thing to be ready for Week 1. The good news is his offseason progress has been really good. All signs point towards him being ready for the start of the season. Just make sure he keeps progressing in camp and doesn’t have any setbacks before pulling the trigger on him come draft day.
Commanders
The Commanders have a lot of new this season, including a franchise quarterback and head coach. These two aspects of the team will be the main focus of training camp for Commanders fans to watch. Washington will need to hit on these two if they hope to get the franchise headed in the right direction once again. Washington gets camp started on July 18 at the OrthoVirginia Training Center in Ashburn, Va.
Position battle: The tight end position is up for grabs in Washington this year. The Commanders drafted Ben Sinnott, who is the future at the position, but also signed veteran Zach Ertz. These two will battle it out for the right to start. Ertz has reportedly been a top target in offseason workouts, so he might have the early lead for the job. Either way, the starting tight end could carry good fantasy value in Washington with a rookie quarterback at the helm. The tight end can be a nice safety net for a young player.
Injury watch: Austin Ekleler had an ankle injury last year that caused him to miss three games and be limited in others. Nagging injuries have slowed him in recent years. He isn’t getting any younger and this might be his last chance to play a big role in an offense. Ekekler will need to show he is healthy and still has something left in the tank if he hopes to get consistent playing time.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
According to a report from the Los Angeles Daily News, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested on Friday night for suspicion of DUI. Police were notified and responded to an area near LAX, where Addison was reportedly found asleep at the wheel and blocking several lanes. He was taken into custody and released a few hours later. The 2023 No. 23 overall pick finished his first year in the NFL by amassing 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. While it's unknown if Addison will face any discipline from the NFL or team, his fantasy stock could take a hit from managers unwilling to draft him in fear of a possible suspension.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams remains without a contract. Yet, the rookie is apparently not concerned about it, considering he reported he hasn't been involved in negotiations. "I'm not handling that," said Williams when asked about a potential deal. "My lawyers and attorney and everybody, the head of the Bears, everybody up there up top is handling that. That's not my position that I'm handling." There are several issues holding things up. However, Williams doesn't have an NFLPA-certified agent, so it's unknown who is orchestrating things behind the scenes on his behalf. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick has plenty of pressure on him heading into his inaugural year, especially since he is replacing Justin Fields, a move that didn't sit well with some. With that said, Williams is expected to have more than a few impressive rookie showings, although fantasy managers should expect growing pains.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently endorsed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a new contract. However, the wideout is adamant he's not concerned about his deal, believing the organization will do right by him. "I know when it's time for me to get a deal, the Miami Dolphins will do what's right," said Hill during an interview with Omar Kelly of The Miami Herald. "The contract, it'll come. Whenever it comes, I'll be happy." Several wideouts around the National Football League have already received market-altering deals. But it appears Hill isn't concerned, meaning it shouldn't be a distraction heading into the 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, the multi-time Pro-Bowler should remain one of the first receivers taken in every fantasy draft ahead of Week 1.
From RotoBaller
According to Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts is "learning basically two positions." "There's some tight end, and there's some wide receiver," said Robinson in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "So, he's got a lot on his plate. I'm just excited to see him continue to get more comfortable in the system...We'll move him around the formation. We'll use him as a blocker. We'll use him as a receiver. We'll use him all across the board." The 23-year-old has appeared in 44 games for the Falcons over the last three seasons, amassing 2,049 yards and six touchdowns off 149 catches. But with a new coaching staff in Atlanta, it's safe to say that Pitts could be in line for the best year of his career, assuming he remains involved in the offense as advertised during the offseason.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk admits that he was "hurt" when the team came to him this offseason and asked him to take a pay cut after just completing his seventh Pro Bowl campaign with the organization. With so many other highly paid players on the team and several others in line for big pay days, the 49ers' front office made some cost-cutting moves in the offseason, including releasing defensive tackle Arik Armstead after he declined to take a pay cut. Juszczyk accepted his pay cut and remains the highest-paid fullback in the league at more than $4.5 million per season. "No knocks on other fullbacks in the league, but I'm the best fullback in the league," Juszczyk said. The 33-year-old will once again have a key blocking role for the best running back in the league in 2024 in Christian McCaffrey.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have yet to work out a long-term contract extension, but Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill believes his QB should be one of the highest-paid signal-callers in the league. "For people to like sit here and try to discredit Tua and say he's not deserving of a contract is wild to me," Hill said. "A lot of guys on the team understand his value and understand that we need him. We need his leadership, we need the mindset that he brings into each and every week. It's there. It's like Terminator almost, man. I feel like he should be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league." Tagovailoa is heading into his fifth year in the NFL and is coming off a career year in which he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and added 29 touchdowns while completing 69.3% of his passes in 17 regular-season games.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals and star wide receiver Tee Higgins won't come to terms on a long-term contract extension by Monday's deadline. Higgins has signed his franchise tag and will play on the one-year pact in 2024 before becoming one of the top free agents next offseason. This outcome had appeared evident for some time, but now it's official. The 25-year-old will be highly motivated to produce a bounce-back season in 2024 after playing in just 12 games last year due to injuries while finishing with a career-low 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns. It's possible the Bengals could franchise tag Higgins again next year or work out a tag-and-trade deal. Higgins should bounce back if he and quarterback Joe Burrow stay healthy, but his fantasy ceiling is probably capped as a WR2 with Ja'Marr Chase being the team's WR1.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen feels he has more to prove to himself despite being in the NFL for over a decade. "I talk to the young guys about this all the time, is no matter who you are, no matter how old you are, no matter how many years you've been in the league, you have something to prove," Thielen said in an interview. "You have to have that mindset every single day." The 33-year-old is coming off a productive season, amassing his first 1,000-yard receiving campaign since 2018 while finding the end zone four times. Although the Panthers have a lot of question marks regarding the offense, it appears Thielen is not ready to stop being a reliable fantasy asset anytime soon.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was slowed by a left-ankle sprain in the offseason, but he'll be fine for training camp and is ready for the team to put more on his plate in his sophomore season. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and head coach Raheem Morris haven't been shy about saying the plan is to use Robinson like the 49ers use RB Christian McCaffrey. He finished 15th in the league in 2023 with 976 rushing yards while also adding 58 receptions for 487 yards and eight total touchdowns. With a more diversified attack on offense after Atlanta stuck with a wide-zone rushing attack in 2023, there's plenty of room for growth for Robinson as a high-end RB1 in fantasy, especially with quarterback Kirk Cousins now leading the offense. "I'm going to be more of a runner that does everything else," Robinson said.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) said he "feels good" when asked about his status with training camp approaching at the end of July. Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first offensive series in Week 1 last fall and missed the rest of his first year in New York. However, he miraculously returned to practices late last season and said his surgically repaired Achilles has felt good throughout the offseason and during organized team activities a month ago. A healthy Rodgers should give Gang Green a realistic shot at the postseason given all the weapons they have on offense, but fantasy managers should temper expectations for a 40-year-old signal-caller coming off a major injury. If he stays healthy, Rodgers could easily finish as a top-15 fantasy QB, but relying on him as your QB1 is a risky proposition.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie fifth-round running back Audric Estime (knee) missed most of the offseason program after undergoing a minor scope of his knee, but he's expected to be "full-go" for the starting of training camp in a few weeks, according to head coach Sean Payton. In limited action in front of the media this offseason, Estime looked the part of a RB who can bring more short-yardage toughness to Denver's backfield, but it remains to be seen if he can supplant Javonte Williams as an every-down option in 2024. The 20-year-old from Notre Dame is probably a long shot to become the team's lead back, at least earlier in his rookie season, but he could take over goal-line duties fairly quickly, which could make him worth a late-round flier in deep fantasy leagues as a handcuff for Williams.
Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner said his career-high 1,040 rushing yards last year are his floor for the 2024 season. 'Definitely got a lot of work to put in but that's the floor, not the ceiling.'
Fantasy Spin: Conner topped 1,000 yards on the ground despite missing the final four games with a knee injury. He enters this season as the lead back in Arizona, and while he isn't the most explosive option at the position, he should have the volume to finish as a reliable RB2.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is still waiting for a new contract. In the meantime, the signal-caller took the opportunity to display his improved footwork during a training event on Thursday. Love's offseason throwing coach, Steve Calhoun, indicated that was an area that needed to be addressed during the offseason, considering he has had issues staying off his back foot during throws. Love had a rough start to the 2023-24 campaign. Yet, he turned things around to finish the year by throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, adding four scores on the run. Without question, his fantasy stock is higher than ever, although it remains to be seen if the extra work this offseason will improve his accuracy.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams remains with the organization. However, as has been the norm over the last few seasons, trade rumors are starting to surface. While many teams would love to acquire Adams' talents, it appears the Jets are a team to watch, especially after Aaron Rodgers stated he couldn't wait to play with his longtime wideout "again." Rodgers isn't alone in his desire to see Adams in New York. Speaking at his youth football camp, Garrett Wilson embraced the idea. "I see that. I'm excited. I'm with all of it," said Wilson. "Anyone we can get into the facility to help this team win games, I'm with it, and he's one of those." Adams is adamant he wants to stay in Vegas. But a reunion between Rodgers and Adams could do wonders for their fantasy potential, so managers will continue to monitor the situation closely.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen has taken on a more vocal role as the leader of the team following the departure of several key veterans this offseason, Bills LT Dion Dawkins told The Herd on Wednesday, July 10. 'Josh is one of those guys that will do what it takes at that moment,' Dawkins said. 'He's definitely a barker when that time comes. I've actually seen the bark a lot more this OTAs where he's been very, very verbal, because our team is different. It's different. We've got some young dudes that, when they come in, they see a little bit of success, and they can change, so Josh is doing exactly what he should.'
From TheHuddle
Dynasty | Running back Dalvin Cook remains unsigned. Dynasty Analysis: Cook spent time with the Jets and Ravens last year but didn't make an impact for either team. This was pretty unforeseen as he was coming off a solid 2022 featuring his fourth straight 1,000-yard season with Minnesota. It seems Father Time may have caught up with Cook but it still seems unlikely he doesn't find a new home somewhere. Teams like the Bengals, Browns, Broncos. Raiders, Cowboys, Giants, and Commanders all have varying needs at the position and could have interest in the coming weeks and months. At this point, Cook looks like a roster clogger in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Wide receiver Julio Jones remains unsigned. Dynasty Analysis: Jones has spent time with the Titans, Bucs and Eagles the past three seasons but has just 66 catches for less than 800 yards and six total touchdowns over that span. This is an obvious drop in production from a player who once had a season with a 136/1,871/8 line. Jones will try to latch on somewhere as a depth player but it's hard to see him ever making a real fantasy impact again. Sadly, he belongs on waiver wires at this point in his career.
Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper led all qualified pass-catchers with 13.6 yards before the catch per reception in 2023, according to Pro Football Reference. His 979 yards before the catch for the season was good for fourth.
Fantasy Spin: Both marks were easily Cooper's best since at least 2018. Cooper is more than just a deep threat, but head coach Kevin Stefanski appears to prefer using him more on deeper routes than his previous coaches - such as Jon Gruden and Mike McCarthy - did. The 30-year-old enters this training camp with a contract issue, but he should be expected to serve as the Browns' clear top receiver for at least one more year, making him a solid fantasy WR2 in most leagues.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft following an impressive junior season at Tennessee that saw him rush for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on a 7.4 yards-per-carry clip. Some believed Wright could have been a Day 2 selection following his 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but the Dolphins traded up in Round 4 to add him to a dynamic running back room. While Wright's workload could be limited behind Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane in Year 1, the rookie is excited about his new offense. "Just the way that they like to create space for the running backs, space for everybody," Wright said. "They got the receivers to spread everybody out to make the defenses drop back in coverages and stuff like that. That just makes it better for the running backs. Just the system and everything we do, I feel like it's perfect for me." Miami could implement a three-headed monster in the backfield of Mike McDaniel's offense, but for now, Wright should be viewed mainly as an injury stash in the case of a Mostert or Achane injury. If either player has to miss time, Wright could be an immediate flex option.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be without last year's top wideout Calvin Ridley in 2024, but the former No. 1 overall pick believes he has a strong group of pass-catchers to work with. "We have a really dynamic group of pass catchers," Lawrence said, "We have some great tight ends. You talk about Evan (Engram), obviously, had a great year last year. He's really great with the ball in his hands. He does a lot of things to help us -- a good blocker too." He also shouted out second-year tight end Brenton Strange and wide receivers Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Devin Duvernay, and Brian Thomas Jr. While Ridley's departure leaves room for more uncertainty, the team could have an underrated skill group if Thomas and Davis exceed expectations in Duval County. Lawrence is generally drafted around the QB16 spot in preseason drafts, and he has enough upside to finish as a low-end QB1 in his fourth NFL campaign.
From RotoBaller