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.
New York Jets rookie fifth-round running back Isaiah Davis, who is a jack of all trades in the backfield, is the leading candidate for the RB3 role to open up his first year in the NFL. Davis could also land a job as a kick returner on special teams. Breece Hall will be the team's workhorse starting running back in 2024, with rookie Braelon Allen earning the backup change-of-pace role. The 22-year-old Davis is merely a stash candidate in deep dynasty/keeper fantasy leagues this year. He was a workhorse back in his time at South Dakota State and has enough size and power to be intriguing as an early-down back if he ever sees significant playing time down the road. With Davis looking primed for the RB3 role to begin the year, it means that Israel Abanikanda will open the season as the team's RB4.
From RotoBaller
The 2024 season will be a "redshirt" year for New York Jets rookie fifth-round quarterback Jordan Travis (ankle), who is rehabbing from a devastating ankle injury that cut his college career short. The former Florida State star is expected to begin the 2024 regular season on one of the injury lists. The 24-year-old signal-caller hasn't played at all in training camp or the preseason and will merely be trying to work his way back onto the practice field during his first season in the NFL with the Jets. New York is not going to rush Travis' rehabilitation after he started camp on the Non-Football Injury list. Gang Green will open the regular season in a few weeks with Aaron Rodgers as the starter, with Tyrod Taylor serving as his primary backup.
From RotoBaller
ESPN New York's Rich Cimini writes that New York Jets rookie fourth-round running back Braelon Allen has easily been the most impressive rookie in training camp and is locked in as the RB2 behind starter Breece Hall heading into his first NFL season. The 235-pound bruising back will spell Hall and contribute as a short-yardage back in 2024. The 20-year-old was never really utilized much as a pass-catcher in college at Wisconsin, but he's also impressed with his hands this summer with the Jets. Allen relies more on his size and power as a RB instead of speed and agility. His stock is definitely on the rise in dynasty/keeper leagues, but because Hall is expected to be utilized so much (if healthy), it's hard to imagine Allen having any standalone fantasy value unless Hall misses time with an injury. In single-year leagues, Allen is merely a deep-league handcuff option, at best.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons rookie sixth-round wide receiver Casey Washington is already looking like a real value pick for the Falcons, as he's made some of the team's best catches in training camp and is in contention for Atlanta's fourth wide receiver role after the loss of Rondale Moore to a season-ending injury. Washington is competing with the likes of Chris Blair and KhaDarel Hodge for the No. 4 role behind Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III. The Falcons' offense is much more attractive to fantasy managers now that head coach Arthur Smith is gone and quarterback Kirk Cousins is leading the show. The 23-year-old had 49 catches for 670 yards and four touchdowns in his final season at Illinois last year. For now with just a depth role in Atlanta, Washington is one to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase took part in practice on Sunday despite not having secured a new long-term contract extension from the team. It is the first time that Chase has practiced with the team at training camp this summer. The 2024 regular season starts for Cincy two weeks from this Sunday -- on Sept. 8 against the New England Patriots -- so Chase is running out of time to get up to speed in the offense. It remains to be seen if Chase and the Bengals will be able to work something out on an extension before the regular season kicks off in early September, but either way, the 24-year-old should be viewed as a top-five fantasy pass-catcher with quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) back and fully healthy. Chase has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three years in the NFL and has gone over 1,000 yards receiving all three years.
From RotoBaller
ESPN New York's Jordan Raanan writes that New York Giants first-round rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers might be even better than advertised. Nabers has dominated throughout training camp and looks destined to be the team's No. 1 receiver to kick off the regular season. He dealt with an ankle sprain in camp, but he was back in less than a week after the injury and had four catches on six targets for 54 yards in one half of a preseason game against the Houston Texans. "Sky's the limit," fellow receiver Wan'Dale Robinson said. Raanan thinks a monster rookie season seems plausible given the way he's thrived this summer. The 21-year-old eighth overall pick has already shown chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones and could have immediate WR2 fantasy value in his first year in the NFL if both he and Jones can stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans rookie sixth-round wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson has become a strong candidate for a 53-man roster spot out of training camp, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. Jackson's explosive playmaking ability is helping him in an intense competition for a backup slot role, and his return potential on special teams hasn't helped his cause, either. Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins are the team's top two pass-catchers, with Tyler Body set to start out of the slot. If Jackson wins the backup slot role over Kyle Philips, he could become interesting in deeper fantasy leagues in 2024 if Boyd misses time with an injury. The 24-year-old from Tulane is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, but he could factor in as a deep threat occasionally for a new-look Titans offense that is expected to air the ball out much more. For now, Jackson is merely a player to monitor in dynasty/keeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge performed well in the Seahawks' preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. Eskridge finished with three receptions for 19 yards and returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. Eskridge is buried on the wide receiver depth chart. His best chance at a roster spot may be as a returner. The former second-round pick has battled injuries and poor play throughout his career. However, his speed and skills as a returner may be an asset to the team.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks second-year running back Kenny McIntosh may have wrapped up the No. 3 running back spot on Saturday. McIntosh drew the start against the Cleveland Browns and finished with one reception for nine yards and one rushing attempt for 56 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks must have felt like they saw enough from McIntosh because they turned the reins over to undrafted rookie George Holani following McIntosh's touchdown run. McIntosh was a seventh-round pick in 2023. He spent most of the year on injured reserve. McIntosh has been highly efficient this preseason. He has recorded 142 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. He should provide the Seahawks with solid depth behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
From RotoBaller
In his final dress rehearsal on Saturday, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba showed why he was a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Smith-Njigba finished with two receptions for 32 yards on the Seahawks' masterful opening drive against the Cleveland Browns. Smith-Njigba showed off his hands and body control on a contested catch up the right sideline for 25 yards. During his rookie season, Smith-Njigba recorded 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns. He is poised to take a second-year leap in this offense. What is most encouraging is that the Seahawks primarily deployed three wide receiver sets during their opening drive. This would allow Smith-Njigba to share the field with long-time stalwarts DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. With new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb coming over from the University of Washington and introducing more creativity, Smith-Njigba may be worth a shot at his current draft price of WR39.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Tommy Devito could be released when rosters trim down on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. DeVito was sacked eight times during the Giants' preseason finale and completed just over 50 percent of his pass attempts, which is not a great result for someone fighting to keep their job. Rapoport notes that DeVito previously expressed confidence in being signed by another team if the Giants cut him, but that's not necessarily a given following Saturday's performance. Of course, New York will keep Daniel Jones and Drew Lock on their roster, so DeVito's stint in the Big Apple hangs in the balance. If the Giants opt to roster just two quarterbacks, DeVito will be looking for a new job.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith went 4/5 for 62 yards and a touchdown on the Seahawks' opening drive against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. The drive included highlight reel throws of 25 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a 21-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf. After throwing an incomplete pass to Metcalf on the opening play, Smith went 4/4 over the next four plays to drive Seattle 62 yards for the touchdown. Fantasy managers can hope to see this type of efficiency and effectiveness when the regular season kicks off in a couple of weeks. If Smith plays like this, he will be a streaming option throughout the season. Additionally, this type of play would help support the pass catchers in Seattle.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf beat his defender one-on-one for a 21-yard touchdown reception on Saturday. Metcalf finished his only drive with the lone reception on two targets. The Seahawks' offense looked sharp, and quarterback Geno Smith was accurate and on time. The Seahawks' wide receivers were primarily deployed in three wide receiver sets. This should present a chance for more creativity and create space for Metcalf in the passing game. Metcalf is a redzone and endzone machine. Fantasy managers can draft Metcalf confidently knowing that he will be a featured part of this offense.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars released wide receiver Denzel Mims on Sunday morning, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Mims has bounced around several NFL teams throughout his young career. Originally a Jets second-round pick, the Baylor product has also been rostered by the Lions, Steelers, and Jaguars. However, he hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since 2022 with New York. He played in 10 games that year, catching just 11 passes for 186 yards. He's still searching for his first NFL touchdown.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers backup quarterback Easton Stick has very little job security as the preseason wraps up, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. While Popper projects that Stick will make the team's initial 53-man roster, he notes that the Chargers could look to upgrade the backup quarterback role by signing someone who is cut by another team when rosters trim down on Tuesday. Los Angeles previously signed Luis Perez to compete with Stick, and while Perez likely didn't do enough to win a roster spot, all signs point to the Chargers seeking an upgrade over Stick. Of course, this news has minimal fantasy football implications as Justin Herbert is the Chargers' starting quarterback and has an incredibly firm hold on his job. He ranks as a fringe top-12 fantasy quarterback heading into the 2024 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones has been given permission to seek a trade, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Jones, a team captain, is heading into a contract year, and the two sides have not made significant progress on an extension. As a result, Jones gets to explore his options on the trade market. The 24-year-old made a significant impact on defense last year, registering 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks over 15 games. If traded, he would represent a major addition to an NFL roster with less than two weeks until the regular season gets underway.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson is expected to have a significant role in the receiving game, especially with Lawrence Cager (groin) missing extended time, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Johnson, a rookie, is in line to open the year as New York's top pass-catching tight end after Darren Waller retired during the offseason. The Penn State product caught 34 passes for 341 yards and seven touchdowns in his final collegiate season last year. He ranks as a low-end TE2 in most redraft leagues ahead of the 2024 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Daniel Popper of The Athletic projects that Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal will make the roster and be listed third on the depth chart behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. The competition for the third running back slot appeared to be wide open heading into the Chargers' final preseason game, with Vidal, Jaret Patterson, and Isaiah Spiller all competing for the role. Vidal didn't play in the preseason finale, which could suggest that he's already locked up a roster spot. The rookie led the team in rushing yards during Week 2 of the preseason, and he also caught two passes. Even if Vidal is confirmed as the Chargers' No. 3 running back, he should be avoided in fantasy football given his depth role behind Edwards and Dobbins.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Boston Scott rushed 11 times for 34 yards in the team's final preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. He was targeted once in the passing game but did not record a catch. Scott wasn't very efficient on his touches as he closed out his preseason. He is competing with Zach Evans for a backup role behind Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum. There wasn't much to see here as the Rams struggled to move the ball on offense as they went deep into their depth chart in the last preseason tuneup. Although Evans scored twice, neither Scott nor Evans really separated themselves in the preseason.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans led the team's backfield with 14 carries for 45 yards and two rushing touchdowns in Saturday's preseason finale against the Houston Texans. Evans scored on runs of 4 and 3 yards. It wasn't an extremely efficient game for Evans, but he was able to find the end zone twice and out-rushed his competition in Boston Scott (11 carries for 34 yards). Evans and Scott are competing for a backup role behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
From RotoBaller