Guest of the League
The Crown League Est. 2020
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

Training Camp Preview: NFC East

Mon Jul 15 11:09am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 6

Player Notes
Dak Prescott Oct 11 9:50am CT
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott remains a top fantasy option ahead of Week 6's matchup with the Detroit Lions. Prescott is currently third in the league in passing yards per game behind just Geno Smith and Jordan Love and should continue to put up big numbers against Detroit's softer secondary. The Lions' defense has been a pass-funnel defense all season long, as they rank third in run defense but sixteenth in pass defense. Their defensive weaknesses match up well with Dallas' offensive strengths, creating a potential shootout with many fantasy points to go around. Prescott should benefit, as he grades as one of the top quarterback options for Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Oct 11 9:50am CT
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has asserted himself as the workhorse running back over the past two weeks, most recently taking 65% of rushing attempts in Week 5's win. Although Dowdle should see a heavy workload in Week 6 against Detroit, the matchup is one of the toughest on paper. Detroit has allowed the seventh-least fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, likely making Dowdle a touchdown-dependent option this week. With that being said, there will likely be a lot of touchdowns in this game given that it has the highest projected point total of any game this week (52). Dowdle grades as a low-end RB2 option this week.

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Oct 11 9:50am CT
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has seen his role diminish in the past few weeks. Elliott has taken a clear step back to Rico Dowdle, who had 22 touches compared to his six last week. This week, Dallas draws a tough running back matchup against Detroit. With Elliott's diminished workload along with a tough matchup, he should not be started anywhere this week. Elliott can be safely dropped in most formats, as he now serves as Dowdle's handcuff.

From RotoBaller

Andy Dalton Oct 11 8:50am CT
Andy Dalton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton revived the offense for a couple of weeks until they ran into the Chicago Bears defense in Week 5. Dalton watched the end of the game from the bench as Bryce Young returned under center for a bit in the fourth quarter. In Week 6, the Panthers will take on the Atlanta Falcons who have some holes in their defense but haven't given up too many big fantasy outings to opposing quarterbacks. They're averaging 17.3 fantasy points allowed per game which slots them right in the middle of the pack. The Falcons offense, led by Kirk Cousins, will likely come out firing against a weak Panthers defense, so this game could turn into a huge passing effort from Dalton as long as he plays the entire contest. With a banged-up receiving corps, however, it doesn't seem too likely that Dalton will register a big week.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Owens Oct 11 8:40am CT
Jonathan Owens

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) has officially been ruled out for the team's Week 6 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Brisker has been one of the leaders of a very good defensive unit that has kept the Bears in striking distance every game. They enter this week as a top-four unit in terms of fantasy points scored so far this season. Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens are the next two safeties on the depth chart and Hicks will likely be the one to take over for Brisker in this game. The Jaguars finally bounced back with a win in Week 5, but Trevor Lawrence has proven to slip up more often than not, so this defense has serious potential.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Oct 11 8:20am CT
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has enjoyed some big fantasy success over the last few weeks since Andy Dalton took over as the starting quarterback. He's registered finishes of RB7, RB7, and RB5 in half-PPR formats across those weeks. After a brief offensive improvement to win their first game, the offense has slowly returned to the not-so-great version we've seen before. Now, Hubbard goes up against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 who are the fifth-toughest defense against opposing running backs. They're only allowing an average of 15.9 fantasy points per game to backfields. Hubbard remains the best starting option from the Panthers' offense, but his upside is limited if the Falcons can get out to an early lead.

From RotoBaller

Zamir White Oct 11 8:00am CT
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (groin) did not participate in practice on Thursday, his fourth DNP in a row since last week. He wasn't able to suit up for their last game against the Denver Broncos after picking up a groin injury during practice last week. Now, it seems he's on his way to miss another game. White hasn't been able to find a rhythm as the lead back this season, and Alexander Mattison earned more carries even when White was playing. Since the Raiders haven't played with a lead very often, the backfield has suffered on top of that. If White still can't get on the field this week, Ameer Abdullah will slot in as the backup to Mattison again.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Oct 11 8:00am CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) technically won the starting job in training camp, but hasn't been able to take the field due to a calf injury. In fact, the Steelers were ready to trot him out as the starter in Week 1 until the calf flared up a few days before kickoff, allowing Justin Fields to step in earlier than expected. Since then, Wilson has dressed as the emergency QB and has slowly worked his way to taking second-team reps. Head coach Mike Tomlin didn't explicitly say that Wilson would eventually take his spot back, but he said that "the door is ajar" in terms of a potential QB swap. While Fields has looked much improved from his days with the Chicago Bears, the passing game leaves a lot to be desired. Wilson may get the chance to see if he can breathe new life into it.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Oct 11 7:50am CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receivers Davante Adams (hamstring) and Jakobi Meyers (ankle) both registered DNPs for Thursday's injury report. Reports last week suggested that Adams would be healthy by this week, but as the week has progressed, he's increasingly been unlikely to play in Week 6's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is all while the team is looking for trade partners for the superstar receiver even though the trade market looks like it's going cold due to their asking price. Meyers, on the other hand, reportedly "seemed fine" and missing practice was more to make sure he's healthy by game time. Fantasy managers should still monitor his status leading up to the mid-afternoon kickoff on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Oct 11 5:10am CT
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (foot/toe) was limited in Thursday's practice. Despite being limited, he was back on the field after missing Wednesday's practice. Samuel has been dealing with a foot/toe injury from a turf toe issue that has lingered since the preseason. This adds to a Bills injury report already crowded at the wide receiver position, with Khalil Shakir (ankle) and Mack Hollins (shoulder) also dealing with injuries. Samuel will have a few more chances to log a full practice to avoid an injury designation ahead of Monday's matchup with the New York Jets. The 28-year-old caught just one pass for zero yards in last week's loss to the Texans, despite his increased playing time. Samuel has been a non-factor in fantasy so far and is a dart throw (ranked WR70 at RotoBaller) at best in a tough matchup against the Jets in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Oct 11 5:00am CT
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) was limited in Thursday's practice session. He has now been limited in back-to-back practices ahead of the week's final session on Friday. Although it is not clear if Herbert will be a full participant tomorrow, there is a belief that he has made progress with his ankle. Herbert looked clearly hobbled in the team's last game against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he threw for just 179 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers are coming off a bye week, giving Herbert more time to recover before a divisional matchup with the Denver Broncos. Herbert is mainly an option in 2QB and Superflex leagues in Week 6, as he's ranked QB23 out of all quarterbacks in the latest RotoBaller rankings.

From RotoBaller

Gus Edwards Oct 11 4:50am CT
Gus Edwards

Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) did not participate in Thursday's session. This makes the second straight missed practice for Edwards, who was not on the field Wednesday either. If he does not practice on Friday, it is unlikely he will suit up for the Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Edwards' last action was before the bye week when he ran the ball six times for 19 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. Edwards is rostered in 33% of leagues and is not on the fantasy radar, even if he is healthy for Week 6. Kimani Vidal should see an uptick in snaps if Edwards is ruled out in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Rashod Bateman Oct 11 4:50am CT
Rashod Bateman

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (groin) was limited in Thursday's practice. This was Bateman's first practice of the week after missing Wednesday's session. He is battling a groin injury heading into Sunday's matchup with the Washington Commanders. The Commanders' secondary is ranked 26th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. Bateman is coming off his best performance of the season, receiving eight targets and catching four of them for 58 yards and a touchdown. If active, Bateman will look to capitalize on a favorable matchup and build upon that success if the groin injury doesn't hold him back. Bateman is ranked RotoBaller's WR53, making him a borderline flex play in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Oct 11 4:30am CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle amplified his dominance at the fantasy tight end position during a 36-24 Thursday night victory in Seattle. The two-time First-team All-Pro caught five of six targets for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Kittle now has five touchdowns in his last four games and is averaging 14.5 points per game in Yahoo default scoring, while second place is held by Dallas Goedert and Brock Bowers at 10.5. That's the widest margin between two consecutively ranked players in the entire tight-end landscape. Kittle has had similar stretches during his career and he's always been streaky, so fantasy managers who have been propelled by Kittle to early winning records may consider selling high to win-desperate teams. Kittle and the Niners will face the Kansas City Chiefs at home in a Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Oct 11 3:50am CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings contributed modestly to a 36-24 victory over the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday night. The former seventh-rounder caught three of five targets for 27 yards. While conventional wisdom held that Jennings would fade into the background after his monster performance in Week 3 upon the return of George Kittle and Deebo Samuel Sr. from injury, he has maintained more relevance in San Francisco's offense than expected. For example, Jennings has out-targeted Brandon Aiyuk in three of the past four weeks and has only one fewer reception than Deebo Samuel Sr. in the past three weeks. Still, Jennings will be a touchdown-dependent low-floor FLEX when the 49ers have their main pass-catchers healthy, including in a Week 7 rematch of Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs at home.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Oct 11 3:10am CT
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. popped off in a 36-24 victory over the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday night. The former South Carolina Gamecock caught three of five targets for a team-high 103 yards and a touchdown. He also took four carries for 15 yards rushing. The first touchdown of Week 7 came on a 76-yard catch-and-run when a Seattle defensive back misread the trajectory of the ball, leaving Samuel Sr. to easily outrun a linebacker to the end zone. Samuel Sr. has now exceeded projections in three of five games in 2024. He'll have some extra time to enjoy the win before a Week 7 marquee matchup at home versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Oct 11 2:50am CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk fell back into his early-season fantasy slump during a 36-24 victory over the Seahawks in Seattle. He finished with two catches on four targets for 37 yards, and one other reception -- for a good chunk of yardage -- called back on a holding penalty. He is still searching for his first touchdown of 2024. Coming into the game as a consensus WR1, Aiyuk has now come in under projections in five of six contests. Quarterback Brock Purdy spread the ball around in this one, as Deebo Samuel Sr., George Kittle, and Jauan Jennings had six, five, and five targets respectively. With Aiyuk's underperformance stretching into October, Jennings' out-targeting of Aiyuk in the past three of four weeks should be acknowledged -- still, sell-low at your own risk. Aiyuk is fully capable of burning impatient fantasy players. San Francisco will need Aiyuk in a Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Oct 11 1:53am CT
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett had four receptions (on eight targets) for 65 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Fantasy Spin: This was supposed to be the year that Jaxon Smith-Njigba supplanted Lockett as the No. 2 receiver in Seattle and made the veteran obsolete. So far, that has not happened. Lockett has topped 60 yards four times in six games, and he has a 26-339-1 line on the season. He's not what he was at his peak, but Lockett remains a decent WR4/WR5 type that can be plugged into your lineup as needed.

From TheHuddle

Isaac Guerendo Oct 11 1:30am CT
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo filled in nicely for starter Jordan Mason in a Week 6 36-24 victory versus the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mason left the game with an apparent shoulder injury in the second quarter and came back in for one carry just after the half, never to return. Guerendo did most of the replacement work, finishing with 10 carries for 99 yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Though Guerendo looked competent overall, it's worth noting that the bulk of his yardage came on a fourth-quarter 76-yard run that salted the game away for San Francisco. He may have scored on the play but appeared to pull up at the last second to allow the 49ers to work more clock. Guerendo will be a top waiver target heading into Week 7 against Kansas City if Mason is sidelined, but it's worth noting that fourth-year back Patrick Taylor Jr. was involved as well, with five carries and a target of his own in Mason's absence.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Oct 11 1:13am CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith completed 30 of his 52 passes for 312 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions in a Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Fantasy Spin: Outside of his two interceptions, both of which came on poor decisions, Smith played well against the 49ers. He came within inches of connecting with DK Metcalf for a touchdown before halftime, and then had a TD to Metcalf called back on an illegal motion penalty. Unfortunately, close doesn't cut it for fantasy owners, and Smith, despite attempting more than 250 passes this season, has thrown just one TD in each of his six games. That's QB2 production. While his high usage makes him someone you can roll the dice on as needed, thus far he isn't delivering.

From TheHuddle