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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.

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Dyami Brown Aug 22 9:40pm ET
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With the recent trading of former teammate Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown has been catapulted into the team's starting lineup. He now sits No. 2 behind Terry McLaurin on Washington's depth chart. Brown has looked solid this preseason and will have a chance to earn more consistent targets in his new starting role. The former Tarheel has garnered a 91.1 grade from PFF for his play this August and now has five catches (two contested) on six targets for 74 yards and a 118.1 rating when targeted. While the 24-year-old has totaled just 29 receptions over his first three seasons as a pro, he stands an excellent shot to provide some value in fantasy drafts this season in a wide-open Washington wide receiver room. Brown is currently Yahoo!'s WR409, though that is expected to change over the next few weeks.

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Travis Kelce Aug 22 9:20pm ET
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The Kansas City Chiefs and Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey have agreed on a four-year extension valued at $72 million, including $50 million guaranteed. This effectively makes him the highest-paid center in NFL history. The previous holder of the highest annual salary for a center was the Detroit Lions' Frank Ragnow ($13.5 million). A former second-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Humphrey has been a model of consistency for the Chiefs -- yet to miss a start in his three-year career. The University of Oklahoma product has evolved into one of the premier interior blockers in the league, and he'll now anchor Kansas City's offensive line through 2028. He's allowed just 44 total pressures throughout his career. The Chiefs now have the NFL's highest-paid interior offensive lineman, interior defensive lineman (Chris Jones), and tight end (Travis Kelce).

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Cedric Johnson Aug 22 7:30pm ET
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Brandon Aiyuk Aug 22 7:20pm ET
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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Thursday that "there's really not a lot of updates. We've continued to be in communication. Nothing to report there," when asked for an update on the ongoing situation with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots have all been mentioned as potential trade partners with the Niners for Aiyuk this summer. The Patriots dropped out a while ago, though, and the Steelers' recent extension offer to Aiyuk caused him to head back to the negotiating table with the 49ers. With two weeks remaining until the start of the regular season, it's more likely that Aiyuk either signs an extension to stay in San Fran or plays in 2024 on his fifth-year option. The 26-year-old former first-rounder is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 15 total TDs, and his fantasy value would be highest as a low-end WR1 if he sticks with the 49ers.

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Amari Cooper Aug 22 7:20pm ET
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D.J. Chark Aug 22 7:00pm ET
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Isiah Pacheco Aug 22 6:50pm ET
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Logan Thomas Aug 22 6:20pm ET
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Justin Fields Aug 22 5:40pm ET
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Dyami Brown Aug 22 5:13pm ET
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Dynasty | Dyami Brown moves up the depth chart after the Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson. Dynasty Analysis: Interesting. The trade of Dotson clearly paves the way for Brown to have a much bigger role in the Commanders offense this year. While he hasn't done much in his three years (62/476/3), he's also only had 62 career targets. If the Commanders don't make other moves, that number could change dramatically this season. Brown is clearly now on the sleeper radar and worth a roster spot in dynasty leagues.

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DeVonta Smith Aug 22 5:13pm ET
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Dynasty | Parris Campbell moves down the depth chart after the Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson. Dynasty Analysis: This trade represents a tough break for Campbell, who was trying to make a significant impact this year after a lost season with the Giants. Campbell and Dotson are different players but there simply aren't enough targets to keep everyone happy in the receiver room, especially when you keep in mind AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are going to dominate targets anyway. Campbell is likely not a roster-worthy player at the moment.

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Russell Wilson Aug 22 5:10pm ET
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently addressed the quarterback situation, confirming that Russell Wilson (calf) will start in the preseason finale. When asked if Wilson remains the starting quarterback, Tomlin affirmed, "Nothing's changed regarding their positions, and yes, he will start." While it's not surprising that Wilson will play, his status as the starter is notable given the concerns raised after his performance in Week 2 of the preseason against the Bills. Wilson struggled in that game, throwing for just 47 yards on ten attempts and taking three sacks for 21 yards lost. This preseason game was Wilson's first live-action since early January and followed a period of missing significant training camp time due to a calf injury. As such, Wilson is considered a late QB2 or early QB3 with uncertain job security, though he could be a viable option in favorable matchups.

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Boston Scott Aug 22 5:00pm ET
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After practice, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reported that running back Boston Scott (leg contusion) is dealing with a "minor leg contusion," which led to him being held out of practice. However, McVay confirmed that Scott will receive a substantial workload in Saturday's preseason game. Scott performed well in last weekend's game, rushing ten times for 55 yards in the Rams' victory over the Chargers. Although Scott was the second back to see action behind Zach Evans, both were used early in the game. Scott and Evans are vying for a spot in a crowded running back room that includes Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers. Additionally, the Rams have bolstered their running back depth by signing SaRodorick Thompson, who is expected to join Evans and Scott as active ball carriers for the upcoming preseason game against the Houston Texans. Assuming he makes the final roster, Scott will likely serve in a backup and special teams role this season.

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T.J. Hockenson Aug 22 4:50pm ET
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has stated there is no specific timeline for tight end T.J. Hockenson's (knee) return from his ACL and MCL injuries. Still, he appears to be making excellent physical progress. Hockenson is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, which he sustained in a late-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although rumors suggest he might return sooner than anticipated, a mid-October return seems more realistic based on current data. While Vikings coaches are optimistic about Hockenson's recovery, there is a significant difference between running and cutting in practice gear and performing under game conditions with full contact. Consequently, Hockenson's fantasy value has been considerably impacted. Although he has a strong track record, catching four or more passes in 22 of 25 games with the Vikings, fantasy managers are often wary of players who will miss several weeks. However, if your league includes an IR slot, Hockenson could be a worthwhile late-round pick as insurance for the end of the season.

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Joe Mixon Aug 22 4:20pm ET
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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans praised running back Joe Mixon's receiving skills, highlighting what sets him apart. Ryans commented, "Joe stands out as a receiving running back. While everyone recognizes his physical running style and ability to gain yards even without perfect blocking, his hands out of the backfield are exceptional. If downfield options are unavailable, we can rely on him for check-downs and big plays in the passing game." This endorsement makes Mixon a strong candidate for the middle rounds in PPR leagues. Mixon has adapted well to the zone-based schemes used by offensive coordinator Slowik and remains a valuable pass-catching asset. Despite missing most of training camp due to a quadriceps injury and lacking preseason game action, Mixon is expected to be ready for the season opener on September 8 against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Treylon Burks Aug 22 2:40pm ET
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Deshaun Watson Aug 22 2:30pm ET
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) participated fully in practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday with "general arm soreness." While there's no update yet on if Watson will face the Seahawkson Saturday night in the preseason finale at Lumen Field, it's more important to see he's back in action for the Browns on Thursday. The 28-year-old former Pro Bowler is coming off a rough season in Cleveland, dealing with a rotator cuff contusion, getting benched due to poor play altogether in Week 7, and eventually undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a fractured shoulder. Even with Watson being treated as a QB2 choice in fantasy drafts this summer, his rushing upside gives him QB1 potential if he can return to the form he once showed with the Houston Texans.

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