Training Camp Preview: NFC East
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.
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The Paur Report
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 6
Cincinnati Bengals running backs Zack Moss (foot) and Chase Brown (quadriceps) are both expected to play on Sunday against the New York Giants, according to Kelsey Conway of USA Today. Moss left last weekend's game early with an injury and was unable to practice on Wednesday but did return on Thursday in a limited capacity. Brown was added to the injury report on Thursday. However, both injuries appear minor, and they are expected to play this weekend. Fantasy managers should expect Moss to see the slight majority of carries out of the backfield, but both should be viewed as flex options facing the Giants, who have allowed the 11th-fewest points to opposing running backs.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (groin) is still dealing with his groin injury, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Raanan further reported that head coach Brian Daboll said "we'll see" regarding his running back's status heading into the weekend. Fantasy managers should monitor Friday's injury report, as it should provide clarity on Singletary's status heading into the weekend. Last week in his absence, rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran for an impressive 129 yards on 18 carries. If Singletary were to remain sidelined, Tracy becomes a solid RB2 with upside against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the 19th-most points to opposing running backs this season.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott could see more opportunities later in the season according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Meirov reported that Dallas owner Jerry Jones expressed that the team is "saving him" on 1053 The Fan when asked about his lack of opportunities. After seeing double-digit rushing attempts in the opening week of the season, Elliott has yet to that mark since and has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry in this span. Rico Dowdle has begun to emerge as the lead option in the backfield as he has scored in each of the past two games and seen double-digit carries in each of them. Fantasy managers in deeper formats could consider stashing Elliott, but for now, Dowdle has the highest upside on the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) is not expected to miss a long period of time, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Stevenson did not practice earlier in the week and was also not seen at Friday's practice. Fantasy managers should monitor Friday's injury report, as it will likely provide clarity on his status heading into the weekend. However, the fact that Stevenson has not logged a practice session this week does not bode well for his availability on Sunday. After not finding the end zone during Weeks 3 and 4, Stevenson broke out of his slump last weekend and ran for 89 yards and a score. If Stevenson were to sit out this weekend, Antonio Gibson becomes a viable flex option and should see a majority of the opportunities in the backfield.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) will likely be a game-time decision on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Robinson battled a knee injury heading into last week's game but was able to suit up. This week, he did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a similar knee injury and was also not seen during Friday's practice, which is not a promising sign for his status. Fantasy managers should monitor the injury report later on Friday, as the Alabama product will likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. The 25-year-old has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, scoring five touchdowns with 325 rushing yards. If Robinson can suit up, he should be locked into all lineups as an upside RB2. If he cannot play, Austin Ekeler should see the majority of opportunities out of the backfield and would become a must-start option.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) is believed to have suffered a sprained AC joint during Thursday's night game, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter further noted that the 25-year-old will undergo further testing later on Friday. Mason left Thursday's game in the first half and was only able to see one rushing attempt during the entire second half due to the injury. This opened the door for fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo to see a season-high 10 carries for 99 yards. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Mason's status ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. If Mason were to miss an extended period of time, Guerendo becomes a priority waiver-wire target and a must-start option.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) will not play on Sunday according to Pat Leonard of NYDN Sports. The LSU standout suffered a concussion in their Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and has not returned to the field since. Nabers did not return to practice this week and also did not show any significant progress through the concussion protocol. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status heading into next week as he could return to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last weekend, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton led the Giant passing attack and should be expected to do so again on Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Both are high-upside flex options this weekend as the Bengals have allowed the 18th-most points to opposing wideouts this season.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf had a poor game on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Metcalf finished the game with three receptions for 48 yards. Metcalf had been cruising this season and entered the game as the WR11 in fantasy. However, the 49ers more or less dominated the Seahawks and limited Metcalf's upside. Metcalf also had a couple of near-miss touchdowns in this game. Unfortunately, Metcalf's performance will set fantasy managers back heading into the weekend. However, there should be no panic or concern over his performance. Quarterback Geno Smith still threw for over 300 yards and Metcalf earned eleven targets. His catch rate was abysmal, but that kind of volume is sure to continue to translate to fantasy points. Metcalf will look to get back on track in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey remains the top kicker heading into Week 6's matchup with the Detroit Lions. Aubrey missed a kick last week, going 2-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points. He will look to bounce back this week in a dome environment in Dallas in what projects to be a high-flying offensive battle. The 29-year-old is the top kicker option this week and offers week-winning potential. Start him in all leagues that utilize kickers.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant matched his season-high catch total of six on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. He also set a new season-high in receiving yards with 63. Fant has been a useless fantasy asset all season but if you happened to stream him this week then you were likely pleasantly surprised by the outcome. The Seahawks wound up throwing the ball 52 times, so it is no surprise that so many pass catchers were able to receive solid volume in this game. Even with a nice game from Fant, he is still too inconsistent to trust in fantasy football. However, if this trend continues then he would be worth an add off waivers.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III was inefficient on the ground in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. However, Walker earned eight targets for the second straight game. Walker is not known as a pass catcher. That is a role that typically falls to backup running back Zach Charbonnet. Even so, the new Seahawks regime seems to be changing that narrative. Walker has earned 24 targets in 2024 which is 13 off of a career high. The Seahawks have also found themselves trailing quite a bit over the last three weeks which could contribute to Walker's volume in the passing game. Still, the passing game work is giving Walker a nice floor in fantasy and propelling him into the high-end RB1 conversation. If this trend continues in Week 7, then it may be safe to say that Walker will see solid passing game volume all season.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had a rough outing on Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers. Smith threw for 312 yards and continued his 2024 trend of throwing for exactly one touchdown. However, he threw two costly interceptions as the Seahawks were unable to keep pace with a 49ers team that was opportunistic on turnovers throughout the game. The outing was disappointing for Smith as he was coming off two straight games with at least 22.56 fantasy points. However, Smith has now thrown for at least 312 yards in three of six games in 2024. At some point, the touchdown numbers should increase. Unfortunately, the Seahawks find themselves in a rut as they have lost three straight games. Smith often plays better when the Seahawks can play with a lead, which has not been the case lately. Hopefully, Smith can get back on track in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's target share continues to remain high. He seems to have found some consistency as Thursday's game against the San Francisco 49ers marked his third straight with at least seven targets. He has consistently kept pace with the targets earned by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Smith-Njigba's only issue is that he has not scored many touchdowns. Quarterback Geno Smith has only thrown six touchdowns on the season and has thrown exactly one in every game so there have not been a lot of touchdowns to go around. Still, Seattle's offense continues to have to throw at a high rate to keep up with more challenging opponents as the season progresses. That will bode well for Smith-Njigba's volume throughout 2024.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett earned eight targets on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Lockett turned those targets into four catches for 65 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Lockett had been solid for fantasy all season and it was great to see him score his first touchdown to deliver WR2 value this week. He finished tied for third on the team in targets but paced the pass catchers in receiving yards. Lockett continues to be a safety valve for quarterback Geno Smith. He has now racked up 40 targets in six games this season. His 339 receiving yards through six games puts him on pace for 960 on the season. If he can continue to receive solid volume and the touchdowns increase, Lockett could creep up the fantasy radar even farther.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is a no-brainer start heading into Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Lions. The home game has the highest implied point total of any game this week (52), and Dallas will lean into the passing game per usual with Detroit's third-ranked run defense on the other side of the ball. Ferguson has averaged over eight targets per game since returning from injury in Week 3 and will continue to see a healthy workload on Sunday. Start the 25-year-old in all formats, as he has TE1 overall upside this week.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys' defense played one of their better games in Week 5, as they held Pittsburgh to just 17 points. They had three sacks and forced two fumbles, stringing together a solid fantasy outing after struggling the previous few weeks. This week, they welcome the red-hot Detroit Lions into town. Detroit is coming off of a bye having scored 42 points in their prior game against Seattle. They will be well-rested with plenty of time to prepare a game plan, creating a tough matchup. Trevon Diggs (ankle/illness), Eric Kendricks (calf/shoulder), and Micah Parsons (ankle) have all missed significant practice time this week and could cause Dallas to be short-handed on the defensive side of the ball this week. Look elsewhere for your fantasy defense for Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb disappointed fantasy managers in Week 5 with five receptions for 62 yards. This week, Lamb is in a prime position for a big week. The Cowboys welcome the Detroit Lions to town in a game with the highest implied point total (52) of the week. Detroit's rush defense is sound, creating an environment where Dallas may lean even more into the pass than usual. They do not have a shutdown corner, meaning Lamb should draw favorable matchups. The 25-year-old grades as the WR1 overall this week and needs to be started everywhere.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert is coming off of the best game of his career in which he caught the game-winning pass against Pittsburgh. Tolbert is a strong flex option in Week 6's matchup with the Detroit Lions. Detroit's tough run defense will only lead Dallas to lean even heavier into the pass, creating plenty of opportunities for Tolbert to get involved with Brandin Cooks (knee) on injured reserve. Tolbert solidified himself as Dallas' WR2 last week and is a safe start with a high ceiling in a potential shootout this week.
From RotoBaller
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
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
