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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.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 6

Player Notes
Tank Bigsby Oct 11 11:00pm CT
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby has decent upside in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears in London. Bigsby is coming off 101 rushing yards against the Colts, and with Travis Etienne Jr. banged up, could be in for another big day this Sunday. He faces the Bears strong defense, but they are better against the pass than the run. The Jaguars may try to run the ball early and often, meaning utilizing Bigsby in what could be a timeshare with Etienne Jr. Bigsby's upside comes with the potential of Etienne Jr. missing the game altogether or at least being limited even more than last week. The young back out of Ole Miss has shown capable of producing with limited production, so fantasy managers should be intrigued to see what he can do with more opportunities. Bigsby serves as a high-risk, high-reward option for fantasy managers at the shallow running back position in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Oct 11 10:30pm CT
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram has a decent chance to return in Week 6 from a hamstring injury after limited practices all week. The Jaguars face the Chicago Bears, who bring an elite secondary to London. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense haven't been great since the veteran tight end got injured in warmups before Week 2, so his presence as a mismatch should be a huge help. Engram is still questionable so fantasy managers should have a backup plan ready, such as Jacksonville backup tight end Brenton Strange, but if Engram does play, it would be hard to bench him given the lack of alternatives at tight end. The Jaguars may struggle to move the ball, but given their porous defense, they could be throwing the ball a lot. That likely means plenty of opportunities for Engram to make an impact. As long as he's healthy come Sunday, fantasy managers should be fine starting Engram in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Oct 11 10:10pm CT
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was not very involved in last week's loss to the Cowboys but could be in line for more opportunities against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. The Raiders are allowing the fifth-most points to opposing offenses as well as the third-most fantasy points to kickers this season. While the Steelers struggled offensively in Week 5, they should be able to move the ball and put Boswell in a position to score on Sunday. Despite his hot start to the campaign, it's clear at this point that Boswell is not going to put up elite numbers on a weekly basis, but he can be trusted in favorable matchups. The 33-year-old should be viewed as a solid starting option this week.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Oct 11 10:10pm CT
Drake London

After a dud opening week (2-15-0), Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London had exactly six catches in three straight games and averaged 62 yards per game over the three games leading up to last week's explosion versus Tampa Bay for 12-154-1. Through five weeks, the 23-year-old has tallied the seventh-most targets (44) in the league, third-most receptions (32), and a 26.35% target share as the No.1 receiver in the Falcons' air attack. The product out of USC goes up against the Panthers in Week 6, a defense that ranks in the bottom third in reception yards allowed and has surrendered a league-worst 11 touchdown receptions. Carolina recently yielded a 3-85-1 line to Ja'Marr Chase and 5-105-2 line to DJ Moore, but has also been vulnerable to receivers with height, such as Quentin Johnston and Tee Higgins. The Falcons are six-point favorites and should be playing with a lead, but London will garner enough attention to be considered a WR1 this week.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 11 9:40pm CT
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (calf) was listed as a full participant for the Steelers' final practice of the week. Freiermuth popped up on the team's injury report on Thursday with a calf designation, but it appears to have only been a minor issue. The 25-year-old is set to resume his TE1 duties when Pittsburgh hits the road to take on the Raiders in Las Vegas. Despite having yet to clear 57 yards in any contest, the former second-round pick has at least four receptions in all but one outing and a touchdown in two straight, working his way to a TE7 ranking in PPR formats. Freiermuth ranks second on his team in targets (23), receptions (20), and yards (178) and has scored the most touchdowns (2) of any Pittsburgh pass-catcher. He'll be a back-end TE1 in the road matchup and is RotoBaller's TE10 in this week's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Oct 11 9:40pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins missed the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign due to injury. He was quiet in Weeks 3 and 4. However, the wideout had a stellar showing in the Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, finishing with nine catches (14 targets) for 83 yards and two touchdowns. While Ja'Marr Chase is the top target for Joe Burrow, Higgins is still one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League. Keep him starting in Week 6 versus the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Justin Tucker Oct 11 9:40pm CT
Justin Tucker

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker bounced back in a big way in Week 5 after a worrisome stretch through the first four games of the season. The veteran finished as the K6 after making all five of his extra points, a 56-yard field goal, and a 24-yard field goal to win the game for the Ravens in overtime. Kickers don't tend to thrive against the Washington Commanders, because the defense has either been very good or very bad while their offense has limited turnovers. The Ravens are likely to move the ball down the field, but it may result in more extra points rather than field goal attempts. There are better kicking options out there right now until Tucker can show some more consistency.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 11 9:30pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been one of the best in the league at his position this season. He was quiet in the opener against the New England Patriots. Since then, the signal-caller has thrown at least two touchdowns in each of his last four games. Burrow had his best showing of the 2024-25 campaign in the AFC North showdown to the Ravens, tossing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one pick while completing 76.9% of his attempts. With the Bengals sitting on one win, Burrow is motivated to salvage his squad's season. Keep him starting in any fantasy format in Week 6 against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Oct 11 9:30pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finally broke his streak of goose eggs in Week 5 when he caught four of five targets for 55 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. So far, he's only had one week with a finish inside of TE1 territory, and that took a terrible week from tight ends across the league to allow him to finish as the TE10 with seven fantasy points in Week 2. In Week 6, he goes up against the Washington Commanders who have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends and give up an average of 5.1 per game in half-PPR formats. Andrews hasn't done enough to give any fantasy managers confidence yet. There are better options across the league until Andrews can show some signs of consistency.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Oct 11 9:30pm CT
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill returned to his usual fantasy output in Week 5 after a brief pop in Week 4. This is a good indication of what his season will look like as he's bound to have some big games here and there in PPR formats, but he's too inconsistent to start every week. The Ravens take on the Washington Commanders in Week 6, and they're right around the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points given up to opposing backfields. Derrick Henry will likely command a lot of the touches again, but Hill could get a chance at making some noise if the game turns into a shootout.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Oct 11 9:30pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase struggled in his first two games of the year. However, he's turned up the volume since then, finding the end zone five times in the last three games. The wideout had a monster showing in the Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, amassing 10 catches (12 targets) for 193 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals offense has looked good despite the team sitting on just one win this season. With that in mind, the unit is extra-motivated to produce on Sunday night versus the New York Giants, so Chase has an excellent chance to finish the week as one of the most productive fantasy receivers.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Oct 11 9:20pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) has been cleared to play for the team's Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears. It's the second week in a row that Etienne has logged three limited sessions leading up to Sunday, but he's fine and ready to go, barring any early Sunday morning surprises. His health aside, a more significant concern for the 25-year-old is that backfield mate Tank Bigsby has been the more effective weapon in the offense. Despite Etienne leading the tandem through the air in Week 5 with six catches and 43 yards on seven targets, he saw just six carries to Bigsby's 13, and the second-year back was far more efficient with his touches. This backfield is one to monitor, but desperate fantasy managers can take solace in the fact that if Chicago can be beaten anywhere -- it's on the ground. They're tied for the league's fifth-most yards per carry allowed (4.8).

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 11 9:10pm CT
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has scored in back-to-back contests and will hope to keep the streak alive against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. Although Freiermuth was a limited participant in practice on Thursday with a calf injury, he was removed from the injury report on Friday after logging a full practice. Las Vegas has fared well against tight ends so far this season but is yet to face one that has earned as many opportunities as Freiermuth. The 25-year-old is averaging more targets per contest than Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews and more fantasy points than Travis Kelce, Dalton Kincaid, and Kyle Pitts. His ceiling will be relatively limited if Pittsburgh continues to run the ball at one of the highest rates in the NFL, but as a focal point of the Steelers' offense, Freiermuth offers fantasy managers a steady floor. He can be started once again as a low-end TE1 on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Derrick Henry Oct 11 9:00pm CT
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has found the end zone in each one of his first five games with the team this year. He already has seven combined touchdowns in five games while coming in as the RB2 in half-PPR formats, behind Alvin Kamara. He's tied for the most 20+ yard plays on the ground with seven, top ten in yards per carry (6.0), and has the longest run play on the season with his 87-yard touchdown from Week 4. In Week 6, he goes up against the Washington Commanders who have a middle-of-the-pack unit that allows 20.3 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields. Henry will likely find the holes in Washington's defense while he receives around 20 touches yet again, so fantasy managers can consider him an RB1 heading into this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Oct 11 9:00pm CT
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is officially listed as questionable for the team's Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears in London. Last week, a shoulder injury plagued the 25-year-old, but he was healthy enough to play in the victory over the Colts. This week, it's a knee injury forcing him to record three straight limited designations at practice. However, he appears to have a favorable shot to suit up for an "away" game across the pond. The former Buffalo Bill leads the wide receiver corps on his new team this season in total snaps but ranks third on the Jags in targets (25), receptions (12), and yards (159). Additionally, he has yet to score a touchdown. If Davis can't play, wideouts Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. would likely take on that workload. If he can, he still won't be a recommended option, particularly against a Bears defense that has been stingy to opposing offenses (seventh-fewest passing yards allowed).

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Oct 11 9:00pm CT
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers finally bounced back in the Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals after a couple of rough weeks where he saw a combined four receptions for 30 yards. With the momentum of a 100-yard game, he rolls into a matchup with a favorable secondary in the Washington Commanders. They've been one of the easier matchups for opposing wideouts as they give up 33.8 fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats. That ranks them as the sixth-easiest matchup for receivers. Since Washington's offense has proven to be able to move the ball, Lamar Jackson will likely have to throw a bit more in this contest which leaves Flowers as a high-end WR2.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Oct 11 8:50pm CT
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was unusually quiet last week and will look to make an impact against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Head coach Mike Tomlin labeled Pickens' surprisingly low snap share in Week 5 as "load management", basically stating that he hopes to keep the 23-year-old fresh for when he is on the field. While this could continue to be a part of the team's gameplan, the Steelers were clearly lacking playmakers in their loss to Dallas last Sunday night. Pickens will need the ball in his hands more frequently for Pittsburgh to find success offensively. Las Vegas has been more vulnerable to the run than the pass but should not be considered a pass defense to avoid, especially with the Steelers struggling on the ground so far this season. Pickens is the favorite weapon of quarterback Justin Fields, who will be starting again this week. Even with a reduced snap count, Pickens earned a target on 26% of Fields' pass attempts last week, a far greater share than any of his teammates. The duo should be able to connect on more opportunities against the Raiders, making Pickens a low-end WR2 or flex option with upside.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Oct 11 8:50pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is set to compete in the second "Battle of the Beltway" in his career. The two-time MVP is on a tremendous streak of QB1-level finishes this season as he's hit that mark in all five games with QB10 being his lowest weekly rank. He's sitting at the overall QB1 on the season so far after a huge performance to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime last week. In the Week 6 matchup with the Washington Commanders, Jackson goes up against the 12th-ranked defense in terms of fantasy points allowed per game to opposing quarterbacks. They allow 18.4 fantasy points per game which shouldn't be a problem for Jackson to surpass. To add even more motivation, Jayden Daniels has drawn plenty of comparisons to Jackson and even sits at QB2 this year. Jackson remains a must-start and should deliver another QB1 type of performance.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Oct 11 8:40pm CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson is a fringe flex or streaming option in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers. Wilson has started to carve out his role in the Cardinals' passing game, having caught five of six targets for 78 yards in the Week 5 win over the 49ers. The Cardinals will travel to Green Bay to play the Packers in a rainy NFC conference battle, which presents an advantageous matchup for Wilson. The Packers' defensive backs are shorter and do not play very physically. Wilson, on the other hand, is a big, physical receiver who uses his 6'3", 215-pound frame to his advantage. While the rain and wind could pose challenges for the passing game, slightly diminishing Wilson's value, fantasy managers in need could consider him a streaming flex option in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Oct 11 8:40pm CT
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant for the third straight practice ahead of the team's Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears. It's Engram's first whole week of practice since Week 2, when he injured his hamstring in pre-game warmups before Jacksonville's 18-13 loss to the Browns. He'll officially get a questionable designation. While Chicago is listed as the "home" team via technicality, a trip to London is as much of a home game for the Jags as an outing at EverBank Stadium. Wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is regarded as questionable, too -- after a week of limited sessions of his own. If Engram and Davis cannot play, tight end Brenton Strange will continue to see an uptick in usage, while wideouts Christian Kirk and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. project to handle a majority of 2WR sets.

From RotoBaller