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Training Camp Preview: NFC South

Tue Jul 16 10:16am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Godwin is moving to the slot


This is the second 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.

Saints

The Saints were a bit of a surprise last year, winning their division. Expectations will be high for this team again, mainly because of the veteran players on the team. Their window might be closing sooner than later. There are not a ton of questions to be answered with this squad, but keeping their veterans healthy might be a big key to training camp. New Orleans gets camp started on July 16 at the University of California-Irvine in Irvine, Calif.

Position battle: Chris Olave is the clear No. 1 receiver for the Saints, but things aren’t quite as clear after him. Rashid Shaheed had his chances last year but wasn’t too consistent. He won’t be handed anything this year. A.T. Perry, Cedrick Wilson and Bub Means should be in the mix for the starter spot, opposite Olave. The job is Shaheed’s to lose, but don’t discount the other guys by any means.

Injury watch: Chris Olave is dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered in the weight room this offseason. The injury is considered pretty minor but still something to monitor. He is the top target in this offense and sporting a non-contact jersey for a lot of the offseason workouts. Olave might be brought along slowly in camp to make sure he is completely healthy for the start of the season.

Bucs

The Bucs were a playoff team last season and should have a similar competitive squad this season. Tampa has some good pieces on both sides of the ball. Much of the season might hinge on starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who played his best football last season. He will need to continue to make strides if the Bucs hope to make another playoff run. Mayfield and his teammates open camp on July 23 at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla.

Position battle: The starting receivers are clear in Tampa, but the No. 3 is up in the air. There are three similar players looking to get that job. Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard are the top candidates to play alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. And with Godwin moving to the slot this year, the player winning that No. 3 job could have some big games in Tampa, getting some chances to stretch the field.

Injury watch: Chris Godwin was able to play a full season last year but injuries have been an issue in recent seasons. And the Bucs are moving him to the slot this year because they want to avoid him getting injured. So his health is something to watch this training camp, making sure he can remain upright and on the field. Godwin can be a fantasy difference maker when all is right with him.

Falcons

The Falcons have a lot of new this training camp, which should be the focus of camp. The new coaching staff will install a new offense for the new starting quarterback. How quickly can everyone get up to speed with the new system? This will be what fantasy owners should be watching during camp. The new offense should be a lot more exciting than last year, which should be a welcome sight for fantasy owners. All this new for the Falcons gets going on July 23 at the IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Ga.

Position battle: We wouldn’t call this a position battle, but the Falcons used a first-round pick on quarterback Michael Penix, surprising everyone. He should sit behind Kirk Cousins this year but you have to wonder a little what would happen if Penix tore it up in camp and preseason action. It might put a little heat on Cousins. Penix could make things really interesting for Atlanta.

Injury watch: Kirk Cousins is returning from a torn Achilles’ tendon. This is a major injury to come back from, but he has made good progress. Expectations are he should be ready for the start of the year, but nothing is 100 percent certain. We should get a good idea of his health after watching him in camp and preseason action. 

Panthers

The Panthers did a much better job this offseason of trying to surround second-year quarterback Bryce Young with more talent. Young had his struggles his rookie season, so something needed to be done to help him get it going. We will see if the Panthers did enough to help Young take some steps forward, starting in camp on July 19 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

Position battle: The Panthers upgraded at receiver this offseason, adding Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette to the mix. Adam Thielen is already on the roster, though, as is Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall. This is a suddenly crowded receiver room with a lot to be sorted. You will want to see how this all shakes out before drafting any Panthers receiver to your team.

Injury watch: Jonathan Brooks would have been a higher draft pick if not for a torn ACL, suffered late in his college career. There is a good chance he is not ready for the start of camp or the regular season. The Panthers are likely to bring along their future starting running back slowly, making sure he doesn’t have any setbacks. But once he is healthy, Brooks will be the three-down back for the Panthers, getting plenty of playing time in that role.

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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Player Notes
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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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

Travis Etienne Oct 11 8:40pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. was limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury but is expected to still play through it, just as he did in Week 5. He faces the Chicago Bears who have been great on defense, but mainly against the pass. The shoulder injury limited Etienne Jr.'s snaps last week, paving the way for Tank Bigsby to thrive in an expanded role. The combination of the injury, backfield competition, and likely negative game script means it is hard to expect a big game out of the Clemson product. He was productive in the passing game with six catches for 43 yards, so he could actually benefit from the team passing more, but with Evan Engram potentially returning from injury and Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk excelling, it's hard to imagine him matching that previous receiving output. While fantasy managers shouldn't bench Etienne Jr. in Week 6, their expectations for him should be tempered to a low-end RB2/flex level.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Oct 11 8:20pm CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is coming off a career game in Week 5 versus Tampa Bay in which he threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns (also one interception). Before that game, however, the 36-year-old had only one multi-touchdown-pass performance in four games, averaged just 216 yards per game, and threw four picks during that time. It would be unreasonable to expect another game like Week 5, but the Panthers' defense has been very susceptible through the air, allowing a league-high 11 passing TDs and is bottom-third in passing yards allowed. On the flip side, Carolina has been generous against the run as well and with Atlanta being six-point favorites, the Falcons may deploy a more balanced attack, potentially leaning on the run game late. Regardless, Cousins is a viable streaming option with high upside, and for those thinking ahead, he'll face the Buccaneers again in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Oct 11 8:20pm CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (knee) was a full participant in Atlanta's final practice of the week and is a full-go for the team's Week 6 matchup on Sunday. Mooney started off the week with two limited sessions, but his status for the road tilt against the Carolina Panthers was never in doubt. The 26-year-old and the Falcons' offense have one of the more enticing fantasy matchups this week. Carolina has allowed the most passing touchdowns and second-most yards per pass attempt to opposing offenses. It's another opportunity for the former fifth-round pick to continue his streak of production, which has him sitting as the WR15 in PPR formats through the season's first five weeks. Mooney has had a strong beginning to his first season in Atlanta and should continue to be a solid third option at worst in the Falcons' passing attack. He'll be a WR3 with upside against the Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Oct 11 8:20pm CT
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris is yet to find the end zone this season but will be looking to capitalize on a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. The Raiders are surrendering 5.2 yards per carry and the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2024. Harris has been disappointing with the backfield to himself, however, and could be joined on Sunday by Jaylen Warren (knee) for the first time since Week 3. Warren logged a full practice on Friday and is officially listed as questionable to make his return. The Steelers' offense has struggled to get things going recently, so although the addition of Warren would be welcome, it could take away from Harris' workload, specifically in the passing game. Harris has generated most of his fantasy output as a pass-catcher over the past two weeks, averaging 2.5 receptions for 44.5 yards on 4 targets per contest. Given the matchup, Harris should be considered a low-end RB2 this week regardless of Warren's availability, but fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on how Pittsburgh splits backfield opportunities moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Oct 11 8:00pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears faces the Indianapolis Colts in Nashville this coming Sunday in a pivotal Week 6 matchup. Spears enjoyed his best fantasy output of the season the last time Tennessee took the field in Week 4, with 11.9 fantasy points on 17 touches, including an impressive seven-yard touchdown run. This backfield still belongs to Tony Pollard, but it was very encouraging to see Spears that involved in the offense after a disappointing and head-scratching start to the season. While the Colts struggle in virtually all facets of defense, they are especially poor at giving up receiving yards to opposing backs, perhaps the best part of Spears' game. Also, with the Titans likely wanting to limit the amount of times Will Levis throws the ball due to his error-prone ways, Spears could see similar volume to Week 4, which would merit lower-end flex consideration or a solid bye-week fill-in this week.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Ridley Oct 11 8:00pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley takes on a leaky Colts secondary in a Week 6 divisional game this Sunday. The former Falcon has carried over his boom-bust ways from last season into 2024, and it's been much more of the latter through four games played. Ridley has finished as a top-50 WR only once, when he scored 24.7 points against the league's best secondary in Week 2. The quarterback play in Tennessee has been a major area of concern this season and Ridley is suffering as a result. However, the upcoming matchup against Indianapolis presents a very solid "get right" game for the speedster, with Indy surrendering the seventh most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. He remains a risky play, but Ridley does have some upside this week coming off a bye against a vulnerable group of DBs.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Oct 11 7:50pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard will take on the Indianapolis Colts in a Week 6 divisional matchup this Sunday. The lead back for Tennessee has gotten it done for fantasy managers this season, scoring over 15 PPR points in three-of-four games played. Fellow back Tyjae Spears has not been much of a hindrance to Pollard getting a full workload, as the latter ranks top 20 league-wide for touches at his position. The Colts have been one of the softest run defenses in the NFL, ranking in the bottom-10 for fantasy points allowed, and just let Tank Bigsby go for 101 and two scores on only 13 carries last week. In a game where the Titans are favored at home, it should be a busy day for Pollard, similar to the Week 4 game against Miami in which he saw a season high 24 touches. The former Cowboy should be locked into lineups in all formats this weekend as a fringe RB1.

From RotoBaller