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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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 6

Player Notes
Kyle Pitts Oct 11 11:10pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is coming off a season-best output of seven catches for 88 yards versus Tampa Bay in Week 5, but the third-year player put up a goose egg the week before without recording a single catch, so he's a bit hard to trust. Still, with how poor tight end production has been so far in 2024, you likely need to keep starting him in season-long leagues. The good news is that his Week 6 opponent, the Carolina Panthers, has generally defended the pass poorly and allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to TEs so far. The bad news is that the only two touchdowns they've allowed to TEs both came in Week 1, so they've been a bit stingier the last four weeks, and with the Falcons as six-point favorites, there may not be as much of a need to go to the air in this game. Pitts profiles as low-end TE1 in Week 6, with as much upside as he has downside.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Oct 11 11:10pm CT
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) no longer carries an injury designation heading into the AFC West clash with the Broncos. The signal-caller was limited at practice on Wednesday and Thursday because of an ankle injury. However, he's made progress and logged a full session on Friday, clearing the way for his availability. Herbert has struggled without Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler no longer on the roster. While he's only thrown one interception, he hasn't tossed for more than 179 yards in a game this season. Unfortunately, Herbert doesn't have much fantasy value outside of multi-quarterback setups in Week 6. That will remain true unless he turns things around, although that may not happen soon.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 11 11:10pm CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is too talented to bench despite a tough Week 6 matchup with the Chicago Bears in London. BTJ is coming off a five-catch, 122-yard, and one-touchdown performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. Although the Colts secondary is one of the worst in the league while the Bears secondary is one of the best, fantasy managers should not overthink it and bench the rookie receiver. Gabe Davis and Evan Engram might return from injury this Sunday, but given how well BTJ has been playing, it is hard to imagine Trevor Lawrence stops looking his way. Even if the offense struggles or Lawrence spreads the ball around more, the first-round pick out of LSU has proven he can produce chunk plays that can salvage his fantasy day instantly. After an 85-yard touchdown against the Colts, BTJ's fantasy managers should be eagerly awaiting another big touchdown in Week 6, even against a top Bears secondary.

From RotoBaller

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