Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has faded into the background at training camp in the last few practices as he attempts to battle for a prominent role on offense in 2024. Valdes-Scantling has yet to make a strong impression in the passing game during team drills, and his opportunities with quarterback Josh Allen and the top unit have dwindled as a result. At one point, MVS was on a side field working with the second and third units, which was more notable with Chase Claypool (toe) out. It's still early, but it's been clear that he hasn't been on of the top five receivers this summer. Second-year wideout Tyrell Shavers has outplayed Valdes-Scantling and offers more versatility. Claypool has also had his moments before getting injured. If the Bills decide to move on, they'd eat $2.25 million in dead cap money.

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With Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (undisclosed) suffering an undisclosed injury at training camp early this week, giving rookie running back Ray Davis a big opportunity in practices this week. After Johnson left, Davis was the clear second back on the field after starter James Cook, working in with quarterback Josh Allen and the first-team offense when Cook wasn't on the field. If Johnson's injury is serious, Davis will have a big opportunity to secure the top backup role to Cook to start the 2024 season. The rest of the Bills' RB depth chart features players who seem unlikely to make the 53-man roster. However, Buffalo could look to add a free-agent RB at some point this summer if Johnson requires an extended absence. Even when Johnson was healthy over the weekend, he split first-team reps with Davis with Cook sitting out.

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Los Angeles Chargers running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins split first-team repetitions at training camp practice on Tuesday. The reps were Edwards' first in a team period since the Chargers signed him in free agency this offseason, as he has been working his way back from an undisclosed injury that required surgery. Rookie sixth-rounder Kimani Vidal has been working with the backups early in camp. As long as Dobbins is able to stay healthy, he figures to be in some sort of timeshare in LA's backfield with Edwards. The 29-year-old Edwards had a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns in 2023 in his final year in Baltimore, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect anything close to that number in 2024 in his first year with the Bolts. Edwards should lead the Bolts backfield in touches this year, but Dobbins is going to be a thorn in his side, making him more of an RB3/flex in fantasy.

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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Kadarius Toney (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury at training camp. Injuries have followed Toney everywhere early in his career. It remains to be seen how serious his ankle injury is, but any time missed in camp could be detrimental to Toney's chances of earning a prominent role in KC's offense to begin the year. The 25-year-old former first-round pick of the New York Giants was a big letdown in 2023 in his first full year with the Chiefs, as he finished the regular season with just 27 receptions on 38 targets for 169 yards and one touchdowns in 13 games (two starts). Working as a returner on special teams might be where Toney makes his biggest impact in 2024 if he can stay healthy. Even if Rashee Rice opens the year on suspension, which is expected, Toney belongs on the waiver wire in fantasy.

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Dynasty | The Bears have signed wide receiver DJ Moore to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: It's the largest contract extension in team history and pays Moore $110 million over four years with nearly $83 million guaranteed. This contract puts him right in line with megastuds Justin Jefferson and AJ Brown in terms of receiver contracts. The Bears struck gold last year by trading the top pick in the NFL Draft to the Panthers for what ended up being Caleb Williams (this year's #1) and Moore. After a 96/1,364/8 season, Moore is now locked in long-term and remains a low-end WR1 moving forward. Meanwhile, the Bengals and Cowboys are clearly losing any leverage with Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb, respectively.

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft following a six-year college career. The six-foot-five gun-slinger spent his final three seasons at Tennessee and started in 16 games. Last year, he completed 64.5% of his passes for 2,769 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions and added six touchdowns as a runner. He's been recognized for his rocket arm, but accuracy has been a concern throughout his career. However, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com, he has had a promising start to training camp. "With most of the attention on Brissett and Maye, Milton has put together a solid start to camp," Lazar wrote. "He has the liveliest arm I've ever seen in person, and that's not hyperbole. Milton's arm strength shrinks the field, and his drive throws are more impressive than his deep ball." While this is a positive report, the Patriots also added veteran Jacoby Brissett this offseason and drafted North Carolina's Drake Maye in the first round of April's draft, so he has almost no opportunity for playing time.

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New England Patriots rookie wide receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker figure to play significant roles in their rookie seasons given the weak group of veteran pass-catchers on the roster. Evan Lazar of Patriots.com reports that the rookie duo has been "as advertised" to start training camp. "Polk has been featured with other regulars in the Patriots offense as a reliable underneath target," Lazar wrote. "As for Baker, he had a string of days with highlight-reel grabs. If all goes according to plan, the Patriots would have a big play (Baker) and possession (Polk) receiver, and that's how it's looked in practice." Polk was selected in the early second round of April's draft, which will likely give him a leg up against Baker, who was taken in Round 4. That said, the Patriots have a difficult target pecking order to navigate, and the passing offense will likely have limited upside under quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. The future sounds bright for the rookie teammates, but both are likely stronger dynasty league options than 2024 fantasy studs.

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The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but 2023 sixth-round pick Andrei Iosivas could have a lead on him in the battle for the WR3 job following Tyler Boyd's departure. "For all the hype of Burton and his potential to make an impact filling the role vacated by Boyd, there's just no way to avoid the Andrei Iosivas hype," Paul Dehner Jr. of the Athletic said. " He's been the offensive star of camp, a trend that continued after his initial eye-popping debut playing in the slot for the first time in his life Wednesday." Dehner Jr. noted that Bengals wide receiver coach Troy Walters called Iosivas the team's third-best wide receiver last week. This position battle will be important to monitor in fantasy football, especially since Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have failed to play a full 17-game schedule over the last two years. Iosivas caught 15 passes for 116 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie campaign, but his path to playing time is a lot more clear heading into Year 2. He should be on the fantasy football radar as a late-round dart throw in best ball setups and deep fantasy leagues.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs reportedly had a "fantastic" Spring earlier this offseason, and he has been a standout performer during training camp. The 2022 fourth-round pick has tallied 101 receptions for 1,099 yards and 11 touchdowns through his first 30 NFL games, and he posted an incredible 151-yard performance in his first postseason game last January. He often gets overlooked in the crowded Green Bay receiver room, but all signs point toward him remaining a key target for quarterback Jordan Love. "It has been really cool watching Romeo over these last three seasons; the steps he makes every single year," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. "His route-running right now has been pretty tremendous. He's always had super-strong hands but the routes that he's putting on tape right now are pretty impressive and he ended the season last year, the last half of the season, he was playing at a pretty high level. He's really continued that in camp so far." Doubs has an average best-ball ADP around the 106 slot, while teammates Jayden Reed and Christian Watson come off the board well before him. If Green Bay's offense takes another step forward in 2024, Doubs could be a tremendous middle or late-round value heading into his third NFL campaign.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan continues to draw positive reviews out of training camp, this time coming directly from quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles. The third-round pick out of Washington saw his draft stock take a hit following a 559-yard season in 2023, but he has exceeded expectations early in his career. "He's a guy that runs so smooth," Mayfield said. "He does some things at the top of his routes -- he's so friendly to the ball -- that veterans do." Bowles, who doesn't go out of his way to sugarcoat statements, echoed these statements. "He's a good football player. Since he's come in, he's making plays since Day 1," said Bowles. "He wants to be good, he wants to learn, and the receiving group loves him." These quotes are a great sign for McMillan's potential role as a rookie, but he could still have trouble becoming a fantasy-relevant option in 2024 while competing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for targets. Still, he's an intriguing best-ball option and late-round flier in deeper fantasy football setups.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft following a five-year career at Texas. The 23-year-old caught 42 passes for 505 yards and one touchdown while sharing a field with Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Ja'Tavion Sanders in 2024. It's rare for sixth-round rookies to see first-team opportunities in training camp, but Cameron DaSilva of the Rams Wire said he has been mixing in with the starters in Sean McVay's offense. "It can be hard for a rookie receiver to earn first-team snaps in training camp, especially on a team as deep as the Rams," DaSilva wrote. "But Whittington has been so impressive already that he's gotten opportunities to run with the starters. He even made a nice catch against Tre'Davious White last week during one of those reps with the first-team offense." Fellow wideout Cooper Kupp said Whittington is "pretty special" and is learning the offense quickly. While it's too early to project fantasy relevance for Whittington, this report should put him on the fantasy football radar in ultra-deep dynasty leagues.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) remained out of training camp practice on Tuesday. Claypool suffered a minor toe injury in practice on Sunday and has missed the last two days at camp as a result. The 26-year-old is considered day-to-day, so his toe injury shouldn't impact his readiness for the start of the 2024 season. However, Claypool can't really afford to miss any practice time as he tries to win one of the final roster spots this summer. The former second-round pick (49th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 out of Notre Dame is close to being run out of the league after two straight disappointing seasons with the Chicago Bears, Steelers and Dolphins. Last year, he caught just eight of 21 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown in 12 games. The good news for him this year is that the Bills are looking for receivers to step up, but it remains to be seen if he can do so.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Ben Skowronek has stood out so far in the early portions of training camp as he looks to earn a roster spot despite mostly working with the second-team offense. Skowronek is a long shot to have a substantial role in his first year in Houston if he even makes the team, but the 6-foot-3, 224-pounder has so far impressed on contested catches down the field. If the 27-year-old is competing with the likes of Noah Brown, Robert Woods and John Metchie III in a crowded receiving corps behind starters Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The former seventh-rounder in 2021 has 58 total receptions for 575 yards and just one touchdown in 45 regular-season games (12 starts) in his three years in the NFL and isn't on the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.

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Dynasty | Panthers running back Rashaad Penny has retired. Dynasty Analysis: The oft-injured Penny lasts only six years in the league after once being a first round draft pick of Seattle back in 2018. It was likely clear he wasn't going to make the final roster in Carolina and after a largely disappointing one-year stint in Philadelphia last season, Penny likely saw the writing on the wall in terms of his future. He had an amazing one month run back in 2021 but will largely be remembered more for his inability to avoid the injury bug more than anything else. Penny can be effectively dropped from rosters.

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Dynasty | The Falcons have signed former Pittsburgh receiver James Washington. Dynasty Analysis: Washington fizzled out in Pittsburgh and didn't fare much better in Dallas, New Orleans or Indianapolis the past few years. Washington has only played in two games since 2021 so expectations should be tempered dramatically. Still, he's a player to keep on a watch list should injuries start to pile up with the Falcons.

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Dynasty | Steelers rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson was carted off the field with an ankle injury. Dynasty Analysis: Any time you see "carted off," it merits quick attention. However, it seems Wilson has avoided a major injury and is considered week-to-week. One would imagine he has a high ankle sprain, which could be tricky to navigate. His absence will likely allow Calvin Austin to further the gap in between the two. Wilson remains a solid mid-round rookie pick and Austin should be rostered as well.

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Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has taken a back seat to Sam Darnold during the opening days of training camp. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said today that McCarthy will eventually get some consistent first-team reps in camp, but that Sam Darnold had earned the right to get the bulk of them to this point. O'Connell also said he will use that time both to evaluate McCarthy and also see if Darnold can "elevate" a different set of receivers other than Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The 21-year-old first-round pick is getting more comfortable during camp, but the Vikings have stressed that patience will be key in the development of McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick. Sam Darnold is currently the favorite to open Week 1 as Minnesota's starting quarterback, but with the playmakers at the skill positions for the Vikings, McCarthy will be an attractive streaming quarterback if he gets the opportunity to start this season.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado has firmly placed himself as a player in the training camp battle to be the team's RB2. Demercado has been subbing in for James Conner during first-team work with Michael Carter taking second-team work and 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson spelling Carter. Demercado was a regular contributor last season for the Cardinals thanks to his pass-blocking work but he also started two games for the team in Weeks 7-8. Demercado's skillset is valuable and looks to be in line for a roster spot for the Cardinals, but it's only a matter of time before Benson moves up the depth chart considering the draft capital the team spent on him this past April. Demercado shouldn't be drafted in fantasy for this upcoming season but could find some waiver wire buzz if injuries strike the Cardinals' backfield.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) returned to practice on Tuesday in a limited fashion, but the Steelers are going to take things slowly with him. Head coach Mike Tomlin did state that Wilson played some 7-on-7, but "not a lot" of 11-on-11 work. While Wilson is progressing well from his calf injury, it's expected he'll increase his activity soon in preparation for the team's first preseason game on Aug. 9 against the visiting Houston Texans. Embroiled in a fierce quarterback battle with Justin Fields, the 35-year-old Wilson is looking to prove that he still has some productive years as an NFL quarterback. If Wilson is the Week 1 starter for the Steelers, he's a low-end quarterback for single-QB formats and a low-end QB2 in superflex.

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With the Hall of Fame game days away, backup running backs Dameon Pierce and Jawhar Jordan are expected to see a bulk of the carries in Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears. With Joe Mixon (hamstring) nursing an injury, it's likely Mixon's work would have been minimal at best even when healthy, but Pierce, last season's Week 1 starter, has been getting some good buzz in camp with his efforts thus far. Jordan, the team's sixth-round pick, is expected to compete with Pierce as the primary backup to Mixon. Pierce disappointed last season as the starting running back for the Texans and lost his job to Devin Singletary. As long as Mixon is healthy, the backup running back in Houston probably wouldn't be anything but a contingency-based handcuff for fantasy this season.

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