Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring issue that has kept him off the practice field for the last two days. For however much time Vaughn may miss at training camp with the issue, the speedy Rico Dowdle and veteran Royce Freeman will jockey for positioning as Dallas' No. 2 back behind incumbent starter Ezekiel Elliott. Vaughn made seven appearances for the Cowboys in his rookie season in 2023, rushing for a mere 40 yards on 23 carries with seven receptions for 40 yards. The pint-sized 22-year-old former Kansas State standout is battling to keep his roster spot in Arlington this summer, and he's not guaranteed to still be with the team when the regular season begins in September.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is resting on Friday after throwing the last six days straight, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters. Stefanski added that Watson has had no limitations with his surgically-repaired right shoulder in training camp. It remains to be seen if he'll be available for the Aug. 10 preseason opener against the visiting Green Bay Packers, but fantasy managers want to get a look at the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler as soon as possible after he recorded just 2,217 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions over two years (12 games) since joining Cleveland in 2022. In 2021 with the Houston Texans, Watson led the league in passing yards (4,823), yards per attempt (8.9), and yards per completion (12.6) in his last fully healthy season and is a sleeper target for late-round QB strategists at the end of drafts this summer.

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Dynasty | Bears quarterback Brett Rypien went 11-for-15 for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 2024 NFL Preseason Hall of Fame opener. Dynasty Analysis: The stats are a little empty based on the competition level but Rypien certainly did all he could to give Tyson Bagent a run as the QB2 behind Caleb Williams on the roster. Bagent will have his tine in the sun later this preseason as well but for now, file this away in deep 2QB leagues.

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Dynasty | Bears receiver Collin Johnson had three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns in this year's Hall of Fame game. Dynasty Analysis: Johnson is somehow 26 already and has bounced around the league with stops in Jacksonville, New York and Chicago. He only has 30 career catches to his name but has always been a bit of a sleeper. Suddenly buried on a depth chart behind DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and others, any dynasty manager still hoping for a breakout will likely need him to be released and sign elsewhere. Regardless, this performance was something to at least make note of as Johnson has always had some talent but never been given much of an opportunity in meaningful games.

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The New Orleans Saints signed wide receiver Samson Nacua on Friday, the team announced on X. The brother of 2023 breakout star Puka Nacua spent four seasons at Utah before one year at BYU in 2021 and tallied 103 receptions for 1,344 yards and 14 touchdowns in 58 collegiate games. He went undrafted and last played for the Michigan Panthers of the UFL this spring, catching 11 passes for 125 yards. The 26-year-old is unlikely to be a fantasy football contributor in 2024, but he has an outside chance of making the team's roster given the lack of depth behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce saw his fantasy stock drop after the team selected former Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Mitchell has struggled early in training camp, and Pierce remains ahead of him on the depth chart. As it stands now," James Boyd of The Athletic wrote. "Pierce remains firmly in place as the Colts' third starting receiver." Pierce, a second-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, has racked up 73 receptions for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns in his first 33 NFL games. Given the quarterback situation for the Colts since he joined the team, it hasn't been a horrible start, but the franchise likely hopes Mitchell will eventually surpass him in the offense. As the potential No. 3 target in Indianapolis, Pierce has limited fantasy upside and should be considered a late-round best ball flier.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is struggling to make an impact early in his first NFL training camp, according to James Boyd of the Athletic. "Mitchell has not been the same playmaker he was during the spring when the rookie seemingly made a noteworthy catch every practice." Boyd wrote. "But the second-round pick has been relatively quiet throughout team periods, especially when he's been with the first unit. As it stands now, however, [Alec] Pierce remains firmly in place as the Colts' third starting receiver." While this isn't a promising report, it often takes time for rookie wideouts to transition to the pro game, so it's too early to overreact. That said, the speedster out of Texas will likely have limited fantasy upside in Year 1 while competing for targets with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Pierce in a potential low-volume passing offense led by quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor.

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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (groin) is reportedly nursing a groin injury, but the former Las Vegas Raider said it's not really an injury, and he's dealing with a minor "tweak." He also said he would be ready to play in a game if it was this week. In all likelihood, the organization is simply being extra cautious with its new $48 million ball-carrier early in the preseason. Jacobs posted a career-low 3.5 yards per carry last season, but his change of scenery could provide him with more running room and opportunities in the open field as a part of the Packers' emerging young offense. The former first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft is being drafted in the low-end RB1 range in 2024 fantasy football, and he could have high-end RB1 upside if he sees a surplus of goal-line opportunities. AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd figure to mix in behind him, but he's the clear RB1 for Matt LaFleur.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas (hand) has been dealing with a hand injury and wearing a red non-contact jersey at the start of training camp. However, he took the field on Friday with a white jersey, signifying he has been fully cleared. It's promising to see him recover well before the start of the 2024 campaign, and he's looking to build off his solid rookie season. The 2023 sixth-round pick out of Liberty led the team's wide receivers in receptions (49) and receiving yards (561) but did not secure a touchdown reception last year. He's been labeled a sleeper candidate heading into 2024, and he's a risk-free selection at his draft spot after the first 175 players go off the board. That said, the entire New England offense is likely to have limited upside with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye at quarterback and a lack of high-end weapons.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (head) exited Friday's practice after a collision with defensive back Denzel Ward, and he is being evaluated for a concussion. The 24-year-old suffered a scary-looking head or neck injury last December, so this is not a great development. Further information will likely come out on his status, so there is no fantasy football takeaway for now. Moore flashed as a rookie with the New York Jets, catching 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 games. However, he has since compiled just 1,086 yards and three touchdowns in his last 33 games with the Jets and Browns. While playing alongside Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and David Njoku in 2024 and catching passes from a questionable quarterback in Deshaun Watson, he has limited fantasy upside heading into his fourth NFL campaign.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee/hip) had testing done on his injured knee and hip, and tests did not reveal anything significant. According to one of Adam Schefter's sources, Smith "shouldn't miss any time." This is great news for the longtime journeyman turned solid starter heading into 2024. Smith has thrown for nearly 8,000 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions in his last 32 starts after taking over for longtime franchise quarterback Russell Wilson in Seattle. With D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Noah Fant, and Kenneth Walker III still on the roster, the 33-year-old has enough upside to be a solid QB2 in Superflex formats. However, fantasy managers should not count on him as a starter in single-QB setups given his lack of high-end rushing upside.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is having his practice participation scaled back as he deals with general tightness in training camp, according to Dan Duggan of the Athletic. It sounds like the former Auburn Tiger does not have a serious injury, but the team is being cautious with him early in the preseason. Slayton entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2019, and he has led the organization in receiving yards in four of his first five seasons. However, he has never eclipsed 800 yards, and the team brought in former LSU receiver Malik Nabers to be the clear No. 1 wideout for Daniel Jones in 2024. Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson could also play significant snaps, so Slayton should be viewed as nothing more than a late-round flier or best-ball option heading into his sixth pro campaign.

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Free-agent wide receiver Jarvis Landry is still looking for a new team, but might've found one with the New York Jets. The 31-year-old reportedly had a workout with the Jets this week. The nine-year veteran had a solid career during his time with the Miami Dolphins. Since he left Miami, Landry has started to go downhill. Injuries have kept Landry off the field and he hasn't played since the 2022 season with the New Orleans Saints. It's uncertain what exactly Landry has left in the tank to offer an NFL team. It's worth noting that the Jets signed UFL wideout Isaiah Winstead, which might mean bad news for Landry. However, there could be an injury in camp or an opening elsewhere for Landry before the 2024 season begins.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is hopeful to be out there playing in the preseason. The rookie wideout told reporters on Thursday that he wants to play during the preseason games. Head coach Jonathan Gannon agreed with Harrison saying that the first-round pick should be out there. Obviously, the Cardinals don't want to risk injury to their prized rookie receiver, but Harrison also needs game action to learn his new playbook. The assumption is that Harrison is going to have a significant target share during his rookie campaign.

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Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson has reportedly been impressive early on in camp. It looks like the Colts are having an open tryout for starting tight end with no real standalone star in the picture. At the moment, Granson has appeared to take an early lead in the running for starter, but there's still plenty of time left in camp. Mo Alie-Cox and Jelani Woods are also candidates, but they appear to offer a little less upside. Over the last two seasons, Granson has hauled in 30-plus receptions and 300 or more receiving yards in both campaigns. His fantasy value is going to be dependent on how the Colts decide to use the tight end position next season.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks is going to see increased reps over the next month or so. The Titans took a significant hit this week with star wideout DeAndre Hopkins (knee) going down for four-to-six weeks. It's next man up in Tennessee, which means Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd move into the No. 1 and No. 2 roles. It also means that Burks gets to play first-team reps for at least a month. Burks is coming off two underwhelming campaigns in Tennessee. Through two seasons, Burks has recorded 49 receptions, 665 receiving yards, and one touchdown in 22 games. The loss of Hopkins does give Burks increased looks, but that doesn't mean much for his fantasy value. The expectation is that Hopkins is back by Week 1 or Week 2 of the regular season. The absence of Hopkins isn't going to raise the draft stock of Burks by too much.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (quad) is currently in danger of missing the beginning of the regular season. The 36-year-old suffered a quad injury that is expected to hold him out for a few weeks. This doesn't mean too much for the Panthers considering Bryce Young is the starter in Carolina. Dalton is a 13-year veteran with a ton of experience, but he offers little upside on the field right now. He'll serve as the No. 2 quarterback once he's healthy, so fantasy managers can continue avoiding him.

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Houston Texans tight end Teagan Quitoriano (lower body) had a notable performance in the Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears, catching two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. The Texans rested starter Dalton Schultz and backup Brevin Jordan. This left Quitoriano and rookie Cade Stover as the only tight ends on the roster. Quitoriano started the game, taking the first five plays before Stover rotated in for a few snaps. Quitoriano, a 2022 sixth-round pick from Oregon State, scored the touchdown but was carted off the field later due to an injury. The 24-year-old went for evaluation of a lower-body injury with no further update. Stover continued as the lone tight end for the remainder of the game. Neither Quitoriano nor Stover will have significant fantasy value unless Schultz and Jordan miss time.

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Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale started and recorded 14 yards on three carries while catching two passes for 21 yards on two receptions in Thursday's Hall of Game against the Chicago Bears. Following him, J.J. Taylor gained 16 yards on six carries without involvement in the passing game. Both Ogunbowale and Taylor took the field ahead of Cam Akers, who has been with the team for only a week. As Akers continues to acclimate, he could move up the depth chart. The Texans' new starting running back, Joe Mixon (quad), is dealing with a soft tissue injury that has kept him out of practice. Even if he were fully healthy, Mixon wouldn't have played in the game, and there are no concerns about his readiness for the regular season. The Texans also rested backup halfback Dameon Pierce, which suggests the team considers him a strong candidate to keep his role as the primary backup. Ogunbowale will continue to battle Taylor and Akers this preseason for a roster spot. None have fantasy value without injuries to both Mixon and Pierce.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson led the team with five catches for 56 yards in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears. He started alongside John Metchie III, who, along with Hutchinson, was slotted in as the fifth and sixth wide receiver on Houston's depth chart last season. The snap counts indicate that Metchie is the current favorite, followed by Hutchinson. Metchie caught only one pass for 4 yards, suggesting Hutchinson may have narrowed the gap. Ben Skowronek was the third wide receiver, and Steven Sims also saw action. Skowronek and Sims continued into the second half, highlighting that Hutchinson and Metchie are clearly in contention for roster spots. Hutchinson stood out as the best wide receiver for Houston on Thursday night and is worth monitoring in fantasy leagues if a role opens up in the Texans' high-powered offense.

From RotoBaller