San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) is dealing with a calf strain in training camp, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said he will not be taking part in the preseason. Furthermore, Shanahan said that McCaffrey might miss a couple weeks of camp with his calf issue. While CMC may not be in danger of missing the start of the 2024 regular season, this is bad news for the reigning NFL rushing leader and the three-time Pro Bowler. The 28-year-old led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs while also catching 67 passes for an additional 564 yards and seven TDs in 16 regular-season games in 2023, making him the unquestioned top fantasy pick going into 2024 fantasy drafts. However, he's no stranger to disappointment for fantasy managers due to injuries, as he played in a combined 10 games from 2020-21 while with the Panthers. CMC should still be the No. 1 overall fantasy selection as long as he's ready for Week 1, but this is a reminder of the risk that's also involved. Elijah Mitchell is second on the RB depth chart and would become a weekly play in fantasy lineups if CMC misses any time.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers re-engaged in conversations mid-day on Tuesday regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to league sources. As of Monday night, talks between the two teams had stalled, but there have been further conversations on Tuesday in an ever-fluid situation that still involves other teams as well, mainly the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. It was reported Monday night that the Niners had agreed to the framework of trades with both the Browns and Patriots, and Aiyuk reportedly has been given the green light to negotiate a contract extension with other teams interested in trading for him. A resolution on Aiyuk is expected sooner than later, and no matter where he ends up, he's likely to see a decline in fantasy value, especially if he lands in New England with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett. it's unclear what the Steelers might be offering San Fran in a potential deal. Stay tuned.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell doesn't anticipate quarterback Jared Goff playing in Thursday's preseason opener against the hosting New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. That likely means veteran Nate Sudfeld will absorb a significant chunk of snaps in Thursday's exhibition game, with 2023 first-rounder Hendon Hooker also figuring to get in on the action at some point. Goff is coming off a prolific season for Detroit that saw him rank second in passing yards (4,571) and pass attempts (605) in 17 games, but his complete lack of rushing upside keeps in late-round territory of fantasy drafts this summer. Considering the 29-year-old Pro Bowler has far superior splits when playing at home or indoors in his career, it's worth noting that the Lions will only play three out of 17 contests outdoors in 2024, with the first not arriving until Week 9 in Green Bay against the division-rival Packers.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys running back Royce Freeman (groin) might remain out of practice on Tuesday, and Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) likely won't practice either, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. It adds fuel to the breakout case for late-round sleeper Rico Dowdle, who "has been the face of the committee and could be the lead guy during the season. In practices, he's had solid showings in pass protection, flashed receiving ability, and gotten the call to run in high-leverage situations." Starter Ezekiel Elliott remains the best bet for touches and the favorite to lead the Cowboys in carries this year as the incumbent veteran during the early stages of the season, but the speedier Dowdle has stood out at training camp and could push him for work in Dallas' backfield this fall. Sunday's preseason opener against the hosting Los Angeles Rams should offer fantasy managers a clearer picture on the hierarchy here.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) playing in Thursday's preseason opener versus the visiting Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium has yet to be determined, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters at training camp on Tuesday. Although Jones hasn't appeared to be limited by last year's torn ACL in any capacity in practice to begin the year, the Giants may opt to exercise some caution for the first bill of exhibition play on Thursday. If Jones sit outs, Drew Lock figures to draw the start under center for the G-Men, and Tommy Devito would likely play in the second half. Jones is entering a make-or-break season in the Big Apple this fall, and his fantasy appeal to begin the season is relatively muted. In 2023, however, the 27-year-old former first-rounder did rank fourth among eligible signal-callers with 34.3 rushing yards per game.

From RotoBaller

Through just two weeks of training camp, New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is already looking like he can be a playmaker. In nearly every practice, Nabers has shown off with highlight-reel catches. The Giants are already using Nabers in a variety of ways during practice, and head coach Brian Daboll has even turned to the rookie wideout for play-calling input. During a two-minute drive at the end of the first week of practices, Nabers told Daboll he wanted a go-ball. Quarterback Daniel Jones then connected on a deep ball down the right sideline for the kind of catch that fans want to see on a regular basis. Although New York's offense is questionable at best to begin 2024, the 21-year-old No. 6 overall pick should be one of its lone bright spots. Nabers' ADP of 70 on Yahoo may be bargain as an exciting WR2 option this summer, but he'll need functional QB play for weekly consistency.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd had a drop and a fumble during the first-team period at training camp on Tuesday. It was a rough day at practice for Lloyd, who also got thumped on a run stop by rookie linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper on Tuesday, per Andy Herman. It seemed earlier in the offseason that AJ Dillon was shaping up as the odd man out and a cap casualty in Green Bay's revamped backfield, but there's been some speculation that the veteran will end up as the Packers' No. 2 back over Lloyd this fall. The 22-year-old rookie third-rounder will certainly need to have better showings at camp if he wants be more than a minimally used change-of-pace option in 2024. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on Saturday's preseason opener against the hosting Cleveland Browns for more clarity on who the favorite is for touches behind workhorse starter Josh Jacobs.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is fine after a collision that happened during Monday's practice, per head coach Matt LaFleur. Watson suffered an injury scare during Monday's session, but he is back on the field at training camp on Tuesday. After being drafted as Green Bay's No. 1 wideout in last summer's fantasy drafts, the 25-year-old former second-round pick is instead coming off the board a bit after slot receiver Jayden Reed in 2024. Watson has dealt with recurring hamstring injuries in the past and will need to stay healthy for any chance at a breakout season this year, but he's likely the Packers' most explosive option after ranking sixth among qualifying wideouts in average target distance (15.4) over 53 targets in 2023.

From RotoBaller

The Baltimore Ravens signed free-agent wide receiver Russell Gage (knee) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Gage had a workout with the New Orleans Saints during minicamp in June but will now head to Baltimore to provide depth at wideout. The 28-year-old missed all of last season due to a torn patellar tendon in his knee last August and was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March. Rashod Bateman has been pretty banged up so far in training camp, so perhaps the Ravens wanted some extra depth at a position that also includes Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, rookie Devontez Walker and Deonte Harty, among others. Gage appears to be healthy now and will be competing for one of the final spots at receiver with the Ravens in camp and the preseason. In 13 games (four starts) in Tampa in 2022, Gage had a 51-426-5 line.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (shoulder) is currently sidelined at training camp with a shoulder injury, but it's not considered a long-term injury. With Gardner-Johnson sidelined at Tuesday's training camp practice, Avonte Maddox is filling in for him with the first-team defense. When healthy, the 26-year-old Gardner-Johnson is a lock to start at safety for an Eagles secondary that was a liability for the defense in 2023. The former fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2019 out of Florida only played in three games last year for the Detroit Lions due to a torn pectoral muscle before signing a three-year deal with Philly in March. Gardner-Johnson's six interceptions with the Eagles in 2022 represent half of his career total. He's useful as a bye-week filler at defensive back in IDP leagues when he's healthy.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said that rookie first-round quarterback Drake Maye will play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. "Everyone who is healthy enough to play in the game, will play," Mayo said. The head coach also said that the plan right now is for veteran Jacoby Brissett to start on Thursday. Although nothing has been officially announced, Brissett is the clear favorite to start for the Pats in the Week 1 regular season opener. While the 21-year-old Maye, who was the third overall pick in April's NFL draft, has much more long-term upside than Brissett, he's reportedly looked like a rookie in training camp as he tries to learn New England's offense. We'll get a better look at Maye during the preseason, but for now, he's not much of a redraft option in fantasy as he heads into his first year in the league.

From RotoBaller

The Tennessee Titans listed an offense with a two-tight end set on their depth chart last year. This year, they listed one tight end in the starting lineup on the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason, and it's split between Chigoziem Okonkwo and Josh Whyle. Fantasy managers should never read too much into unofficial depth charts, especially this early in the preseason, but it's not a great sign for Okonkwo. Tennessee's offense is expected to be more pass-happy under new head coach Brian Callahan, but the 24-year-old Okonkwo will have plenty of competition for targets after the team added wideouts Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in the offseason. The former fourth-round selection in 2022 out of Maryland caught 54 passes for 528 yards and only one touchdown in 17 games in 2023 in his second year in the league. For now, he's merely a low-end TE2 target in deeper fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

The Carolina Panthers announced on Tuesday that second-year quarterback Bryce Young will not play in the preseason opener this Thursday versus the New England Patriots. A report surfaced on Monday evening that Young may not even play in the preseason at all after a disastrous rookie year in 2023 after he was the first overall pick in draft. Veteran backup Andy Dalton (quadriceps) is also injured, so Carolina will be rolling with Jack Plummer and Jake Luton under center in their preseason opener this week. The 23-year-old Young is still an intriguing dynasty/keeper asset as he heads into Year 2, which really can't get any worse than his rookie season. The additions of receivers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette should help Young's cause as he looks to make improvements in 2024. Fantasy managers should consider him a low-end QB2 with upside for more.

From RotoBaller

The Denver Broncos are listing quarterback Jarrett Stidham as their starter on their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. Rookie first-rounder Bo Nix is listed as third string behind Zach Wilson. For context, the Broncos listed all of their rookies last on the depth chart at their respective positions, so fantasy managers that took the plunge on Nix in dynasty/keeper drafts shouldn't be too concerned. The real competition this summer for the Week 1 starting job under center appears to be between Stidham and Nix, with Stidham being the favorite, mostly because of his experience in the system. Head coach Sean Payton isn't in a rush to name the team's Week 1 starter. Either way, this is a situation for fantasy managers to avoid in 2024, even in two-QB superflex formats. All three QBs are expected to play in the team's preseason opener this Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts on the road.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco 49ers are now willing to listen to trade offers for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and have given the star wideout permission to negotiate a contract with other teams, according to sources. The Niners didn't have the same willingness to listen to trade offers at the start of training camp. The New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns have been in contact with San Fran and are interested in trading for Aiyuk. The Pittsburgh Steelers were also interested but do not appear to be potential trade destination any longer. The Patriots have been attempting to acquire Aiyuk for months, and Kendrick Bourne's name has surfaced in reports as someone who could be included in a potential trade. Other teams are willing to pay Aiyuk more than twice as much as his $14.124 million fifth-year option, but he has balked so far at multiple offers. San Fran has to be comfortable with any trade compensation as well, and the reigning NFC champs are willing to keep Aiyuk.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that quarterback Jordan Love will play in this week's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns. Love, who recently signed a four-year contract extension worth $220 million ($155 million in full guarantees), probably won't play more than a handful of offensive series against Cleveland. The former 26th overall pick in 2020 out of Utah State really impressed in his first full NFL season in 2023, throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and also leading Green Bay to an upset win on the road in the playoffs over the Dallas Cowboys. While Love's aerial weapons are young, there is plenty of potential for the 25-year-old signal-caller to build off last year's impressive campaign. He has quickly vaulted into low-end QB1 territory in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

The Minnesota Vikings have listed Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback on the first unofficial depth chart, with rookie J.J. McCarthy and Nick Mullens tied for the backup spot. While preseason depth charts can be fluid, Darnold's placement as the starter matches the reports from Vikings beat writers throughout the summer. Notably, the chart lists "McCarthy or Nick Mullens" as the primary backups behind Darnold. Darnold has consistently taken first-team reps from the offseason program through the first two weeks of training camp. The Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, with $8.75 million guaranteed, indicating their intent to give him the initial opportunity to start despite using their first-round pick on McCarthy. For fantasy purposes, the critical question is how well Darnold connects with Justin Jefferson, which will influence Jefferson's value as a first-round pick. Darnold, meanwhile, is expected to be a low-end QB2 in two-quarterback leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Chase Edmonds (undisclosed) remains sidelined and is nearing two weeks out. After a lackluster performance last year and an offseason marked by injuries, Edmonds' spot on the team is uncertain. He has been struggling with this injury since the early days of training camp and was expected to compete with rookie Bucky Irving and others for backup roles behind starting running back Rachaad White. Edmonds' productivity plummeted last season, as he managed only 176 rushing yards on 49 carries, putting him firmly on the roster bubble. On the plus side, Edmonds and White were the only running backs to see offensive snaps for Tampa Bay over the last ten weeks of the season, including the playoffs. While the backup role for any Tampa Bay running back may not be valuable in fantasy, Rachaad White managers must monitor the situation.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (torn pec) has torn his pectoral muscle in practice and will be sidelined indefinitely. This marks the third consecutive season in which Moseley has suffered a major injury. After missing the final 12 games of the 2022 season due to a torn left ACL, he played only one game with the Lions last season because of a torn right ACL. During training camp, Moseley was transitioning from outside cornerback and competing with Amik Robertson and Ifeatu Melifonwu for the primary nickel cornerback spot. At 28 years old, Moseley has recorded four interceptions and 162 tackles in 46 career games, including 33 starts, with the Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. With Moseley out, players like Steven Gilmore, Khalil Dorsey, and Morice Norris Jr. will have the opportunity to step up. The Lions revamped their secondary this offseason by trading for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III and by selecting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with their top two draft picks. Detroit's struggling secondary led to many high-scoring shootouts and fantasy opportunities for Lions' skill players in 2023; if injuries continue, 2024 may follow a similar pattern.

From RotoBaller

The Washington Commanders have named Jayden Daniels their starting quarterback on the season's initial depth chart, a decision many had widely anticipated. Initially, Daniels and Marcus Mariota split first-team reps, with Mariota often getting the first look. Still, as training camp progressed from July to August, Daniels took the majority of reps. Jeff Driskel is listed third on the depth chart, with undrafted rookie Sam Hartman fourth. On Saturday, Daniels will start the preseason opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. He's an intriguing late-round fantasy quarterback pick due to his solid supporting cast and rushing ability, and he stands out as the only FBS player in college football history with over 12,000 passing yards and more than 3,000 rushing yards. The main concern is the uncertainty of his offensive line, particularly at left tackle, where 33-year-old Cornelius Lucas or rookie Brandon Coleman will start. Nonetheless, Daniels offers significant upside as a QB1 option in later drafts, allowing you to prioritize other positions early on.

From RotoBaller