NFL news will rapidly pick up heading into training camp, so I wanted to make some predictions and set some expectations before we have to react to beat reporter speculation. Not every single player with an Underdog Fantasy ADP is listed, but most are. For those new to the Underdog app, we have a special sign-up offer with this link here:

After doing this research, here are my top 10 things I’m most excited to learn about throughout the preseason and training camp:

1. Are Kyren Williams and Cooper Kupp fully healthy? Because I want to be all in.

2. Is Deshaun Watson’s shoulder bugging him? Because the Browns want to pass now.

3. Is Kirk Cousins (drive foot) achilles ready to go? We’re drafting his players as if it is.

4. Are the Cowboys really trotting out Rico Dowdle and Zeke at RB?

5. Assuming Joe Burrow’s wrist is holding up after a rare surgery, did Zack Moss dust Chase Brown as the Bengals’ lead back?

6. Is Keon Coleman or Curtis Samuel Josh Allen’s new top WR?

7. Who the hell is starting for the Packers (at every position)?

8. Who the hell is starting for the Broncos (at every position)?

9. Did we get an contract or suspension updates on Rashee Rice, Jordan Addison, Alvin Kamara, Brandon Aiyuk, Amari Cooper, Courtland Sutton, and Dak Prescott?

10. Are there injury updates on Jonathon Brooks, Kyle Pitts, Mike Williams, Nick Chubb, T.J. Hockenson, Daniel Jones, Juwan Johnson, Keaton Mitchell, and Tucker Kraft?

The teams are ordered by my rough draft of projected points this year.

1. San Francisco 49ers Training Camp Preview

For the first time in years, the Niners no longer have QB questions, but there’s still drama. Brandon Aiyuk wants to be paid long-term, yet is stuck with the 5th-year option in 2024 and the threat of the franchise tag in 2025. The 49ers have the leverage under the new CBA, which allows the team to fine players $40k every day they hold out in camp. That may not prevent Aiyuk from showing up to camp because the Niners have precedent in paying disgruntled stars late into camp. Nick Bosa was given a record-breaking contract in September and had his camp fine rescinded. Deebo Samuel, who asked for a trade like Aiyuk has, was given a 3-year extension in late July, too. Aiyuk’s downfield and man-coverage abilities are unlike the other underneath and intermediate targets on the team, and star-level talents like Aiyuk are rarely traded this late into the offseason. That leaves me projecting the most obvious conclusion here: Aiyuk and the Niners agree to a Jaylen Waddle level contract in August.

Beyond that, 1st-round rookie Ricky Pearsall‘s battle for snaps with Jauan Jennings ($8.4M guaranteed) as the distant No. 3 WR is a storyline to watch. Pearsall began camp on the non-football injury (NFI) list with an undisclosed injury, but it doesn’t sound serious yet. Too much missed time in camp would hurt his chances of carving out a role in the league’s most competitive target tree. It feels like his selection had 2025 in mind when Deebo Samuel is possibly off the team for contractual reasons. We were fans of Pearsall’s game throughout the draft process, however.

4th-rounder Isaac Guerendo had a lot of flaws as a prospect to us, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was buried as a rookie behind competent CMC backups Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason. Kyle Shanahan originally hinted that he has a lot of work to get caught up in the offense after being in a committee at Louisville. He goes largely undrafted on Underdog Fantasy, while Mitchell continues to creep up draft boards. More confirmation of Mitchell being the Niners’ handcuff should send him up from RB56 towards RB45 next to the other top handcuffs. I’m buying heavily right now.

2. Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp Preview

There hasn’t been a Rashee Rice update in months. I can’t track down a trial date, and the NFL won’t suspend him until his legal case is resolved. Rice’s 8 felonies point to a 6-plus game suspension most likely, but it’s unclear if that’ll happen in 2024 or 2025. It’s possible the sides are working towards a plea deal in the background. It’s also possible this case is so complicated because it involves so many parties that the trial date has to be far in the future.

Rice’s uncertainty is mitigated by the additions of Marquise Brown and 1st-rounder Xavier Worthy, who is back at practice after missing some time with a hamstring injury. We know who Hollywood is at this point, but Worthy’s range of outcomes are wide. Will he be the downfield threat he was early in his tenure at Texas? Will he be the manufactured player like he was as a junior? Or is his record-breaking speed paired with Patrick Mahomes going to be so unstoppable that he turns into a full-time player immediately. For my money, Worthy is the best receiver of the group and a great pairing with Andy Reid’s creative mind. I don’t expect the Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Mecole Hardman group to matter much this year. Perhaps Justin Watson’s size and experience is worth sneaking snaps in.

The Chiefs opted to go light at RB, only re-signing Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a $1.7M contract and adding no namers behind him. That should give us plenty of confidence in Isiah Pacheco as a potential bellcow and CEH as a high-ceiling handcuff. The other options are rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit ($230k guaranteed), UDFA rookie Emani Bailey ($175k), UDFA rookie Carson Steele ($15k), and Deneric Prince ($0). Perhaps 32-year-old free agent Jerick McKinnon or a veteran cut candidate like Samaje Perine are options.

3. Baltimore Ravens Training Camp Preview

The days of an elite offensive line look over, but the Ravens seem to make the most of their situations. They’ll have a rookie right tackle and an experienced guard in the starting lineup, and it’s unclear how well LT Ronnie Stanley will be moving around this year. This is the most underrated storyline in Baltimore. It’s just as important as losing a huge chunk of their defensive staff.

It’s pretty obvious what Derrick Henry will bring to the team, but who will be his backup besides Justice Hill? Keaton Mitchell was fantastic on a small sample as a rookie. He’s just returning from a very serious knee injury that has sent him to the PUP list to begin camp. It’d be a surprise if he isn’t on PUP throughout camp. Don’t expect him back until Halloween or so. That should be enough time for 5th-rounder Rasheen Ali to get familiarized with the offense. He could be Henry’s between-tackles insurance option, even if Hill is trusted on passing downs.

Zay Flowers wasn’t on the same page with Lamar at times but that may’ve been a product of being in the first year of OC Todd Monken’s playbook. The pass game should be more consistent with Mark Andrews‘ return, too. They’ll be the clear top targets, leaving Rashod Bateman competing for scraps. It’s last call for Bateman’s career. He at least seems healthy this offseason but until he shows more physicality, Bateman is a low-volume speedster only. There’s a battle for No. 3 duties between Nelson Agholor ($2.1M) and 4th-rounder Devontez Walker, who underwhelmed as Drake Maye’s top target at North Carolina. Walker was quite raw and made a lot of mistakes, but he does have some downfield ability in theory. It may be too early for him to start in 3-WR sets out of the gate.

4. Miami Dolphins Training Camp Preview

Raheem Mostert is back on a $3.7M contract after carrying Zero RB drafters to championships last year. He’ll battle De’Von Achane for snaps in the best rushing offense in the NFL. Achane will need more volume, particularly around the goal line, to live up to his Round 2 fantasy football draft capital, but that’s well within the range of outcomes if this stays as a 2-RB committee. 4th-rounder Jaylen Wright has the juice to fit into this offense, but he is extremely raw and comes from a very unique Tennessee Volunteers scheme as a 21-year-old. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he immediately can’t clear Jeff Wilson ($1.1M guaranteed) or Salvon Ahmed ($0) in camp.

Skinny Tua is a sight to see. His inability to create outside of the pocket was notable in 2023, but maybe that’s something we can envision more this year. He’ll have to move around behind this porous offensive line. Luckily this quick-hitting and mis-direction scheme gets the ball out of his hands before the OL can collapse. We’ll see if the OL is coming together in camp.

Odell Beckham hasn’t played many snaps since his ACL tear, but he’s been reasonably efficient on them. If healthy as a 32-year-old, Odell should dust undersized 6th-rounder Malik Washington for No. 3 duties. The Dolphins’ intense usage of motion means they rotate their receivers more than most. Odell could operate as the X receiver, allowing Jaylen Waddle to slide into a more advantageous position. After years of being overrated, I think this Odell signing is being overlooked based on the scheme fit and surrounding weapons.

5. Houston Texans Training Camp Preview

With Tank Dell practicing in OTAs, his return from a broken leg and gunshot would seems to be less of a storyline than worst feared. Instead, the WR room mystery is where will the trio line up. Stefon Diggs is the most likely to line up in the slot, while Nico Collins balls out as the X receiver. Hopefully reporters are able to distinguish who will be out there in 2-WR sets. This is the Shanahan tree after all. If something ever happens to this trio, Noah Brown popped up in relief last year.

Joe Mixon is the clear starter, but will Dameon Pierce be pushed out of No. 2 RB duties? He wasn’t a scheme fit last year, yet is still young enough to want to see. 6th-rounder Jawhar Jordan is his biggest competition on the ground, while Dare Ogunbowale is a trusted special teamer and option on passing downs. I’d have more faith in Pierce as a late-round target if he was clearly ahead of Jordan in training camp.

6. Los Angeles Rams Training Camp Preview

The health of Kyren Williams‘ foot is a top storyline after he missed early offseason practices. The Rams are uber cautious with their playing time and media access in August, but if he dodges the PUP list to begin camp, then we should be squared away. 3rd-rounder Blake Corum is very likely to be well ahead of special teamer Boston Scott and Ronnie Rivers. It’s best to draft Corum now, as a few beat report tweets can send his ADP from RB36 to RB25 in a hurry. There isn’t a better pure handcuff in fantasy than the Wolverine.

Cooper Kupp has had a healthy offseason so far, even sending Puka Nacua to the trash can for an offseason workout puking session. Getting through August without a hamstring or ankle injury is all it takes for his 3rd-round ADP to sneak into the 2nd round. Matthew Stafford is more than capable of having Nacua and Kupp flirt with low-end WR1 numbers if everyone is healthy behind this improved offensive line. They’ll be complemented by Demarcus Robinson ($4M guaranteed), unless TuTu Atwell unexpectedly pops up in training camp. Robinson had spikes late in 2023 as a near full-time player.

Colby Parkinson is the sleeper of the group. His $22.5M contract is practically guaranteed over the next two years, a sign the organization has little faith that Tyler Higbee can return from his multi-ligament knee tear suffered in January 2024. It’s asking a lot for Higbee to be ready at all this year, leaving Parkinson and the skinnier Davis Allen as the top options at TE. Parkinson has flashed on tape, plus has the blocking skills to be a near full-time player when McVay wants to stay in 11-personnel. There isn’t a better undrafted TE than Parkinson. It’s contract meets team total meets prime of his career meets playing time.

7. Green Bay Packers Training Camp Preview

The Packers’ deep receiver group is one of the top fantasy storylines of training camp. Jayden Reed seems to be the safest bet for slot work, but he wasn’t a 2-WR set starter as a rookie and only played half of the snaps during the NFL Playoffs when Christian Watson returned from injury. Watson getting in an injury-free camp is key after aligning his hamstring strength. Even if he’s healthy, it’s unclear if he’ll be a full-time player, thanks to the emergences of Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs. Both are capable of handling X receiver snaps, something Watson isn’t skilled enough to handle. Wicks has the highest ceiling of the group based on last year’s tape. It won’t matter in fantasy unless he sees enough snaps though. Any snaps to Bo Melton further complicates things. Long story short: who has snap share data in Green Bay? Those tweets will go viral.

The stakes might be higher at RB, however. Josh Jacobs has major workload upside in the best offense of his career, as long as he can keep 3rd-rounder Marshawn Lloyd away. Jacobs is a far more reliable north-south rusher, and coach Matt LaFleur has also mentioned that he wants to use him more than ever as a receiver. That’s promising. Lloyd is a flashier-styled runner and should be a fun change of pace option, well ahead of cut candidate A.J. Dillon ($167k guaranteed). If Lloyd’s transition to the NFL is off to a rough start in camp, I’m going to be very bullish on Jacobs. If Lloyd is handling things properly and not fumbling in camp, then there’s no excuse to not have double-digit round exposure to the rookie. The Packers should be sweet on offense.

Luke Musgrave lost NFL Playoff snaps to Tucker Kraft late last year after coming off an injury. But now it’s Kraft coming off major pectoral surgery. He’s starting camp on PUP with the hopes of being ready later in August. If Musgrave runs away with the job while Kraft is banged up, then he has low-end fantasy TE1 appeal. If Kraft is ready in time, Musgrave slides back into boom-bust TE2 land. Musgrave looked more explosive on tape. Kraft is more of a check-and-release outlet and blocking-first option.

8. Detroit Lions Training Camp Preview

Jameson Williams has a path to run away with the No. 2 WR job after the Lions completely punted off their depth by non re-signing Josh Reynolds this offseason. Williams’ primary competition is Donovan Peoples-Jones ($1.3M contract) and Kalif Raymond, who is actually pretty solid but is also 5’8″/180 with a key role on special teams. The Lions rotated snaps behind Amon-Ra St. Brown between 5 WRs late last year, keeping Williams’ routes per game at 22.5 from Week 12-17. He needs to keep DPJ away from the Reynolds’ role. It’s a mystery to me who will line up at X receiver. I don’t like Jamo, Amon-Ra, or Raymond there.

The rest of the offense seems quite straight forward with Jared Goff paid, Sam LaPorta dominating as a rookie TE, and David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs complementing each other perfectly at RB. I guess it’s worth tracking if Hendon Hooker is ready to be the team’s backup QB in his 2nd season back from an ACL tear. He was really able to spin it in college.

9. Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp Preview

Joe Burrow‘s wrist surgery was more complicated than I originally thought, but he’s been throwing and managing the pain early in the offseason. How he can handle a full camp is the worry. It’s at least the highest upside offensive line he’s had so far, especially if freak athlete Amarius Mims wins the right tackle job from the jump. Burrow can clear up some potential worries by practicing most days in August.

Tee Higgins didn’t have any leverage, so he’ll play as normal on the franchise tag in a huge season for his future earnings. Ja’Marr Chase may slide into the slot more than ever, now that 3rd-rounder Jermaine Burton can play on the outside instead of slot-only Tyler Boyd being the No. 3 option. Burton will compete with 2023 6th-rounder Andrei Iosivas for snaps on the perimeter. To me, Burton’s on-field talent is far better than Iosivas’. It sounds like he’s acclimated to the Bengals locker room well so far. He has early Round 2 skills, particularly downfield. I’m excited.

Zack Moss‘ $4.5M contract and 2023 numbers put him into the driver seat for lead-back duties. His size and physicality stand out compared to Chase Brown, who had the worst rushing success rate among qualifying RBs last year. Brown does have more juice out in space, however. We’ll see if they trust Brown to work in pass protection this year. He was primarily only used on manufactured touches last year. Brown’s potential development in Year 2 could be a big fantasy storyline. Until I see something tangible, I’m on team Moss.

This will only matter for deep leagues and best ball, but the Bengals also have a competition at TE. Mike Gesicki is only on a $400k guaranteed contract after washing out with the Patriots. He’ll get the first crack at starting snaps, but don’t rule out a young player emerging. 4th-rounder Erick All and 6th-rounder Tanner McLachlan were drafted to compete with blocker Drew Sample and Gesicki. McLachlan was a Daniel Jeremiah and analytics darling. I haven’t watched him yet, but he’s on my radar. All began camp on the NFI List because of an October ACL tear in college. He isn’t ready to compete yet.

10. Buffalo Bills Training Camp Preview

There’s competition for outside receiver snaps. Curtis Samuel‘s $14.8M guaranteed contract is the top option to fill the void, especially after playing well with OC Joe Brady during their stint with the Panthers. Samuel has mostly played slot receiver, but he can win vertically from the Z spot at times. Early 2nd-rounder Keon Coleman will have the more difficult job as the X receiver if he’s ready for early-season snaps. He only has to clear Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($1.1M guaranteed), Mack Hollins ($600k), and Chase Claypool ($25k) for snaps there, but Coleman is a clear work on progress if you watched his college tape. There is some Gabe Davis to his game. Meanwhile, Khalil Shakir is the easiest projection into the slot. His ceiling is low, but he’s the most experienced with Josh Allen. I ultimately project 28-year-old weapon Samuel to run away with targets here.

4th-rounder Ray Davis takes over for the power back role left by Latavius Murray, Damien Harris, and others. He’ll be a complement to James Cook, who was relied upon heavily down the stretch. Davis’ primary competition is 210-pounder Ty Johnson, a veteran special teamer. The bar for Davis to clear in camp is really, really low.

It’d be nice if Dalton Kincaid looked more physical and ready for 11-personnel duties going into Year 2. The coaching staff seemed lost on how to use him as a rookie, but there was some run away ability on deeper crossing routes down the stretch. They need him to be a more developed player this year. He was too much of a hitch and flats route TE in 2023. That won’t cut it without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this time around.

11. Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Preview

This might be the worst RB room in the league, not a surprise with how analytics-heavy the Cowboys secretly are. They’re putting “RBs Don’t Matter” to the test after skipping over a deep free agent class and the entire NFL Draft. Ezekiel Elliott is the headliner, but he’s making just $1M guaranteed with incentives up to just $3M. That’s backup money. One way to look at that is by believing in Dallas’ faith of Rico Dowdle, who has never handled a big workload but did show some explosiveness in both phases as Tony Pollard’s backup last year. If Dowdle is the clear cut starter, expect his ADP to skyrocket in a hurry. However wins the Cowboys starting RB role deserves to go well before the 120s in drafts. Perhaps the Cowboys wait for August cuts to round out their depth. For now, I’m hammering Dowdle and mixing in Zeke.

There’s a battle for No. 3 WR, too, and it’s not pretty. Jalen Tolbert has underwhelmed in both seasons, allowing 2023 7th-rounder Jalen Brooks to enter the mix per OTA reports. This battle won’t matter outside of Dak stacks in best ball drafts, unless 2023 target leader CeeDee Lamb randomly missed time. 6th-rounder Ryan Flournoy is also a name to watch if you’re not touching grass in August.

The biggest battle of all is between Dak Prescott and the front office. If his contract isn’t adjusted, he’ll be a true free agent without the ability to be franchise tagged in 2025. It’s rare for a QB of his caliber to hit free agency, but the Cowboys could see what he does in the playoffs this year before signing him to a record-breaking contract next offseason. It’s the stare down of the sports calendar.

12. Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview

It was a disaster finish after repeated blitz-heavy attacks crippled the Jalen Hurts passing offense. New OC Kellen Moore was called in to fix that, but Hurts won’t have Hall Of Fame C Jason Kelce to sort things out. They have to figure out the blitz (and the Tush Push without Kelce) before we can take them serious as Super Bowl contenders again. Hurts’ knee injury should be fully behind him heading into camp.

The unexpected retirement of DeVante Parker puts pressure on backup slot Parris Campbell ($1.1M), 5th-rounder Ainais Smith, and 6th-round giant Johnny Wilson. Targets behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert are difficult to come by, but there are routes for the taking here. Just ask 2023 Julio Jones. I’m hoping Wilson’s unique profile wins out here. His upside is clearly the highest.

Saquon Barkley is the new star, but we know who he is already. There’s a battle brewing behind him between undersized backup Kenneth Gainwell and 4th-rounder Will Shipley. The Clemson product was a notable pass catching option who also handled their goal line work despite being slightly undersized, a la Austin Ekeler. Neither Gainwell nor Shipley are drafted on Underdog often, even though there’s obvious contingent upside tied to the Eagles. I’ll be keeping close tabs.

13. Chicago Bears Training Camp Preview

Seeing Caleb Williams will be a spectacle, but there’s little to learn from his training camp practices. The bigger thing to watch for is who is in 2-WR sets between D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and 1st-rounder Rome Odunze. The highly-paid veterans are likely the answer, but Odunze could be a rookie-year star if things align. This trio’s target share should be high enough to severely cut into Cole Kmet and the RBs’ target shares. There’s simply no reason to scheme things up to them.

D’Andre Swift‘s $14M guaranteed contract on the 1st day of free agency was a surprise, but it doesn’t make him a bellcow. He’s underwhelmed whenever given too much volume, and his receiving skill set could be compromised by the WR talent and the emergence of Roschon Johnson. As a rookie, RJ was trusted on third downs because of his pass protection and reliable hands in the flats, while Khalil Herbert was the between-tackles change of pace. Their skill sets complement each other nicely, leaving me with the expectation that this trio largely cannibalizes each other in fantasy. The key will be figuring out who is the goal-line option. Advantage Swift heading into camp.

Cole Kmet‘s low-end TE1 season last year is likely a thing of the past. Not only is the WR room way deeper, but Gerald Everett‘s $6M guaranteed contract is enough for him to factor in. New OC Shane Waldron has a multi-TE fetish, which runs counter to what Caleb Williams had in college. This is a weird room to figure out, so I’m largely avoiding.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars Training Camp Preview

The WR room fits well with one another. Gabe Davis ($24M guaranteed) will take on the toughest duties as the dirty-work X receiver. He brings size in the red zone and has experience making downfield plays when the QB breaks the pocket. I like that profile paired with Trevor Lawrence‘s traits. In terms of upside, Davis’ is the lowest. 1st-rounder Brian Thomas Jr. has the potential to be a Week 1 alpha if his 6’3/209 frame and 4.3s speed translate. He is a nightmare on deep routes, plus was utilized on hitches at LSU. There’s a chance he’s a straight up upgrade on what Calvin Ridley was giving the Jags’ offense in this exact role. Then there’s the reliable Christian Kirk as a vertical slot option. His chemistry with Lawrence is notable. The most receiving yards on the team is likely a race between Kirk and Thomas.

Travis Etienne was a bellcow in 2023 out of necessity. Tank Bigsby dropped the ball as a complement, yet Jacksonville doesn’t have a better plan heading into 2024. He’ll get his chances in camp to turn things around. If he can’t, then it’ll be D’Ernest Johnson or 6th-rounder Keilan Robinson to the rescue. K-Rob played minimally at Alabama and Texas. He filled in for Jonathon Brooks down the stretch. I’d be willing to roll the dice on him in Round 18 if we get some camp hype.

15. Cleveland Browns Training Camp Preview

Deshaun Watson‘s shoulder injury was quite serious last year, enough to linger into early practices this offseason. Getting through training camp without hiccups would be a big sign that he’s undervalued as a QB2 in fantasy. These are the best weapons the Browns have had in a long time. They really need Watson’s shoulder and general comfort in the offense to get ironed out before they can make a real run into the NFL Playoffs.

Amari Cooper wants a new contract, but any hold out into camp would be costly in terms of fines. Players rarely miss any regular season time for contract reasons under this CBA, so there’s no reason to panic. Jerry Jeudy gets a change of scenery and a paycheck worthy of clear No. 2 WR expectations. He’s best away from press man coverage, likely meaning he’ll be the slot in 3-WR sets. Who joins him there is the question. Cedric Tillman is an unproven X receiver heading into Year 2, while Elijah Moore is a disappointing slot option. It’d make sense if it was Tillman-Cooper-Jeudy in the starting lineup with Moore mixing in for a few manufactured touches. Training camp reports will set our expectations.

Nick Chubb is already squatting like a mad man, but he’s not expected to be cleared for cutting and on-field contact for awhile. He had his 2nd ACL surgery in November and it’d be pushing it to return in the typical 9-month window given the extent of his damage. Chubb is unlikely to be ready at any point during training camp, though he does have the super man athleticism to beat “normal” expectations. If Chubb is out as expected, Jerome Ford is projected starter over D’Onta Foreman ($167k guaranteed). Ford’s passing down ability makes him the better scheme fit as coach Kevin Stefanski transitions to a pass-first offense.

16. Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Preview

Anthony Richardson‘s shoulder seems to be on pace, but any missed time in training camp would raise eyebrows. He needs as many reps as possible after missing most of his rookie year as a relatively raw college prospect. His best throws last year were wild to watch. I’m optimistic in general.

Michael Pittman was paid after a volume-heavy season with Gardner Minshew. We’ll see if the Colts keep the same amount of RPO passes to him with Richardson and Jonathan Taylor in the mix, but he’s a solid top target for the youngsters to learn from. 2nd-rounder AD Mitchell will compete with Alec Pierce for downfield reps. It’s a legit battle for opening season snaps, but Mitchell is a far more talented player on his best days. His fall in the draft is a sign that some don’t trust him, so his training camp evaluation will be key. Josh Downs seems safe as a classic slot receiver. He made some nice grabs down the field, though his per-route metrics were inflated by a 59-yard broken play TD. His ceiling is somewhat capped unless he sneaks into 2-WR sets. Whoever earns those will be the one you’ll want as a fantasy sleeper. Mitchell is my guess by the end of the year.

Jonathan Taylor was paid like a bellcow, and this is the year to be just that. There’s almost nobody behind him on the depth. Trey Sermon, who re-signed with $0 guaranteed, heads into camp as the favorite for No. 2 duties, but he hasn’t earned any faith in keeping that job. He’ll compete with Evan Hull (8 NFL snaps) and Tyler Goodson (50 NFL snaps) for that spot. It’s an underrated training camp battle to scan in deep leagues, as Taylor’s elite workload makes him a candidate to eventually miss time. The Colts’ fast-paced identity and above-average OL can make a replacement-level player look solid.

17. Seattle Seahawks Training Camp Preview

Geno Smith will be getting comfortable with new OC Ryan Grubb and his aerial offense. The Huskies passed like crazy, often downfield. That’s a great stylistic fit with Smith’s beautiful throwing motion and deep accuracy, especially with these weapons. Sam Howell was only traded for a Day 2 pick swap, so this is not a competition. This is Geno’s team.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn’t have a normal training camp as a rookie, but he should get one this time around. There’s a chance he leapfrogs 32-year-old Tyler Lockett this year, even in 2-WR sets. JSN did just enough on tape to have faith as an inside and outside player. Hopefully Grubb doesn’t make JSN a screen specialist, which is not a good fit for his mediocre athleticism. I’m hoping JSN takes on 2-WR sets out of the gate. It’s possible.

Noah Fant has a run way for snaps with Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly fetching real money in free agency. Fant’s $11.5M guaranteed is that of a clear starter, and there’s nobody pressing him for snaps. The closest threat would be 4th-round blocker A.J. Burner, who may not see the field much in Grubb’s 3-WR base offense. Fant is a strong post-hype sleeper.

Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet are near opposites, which makes the wrinkle of a new coaching staff something to monitor. Walker’s play-making ability is likely too special to be benched, but Charbonnet is a reliable pass-game target who ran hard between the tackles as a rookie. We’ll see if they rotate drives or are utilized in an early vs. late down split.

18. New York Jets Training Camp Preview

Is Aaron Rodgers fully ready after September achilles surgery? Compared to Cousins, Rodgers’ advantages are his tear was earlier in 2023 and to the front side of his base. He also creates more torque and can use different arm motions better in my opinion. I’m slightly more optimistic with Rodgers behind a much-improved offensive line. It’s not a stretch to call the Jets’ OL fairly deep at this point, especially if 1st-round LT Olu Fashanu starts on the bench. That can’t go overlooked.

Breece Hall should have no limitations two years after his ACL tear. In fact, he’s my RB2 and 6th player overall. A massive workload is expected, leaving 4th-rounder Braelon Allen and 5th-rounder Isaiah Davis with little to compete over. Early reporters gave Allen a big lead, which isn’t a surprise to me. Izzy Abanikanda was a mediocre prospect who couldn’t see the field as a rookie. The fact that the Jets took two different rookies in a down RB class speaks volumes. Allen is a strict handcuff who is draftable late on Underdog.

Mike Williams‘ ACL surgery happened last October, putting him tentatively on track for Week 1 under the normal 9-month timeline. There’s almost zero depth behind him on the perimeter aside from potential super star Garrett Wilson. 3rd-rounder Malachi Corley was a manufactured underneath-only target at Western Kentucky. That doesn’t profile as a fit for full-time snaps in a Rodgers-led offense to me, but we’ll have training camp buzz to persuade me. Xavier Gibson threatens in the slot. Allen Lazard hangs around based on vibes. The lack of depth at WR encourages me to draft the reliable Tyler Conklin as my TE2. He’s put up 550+ yards in 3-straight seasons on really mediocre teams.

19. Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview

Marvin Harrison Jr. headlines a pretty weak pass-catching group. He’ll likely play X receiver, while Michael Wilson and Zay Jones ($2M) compete for snaps at Z. Wilson has the clear advantage there as a 2nd-year player with familiarity in the offense. Jones was likely just veteran depth in a very young room. Greg Dortch has little competition for slot snaps but way more target competition compared to last year in general.

James Conner was fantastic last year, leading the NFL in yards after contact per carry. He won’t have to handle as big of a workload during his age-29 season now that 3rd-rounder Trey Benson was added in the draft. Conner (thunder) and Benson (lightning) are total opposites. I’m excited for what OC Drew Petzing dials up with these two and Kyler. Arizona was efficient on the ground last year despite middling OL talent. That’s a credit to this staff. Only Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas back them up.

Trey McBride went nuclear once Marquise Brown left the lineup last year. Marvin’s targets could keep his ceiling in tact, but McBride is a real nice player in all phases. This is a TE-friendly scheme, which is partially why the Cardinals took 3rd-rounder Tip Reiman in the draft. Expect the rookie to primarily be a blocker.

20. Atlanta Falcons Training Camp Preview

Is Kirk Cousins ready after November achilles surgery? Even if he is cleared to play on time, does he look the same? He doesn’t have much room to lose athleticism, and his achilles tear was on the back foot of his throwing motion, which helps drive the ball with velocity. I’m nervous. At least the Falcons have Michael Penix as an expensive fall back plan.

Kyle Pitts‘ health is an underrated thing to watch for. He technically played last year, but that wasn’t the real Kyle Pitts out there. He wasn’t nearly as fast and definitely couldn’t break the same as before. Another year removed from his MCL tear should do the trick. I’d just like to see him look more like his rookie-year self before pressing the button on him like crazy in Round 6. It’s important to remember that he’s only 23 years old. The upside is still there.

Drake London should get more volume with new OC Zac Robinson, who is a first-time play caller after learning under Sean McVay. Is Robinson good? Who knows. But there’s at least a path to more passing volume. London faces more target competition with Darnell Mooney ($26M guaranteed) as the clear No. 2 receiver. Mooney will hopefully be better hidden with pre-snap motion in this more scheme-friendly offense. There’s a battle for slot duties between Rondale Moore and Ray-Ray McCloud ($2.2M guaranteed). Until we see who wins that, they are off my target list.

21. Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp Preview

Jim Harbaugh will be the storyline, but there is a lot to iron out on the depth chart for fantasy purposes, starting at WR. Josh Palmer is the lone veteran with Justin Herbert experience. He has inside/outside versatility and is coming off a career-best season. The 24-year-old is primed for fantasy relevance given the lack of other options behind him. Early 2nd-rounder Ladd McConkey has the most upside after leading the Power 5 in EPA per target last year. He looks like a slot receiver, but McConkey runs real routes and has 4.3s speed. He should be the chess piece in the pass game and can survive in 2-WR sets if the Chargers opt to use a ton of 2-TE sets. The No. 3 job is unlikely to matter in fantasy, but Quentin Johnston faces D.J. Chark ($2.9M) as the primary low-volume deep threat. QJ will have to prove he can beat press man coverage and run by corners. If not, he’ll be benched.

The RB room is equally open for business. Gus Edwards signed a $3.4M contract to be the familiar run-first option in OC Greg Roman’s system. Edwards loses Lamar Jackson’s threat in the backfield, but don’t overlook how dominant the Chargers’ OL can be after selecting stud OT Joe Alt early in the draft. He’ll be complemented by productive 6th-rounder Kimani Vidal and possibly J.K. Dobbins ($50k guaranteed) if he’s healthy. Edwards will need a pass-catching substitute, so Vidal’s 18+ receptions in all 4 collegiate seasons bodes well. Isaiah Spiller is next in line.

Will Dissly ($10M guaranteed) is the clear starter, as a primary blocking type who can find space in the red zone. Dissly should enter a full-time position with only Hayden Hurst ($0 guaranteed) and Donald Parham behind him. There are worse 18th round picks given the lack of proven talent in the offense. He’s had 1.4 yards per route throughout his career.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp Preview

Chris Godwin played more outside receiver last year, and it didn’t really work. He’s expected to play more slot under a new coaching staff, which is a better fit for his tough style. Mike Evans‘ new partner on the outside could be 3rd-rounder Jalen McMillan, as long as he beats out vertical speedster Trey Palmer in training camp. This is a legit battle, with early reports out of OTAs that McMillan has the leg up. He was an intriguing prospect in general.

Rachaad White was forced into a bellcow role last year, but 4th-rounder Bucky Irving is a reasonable bet for complementary touches behind him. Irving is undersized, though ran well at Oregon. New OC Liam Coen has a history, dating back to his time with Sean McVay, to rely heavily on one RB at a time (see Chris Rodriguez and Ray Davis at Kentucky), so there’s upside in this room. That’ll be especially true if 1st-round C Graham Barton fixes a broken interior offensive line. Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to run the ball effectively for a decade. Chase Edmonds can pitch in on special teams as the RB3.

23. Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Preview

Sam Darnold ($10M) begins camp as QB1 ahead of 21-year-old 1st-rounder J.J. McCarthy. Darnold has more love within the NFL than in the fantasy football community, enough to believe he’ll see plenty of regular season work as long as he doesn’t face plant. This will be Darnold’s best environment of his career, so there is some Baker Mayfield career revival odds here. Natural times for McCarthy to take over would be after the Vikings’ Week 6 bye or after they’ve been eliminated from playoff contention. It’ll be telling if McCarthy is splitting 1st-team reps in camp or not.

Jordan Addison‘s arrest for DUI puts him at risk for a 3-game suspension at some point in the season. There’s never a good time for a DUI, but a suspension this year puts the Vikings’ WR depth to the test. Aside from WR1 overall Justin Jefferson, Minnesota has Brandon Powell ($2M), Trent Sherfield ($1.8M), and Jalen Nailor as options for the slot. That’s bad enough to wonder if Hunter Renfrow or Michael Thomas types are possible.

T.J. Hockenson is unlikely to be ready for awhile. He had ACL and MCL surgery on January 29th this year, making him a very obvious candidate for the in-season PUP list (4 games missed). 9 months from that surgery would be Week 9, though this multi-ligament tear could make that the beginning of his target date. The Vikings will trot out Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt as the primary fill ins. Neither are receiving threats.

Aaron Jones ($7M) was brutal in short yardage last year, leading to career-worst efficiency. Now he’s in his age-30 season with a career filled with minor injuries. The Vikings are unlikely to give him a ton of volume, especially after being 32nd in RB usage last year. Ty Chandler is unreliable, but he is athletic and can be schemed up opportunities in the pass game. There is a chance Chandler just looks better this year.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Preview

Russell Wilson was signed before free agency kicked off to be the clear cut starter heading into the regular season. Justin Fields was on the trade block for months, and the Steelers didn’t swoop in until the price tag was a future 5th-round pick. All coaching comments and beat report speculation suggests Wilson’s leash is long. We’ll see if Fields can split snaps with the 1st-team in camp. I’m very open to drafting Wilson in Round 18 if I have George Pickens or Pat Freiermuth.

George Pickens has nobody to compete with. He’s a solid scheme fit with Russ and new OC Arthur Smith’s play-action heavy offense. We’ll see if the 23-year-old can round out his game as he begins the prime of his career. The explosiveness is hard to find, so I’m willing to find out. The depth behind him is the worst in the NFL. 3rd-rounder Roman Wilson was an undersized vertical slot option who went quiet in OTAs per reports. There won’t be that many 3-WR set pass attempts in this offense, so Wilson will need to beat out Van Jefferson ($1.1M), Quez Watkins ($1.1M), Scotty Miller ($1.1M), and Calvin Austin for 2-WR set snaps. That bar is extremely low. The Steelers should be in the market for another veteran before Week 1.

Pat Freiermuth has reasonable odds of being the No. 2 target. He’ll be used in the slot and will be manufactured play-action passes to him (see Jonnu Smith with Arthur Smith). The Muth is 26 years old and entering a contract year. He won’t be threatened by Darnell Washington, who is as close to being an offensive lineman as possible for a tight end.

There’s room for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to get theres. It’s at least possible that Warren takes on a bigger piece of the pie after Harris’ 5th-year option was declined early in the offseason. They’ll be running behind a suddenly solid offensive line after the Steelers drafted another 1st-round tackle and a 2nd-round center.

25. New Orleans Saints Training Camp Preview

New OC Klint Kubiak is tasked with bringing this offense to the modern era, though he was fired after one year as the Vikings OC in 2021 and then fired as Nathaniel Hackett’s pass-game coordinator in 2022. Kubiak’s biggest problem will be managing this ugly offensive line. Long-time quality RT Ryan Ramczyk is out for the year (reserve/PUP list), leaving the Saints with 1st-round bust Trevor Penning and risky 1st-rounder Taliese Fuaga as the starting tackles right now. I personally projected Fuaga to guard after watching his tape. They also might be starting a 2023 4th-rounder at left guard. Derek Carr better be ready.

Alvin Kamara left minicamp and asked for a new contract. The 29-year-old has little leverage in negotiations under this CBA (and after his poor rushing season last year), but this one could get a bit messy after looking at his contract. Kamara only has $1M guaranteed this upcoming season and nothing afterwards. He’s due $10.2M as a base salary this year, all of which would come off the books if they suddenly released or traded him. Kamara wanting long-term guarantees is understandable, but the Saints don’t have to oblige, nor should they want to make an aging RB a big part of their uncertain future. While it’s not the most likely situation, the Saints could theoretically show Kamara the door if he’s that desperate for a long-term contract. A post-June 1 release would save $10.6M this year and clear up some cap space in 2025 as well. If the Saints have faith in Kendre Miller (112 NFL snaps) or Jamaal Williams, they should call Kamara’s bluff. This is a training camp situation worthy of the Brian Windhorst meme. More often than not, players lose in these negotiations.

Juwan Johnson had foot surgery earlier this offseason. It’s a race to get him ready for Week 1, though ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the team is hopeful that’ll happen. A return at any point during training camp should vault Johnson’s ADP back up into the late teens at TE after showcasing some receiving chops late in the year. The Saints would have to turn to Foster Moreau if Johnson were to miss time. It’s unclear which position Taysom Hill will play under a play-caller that comes from outside the building.

Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed headline the WR room. It’d be nice if Shaheed can earn more snaps in 2-WR sets or be put in motion more to utilize his speed. The same can be said for Olave, too. There’s a battle for X receiver snaps between incumbent A.T. Perry and 5th-rounder Bub Means. Advantage Perry, though he was lost at times during his rookie year and is primarily a back-shoulder specialist.

26. New York Giants Training Camp Preview

Daniel Jones had ACL surgery in November, which should be enough for him to get in some training camp practices in ahead of Week 1. He has a lot to play for this year with all $30M of his 2025 base salary non-guaranteed. There’s worry that any drop of athleticism from his injury could really hurt his performance, but the Giants skill talent has been completely reworked in recent offseasons. This is — by far — the best receiver group, offensive line, and coaching staff of his career. That should be enough to keep the starting job all year with the entire front office’s jobs on the line based on how he plays. The only caveat is that Jones has $23M in injury guarantees in 2025 if he suffered another serious injury this year. Russell Wilson and Derek Carr were benched for this reason before, but I think the odds of a similar story playing out are fairly low. Drew Lock ($5M) simply isn’t very good.

Malik Nabers is probably the best player on the roster already. He should be the focal point of the offense in terms of first reads and manufactured touches. The only question is whether he’ll play in the slot or outside in this offense. He did both at LSU. Where he’ll play could be determined by how the rest of the receiver group looks in training camp. Veteran Darius Slayton ($8M) is the closest thing to an X receiver on the roster, while undersized youngsters Jalin Hyatt (Z or slot) and Wan’Dale Robinson (slot) round out the depth chart. All will see routes most likely, but there could be a clear loser of this trio by the end of camp. I’d personally like to see Slayton-Hyatt-Nabers the most with Robinson mixing in for some gadget opportunities.

Speaking of those, 5th-rounder Tyrone Tracy is a potential preseason darling as he competes for passing down snaps behind reliable veteran Devin Singletary ($9.5M guaranteed). That’s decent money spread out over multiple years for Motor, so he’ll likely have a long leash as the between-tackles rusher. Tracy has plenty of juice and actually showed nice rushing instincts in his lone season as a RB. He played WR at Purdue previously. Eric Gray, who has a lower ceiling and maybe higher floor, is his primary competition for No. 2 duties.

Darren Waller’s retirement leaves Daniel Bellinger and 4th-rounder Theo Johnson in competition. Bellinger knows the offense and is a solid-enough blocker to be the favorite, especially with Johnson beginning camp on PUP with a reportedly minor injury. There isn’t much room for targets here with the depth at WR and the low projected points in general.

27. Washington Commanders Training Camp Preview

Everything is new. Ownership. General Manager. Head coach. OC. DC. QB. OL. etc. That much change was necessary, but it also makes me nervous for 2024. Jayden Daniels was a boom-bust prospect for many reasons, specifically for his tendency to look to scramble immediately once under pressure. The Commanders OL has many new faces, none of whom are great talents. How well the offensive line comes together could make or break the entire season.

The loss of Curtis Samuel opens up slot snaps for 3rd-rounder Luke McCaffrey and Olamide Zaccheus ($1.1M) in 3-WR sets. OC Kliff Kingsbury’s air raid offense typically puts many receivers on the field at once, but the overall volume could be lackluster if the offense is bad and if Daniels scrambles too much. McCaffrey is unlikely to move to the perimeter, so Terry McLaurin (X) and Jahan Dotson (Z) are largely unbothered by the draft pick. Dotson was underwhelming as a sophomore, but Samuel’s schemed up touches have a chance to funnel towards him more in 2024.

34-year-old Zach Ertz signed a $2.4M contract to be the veteran presence for 2nd-rounder Ben Sinnott, who played some fullback at Kansas State. It could be a difficult transition for the rookie, and Kingsbury loves Ertz dating back to their stint with the Cardinals. Sinnott may be closer to an H-back than a traditional TE. My rookie season expectations are low, even though he lit up the NFL Combine and went way earlier than anticipated.

Brian Robinson Jr. swaps out Antonio Gibson for 29-year-old Austin Ekeler ($4.2M guaranteed), who had a career-worst season while dealing with a lingering high-ankle sprain. It’s unclear if Ekeler is just too broken down to be effective or if it was that one off injury. Hopefully we get some speculation on that during training camp. This most likely will be a frustrating 2-RB rotation.

28. Denver Broncos Training Camp Preview

This is the team with the most uncertainty for deep fantasy leagues. 1st-rounder Bo Nix, who I think is quite underrated, should beat out Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham ($2M guaranteed) for the starting QB gig. He seemed hand-picked by Sean Payton because of his distributor play-style. Nix is a solid athlete and diced teams up beyond Oregon’s RPOs and screens, but this is Year 1 of a full-blown rebuild.

Courtland Sutton played really well last year. His 10-best catches of 2023 would rival most receivers in the NFL, and he looked faster than he did originally coming of his ACL tear. It’d be shocking if he wasn’t the clear top target. The Broncos have a potential rotation brewing behind him. Marvin Mims did next to nothing as a rookie, but Jerry Jeudy’s departure opens up slot snaps. Mims needs to showcase more ability against man coverage to be taken seriously. Getting him into the slot will help. 4th-rounder Troy Franklin has the shower narrative going for him with Nix, but he fell for a reason. His hands and route tree are a work in progress, on top of being outlier skinny. Franklin is a Z or slot player only. He’ll compete with outside veteran Josh Reynolds ($4.2M guaranteed) and big slot Tim Patrick ($7M). Payton rotated his receivers last year. That feels most likely, with Reynolds likely starting over Franklin for most of, if not all, the season. The fact that are 5 WRs to monitor here is bearish.

Javonte Williams didn’t play well in his return from a multi-ligament knee tear, but he should look more spry this time around. The problem is Payton didn’t hand pick Javonte. He did so with 5th-rounder Audric Estime, veteran passing-down back Samaje Perine ($1.5M guaranteed), and manufactured-touch specialist Jaleel McLaughlin. Estime is the closest stylistic comparison to Javonte, as the clear top options on early downs and the goal line. Estime is coming off relatively minor knee surgery but should be ready for training camp. Perine is a cut candidate ($3M in savings) if they feel good about the other options in pass protection and on third downs in general. McLaughlin has some room for more touches, but his size and lack of pedigree make him a long shot for being the lead back. Payton’s history suggests this will be a heavily-utilized committee. Javonte vs. Perine on early downs. McLaughlin as a change of pace. And a pass protection specialist as the RB3. It’s at least possible that Javonte is on the trade block ($1.8M for the inheriting team) if Estime wins the early down job and Perine is too valuable on passing downs with a rookie QB.

Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Greg Dulcich will battle things out at TE. The first two are Saints’ offspring with a more traditional build, while Dulcich was hyped as the undersized “joker” last year before injuries took that off the plate. We have better things to do with our lives than to sweat this one out.

29. Las Vegas Raiders Training Camp Preview

Aidan O’Connell welcomes Gardner Minshew ($15M guaranteed) to camp competition. That’d be a lot of money to be a backup, but O’Connell’s arm talent is better and he’s the younger option in general. With neither likely to ball out, it’s probable that we see both in action this season. It’s the most directionless QB room in the NFL. I hope to see O’Connell more.

The entire point of the Raiders right now is to not make Davante Adams mad. He’ll be joined by Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers at the top of the totem pole, while Tre Tucker and Michael Gallup ($1.7M) battle for largely meaningless No. 3 receiver snaps. The key part to navigate here is how Bowers is utilized and how often the Raiders use 2-TE sets to make sure former 2nd-rounder Michael Mayer isn’t forgotten. Bowers could be a slot receiver in 2-TE sets while Mayer plays the more traditional TE role. I’m curious if new OC Luke Getsy draws positive or negative reviews in camp because things didn’t look right in Chicago with him on the headset. Getsy was the pass-game coordinator on the Packers during Adams’ career-best season, however.

Zamir White is the natural Josh Jacobs replacement after handling a big workload with positive game scripts late in 2023. White is unlikely to see that level of work with the Raiders only projected for 6.5 wins this year, but it doesn’t take a lot to win a job against Alexander Mattison ($2M) and 6th-rounder Dylan Laube. The rookie could be involved in the pass game if he can beat out core special teamer Ameer Abdullah ($1.9M) for the No. 3 job. There isn’t a lot of appeal here besides White.

30. Tennessee Titans Training Camp Preview

Mason Rudolph‘s $2.7M contract is confirmation that Will Levis should have a very long leash going into Year 2. He has a long way to go with his decision making and accuracy, but the offense is better built for his strengths. New coach Brian Callahan is a first-time play-caller who seems dedicated to a pass-heavy philosophy. His dad, Bill, should make the most out of a raw offensive line headlined by 1st-round LT JC Latham. Tennessee had one of the worst fronts in the league last year. Levis doesn’t handle pressure well enough for that to happen again.

DeAndre Hopkins had better per-route numbers than Calvin Ridley last year, but both enter a new offense and will compete for the team lead in targets. 30-year-old slot-only Tyler Boyd only signed a $2.4M contract, so he’s closer to TE Chig Okonkwo in the pecking order for targets. Okonkwo didn’t take the leap as a sophomore and may be limited by his lackluster size for the position. Backup TE Josh Whyle (6’6″/248) has a chance to mix in more during his sophomore. Training camp will be huge for Treylon Burks after injuries and forgettable on-field play derailed his Year 2 campaign. The entire staff is disconnected from Burks’ draft capital, so he’ll have to earn slot snaps by beating out Boyd in camp. He’s a trade candidate, and changing scenery wouldn’t be the worst idea for the former 1st rounder. He belongs in the slot.

Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears have a real training camp battle on their hands. The coaching staff believes they are interchangeable and can play in all phases. It’ll likely end up in a pretty even committee with Pollard earning the first crack at the early-down touches as the veteran who fetched $10.5M guaranteed this offseason. Pollard should look a bit better another year from his fractured leg, but the same can be said with sophomore year Spears. Let the best man win.

31. Carolina Panthers Training Camp Preview

New coach Dave Canales is tasked with turning around one of the worst 1st-overall pick rookie seasons in NFL history. Bryce Young‘s footwork was an issue, and he didn’t have the special talent to make up for being walked back behind a bad OL. The Panthers at least tried upgraded the line this offseason, but it’s a lot to sort out in a rebuilding year. Expect Canales to run the ball in neutral situations to keep the pressure off of Young. He needs to take more risks and play on time better this year.

The Diontae Johnson trade was a great move. He’s a stylistic fit with Young, who mostly likes to keep things within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage. Johnson can beat press man coverage at X receiver, allowing Adam Thielen to be a lesser-volumed slot receiver in his age-34 season. Thielen didn’t have the juice to create big plays last year, which helps explain the 1st-round selection of Xavier Legette. His size and speed are comparable to DK Metcalf, though Legette has a lot to work on to get there. Legette could be used on some manufactured touch plays to use his YAC ability, but he could also win the downfield Z role by beating out Jonathon Mingo, who really struggled as a rookie. The upside belongs to Diontae and Legette. My money is on Diontae running away with the most targets here.

Jonathon Brooks begins camp on the NFI List due to an ACL tear that had surgery in November. He has until August 27th to come off of it before he’s required to miss the first 4 games of the year. National reporters are hinting that the Panthers will take his return slowly, which would make sense in a full rebuilding year for the team. That said, Brooks was my favorite RB in the class by a wide margin. He is a nifty mover who can play in all phases, similarly to early-career Melvin Gordon. Until he’s ready, expect Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders to compete for touches. Hubbard ran away with that competition late in 2023 under a different regime. That’s the most likely situation again. Hubbard makes sense in builds where you’re looking for early-year production.

4th-rounder Ja’Tavion Sanders is the shiny new toy, but he wasn’t a needle mover on tape and isn’t known for his blocking ability. It’s rare for Day 3 rookies to make noise at this position. Tommy Tremble can really block and should have the easiest path to full-time passing game duties this year, after Hayden Hurst left in free agency. Tremble was a fun prospect years ago. He’s done nothing in the pros so far. He’s at least on the Round 18 radar on Young stacks. Not financial advice, of course.

32. New England Patriots Training Camp Preview

3rd overall pick Drake Maye might be holding the clipboard for Jacoby Brissett ($7.8M) early on, but his reps throughout training camp will be worth monitoring. Brissett is a great locker room presence with familiarity in this specific scheme. He’s competent and could be a sacrificial lamb early in the year behind an injured and worrisome OL. Maye has the upside that is worth seeing at some point as a rookie. He needs to play a bit quicker and really improve his accuracy for his consistency to meet his traits. We’ll see if this inexperienced staff can do just that.

There are so many names, none great, in the Patriots WR room. 2nd-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk offers the most upside after showcasing a well-rounded skillset at Washington. He can play in the slot or outside, so his path to playing time seems quite obvious. Pop Douglas was the target leader last year as an underneath slot option, who ended up playing after JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s knee injury was severe enough to derail his year. JuJu’s $7M base salary is fully guaranteed this year, but it might be asking to much for him to be a starter again. K.J. Osborn ($4M) was brought in to be another versatile potential starter. ESPN’s Mike Reiss gave him a leg up on a starting gig heading into camp. Kendrick Bourne had ACL surgery in November, so he’s uncertain to be ready for training camp and Week 1. He was paid $5.5M guaranteed to be in the mix, too. That just may take some time. Then there’s 4th-rounder Javon Baker, who may be the most natural X receiver on the team. He was extremely raw on tape and may need some time to be counted on, but that draft capital makes him a favorite to make the team. The final roster spot(s) will come down to Tyquan Thorton, Kayshon Boutte, and Jalen Reagor. Those are some names! If I had to guess, it’ll be Polk, Osborn, and Douglas in 3-WR sets to begin the year with Bourne rotating in once he’s back to health.

Rhamondre Stevenson was extended this offseason. Injuries and a bad environment derailed his 2023 season, but those should be a bit resolved this time around as a nice post-hype target. Stevenson is more solidified than ever as the goal-line back with only Antonio Gibson ($5.3M guaranteed) backing him up. Gibson has struggled establishing a real role under multiple coaching staffs. He’s best used as a pass-catcher, though Stevenson can hold his own there. New OC Alex Van Pelt comes from the Browns’ balanced offense, so there should be plenty of volume even if the Pats are mid on offense.

Hunter Henry gets an upgrade at QB and play-caller. The Kevin Stefanski tree loves to target their TEs, and Henry is the Patriots most reliable skill player by far. He can still play and should have one of the highest snap shares at the position. Austin Hooper ($3M) will join him in 2-TE sets, while 7th-rounder Jaheim Bell is trying to make the team with a special teams role.