Wed Jul 9 11:49am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
McCarthy gets his shot to start
This is the third in a series of training camp previews. The previews give you a quick look at each team, going over position battles and injuries to watch in camp. The season is right around the corner.
Lions
The Lions had maybe their best regular season ever last year but came up short in the playoffs. They lost several coaches during the offseason, so it will be interesting to see if this impacts the team going forward. It is a big ask to replace some of these big-time coordinators. This is likely the story of camp for the Lions this year. Detroit gets things started July 16 at the Detroit Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, Mich.
Position battle: Josh Reynolds is gone, leaving a hole at the No. 3 receiver spot for the Lions. This player doesn’t get a ton of work in the Lions offense but is capable of the big game any given week, giving the winner of this job some fantasy value. The players looking to win the job are Tim Patrick, Isaac TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond. It is probably a wide-open race at this point.
Injury watch: Amon-Ra St. Brown underwent cleanup knee surgery in the offseason. He has not participated in the offseason programs for the Lions. St. Brown is expected to be fine for the start of training camp, but you will want to keep an eye on his status to be sure. You never like to see a player undergo offseason surgery. Make sure he is back to his normal self this camp.
Packers
The Packers had another successful season, winning 11 games and making the playoffs. The big story was Jordan Love, though, who didn’t have quite the season most hoped. He seemed to take a bit of a step backward. So much of this camp will be focused on Love, seeing if he can get back to his high level of play. Love and his teammates open training camp on July 18 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Position battle: The Packers have quite the crowded receiver room, especially after drafting Matthew Golden. The team has Jayden Reed, Golden, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Christian Watson (when healthy), Savion Williams and Mecole Hardman vying for playing time. At this point, it seems Reed and Golden are the likely starts but after that, it is a jumbled mess. The way it shakes out will have fantasy implications. Keep an eye on the depth chart during camp and preseason action.
Injury watch: Christian Watson is doing well in his recovery from a torn right ACL that he suffered in early January but is likely going to miss some time during the season. He is not expected to be ready for Week 1 and could miss several weeks as he tries to get back to 100 percent. Hopefully, we get a better understanding of his expected return after seeing his progress in camp. He can be a big part of this offense when healthy and playing.
Vikings
Minnesota is another team that had a great regular season but came up short when it mattered in the playoffs. The team had quarterback concerns last year but Sam Darnold had a great season before faltering down the stretch and in the playoffs. This led to the Vikings turning over the keys to JJ McCarthy. This will be the big storyline to watch in camp, seeing if McCarthy is the true franchise quarterback for the Vikings. We will get our first look at McCarthy as the starter, beginning July 20 at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minn.
Position battle: There really isn’t a whole lot to sort out in Minnesota but the No. 3 receiver spot could be up for grabs. Jalen Nailor served that role last year, but he could have some competition this year in rookie Tai Felton and veteran Rondale Moore. Nailor played pretty well with his chances last year but nothing is guaranteed for him going forward, especially with a new quarterback throwing passes this year in Minnesota. If JJ McCarthy has a better rapport with someone other than Nailor, they could emerge as the No. 3.
Injury watch: JJ McCarthy missed his rookie season with a torn right meniscus in his knee. He is back healthy and set to be the starter in Minnesota. He shouldn’t be slowed by the injury going forward but it is something to at least monitor as he makes his maiden voyage as a starter in the NFL. McCarthy could make a big fantasy impact if everything goes well for him.
Bears
The Bears are coming off a poor season but carry some high expectations for the coming season. They have a new offensive-minded head coach and some new weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams. The offense will be expected to produce some big numbers. But a lot of that might hinge on the development of Williams. He will need to take a big step forward in year two. The Bears open camp July 19 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill.
Position battle: The Bears added Colston Loveland to their offense, taking him in the first round of the draft. He is likely to be the starter right away, but Cole Kmet is still around. Kmet has started the last several seasons and shown pretty well in that role. He won’t just go away quietly. This is a situation to monitor, especially if you want to use a high draft pick on Loveland.
Injury watch: The Bears aren’t disclosing the exact injury but rookie receiver Luther Burden missed a lot of offseason workouts because of an injury. This is a concern for a player looking to make an impact his rookie year. He needs to be healthy and on the field to impress the new coaching staff in Chicago. If he misses any more time, Burden could face a long road to make a big impact as a rookie.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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Detroit Lions EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson had his 2024 season ended early thanks to a leg injury, but he "looks great" early in camp, according to quarterback Jared Goff. New Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard went further, stating, "I see a better player than we had last year." Hutchinson was one of the frontrunners for NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, racking up 7.5 sacks in just five games before the injury. The Lions will certainly welcome Hutchinson back to the fold as they have Super Bowl aspirations heading into 2025. His return makes the Detroit D/ST worth targeting as a top-six option in fantasy drafts later this summer.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, not surprisingly, got the first running-back touches during the rush period in Friday's practice. While that doesn't come as a surprise, Elijah Mitchell worked as the No. 2 back ahead of Kareem Hunt, rookie Brashard Smith, and Carson Steele. While it's still early, it serves as a bit of a surprise to see Mitchell working ahead of Kareem Hunt, who led the team's backfield while Pacheco was injured in 2024. A lot can change over the next month or so, but Mitchell would hold a significant amount of fantasy value as a handcuff if he breaks camp as Pacheco's main backup. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is impressing early in training camp. Team beat writer Nick Underhill wrote on Twitter on Friday that he is "up big time on Rashid Shaheed". Shaheed was showing signs of a breakout in 2024, hauling in 20 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns in six games before a torn meniscus ended his season early. The speedy wideout reportedly added weight in the offseason and appears primed to pick up where he left off in 2025, making him an interesting late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts later this summer as the Saints are in need of a No. 2 receiver alongside Chris Olave.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo is impressing early in training camp. According to team beat writer John Boyle, Arroyo "looks like a playmaker" and made several excellent catches on Wednesday and Thursday in practice. The fast progression for Arroyo could have played into the team's decision to release veteran tight end Noah Fant last week, which helped to clear the way for the rookie out of Miami to see the field early and often in 2025. As a rookie tight end, Arroyo is unlikely to be a major fantasy factor in redraft leagues this season, but the early reports are encouraging, especially for dynasty managers who were able to snag him in rookie drafts earlier in the summer.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Josh Palmer have shown a strong connection thus far in training camp. According to team beat writer Lance Lysowski, the on-field connection between the two has been growing every practice. The Bills brought Palmer in as a free-agent this offseason, signing him to a three-year deal. With early reports that second-year wideout Keon Coleman has been struggling in camp, Palmer has a good chance of emerging as the No. 1 option in Buffalo, as the Bills do not have a proven alpha receiver on their roster. It is still early, but Palmer has a chance to be an interesting late-round lottery ticket in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones are expected to provide one of the more interesting camp battles this summer as both vie to be the team's starting signal-caller in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. With both players splitting first-team reps thus far, Richardson has gotten off to a fast start. On Friday, he reportedly made quick reads, was efficient, and took care of the ball. There is still a long way to go for both players, but Richardson seems to be the early leader in the competition. The fantasy outlook of the Colts' skill players will hinge on who is under center this season, as Richardson hasn't shown the ability to support multiple pass-catchers in fantasy thus far in his career and would likely siphon rushing touchdowns away from Jonathan Taylor. Jones isn't as dynamic a player as Richardson, but he would probably be a better quarterback for the Indy pass catchers from a fantasy perspective.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is showing signs of taking a step forward at the onset of his second season. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe mentioned that he was told by a member of the Patriots staff that Maye has shown increased processing speed and has had a good start to camp. Maye should be helped by the team's offseason addition of Stefon Diggs, a player who gives him a true No. 1 receiver after the rookie had limited offensive weapons to throw to in 2024. If Maye does show improvement in his second year, it would lift all New England skill players in fantasy and real life. For now, Maye's sneaky rushing upside keeps him in the conversation as a solid QB2 in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (calf) is "believed to be okay" after suffering an injury during Friday's practice. The wideout exited the field after sustaining the injury. Fortunately, it appears he will be fine. The 25-year-old wasn't a consistent producer for the Browns in his first two seasons in the NFL, totaling 50 receptions for 563 yards and three touchdowns. However, Tillman will have a chance to compete for more targets throughout the 2025 campaign. Without question, Jerry Jeudy is the No. 1 receiver in Cleveland. While that potentially leaves the No. 2 spot up for grabs, Tillman has some work to do before surpassing Diontae Johnson on the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is seemingly happy with how things are working out with his new team. "I feel really at home in this offense," said Engram. "I feel like my strengths are being used at the highest level." The 30-year-old, who agreed to a two-year deal with Denver in March, spent the last three seasons in Jacksonville. He had one of his most productive seasons in 2023, finishing with a career-high 114 receptions for 963 yards with four touchdowns. However, Engram took a step backward last season, ending with only 47 grabs and one trip to the end zone while being limited to nine games due to injury. With so much volatility at the tight end spot, Engram has a chance to once again be a top fantasy producer at the position in 2025, although he must build rapport with quarterback Bo Nix. He will also need to stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson stood out even more in Friday's practice. "[The] passing attack is all Garrett Wilson," wrote Cimini. "No one else stepping up." The wideout, who recently agreed to a lucrative four-year, $130 million extension, surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of his first three seasons. He's also coming off his best year, ending the 2024 campaign with 101 receptions and seven touchdowns. The latest update from Cimini shouldn't be a surprise. However, with more positive reports throughout training camp and heading into Week 1, Wilson could find himself climbing preseason fantasy rankings. With that in mind, the 25-year-old may have a legitimate chance of finishing in the top-10 in terms of fantasy production at the wide receiver spot, especially with the Jets lacking depth at the position.
From RotoBaller
According to Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith is "surging" due to his recent performances at training camp. The rookie, who was the No. 158 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, finished his final collegiate season at Auburn by amassing 50 receptions for 981 yards and eight touchdowns. So far, things have gone well at the professional level, with Lambert-Smith seemingly already on his way to building a positive on-field relationship with quarterback Justin Herbert. Without question, Ladd McConkey remains the top wideout on the roster. However, the No. 2 spot may be up for grabs. While there is still time before Week 1, Lambert-Smith could find himself receiving semi-regular attention from Herbert throughout the 2025 campaign, even if he is unable to surpass Quentin Johnston and second-round selection Tre Harris on the depth chart. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation. For now, Lambert-Smith may not draw consideration from fantasy managers drafting in most redraft formats, although his dynasty stock appears to be on the rise.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) is expected to miss most of training camp with a shoulder injury. He exited Friday's practice early after attempting to make a diving catch down the sideline and did not return. The severity of his shoulder injury is unknown, and Mooney is considered day-to-day for now. The 27-year-old was productive as Atlanta's No. 2 wide receiver, catching 64 of 106 targets for 992 yards and five touchdowns over 16 games. Ray-Ray McCloud III, Kyle Pitts, KhaDarel Hodge, and recently signed DJ Chark should see an uptick in snaps and targets if Mooney misses any regular season games. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation as the Falcons are expected to provide more details on Mooney's shoulder injury soon. Mooney's draft stock takes a slight hit as his status for Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is up in the air.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is back at practice after missing June minicamp due to an undisclosed injury. He had a good day on Friday when he caught a 25-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It's nice to see the two of them building chemistry together. Westbrook-Ikhine signed a two-year, $5.99 million deal with the Dolphins over the offseason. He hauled in 32 receptions for 497 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games with the Tennessee Titans last season. He figures to be the third wideout behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
From RotoBaller
According to Tom Pelissero, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart has signed his rookie deal on Friday. The 17th overall pick will get a four-year, $18.97 million fully guaranteed contract, which includes a $10.4 million signing bonus. After an extremely long standoff, Stewart and the Bengals finally agree to a deal. The Texas A&M product is expected to be an immediate impact player on defense this upcoming season. The Bengals are certainly going to need his help with fellow pass rusher Trey Hendrickson sitting out right now while he awaits a new contract. The Bengals can now switch their attention to getting a deal done with Hendrickson.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson is poised to take a step forward, according to the team's head coach Jonathan Gannon. Despite a quiet rookie season, the Cardinals are still high on their former third-round pick. Benson rushed for 291 yards on 63 carries while scoring one touchdown on the ground in 13 games last season. James Conner remains the lead back in Arizona and that isn't going to change this summer. Benson should enter the season as the primary backup and is hopefully going to get more involved. Despite that, Benson probably won't have weekly fantasy value unless Conner goes down at some point.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks has announced his retirement from football on Friday. This is tough news for the Browns who are now without their top two linebackers with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) currently sidelined and Hicks hanging up his cleats. Hicks played 10 years in the league with four different organizations. He recorded 952 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and 13 interceptions in 134 games in the league. Hicks spent his final season in the league with the Browns. He registered 78 tackles, two sacks, and four passes defended in 12 games with Cleveland last season. Best of luck to Hicks on his life after football. The expectation is the Browns will now use a combination of Jerome Baker, Devin Bush, and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett have been splitting up the first-team reps early in training camp. Pickett got the first chance as the starter on Wednesday and then Flacco took over on Thursday. It's worth noting that Flacco got the first reps for 11-on-11 drills on Friday. It appears that the starting job for Week 1 is between these two right now. Dillon Gabriel also got a few first team reps, but seems like a long shot for the starting role. The Browns have said they plan to give all four of their quarterbacks starting reps throughout the summer. This is going to be a situation to monitor throughout training camp. Whoever wins the starting gig could have low-end streaming appeal, but probably won't be a great option given the lack of talent in Cleveland.
From RotoBaller
Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports that Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (undisclosed) was working in individual periods at training camp on Friday but did not work with the position group for the second wave of individual periods, which is basically the same participation level that he had on Thursday. Head coach Mike Tomlin said that Smith is day-to-day with an unspecified injury that doesn't sound very serious. The 29-year-old had a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, catching 88 passes on 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (six starts), and now he'll reunite with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who he's played for in Tennessee and Atlanta. Fantasy managers are going to need to downgrade Jonnu in fantasy this year, though, as he will probably struggle to find weekly value while sharing targets with Pat Freiermuth.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams will hold their first padded training camp practice on Monday, ESPN's Sarah Barshop reports, and quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) is expected to participate. Stafford has been dealing with a sore back early in camp and has been working off to the side with trainers so far. While this certainly bears watching for the 37-year-old veteran as we get closer to the regular season, it doesn't quite sound like anything too serious just yet. The Rams are most likely taking extra precaution with the star QB early in camp after signing him to a two-year, $80 million contract extension in the offseason. Stafford lost receiver Cooper Kupp this offseason but gained Davante Adams, and he of course still has young stud Puca Nacua. Injuries and a lack of rushing ability give Stafford little room for error in the fantasy realm, though, making him a low-end QB2.
From RotoBaller
Veteran free-agent wide receiver DJ Chark, who spent the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Chargers, is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Chark, who has also played with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers, will now head to the NFC South after going on several visits. The 28-year-old former second-rounder (61st overall) by the Jags in 2018 out of LSU spent most of last year with the Bolts injured and only managed to catch four of 10 targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in seven games (no starts). Chark's only 1,000-yard season in his seven years in the NFL came back in 2019 with Jacksonville in his second year in the league. He will give the Falcons receiver depth but will be fighting for a 53-man roster spot, so he can remain off the fantasy radar mostly everywhere for now.
From RotoBaller