Training Camp Preview: NFC North

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.

Training Camp Preview: NFC North

The Paur Report