The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that Giants QB Daniel Jones “looks so much more comfortable” in the offense compared to last summer. It’s understandable, as he enters Year 2 alongside HC Brian Daboll and OC Mike Kafka. New TE Darren Waller is drawing rave reviews for his work in training camp, too. As the QB14 in ADP, Jones looks like a fine draft day target.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Friday that QB Joe Burrow will be sidelined for "several weeks." Burrow's calf injury isn't likely to cost him regular season games, but we'll pass along updates as they become available.
"A trimmed down Russell Wilson hinted that we are going to see him move around more this season and use his legs more frequently," NFL Network's James Palmer says. He adds that HC Sean Payton is encouraging it and believes "it's still a strength" for the 34-year-old QB. Wilson posted his fewest (13.1) and third-fewest (18.5) rushing yards per game the past two seasons. Although Palmer's report doesn't specifically speak to Wilson rushing for yardage, pursuing mobility more often should help that area. And any rushing boost would help Wilson's fantasy floor and ceiling. He's going at a low-risk, all-reward level in fantasy football drafts so far. See where Wilson sits in our 2023 QB rankings.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson left practice with an unspecified lower-body injury on Friday. Dale Lolley of the team website reports that Johnson "went out and tried to go again in team [drills], but shut it down after coming off the field gingerly." That Johnson returned to the field at all after the initial issue in a July practice suggests this isn't serious. But we'll watch for updates.
Update: Johnson's absence was heat-related. Carry on.
The Athletic's Matt Schneidman calls Packers rookie WR Jayden Reed the “likely” punt returner. That’s in addition to his role in the slot, one he’s looking forward to. "I actually like it, working with space, being able to attack guys, step on their toes and make a move,” Reed said. “It's really helping me out a lot to be able to work in space. I haven't been able to do that in a long time and I'm enjoying it right now.” Reed is one of several fantasy-relevant players on track for a boost in leagues with return yards.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that RBs Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman "have been involved in the passing game quite a bit" in early training-camp practices. That has included "check downs, screens, short passes," she added. Herbert has been the assumed first guy up in Chicago's backfield, so it's not a surprising report for him. It's especially noteworthy for Foreman, however. He has just 23 total receptions since entering the NFL in 2017. Rookie Roschon Johnson not making that note adds intrigue. It was reported soon after Chicago drafted him that Johnson impressed with his passing-game aptitude, including both receiving and blocking. It's early, of course. And this doesn't look like a good offense for RB target counts overall. But we'll certainly keep watching the Bears' backfield competition -- and potentially shuffling our RB rankings.
The Colts have been giving first-team reps to TE Drew Ogletree in early practices -- along with second-year TE Jelani Woods. The latter we expected to climb in offensive prominence this season. Ogletree also arrived in last year's draft (Round 6) after a quiet college career that saw him total 82 catches across three years at Division II Findlay and then one at FCS Youngstown State. Ogletree generated some mild buzz in last year's training camp but suffered an August knee injury that landed him on IR. Expect Woods to remain the clear leader among Colts in our TE rankings, but the playing-time distribution will be worth watching throughout the summer.
Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star reports that Colts LB Shaquille Leonard "is moving well and popping people" in practice so far. That's especially good news for the 28-year-old who lost basically all of last summer to a back injury that required surgery. Before that, Leonard was hampered by a nagging ankle issue that limited his practice time even as he was playing through it. At full health, Leonard has been a dominant scorer for IDP leagues. He opened the year inside the top 10 LBs in our IDP rankings. A healthy camp and preseason just might push the Colt even higher.
Browns WR Amari Cooper returned to the practice field for Friday's training-camp session. He ended up missing four days with what never sounded like a significant injury. We'll keep an eye on Cooper the rest of the summer, but consider his fantasy value unchanged.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson said his health is "night and day" now compared to last season. No surprise considering he was shot twice in the lower half last August. Robinson got off to a slow start when he returned from that incident, but he averaged a solid 4.4 yards per carry over his final six games. His lack of pass-catching upside caps his fantasy upside, but Robinson could certainly be a useful fantasy starter in half- and non-PPR fantasy leagues.
Colts owner Jim Irsay told ESPN's Stephen Holder on Thursday that the team hasn't offered RB Jonathan Taylor a contract extension. That helps explain Taylor's frustration with the team -- and why he hasn't participated in training camp yet. “We love Jonathan, we need Jonathan," Irsay said. "Our hope is Jonathan has an outstanding year and that we have a good year as a team and then we get his next contract done. That's the hope. We think the world of him as a person, as a player. It's just timing. When your time comes to get paid, then you get paid.” We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation. For now, we're not projecting Taylor to sit out regular-season games.
Ravens WR Odell Beckham said he has "no real limitations" as training camp gets underway. "I don't know percentages; I just feel good," Beckham said. "I feel like I'm going to continue to work to get back to who I know I truly am." Beckham has played just 21 games over the last three seasons -- and none since tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl in February 2022. But he's had a healthy offseason and has bounce-back potential in what should be a pass-heavier Ravens offense under new OC Todd Monken.
Vikings OC Wes Phillips highlighted RB Alexander Mattison's versatility on Thursday. "[It's] the consistency of who he is every day, what he's put on tape every opportunity he's gotten: his multifaceted run game, pass protection and then his hands in the pass game — his route-running ability," Phillips said. "I think we're going to see a lot of good things, and maybe people didn't realize how good a player Alex Mattison really is." HC Kevin O'Connell made similar comments back in May, calling Mattison a three-down back. All signs continue to point toward Mattison getting a heavy workload in a strong Minnesota offense. See where he sits in the updated RB rankings.
Bills WR Gabe Davis suffered a high ankle sprain in practice ahead of the team's Week 2 game last season. He missed only that contest, but the injury likely impacted much more of his season. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia reports that Davis "felt like he 'lost a step' ... and that impacted his whole year." The report adds that Davis "feels fully back to normal and healthy now." Even with that issue, Davis finished 35th among PPR WRs last season. That's higher than his WR41 ADP so far this year. We like the fourth-year wideout as a best ball value. Check out his standing in our 2023 WR rankings.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport updated the reports on Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey's left knee injury. He says Ramsey is expected to get a full meniscus repair, which would keep him out until December "if all goes well." This will be confirmed (or altered) at his Friday surgery. If you play in an IDP league where CBs are relevant, then you should treat Ramsey as though he's not playing this season. We've knocked his projection down to three games in our IDP rankings. Cam Smith and Kader Kohou look like candidates to compete for the vacated starting role opposite Xavien Howard.
Update: Friday's surgery confirmed this path. Ramsey had the full repair and is expected to be out until December, according to Rapoport.
Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua has continued to be heavily involved on offense with the start of training camp. Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic called it a "substantial workload" Thursday. That came minutes before Stu Jackson of the team website called it "very apparent the Rams are continuing to test and give [a] big workload" to Nacua. This follows buzz on the rookie in spring workouts. Nacua recently landed among our dynasty rookie sleepers. The Rams' thin receiving corps gives him a shot at immediate fantasy relevance as well, from a no-risk ADP. We'll keep watching his progress -- and ADP -- through summer. For now, the rookie remains low in our 2023 WR rankings.
SI's Albert Breer reports that Bengals QB Joe Burrow suffered a right calf strain. "Early signs are good it's not worse than that," he adds. That's obviously good news vs. what could have been wrong with Burrow's leg. We'll see about his expected return timeline.
Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey left the field late in Thursday's practice with a left knee injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Ramsey will have surgery on the knee and is expected to "miss the start of the regular season." The corner's ACL is reportedly "intact," however. We'll watch for more on just how long Ramsey will be out.
Update: NFL Network reports that Ramsey is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks for the meniscus injury. "Doctors will have to determine whether the ligament can be repaired or must be removed, which would increase the cornerback's recovery timeline," the report says.
Bills OC Ken Dorsey called RB James Cook a “three-down back” at practice on Thursday. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia believes the Bills have “cleared the deck” for Cook to “take a major leap” in Year 2. Cook has consistently been the first RB up in team drills, ahead of Damien Harris. Don't be surprised if Cook's Underdog Fantasy ADP (RB31) rises quickly.
Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic is hearing “positive mutterings” about fifth-round TE Davis Allen. He’ll get an extended look early in camp, as veteran newcomer Hunter Long (groin) is on PUP. File Allen’s name away as a deep dynasty sleeper. Tyler Higbee, now 30, enters a contract season.
Search
