Training Camp Preview: NFC South
Wed Jul 21 10:50am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
This is the seventh 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. And for this season, all training camps will open at the same time with the exception of three teams. Camp will open Tuesday, July 27 for 29 of the 32 NFL teams. The Steelers and Cowboys will open July 21 because they play in the preseason Hall of Fame Game. And lastly, the Bucs got an exemption to open early because they have the first game of the regular season on a Thursday night. Tampa gets their camp started July 24. The season is right around the corner.
Falcons
The Falcons won just four games last year. Atlanta scored some points but allowed plenty as well, which was a big issue for their struggles. The Falcons need to get better on the defensive side of the ball, which should be a big focus of the camp. Atlanta holds their training camp at the IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Position battle: The Falcons traded Julio Jones, opening the door for some other receivers to get some playing time this year. The starters should be Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, but the No. 3 receiver spot is wide open in an offense that likes to throw the ball. Olamide Zaccheaus, Christian Blake, Frank Darby and Tajae Sharpe are the top candidates for that spot. Zaccheaus might have a slight leg up for the job after performing well at times last year, but nothing is too certain.
Injury watch: Calvin Ridley is not battling an injury right now, but he has missed games each of the past two seasons. The Falcons need him to stay healthy all year because of the loss of Julio Jones. If Ridley were to get injured, Atlanta would be in a world of hurt. Ridley has a chance for a monster season as the top target in this offense.
Saints
The Saints were close to making a Super Bowl run last year but couldn’t get it done in Drew Brees’ last season. Now the team is going to have a new quarterback this year, which should be the big storyline in this training camp. Who will be that guy to take over for Brees? We should have a better idea when camp gets going at the IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Position battle: New Orleans has a big battle on their hands at the quarterback spot. Drew Brees is gone, which is a huge hole to fill for the team. Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston will duke it out for the chance to take over as the starter. This is a close call. It might make more sense for the Saints to let Winston start and Hill continue to play his jack of all trades role in the offense, but that isn’t a given by any means. It isn’t certain what direction head coach Sean Payton will go.
Injury watch: Michael Thomas had a disaster of a season last year, missing all sorts of time because of an ankle injury. He played just seven games and didn’t produce near his past numbers in those games. The Saints need him healthy and playing at a high level if they hope their offense reaches their true potential. Thomas can be a difference maker and one of the best receivers in the game.
Panthers
Carolina lost a lot of close games last year and will look to get over the hump this season. The team hopes to have found their franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold. This might be the big storyline in camp, seeing how Darnold does with his new team. His time in New York didn’t exactly go as planned. He gets to take over an offense with a lot more weapons, so the potential for a breakout season is there. Darnold and his teammates get it going at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.
Position battle: The team lost Curtis Samuel this offseason, leaving an opening at the No. 3 receiver spot for the Panthers. This player has some big shoes to fill because Samuel had a big season last year. Rookie Terrace Marshall and David Moore are the top two candidates for the job. Marshall might be the better longterm solution but Moore might be more ready for the job. This should be an interesting battle during the Panthers training camp.
Injury watch: Christian McCaffrey played just three games last year because of shoulder and ankle injuries. The injuries shouldn’t be longterm issues but remain something to keep an eye on this training camp. A healthy McCaffrey is essential for the Panthers offense. Plus, he is arguably the top fantasy player in the game, making his health that much more important.
Bucs
The Bucs won it all last year, putting a big target on their backs for the coming season. Tampa has a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. The big key might be staying healthy. So much of training camp should be managing reps and keeping their key players healthy. The Bucs will start their quest for a repeat at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla.
Position battle: Much like last season, the Bucs have a battle on their hands for the starting running back job. Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette should battle it out to start. It could just end up being a timeshare again, going with the hot hand. But it wouldn’t surprise if the Bucs try to find a starter to handle the bulk of the carries. We should get a little better idea of how it all shakes out in training camp.
Injury watch: Tom Brady keeps himself in great shape and shows few signs of slowing down. He is going to be 44 years old before the start of the season, though. You really have to wonder if he can keep playing at a high level. He has to start slowing down soon, right? The Bucs should limit his reps in training camp to keep him fresh and ready for the start of the season. Tampa will do all they can to keep Brady playing at a high level once again.
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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) said that he expects to be ready to go for training camp in late July despite having surgery to fix a torn left ACL last August. As long as Hines doesn't have any setbacks with his surgically repaired knee, he will be in the mix for snaps on third downs, especially with Nick Chubb coming off a devastating knee injury of his own last year. The 27-year-old Hines will have a low floor and ceiling, though, in PPR fantasy leagues with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman also competing for backfield touches in Cleveland. The former fourth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State has a total of 240 receptions (309 targets) for 1,778 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his five NFL campaigns. Hines hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2022.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) has looked like a star at times through the first two seasons of his NFL career, but lingering hamstring issues caused the former second-round pick to miss eight games in 2023. The organization is focused on how to prevent flare-ups moving forward, and passing game coordinator Jason Vrable said Watson is "in a great place now" with his hamstring. The 24-year-old has plenty of big-play ability and has racked up 1,033 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns through his first 23 games, but he's become tough to trust in fantasy football due to his availability concerns. Hopefully, he really has turned a corner, because he could have at least WR2 upside catching passes from breakout quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay is sure to be more careful in managing his reps in hopes of keeping him on the field.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints waived quarterback Kellen Mond on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Field Yates. He will now go through the waiver process, and it would not be a surprise if he goes unclaimed. The 2021 third-round pick enjoyed a strong college career at Texas A&M, racking up 9,661 passing yards, 93 total touchdowns, and just 27 interceptions in 46 games played. He has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints, but he's thrown just three regular-season passes in his young career. Teams in need of extra quarterbacks for training camp might be interested in the 24-year-old signal-caller, but he's unlikely to ever earn a starting job and could have a tough time making a 53-man roster.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones is on a visit with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The eight-year NFL veteran was recently let go by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the team added Gabe Davis as a free agent and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jones has caught just 287 passes for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns through his first 104 NFL games with the Bills, Raiders, and Jaguars, but his 2022 season performance (823 receiving yards) showed he can be a key contributor to an offense. CeeDee Lamb is the clear No. 1 target in Dallas, but Brandin Cooks looks to be slowing down, and Jalen Tolbert has under 300 receiving yards through his first two NFL seasons. If Jones lands in Dallas, he could become the No. 2 option for Dak Prescott, which would raise his fantasy value and ceiling in 2024.
From RotoBaller
According to a source, the New York Jets had been monitoring rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley as high as pick No. 40 for a potential trade in this year's draft. They ended up selecting him in the third round after trading up to pick No. 65, and general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh were both elated. A veteran scout described Corley as "rugged." Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been excited to work with Corley since watching tape on him last month. The 22-year-old had 29 touchdowns in his last three seasons at Western Kentucky and will give the Jets some solid depth at the position behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in 2024 and beyond. Corley could play right away in the slot for the Jets, but it remains to be seen how his after-the-catch prowess will translate to the NFL.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys notified wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday that they are moving in a different direction and will release him, according to a person familiar with the situation. Dallas gave Bryant a chance to jump start his NFL career, but he will now need to seek employment elsewhere. The move to release him results in no dead money against the team's 2024 salary cap. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't played in the NFL since 2018 with the Raiders. He could latch on with another team now that he's available on the open market, but Bryant will be a long shot to carve out a substantial role again in his career. The former fourth-rounder in 2014 by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Clemson caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Justin Shorter is expected to compete for a depth role in training camp this summer behind wideouts Khalil Shakir, rookie Keon Coleman and veteran Curtis Samuel. Shorter, who was taken in the fifth round last year out of Florida, didn't play at all in his first season in the NFL due to a hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old stands at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds and will be competing with the likes of Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella and Quintez Cephus for the No. 4 role in Buffalo. Shorter will most likely have to contribute on special teams to make that happen, but there's no denying that there is plenty of opportunity in Buffalo's receiver room in 2024 now that both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are out of town.
From RotoBaller
Former Atlanta Falcons free-agent wide receiver Scotty Miller is reuniting with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Smith was the head coach in Atlanta to begin last season before getting fired. In 17 games with the Falcons last year, Miller caught 11 of his 16 targets for 161 yards and two touchdowns. While he will reunite with Smith, the 26-year-old pass-catcher will merely operate as receiving depth in Pittsburgh behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson, rookie Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III. The 26-year-old speedster has a total of 85 catches on 144 targets for 1,085 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 67 games (eight starts) over his five seasons in the NFL. He was originally a sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 out of Bowling Green.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos released quarterback Ben DiNucci on Wednesday, according to a source. DiNucci was with the Broncos all of last year on the practice squad and was elevated to the team's game-day roster three times. He became expendable this offseason after the Broncos acquired Zach Wilson from the New York Jets and then took rookie QB Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in the first round. With DiNucci released, Denver now has three QBs on the roster in Nix, Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. All three signal-callers will compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. Wilson and Stidham obviously have the most NFL experience, but Nix is fully expected to be Denver's starter of the future after they used a first-round pick on him last month.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is unlikely to be traded entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, and the 49ers' focus remains on keeping the star wideout for the long term. Both sides are hoping that they can work out a well-earned contract extension eventually. The recent extensions for DeVonta Smith Amon-Ra St. Brown also give the Niners a little bit more clarity in what Aiyuk's next contract should look like. Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were both available for trade before and during last month's NFL draft, but nobody came through with an offer good enough for the Niners to pull the trigger. With Aiyuk being the bigger long-term priority, the 2024 season is likely the last that they'll have both Samuel and Aiyuk around. The 26-year-old Aiyuk, a former first-rounder, finished tied as the WR12 in half-PPR formats in 2023 with Samuel.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was viewed by many front offices as a backup-caliber player, according to NFL insider Todd McShay. As relayed by Scott Barrett of Fantasy Points, McShay spoke to roughly one dozen teams, and the Broncos were the only one that had a Round 1 grade on Nix. The other teams all had a backup-caliber grade on him. This doesn't necessarily mean that Nix will be a bust and the Broncos will be proven wrong, but it certainly suggests that Denver took a risk by selecting the Oregon product 12th overall in last month's draft. As spring turns to summer, Nix will embark on a competition for the starting quarterback job with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. He's an appealing dynasty option but can probably be avoided in most redraft leagues for now.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan drew the praise of wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, according to PewterReport. McClendon told the media that he likes the rookie's flexibility to play outside or in the slot, and he also feels fortunate that McMillan fell to Tampa Bay in the third round. These comments suggest that not only did Tampa Bay grade McMillan higher than where he was picked, but they also intend to get him involved right away. He's currently projected to compete with Trey Palmer for the No. 3 wide receiver role, but he might have an early leg up on that competition given his versatility in the passing attack. He's a riser in most dynasty rookie drafts but isn't quite on the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) is progressing well and itching to get back to normal football activities, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "Richardson feels he's full go at this point," Fowler said during an appearance on SportsCenter. "He's been throwing for a while now. He's gradually grown to where he can throw full time with minimal restrictions. The Colts could be deliberate. They could hold him out for OTAs, 11-man work, minicamp, but the feeling is he wants to get started." These comments suggest that Richardson is pushing to return in a full capacity but Indianapolis may choose to take a more cautious approach in the final stage of his recovery and rehabilitation. Regardless, he should be back to 100 percent in time for the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season. He can be a QB1 in fantasy football as long as he stays healthy. That's easier said than done given that Richardson's physical playing style made him more susceptible to big hits and injuries as a rookie. However, Richardson reportedly might tone down his physicality in 2024, which could lead to him finishing more games (even if it equates to slightly fewer rushing yards and touchdowns, as well as more sacks). He should be treated as a fringe top-12 quarterback heading into fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker drew the praise of running backs coach Skip Peete this week, according to PewterReport. Peete told the media that Tucker "showed a lot of promise early" last season before the Buccaneers ultimately started to lean on Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds. Peete is "excited to see [Tucker] grow this offseason," suggesting the second-year back could carve out a real role in the Tampa Bay offense. Tucker will have to compete with White, Edmonds, and rookie Bucky Irving, but Peete implied that there is plenty of room for competition and he's not the type of coach to lean on just one player. The likelihood of Tucker entering Week 1 with fantasy relevance is low, but he's still a name to watch once training camp gets underway.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks could be heavily involved in the passing game this season. According to head coach Dave Canales, the rookie running back's versatility is "probably the biggest thing that stood out" when the Panthers studied Brooks prior to last month's draft. Although he's recovering from a torn ACL, Brooks was still the first running back off the board, emphasizing Carolina's interest in deploying him as soon as he's healthy. Brooks will compete for touches in a backfield that consists of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Rashaad Penny, but he might be the best pass-catching option of that group. Canales' glowing comments boost Brooks' fantasy value, and so does the new head coach's experience in Tampa Bay. As Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Canales helped funnel plenty of targets to emerging dual-threat back Rachaad White. White finished last season as the RB4 in PPR leagues, so it's safe to say that Brooks' upside is quite high if he can indeed get involved both on the ground and through the air. Perhaps the biggest obstacle will be the Panthers' offense, which may have to prioritize throwing deeper if they're playing from behind in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis "could have a sneaky-big impact" in 2024, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The Kentucky product was selected with the 128th overall pick in last month's draft and has impressive power behind his 5-foot-8, 211-pound frame. One NFL scout told Fowler that Davis is a "great complement to [James] Cook and should get a lot of goal-line and short-yardage work, which should result in some touchdowns." Cook is a fine runner, but he struggled in goal-line and short-yardage situations last year, delivering just two touchdowns. On the other hand, he emerged as a real receiving threat, catching 44 passes for 445 yards through the air. It's easy to envision a scenario where the Bills rely on Cook on early downs and in passing situations before turning to Davis when they need a physical back to secure a few yards. Such a backfield dynamic would drop Cook to the RB2 tier in fantasy football while Davis could sneak into RB3/FLEX territory.
From RotoBaller
There's little ambiguity as the who the Baltimore Ravens' top three wide receivers are entering the 2024 season -- Zay Flowers at No. 1, Rashod Bateman at No. 2, and Nelson Agholor at No. 3. Devontez Walker, the speedy fourth-round rookie with big-play ability, will be in position to earn notable snaps this summer, and his size and speed combination adds diversity to the team's receiver corps. The fifth spot will likely be decided by whoever wins the return competition on special teams. Deonte Harty is a former Pro Bowl returner, while Tylan Wallace did a nice job returning punts in 2023. The 22-year-old Walker led North Carolina in touchdowns in just eight games last year and is an intriguing addition to this offense, but he'll be off the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2024 unless an injury to one of the wideouts in front of him opens up a bigger role.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reiterated after the NFL draft that quarterback Josh Johnson is his No. 2 quarterback right now behind starter Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh said that sixth-round rookie Devin Leary will "probably be the third quarterback this year in some way or fashion and grow into the job as we go." Malik Cunningham, who was signed off the New England Patriots' practice squad in December, has time to change the coaching staff's mind in training camp this summer, but the Ravens have been non-committal about their long-term plans for him. Now that Tyler Huntley is now in Cleveland, the 37-year-old journeyman Johnson will be the primary backup for Jackson entering the 2024 season. Needless to say, but the Ravens will be in trouble if Jackson misses time with an injury.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) threw in front of the media on Tuesday for the first time since injuring his right wrist last November. Burrow has been throwing for more than a month at the tail end of his expected six-month recovery process. Still, he expects this to take time to get all the way back to where he wants to be for training camp in late July. Burrow is fully cleared for everything except contact, which is supposed to come in around a month. "Whenever you have an injury to your throwing side, you're never quite sure how it's gonna turn out at the end, but I'm in a good spot," Burrow said. "I'm happy with where I'm at." Barring a setback when he starts taking contact, the 27-year-old should be ready to go for the start of the 2024 season as he looks to bounce back to being a high-end QB1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Titans have signed wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Dynasty Analysis: Amazingly, Boyd has already spend eight years in the league (all with the Bengals). Over the span of his career, he's posted 513 catches for exactly 6,000 yards with 31 touchdowns. The Titans were steadfast in their approach to improve their offense and have now added Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Boyd to a new-look team. The move will certainly have fantasy implications, most notably pushing Treylon Burks down one more spot in the pecking order. Boyd remains a low-ceiling player to have on a dynasty roster but he could have real short-term value should an injury (or a suspension) occur with Hopkins or Ridley.
