Panthers WR Laviska Shenault has taken a few backfield reps early in training camp. “We do think Laviska is a guy that can be versatile,” HC Frank Reich said. “We’ll dip our toe in the water on some of that stuff and see how it goes. That’s something that doesn’t have to be in full bloom Week 1. That can be in the beginning stages in training camp, and then the more success and momentum it gets you build it.” Shenault set career-lows last year in catches (27) and yards (272). While his talent remains intriguing, we're not expecting anything close to a breakout season.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel said he’s in his best shape since his rookie season (2019). Samuel looks “decidedly sleeker and lighter on his feet” early in camp, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. The 27-year-old shared more about his new physique. “I think the heat kind of played a part because Arizona is hot,” Deebo said, referring to where he trained. “We were doing a lot of running, a lot of cardio, a lot of stuff to kind of trim the fat a little bit. A lot of track working out. Then I got into a routine of flexibility, mobility, and then I got into boxing a little bit.” Following a down 2022, Samuel hits the WR rankings as a top-20 option.
Saints rookie WR A.T. Perry passed a physical and practiced with the team on Wednesday. He was placed on the non-football injury list last week. For now, Perry's merely a dynasty stash.
Bills QB Josh Allen said WR Deonte Harty could have a “potentially bigger role” following Nyheim Hines’ ACL tear. The Bills had “semi-high hopes” for Hines on offense, per The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Now, the door opens for Harty, only 5’6, 170 pounds, to see additional short-range targets. He’s a name to monitor in deep PPR leagues.
WR John Ross was placed on the reserve/retired list. The 9th overall pick in 2017, Ross battled for a back-end roster spot in Kansas City this summer. He totaled 62 catches, 957 yards, and 11 TDs for his career.
Bills reporter Mark Gaughan writes that the team “clearly believes” TE Dalton Kincaid “has the ability to pick up schemes quickly.” Gaughan believes the Bills will “force-feed him work this summer.” Kincaid started camp hot with a pair of TDs from Josh Allen in team drills. The rookie is currently coming off the board at TE13 on Underdog Fantasy.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh gave his early assessment of WR Odell Beckham. “It seems to me that Odell has a good plan,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “I see him working himself on a schedule to be ready to start the season. He’s definitely not where he’s going to be, but you could see the step (up) from minicamp…it was a good step in the right direction.” Beckham, 30, recently told The Athletic that he’s approaching 2023 like it’ll be his final season. If he can stay healthy, spot-start WR3 value is within reach given a more aggressive Baltimore offense.
Chiefs OC Matt Nagy gave his take on rookie WR Rashee Rice. “[Rice] comes from a no-huddle offense (Southern Methodist University). Yet it’s a little bit different with the tempo here and now, a huddle play,” Nagy explained. “Getting to the line of scrimmage, running your route, having conversions with it and yet being on time, jogging back and doing it again… He came in phenomenal shape here to this training camp — and I think every day, he’s made incremental improvements. It’s exciting for us because the sky’s the roof for his talent.” The Round 2 pick projects in a rotational role out of the gate, but there are snaps up for grabs in the Chiefs’ WR corps.
Chiefs reporter Pete Sweeney writes that the connection between QB Patrick Mahomes and WR Skyy Moore “seems to be getting better every day.” Moore looks poised for a prominent early-season role given the recent injury to Kadarius Toney. A Year 2 leap into WR3 range is within Moore’s range of outcomes.
The 49ers have a “plan” for keeping RB Christian McCaffrey healthy for Week 1, per HC Kyle Shanahan. McCaffrey sat out team drills on Wednesday, and it shouldn’t alarm you if this becomes a trend. CMC, now 27, has nearly 1,500 career touches. Our RB rankings show he remains a top-end RB1.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner believes 49ers RB Tyrion Davis-Price looks “quicker and leaner.” The 22-year-old is likely headed for the RB3/4 role in San Francisco. But recall that the team selected him in Round 3 just one year ago. He posted only 99 yards (on 34 carries) as a rookie.
Seahawks TE Noah Fant is opening training camp on the PUP list. No word yet on what's keeping him sidelined. He dealt with knee trouble last year but played in all 17 games. We'll update Fant's status when we know more.
Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton has not appeared limited in training camp so far, according to insider Alex Barth. Thornton missed time in the spring with a soft-tissue injury, but that looks to be behind him. The 2022 second-round pick has an opportunity to carve out a significant role in a New England passing game that could certainly use his speed.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson said Wednesday that he anticipates being in the “JD [McKissic] role” this season, playing on third downs and the two-minute drill. McKissic averaged just 4.4 carries but 5.8 targets per game in Washington over the last three years. We're expecting Gibson to get more rushing work than that, but anything close to that level of usage in the passing game would be golden. Gibson is one of our 2023 Fantasy Football Sleepers.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts was on the field for Wednesday's training-camp practice -- with a brace on his surgically repaired right knee. Pitts seemingly isn't back to 100% yet, although the fact that he's on the field at all in late July means he should be ready to roll come Week 1. We'll continue to keep a close eye on his status.
Broncos WR Marvin Mims is out with a hamstring injury, HC Sean Payton said Wedesday. Mims dealt with an injury to his other hamstring earlier this offseason. Payton expects Mims to be back in action in "about four days, five days, maybe a week." We'll see when the rookie returns to the field. He can't afford to miss too much more time if he wants to push for an early-season role.
Texans WR John Metchie has been cleared for the start of training camp, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Metchie missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia and was sidelined for much of the spring with a hamstring injury. If healthy, the 2022 second-round pick has a real shot to win a top-three role in Houston's WR corps.
Cardinals TE Zach Ertz will open training camp on the PUP list. No surprise after his November 13 ACL tear. Ertz said early this offseason that his goal is to be ready for Week 1, but he wouldn't guarantee that he will be. He was excellent before going down last year, ranking third among TEs in PPR points through Week 9. But between the knee injury, his age (33 in November), and the presence of second-year TE Trey McBride, Ertz is just a TE3 in best-ball drafts and a waiver-wire watch-list guy in lineup-setting leagues.
Giants OT Andrew Thomas said Wednesday that TE Darren Waller is "going to be a problem" for opposing defenses. S Xavier McKinney called Waller "special," adding that humans shouldn't be that large and fast. Waller was a spring standout and has rolled that momentum over to the start of training camp. SNY TV's Connor Hughes believes Waller gives the Giants' passing game a "go-to guy." Alongside an underwhelming WR corps, Waller is the favorite to lead the G-Men in targets this season. There's upside from his 6th/7th-round ADP.
Panthers HC Frank Reich named QB Bryce Young his starter on Wednesday. We appreciate Reich saving us from having to read about a faux QB competition between Young and Andy Dalton for the next month. A two-year starter at Alabama, Young looks like a relatively pro-ready rookie QB. There are lots of questions in his WR corps. But Young's sneaky rushing upside could give him some QB1 spot-start appeal throughout this season.
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