FIVE Early Training Camp Takeaways
Kevin Coleman analyzes his top five takeaways from the first week of training camp!
As training camps get underway and teams hit the field, the excitement for the upcoming football season is palpable. This article will dive into our favorite storylines emerging from training camps, offering insights and analysis to keep you informed. Here are our top five storylines for this week, capturing the developments and narratives shaping the landscape of the season ahead.
Remember to check out our stash article, which covers one player from each team to watch this preseason.
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NEW QUARTERBACK CONTRACTS 💰
On Friday, Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love both secured lucrative contracts. The Miami Dolphins signed their quarterback to a four-year deal worth $212.4 million, while Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers finalized a four-year agreement valued at $220 million. With Tagovailoa and Love being paid, eight quarterbacks are making over 50 million dollars annually. The rest you can see below:
While these contracts may be criticized, both Tagovailoa and Love have earned their deals. The 2023 season was pivotal for both players. In his first year as a starter, Love completed 64.2 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Additionally, the Packers quarterback rushed for 247 yards and four touchdowns on 50 carries.
Similarly, Tagovailoa had his best season yet, leading the league with 4,624 passing yards, alongside 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His 69.3 percent completion rate was a career-high. Both quarterbacks also led their teams to playoff berths, with Love securing his first career playoff victory against the Cowboys.
From a dynasty fantasy football perspective, both these contracts should put managers at ease. Based on their offenses, both should be considered high-end QB2 starters in Superflex and even potential QB1s. Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniels are two of the best offensive coaches in the NFL, and as long as they call plays for these quarterbacks, both should remain fantasy relevant for the duration of their contracts.
Our own Christian Williams wrote a fantastic article on Love’s potential this season, so be sure to check it out if you haven’t read it!
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS HAVE CONTRACT ISSUES 💰
The 49ers have two big holdouts this pre-season: WR Brandon Aiyuk and LT Trent Williams. The 49ers star left tackle is officially a holdout after not reporting to camp. Williams remains one of the league's top offensive linemen and a crucial component of the 49ers, but his contract no longer includes guaranteed money for the final three years. There is optimism that the deal will be done, but San Francisco has little money, and everyone wants to get paid. This is a situation to watch because of Williams's impact on their rushing scheme and in protecting quarterback Brock Purdy.
In the meantime, Trent Williams' teammate Brandon Aiyuk has reported to camp but isn't participating in practice. General Manager John Lynch expressed neutrality about the likelihood of reaching a deal with Aiyuk soon but emphasized the team's intention to keep him for at least this season. Until an agreement is reached, Aiyuk is expected to abstain from on-field activities.
With Aiyuk not practicing and rookie WR Ricky Pearsall starting camp on the NFI (Non-football injury list), there has been an opportunity for other receivers in the room to get some much-needed reps in. The player all fantasy managers should be watching is rookie WR Jacob Cowing. Cowing has been a TDR favorite since his UTEP days, and his explosiveness was on full display in the early part of camp. Beat reporters have said he has been impressive in team drills and has also turned heads with his acrobatic catches. If Pearsall stays sidelined due to the injury and Aiyuk doesn’t get a contract extension, it would not shock me to see Cowing get some first-team reps early in the pre-season. Here’s his current dynasty value:
Dynasty Trades (12 Team SF/TE Premium)
Jacob Cowing FOR Michael Mayer
Jacob Cowing FOR Trey Palmer
Jacob Cowing FOR 2026 2nd
Jacob Cowing FOR J.K. Dobbins
Jacob Cowing FOR 2025 3rd
KTC: WR102
TDR: WR90
FANTASYCALC: WR103
ANTHONY RICHARDSON HAS QB1 OVERALL POTENTIAL 🚀
Despite Anthony Richardson spending much of his rookie season sidelined by a head injury and a season-ending shoulder injury, the Colts have no plans to hold him back. Coach Shane Steichen said they won't restrict Richardson's mobility, likening it to limiting Steph Curry from shooting 3-pointers.
That press conference should be music to fantays managers ears heading into the pre-season. Last season Richardson showed an elite ceiling in his limited starts. In his debut, Richardson scored 21.9 fantasy points, coming in at QB4 overall for the week, and in week four, he scored 29..6 fantasy points, coming in at QB2 overall. Those starts showed what his ceiling could be: a top-five quarterback each week in fantasy.
Richardson’s rushing ability is well known, but he did demonstrate that he may be a better passer than initially thought when he was drafted out of Florida. The other positive for Richardson is that he plays for Stane Steichen. Steichen turned Jalen Hurts from a below-average passer to one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He improved Hurt’s yards per attempt, adjusted air yards per attempt, and true completion percentage in the two seasons he was there and vaulted Hurts into a tier 1 dynasty asset. If Richardson stays healthy, it’s safe to assume Steichen can do the same for Richardson’s value.
Richardson is an elite athlete on a tailor-made offense and a team willing to build around him. The Colts have not been shy about their desire to build around Richardson this off-season and made it a priority to re-sign their WR1 Michael Pittman Jr. to a new three-year extension and expect second year reciever Josh Downs to take a big step. They also added WR Anthony Gould and WR Adonai Mitchell in the draft, two players who fit Richardson’s skill set. Richardson has a chance to be QB1 overall in fantasy football this season and in redraft is still a value at his current ADP.
CALEB WILLIAMS DEVELOPING A STRONG CONNECTION WITH RECEIVERS 🤝
The Bears drafted a future superstar in USC QB Caleb Williams. Beat reporters have said that he has been consistently strong during the 7-on-7 periods of the initial practices. He has looked precise and accurate in almost all his throws and has spread the ball around to multiple recievers. The one skill set that Williams has brought over from college is his ability to make plays outisde the pocket and on the run. He made a standout play by avoiding a sack, navigating a crowded pocket, and escaping to the left to deliver a jump pass to Keenan Allen, who secured a toe-tapping catch for a 10-yard gain. He has shown a strong connection with Keenan Allen early in camp which is something to note for fantasy purposes.
As Williams continues to build chemistry with his new teammates, second-year receiver Tyler Scott has emerged as a standout. Scott has been on the receiving end of several impressive deep completions from Williams in the first four practices, showcasing their growing connection. Despite Chicago's deep receiver corps, featuring Moore, Allen, and Odunze, Scott is making a strong case to secure a spot on the 53-man roster as yet another valuable target for Williams in the passing game. Scott is the type of player that you could possibly add on your dynasty roster if there are shallow benches and he’s likely worth the stash. If he does make the roster he could be they type pf weapon they also use on special teams and with the changed kickoff return rules he could hold value.
NEW VIBES FOR THE LA CHARGERS! 🕶️
The Harbaugh era has arrived, bringing a thrilling new chapter for the Chargers. This sense of optimism is palpable among both the players and the beat reporters. Jim Harbaugh's focus on mental toughness and playing loose has been a hallmark of his career, and it's evident that the Chargers have benefited from this type of leadership so far in camp. The players seem looser and from the limited videos we have seen Harbaugh’s impact on this roster should be highlighted.
From a fantasy football perspective, here are some important points to note:
First-Team Offense:
Receivers: McConkey, Chark, and Palmer
Running Backs: Dobbins and Patterson
Tight Ends: Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst
Second-Team Offense:
Receivers: Johnston, Rice, Johnson, Derius Davis, and Simi Fehoko
Running Backs: Isaiah Spiller, Vidal, and Elijah Dotson
Tight Ends: Stone Smartt and Donald Parham Jr.
Brenden Rice continues to make plays in the early portion of camp continuing his great mini-camp work in the off-season. He’s a player to watch as we progress through camp.
Gus Edwards: Limited to individual drills and is not participating in team drills.
Depth Chart Battle: The competition for the third and fourth spots on the depth chart is heating up, especially with Edwards and Dobbins needing to stay healthy. Patterson received significant first-team reps on Thursday, after spending most of last season on the Chargers' practice squad.
Justin Herbert: He has looked great in camp and has been efficient in 11-on-11 drills. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has emphasized Herbert’s ability to process and his elite arm talent. While it may be hard to identify what receivers to draft in this offense it may be Herbert who is the best value in fantasy drafts.
DYNASTY BUY OF THE WEEK
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