Training Camp Reports !"#$%&'()*'+,,$&'('-'./(0/101( Our goal at Footballguys is to help you win more Follow our Footballguys Training Camp at fantasy football. One way we do that is make crew on Twitter: sure you’re the most informed person in your @FBGNews, @theaudible, league. @football_guys, @sigmundbloom, @bobhenry, @fbgwood, @MattWaldman, Our Staffers sort through the mountain of news @CecilLammey, @JustinHoweFF, and deliver these weekly reports so you'll know @Hindery, @McNamaraDynasty, everything about every team and every player @JamesBrimacombe, @RyanHester13, that matters. We want to help you crush your @Andrew_Garda, @DaveKluge, fantasy draft. And this will do it. @TheFantasyFive, @a_rudnicki, @draftdaddy, @AdamHarstad, @PhilFBG, We’re your “Guide” in this journey. Buckle up and @4WhomJBellTolls let’s win this thing. Your Friends at Footballguys Arizona Cardinals Las Vegas Raiders Atlanta Falcons Los Angeles Chargers Baltimore Ravens Los Angeles Rams Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins Carolina Panthers Minnesota Vikings Chicago Bears New England Patriots Cincinnati Bengals New Orleans Saints Cleveland Browns New York Giants Dallas Cowboys New York Jets Denver Broncos Philadelphia Eagles Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers Green Bay Packers San Francisco 49ers Houston Texans Seattle Seahawks Indianapolis Colts Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans Kansas City Chiefs Washington Football Team ⬅ BACK TO TOP AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA losing Dan Arnold in free agency. Maxx Williams, Darrell Daniels, Ross Travis, and Ian Bunting are vying for snaps. Williams is healthy and atop the depth chart after an injury-filled 2020 campaign. “It’s great just to finally feel good, have a good actual offseason of training, a good summer, and come in and feel good about this camp,” he said. Daniels has the edge over Travis and Bunting for QB: “[Kyler Murray] is the most athletic quarterback I’ve the No. 2 job, but the situation is fluid. ever played for, for sure,” said newly acquired center Rodney Hudson. “I don’t think that’s a question. He has a Defense: Budda Baker, only 25 years old, signed a big arm and, like I said, keeping plays alive and extending massive contract and looks to become a much-needed plays. Just continue to block and get him free.” Both leader on defense. “I feel like I have grown into a coach Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are entering year different place myself,” Baker said. “Throughout my three in Arizona, and their rapport “gets better and whole career, throughout my whole life, I’ve always been better,” Murray said. “Our conversations now are more that lead-by-example type of guy. Guys see how I play about philosophical things, team-oriented things, what and want to play like that as well. But this year, I do we need to do as a team to get better, to get this definitely feel like I have grown into a better person, a fixed,” Kingsbury concurred. “He’s really taking better man. Just being an open book for anyone that has ownership of that.” Murray’s on-field growth and questions, and players at any positions. Wanting to be development have been noticeable. “The entire place the best.” Isaiah Simmons looks poised for a second- feels it, the whole organization,” Kingsbury said. “When a year breakout; he’s been making plays nearly every guy steps in, you can tell that it’s his team.” “A lot of session as the team’s new defensive play-caller. Rookies growth, a lot of growth,” receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. Zaven Collins and Marco Wilson are getting serious “I would say the biggest thing is just him communicating looks with the first-team defense. with us outside of football and just trying to get to know his teammates.” Backup quarterback Colt McCoy looks comfortable in the offense and has moved the second unit well in team drills. RB: The starting running back job is one of the camp’s more critical questions. Chase Edmonds has been waiting for his chance for a few seasons, but the team QB: The crucial question is how Matt Ryan will deal with also signed James Conner. Edmonds hates the term the departure of his longtime running mate Julio Jones. “RB1” and believes “you have to earn your role” in an Ryan to ESPN: "I was fortunate to play with him for a offense that should have room for both players. Conner long time and have tons of great memories from his time agrees, telling reporters: “Football is competing. We’re here. I've said it before. He probably has impacted my both going to play a lot this year, we’re both going to career as significantly as anybody that I've ever played make players, so “RB1” really don’t mean much.” with, so I love him, and I wish him the best moving Kingsbury said the coaches would “make sure we are forward." Ryan has been a fantasy stalwart, but several calling plays both those guys are comfortable with when factors work against him for the 2021 season. Age is an they are in and kind of tailor them: to who is in the game obvious conversation, as is his adjustment to losing at the time.” The team signed Ito Smith this week to Jones, but the team should play at a more controlled compete against Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward. tempo, and the influx of rushing quarterbacks has WR: DeAndre Hopkins is one of the NFL’s best receivers. changed the complexion of the position. The Falcons Outside of mildly controversial comments related to the gave Ryan a vote of confidence by skipping quarterback COVID-19 vaccine, Hopkins has had a quiet, productive with the fourth pick. A.J. McCarron is the clear backup; few weeks. The rest of the depth chart is unsettled. he worked with passing game coordinator T.J. Yates in Christian Kirk remains in search of a breakout season, Houston. Said coach Arthur Smith: "That's valuable but a minor injury has kept him off the practice field. information when guys on your staff have worked Former All-Pro A.J. Green has an encouraging early (together) because there's always an unknown when you connection with Murray; the pair have gelled during 7- bring free agents in here." on-7 drills. Rookie Rondale Moore has been impressive. RB: When addressing the running back room early in the Kingsbury said, “Since day one, he’s acted like he offseason, Smith said: "We're not going to have Derrick belongs here.” Look to upcoming preseason games for Henry here. The reality is that we'll get multiple backs in clues on the receiver pecking order beyond Hopkins. there, and we'll have the way we trust our schemes and Beat writers are divided on the fate of Andy Isabella, but the way we teach the details of it, and we'll commit to it. either way, he’ll be at the tail end of the depth chart if he That should provide hope to people because of that makes the 53-man roster. mindset." Tori McElhaney observed at practice: "After TE: The tight end position is a potential problem after Mike Davis, [Qadree] Ollison is the next running back up. ⬅ BACK TO TOP AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA He's getting solid reps in practice, and he's getting a assume, placing 14th in DVOA in 2020 and featuring a chance." McElhaney also added, "Cordarrelle Patterson rebuilt secondary following the free-agent signings of was in the mix, too. But he has a completely different Duron Harmon and Fabian Moreau and the second-round physical look to him than Davis and Ollison." Davis is the selection of safety Richie Grant. back for fantasy, but there is plenty of reason to exercise caution on what that workload looks like especially given his value at 61st overall. Multiple lesser valued backs could replicate his production, and using a pick in that range on a veteran back in a committee is a tricky proposition. It is easy to dismiss Ollison due to lack of career production, but an excellent piece by Michael Rothstein breaks down improvements made in the offseason. D’Onta Foreman signed with the team this QB: Lamar Jackson made his Training Camp debut week as added camp depth. Saturday after missing two weeks with COVID-19. WR: Calvin Ridley had offseason foot surgery. Ridley Jackson is unvaccinated. Per the NFL’s policy, said, "It was not good" during last season, but now it is unvaccinated players must be sidelined at least ten days "totally, definitely fixed." Russell Gage is the No. 2 after a positive test. That could cause him to miss receiver, and the focus is on making the most of his multiple games if he tests positive again during the opportunity: "First of all, (my journey to this point) season. Jackson also tested positive during the 2020 molded me to who I am today, having that work ethic season, proving that an individual can contract the coming from special teams, putting in the extra work disease more than once. With Josh Allen’s extension in after practice. Over my years here, I've learned a lot… I'm Buffalo, Baltimore and Jackson could begin talks of an excited about what I can bring to the table, and I think extension soon as well. Jackson’s availability is the coaches are, too." Rothstein noted from practice: paramount to Baltimore’s offense this season. Backups "Oladmide Zaccheaus is a player I keep noticing and Tyler Huntley and Trace McSorley are not viable NFL writing down for positive plays." Ridley is the alpha and starters. worthy of his high draft price, having finished WR4 in RB: Mark Ingram is no longer in town, but J.K.