Training Camp News You Need to Know! - 2026 Fantasy Football Advice

JJ Zachariason uses Amon-Ra St. Brown as an example of a high-round draft pick that might lead a manager to start their draft wide receiver-heavy, potentially creating a need for running back depth in later rounds.

JJ Zachariason is pessimistic about Bryce Young's talent and the Panthers' overall passing volume, leading him to avoid investing in any of the team's pass catchers for fantasy purposes.

JJ Zachariason notes that Caleb Douglas is having an excellent camp and is likely to emerge as the number one wide receiver for his team, leading to an increase in his ADP on Underdog.

JJ Zachariason highlights that Chris Rodriguez Jr. is emerging as the goal-line back for the Jaguars. He expects Rodriguez to see increased early-down work, which will split the backfield and cap the upside of other running backs on the team.

Chuba Hubbard is dealing with a hamstring injury that makes him week-to-week and not a lock for Week 1. JJ Zachariason considers him a 'do not draft' due to the injury and the fact that Jonathan Brooks was already overtaking him for the RB1 role.

JJ Zachariason identifies Colson Loveland as a primary beneficiary of Luther Burden's groin injury, which is expected to sideline Burden for about a month. Zachariason suggests Loveland could emerge as the team's feature weapon and recommends drafting either Loveland or Burden on every team.

Courtland Sutton should be avoided in redraft leagues because he lacks a fantasy ceiling and is at risk of being replaced by Pat Bryant during the season; he is only viable in formats like Underdog where his ADP is very low.

Cyrus Allen continues to look good during training camp, marking him as a positive riser; his ADP has risen significantly, making him no longer available in the 18th round of drafts.

Darren Waller is expected to serve as a red-zone specialist for the Panthers, which will likely cap the touchdown ceilings of other pass-catchers on the team. JJ Zachariason notes this role will limit Waller's yardage potential between the 20s.

JJ Zachariason uses Davante Adams as a comparison for veteran security, noting that an established player missing a month of camp due to injury is less concerning because their role is already guaranteed.

JJ Zachariason identifies David Montgomery as a high-end target in the fifth round, dismissing concerns about Woody Marks and emphasizing that Montgomery remains the primary early-down and goal-line back for the Texans. Zachariason prefers drafting Montgomery over Jonathan Brooks and Tu.

Denzel Boston has secured the starting X receiver job for the Browns and is seeing significant ADP growth. However, JJ Zachariason prefers teammate Casey Concepcion for fantasy scoring, as Concepcion is expected to handle more valuable touches like end-arounds and screen passes.

DeVonta Smith has been sidelined for over a week and a half with a hamstring injury, but JJ Zachariason remains unconcerned, noting he appears close to returning and there is ample time before the late start of the regular season.

JJ Zachariason warns that Eli Stove is a clear avoid due to awful camp reports; he is not ready to contribute and may be inactive to start the season, with his usage likely limited to 11 personnel only if he does play.

Elijah Mitchell is established as being ahead of Omar Cooper on the depth chart, with JJ Zachariason expecting this hierarchy to remain in place throughout the season.

There are alarm bells regarding Isaac TeSlaa, who has struggled to command targets or gain separation; he is considered a full fade on Underdog after a poor preseason performance (zero catches on three targets) and inefficient usage.

Despite speculation about his role, the team continues to utilize other tight ends alongside Mark Andrews in the Baltimore offense. JJ Zachariason suggests Isaiah Likely as a viable late-round tight end option for managers who have not invested early draft capital in the position, serving as a comparable strategy to targeting Terrace Ferguson.

JJ Zachariason highlights Jake Ferguson as a high-upside late-round tight end target who is having a strong camp and is projected to be the third-most targeted player on his team.

James Cook is the primary back in Buffalo with Ray Davis serving as his clear handcuff.

JJ Zachariason recommends Jared Goff as a stable late-round quarterback option, suggesting managers pair him with a higher-upside, riskier quarterback like Kyler Murray or Malik Willis.

Javonte Williams is the clear primary back for the Cowboys, expected to handle early-down, third-down, and goal-line work; he is considered a valuable fantasy asset if he remains healthy.

JJ Zachariason notes that Stribling was drafted ahead of Jayden Higgins in a recent draft, illustrating the rising market interest in Stribling.

JJ Zachariason notes that Jayden Reed is limited to 11 personnel packages, which will result in him playing significantly fewer snaps than teammate Dontayvion Wicks. While still a solid pick, his usage is capped by this personnel restriction.

Jeremiah Love suffered an ankle injury in the preseason, but the team indicated he could have returned if it were a real game; he remains a solid pick in round three as his usage confirmed expectations. He continues to see a split in his favor over Tyler Allgeier, who is not involved on third downs or near the goal line.

JJ Zachariason views Jonathan Brooks as a 'must-draft' player at his current round 8-9 ADP, but warns that his rising cost—potentially reaching the fifth round—makes him a much less attractive value given the team's offensive concerns and injury risks. Zachariason would prefer drafting David Montgomery over Brooks if the ADP continues to rise.

Jordan Tyson is dealing with a hamstring injury, which is concerning given his history of injury-related issues in college; while not expected to be long-term, it is a situation to monitor for a rookie missing valuable camp time.

JJ Zachariason views Josh Downs as a potential league winner. He suggests that a potential Colts signing of Keenan Allen could trigger a panic-driven drop in Downs' ADP, which would create an ideal buying opportunity for fantasy managers.

Khalil Shakir has locked in his established role in the Buffalo offense, offering a potential floor for fantasy managers but lacking significant upside. JJ Zachariason expresses skepticism regarding his fantasy appeal, noting he was not a particularly exciting or productive option last season.

Kyler Murray has been officially named the Week 1 starter; while his camp performance has been inconsistent, his mobility and the high-performing nature of Kevin O'Connell's offensive system provide significant fantasy upside.

Lamar Jackson is a viable quarterback option, but his presence does not necessarily make Mark Andrews a target for JJ Zachariason unless the ADP is favorable for a stack.

Lequinte Allen is seeing increased usage on passing downs during camp, which threatens to eat into the projected workload of other backfield options.

Luther Burden has a groin injury that will cause him to miss about a month of training camp. JJ Zachariason notes that because Burden is not an established veteran, this missed time creates uncertainty regarding his role, leading to a slight drop in rankings. However, if his ADP falls toward round six, he becomes an exceptional value pick.

JJ Zachariason recommends Malik Nabers as a superior draft pick over Rashee Rice when they are available at the same draft range, stating he would take Nabers every time.

Mark Andrews is having a quiet training camp plagued by drops, leading to a negative outlook; he is no longer a target in redraft leagues and is only considered as a stack option with Lamar Jackson. The team continues to utilize other tight ends alongside him.

JJ Zachariason advises against drafting Omar Cooper, noting he is not making splash plays in camp and is firmly behind Elijah Mitchell on the depth chart, a situation expected to persist into the regular season.

The drumbeat for Pat Bryant has been exceptional; he is expected to replace Courtland Sutton either after the season or at some point during the season. He is a recommended pick on Underdog due to his late ADP.

JJ Zachariason expects Pat Freiermuth to be more involved in the Steelers' offense this season, though he remains a fade in standard 12-team half-PPR redraft leagues without tight end premium scoring.

JJ Zachariason is not concerned about Puka Nacua's minor injury or potential one-game suspension, viewing him as a high-value asset who should be drafted aggressively if his ADP drops.

JJ Zachariason expresses significant concerns regarding Quentin Johnston's ability as a receiver, noting that if his snap counts decrease, he becomes a liability because he is not a high-quality player. His role is specifically under threat from Trey Harris, with Zachariason highlighting Johnston's inability to catch compared to Harris.

JJ Zachariason advises against drafting Rashee Rice at the 2-3 turn, citing poor efficiency, injury concerns, and a lack of belief that the team will hyper-target him again this season. Zachariason explicitly prefers Malik Nabers over Rice when both are available in the same draft range.

Rashod Bateman is expected to open the season as the number two wide receiver in Baltimore, though he faces potential competition from Tylan Wallace as the season progresses.

Ray Davis is identified as a clear handcuff to James Cook in Buffalo, making him a recommended draft target alongside Cook.

Stevenson remains the clear lead running back for the Patriots, showing superior vision and pass-protection skills compared to Traveon Henderson, making him a strong fantasy pick.

JJ Zachariason disputes reports that Roman Wilson is the clear WR3 for the Steelers, noting he was unimpressed by Wilson's rookie performance and remains skeptical of his role.

Saquon Barkley is the primary back in Philadelphia, though JJ Zachariason notes that while he is listed as a co-starter with Sterling Shepard Jr. on the first depth chart, this may be due to the team being cautious while Barkley recovers from a foot injury; the new coaching staff's usage remains uncertain.

Sterling Shepard Jr. is listed as a co-starter alongside Saquon Barkley on the Giants' first depth chart, though JJ Zachariason notes this is likely influenced by the team being cautious while Barkley recovers from a foot injury.

Tank Bigsby is the direct backup to Saquon Barkley and a must-start if Barkley is injured; however, JJ Zachariason notes that the Jaguars' backfield is trending toward a committee, with reports suggesting Chris Rodriguez Jr. is taking over goal-line duties, which negatively impacts Bigsby's standalone value.

JJ Zachariason highlights Ferguson as a high-upside, cheap tight end target who is having a strong camp; he is projected to be the team's third most targeted player, frequently appearing in red zone and middle-of-the-field drills alongside Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Trey Harris is seeing a steady drumbeat of positive reports and is a high-upside sleeper pick. His superior run-blocking ability keeps him on the field in heavy sets, providing a clear path to targets in a low-competition environment following the departure of Keenan Allen. His snap share is expected to skyrocket.

Henderson is described as a boom-bust, change-of-pace back who is not a starter; JJ Zachariason advises against drafting him as he often fails to gain what is blocked.

Tylan Wallace is generating significant training camp hype with consistent positive reports and highlight catches; while he may not open as a starter, he could eventually overtake Rashod Bateman for the WR2 role.

Tyler Allgeier took some first-team carries in the preseason but was not involved on third downs or near the goal line, maintaining a split in favor of Jeremiah Love.

JJ Zachariason identifies Zack Moss as the direct backup to Jonathan Taylor. While Moss would assume early-down duties in the event of a Taylor injury, Zachariason does not consider him a high-priority fantasy target.