Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys running back Royce Freeman (groin) might remain out of practice on Tuesday, and Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) likely won't practice either, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. It adds fuel to the breakout case for late-round sleeper Rico Dowdle, who "has been the face of the committee and could be the lead guy during the season. In practices, he's had solid showings in pass protection, flashed receiving ability, and gotten the call to run in high-leverage situations." Starter Ezekiel Elliott remains the best bet for touches and the favorite to lead the Cowboys in carries this year as the incumbent veteran during the early stages of the season, but the speedier Dowdle has stood out at training camp and could push him for work in Dallas' backfield this fall. Sunday's preseason opener against the hosting Los Angeles Rams should offer fantasy managers a clearer picture on the hierarchy here.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo is listed ahead of first-round rookie Xavier Legette (foot) on the team's first unofficial depth chart. Mingo struggled in his rookie campaign after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Ole Miss product caught just 43 of his 85 targets for 418 yards and did not find the end zone. The organization added Legette and veteran wideout Diontae Johnson this offseason, and Adam Thielen remains on the roster, so it's tough to get excited about Mingo's fantasy prospects. That said, wide receivers often take a "Year 2 leap," and he could have more upside than expected if quarterback Bryce Young bounces back from an abysmal rookie campaign. Fantasy managers in traditional 12-team leagues can likely ignore him in drafts, but he could be a noteworthy waiver-wire option if he impresses early in the 2024 season.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (groin) was unable to practice on Saturday. It sounds like the second-year tight end is dealing with a minor groin issue. For now, Schoonmaker is considered as day-to-day. The Cowboys might hold him out of practice for a few days until he's back to full health. The expectation is Schoonmaker will be the No. 2 tight end behind Jake Ferguson this season. He finished with eight receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games last season. There probably won't be a ton of fantasy value for Schoonmaker with Ferguson ahead of him on the depth chart.

Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring issue that has kept him off the practice field for the last two days. For however much time Vaughn may miss at training camp with the issue, the speedy Rico Dowdle and veteran Royce Freeman will jockey for positioning as Dallas' No. 2 back behind incumbent starter Ezekiel Elliott. Vaughn made seven appearances for the Cowboys in his rookie season in 2023, rushing for a mere 40 yards on 23 carries with seven receptions for 40 yards. The pint-sized 22-year-old former Kansas State standout is battling to keep his roster spot in Arlington this summer, and he's not guaranteed to still be with the team when the regular season begins in September.

Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo continues to impress for the Carolina Panthers during practice at training camp. Mingo's first year in the league was a flop with the Panthers, seeing him collect just 41 of his 85 passes for 418 scoreless yards despite playing plenty of snaps in 15 games, but the second-year man out of Ole Miss is looking to bounce back in his sophomore season. The 23-year-old wideout was a second-round pick in the NFL draft in 2023, and he's currently battling with Terrace Marshall Jr. for No. 4 receiver duties behind rookie first-round Xavier Legette in Carolina's offense. Barring a trade involving Diontae Johnson's expiring contract later this year or Adam Thielen being phased out of the offense, Mingo still looks hard-pressed for a consistent role in three-receiver sets as a WR6/7 in fantasy leagues to begin the campaign.