Fantasy Football 2023: Training Camp Roundup (7/24)

Training camps provide our first look into NFL players and teams as we prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season. Information will now begin to flood our social media timelines, leaving us to determine the subsequent fantasy impact. It’s a matter of knowing which information matters, and which should be ignored.

So each day in this space, we’ll take a trip through the top news and takeaways around the league’s training camps to offer up what fantasy managers need to know as we head through draft season and into the 2023 NFL regular season.

The only teams that have fully reported are the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets will battle the Browns in the Hall of Fame preseason game Aug. 3, while the Lions and Chiefs officially open the season Sept. 7. All other teams will have full rosters reported by the end of this week. 

Kadarius Toney Hurt … Again

Almost one year to the day, we received a report out of Chiefs training camp that JuJu Smith-Schuster was expected to operate at Patrick Mahomes’ No. 1 wide receiver but was dealing with knee soreness. On the actual first day of Chiefs training camp for veterans, we received a report that Kadarius Toney left practice with an injury. 

Given Toney’s injury history, this is concerning and noteworthy for fantasy managers. He has played just 19 games in two full NFL seasons, with just 55 total receptions. Toney currently carries a 71.6 ADP on Underdog, 28 spots ahead of Skyy Moore (99.4), 75 spots ahead of rookie Rashee Rice (146.3) and almost 80 spots before Marquez Valdes-Scantling (151.2). 

Inheriting the WR1 role tethered to Patrick Mahomes is certainly a favorable fantasy destination, and Toney’s inauspicious start to training camp is a boost to all other Chiefs wideouts. 

Marquise Goodwin Out, Amari Cooper Tweak

Doctors ruled Marquise Goodwin out of the first few days of training camp after discovering blood clots in his legs and lungs. Goodwin self-reported the symptoms to the team during a checkup, allowing the diagnosis to prevent serious potential complications. Goodwin is in good spirits and hopeful he can return to the team shortly. 

Amari Cooper left practice Sunday after a slight “tweak,” but general manager Andrew Berry said it was not related to his core muscle surgery. Cooper’s injury is not serious and is expected to return to practice quickly. 

Jimmy Garoppolo Passes Physical

As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Las Vegas starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has passed his physical after recovering from offseason foot surgery. The Raiders will not put Garoppolo on the PUP list, which places on track as a full participant in training camp. 

Garoppolo needed surgery to repair his broken foot from last season, which led to rumors that he could be waived by Las Vegas if the recovery lingered. 

Javonte Williams Ahead of Schedule

Denver received some surprising positive news on running back Javonte Williams. 

Williams has the ability to be a true fantasy RB1 when healthy, but the injury concern has suppressed his ADP to 89.5 on Underdog, going as RB28. Teammate Samaje Perine is only seven spots behind at RB35, but this news should widen their draft day gap. 

Breece Hall Worthwhile Gamble?

Despite placing Breece Hall on the PUP list to start training camp, the Jets have continued to vocalize positive opinions on his rapid recovery from a torn ACL in Week 7 last season.

While the 23 MPH speed is impressive, it should be noted that is only straight-line acceleration. Fantasy drafters are starting to get optimistic and could push Hall’s RB10 ADP even higher over the next few weeks. 

To Sign or Not to Sign the Franchise Tag

The two biggest names who have still refused to sign their franchise tag offer are Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Josh Jacobs (Raiders). Both players would leave massive voids in their team’s offense, and both have directly mentioned the possibility of missing actual games during the season. Running backs across the league have voiced their frustration with their perceived lack of adequate financial compensation and met on Zoom Saturday afternoon to discuss the issue. 

Both Barkley (RB7) and Jacobs (RB11) carry expensive draft capital, leaving fantasy managers guessing as to whether each is worth the risk as the season approaches.