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Chris Meaney
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 2024 NFL regular season.
Today, let’s review the major news from the weekend into Monday.
Brandon Aiyuk Trade?
The thought of trading Brandon Aiyuk seemed silly just two weeks ago, but the contract talks between the star San Francisco wide receiver and management appear to be at a stalemate. Aiyuk hasn’t practiced during training camp, and beat reporter Matt Maiocco mentioned Saturday that a trade is now a viable option. He mentions New England and Cleveland as possibilities, with the Browns possibly sending back veteran Amari Cooper to sweeten the deal. Aiyuk is scheduled to make $14.1 million this season on his fifth-year option, but is looking for a long-term deal in the neighborhood of $30 million per season.
Justin Fields QB1?
Justin Fields continues to impress during training camp, especially over this past weekend. Per Nick Farabaugh, Fields connected on a 70-yard touchdown to George Pickens, and impressed throughout the week with placement and consistency. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson was thought to be the starter prior to training camp, but a calf injury has kept Wilson on the sidelines, allowing Fields to shine. Wilson is expected back this week with the Steelers opening the preseason against Houston Friday night.
Carolina’s Xavier Legette Injury Update
Rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette left Carolina practice early Sunday with a leg injury. Legette battled a hamstring injury earlier during OTAs, raising concerns with this issue. Steve Reed of the Associated Press reported that Legette avoided a major injury and is now considered day-to-day.
Puka Nacua Hurt
The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported that wide receiver Puka Nacua left practice and returned with ice on his knee after team drills. It has been speculated that Nacua may have initially been injured on this catch.
Johnny Wilson Eagles WR3?
Tim McManus of ESPN reported that sixth-round Florida State wide receiver Johnny Wilson has pushed for the Eagles WR3 role. Standing 6-foot-6, Wilson has been a favorite target of quarterback Jalen Hurts in the end zone, carrying a massive catch radius with 35-inch arms. Wilson is battling veterans Parris Campbell and John Ross for the coveted WR3 spot in the explosive Philadelphia offense.
Big Day for Malik Nabers?
The Giants dynamic rookie wideout has dominated team practices, providing a highlight reel catch at every practice. New York begins a series of joint practices with the Lions, providing further insight into whether Nabers dominance can be attributed to his immense talent or the Giants’ weak secondary. The next two days against a true Super Bowl contender in Detroit should provide better clarity on Nabers’ impact this season.
Green Bay Odd Man Out?
The Packers held their annual “Family Night” game on Saturday, providing 26 scrimmage snaps for our analysis. While only a small sample size, there were several notable takeaways.
AJ Dillon received 21 of the 26 snaps, with rookie MarShawn Lloyd only garnering five. Lloyd battled through a hip injury in training camp, but as I projected in June, Dillon is the clear RB2 in the event of an injury to Josh Jacobs.
Romeo Doubs (21 snaps) and Christian Watson (19) received the majority of wide receiver work, with Jayden Reed (16) slightly behind. Reed has been overdrafted throughout the summer as the first Green Bay wideout off the board, and I expect Watson and Doubs to gain traction over the next month. The biggest surprise was Dontayvion Wicks only seeing six snaps with the starters. While Wicks ended 2023 strongly, he appears to be the odd man out in the early rotation.
