FBG Notes - Week 4 Training Camp Summary

Photo: USA Today Sports

One of the best and most comprehensive features we do every year is our Footballguys Training Camp Updates. Every week in August, our Bob Henry and Jason Wood and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. Each edition is 30 plus pages long. It's incredible and, frankly, probably worth the Footballguys Season Long Pro subscription price just by itself.

While I encourage you to read every word of every week, I also understand Life Happens. And one of the more valuable services Footballguys can add is saving you time. For this article, I had the idea of taking the comprehensive Training Camp Update and asking our team writers to distill it down into 80 proof shots of the Need-to-Know material. Some teams will have more news than others because that's how it works in real life. Much of it will be from the Camp Updates, some of it will be my takes, but all of it will hopefully be useful to you. And make sure to jump on our Season Long Pro subscription to continue seeing this type of stuff all year long. And if this feature is helpful to you, shoot me an email at bryant@footballguys.com and let me know.

Plus a new addition for this year. For each team, I've included a link to our Depth Charts and also to the Full Camp Report. If you like these bullets and want more detail, check out the Full Camp Report for each team.

Let's get to it.

Arizona Cardinals | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Kyler Murray is locked in for a big 2021 season despite a lack of preseason opportunities.
• Running backs Chase Edmonds and James Conner are the RB1 and RB1A entering Week 1.
• Running backs Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward have battled hard all offseason and are in a dead heat for the RB3 role.
• Wide receiver A.J. Green is seeing one-on-one coverage and opening up things for Deandre Hopkins.
• Defensive lineman J.J. Watt is back on the field after dealing with a hamstring injury.

Atlanta Falcons | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Matt Ryan has made strides in practice lately and is displaying better ball security and grasp of the offense.
• Running back Mike Davis is the lead ball carrier but expect a committee with running back / wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson playing a crucial yet unknown role with the first team.
• Draft wide receiver Calvin Ridley with confidence as he is ready to step into the alpha role and deliver due to his familiarity with Matt Ryan.
• Kyle Pitts received his first taste of preseason action against the Browns and displayed explosive after the catch ability on his sole touch.
• Most importantly, this offense made it through the preseason healthy and has a prime scoring matchup in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Baltimore Ravens | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Lamar Jackson got his first preseason action and was happy to get some reps at game speed.
• RB J.K. Dobbins tore his ACL and is out for the season.
• RB Gus Edwards takes over as the lead back, but the team is likely to add a veteran free agent or a player cut by another team.
• RB TySon Williams is ahead of RB Justice Hill on the depth chart and would serve as the team’s second back if another player is not added.
• WR Sammy Watkins missed multiple practices this week, but John Harbaugh said it’s for rest purposes and not an injury.
• WR Rashod Bateman resumed light running and catching and is targeting Week 1, though that might be an optimistic target.
• WR Marquise Brown still has not returned to practice and has now been out for four weeks with a hamstring injury.
• TE Mark Andrews should remain Jackson’s most-targeted player, especially with the injuries to the receivers.

Buffalo Bills | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Josh Allen dominated a Packers team that rested most of their starters and appears on track for another MVP-type season.
• The Bills may not run the ball enough for any of their running backs to become fantasy relevant individually, but they have a good mix of players who should produce collectively.
• Top receiver Stefon Diggs returned to practice last week but sat out the Packers game, which allowed Gabriel Davis to stand out and make a case for a bigger role.
• The tight end position may be de-emphasized even more this year as the team seems likely to keep just two players at the position.
• On defense, the pass rush looks deep and much improved while several injuries could quickly expose a lack of depth at cornerback.

Carolina Panthers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Sam Darnold looks like a different player than he did in New York, and he has sneaky upside with all of the weapons in this offense.
• RB Christian McCaffrey is ready to go for Week 1, despite playing no preseason football.
• The Panthers will utilize a lot of three wide receivers sets with DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and rookie Terrace Marshall all being a big part of the offense.
• Dan Arnold will start at tight end for the Panthers and could have a significant role on third down.
• The Panthers’ defense is better than most think and may surprise opposing teams and fantasy managers to start the season.

Chicago Bears | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Coach Matt Nagy equated the Bears to the Chiefs and talked about how it took them a few years to get up to speed under this offense, and he expects similar results this year in Chicago
• Right tackle Germain Ifedi was finally removed from the PUP list as the Bears get closer to a healthier line than they had throughout the preseason
• The Bears strength will be on the defensive end of the ball again this year, but the Bears’ weak cornerback corps is going to be tough to ignore
• It is only a matter of time before quarterback Justin Fields takes over Andy Dalton this season.

Cincinnati Bengals | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Joe Burrow finished camp on a high note with a couple of strong weeks after the rough start.
• Rookie running back Chris Evans continues to impress. He is going to have a role right away on passing downs.
• Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase seemed to have put the drop issues behind him, stringing together some strong practice outings. However, he dropped his only target in the preseason finale.
• Cornerback Trae Waynes is nursing a sore hamstring and may not be ready for the preseason opener.

Cleveland Browns | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Baker Mayfield saw his first preseason action, completing six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
• The Browns will use running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt much the same way they did in 2020.
• WR Odell Beckham participated in team drills this week for the first time this summer and is trending towards being ready for Week 1 against Kansas City.
• The Browns are happy with all three of their tight ends, and all three are happy to be in Cleveland, making a trade unlikely.
• The Browns defense will be good in real life and fantasy football in 2021, but injuries and an opening game against Kansas City means you can skip them in your draft.

Dallas Cowboys | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Dak Prescott is back just in time for the regular season. Last week, his return to team drills went well, and he was throwing downfield aggressively and accurately in joint practices against the Jaguars.
• RBs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are not only entrenched as the No. 1 and No. 2, respectively; the season-ending injury to Rico Dowdle may leave them as the only tailbacks on the Week 1 roster.
• Wide receiver Amari Cooper’s ankle injury isn’t a worry. He came off the PUP list on August 10th, was practicing a week later, and played significant snaps in the third preseason game.
• WR CeeDee Lamb was the most dynamic player in camp this summer, expect a breakthrough season from the second-year pro.
• TEs Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz are an effective tandem but should cannibalize each other’s fantasy value.

Denver Broncos | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Teddy Bridgewater has won the starting quarterback job for Week 1, though Drew Lock still looms as the higher-upside option.
• Melvin Gordon looked spry in his return to action, though rookie Javonte Williams may have already locked down the lead back role.
• Top wideout Courtland Sutton made a gutsy touchdown catch in his return to live-action Saturday.
• Tight end Noah Fant should return quickly from last week’s leg injury, and he’s being counted on heavily to keep progressing.
• Rookie cornerback Patrick Surtain has shown superstar ability as both a shutdown cover man and a playmaker on the ball.

Detroit Lions | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Running back D’Andre Swift has returned to practice after missing extended playing time early in training camp with a knee injury, but the coaching staff is pessimistic about his ability to be ready and in shape for week one.
• TE T.J. Hockenson has continuously been the best player in training camp and should be the focal part of the offense.
• Tyrell Williams, Khalif Raymond, and Amon-Ra St. Brown have been the first-team wide receivers in three-wide receiver sets.
• Despite being one of the bigger names in the receiving corps, Breshad Perriman has struggled this offseason. He was released and signed by the Bears.

Green Bay Packers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Heir apparent quarterback Jordan Love has shown off his high highs and low lows throughout camp and the preseason.
• Aaron Jones remains the featured back, though A.J. Dillon continues to tune his all-around game.
• For the first time in a while, quarterback Aaron Rodgers seems openly excited about the Packers’ wideout corps.
• Randall Cobb has likely locked down the slot receiver job, though rookie Amari Rodgers is being utilized all over the field.
• Top tight end Robert Tonyan Jr, who caught 11 touchdowns in 2020, may not have reached his playmaking ceiling yet.

Houston Texans | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is locked in as the starter for most of the season given that rookie Davis Mills, who turned it over four times in the preseason finale, is still a major project.
• Quarterback Deshaun Watson’s situation does not look like it will be resolved any time soon. The plan seems to be to keep him on the roster but make him inactive on game days.
• The running backs rotation is going to be deep and will make it difficult for anyone to be fantasy relevant. Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay, and David Johnson should each have roles.

Indianapolis Colts | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Carson Wentz appears on track to start Week 1. He returned to practice and showed zero hesitation with his cutting and lateral movement following foot surgery earlier this month.
• Jonathan Taylor is expected to receive a heavier workload than head coach Frank Reich has typically given his lead running backs in the past.
• Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton will miss several weeks with a neck injury, but it is not believed to be season-ending.
• Rookie Kylen Granson is the favorite among beat reporters to lead Colts’ tight ends in receiving this year.
• The team’s first-round pick, defensive end Kwity Paye, made his presence felt early for a second straight preseason game, finishing with one sack, a forced fumble, two tackles, and a quarterback hit in the Colts win over the Lions Friday night.

Jacksonville Jaguars | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Trevor Lawrence looked sharp and is now the confirmed Week 1 starter.
• Running back Travis Etienne is out with a Lisfranc injury with further tests to come.
• Both Running backs James Robinson and Carlos Hyde will be the one-two punch following the Etienne injury.
• Wide receiver DJ Chark remains sidelined after his finger surgery and should be ready for Week 1.
• Wide receiver Marvin Jones suffered an AC sprain and should be ready for Week 1.
• Tight end James O’Shaughnessy is back on the field and if he can stay healthy, he can help give the offense a boost and especially Lawrence.

Kansas City Chiefs | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Patrick Mahomes II dazzled in last week’s preseason appearance; he looks fully healthy and ready to roll for 2021.
• Lead back Clyde Edwards-Helaire should return soon from injury, and Darrel Williams has likely locked down the backup job.
• Seeking to replace Sammy Watkins as the No. 2 wideout, both Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson have had their ups and downs throughout the preseason.
• No. 4 wideout and special-teams star Byron Pringle is angling for more chances on offense – and teammate Tyreek Hill continues to have his back.
• The Chiefs project to more two-tight formations in 2021, which could benefit either Jody Fortson or rookie Noah Gray.

Las Vegas Raiders | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Raiders beat writers think running back Josh Jacobs looks primed for a big fantasy season.
• Wide receiver John Brown is on the roster bubble and never really pushed Henry Ruggs or Bryan Edwards for a starting job. He requested his release and the team granted it.
• Tight end Darren Waller has shown zero ill effects from the foot injury that sidelined him in the first half of camp.

Los Angeles Chargers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Justin Herbert has continued to grow into the new Joe Lombardi offense, drawing praise for his intelligence and ability to process the offense.
• Rookie Josh Palmer has drawn positive reviews from Keenan Allen, establishing himself as the WR3 in the offense behind Allen and Mike Williams.
• Mike Williams returned to practice and is expected to be ready for week one.
• The RB2 position is still open, with Justin Jackson injured, opening up the door for Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree firmly on the radar if Jackson is cut.

Los Angeles Rams | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Darrell Henderson has been entrenched as the starting running back since Cam Akers’s Achilles injury but suffered a sprained finger during the week.
• In response to Henderson’s injury, the Rams traded for running back Sony Michel during the week, with head coach Sean McVay saying he still expects a big workload for Henderson.
• The core offensive players have been quiet in preseason games, with Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, DeSean Jackson, Van Jefferson, Tyler Higbee, and Johnny Mundt all being help out of preseason action. McVay has historically not played players in the preseason he expects to contribute early in the regular season, so the group of core players is notable.
• TE Jacob Harris has been a buzz candidate in training camp, but has played a significant role in the preseason games and has struggled, an indication not to expect much from him when the regular season begins.

Miami Dolphins | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa concluded a strong training camp and may be primed for a second-year jump.
• The Dolphins have reportedly emerged as the “front runner” in trade talks with Houston for Deshaun Watson, which is a complicating factor when trying to assess Tagovailoa’s long-term outlook.
• Wide receivers Will Fuller and DeVante Parker finally returned to practice in a limited fashion. We will not see the Dolphins offense with a full complement of weapons until Week 2 when Fuller returns from suspension.

Minnesota Vikings | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Kellen Mond beat out Jake Browning in their battle to be Kirk Cousins' backup but neither has stood out.
• Running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison are locked in as one of the best RB1 and RB2s in the league.
• Wide receiver Adam Thielen is back at practice and should be ready for Week 1.
• Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is back at practice and should be ready for Week 1.
• Tight end Irv Smith Jr.is expected to miss the season with a meniscus injury.
• Safety Harrison Smith became the second-highest-paid at his position with a four-year $64 million deal.

New England Patriots | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Mac Jones won the starting QB job after a strong camp and solid preseason performances.
• QB Cam Newton was released.
• The trade of Sony Michel narrows the backfield to Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson on early downs, with James White and J.J. Taylor in pass situations.
• Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor have run away with the top two wideout spots, and there’s little to be excited about beyond them.
• Prized additions Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith have struggled with injuries, but should both be ready for the opener.

New Orleans Saints | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Jameis Winston will open the year under center, and his aggressive, strong-armed approach will be welcomed.
• Lead back Alvin Kamara looks poised to see just as much pass-game usage as ever with Winston starting.
• After an ineffective preseason, Latavius Murray is squarely on the roster bubble as the No. 2 running back.
• Current No. 1 wideout Marquez Callaway continues to dazzle onlookers; he’s locked down a prominent role even when Michael Thomas returns.
• The team has been ravaged by injuries at tight end, but Juwan Johnson has brought dynamism as an athletic ex-wideout.

New York Giants | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Daniel Jones remains an enigma. His practice performances ranged from encouraging to wildly disappointing during camp, and there were no signs of significant improvement, but he also was without key teammates for much of the preseason.
• RB Saquon Barkley participated in team drills this week, keeping him on track for an early-season return.
• WR Kenny Golladay missed most of the summer dealing with the same hamstring injury that led to missed games a year ago; it’s a concern.
• WR Sterling Shepard has flourished as the primary slot receiver during the preseason and could lead the team in targets and yards with or without a healthy Kenny Golladay.
• TE Evan Engram enjoyed his best training camp yet, but it remains unclear whether it translates into a breakout fantasy season.

New York Jets | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Beyond the weather, the Jets had reason to keep rookie QB Zach Wilson off the field as he was still missing tackle Mekhi Becton who is in concussion protocol. While Becton had an iffy camp, keep in mind he was in a brand new system and was adjusting to it all summer.
• The backfield has every chance to be effective, but no one back is in a position to be the lead back. That makes it very hard to rely on any of them week-to-week.
• It seems the Jets still believe in Denzel Mims, but considering the shaky summer, his injury, weight loss, and position well behind Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder, and rookie Elijah Moore, it is hard to imagine him contributing much.
• There is no clarity at tight end and while the offensive scheme could produce a very viable tight end for the season, nobody on the roster has emerged. Monitor the situation because if someone does, he could put up good numbers.

Philadelphia Eagles | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Jalen Hurts ends the preseason with just two drives worth of playing time, as head coach Nick Sirianni prioritized keeping his players healthy over simulated game exposure.
• RB Miles Sanders sits comfortably atop the depth chart, but presumptive No. 2 Boston Scott is being pushed by rookie Kenneth Gainwell.
• WR Quez Watkins completed his unlikely rise from roster bubble in June to Week 1 starter in September; he was great from start to finish of camp.
• DeVonta Smith looks every bit the No. 1 receiver he was drafted to be since returning from injury.
• All eyes are on TE Zach Ertz as the window for trading him closes soon. He’s been a fixture of the offense all summer and has looked better than Dallas Goedert, so if he remains, it caps both tight ends’ fantasy outlook. Ertz said he and the team have mended fences.

Pittsburgh Steelers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Ben Roethlisberger sat out the team’s preseason finale but is ready for the regular season.
• RB Najee Harris was held out of the preseason finale with many starters, further solidifying his status as a key cog in the offense.
• RB Benny Snell started the preseason game, but since no starters played, it’s not a clear indication that he’s the second running back.
• WR Diontae Johnson is the favorite to lead the team in targets and continues to see targets in goal-line drills.
• WR Chase Claypool will play outside and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster will play in the slot as the team should use three-receiver sets frequently.
• TE Pat Freiermuth has worked with the first team more and more each week and appears poised to eventually overtake Eric Ebron as the starter.

San Francisco 49ers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Rookie Trey Lance has been widely praised during training camp practice but appears destined to start the season as the QB2 behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance is dealing with a finger issue.
• Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has included a QB run substitution package revolving around Lance’s skills as a runner, which would complement Garoppolo’s role as the starting quarterback.
• RB Raheem Mostert played his first preseason action in the final preseason game and played on all ten of the plays on the first drive ahead of Trey Sermon.
• Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle are healthy entering the season and should be the core to the offensive skill players in 2021.

Seattle Seahawks | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• We finally got a look at the new Seattle offensive scheme, often running two tight end sets and in one case, not one wide receiver. How much we will really see of things like that is hard to say, but Seattle is going to look very different offensively this season.
• This is an offense that appears to be ready to produce a good tight end but with so many injuries, there’s little depth and those two tight end sets may not happen all that often with so many great receivers.
• RB Rashaad Penny was on the bubble but made the team. Alex Collins is a must-have for anyone with Chris Carson, given his injury history.
• QB Russell Wilson may finally have at least a serviceable offensive line, and that combined with the new offense could have him hitting career highs in multiple categories.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• WRs Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown enter the season healthy and coming off excellent training camps.
• RB Ronald Jones II appears to be the winner of a close training camp battle with Leonard Fournette, but it may only be for a two-down role in an offense that uses a lot of two-minute and passing-down alignments, even in the red zone. This means Giovani Bernard could be the unofficial No.2 RB if not the No.1-B to Jones’ 1-A.
• WR Jaelon Darden has had a great camp but errors during preseason games. He may be inactive to begin the year because of his inconsistency as a return specialist.
• The Buccaneers beat reports are labeling rookie OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka a “first-round steal,” an oxymoronic term that underscores just how disruptive and impactful the youngster has been.
• The Buccaneers’ defense stifled the Chiefs’ offense with three-high safety looks in the Super Bowl and the play of the safeties this summer indicates we’ll see more of it this year.

Tennessee Titans | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• A lot of the team was affected by COVID-19 recently including head coach Mike Vrabel, quarterback Ryan Tannehill, tight end Geoff Swain, and others.
• After being one of the most run-heavy teams over the last two seasons, the Titans will head into 2021 with one of the best pass-catching corps in the league.
• This team could lean on the pass a bit more as RB Derrick Henry’s workload over the last two years has been extremely high.
• WR Julio Jones is expected to be a big part of the offense, despite lack of reps in the preseason and camp.

Washington Football Team | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Ryan Fitzpatrick played sparingly in the preseason and was erratic in his first camp in Washington. His training camp volatility mirrors the ups and downs of his oddly impressive career. He’ll have boom-and-bust weeks, which makes it harder to rely on the talented skill position players WFT’s amassed.
• RB Antonio Gibson has as much upside as any back in the NFL, as the coaches plan on significantly increasing his workload in Year 2.
• WR Curtis Samuel missed the entire summer, and although he returned to practice recently, he’s only doing individual drills on a side field. He’s going to have a major role when healthy, but expect a slow start.
• WR Terry McLaurin was the standout of training camp and should be in line for a career year as long as Ryan Fitzpatrick runs hot more than he runs cold.
• TE Logan Thomas looks ready to build off last year’s breakout after a strong preseason.

And that's that for this week. Let me know if you found this type of thing useful by shooting an email to bryant@footballguys.com. And keep up with me on Twitter by clicking the follow button below.

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