We are nearing the season opener and the news from training camp is beginning to pour in. In today’s  “Dynasty News,” we will examine some items from the recent training camp news and the dynasty implications. This is not an exhaustive list, but dynasty managers must understand the impact of these situations as these circumstances are very fluid.

Dynasty News: J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota

In a disappointing turn of events, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy tore his meniscus in the preseason game where he was just beginning to show real promise. McCarthy was placed on injured reserve after surgery was needed to repair – not trim – the meniscus.  This means the youngster will miss his rookie season but should be ready for offseason activities. Veteran Sam Darnold is now the Vikings starting quarterback for 2025. We expect coach O’Connell to maintain the pass-heavy offense he showcased last season, even with lesser passers under center. Do not downgrade the receivers as this is a rebuilding team that will throw the ball often. This injury should give dynasty managers a “buy” opportunity, especially if rebuilding. McCarthy may be a better prospect than any quarterback in next year’s dynasty rookie drafts.

Dynasty News: Gardner Minshew II, Las Vegas

Last week, Tom Pelissero broke the news about the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback job, “The #Raiders are naming Gardner Minshew II their starting QB, per sources. Coach Antonio Pierce just informed the QBs of his decision after a camp battle between Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Minshew Mania continues in Las Vegas, which opens Sept. 8 vs. the #Chargers.” Minshew’s presence is a great sign for Adams, Meyers, Bowers, and the receiving corps. However, we expect both he and O’Connell to start games this season. Further, it is likely that the Raiders have a poor record and select a quarterback high in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. This move has little dynasty impact other than on the pass catchers.

Dynasty News: Cincinnati RBs

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to add talent and depth to their running back depth chart in the next few weeks. After letting Joe Mixon depart to Houston, Cincinnati signed Zack Moss to complement Chase Brown. But these are the only viable backs after Chris Evans was diagnosed last week with a torn patellar tendon. He will miss the entire season and may not be ready for next year’s offseason activities.  and will miss the 2024 season. This is a career-threatening injury. While Evans was not expected to start or garner meaningful playing time, his loss highlights the team’s lack of depth at the position. Since Samaje Perine was released at the final cutdown, we expect the Bengals to be in the mix. If nothing else, this should signal that Joe Burrow will be throwing the ball often.

Dynasty News: Nick Chubb, Cleveland

Monday morning, Jordan Schultz broke the news about Nick Chubb starting the season on the shelf," Sources: The #Browns will leave All-Pro RB Nick Chubb on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season, which means he will miss at least the first four games. Chubb is coming off a devastating Week 2 knee injury but remains ahead of schedule and set to return in 2024." This is good news, as it means that Chubb will not be rushed back to the field. Expect Jerome Ford to be the primary ball carrier while Chubb is out. Just a warning that this offense could be a big dumpster fire with uncertainty at quarterback and a tough schedule.

Dynasty News: Braelon Allen, NY Jets

During a press conference last week, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh gushed about rookie running back Braelon Allen, “We picked him for a lot of reasons because he’s actually really good out of the backfield and route-running, he’s really good in protection, too. We think he’s an all-around good back, and he’s a very powerful runner, too, and he’s displaying that, down in and down out.” Allen is Breece Hall’s backup and has a bright future in the NFL. Dynasty managers should seek to acquire Allen on the cheap if Hall gets off to a fast start, taking the focus off Allen. New York has a promising pair of young backs that leaves dynasty managers hoping for a long-term improvement in the team’s ability to run the ball.

Dynasty News: LA Chargers RBs

While many dynasty managers argue Gus Edwards versus J.K. Dobbins for the Chargers' starting running back job, keep an eye on rookie Kimani Vidal. Vidal flashed big-time dynasty potential a week ago in the preseason contest against the Rams, gaining 49 yards on 11 carries. Coach Harbaugh loves his veterans so it might take a few impotent weeks from the veterans before the rookie gets a solid shot, but he is worth betting on in dynasty.

Dynasty News: Kendre Miller, New Orleans

New Orleans tailback Kendre Miller is talented but seems to have found himself in the coaching staff’s doghouse. Speaking to the media last week, coach Dennis Allen had this to say about Miller, “All I can go off of is what I’ve been able to evaluate and, quite frankly, since we drafted him, there hasn’t been a whole lot of new information other than what I saw on the college tape, because he hasn’t been available. … He’s talented. I know he’s talented. But I don’t know if he can learn the system, I don’t know if he can pick up the system,  because I haven’t seen him out there.” Miller was buried on the depth chart throughout training camp and was placed on injured reserve to start the season, meaning he will miss the first four games. The good news is that the second-year player has talent and is playing behind two aging veterans, Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. In dynasty, the price to acquire should be very low and could be a worthwhile target. Coach Allen is trying to motivate the youngster and we are hoping it works.

Dynasty News: Washington WRs

Last Thursday, the Washington Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles in a rare intra-division trade. Washington sent Dotson and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 third-rounder and a pair of seventh-round picks. Dotson was a first-round pick from the previous regime, led by Ron Rivera, but has yet to live up to the promise he showed at Penn State. He now steps into the third-receiver role in Philadelphia, making Dotson virtually worthless in dynasty leagues. The Eagles have a solid one-two punch with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith locked into the top two receiver spots. This trade comes a few days after coach Dan Quinn told reporters that the team had not settled on a starting receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. We fully expect the Commanders to add another receiver to the fold, whether via trade or on waivers, as Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus are ill-equipped to threaten defenses. Rookie Luke McCaffrey should man the slot, but is more of a sure-hands receiver than a big-play-after-the-catch type of player. Also, this trade could open up more opportunities for tailback Austin Ekeler and rookie tight end Ben Sinnott to see the field in either two-back or two-tight end formations. In dynasty, the acquisition of Dotson pours cold water on the Johnny Wilson steam that had been growing.

Dynasty News: DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee

Ace beat reporter Turron Davenport reported last week, “Brian Callahan said DeAndre Hopkins should be back soon. The #Titans expect to have him back for the season opener.” This is great news for an offense that needs weapons in the lineup to be competitive. Hopkins should start opposite Calvin Ridley and the pair give quarterback Will Levis a solid receiving duo.

Dynasty News: Kansas City WRs

The Marquise Brown injury is a mixed blessing for dynasty managers as his acquisition price has plummeted with the highlights of rookie Xavier Worthy popping up daily. Brown signed a one-year contract in an attempt to chase a ring. The veteran should return to the field in October after recovering from a shoulder injury. The good news is that he did not require surgery, but needs time for the injury to heal. Brown makes a great player to target in dynasty leagues. Rashee Rice’s legal issues are still outstanding. Because of his size, Worthy is not an “alpha” receiver but is a great chess piece for coach Andy Reid to use to open up the field for Patrick Mahomes II.

Dynasty News: Buffalo WRs

After the trade of Stefon Diggs to Houston, many dynasty managers had high hopes for newly-signed Curtis Samuel. Samuel has found it difficult to remain healthy during his professional career so  it came as no surprise that he is already sidelined with a turf toe injury. Last week, coach Sean McDermott told reporters that Samuel is “week-to-week” in terms of his expected return. This puts his status for the season opener in jeopardy. Samuel signed a three-year, $24 million contract to reunite with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The two worked together in Carolina Samuel’s rookie season. Gabriel Davis also left this offseason, signing a rich, three-year deal in Jacksonville. Dynasty managers should see the dearth of talent in the Buffalo receivers as an excuse to pivot to either tight end Dalton Kincaid or running backs James Cook or rookie Ray Davis. Khalil Shakir should be the top dynasty option of the Buffalo receivers, but let’s remember that he has just 49 catches through his first two professional seasons.

Dynasty News: Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco

When the San Francisco 49ers selected receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it left most dynasty managers confused. But, we should now see the selection as mitigation in case either Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel is traded. So far, Pearsall has struggled to stay on the field during training camp. Most recently, the rookie has been shelved with a shoulder injury. Coach Shanahan gave a cryptic timetable for his return, saying he is “hoping to have him back by Week 1.” Mike Silver gave some insight, "The other component of that is Pearsall, who looked amazing the like 1.5 practices he was actually healthy since they drafted him. But has a shoulder thing that is now recurring and worrying over the long haul, something they knew about before they drafted him and were hoping wouldn’t be a thing." So, the team knew about the shoulder injury but hoped it would not be a long-term issue. Pearsall has missed a lot of training camp. Plugged-in beat reporter, David Lombardi, had this to say about Pearsall, "Re: Ricky Pearsall — John Lynch said the 49ers’ plan was to get the shoulder 100% right has been to slow play the rehab process. He also added that SF is now higher on Pearsall than when they drafted him. All this context is relevant — it’s months too early to pass judgment here." We love seeing the long-term view in play. With a depleted dynasty value, dynasty managers must be patient. Expect him to ramp up his practice involvement as the season nears. 

Dynasty News: Miami WRs

There was much ado made by the press about veteran wideout Odell Beckham signing with the Miami Dolphins. Beckham is recovering from an undisclosed injury and has yet to be spotted at practice. A few weeks ago, coach McDaniel said Beckham was “week-to-week” in his expected return. He will start the season on the PUP list. His training camp absence paved the way for rookie Malik Washington to play as Miami’s third receiver. Washington is an undersized jitterbug who gives McDaniel another playmaker to scheme his offense around. We expect Beckham to be dropped in many dynasty leagues. The coach talked to reporters late last week regarding Washington's final preseason game performance, "Aggressiveness. He played as though the game was slow to him, it slowed down… We hadn’t gotten the chance to see something that we saw in college from him, that he put on display tonight, which is his balance and his ability to break tackles and get edges on defenders." The rookie makes a solid pickup in all leagues as there is no clarity on when Beclham might return.

Dynasty News: Jelani Woods, Indianapolis

One of the most frustrating players in the preseason has been Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods, who has found himself both oft-injured and in the coach’s doghouse. This is a bad combination. Some beat reporters even left Woods off their final roster projections. Beat reporter, Joel Erickson, broke the news that Woods was hurt again, “Jelani Woods is expected to undergo surgery on his toe, according to a source.” Ian Rapoport followed up Erickson’s news with, “Colts TE Jelani Woods is expected to have surgery this week to repair his turf toe, sources say, and he’s out indefinitely.  A rough reality for Woods, who also missed 2023 with hamstring issues.” Last Friday, Jordan Schultz tweeted, "Sources: Colts TE Jelani Woods underwent successful surgery today for turf toe and will miss about four months. The team is hopeful that Woods can return around Christmas in time for a playoff push." This report was very close to correct as Woods was placed on season-ending injury reserve on Tuesday. He is a player that needs practice and game snaps so the injury is disappointing. The Colts passing game needs every weapon available for quarterback Anthony Richardson. This is definitely a "buy" situation for dynasty managers willing to gamble on a young tight end with upside.

Dynasty News: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans

Last week, the New Orleans Saints activated tight end Juwan Johnson from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Johnson injured his foot after minicamp and has already had surgery on the malady. His dynasty ceiling is quite low in the low-volume Saints passing attack. In his first four years in the NFL, Johnson has recorded just 96 catches for 1,074 yards and 15 touchdowns. In dynasty leagues, he makes a weekly boom-or-bust play. Still just 27 years of age, Johnson has long-term dynasty upside so he makes a decent “buy” for rebuilding teams.

Dynasty News: Theo Johnson, NY Giants

After the retirement of tight end Darren Waller, much is expected from New York Giants rookie, Theo Johnson. The rookie was not productive in college at Penn State but displayed excellent athleticism at the NFL Combine. This past week, Giants head coach, Brian Daboll had this to say about Johnson, “He’s big, he’s fast. He hasn’t made a lot of mental errors, for a rookie. We’ve lined him up in multiple spots and he’s been productive with the opportunities that he’s had.” There is little – other than quarterback play – that is standing in his way of being a product player for dynasty managers.

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