As of Wednesday, all teams have begun training camp for the 2024 season! While training camp reports are sometimes “fluff” and overly optimistic, we can still glean plenty of information from things like practice performance, first-team reps, and press conferences. What storylines should fantasy drafters pay attention to after the first few days of camp?

The Javonte Williams Comeback Tour

After a devastating multi-ligament knee injury in 2022, Javonte Williams fought back to see 217 carries and 47 receptions last year. Most importantly, he played 16 of 17 games.

Unfortunately, he averaged a poor 3.6 yards per carry and was understandably missing the explosiveness that made him such an exciting prospect. There was even talk of him getting cut. But he has shown up much lighter and has been one of the standouts of practice:

One beat writer has suggested that Samaje Perine is now the one whose roster spot is in danger after Williams’ recent performances. Let’s not forget that this is an RB who set PFF’s all-time missed tackles forced per carry record (0.48) and also averaged an insane 4.59 yards after contact in college.

Currently going as late as the 10th round on some platforms, Javonte’s ADP is likely to rise in the coming weeks. At his current price, he makes for an excellent selection for teams that went WR-heavy early in their draft.

Deja Vu All Over Again: Rodgers & Garrett Wilson Look Unstoppable

Garrett Wilson’s 2nd-round ADP last year was partially fueled by some of the most incredible training camp performances in the whole league thanks to his early connection with Aaron Rodgers. Despite the unlucky injury to Rodgers that dashed hopes of a surefire WR1 season, it appears they’re back where they left off:

Unsurprisingly, Wilson’s ADP is once again costly: you’ll pay a late 1st/early 2nd round price tag for him. But the Davante Adams-esque upside is undeniable here, as Rodgers has not been afraid to lock onto his trusted targets.

Recent signee Mike Williams is coming off of an ACL tear and will turn 30 during the season, while their only other notable addition at the receiver position was 3rd-rounder Malachi Corley. If Rodgers stays healthy, Wilson will threaten for the league lead in targets.

Another piece of exciting news for the Jets: their offensive line looks significantly improved. Despite having to face among the league’s most fearsome front sevens in practice, Rodgers was notably well-protected:

Disappointment In The New Orleans’ Backfield

After finishing his rookie season with a 13-73-1 line, there was hope for a sophomore breakout for promising prospect Kendre Miller. After all, dead-legged Jamaal Williams and the consistently declining Alvin Kamara aren’t exactly explosive early-down threats anymore.

Unfortunately, Miller has already hurt his hamstring (always a lingering injury), much to the chagrin of head coach Dennis Allen:

It is incredibly unlikely that Miller truly gets cut, but they are harsh words nonetheless. Patience is growing thin with Miller, who suffered three significant lower-body injuries (knee, high ankle, hamstring) as a rookie and is once again on the mend. His ADP is sure to fall, and he’s going to have a long road out of the doghouse if Allen’s comments are to be taken seriously.

All Aboard The Chase Brown Hype Train

We’ve written extensively on this exciting Bengals sophomore running back here and here – it’s exciting when the fastest ballcarrier in the NFL last season has a chance to majorly contribute on a high-octane offense:

Zack Moss will likely begin the season as the early-down grinder, but there is a significant opportunity to be had as the receiving back of this offense. Joe Mixon had the 9th most receptions among running backs last season, and it appears they are grooming Chase Brown to be an integral passing game weapon behind Chase and Higgins:

While he didn’t pay many pass snaps last year, he was a capable workhorse in college despite his small stature (328 carries during his final college season) and could take over this backfield by himself with a Moss injury or outright explosive play. He’s a smash at his current 11th-round price.

Buffalo’s Wide Receiver Corps Takes Shape

With the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the Bills desperately need a receiver or two to step up. It’s already looking good for OC Joe Brady’s favorite old weapons:

He is nearly a lock to be 1st or 2nd on this team in wide receiver targets and has a very productive history with Joe Brady. Despite finishing behind D.J. Moore and Robbie Anderson (now Chosen) in targets in 2020 on Carolina, Samuel amassed 1,051 yards (including 200 rushing yards on 41 carries) on 77 receptions with 5 total touchdowns.

Meanwhile, rookie receiver Keon Coleman has begun to turn it around after some rough reports early in the offseason:

His prospect profile has plenty of warts, but we need to take any potential starter catching passes from Josh Allen seriously. Available in the 9th round on most platforms, his ADP is likely to rise if he continues to show well at training camp.

Saquon Still Catching Passes

The Eagles have not targeted running backs very much in the passing game during recent seasons, but Saquon Barkley’s 2nd-round ADP tells us that fantasy owners have been expecting that to change. It appears they may get their wish:

Just like with A.J. Brown two years ago, we need to pay attention to when Jalen Hurts and the rest of the Philadelphia offense focus on a player in training camp. New OC Kellen Moore has a history of using capable running backs in the passing game (Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, Ezekiel Elliott), and the Eagles’ current WR3 is Parris Campbell. There are some huge red flags with Barkley’s age and declining efficiency, but a big passing game role at least looks likely. He’ll need it to meet his expensive price.

Jameson Williams: “Man On A Mission”

Williams’ career has gotten off to a poor start: it is rare for a receiver to produce so little during his rookie and sophomore seasons to achieve stardom (though injuries give him some leeway here). But given the flashes he’s shown, his draft capital, and his situation, we can’t write him off just yet.

Lions HC Dan Campbell referred to him as “a man on a mission” and called him the most improved player of the offseason in March. Beat writers are now saying he “looks like a different player” after his recent training camp performance. It looks like he’s getting behind defenses already as the deep threat in Detroit:

Going somewhere between the 8th and 10th round depending on the fantasy platform, Williams will need to put it all together this year to pay off at ADP. Hyper-efficiency will be necessary with St. Brown, Gibbs, Montgomery, and LaPorta all ostensibly ahead of him for touches, but the Lions’ fantasy-friendly offense makes that entirely possible. There’s plenty of amazing contingency value as well as massive bust potential, but we’ve seen dominance before with Williams when he put up a 79/1,572/15 line as a junior at Alabama.

Death, Taxes, & James Conner

We’ve seemingly been waiting years for James Conner to show signs of hitting the age cliff, but he continues to perform at an elite level:

Although Conner was the RB13 in fantasy PPG last season and a league-winner down the stretch, drafters have been predicting age (29 years old) and competition (Cardinals drafting Trey Benson in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft) will finally catch up to Conner: he’s currently the RB22 off the board.

But is it a lock that Benson becomes the 1B to Conner this season? Not so fast, per a Cardinals beat reporter:

It’s usually better to be a year too early than a year too late when it comes to projecting running backs. But considering the improved offense, excellent 2024 peripherals, and likely stranglehold on the touches (health-allowing), James Conner owners may once again be laughing all the way to the bank in 2024.

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