NFL Training Camp: 20 Position Battles to Watch

The conclusion of the Super Bowl is the crowning moment of the NFL season. The offseason begins as teams around the NFL begin their quest to become champions. The combine, the franchise tag deadline, free agency, and the draft are all events that impact rosters around the NFL. In no particular order, let’s take a look at 20 position battles to watch with the most fantasy implications heading into the 2019 NFL season.

1. The Colts No. 2 Wide Receiver

Key Players: Devin Funchess, Parris Campbell, Chester Rogers, Deon Cain

The only teams that averaged more pass attempts per game than the Indianapolis Colts (39.6) were the Green Bay Packers (40) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (43.1). The team ranked seventh in passing yards per game (270.1) and total yards per game with 381.5. The Colts offense was able to get back on track last season.  Second-year Colts head coach Frank Reich will look to continue that trend as he continues to collaborate with offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni on playcalling.

The Colts signed the talented and young free agent wide receiver Devin Funchess to a one year contract. His best season came in 2017. Funchess finished with 63 receptions, 840 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. The Colts selected Parris Campbell with the 59th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The former Ohio State wide receiver is another offensive weapon Colts quarterback Andrew Luck can leverage. Deon Cain was selected in the sixth round by the Colts back in 2018. He looked like a breakout candidate last summer before tearing his ACL in the team’s preseason opener. Chester Rogers put up a career season with the Colts as a receiver and punt returner in 2018. He set career highs with 53 receptions, 485 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.

Prediction  

Campbell wins the No. 2 receiver role with Funchess operating as the No. 3 receiver primarily working out of the slot. Reich has publicly praised Funchess’ frame and route running ability. Two of the routes the Colts ran the most last season, according to Sharp Football Analysis, were outs and curls. These are two routes that Funchess had a success rate of 80 percent on last season. 

Campbell has a unique combination of size, very good play speed, and agility that the Colts offense will leverage. He could be used in the slot or on the outside and his yards after the catch ability provides him the most fantasy upside. Funchess is shaping up to be very touchdown dependent. Teammate T.Y. Hilton averaged 7.5 targets per game while the other Colts wide receivers averaged 13.5 per game. We project Campbell to see the second most targets behind Hilton. 

2. The Falcons No. 2 Running Back

Key Players: Ito Smith, Qadree Ollison, Brian Hill, Tony Brooks-James, Kenjon Barner

The Falcons offense averaged nearly 22 rushing attempts (30th) and 98.3 rushing yards per game (27th) last season. Steve Sarkisian’s tenure as Falcons offensive coordinator came to an end. The team has reunited with former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter as the Falcons look to get back on track offensively. The return of Devonta Freeman from an injury-plagued 2018 season will help reignite the running game. He’s averaged 18.6 touches, 95 total yards, 18 PPR fantasy points per game since 2015. Injuries have plagued Freeman over the last two seasons. Tevin Coleman had previously operated as the Falcons No. 2 running back. He signed with the 49ers earlier this year during free agency. Who will replace Coleman in 2019? 

Prediction

Ito Smith wins the No. 2 running back role with Qadree Ollison as the No. 3. Smith proved he was capable of making an impact last season once Freeman was placed on IR. He finished his rookie season with 90 rushing attempts, 315 rushing yards, and four touchdowns. Ollison’s a power back who is also very capable of filling the role that Coleman once had. He could also make an impact as a rookie if Freeman or Smith were to miss time. 

3. The Steelers No. 2 Wide Receiver

Key Players: James Washington, Donte Moncrief, Diontae Johnson, Ryan Switzer

Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster accounted for 50 percent of the targets and 64 percent of the Steelers air yards last season. Both wide receivers accounted for nearly 40 PPR fantasy points per game. The Steelers accumulated 689 pass attempts in 2018. Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders as the disintegration of his relationship with teammates and coaches unfolded right before our eyes via social media. Smith-Schuster enters the 2019 season as the Steelers No. 1 receiver. Who will emerge as the team’s No. 2 receiver? 

Prediction

James Washington wins the No. 2 wide receiver position. He profiles as a big play receiver and red zone weapon. Washington will have to battle free agent signing Donte Moncrief and third-round draft pick Diontae Johnson for the No. 2 role. Ryan Switzer is someone to keep on your radar in deeper formats as the Steelers No. 3 receiver. He ran 72.3 percent of his routes from the slot last season. 

4. The Jets No. 2 Running Back

Key Players: Ty Montgomery, Elijah McGuire, Trenton Cannon

Le’Veon Bell has had over 400 touches in his last full season with the Steelers after missing 2018 due to a contract dispute. The 27-year old running back averaged 137.4 total yards and 23.4 PPR fantasy points per game in 49 games from 2013 to 2017. Bell has missed games over the last four seasons in Pittsburgh due to injuries and suspensions. He was signed by the Jets in free agency and should see a high number of touches per game. The questions that remain are whether Bell’s body can handle the workload and if he were to miss time who would fill the void. 

Prediction

Elijah McGuire wins the No. 2 running back position. The Jets signed free agent Ty Montgomery in free agency, but he cannot physically handle the physical demands of being used a workhorse. Last season McGuire played nearly 64 percent of the Jets offensive snaps in eight games. He is essentially free at his current average draft position. McGuire has the potential to be a league winner in an ascending Jets offense if Bell were to miss an extended amount of time. 

5. The Packers No. 3 Wide Receiver

Key Players: Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown

Geronimo Allison averaged six targets, four receptions, 60.6 receiving yards, and 12.5 PPR fantasy points per game through five games. He was poised for a breakout season before a groin injury derailed it. Allison was productive enough and should open the season as the Packers No. 2 receiver. The assumption is that new head coach Matt LaFleur will call plays this season. Who will emerge as the Packers No. 3 receiver? 

Prediction

The wide receiver target share will be a bit more diversified in 2019. All of the Packers should see opportunities to line up all over the field with Adams projected to run more routes lined up in the slot. 

Allison will open the season as the No. 2 receiver and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as the No. 3. Valdes-Scantling’s 581 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season only tell half of the story. He only caught 53 percent of his 73 targets. Were you aware Valdes-Scantling had the lowest catch rate among all rookies in 2018? Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has averaged 270.4 passing yards and 24 fantasy points per game over his last 34. The wide receiver depth chart is worth monitoring. 

6. The 49ers Running Back by Committee

Key Players: Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson

Is there an opportunity in chaos with the 49ers backfield? Our very own Jody Smith provided a detailed breakdown of the team’s backfield in early May. The 49ers made a splash in free agency last year signing Jerick McKinnon, but he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Matt Breida finished the season with over 1,000 yards. Raheem Mostert averaged 7.7 rushing yards on 34 attempts before being injured. The 49ers re-signed him to a three-year, $8.7 million contract in free agency along with another notable free agent Tevin Coleman to a two-year, $8.5 million contract.   

Prediction

Tevin Coleman wins the No. 1 running back position as the first player up in the committee. The backfield in San Francisco will have multiple players involved every week and be very frustrating for fantasy players. Coleman has a history working with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan from his time with the Atlanta Falcons back in 2015 and 2016. He has been very productive over the last three seasons accumulating 2,946 total yards and 28 touchdowns. Coleman also has 90 receptions over that time frame with a 73 percent catch rate while averaging 12.8 opportunities per game. This workload should continue in 2019. Our projections have Coleman and McKinnon nearly crossing the 1,000-yard threshold. 

7. The 49ers No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Wide Receivers  

Key Players: Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin, Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Jordan Matthews

The 49ers continue to be in the middle of a rebuild with Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch. The team has a plethora of options at the running back position, but there is also uncertainty at the wide receiver position. Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, and Jordan Matthews have all had success at the NFL level. Pettis averaged five targets, three receptions, 51.9 receiving yards, and 11.5 PPR fantasy points per game in nine games last season. Marquise Goodwin disappointed fantasy players in 2018 as he dealt with health woes and off the field issues. He is only one season removed from the 2017 season which resulted in Goodwin setting career-highs in receptions (56) and receiving yards (962). Trent Taylor had a productive rookie season back in 2017 with 43 receptions and 430 receiving yards working out of the slot. He was unable to continue that momentum last season after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs from his lower back. Taylor missed the entire offseason program and nearly all of training camp. This negatively affected his 2018 season. Jordan Mattews has only accumulated 582 receiving yards and three touchdowns over the last two seasons. He began his career with three very good seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Kendrick Bourne led the 49ers in 2018 with 42 receptions, 487 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. This season’s second and third round picks in the draft, Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd also bring something unique to the table.    

Prediction

Pettis wins the No. 1 receiver role with Goodwin operating as the No. 2 and Samuel as the No. 3. The quarterbacks in Shanahan’s offenses have averaged 35 passing attempts and 267 passing yards per game. The 49ers offense with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo under center has the potential to support two top-36 wide receivers in 2019. 

8. The Buccaneers No. 1 Running Back

Key Players: Peyton Barber, Ronald Jones

Barber averaged 15.8 touches and 60.3 yards per game last season as the Buccaneers starting running back. He finished the season with negative rushing and receiving fantasy points over expectation. Jones’ rookie season was lackluster as he only played in six games. The second round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft will look to bounce back this season with new Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians. The stories out of offseason training activities suggest Jones has improved as a rusher and receiver during his first full NFL offseason. Can he unseat Barber as the Buccaneers starting running back?  

Prediction

Jones wins the No. 1 running back position. The expectation is that Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will install a pass-heavy scheme. Barber has never excelled as a receiver out of the backfield. This is an area where Jones can separate himself. Barber signed a one-year, $2.125 million contract and is a free agent in 2020. Jones will be given every opportunity to shine to allow the Buccaneers front office and coaching staff to see a return on their investment. 

9. The Raiders No. 1 Tight End

Key Players: Darren Waller, Derek Carrier, Luke Wilson

Who will fill the void in the Raiders offense left by Jared Cook? The 32-year old signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Saints. Cook averaged 6.3 targets, 4.2 receptions, 56 receiving yards, and 12.1 PPR fantasy points per game in 2018. He provided an excellent return on investment considering his average draft position heading into last season. 

Prediction

Darren Waller wins the No. 1 tight end position. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, quarterback Derek Carr, and teammates have publicly stated the team will provide him an opportunity to break out in 2019. He has derailed his career with multiple suspensions for substance abuse. Waller only has 18 receptions, 178 receiving yards, and two touchdowns since 2015. He is someone to keep on your radar especially in deeper formats. 

Free Data Banner.jpg

10. The Bills No. 1 Running Back

Key Players: LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, T.J. Yeldon, Devin Singletary

LeSean McCoy will become a free agent in 2020. He turns 31 in July. Frank Gore signed a one year, $2 million contract with the Bills. He turned 36 on May 14th. T.J. Yeldon signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract back in March. Devin Singletary was drafted in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft. The only other active NFL player with a similar number of touches as Gore (3,837) and McCoy (2,821) is Adrian Peterson (3,097). Who will emerge as the Bills running back to target in fantasy football?

Prediction

McCoy wins the No. 1 running back position. His contact situation suggests that the Bills will give him a heavy workload. Gore will operate as a change of pace option in the committee. Yeldon will be available to fill in if McCoy or Gore misses any time and Singletary is the Bills running back of the future. McCoy is criminally undervalued heading into drafts this summer in what should be an improved Bills offense with second-year quarterback Josh Allen under center. 

11. The Bears Running Back By Committee

Key Players: Tarik Cohen, Mike Davis, David Montgomery

The Bears running game struggled last season averaging 23.1 rushing attempts and 88.2 rushing yards per game. The Bears signed former Seahawks running back Mike Davis, traded Jordan Howard to the Eagles for a 2020 second round pick, and traded up to select Iowa State’s David Montgomery in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft. Many expect Cohen to see additional opportunities this season especially as a rusher, but he doesn’t have the frame of a workhorse back. Davis was signed to a two-year contract that allows the Bears to a window to opt out after this season. 

Prediction

David Montgomery will be the Bears running back to have on your roster this season. He has the skill set to become the best running back from the 2019 draft class. He handled a heavy workload in college, is an instinctive runner, and has very good hands. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Montgomery finishes this upcoming season as the Bears featured back. All three running backs will have a role in the Bears offense. 

12. The Eagles No. 1 Running Back 

Key Players: Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders, Josh Adams, Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement, Sproles

Did you know the Eagles leading rusher from last season Josh Adams may not even make the team? The undrafted free agent from Notre Dame seized the opportunity in the team’s backfield due to the injuries to Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement. The Eagles backfield in 2019 looks completely different with Howard, Sanders, Adams, Clement, and Smallwood on the roster. Sproles is again contemplating retirement. 

Prediction

Miles Sanders will operate as the Eagles No. 1A running back to Howard’s 1B. He has the skill set, power, and athleticism of a bell cow back. Sanders ranked fifth in runs of 10 or more yards and seventh in yards after contact according to Pro Football Focus. His receiving ability gives him an edge over Howard. 

13. The Broncos No. 3 Wide Receiver

Key Players: DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick, Brendan Langley, Juwann Winfree

undefinedMany expect Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton to operate as the Broncos No. 1 and No. 2 receivers entering the regular season. The team will have now have quarterback Joe Flacco under center after the Ravens traded him to Denver. Sanders is still recovering from an Achilles tear that took place in early December of last year. The 32-year old receiver isn’t expected back until mid-July. 

DaeSean Hamilton was drafted No. 113 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was injured or played behind veterans for most of last season. Hamilton accumulated nearly 40 targets in the four games after Emmanuel Sanders’ season-ending injury.

Tim Patrick was re-signed by the Broncos to a one-year, $570,000 contract. He outproduced Sutton in the four games following Sanders’ injury. 

Brendan Langley is a former third-round pick from the 2017 NFL Draft who originally played cornerback in college. He has converted to wide receiver after showing well on the scout team last season. Juwann Winfree was selected No. 187 overall by the Broncos in this year’s draft after trading up with the Panthers.

Prediction

Hamilton will open the season as the Broncos No. 3 receiver, Patrick as the No. 4, and Winfree as the No. 5. Sanders is missing valuable time to build rapport with Flacco. His availability this summer could influence the fantasy outlook of other Denver receivers in 2019 especially Hamilton and Patrick. 

14. The Rams No. 2 Running Back

Key Players: Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson

Jeff Howe, of the Athletic, mentioned on Twitter back in March that Todd Gurley has arthritis in his knee. This helps to explain his strange usage in the playoffs. There is no cure for arthritis, but Gurley’s days of handling a massive number of touches per game are likely over. The Rams No. 2 running back will be more fantasy relevant than it has in previous seasons. The team re-signed Malcolm Brown to a two-year, $3.25 million contract. He will face competition this summer from Darrell Henderson who the Rams drafted at No. 70 overall to compete for the backup role. 

Prediction

Henderson will open the season as the Rams No. 2 back. He can do damage as a runner and as a receiver out of the backfield. Brown can positively impact the Rams on offense and special teams, This played a part in the team re-signing him, but Henderson has the ability to operate as a three-down back if Gurley were to miss an extended amount of time.  

15. The Bills No. 1 Receiver

Key Players: Zay Jones, John Brown, Cole Beasley, Robert Foster

Many are assuming that Zay Jones will open the season as the Bills No. 1 receiver. He ranked ninth among wide receivers in offensive snap percentage with 89. Jones finished the season with 56 receptions, 652 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Robert Foster outplayed Jones over the Bills last seven games. He scored 12 or more PPR fantasy points in three out of the last four regular-season games. John Brown and Cole Beasley were signed in free agency to bolster the group of receivers that second-year quarterback Josh Allen has to throw to. 

Prediction

John Brown will open the season as the Bills No. 1 receiver. He is the only current receiver on the Bills roster with a 1,000-yard season on his resume. Foster will open the season as the No. 2 with Beasley as the No. 3. Jones will split time with Beasley running a higher percentage of his routes from the slot this season. 

16. The Chiefs No. 2 Running Back

Key Players: Carlos Hyde, Darrel Williams, Darwin Thompson, James Williams 

Damien Williams rushed for less than 200 yards every season of his NFL career before taking over the Chiefs following the release of Kareem Hunt. He accumulated 572 total yards and scored eight touchdowns in five starts for the team last season. Carlos Hyde now finds himself on his fourth NFL team since 2017. He signed a 1-year, $2.8 million deal with the Chiefs. Darwin Thompson was selected No. 214 overall by the team out of Utah State. Darrel Williams was undrafted out of LSU who had spent four of his five NFL seasons with the Dolphins. James Williams was recently signed as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State.

Prediction

Thompson will open the season as the Chiefs No. 2 running back. Head coach Andy Reid covets running backs who can catch passes out of the backfield. Hunt accumulated 79 receptions, 833 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns in his 27 games in Kansas City. Thompson had 23 receptions, 351 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns last season at Utah State.        

17. The Dolphins Starting Quarterback

Key Players: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Rosen

Did you know that Ryan Tannehill had been the starting quarterback for the Dolphins since he was selected back in the 2012 NFL Draft? He was traded to the Titans back in March. The Dolphins signed 14-year veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick days later to a two year, $11 million deal days later. The team then acquired Josh Rosen, the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, from the Cardinals in April. 

Prediction

Fitzpatrick opens the season as the Dolphins starting quarterback. This is the eighth NFL team he’s played for and a quarterback competition is nothing new for Fitzpatrick. He does have a tendency to implode on the football field at the worst time. This could open the door for Rosen to make starts in 2019. 

18. The Vikings No. 2 Running Back

Key Players: Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah

The Vikings enter the 2019 season with optimism under the guidance of offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and assistant head coach Gary Kubiak. Dalvin Cook is one player in a great position to benefit in this new offensive direction. He had dealt with a lot of adversity in his first two seasons. Cook’s rookie season ended after tearing his ACL. He also missed five games in 2018. Who will fill the void for the Vikings if Cook misses time? Alexander Mattison was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Ameer Abdullah was a second-round draft pick of the Lions in 2015. He was claimed by the Vikings in 2018 after being released by the Lions, but Abdullah only appeared in seven games. 

Prediction

Mattison will open the season as the Vikings No. 2 running back. The Vikings drafted him to specifically backup Cook after losing Latavius Murray to the Saints during free agency. Mattison has the potential to be a league winner if Cook were to miss an extended amount of time. 

19. The Giants No. 3 Wide Receiver

Key Players: Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Corey Coleman, Darius Slayton

The Giants traded Odell Beckham to the Browns for the 17th pick, the second of two of the team’s third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and safety Jabrill Peppers. This transaction allows wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who the Giants selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, to see an increased target share. The team also signed free-agent receiver Golden Tate. The Giants resigned receivers, Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer. Corey Coleman, a first-round pick of the Browns back in 2016, was picked up by the Giants and contributed last season as a kick returner. The team drafted former Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Who will step up this season?

Prediction

Coleman will open the season as the Giants No. 3 wide receiver. His 4.37 speed could allow him to earn a role on the outside attacking defenses vertically. One concern is that the Giants offense may not have enough passing volume to support more than one receiver. Saquon Barkley finished second on the team in targets (121) and lead in receptions (91). This scenario could repeat itself again with quarterback Eli Manning back under center in 2019. 

20. The Redskins Starting Quarterback

Key Players: Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy

The Redskins quarterback depth chart will look completely different this season. The team will have a new starting quarterback for the second straight season. Alex Smith was acquired by Washington from the Chiefs last year. He signed a four-year extension, but his career is in jeopardy after suffering a horrific leg injury last season. The Redskins used a first-round pick on former Ohio State quarterback Haskins.

The Redskins signed Case Keenum during free agency. The veteran who has made 39 starts over the course of the last three seasons. Keenum had success with the Vikings, but struggled last year with the Broncos. 

Colt McCoy has four years of experience in Redskins head coach Jay Gruden’s system. He has performed when given the opportunity. 

Prediction

Dwayne Haskins will open the season as the Redskins starting quarterback. He threw for 50 touchdowns last year in the Buckeyes pass-heavy offense. Haskins has the skill set to be successful in the NFL.

Conclusion

Fantasy drafts are won in the middle and late rounds. Understanding the depth charts and position battles are important elements of any draft strategy. What did you find most useful? 

Eric Moody
Eric Moody is a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers Association). His writing has been featured at FantasyPros, Gridiron Experts, RotoViz, and TwoQBs. He has a lifelong passion for the game and even played at the collegiate level as an offensive lineman. Eric also participated in Dan Hatman's Scouting Academy in order to learn the process of player evaluation at an NFL level. When Eric provides advice, he uses game film, analytics, and statistics to help you understand his perspective. He enjoys time with his family, Netflix, music, bass guitar, and coffee
LEGEND