The Atlanta Falcons took running back Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round of this year's draft because they think he can eventually carry the bulk of the load in their backfield. He set a single-season record at BYU last year with 1,601 yards and was fourth in rushing attempts (276) in college football. Seventy percent of Allgeier's yards last season also came after contact. But if Cordarrelle Patterson is healthy, the Falcons are unlikely to rush him into the RB rotation in 2022. But if Patterson isn't healthy or if the team is trying to keep him on a pitch count, the 22-year-old could get a lot of early playing time in his rookie season. Patterson should open the season as Atlanta's starter and Damien Williams and Qadree Ollison are around, but Allgeier probably has the best chance of anyone on Atlanta's roster of making a run at the starting job in 2022.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said the plan is for quarterback Jalen Hurts and the starters to play one or two offensive series in the preseason opener on Friday night against the New York Jets. The Eagles will be without left tackles Jason Kelce (elbow) and Jordan Mailata (concussion), but Hurts will play anyway. Second-year receiver DeVonta Smith (groin) is unlikely to play after missing his fifth straight training camp practice on Wednesday. There remain concerns about whether Hurts can improve as a passer, but the Eagles are expected to pass more with No. 1 wideout A.J. Brown now in town, and Hurts has top-five fantasy upside at the position after finishing the 2021 season as the QB10.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Wednesday that quarterback Joe Burrow (appendix) won't play in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Arizona Cardinals. Burrow remains without a timetable to return to training camp after undergoing an appendectomy on July 26. However, he was seen making some light throws at practice on Monday. It wouldn't be a surprise if the 25-year-old didn't suit up at all in the preseason, but he is fully expected to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. After leading a talented Bengals offense all the way to the Super Bowl in just his second NFL season, Burrow will be a strong QB1 target in fantasy football.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed former North Texas running back Deandre Torrey after his workout on Wednesday, according to a source. Torrey will be added to a running back room in training camp that already includes Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, Jason Huntley and rookie Kennedy Brooks. In his final season in college, Torrey had 1,329 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns, but his size (5-foot-7, 195 pounds) likely led to him being passed up in this year's NFL draft. He'll simply hope to impress the rest of camp in order to win a spot on the team's practice squad entering the regular season.
Indianapolis Colts offensive tackles Matt Pryor and Bernhard Raimann are battling for the starting left tackle job this summer after the team moved on from veteran Eric Fisher. Neither player is an ideal candidate for the left tackle spot, as Pryor has never been a full-time left tackle and Raimann is a rookie. Pryor is getting the first-team repetitions and has held up fine, while Raimann is off to a slow start in training camp. Pror isn't as agile as Raimann, but at 6-foot-7, 332 pounds, he has power. The offensive line has been a strength of the Colts in recent years, but the left tackle spot could be an issue for this offense and quarterback Matt Ryan.
The Chicago Bears removed linebacker Roquan Smith from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Wednesday. Smith has requested a trade and is holding in during training camp due to contractual issues, and he's not expected to begin practicing despite coming off the PUP list. It remains to be seen if the Bears trade him or give him a long-term contract extension before the 2022 regular season. Either way, the 25-year-old will be in play as the first linebacker off the board in IDP fantasy drafts. In 17 games for the Bears last year, he had a career-high 163 tackles (95 solo), three sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four QB hits, an interception returned for a touchdown and three passes defensed to finish as the No. 4 fantasy linebacker.
Green Bay Packers rookie second-round wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) continues to be sidelined at training camp as he recovers from offseason knee surgery. With Watson sidelined, rookie fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs has really stepped up in practices and has impressed quarterback Aaron Rodgers will consistent "wow" plays. The Packers are hoping to get Watson back on the field next week, but he's missing crucial repetitions to gain chemistry with Rodgers, who is notorious for being hard on rookie pass-catchers. The 23-year-old still has time to get ready before the start of the regular season, but all the time missed so far makes it more likely that he won't be a consistent producer early in the 2022 season.
New England Patriots second-year quarterback Mac Jones and the offense continue to struggle in training camp this summer. The defense has far outplayed the offense so far in camp, and The Athletic's Chad Graff thinks it's fair to be worried about the offense heading into the 2022 season. ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss thinks it wouldn't be a surprise if Jones doesn't play in the preseason opener on Thursday night against the New York Giants based on practices this week. The Patriots are replacing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who held the position for the last decade. It's still early, but neither the running game nor the passing game has gotten going. It's not great news for the fantasy stock of anyone in this offense, including Jones, who should be viewed as a low-end QB2 in 2022.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is scheduled to start the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with most of the rest of the starters, as long as he isn't suspended indefinitely by then. The NFL has appealed Watson's six-game suspended, which was handed down by Sue L. Robinson, and they are pushing for a season-long suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. The 26-year-old wouldn't be allowed to practice during training camp or play in preseason games if he's given a year-long ban. Watson has been accused of sexual misconduct by 30 massage therapists during appointments in 2019 and 2020, when he was with the Houston Texans. At the very least, Watson will be suspended for six games in 2022, making him more of a low-end QB2 target in fantasy drafts.
Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines has been hyped up all offseason as the Colts look to get him more involved in the passing attack in 2022. According to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler, Indy expects at least 60 receptions from Hines. The 25-year-old has caught 63 passes in a season twice, including his rookie year in 2018. His total of 40 catches for 310 yards and one touchdown were all career-lows, but the addition of quarterback Matt Ryan should change that. Jonathan Taylor will remain the team's bell-cow back on early downs for good reason, but the Colts will use Hines plenty as a pass-catcher, making him an intriguing RB3/4 with upside in point-per-reception fantasy leagues. For what it's worth, head coach Frank Reich recommends picking up Hines in fantasy drafts.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Tee Higgins (shoulder) is ready to go, but the team is taking it slow with him in training camp. "He looks good," Taylor said. Higgins should rejoin the Bengals offense in team work at camp next week. The 23-year-old pass-catcher had labrum surgery in March, which has kept him off the field so far this offseason, but he's still expected to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. He took a step forward in his second season in 2021, going for 74 receptions (110 targets), 1,091 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 14 regular season games. Despite plenty of options for quarterback Joe Burrow through the air, Higgins is one of his favorite targets and should be considered a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in fantasy football.
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