NFL Training Camp Fantasy Questions: Rookies, Rehabs, and Redemption Hopes

Intriguing new coaches. Ultra-hyped rookies. Carryover injuries. Even two guys awaiting jail sentences.

As NFL training camps opened this week, there were more question marks than in the Riddler’s wardrobe.

Answer these questions correctly before your fantasy draft and you’ll be off and running like Saquon Barkley this season:

Are we being buffaloed?

Let’s be honest: We’ve all checked to see if the Browns’ preseason opener against the Panthers is on our cable service. It is absolutely, positively must-see TV, and we don’t even know yet if Shedeur Sanders will be suiting up.

The current shade of Brown is so drab, would you be surprised if Sanders started the real-deal opener against the Bengals? Given Cincinnati’s lack of defense and the Browns’ surprisingly adequate receiving corps … heck, the guy did throw for 510 yards and four touchdowns in his Colorado debut two years ago.

If not Sanders, then who?

Almost surely there won’t be a Jayden Daniels among the 2025 rookie quarterbacks, but is it asking too much for another Caleb Williams or Bo Nix? First, someone’s going to have to get the same opportunity, which—given the fact that we’re talking about the Titans (Cam Ward), Giants (Jaxson Dart), Saints (Tyler Slough) and Browns (Dillon Gabriel)—is distinctly possible.

Keep an eye on Dart. Any quarterback with Malik Nabers on the other end has a chance to succeed. And any quarterback with only Russell Wilson in front of him has a chance to win the job.

Will we be hailing King Tuten?

There has never been a season in which so many rookie running backs were drafted with immediacy in mind. Two are expected to start (Ashton Jeanty, RJ Harvey), and at least six others—Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Bhayshul Tuten and Cam Skattebo—open camp with a puncher’s chance.

New Jacksonville coach Liam Coen squeezed gold out of mediocre backs in Tampa. Now he’ll be tasked with doing the same with incumbents Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby … unless Tuten goes full Bucky Irving in the preseason. Fantasy eyes will be on him.

How’s Tua looking?

Remember when the Dolphins were supposed to be the Lions last season? With the brilliant Mike McDaniel calling the shots, fantasy owners couldn’t snatch up Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane fast enough. Then down went Tua, and with him went all teal-tinted fantasy hopes.

Hill, Waddle and especially Achane are all being drafted as fantasy starters again this season. It would be wise to make sure Tua is able to jog out for the opening-day coin toss before risking the double whammy.

Where did the 49ers go?

If Kyle Shanahan is a quarterback whisperer, then Christian McCaffrey is a running back mother. In recent years, when McCaffrey has shouted in pain—which has been often—a new fantasy star has been born in the 49ers’ run-friendly system.

Now the question is: Can Elijah Mitchell unseat Isiah Pacheco in Kansas City? And can Jordan Mason bump Aaron Jones out of the way in Minnesota? A misstep for either of the oft-injured starters could put Mitchell or Mason back in another dream fantasy situation. And don’t forget Isaac Guerendo. He’ll be the guy given the red carpet to fantasy stardom in San Francisco if McCaffrey, coming off Achilles and PCL injuries, is seen in street clothes this preseason.

Is there still fame in their game?

You never know when your time is up, but it’s likely very close to the witching hour for McCaffrey, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Alvin Kamara, DK Metcalf, Cooper Kupp and DeAndre Hopkins. Next stop: the Fantasy Hall of Fame.

But all want to give it at least one more go, and a healthy preseason—especially for McCaffrey, Kamara and Metcalf—could be a buy sign at a discount rate in your fantasy draft. They might not play much in the non-counting games, so be sure to tune in early.

How swiftly can Ben Johnson fix the Bears?

Most of the talk in Chicago is about how Johnson, the mastermind behind Detroit’s pinball season a year ago, is exactly what Caleb Williams needs. The problem is: Caleb Williams isn’t exactly what Johnson needs.

Johnson’s Lions got more out of their running backs than any other team a year ago. Meanwhile, the Bears got about as little as any team from theirs. There once was a time when D’Andre Swift put up big numbers alongside Johnson in Detroit. Reunions can be fun, but Swift has to win the job first.

What’s in their future?

Very few teams locked their gates on the opening day of camp with “No Vacancy” signs. The list of missing players was impressive—and potentially troublesome come draft time.

What are we to do about Brandon Aiyuk (injured), Christian Watson (injured), Rashee Rice (potential suspension), Jordan Addison (potential suspension) and Terry McLaurin (holdout)? All are likely to play—and play well—this season. But when, and for how long? Keep your ears open.

Are tight ends no longer anti-heroes?

We might have seen the last of Travis Kelce’s dominance, but he’s started a revolution. NFL tight ends are so productive these days, early fantasy drafts have featured fights over Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and Sam LaPorta—in the second round, for crying out loud.

Every season, more and more good ones emerge. This year, three rookies were drafted to shine right away: Colston Loveland (Bears), Tyler Warren (Colts) and Mason Taylor (Jets). Here’s how you’ll know if Warren will be the cream of the new crop: if Anthony Richardson suffers his inevitable injury during the preseason. Traditionally skilled Daniel Jones can make Warren fantasy-worthy—and vice versa.

Which kicker jobs are up for grabs?

It doesn’t matter. The good ones have jobs, and that’s all fantasy owners need to care about.

Except that we lost a great one when Justin Tucker massaged his way out of the league, forcing fantasy’s kicking factory to churn out a new star. Tyler Loop appears to be in line to debut with a bullet, but they said that about Joshua Karty last year and it didn’t work out that way.

Seeing is believing: If Loop splits the uprights with his first preseason field goal attempt, place him prominently on your draft list.