Training Camp Preview: AFC West

Thu Jul 21 12:45pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Hardman hopes to start for Chiefs


This is the fourth in a series of training camp previews. The previews give you a quick look at each team, going over position battles and injuries to watch in camp. The season is right around the corner.

Raiders

The Raiders made big waves this offseason. Las Vegas added Davante Adams to their offense and hired Josh McDaniels as their head coach. There are big expectations for this team this coming season. And it will start in training camp, seeing how quickly this team comes together. McDaniels will have a lot of pressure to get this unit going in a hurry. It will be interesting to see how McDaniels and the entire team handles it all. The Raiders hold training camp at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center in Henderson, Nev.

Position battle: Davante Adams is penciled in as the top receiver for the Raiders and Hunter Renfrow will work out of the slot. But the No. 2 job opposite Adams is up for grabs in Las Vegas. Keelan Cole, Demarcus Robinson, Mack Hollins and Tyron Johnson will battle it out for playing time at that No. 2 spot in the lineup. This is a pretty wide open battle. You could see any of these players emerge. 

Injury watch: Kenyan Drake broke his ankle late in the season. He recently stated he won’t be full speed for the start of training camp, but should be ready for the start of the season. The Raiders are likely to bring along Drake slowly, though, to make sure he doesn’t have any setbacks. Drake is expected to serve as the top backup for the Raiders and could have a big role in the new offense because of his pass-catching ability. 

Broncos

Denver finally landed their franchise quarterback this offseason, acquiring Russell Wilson. This solves a problem that has plagued the team for a long time. Wilson immediately gives the offense new life and makes the Broncos a playoff contender. Wilson should be the focus of this training camp for all Broncos fans. Wilson and his teammates get things going at the UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colo.

Position battle: The Broncos dealt Noah Fant this offseason, leaving a hole at tight end. Albert Okwuegbunam is the favorite to get that starting job, but the Broncos used a high-draft pick on Greg Dulchich. He could challenge Okwuegbunam for that starting job with a strong camp and preseason. Don’t count out the rookie. The Broncos are not going to just hand the job to Okwuegbunam. 

Injury watch: Jerry Jeudy suffered a groin injury during offseason workouts. He might not be 100 percent for the start of training camp because of injury. This is something to watch because Jeudy has a chance to finally have that breakout season. He needs to be healthy for that to happen, though. Hopefully, this injury isn’t too serious and Jeudy is ready to go shortly after camp opens. 

Chargers

The Chargers have one of the most exciting, young offenses in football, led by Justin Herbert. This team should be considered one of the best in football, heading into the season. There is a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. The big issue is getting over the hump in the playoffs. Can this team take the next step in their development? This will be question for the Chargers as they head into training camp and the preseason. The Chargers hold their training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Position battle: The Chargers are pretty much set at all their key offensive positions. The only real spot up for grabs is their backup running back job behind Austin Ekeler. The Chargers drafted Isaiah Spiller in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Spiller might be the favorite to win that top backup job. But Larry Rountree and Joshua Kelley also will be in the mix. Rountree got some action his rookie season and made some plays. This battle is pretty wide open and carries fantasy value with the Chargers talking about scaling back the workload of Ekeler a little. 

Injury watch: Star safety Derwin James is still recovering from offseason labrum surgery. He has not done any offseason workouts and could be slowed in camp because of the surgery. We would expect him to be ready for the start of the season, barring a setback in camp and preseason action. James is one of the top talents in the game defensively, so the Chargers will need him healthy and on the field if this team hopes to reach their heights.  

Chiefs

The Chiefs remain one of the top teams in all of football, but have some holes to fill this year. The team traded top receiver Tyreek Hill, leaving a huge hole to fill in the Chiefs offense. Do the Chiefs have enough firepower at receiver to make up for the loss of Hill? That should be the big focus of camp. Kansas City still has Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce left, so this offense should remain plenty potent. It remains to be seen if losing Hill puts a big dent in that unit. We will get an idea, starting in camp and preseason action. Kansas City trains at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo.

Position battle: As mentioned, Tyreek Hill is gone. This leaves a huge hole at receiver for the Chiefs. Kansas City added plenty of talent to help make up for that loss, but it remains to be seen how the depth chart plays out. There are a lot of talented players competing for playing time. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, Josh Gordon and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will battle it out for targets in the Chiefs offense. This could be a tough situation for fantasy teams to figure out, seeing the player that emerges to get the most targets.

Injury watch: This is likely a make or break season for Clyde Edwards-Helaire. If he doesn’t perform, the Chiefs could be moving on from their young back. He had injury issues again last year, missing seven games. He has missed 10 games in two seasons. He needs to show he can be a durable three-down back if he hopes to continue to start in the NFL. And it starts in camp. If he has any injury issues in camp or the preseason, it could derail his entire season. 

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Alexander Mattison Mar 18 11:13pm ET
Alexander Mattison

Dynasty | The Raiders have signed free agent running back Alexander Mattison. Dynasty Analysis: Mattison spent four years in Minnesota waiting for an opportunity to be a starter and finally got it last season. Unfortunately, it was a total disaster as he rushed for 700 yards with more fumbles (3) than rushing touchdowns (0). He added a 30/192/3 line through the air but was hardly a difference maker in the running game. He'll slot in behind projected starter Zamir White for the moment but the Raiders may not be done adding to the depth chart. Mattison is best served as a handcuff at the moment as it's unlikely he'll be battling for a starting position any time soon.

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Tony Pollard Mar 18 11:13pm ET
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Joshua Dobbs Mar 18 6:50pm ET
Joshua Dobbs

The San Francisco 49ers reached an agreement on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Monday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. Dobbs will give the Niners more depth behind starter Brock Purdy after Sam Darnold signed with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. The 29-year-old Dobbs was the early season feel-good story in the NFL last year with the Arizona Cardinals and Vikings, but he was ultimately benched in Minnesota after they acquired him in a trade. In 13 games played (12 starts), the Steelers' former fourth-round selection in 2017 out of Tennessee completed 62.8% of his pass attempts for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Dobbs also added six rushing scores. He should be considered the favorite for backups duties over Brandon Allen.

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Julian Blackmon Mar 18 6:30pm ET
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Free-agent safety Julian Blackmon will visit with the Buffalo Bills, according to sources. Blackmon has several suitors in free agency after enjoying a career season in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts, recording career-highs in tackles (88), solo tackles (65), interceptions (four) and passes defended (eight) while also recovering two fumbles in 15 starts in his fourth year with the team. The 25-year-old was taken in the third round by the Colts in 2020 out of Utah and has contributed 214 tackles (163 solo), one sack, 12 tackles for loss, seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 17 passes defended, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his 50 games played (46 starts). The Bills already lost Jordan Poyer and are unlikely to re-sign Micah Hyde, so safety is a big need for their defense this offseason.

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Rico Dowdle Mar 18 6:30pm ET
Rico Dowdle

The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday. With Tony Pollard moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, Dowdle is now No. 1 on the Cowboys' RB depth chart, for now. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina entered the league in 2020 with the Cowboys and has just 96 carries for 385 yards and two rushing touchdowns in his three NFL seasons, adding 17 receptions (22 targets) for 144 yards and two more touchdowns through the air. Eighty nine of his career carries came in 2023, when he rushed for 361 yards and two TDs in 16 regular-season contests. Depending on what Dallas does at the position in the upcoming NFL draft, Dowdle could see a substantial role increase in his fourth NFL campaign.

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Tavierre Thomas Mar 18 6:20pm ET
Tavierre Thomas

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Houston Texans cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hamstring) to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to a league source. Thomas will move to the NFC after spending the first six years of his NFL career in the AFC with the Cleveland Browns and Texans. In nine games (five starts) last year in Houston, Thomas had 51 tackles (30 solo) and two forced fumbles before a hamstring injury cut his season short in Week 14. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Ferris State will be an option at nickel cornerback for the Bucs in 2024 while also contributing on special teams. He won't be on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues. Thomas has a total of 225 tackles (144 solo), one sack, six tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), six passes defended, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 81 career games (22 starts).

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Alexander Mattison Mar 18 6:10pm ET
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Former Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison is signing an undisclosed deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to a source. Mattison is still only 25 years old and recorded 17 touchdowns in his five seasons in Minnesota after they took him in the third round in the 2019 draft out of Boise State. The 25-year-old was a disappointment in 2023 while taking over the lead-back role from Dalvin Cook, though, which is why Mattison was released this offseason. In 16 games (13 starts) last year, Mattison had a career-high 180 carries for 700 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and no rushing touchdowns while adding 30 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Jacobs is no longer in Vegas, but Mattison figures to work in a timeshare with Zamir White in his first year in Sin City in 2024.

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Chase Young Mar 18 6:10pm ET
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The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign former San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Chase Young to an undisclosed deal, according to a source. The 2020 No. 2 overall pick out of Ohio State will get a fresh start in New Orleans in 2024. Young was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 with the Washington Commanders when he had a career-high 44 tackles (32 solo), 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdowns) in 15 starts, but he played in just 12 games in the next two seasons, which is why the Commanders moved on. The 24-year-old combined for another 7.5 sacks last year with Washington and San Fran, though, and another bounce-back year could be in store for him in the Big Easy if he's able to stay healthy.

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Malik Nabers Mar 18 5:00pm ET
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NFL Insider and draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he would not be surprised if LSU's Malik Nabers is the first wide receiver off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, which takes place at the end of April. Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. has been widely regarded as one of the best overall players in the 2024 class for over a year, so this would be a change from what most analysts have predicted in the lead-up to the draft. Nabers posted 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in his junior season, while Harrison Jr. hauled in 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 scores. Jeremiah believes several NFL teams have Nabers as the top wideout prospect on their draft board, and which receiver is drafted first could come down to preference of style. Both players are considered locks to be selected in the first ten picks, and many mock drafts have both among the first five or six players selected.

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Taron Johnson Mar 18 4:50pm ET
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The Buffalo Bills are re-signing cornerback Taron Johnson to a three-year, $31 million deal, confirmed by his agent, Jason Chayut. Johnson earned his first All-Pro nod in 2023 after collecting 98 total tackles (72 solo), one sack, three forced fumbles, four interceptions, and eight passes defended in 17 games. His new deal makes him the highest-paid nickel corner in the NFL. The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Weber State will have to continue to step up in 2024, as the Bills will be without long-time starters in the secondary Tre'Davious White, Jordan Poyer, and Micah Hyde. Johnson was the No. 22 defensive back in IDP scoring last season.

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Bryce Young Mar 18 4:40pm ET
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Veteran free-agent center Bradley Bozeman is signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The former National Champion at Alabama was a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 and has 96 games (77 starts) of NFL experience under his belt with Baltimore and the Carolina Panthers. All-Pro center Corey Linsley was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list with a non-emergent heart-related issue last September and is likely to retire, meaning Bozeman has a path to the starting job in 2024. However, he struggled mightily to protect Bryce Young last season in Carolina, so L.A. might look to find a different starter at center in next month's NFL Draft.

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Michael Davis Mar 18 4:30pm ET
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Free-agent cornerback Michael Davis is signing with the Washington Commanders, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The former 2017 undrafted free agent spent seven seasons with the Chargers, racking up 348 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, eight interceptions, and 69 passes defended in 107 games (74 starts). The Commanders have now signed or agreed to terms with four defensive backs this offseason, so it's clear the franchise is looking to vastly improve in the backend under new head coach Dan Quinn. Washington gave up a league-worst 262.2 passing yards per game in 2023.

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Leighton Vander Esch Mar 18 4:20pm ET
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Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (neck) has decided to medically retire, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 2018 first-round pick by Dallas spent six seasons with the organization, racking up 469 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 25 run stuffs in 72 career games. He was named to the Pro Bowl and received All-Pro honors in his rookie season, but he battled injuries for the rest of his career. Vander Esch played in all of the team's games just twice in his six years in the NFL. In Week 5 of last season, he suffered a major neck injury, effectively ending his 2023 campaign. That appears to be the final straw for the 28-year-old as he heads into life after football.

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John Jenkins Mar 18 1:00pm ET
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Free-agent defensive tackle John Jenkins re-signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $3.25 million deal on Sunday, according to a source. The Miami Dolphins had initial interest in reuniting with Jenkins for a third time, but Jenkins chose to re-sign with Vegas instead. It's understandable why the Raiders wanted Jenkins back after he posted a career-high 61 tackles (24 solo), one sack and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 17 starts in 2023 in his first year with the team. The 34-year-old veteran was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round in 2013. With seven different teams over 12 NFL seasons, Jenkins has accumulated 273 tackles (136 solo), 3.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 11 QB hits, eight passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He's not on the IDP fantasy radar.

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Tua Tagovailoa Mar 18 12:40pm ET
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The Miami Dolphins re-signed offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn (quadriceps) to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Shawn O'Dare. Wynn will return to South Beach for his second season with the team. He started seven games for the Dolphins last year before landing on Injured Reserve with a quadriceps injury. The 28-year-old former 23rd overall pick of the New England Patriots in 2018 out of Georgia was great in pass protection for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before his season-ending injury, but he proved to be a liability as a blocker for the running game. Wynn has started 47 of the 50 games he's played in his career through five NFL seasons, but he's going to need to improve his run-blocking if he wants to continue in a starting job on Miami's offensive line in 2024.

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Noah Igbinoghene Mar 18 12:40pm ET
Noah Igbinoghene

The Washington Commanders signed free-agent cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to an undisclosed deal on Sunday, according to a source. Igbinoghene represents a depth signing for Washington's secondary, and he can also contribute on special teams. The 24-year-old former 30th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins out of Auburn has started just five of the 37 games he's appeared in over his four NFL seasons with the Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, so he certainly hasn't lived up to his first-round pedigree. He was traded from Miami to Dallas before the 2023 season and didn't record any stats in the five games he appeared in for the Cowboys. Igbinoghene is following former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to D.C.

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Joey Slye Mar 18 12:20pm ET
Joey Slye

Washington Commanders free-agent kicker Joey Slye signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, according to a source. The Jaguars initially were reported to have signed Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz this offseason, but that turned out to be false and Lutz re-signed with the Broncos. The Jaguars also have Riley Patterson, who they signed to a futures deal, so Slye and Patterson figure to be in competition for the primary kicking gig in Jacksonville in training camp this summer. The 27-year-old Slye has made only 82.3% of his field-goal attempts in five seasons in the NFL. In 17 games for the Commanders last year, he went 19-for-24 on field goals and 32-for-35 on his extra-point tries. Fantasy managers will be able to find better options at the position.

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Eric Kendricks Mar 18 12:20pm ET
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The Los Angeles Chargers and free-agent veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal on Sunday, according to a source. Perryman was the Chargers' second-round pick in 2015 out of Miami of Florida and was with the team in San Diego and LA from 2015-2020. In his six seasons with the Bolts to begin his NFL career, the 31-year-old had 250 solo tackles, five sacks, 26 tackles for loss, eight QB hits three interceptions, six passes defended, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 69 games (51 starts). His best season came in 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders, though, when he had a career-high 154 combined tackles in 15 starts to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. Perryman hasn't been as good the last two years with the Raiders and Houston Texans, although he'll be providing a veteran presence for the Chargers after Eric Kendricks moved on in free agency.

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Dak Prescott Mar 18 12:10pm ET
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The Dallas Cowboys converted a $5 million roster bonus due to quarterback Dak Prescott on Sunday into a signing bonus, creating $4 million in salary cap space for the 2024 season. The move reduces Prescott's salary cap number this year to $55.455 million, while two extra void years were added to his deal for cap purposes (void years now through 2028). It doesn't prevent the Cowboys and Prescott from further negotiating a long-term contract extension, but it gives the team some immediate cap relief. The 30-year-old made his third Pro Bowl in 2023 and had an excellent regular season, throwing for a league-high 36 touchdowns and 4,516 yards while completing a league-high 410 passes. Prescott isn't an elite fantasy QB because of his lack of rushing ability, but he's a fine consolation prize if you don't spend big money on the elite tier.

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Alexander Mattison Mar 18 12:10pm ET
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Free-agent running back Alexander Mattison is visiting with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to sources. Multiple teams are in play for Mattison this point after he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. Mattison took over the Vikings' lead-back role in 2023 after the team moved on from Dalvin Cook, but Mattison didn't impress with the extra playing time, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on a career-high 180 rushing attempts while running for 700 yards and no touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts). He added 30 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 44 targets. The Raiders didn't re-sign Josh Jacobs, so as of right now, Zamir White is their RB1 this offseason. If Mattison where to sign with Vegas, he'd most likely be involved in some sort of timeshare with White.

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