Training Camp Preview: NFC South

Wed Jul 27 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Thomas continues to battle injury


This is the seventh 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.

Falcons

The Falcons will be without longtime quarterback Matt Ryan for the first time in a long time. So the big storyline of this camp will be the quarterback spot. Marcus Mariota is expected to take over but rookie Desmond Ridder could also be in the mix. Either way, a new player will be at the helm at the most important position on the team. There will be plenty of pressure on this new player. Atlanta holds their training camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga.

Position battle: The Falcons have a lot of openings at receiver this year. Calvin Ridley is suspended for the entire season, leaving a huge hole at the position. The team drafted Drake London to serve a big role, but after him, it is Bryan Edwards, Olamide Zaccheaus, Auden Tate and Damiere Byrd are the top candidates to start opposite London. This is a wide open battle with a lot of similar options looking to start. 

Injury watch: Calvin Ridley has been indefinitely suspended through the conclusion of the 2022 season for gambling. He can appeal the suspension, though, so that is something to watch going forward. There is a slight chance he could get the suspension reduced because his gambling offense seems pretty minor. We might get more clarity on it all before camp is out. This is a situation to watch. 

Saints

New Orleans is another team that will be without a franchise staple at quarterback for the first time in several season. Drew Brees hung it up, leaving Jameis Winston as the new quarterback for the team. Winston will have a lot of pressure on him, taking over for one of the best quarterbacks of all time. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in New Orleans. Winston and his teammates train at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, La. 

Position battle: The Saints gave Adam Trautman a shot to start much of last year but he wasn’t great in that role. He should get first shot again this year, but won’t be handed anything. He will need to earn that job. Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill should be the top competition for Trautman. We should get a better idea of this position battle as camp practices get underway and preseason games get started. 

Injury watch: Michael Thomas didn’t play at all last year as he continued to be slowed by an ankle injury. He played just seven games the previous year. He is going to open camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start, which is not a great start for Thomas. The Saints don’t expect him to be on that list long, though. He should be practicing before long. Either way, his health is one to watch. If healthy and playing like his old self, Thomas can be an elite fantasy player. 

Panthers

The Panthers had a disappointing season last year, mainly because of inconsistent quarterback play and injury. Those should be the big issues to watch in camp for the Panthers. The Panthers will have a two quarterbacks batting it out to start. And Christian McCaffrey is healthy for now, but his injury issues the last few seasons really slowed the entire offense. It is essential for McCaffrey to be healthy if the Panthers hope to have a successful season. The Panthers hold their training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. 

Position battle: As mentioned, the Panthers will have quarterback battle on their hands this camp. Baker Mayfield is a heavy favorite to win, but the Panthers want him to earn the job. He will need to hold off Sam Darnold, who disappointed with his chances last year. Darnold will need to take a big step forward this year if he hopes to beat out Mayfield. 

Injury watch: Christian McCaffrey might be the most important player on the Panthers. Unfortunately, he has played just 10 games the past two seasons. He has battled various injuries, which is a big concern for potential fantasy owners. McCaffrey has the potential to be the top fantasy player in the game if he is able to play a full season. That is a big “if” after his last two years, though. 

Bucs

The Bucs likely get one more year out of Tom Brady, hoping to make another run at the Super Bowl. Tampa certainly has the pieces on both sides of the ball to win it all. Much of season might depend on Brady. If he can still keep performing at his usual level, this team will be tough to beat once again. Does Brady still have it in him at age 45, though? That is the question. Brady and company will start their quest for another Super Bowl at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla.

Position battle: Rob Gronkowski decided to retire once again, giving the Bucs an opening at their staring tight end spot. There are three candidates to start, including Kyle Rudolph, Cameron Brate and Cade Otton. Rudolph seems the most likely candidate to start, but his lack of production the last few years is a bit of a concern. He will need to show well in camp and preseason action to hold off the other two candidates. 

Injury watch: Chris Godwin suffered a torn ACL late last season, putting the start of his season this year in jeopardy. Godwin is making great progress from his injury, though, and is not even being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list as camp opens. This is a great sign for Godwin. The Bucs still might be cautious with their star receiver, though, bringing him along slowly early in the year. It is no sure thing he is in the lineup Week 1. 

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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Rico Dowdle Mar 18 5:30pm CT
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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 5:20pm CT
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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 5:10pm CT
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Michael Davis Mar 18 3:30pm CT
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Tua Tagovailoa Mar 18 11:40am CT
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Noah Igbinoghene Mar 18 11:40am CT
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Joey Slye Mar 18 11:20am CT
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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 11:20am CT
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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 11:10am CT
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Alexander Mattison Mar 18 11:10am CT
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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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