Training Camp Preview: NFC West

Thu Jul 10 2:30pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Walker could be huge if healthy


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.

49ers

The 49ers were a big disappointment last year after several great years of success. They had all sorts of injury issues, though, especially offensively. If that unit can stay healthy, a nice rebound season could be in store for San Francisco. Much of camp should be focused on Christian McCaffrey, who might be the best overall player in the game when healthy. So the 49ers will need him on the field for a full season if the team hopes to get back to big things once again. McCaffrey and his teammates get camp started July 15 at the SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, Calif.

Position battle: The 49ers don’t have a lot to sort out at their major positions but they do have a kicker battle on their hands. Jake Moody just hasn’t been great since becoming the 49ers kicker. He has been up and down. The 49ers brought in veteran Greg Joseph for competition for Moody. These two will battle out for the right to be the No. 1 kicker for the 49ers.

Injury watch: Brandon Aiyuk is returning from a major knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL. He is making good progress, though. He was hurt in October of last year, so he has been recovering for a bit now. There is a small chance he is ready for Week 1 but likely will be out a few weeks of the season before returning. This is an injury to watch because Aiyuk is now the clear top receiver in a good offense with Deebo Samuel gone. He can make a fantasy impact when healthy.

Rams

The Rams just win games, making the playoffs once again last season. The big change this offseason was at receiver, seeing them switch out Cooper Kupp for Davante Adams. This should be an upgrade because of Kupp’s injury issues the last few seasons, but it also could cause some tension with Adams used to being the top receiver in an offense. He has Puka Nacua now to compete with for targets. And Nacua is the top dog in this offense. It will be interesting to see how Adams handles that. It might be the storyline of camp for the Rams. The Rams start camp July 22 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Position battle: The Rams have a battle on their hands at tight end for the first time in a long time. Tyler Higbee has been the starter for a long time in Los Angeles, but the Rams brought in some competition for him this year, drafting Terrance Ferguson. He is a talented pass catcher than can stretch the field in a hurry. If Ferguson hopes to start, he will need to improve his work as a blocker. If that happens, he could unseat Higbee sooner than later.

Injury watch: Tight end Tyler Higbee was slow to recover from surgery on his knee and shoulder last offseason, which forced him to miss all but three games. He seems healthy for this year but is 32 years old and battled some injury issues in recent years. His health will be something to watch during camp. If he looks slowed at all, it could really hurt his chances to be the No. 1 tight end in Los Angeles.

Seahawks

The Seahawks made a lot of big changes offensively this offseason. This should be the story of camp. Seattle is without longtime receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Jaxon Smith-Njigba takes over as the new No. 1 and Cooper Kupp was brought in to start alongside him. And the Seahawks also made a change at quarterback, bringing in Sam Darnold to be their starter. There is a lot of new offensively in Seattle, making it the storyline to watch. The offense and the rest of the team get it going July 15 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash.

Position battle: The Seahawks are another team that addressed the tight end position during the draft, picking Elijah Arroyo in the second round. He should compete with Noah Fant immediately for the starting job in Seattle. Fant is the well established veteran but is pretty ho-hum at this stage of his career. If Arroyo can give the offense a spark, he will get a chance to start over Fant. But like many young tight ends, Arroyo will need to improve his blocking if he hopes to get the starter’s job.

Injury watch: Kenneth Walker suffered an ankle injury this offseason and has been limited in offseason practices. The Seahawks say it is minor but you have to be somewhat concerned based on his injury history. Walker always seems to be dealing with some sort of injury. You will want to make sure this ankle injury isn’t still lingering as training camp opens. He doesn’t need to be going into the season hurt.

Cardinals

The Cardinals missed out on the playoffs last season but had a respectable 8-9 record. The big story of camp might be the connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., who didn’t seem to be on the same page last year. This led to a disappointing season for Harrison in year one. He could end up being a great buy-low candidate for this year, though, if things start to click between Murray and Harrison. We will get to see these two in action starting July 22 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Position battle: The Cardinals lack some top options at receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. He is the clear No. 1 but after that, there are a host of players looking to move up the depth chart and get consistent targets for the Cardinals. Michael Wilson started last year but he wasn’t overly impressive with his workload. He will need to show something in camp and preseason action if he hopes to continue to start. After him, you have Greg Dortch, Zay Jones and Xavier Weaver vying for playing time.

Injury watch: James Conner suffered a knee injury late last season and missed the final game. It seems the injury was pretty minor, though, and he should be a full go for training camp. Conner is 30 years old and has a ton of carries under his belt, so his health will be something to watch before the start of the season. You just never know with a back at this stage of his career.

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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Fantasy Life Championship Live Stream (7-9)

Player Notes
Najee Harris Jul 14 7:00pm CT
Najee Harris

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) suffered a superficial eye injury during a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July, but he isn't expected to miss significant time and should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season in early September. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Harris is likely to miss limited time to begin training camp this month. It's not the way the 27-year-old would have preferred to enter training camp in his first year in L.A., but it shouldn't affect his regular-season availability as he looks to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth straight season to begin his NFL career. Harris should have a key role in the Chargers' run-first offense in 2025, but his fantasy upside will be limited due to the presence of first-round rookie Omarion Hampton. Hampton has more big-play ability than Harris, who should be viewed as an RB3/flex target in fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Cam Taylor-Britt Jul 14 6:40pm CT
Cam Taylor-Britt

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has really benefited from the addition of new defensive coordinator Al Golden, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. Taylor-Britt has been unable to find consistency and was benched multiple times in 2024, but Dehner writes that his energy, athleticism and playmaking ability have shown up during the offseason. The 25-year-old former second-rounder (60th overall) in 2022 out of Nebraska has played at a high level before in Cincy's secondary and could become a true No. 1 cornerback for the Bengals in 2025. Although he had a career-high 77 tackles (58 solo), half a sack, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a career-high 16 pass breakups in 17 starts a year ago, Taylor-Britt was a liability in coverage and gave up 734 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. The Bengals need him to be better in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Jul 14 6:20pm CT
Rome Odunze

The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze should be much better in 2025 with a better offensive scheme and improved quarterback play out of Caleb Williams. Fantasy managers were disappointed with Odunze last season after he was taken ninth overall by the Bears out of Washington. However, Fishbain points out that the 23-year-old pass-catcher was fifth among all rookies in receiving yards (734) while catching 53.5% of his targets. He was most definitely inconsistent and scored only three times in 17 games (12 starts), but there remains plenty of upside, and he should be better in new head coach Ben Johnson's offense with Keenan Allen gone. Odunze's after-the-catch abilities and physical prowess make him a nice WR3/flex with upside to target in fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Jul 14 6:00pm CT
RJ Harvey

Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is expected "to play a significant role in the passing game," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver selected Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft and he enters training camp in a battle with free agent addition J.K. Dobbins for backfield touches. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime could also be in the mix. Harvey had just 20 receptions for 267 and three touchdowns last season at UCF, but it sounds as though he'll be relied upon as a pass-catcher in Denver. Broncos' head coach Sean Payton has designed offenses that heavily feature running backs in the passing game before, so Harvey's usage in that role could be a significant boost to his value in PPR league formats.

From RotoBaller

Luke McCaffrey Jul 14 5:30pm CT
Luke McCaffrey

Washington Commanders receiver Luke McCaffrey impressed during the team's offseason practices and should have a more meaningful role in 2025, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. Jones writes that McCaffrey "demonstrated an improved understanding of the playbook and improved confidence." A third-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, McCaffrey logged just 18 catches for 168 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie. The Commanders have Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel entrenched atop their depth chart at wide receiver, but there could be playing time available via the WR3 role. Veterans Noah Brown and Michael Gallup, as well as fourth-round rookie Jaylin Lane, are among the names McCaffrey will have to beat out for the job. He'll need to earn consistent playing time to become fantasy-relevant, but it appears as though McCaffrey will have that opportunity.

From RotoBaller

Braelon Allen Jul 14 5:10pm CT
Braelon Allen

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen will "have plenty of opportunities in 2025 to make his mark and prove he can be the long-term starter with (current starter Breece) Hall in the last year of his contract," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt notes that Jets' first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and play caller Tanner Engstrand would like to emulate the two-back model that was so successful in their last stop with the Detroit Lions. Allen was the clear RB2 behind Breece Hall last season, earning 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games played. A more even timeshare with Hall would be a highly fantasy-relevant development in the Jets backfield. That's especially true if Allen, as the larger back, gets more of the team's work around the goal line.

From RotoBaller

Mike Williams Jul 14 4:20pm CT
Mike Williams

The Los Angeles Chargers have placed wide receiver Mike Williams (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Los Angeles will start training camp later this week. The 30-year-old missed mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed injury, but Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believed the veteran would be available for the start of activities in July. It's worth noting that Schefter reports a player can be transferred off the PUP at any time during the offseason, and it's mainly used as a roster management tool at this point in the year. It's at least mildly concerning that the nature of the injury is unknown, although Harbaugh doesn't seem to be too concerned about it. Williams disappointed last year in his first season back from an ACL tear with the Steelers, but he'll get a chance to redeem himself in his second stint with LA. Barring health, that is.

From RotoBaller

Garrett Wilson Jul 14 4:00pm CT
Garrett Wilson

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson reached an agreement on a four-year, $130 million contract, including $90 million guaranteed. Per Schefter, this marks the first time in NFL history that a wide receiver will average over $31 million per year after only three seasons in the league. Despite sharing the field with former superstar teammate Davante Adams in 2024 and dealing with less-than-ideal quarterback play in the two years prior, Wilson has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and 80 receptions in each of his first three campaigns. He'll head into 2025 as the team's undisputed No. 1 pass-catching option, but will again face the difficulty of developing rapport with a new quarterback in Justin Fields. While the quality of his targets is currently unknown, the Ohio State alum's talent and usage should provide WR1 upside.

From RotoBaller

Colston Loveland Jul 14 3:50pm CT
Colston Loveland

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder), who hosted his first football camp for kids last week, remained a limited participant as he's still recovering from offseason AC-joint surgery. "It's been good," Loveland told Aaron McMann of MLive.com. "There haven't really been live bullets flying yet. We'll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff." Expectations are high in 2025 for the Bears, and that goes for the former Michigan Wolverine, too, despite his status as a rookie. It sounds like his shoulder has responded well, but he hasn't exactly been aggressive in his testing of it. The Bears boast an array of talented weaponry to deploy for second-year signal-caller Caleb Williams, and upgraded their coaching staff with the offensive-minded Ben Johnson. Loveland's impact could be spotty due to the excess of mouths to feed, but he has the talent to be a standout early on if he can adapt quickly to the league.

From RotoBaller

Sauce Gardner Jul 14 3:30pm CT
Sauce Gardner

ESPN.com's Rich Cimini reports that new New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has challenged defensive back Sauce Gardner to bring his game to a new level this offseason. "I know I'm not perfect, but the fact that he's trying to get perfection out of me is what I need," said Gardner. "I've had a lot of success, early success in the league...the last thing I need is a new regime to come in here and just allow me to be complacent." The fourth-year pro took the league by storm in his rookie season and followed it up with another exceptional campaign. However, 2024 saw Gardner rank 47 out of 52 qualified corners in EPA per target as the nearest defender, and he's recorded a lone interception in his last 31 appearances. It seems he's responded well to the challenge and is an excellent bounce-back candidate ahead of 2025.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Jul 14 3:20pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy alluded to Kay Adams during an appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up and Adams" that the team may return to their once-signature explosive play style. "Coach Reid told us during OTAs Phase 1, 'When you come back, get your hamstrings ready,'" said the former Texas Longhorn. Once a high-flying offensive juggernaut, Kansas City has shifted to a more clock-control, defensive-oriented style of play. However, Worthy flashed his prowess as a deep threat during the team's playoff run, and an improved offensive line could push the Chiefs back to favor stretching the field more in 2025. He'll have third-year running mate, Rashee Rice, and veteran tight end Travis Kelce to contend with for targets, although it isn't a foregone conclusion that Rice and Worthy won't be a boon for each other as they operate in different roles. The 22-year-old garners some of the highest upside of the mid-round fantasy wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Jul 14 2:20pm CT
Stefon Diggs

Despite an eye-raising off-the-field incident this offseason, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) impressed the team at minicamp and gave the impression he might be ahead of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear suffered last year. The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that Diggs will likely open training camp this month working on the side until he's fully cleared from his injury. It always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would mean he'd miss the first four games, but that all depends on how quickly he can get onto the field in a full capacity. He's on the wrong side of 30 with his prime behind him, and with Diggs' availability for Week 1 in question, fantasy managers have every right to be thinking about avoiding him entirely in drafts. It's not like Diggs was particularly explosive before his knee injury, either.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Jul 14 1:40pm CT
Xavier Legette

The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Xavier Legette should see improved production in 2025 as quarterback Bryce Young develops and rookie first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan draws coverage his way. Legette had 49 catches for 497 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts) after going 32nd overall in last year's draft out of South Carolina. It was a disappointment for the 24-year-old, but as Person points out, Legette didn't become a full-time starter in college until his fifth season. His eight drops put him among the leaders in that category. the 6-foot-3, 227-pounder has a big, chiseled frame and could make strides this year as long as Young continues to improve as well. There will be plenty of competition for targets in Carolina, though, so RotoBaller has Legette ranked as the No. 64 wideout.

From RotoBaller

Nate Wiggins Jul 14 1:20pm CT
Nate Wiggins

The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes that the Baltimore Ravens think second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins has star potential. The 21-year-old former 30th overall pick last year out of Clemson got better as the season advanced last year, and quarterbacks had just a 66.7 QB rating when targeting the young defensive back in 2024. He allowed only 31 receptions on 62 passes thrown his way while playing 68 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Wiggins has put on 10 pounds of muscle and has a much better understanding of the Ravens' defensive plan going into Year 2, which could be the recipe for a strong sophomore season. He finished his rookie season with 33 tackles (25 solo), an interception returned for a touchdown, 13 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 15 games (six starts).

From RotoBaller

Cole Bishop Jul 14 1:20pm CT
Cole Bishop

As long as he stays healthy, Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop is a pretty good bet to be a Week 1 starter in 2025, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. The 22-year-old former second-rounder (60th overall) in 2024 out of Utah was one of the main reasons why the Bills didn't address the safety position in this year's NFL draft. Bishop began his rookie season in Buffalo slow due to inconsistent performances and injuries, but he was able to hit his stride late in the year and even made spot starts in the regular season and playoffs. He finished his first regular season with 40 tackles (25 solo), two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 16 games (four starts) for the Bills. Buscaglia writes that Bishop looked more comfortable within the defensive scheme this offseason and has drawn very positive reviews from the coaching staff.

From RotoBaller

Quinshon Judkins Jul 14 12:00pm CT
Quinshon Judkins

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, more details have emerged involving Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins' recent arrest for domestic battery over the weekend via the arrest report. Judkins' accuser told police that he punched her with a closed fist in the chin/lip area and also hit her in the left arm and thigh while they were in a car leaving the airport on July 7. In addition to this disturbing news involving the 21-year-old second-round pick back in April out of Ohio State, Judkins remains unsigned by the Browns. Not only will he potentially miss valuable development time during training camp this summer, but he could be facing a suspension in his first NFL season in 2025. If Judkins is suspended for any length of time, it will make both Jerome Ford and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson even more valuable for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Kaden Elliss Jul 14 11:40am CT
Kaden Elliss

Linebacker Kaden Elliss has kind of flown under the radar among the Atlanta Falcons' defensive additions this offseason, but The Athletic's Josh Kendall believes that Elliss could end up being the team's most impactful pass-rusher this year. The 30-year-old veteran has 16 sacks in the last three seasons and leads the league in pressure percentage in that span. Despite the fact that the Falcons have also added outside linebackers Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has promised to keep deploying Elliss as a pass-rusher at inside linebacker. Kendall thinks that Elliss could rack up double-digit sacks in 2025 for the first time in his career -- his career-high of seven came in 2022 with the New Orleans Saints. Last year, Elliss had a career-best 151 tackles (85 solo), five sacks, eight tackles for loss, 16 QB hits and his first career interception.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Jul 14 11:20am CT
Jauan Jennings

Despite just requesting a new contract or a trade, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) is expected to be present when the team's veterans report for training camp next Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that Jennings' situation will be smooth and tidy after that. After signing a two-year, $15.4 million deal last year as a restricted free agent, the 28-year-old wideout broke out in 2024 to the tune of 975 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 77 receptions (all career-highs) in 15 games (10 starts). He missed some spring workouts with a minor calf injury, but he's expected to be fully healthy for the start of the 2025 regular season. With Deebo Samuel Sr. now out of town and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) potentially missing around half the season, Jennings is a prime WR3/flex target that should see an expanded role once again.

From RotoBaller

Darius Robinson Jul 14 11:20am CT
Darius Robinson

The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darius Robinson is healthy and positioned to make his mark in his second NFL season in 2025. The Cardinals took Robinson 27th overall in 2024 out of Missouri, but he injured his calf in training camp and spent the rest of his rookie campaign trying to play catch-up. As a result, the 23-year-old interior defensive lineman failed to make much of an impact, recording just 10 tackles (four solo) and one sack in six games played in the desert. With Robinson healthy going into this year, though, the Cardinals' defensive line could be much improved after the drafted pass-rusher Walter Nolen in the first round in April and also signed veterans Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. Robinson will surely play a much bigger part for Arizona's D-line in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Jul 14 9:10am CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings wants a new contract or to be traded heading into the 2025 NFL season. Jennings, who is set to make $7.5 million in the last year of his current deal, racked up career highs in receptions (77), receiving yards (975), and receiving touchdowns (six) a season ago. The 28-year-old is likely to start the season as the team's WR1 with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) potentially starting the season on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. Based on the average salary of his active deal, he ranks outside the top 40 wideouts. The former seventh-round pick out of Tennessee has a strong case to deserve a pay raise, and it would be somewhat surprising if the organization does not work with him, given its scarcity of pass-catchers behind tight end George Kittle. Should the Niners decide to trade him instead, his fantasy football outlook could be positively or negatively affected. His departure would open the door for sophomore Ricky Pearsall.

From RotoBaller