NFL training camp notes: News, fantasy football updates

Best of the rest:

• Bijan Robinson's highlight reel from camp keeps growing. On Saturday, he caught a screen pass and hit the brakes as a defender flew by. He also showed deft footwork on a catch by the sideline. Teammates have grown accustomed to these plays. "You see at least one or two ridiculous plays every day," guard Chris Lindstrom said. "And then you go back to the film and they are even more impressive. You don't have full appreciation for them in the moment." Smith isn't giving away any trade secrets on how he'll utilize him, but he pointed out that Robinson's skill set opens up possibilities. As a receiver, Robinson can line up in a variety of ways.

• Smith told me that quarterback Desmond Ridder has shown "constant improvement" in training camp and will "keep taking steps" in his development as the starter. The Falcons got significant reps for backups Taylor Heinicke and Logan Woodside -- and it's noteworthy that Heinicke was doing his normal Heinicke thing where he finds creative ways to move the offense downfield -- but the Falcons' offense is very much Ridder's. He'll get a lengthy run to show he's the guy long term.

• Some fans might have been surprised that linebacker Kaden Elliss got a three-year, $21.5 million deal from the Falcons in free agency, but the early returns are positive. Atlanta has been impressed with his pass-rushing skills. Fontenot was part of the Saints' scouting department that drafted Elliss in the seventh round four years ago, so he knew what he was getting. Elliss has shown the ability to win one-on-one rushing opportunities without schematic smoke and mirrors.

• A sleeper to file away: wide receiver Frank Darby, who has been a roster bubble guy since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2021. But Darby made several nice catches Saturday, including a diving, over-the-shoulder grab by the sideline that hyped teammates.

Key fantasy note: Who is the Falcons' No. 1 target in the passing game? That could end up being a close call between Drake London and Kyle Pitts, who got plenty of targets in the practice I attended. But the sense after asking around is London will emerge as a true No. 1 receiver, and that he and Pitts will both have a healthy target share. Pitts didn't show any residual effects of the MCL injury that required surgery in November. If you're going with positionless football, which the Falcons value, then Robinson and Jonnu Smith are most likely next up, as well as Mack Hollins, who's had a nice camp.

Fowler's notes from Carolina Panthers camp

Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Date visited: Aug. 4

After taking one of multiple coverage sacks Friday, Bryce Young started jogging downfield before chucking the ball into the ground in disgust, a rare glimpse of raw emotion from a steely player. But this was a small blemish on an otherwise strong day for Young, who completed passes into tight coverage downfield and did not commit a turnover. Young's arm strength is adequate, and his savvy fools even the Panthers' best defensive players.

"He caught me today, actually," pass-rusher Brian Burns told me. "I was dropping in the hook ... he kind of looked me off and like, I guess gave a little pump fake, so I bit on the cheese and he hit me over top for a big one. So I'm going to get him back. But it is good to have that on the other side. I think he's going to be good for us."

A few themes have emerged in Young's evaluation:

• He has already advanced in the art of the line-of-scrimmage check -- Young shows full command of the offense pre-snap. At one point in the spring, he checked into a play that the Panthers hadn't run yet.

• The Panthers aren't concerned about interceptions in training camp. Young has thrown several, but coaches have encouraged him to try new stuff, with one I spoke to comparing the process to Chris Rock testing out new material in small clubs to rehearse for the big Netflix special.

• Yes, there's concern here about his size. That's natural. Young is listed at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds, and the Panthers knew the risks when they drafted him. But they are confident in how he protects himself, and the staff has encouraged him to throw the ball away when the play isn't there.

• Young has a quick release and adequate arm strength -- not a huge arm, but plenty good. But the quickness of the release is most impressive.

• Young's relationship with backup Andy Dalton has blossomed. The two have become close, and Dalton is constantly talking things out with him. Carolina has surrounded Young with QB whisperers. Three of his coaches -- Reich, senior assistant Jim Caldwell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown -- carry cachet in working with quarterbacks.

The Panthers set their sights on Young months before the draft, and when they traded with Chicago to secure the No. 1 pick, they challenged themselves to find a reason not to take him. They didn't find one (even though Anthony Richardson thoroughly impressed in the process). Months later, the Panthers have zero regrets. There's definitely a feeling they got the right guy, because of his makeup, character and ability to process information.

Best of the rest:

• On Adam Thielen's way out of Minnesota, questions persisted about whether he could still separate. The Panthers have been pleased with his top-end speed, tracking him at 20-plus miles per hour on the GPS device. Thielen had a knee injury late last season that could have affected his burst. Now fully healthy, the Panthers expect him to play a variety of roles, from working in the slot to getting loose on the outside.

• The Justin Houston signing was timely. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said last week "it's a fact" that someone opposite Burns needs to solidify the starting role. With Marquis Haynes Sr. injured, Carolina pushed to make a move but wasn't comfortable paying the $10.5 million that Yannick Ngakoue got from Chicago.

• Burns told me he's not concerned with his contract but would love to stay in Carolina long term. He reported to camp because he wanted to show leadership. Sides are not close on a new deal. With Nick Bosa expected to put up a massive number on an extension with San Francisco, that could have a trickle-down effect on Burns, the proverbial next man up. Burns doesn't seem hesitant to play out the last year of his rookie contract at $16 million guaranteed. He's eyeing a massive season regardless. "I'm far from my ceiling," Burns said. He thinks a more improved Carolina team will result in more opportunities for pass-rushers and others. "We've been pretty bad for the last couple of years," he said. "I've been through the downs a lot. It's time to start winning. It's at that point."

• DJ Chark Jr. could end up being a steal in free agency after signing for $5 million guaranteed on a one-year deal. Chark finally looks healthy and is showing explosiveness. He caught a slick touchdown from Young by the sideline, and his deep-ball prowess has been on display.

• Consider safety Jeremy Chinn a "big nickel" player -- he can play cornerback in the nickel package or slide to linebacker in a dime package. The Panthers believe he can stuff the stat sheet in this new role. "This guy is a weapon," Evero said.

Key fantasy note: Running back Miles Sanders has a relatively healthy fantasy outlook. The loose expectation is he'll hover around 15 carries per game, on average, along with 3-5 catches per game. Some running backs can run parts of the wide receiver route tree, some can't -- Sanders can. Expect Carolina to utilize his hands more than Philadelphia did. And Young isn't afraid to check it down if there's not a play downfield, as he showed during Friday's practice. So, Sanders won't lead the league in touches -- Carolina's offense isn't built like that -- but Carolina believes he's capable of handling three-down-back duties.

Graziano's notes from Dallas Cowboys' camp

Location: Oxnard, California
Date visited: Aug. 3

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the Cowboys made a coaching change on offense this offseason, letting go of coordinator Kellen Moore, promoting Brian Schottenheimer to replace him and announcing that head coach Mike McCarthy would call the offensive plays. That means a lot of this training camp is about quarterback Dak Prescott and McCarthy getting used to each other with McCarthy in a new role. The Cowboys aren't changing a ton of the offense, and they aren't going to be run heavy, in spite of the external narratives.

"Look at our personnel," one Cowboys official told me. "Do we look like we're built to be a run-first team?"

They do not. They added wide receiver Brandin Cooks and subtracted running back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. Tony Pollard, who projects as the lead back with Elliott gone, is a particular kind of back who excels in space and in the passing game. Never in McCarthy's 22-year career as a head coach or offensive coordinator have his teams been run dominant, and you shouldn't expect this one to be either.

No, the emphasis with Prescott this camp is on adjusting his footwork to account for the West Coast elements the offense is installing, marrying that footwork with the routes his receivers are running, and working on the communication from McCarthy on the sideline to Prescott in the huddle.

"We're installing the plays with a lot of detail, making sure everybody understands the purpose of a play, the details of a play and their role within the play," Prescott said after Thursday's practice.

He acknowledged the offense is changing more this year than it did in 2019, when the Cowboys replaced Scott Linehan with Kellen Moore at offensive coordinator. And that's definitely something to watch, especially early in the season. Prescott has never played in the NFL without having Moore around. Moore was the backup quarterback in Prescott's first two seasons, then moved right onto the coaching staff. Moore and Prescott had a great deal of success together. And while Prescott and the Cowboys believe he's at the point in his career when he can smoothly handle a change at offensive coordinator, it would be understandable if there were some growing pains.

Best of the rest:

• The Cowboys didn't know, as of Thursday when I was there, when holdout guard Zack Martin would show up for camp. But it didn't sound to me like Martin should expect to get what he's looking for in terms of a contract extension any time soon. Martin has two years left on his current deal and turns 33 in November, which means he'd be turning 35 in November of the first year of an extension. Dallas still has a big extension to do with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who could be looking at nearly $30 million per year, and the Cowboys know they'll have to address Prescott's contract situation next offseason. Martin's getting fined $50,000 for each day of camp he misses, and the collective bargaining agreement prohibits teams from rescinding fines for missed training camp days. If Martin were to miss Dallas' first preseason game, which is Saturday against the Jaguars, he'd be subject to a fine equivalent to one regular-season game check. And while that sounds significant because Martin's making $13.5 million in 2023, it's worth noting that the Cowboys already converted $11.8 million of salary into a signing bonus for cap purposes. So Martin's base salary this season is technically only $1.7 million -- which means one game check comes out to $94,444.44. That might not be much incentive for him to end his holdout by Saturday.

• Several coaches and front-office officials with the Cowboys brought up the offseason trades for Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore as moves that could pay off more than the team even expected. Cooks gives Dallas a downfield threat in the passing game, but more than that, folks in Oxnard have been talking up what he has brought to the locker room as a leader and a professional. And they're saying the same kinds of things about Gilmore, who earned similar rave reviews from people who coached and played with him last year in Indianapolis. The Cowboys traded a fifth-round pick to the Colts for Gilmore and a fifth-round pick plus a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Texans for Cooks, and they believe they got premium players for a low cost at two key positions.

• Dallas looks pretty loaded on defense, particularly up front. And while it's great to have depth, the Cowboys could have some tough choices on the defensive front come roster cut-down day. Don't be surprised if teams (Seattle?) looking for defensive line depth come calling to see if Dallas wants to trade someone away rather than cut them.

Key fantasy note: Last year's average of 12.1 carries per game was a career high for Pollard, and he had exactly as many catches (39) as he did the previous year. He's also coming off a significant injury suffered in a January playoff game. What am I getting at? Look, I expect Pollard to be the No. 1 running back in Dallas, obviously, and I think he'll be a nice fantasy asset. I'm just not sure you should expect any more production from him this year than he gave you last year just because Elliott is gone. The Cowboys still see Pollard as a player they have to be careful not to overwork if they're going to keep getting the best out of him, so I would expect them to use other backs in combination with him.

The question is who those other backs would be, and with Ronald Jones suspended for the first two games of the season, those questions intensify. The Cowboys are higher on second-year back Malik Davis than you might think, and I believe 5-foot-6 rookie Deuce Vaughn will have a role as well. They love what he has shown with the ball in his hands, so they'll work to find ways to put it there. I wouldn't be stunned if Dallas signed one of the veteran backs who are still out there, but they're cost conscious, especially this time of year. I wouldn't expect them to sign, say, Dalvin Cook unless his contract demands were to drop. And I do not see them bringing back Elliott at all.

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Graziano's notes from Los Angeles Chargers' camp

Location: Costa Mesa, California
Dates visited: Aug. 1-2

The Chargers were, quite frankly, shocked this offseason when they learned offensive coordinator Kellen Moore might become available. Once the Cowboys cut Moore loose, the Chargers jumped quickly to hire him to oversee the next stage of the development of their brilliant young quarterback, Justin Herbert. Coach Brandon Staley said Herbert's having the best camp he has had in Staley's three seasons with the Chargers.

"He makes the game easy for the quarterback," Staley told me when I asked him about Moore. "He really allows the quarterback to play fast, and what we're really trying to do is get Justin to play fast and be aggressive -- not just, like, in the deep part of the field, which is what everyone wants to focus on. It's that, of course, but it's the way that you command the play before the ball's even [thrown]. And now that you've developed this trust and chemistry with your group on the outside, you can really be on the attack."

The Chargers, as seems too often to be the case, struggled with injuries last season. They lost left tackle Rashawn Slater in the third game to a torn biceps tendon. Receiver Keenan Allen missed seven games while Mike Williams missed five, including the playoff game. Herbert himself played through a painful rib injury for about half the season. The 2022 Chargers will always be remembered for the way it ended, because a blown 27-point lead in the playoffs is not the kind of thing you typically forget. But given everything they went through, winning four straight games after falling to 6-6 in December and just getting into the playoffs in the first place was something of a feat.

Fast-forward to training camp, with a new offensive coordinator and Herbert and the group around him fully healthy, and hopes are high. The Chargers think they have the best offensive line they've had in years, and they think Moore positions Herbert to elevate his game even more.

"Last year, we were just trying to make it work, and we did -- he threw for 4,700 yards," Staley said. "I know it wasn't stylistically what people would want to see from him, but it was kind of how we had to play. But Kellen does such a good job of getting the quarterback to play fast, giving him that green light to go. And I don't think he bogs the quarterbacks down with some things that don't matter. Because of his playing experience, he can engineer the plan where this guy can really go."

Best of the rest:

• Staley has not shied away from addressing the playoff collapse. "What you've got to do is get your group back and you've got to get them ready for training camp, because you know you have what it takes," Staley said. "So I think we got off to a really good message. Our training camp mission is always really important to me. You're really trying to set the course for the season. And we faced what happened in that game. And we talked about why things happened, and it's not about the football gods, it's not about, 'That just wasn't our day' -- it's just that we didn't play well enough. And we talked about why and faced it and took responsibility for it. And also what's important for perspective is, 'You know, guys, this is a part of pro sports.'"

• To that end, Staley showed his team a reel of famous collapses, including the Patriots blowing a 21-3 lead to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game in 2007 and a late blown lead by Manchester City against Real Madrid. The message, Staley said, was, "Okay, guys, you're not the only ones. So don't get into this mindset of, 'Man, we're a victim to whatever.' No. You play long enough, you coach long enough, you compete long enough, you're going to have a tough game like this. But these teams have elite cultures, they have the elite players and coaching, and they have the belief that their way is really special. And here's the response. Here's what they did to get over it." Staley then pivoted to his own team, telling his players, "The last four teams to play in the Super Bowl, we've beaten every one of them, three out of four on the road. Kansas City? Good team. We've been winning in the fourth quarter of every single game. [We were] 4-2 last year when we were down by 10 points, all this good stuff. You went on a four-game run to get in the playoffs, and yeah, it stopped at this game, but don't you forget you were up 27-0 in that playoff game. Because it wasn't lucky that we were up 27-0. It's because of how you guys were playing, and you guys were prepared, and then in the second half, we didn't have good enough stuff."

• It seems like the message was well-received in the locker room. "I think it'd be really easy to cover it up and move past it," Herbert told me. "But as difficult as it is to kind of talk about, you have to address it. You have to learn from it, or else it beats you up over and over again. So for us to be able to address it, talk about it, it was really valuable. Hopefully we've learned as much as we can from it."

• The Chargers are excited about adding first-round pick Quentin Johnston to an already strong wide receiver corps, especially since they believe the veteran quality they already have at that position will allow them to ease Johnston in without asking too much of him right out of the gate. "You're getting a premium wideout in the first round, but he doesn't have to do it all right away," Staley said. "He's got these three [other] guys, you can get him a role, get him going, get him confidence and so he's off to a good start in camp, but you're seeing, long-term, this guy's just got a lot of stuff that's hard to find."

Key fantasy note: The Chargers' offense is pretty straightforward for fantasy purposes. You basically know what you're going to get from wide receivers Allen and Williams, as well as running back Austin Ekeler, who should be one of the earliest picks in any draft. Los Angeles drafted Johnston at No. 21 overall, indicating that it plans a big role for him even with those two veteran wideouts still earning more than $20 million per year.

But don't overlook Joshua Palmer, a 2021 third-round pick out of Tennessee. He quietly caught 72 passes last season, and the team really believes in his abilities. He was a standout on the practice field both days I was there. It may be a late-round flier in a deep league where you start three or more wide receivers, but if something happens to Allen and/or Williams (as, unfortunately, it often does), Palmer could carry some sneaky fantasy value in what should be a highly productive offense. Some of the comparisons I heard from Chargers people on Palmer's traits included Amari Cooper and Chris Godwin, which is pretty high praise.

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Fowler's notes from Jacksonville Jaguars camp

Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Dates visited: Aug. 1-2

Receiver Calvin Ridley had several drops Wednesday. But watching his dazzling route running can make you forget about them.

The buzz is growing around Ridley, who has had a few "wow" moments early in camp. His explosion and footwork simply look different than everyone else on the field.

"He can really push. We can push the ball downfield with him," quarterback Trevor Lawrence told me. "Just his speed, his route running. He's just really precise. You know, he's a great, great route runner, gets open, obviously strong, has great hands. And he's good in the open field, too. He's good after the catch. So I think all those things make it really tough. If we can keep [the defense] on the move, get the ball in his hands and space, he's going to be great for us."

The Jaguars are still taking it slow with Ridley, who they acquired in an unexpected trade with the Falcons at the November deadline. Ridley's rocky two-year stretch with the Falcons included foot surgery, a mental health-related absence from the team, a yearlong gambling suspension and a burglary gang reportedly targeting his Atlanta area home.

The Jaguars made the calculation that Ridley's immense talent superseded any receiver additions they might be able to make with the two Day 3 picks they gave up to acquire Ridley (one can turn into a conditional second-rounder). The team's staff and personnel to whom I spoke believe Ridley is in a good place, with the receiver and his family settling in the Jacksonville area. On the field, the team will line him up primarily on the outside.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson took mental notes on Ridley's game over the years, including his 105-yard performance against his Eagles in 2019.

"He's done an outstanding job," Pederson said. "He practices hard, fast. You've just got to keep him and Trevor on the same page. You've got a lot of time before the seasons as starters. He's picking up the offense, he's studying it. The biggest test, these opportunities coming up in these preseason games, to get a chance to play and make a play."

Best of the rest:

• Poised for a massive third year, Lawrence has been focused on subtle improvements to elevate Jacksonville's offense. He has added about 6-7 pounds of muscle, which Lawrence says is an every year struggle thanks to a high metabolism. He has refined his throwing mechanics and footwork. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are challenging Lawrence to get the offense into the right plays with checks at the line of scrimmage. He did a good job of this during the second half of the 2022 season, when Lawrence had the league's second-best passer rating. Training camp is a chance to experiment further with that. "Making good decisions, getting it to the right guy in space, not forcing the ball -- I'm just trying to get better and better at that, just knowing when to be aggressive and when to pull back," he said. A big third year could vault Lawrence firmly into the top tier of NFL quarterbacks. Teammates say the 2021 No. 1 pick is equipped to handle any extra attention or scrutiny. "Trevor was famous at Clemson, been famous all his life," wide receiver Zay Jones said. "He'll be great handling stardom. I'm excited to see his ceiling in terms of how he progresses as a quarterback. I told someone yesterday, my favorite characteristic about Trevor is his poise. He's just always so chill, so I think he's going to be just fine."

• On defense, Tyson Campbell is garnering major buzz in Jaguars camp. Jacksonville believes it might have its next great corner. His battles with Ridley have been fierce enough to perhaps make Sundays a little bit easier. "I live for moments like this," Campbell said about guarding top receivers. Elsewhere on the unit, the interior defensive line has been perceived as impressive so far in camp, especially when Travon Walker slides inside for the power rush.

• Tight end Evan Engram believes he is well past the confidence issues that plagued his time with the Giants -- which has him feeling dangerous. "Being a confident player, playing free -- that's something I lacked a while ago and something I'm strong on now," Engram told me. Engram had modest production in five seasons in New York but fell short of his sizable expectations as a first-round pick out of Ole Miss. He struggled with drops at times. Engram learned "how to really look in the mirror and find your faults and attack the things you might not want to address." That helped him validate his skill set in Jacksonville, which signed him to a one-year, $9 million deal in 2022. Engram caught 73 passes for 766 yards last season, parlaying it into a three-year, $41.25 million extension. "Back then [in New York], I was out there just kind of running around and letting pure talent take over," he said. Sometimes that worked, sometimes it didn't. I knew what I was capable of. It wasn't showing up on game days. So I had to work to try to perfect my craft." Now he's eyeing a major connection with Lawrence -- perhaps a legendary one. Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes comprise the best NFL tight end-quarterback duo, but Engram believes he and Lawrence could make a compelling case eventually. The two had a moment in Wednesday's practice where Lawrence signaled Engram to abandon his route and shoot to the outside and beat the coverage, and "we banged it for a touchdown," Engram said. "It definitely will take time and reps in practice and mistakes, but the relationship can definitely be similar [to the Chiefs' connection]," Engram said. "The way Trevor approaches the game, the swagger he plays with, when he takes control of the offense, anything can happen."

Key fantasy note: Pencil in running back Travis Etienne Jr. for a big year. The Jaguars believe he can improve on last season's 1,125-yard rushing debut by hitting holes harder. The coaches showed him clips of how effective he can be when he squares his shoulders, finds the crease and gets downhill. "He's done an outstanding job. He's bought into that," Pederson said. So what could happen as a result? "Maybe he's pushing 1,600, 1,700 yards as a rusher," Pederson said. Plus, Etienne has gotten additional work with the wide receiver group at times in camp. His route tree isn't extensive yet, but he's a very natural pass-catcher.

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Graziano's notes from Los Angeles Rams' camp

Location: Irvine, California
Date visited: Aug. 1

Watching the Rams practice these days, it can be hard to remember they won the Super Bowl 18 months ago. Yes, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp are all still there. But beyond that, there has been a ton of roster turnover, and it's entirely possible the Rams will have the youngest team in the entire NFL this year.

What they don't want to do is use the word "rebuild."

"I don't know what we call this," GM Les Snead told me. "I think it's just natural in the NFL. This era, we've had six years, so in that time it's going to be natural that you have some veterans that move on or start aging. You can try and rebuild and spend a lifetime trying to find a Matthew Stafford, a Cooper Kupp, an Aaron Donald, a Sean McVay and go, 'Okay, we didn't find any of those.' So as long as we have those guys, as long as they stay healthy and don't hit a wall, if they do play well, you have a chance."

Trading away early round draft picks for guys like Stafford and Von Miller delivered the Rams a Super Bowl title, so they would never go back and do things differently. But every action has consequences, and the result of those moves (other than the Super Bowl) is that the Rams haven't really been able to build a young core around the kinds of premium players you find in Rounds 1 and 2. They have done a good job over the years in the middle and late rounds, and it's very possible some of the younger guys they have end up turning into stars. But from this vantage point, it's hard to figure out which ones will or even can.

One thing the Rams do have going for them: They should be in position to rebound and re-stock as early as next year. They're carrying more than $74 million in dead money on this season's salary cap as a result of unloading guys like Jalen Ramsey, Allen Robinson II and Leonard Floyd, but taking all of those hits now should leave them in a strong cap position next year and beyond. They also, for the first time since 2016, have a first-round pick in the draft. So if things go really bad, the Rams might be in position to draft Stafford's replacement.

And if they're out of it in late October, what's to stop them from dangling Donald -- who has toyed with the idea of retiring anyway in recent years -- as a trade chip for a team looking to beef up for its stretch run? Remember, the Rams are trying to absorb as much of that dead money as possible this season.

Best of the rest:

• Kupp left the practice I attended with a hamstring injury, which is alarming when you look at the rest of the wide receiver depth chart. Yes, the Rams still have Van Jefferson, but he seems to always be dealing with some physical issue, and while he's healthy now, they are being careful with him in this camp. L.A. seems happy with DeMarcus Robinson, the former Chiefs receiver who joined the Rams in free agency this offseason after one year in Baltimore. And Ben Skowronek has been in the program for a while and had some productive moments. But Kupp is head and shoulders above the rest of the Rams' WR room, and if he were to miss time again this season, their passing game likely would be very limited.

• Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is the one veteran in an otherwise extremely young secondary. The Rams are high on their young corners and safeties, but if there's a position to watch where they may decide to add a veteran once other teams start making cuts, it's probably defensive back.

• All of the Rams' specialists are rookies. All of them! Seventh-rounder Ethan Evans looks like a keeper at punter, and they seem happy with long-snapper Alex Ward, an undrafted rookie out of UCF. But it wouldn't be shocking to see the Rams on the lookout for a kicker as camp rolls along.

Key fantasy note: The Rams didn't necessarily expect Sony Michel's retirement decision, but it also didn't have a major effect on their plans at running back. They look at Cam Akers and Kyren Williams as their top two backs, likely in that order. Michel, they felt, was a major help as a pass protector, so they'll look for those other two guys to pick things up in that area. The Rams believe both can do it, but they like Williams a little bit more as a pass protector than they do Akers. So while Akers is likely the nominal "starter," Williams could carve out a role and then be the guy they lean on in the run game if something were to happen to Akers.

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Fowler's notes from Tampa Bay Buccaneers camp

Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Date visited: July 31

The Bucs seem to be enjoying the low-key nature of a training camp without Tom Brady. But they are also legitimately curious why fans and media are down on them, perceived as cellar-dwelling rebuilders with minimal league-wide buzz.

Tampa has at least seven top-15 players at their respective positions. Yet ESPN's post-draft power rankings placed Tampa Bay 30th, ahead of only Houston and Arizona. Roster rankings from colleagues Mike Clay and Seth Walder wedged Tampa between Atlanta and Tennessee in the No. 27 spot. So, there's an energy here emanating from underappreciation -- like, watch when we contend for the NFC South.

"It's nuts. We've got a lot of great players still," said Ieft tackle Tristan Wirfs of the slights. "It's not bad to put a chip on our shoulder, I guess. I've seen the narrative. But we lost one guy."

That one loss is monumental, and perhaps how Tampa Bay replaced Tom Brady -- signing Baker Mayfield to a one-year, $4 million deal to compete with former second-rounder Kyle Trask -- suggests a teardown. The Buccaneers also had major salary cap constraints in the post-Brady era, prompting a relatively frugal offseason -- though they still found a way to re-sign Jamel Dean and Lavonte David.

The roster remains stocked with talent, and if Mayfield or Trask play passable NFL football, the weak NFC South could crack open.

"Rebuilding? We are just trying to win right now," wide receiver Mike Evans said. "I don't know why people don't see that. Win the division, after that people can take care of themselves."

Best of the rest:

• Recent regimen changes -- training and getting treatment all year instead of taking a few months off -- have Evans feeling like he can play well into his 30s. Evans turns 30 in August, and he enters the last year of his deal with a $23.7 million cap hit. The sense out of Bucs camp is a new deal is possible. "Finishing my career with one team, that would be awesome to do that," Evans said. "I'm sure they want that, and I want it as well. Hopefully we can get an extension. Would be good for both parties."

• Here's the sense on the Mayfield-Trask battle: Mayfield has held much of the momentum. He has command of the offense and is considered better-suited to run a Dave Canales offense featuring more play-action and throws on the move. But Trask has come on strong in recent days, deepening the intrigue. This battle needs much more time to play out, and nobody seems in a rush to name a starter. The Bucs have been impressed with Trask's improved mobility, to be sure. The second-year QB says flatly "I really don't care" about the timeline for naming a starter. He's fixated more on mastering the system and "making everything look crisp" when he's out there. In some ways, he's grateful to finally have meaningful reps -- the Bucs alternate Mayfield and Trask as the No. 1 option each day and switch off first-, second- and third-string receivers with both passers throughout. Trask rarely got action over two years behind Brady and Blaine Gabbert. "They took me in the second round, so I figured one day I would get my opportunity," Trask said. "I feel like I'm the most ready I've ever been. I've been working really hard."

• Rachaad White is an intriguing fantasy play. This offense values using multiple backs, with Chase Edmonds and Ke'Shawn Vaughn in complementary roles, but it's White's show. Not only will he get a heavy workload rushing, but the Bucs have been expanding his route tree, believing he can inflict damage as a receiver. They see star potential here, a smooth do-it-all option.

• A player to file away as a potential difference-maker in the offense down the road: undrafted receiver Rakim Jarrett. He has made an impression.

• Linebacker Devin White's contractual future remains unresolved. The belief is White wants to be the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL, and Tampa Bay hasn't shown it is willing to do that at this point. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is an extension candidate, too. It wouldn't shock if the team got something done with him before the season.

Key fantasy note: Evans is going on nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons without the long-term quarterback stability that some of his peers have enjoyed. And there's a high probability he'll get a 10th. So excuse Evans if he's amused by his sometimes underrated place in the receiver conversation. "I know where I'm at," Evans said. "My opinion matters more than anybody else because I watch all of these guys, and there are a lot of f---ing great players. But I'll take myself over anybody. If people were in my situation, there's only 5-10 guys in history who have done what I've done. It's been a battle, but I enjoy it."

Evans is referring to his quarterback roster -- from Josh McCown to Jameis Winston to Ryan Fitzpatrick to Brady -- and the constant double-teams he faces. "I'm probably the most doubled receiver since 2015, 2016 -- I have to be," Evans said. "Me or maybe [Davante] Adams." (ESPN doesn't track this metric.) Evans knows he's harder to double when he moves around, sometimes to the slot, so the Bucs could utilize that this year. The new offense with Canales features "a few different routes I've never seen before," which he's excited to run.

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Graziano's notes from Seattle Seahawks camp

Location: Renton, Washington
Dates visited: July 30-31

Star rookies aren't usually the story here at Seahawks camp, where coach Pete Carroll has built his program on consistent, year-over-year player development. But thanks to last year's Russell Wilson trade, the Seahawks had two first-round picks in this year's draft. And both are making strong impressions so far in camp.

Let's start with cornerback Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick who missed the first couple of days of camp while getting his rookie contract ironed out. While veterans like Michael Jackson and and Tre Brown are performing at a high level and trying to protect their own playing time, the Seahawks will likely end up starting Witherspoon at corner opposite last year's rookie star, Riq Woolen. Witherspoon has consistently impressed throughout the offseason program.

"High football IQ is what you see with him," defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt told me. "The big play that everybody talks about is the huge hit he had on Indiana on the bubble screen, but to me, it was the pre-snap recognition and the awareness. He knew the play was coming before the ball was snapped. That is the kind of stuff you want to see with players. When you're a dynamic athlete, which he is, and then you have the brain and the instincts and the football common sense to take those kinds of shots, those are the guys that end up being special players, and we feel like he has a chance to be really, really special. There's nothing to the job that he's not capable of doing."

On the offensive side, the star of camp so far has been rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who seems to make a highlight-level catch or two every day.

"He looks like he's already been here for two, three years with the way he runs his routes and the way he's picked up the offense," fellow wideout DK Metcalf said to me. "Every day at practice, how he tracks balls and how he runs his routes, everything. I think he's going to be an exceptional player."

Quarterback Geno Smith told me that Smith-Njigba has been "everything that they said he'd be," calling him "a natural receiver." Smith said the best things about the rookie are his humility and work ethic. The first day I was at practice, Smith-Njigba made a brilliant toe-tapping touchdown catch in the back of the end zone, among other highlights.

I guess my main takeaway on JSN was this: For fantasy football purposes, I wouldn't just assume he's going to be Seattle's "No. 3" receiver or that he'll be brought along slowly because he's a rookie. I think the Seahawks have real plans for him and, he fulfills what they believe is a real need for them in their WR corps. I think Smith will throw him the ball if he's open. And I think he's a legitimate sleeper candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Best of the rest:

• The biggest difference from 2022 to 2023 for the Seahawks? This time last year, they didn't know who their starting quarterback would be. Smith won the training camp competition with Drew Lock, had an outstanding season, cashed in with a contract extension and entered this July as the clear and obvious starter. "He owned the offseason," GM John Schneider told me. "He got the guys together, they were down in Miami, Dallas I think for a minute, L.A. for a little while. He was great during the [contract] negotiations. It wasn't confrontational at all, it was a really positive negotiation. And we were able to get that done in a timeframe where he was really able to own the offseason and take the guys with him." None of that comes as a surprise. In terms of Smith's performance last year, Schneider said what impressed him most was the way he took control once he was named the starter. "Once Pete named him the starter, it was really awesome to see how he took his game to that next level, and as a leader," Schneider said. "He went from saying, like, 'Hey, if it's Drew, I'm here to support him, I'll back him' to three weeks later, 'Okay, my team now.' There was a lot of pressure on him, and he handled it outstanding. I thought that was the most impressive thing."

• If there's a spot on the roster where Seattle could look to add reinforcements once other teams start making cuts, I'd look at the defensive line. They like what they have in veterans Jarran Reed, Dre'Mont Jones and Mario Edwards, and they see promise in rookies Cameron Young and Mike Morris. But they probably will be looking to add veteran depth at those positions at some point this offseason, as those aren't spots where rookies can generally jump right in and excel.

• The Seahawks had the league's third-worst run defense last year, allowing an average of 150.2 rush yards per game. Hurtt said that while, yes, there were some elements of transition from a 4-3 front to a 3-4, the main issues were on the back end. "I think the big difference was us playing more split-safety than we had in previous years," Hurtt told me. "You know, run fits change, the style of play has to change in order to be able to control things, and that stuff takes time. As opposed to gaps being disciplined and 'I know I fit here, I know I fit there,' two guys stacking and tracking and keeping the ball in between them when you're a guy short in the box and the safety having to buy time to get into the fit -- that's foreign language compared to what it had been here for a long time. They needed some adjusting."

• Veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner returns to Seattle, where he spent the first 10 seasons of his career, after a year with the Rams. Hurtt said Wagner has something like "rockstar status" in the locker room, where the young players on Seattle's defense remember him as someone they watched when they were growing up. Wagner is 33 years old now, and the Seahawks know they'll have to spell him from time to time to keep him fresh. "He and I have had this conversation," Hurtt said. "Obviously he'll never agree, but he understands the premise of making sure we have him for a long haul. So you find ways within a game to spell him for a series or two, but he's still going to be a guy who's playing over 90% of the snaps. But we'll make sure we do the things we have to do to take care of him."

Key fantasy note: The Seahawks are dealing with injuries right now to their top two running backs. Starter Kenneth Walker III, who was so great as a rookie a year ago, has a groin injury that will keep him out of training camp for a while. And second-round rookie Zach Charbonnet has a shoulder injury that, as of this writing, the team is still testing to determine its severity. I don't get the sense that the Seahawks are overly concerned about either of these injuries bleeding into the regular season at this point. They could add a back just because they're short on bodies for camp and preseason games, but they like what they have in veteran DeeJay Dallas and seventh-round rookie Kenny McIntosh.

Assuming Walker and Charbonnet get healthy in time for the season, the sense I get is a) Walker would still be the starter and get the bulk of the work and b) Charbonnet would also have a role, perhaps in the two-minute or four-minute offense. People I spoke to here believe they complement each other well, and the team anticipates using them in tandem to some extent. But if Charbonnet has to miss extended time in camp, just the fact that he's a rookie could change the Seahawks' plan if they determine he hasn't had enough development time. Several people I talked to in Seattle mentioned how great an offseason Walker had, and they foresee improvement from him in 2023.

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Fowler's notes from Miami Dolphins camp

Location: Miami Gardens, Florida
Date visited: July 30

Jalen Ramsey's untimely knee injury coincides with timely motivation from the Dolphins' other elite corner. Xavien Howard was not pleased with his play last year and aims to change that. The premier ball hawk finished the year with one interception, a career-low for a full season, though he still made the fourth Pro Bowl of his seven-year career.

"I like to prove myself wrong -- I put bad stuff on film," Howard said. Looming large was a groin injury that left him "damn near hopping on one leg trying to help the team" last season. Howard was frequently listed on the injury report because of the injury during the first half of the year. He says he feels healthy now and plans to crash plenty of passing lanes. Howard's 28 interceptions since 2016 lead all NFL cornerbacks.

"I've been holding things down for a minute," said the two-time All-Pro about his experience as Miami's top corner. "It's a what-have-you-done-for-me league. But don't count me out." Howard expects to have plenty of opportunities in Vic Fangio's scheme, which he says "messes with [the quarterback's] head. It makes them have to take time to think." That wasn't always the case in Miami's past, he said.

Best of the rest:

• After asking around on running back Dalvin Cook's free agency, the sense is Miami would love to have him but considers him a luxury, too. That has complicated the pursuit a bit -- the Dolphins are certainly interested in doing a deal, but their patience suggests that they aren't eager to enter a bidding war. Let's see if the Jets' heavy interest moves them to counter. Raheem Mostert (who made a nifty corner-of-end-zone catch from Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday), Jeff Wilson Jr. and speedy rookie Devon Achane (who has been as advertised) are embedded. Cook could help put that group -- and perhaps the whole offense -- over the top.

• The Dolphins' tight end outlook is interesting. They didn't make a splash move there, and though they like Durham Smythe, he's not exactly billed as a catch-volume guy. My sense is Smythe will be used as a do-it-all option and trusted blocker but not as a primary target. The Dolphins have been pleased with Eric Saubert, whom they signed to a one-year deal this offseason.

• On the extension front, the Dolphins remain optimistic they will get a deal done with defensive tackle Christian Wilkins at some point, though the sense is there isn't any significant momentum as of now. But they've been working on it.

• The feeling is emerging that safety Jevon Holland will do serious damage in Fangio's scheme, which will allow him to make plays near the line of scrimmage and as a post safety. Holland will be used as a versatile chess piece.

• Good nugget on Tagovailoa: In the spring, he was unhappy with the offense's performance early in a practice and stopped the action to address the group. That's something he probably wouldn't have done a few years ago. The leadership is growing.

Key fantasy note: Make no mistake, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will continue to dominate the target share. That was obvious on one camp day, when the quarterbacks went deep several times to the pair, who broke them off for big gains. Tagovailoa's deep ball looks to be rounding into form. But a big conversation in Miami is which player emerges as the No. 3 receiver. Robbie Chosen has made a compelling case dating back to the spring. Howard says that Anderson is indeed in the mix, but he also lists free agent acquisition Braxton Berrios as someone who has impressed him from his vantage point at corner. "He can do it all," said Howard of Berrios. "I didn't like playing against him when he was with the Jets. He's a matchup problem."

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Graziano's notes from Denver Broncos camp

Location: Englewood, Colorado
Dates visited: July 28-29

Well, I got there the day after Sean Payton's comments in USA Today ripping the previous coaching staff and half of the building, so things were a little ... shall we say, tense? A couple of the players I talked to asked (mostly jokingly) if I was the reporter who wrote the story before they started talking to me. But regardless, Payton has changed the Broncos' building already, and you can tell.

"It's just the culture, and the way people walk around," linebacker Josey Jewell told me. "You can tell. It's just an aura you can feel when you walk in. And we'll see how that goes throughout the season and all that, because we've only been here for a small amount of time, and it's hard to base it all off that. But we're looking forward to it."

In terms of specifics, a lot of this offseason's focus has been on teaching, and Payton takes it to a very detailed level.

"You see it out in practice, when he stops the play, stuff like that," Jewell said. "If he sees something wrong, he'll have the offense come back, or if they're too slow off the break, stuff like that, which is great because it just makes us understand that culture change so much more if we see it done right away. Like, 'Let's get in contact here and make sure we're not making mistakes.'"

Of course, all eyes this year will be on quarterback Russell Wilson, who's coming off the worst season of his career and needs to rebound under Payton if he's to have a chance to live up to the trade the Broncos made for him and the contract they gave him last offseason.

Everyone who has seen Wilson agrees he's leaner and lighter than he was last year -- though, in true Wilson form, he declined to answer a press conference question about how much he weighs now. He got his receivers together for throwing sessions in Boulder in the offseason, and tight end Greg Dulcich told me, "He's on target, he's fired up, and he's ready to go." But this is still late-July, with a ton of time before the season starts, and behind the scenes, I spoke with some people who believe Wilson still has work to do on his footwork and expressed lingering concerns about his ability to play within the structure of the offense.

The first day I was in Englewood, Wilson thrilled the crowd with a long touchdown run. And after that practice, Payton talked about how he'd like to see Wilson turn upfield and use his legs more when the play breaks down. Wilson's 55 rushing attempts last year were the second-fewest of his career.

But while that sounds great, and it's certainly something at which Wilson has always excelled, he is definitely going to be asked to operate within the structure of Payton's offense. And whether he'll do that or revert to last year's version of himself when he gets into live game action is something the Broncos have no way of knowing until the regular season starts.

Best of the rest:

• One major help to Wilson would be an improved Broncos run game. They beefed up the offensive line in free agency, looking for lineman who excel in run blocking in particular. Running back Javonte Williams, who missed the final 13 games of last season with a torn ACL, is doing very well in his recovery, and there's optimism (though still not 100% certainty) that he can be ready to go for Week 1. They brought in former Bengals RB Samaje Perine, whose value as a third-down pass protector will be significant but also, they believe, can spell Williams on early downs if needed. And they're intrigued by undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin from Youngstown State and think he might have a role as well. Would I be stunned to see the Broncos add a veteran back for depth at some point during camp? No, but as of now, they do not seem to be out there pounding the pavement the way, say, the Jets and the Patriots are.

• The news that wide receiver Tim Patrick got carted off the practice field Monday with a potential left Achilles tendon injury is really tough. Patrick missed all of last season after tearing his right ACL during 2022 training camp. The Broncos have quality and depth at receiver, but they were very much looking forward to getting Patrick back. They view him as a physical tone-setter whose presence was missed last season.

• Vance Joseph, who was the Broncos' head coach in 2017-18, is back this year as their defensive coordinator. Jewell and safety Justin Simmons played for Joseph during that stint, and they said it has been helpful that some of the terminology is familiar to them. I also spoke with star cornerback Pat Surtain II, who said he's excited about the freedom the new defense will give him to be aggressive against receivers on the outside.

Key fantasy note: I'd take a look at Dulcich as a sleeper tight end this year in Payton's offense. Payton has talked about using him in a "joker" role, lining him up in various spots in the formation, sort of the way he used to do with running back Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. "We've got a lot of cool stuff for the tight end for sure, so that's definitely exciting," Dulcich told me. "And with all the offensive players that we've got and playmakers, that just opens it up a lot for everyone, so it's going to be tough on defenses to know where the ball's going."

Dulcich's strengths as a tight end are his receiving skills, and while he said he's willing to help out as a run-blocker, that's probably not the way for Payton to get the most out of him. Payton was talking up Chris Manhertz for his blocking ability, so it's not like they'll need to lean on Dulcich for that role.