re: NFL Training Camp News & Notes Thread

Posted on 8/13/18 at 11:15 am to OneMoreTime

Posted by CBandits82

Lurker since May 2008

Member since May 2012

58754 posts

Posted on 8/13/18 at 11:15 am to OneMoreTime

Good article I just read:

6 fantasy football preseason notes:

1. Christian McCaffrey Might Be A Workhorse

The biggest takeaway from the first slate of the preseason is Christian McCaffrey's usage. Cam Newton and Carolina's first-team offense ran 15 plays in their opener against the Bills, and McCaffrey played all 15. Also, this includes a goal-line plunge from the two-yard line, where McCaffrey would have likely been plucked by Jonathan Stewart last season. CJ Anderson, who is supposedly going to push McCaffrey significantly for carries, didn't garner a single first-team rep and played well into the fourth quarter with the third-team offense. Maybe Anderson needs more practice reps to get acclimated in Carolina, but right now -- this is McCaffrey's backfield. Look, McCaffrey is not going to get a Le'Veon Bell-esque 28 touches per game as new OC Norv Turner suggested a few weeks ago, but he is set up far better for 2018 than originally forecasted.

2. Rookie Ronald Jones Has Work To Do

Ronald Jones was reportedly struggling in pass protection and receiving in Bucs' camp, and that showed in Tampa's first preseason game of the season. Starter (for Weeks 1-3 without Jameis Winston) Ryan Fitzpatrick played 14 snaps on the Bucs' opening two drives, and Peyton Barber saw the field for 13-of-14 plays (93%). Ronald Jones played one snap on third down, dropping his dump-off pass that could have set up a long field goal attempt. Jones finished his USC Yards Created sample with a 55% pass block execution rate, the worst figured in YC's coffers in the last three years. Jones is well behind Barber on the Bucs' depth chart and will need to make massive strides over the next month to contribute heavily in Week 1.

3. Is Michael Gallup Already the Cowboys No. 1 WR?
The Cowboys' offseason has been bizarre, to say the least. Dez Bryant is still a free agent. Jason Witten retired. And, the team did not try to re-stock the depth chart of weapons for third-year passer Dak Prescott beyond adding Allen Hurns in free agency, Michael Gallup in the third round of the NFL Draft, and Tavon Auston on a prove-it deal.

That said, Michael Gallup appears to be far ahead of expectations at this point. Perhaps this is just a product of his environment and Dallas indeed has to turn to the rookie this early, but Gallup's Week 1 preseason usage indicates he's already fighting for Dallas' No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Dak Prescott played nine snaps in the 'Boys preseason opener, and Gallup was on the field for 8-of-9 (89%). For context, Allen Hurns played six snaps while vet Terrance Williams played five. Interestingly, Gallup wasn't just on the field in 11-personnel (3WR), he lined up as the lone X-iso receiver in third and short and moved all over Dallas' formations. Cole Beasley and Allen Hurns have battled injuries all camp, but Gallup is already commanding a 'WR1' role in Dallas.

4. Derrick Henry vs. Dion Lewis
The Titans' first-team offense ran nine plays with Marcus Mariota under center in their preseason opener, and Derrick Henry/Dion Lewis' shared usage didn't surprise a bit. Henry out-snapped Lewis 6 to 3, but Lewis played on two third-down opportunities and the duo split red-zone snaps (2 to 2). I'll be monitoring their snap rates closely in the second and third preseason games, but early indications show the Titans' favor Henry on early-downs, Lewis on third-down and obvious passing situations, and the duo may split the red-zone work evenly. Over the last two years, Lewis has offered more scheme versatility than Henry and his usage likely won't be game-script dependent.

5. Jags' Murky Pass Catching Corps Taking Place
Second-year diamond in the rough Keelan Cole (undisclosed injury) did not play, but it was clear in the Jags' preseason opener that Marqise Lee is the team's undisputed No. 1 receiver. Blake Bortles and the Jaguars first-team offense played 15 snaps, and Lee was on the field for 14-of-15 (93%). Unlike previous seasons with Allen Robinson in town, Lee played as the lone X-iso receiver in third & short, he was the 'X' receiver in base (2 WR) sets and kicked into the slot in 11-personnel (3WR). Lee remains my favorite Jags' receiver to target in fantasy. Dede Westbrook (9-of-15 snaps), Donte Moncrief (8-of-15), and DJ Chark (5-of-15) rounded out the Jags' receiver tree against the Saints. Free agent addition TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins ran with the first-team offense on 13-of-15 plays, too.

6. Trey Burton's Role
The Bears underwent a massive face-lift this offseason, supplanting Captain Slow HC John Fox with Andy Reid-disciple Matt Nagy (HC) and Chip Kelly-disciple Mark Helfrich (OC).

Both Nagy and Helfrich are fully expected to make the Bears' attack far more creative than the 2017 version that ran on first and 10 a league-high 63% of the time, regardless of game situation. At the top of Nagy and Helfrich's to-do list is to use free agent addition TE Trey Burton creatively. Unsurprisingly, Nagy/Helfrich did just that in their preseason opener -- lining up Burton in the slot or out wide on 6-of-9 snaps and on the line of scrimmage on 3-of-9. Burton played traditional slot WR in 11-personnel (3WR) and was even split out wide in a Bunch three-receiver set. Remember, Nagy has studied under Andy Reid -- who lined up stud Travis Kelce in the slot to gain mismatches on 50% of his routes last season.