Football season is finally upon us! Almost…
But training camp is basically football season, right? The correct answer is yes.
With football season (sort of) in full swing, RSJ has you covered with all of the buzz and highlights from the training camps of all 32 teams.
DALTON KINCAID: QUICKLY CONNECTING WITH ALLEN AND GETTING CONSISTENT LOOKS
Over the first few days of practice, Bills first-round tight end Dalton Kincaid and star quarterback Josh Allen have quickly developed chemistry. Based on his usage throughout camp, the Bills will be looking to get Kincaid involved in this electric offense early in the season. The Utah product is no stranger to being a prominent weapon within an offense. Over his final two collegiate seasons, Kincaid was a key factor in the Utes’ success, catching 106 balls over this two-year span.
While an early connection with Allen is exciting, don’t let this get you too riled up. While Kincaid is a talented pass-catching TE, there is still significant competition for him in Buffalo. Wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis will certainly be more involved in this offense than Kincaid. Rookie tight ends also rarely produce in regard to fantasy, just another reason to pump the breaks on Kincaid.
Don’t get me wrong, finding a connection with a QB like Allen is very exciting. However, don’t expect Kincaid to produce for fantasy teams on a weekly basis.
JUSTIN FIELDS: CONTINUING TO DEVELOP CONNECTION WITH DJ MOORE
There is no doubt that Justin Fields was THE breakout QB of 2022. Finishing as the QB6 on the year, Fields was able to find fantasy success by creating plays with his legs. Following his 2022 campaign, Fields solidified himself as one of the best rushing QBs in the league. The question remains: can Fields take a step forward with his passing?
The Bears have made significant additions to this roster to ideally bring out the most in Fields’ arm. Most significantly, the Bears dealt the first-overall pick to the Panthers for a package that included wide receiver DJ Moore. Throughout the offseason, there have been reports of these two developing an incredibly strong rapport.
While these are just training camp clips, this is incredibly encouraging. If Fields could reach just league average in terms of passing statistics, he will easily be an elite fantasy QB. Moore is by far the most talented WR that Fields has played with in his NFL career. If Moore can be a reliable target for Fields, we could witness a truly special fantasy season. The connection between these two is definitely something to monitor this offseason.
ANTHONY RICHARDSON: SHOWING OFF HIS ARM TALENT EACH AND EVERY DAY
With each day of camp, Colts rookie QB Anthony Richardson does something to impress both fans and coaches. Today, this comes in the form of an absolute dime while rolling left.
Richardson’s arm talent is nothing unknown. His cannon for an arm was routinely on display throughout last season while he was at Florida. When considering his arm talent and rushing ability, the fantasy ceiling is sky-high. The only question is accuracy. Completing 54 percent of passes last year, Richardson may be the least accurate QB in the NFL right now. However, his other abilities make up for this and plenty of QBs (Josh Allen notably) have been able to refine their skills, increase completion percentage, and find success.
It’s worth noting that Colts WR Alec Pierce was the recipient of this pass. Last season, Pierce was the primary deep threat for the Colts and this will continue in 2023. With Richardson’s elite arm strength, Pierce could certainly be on the receiving end of some explosive plays this season.
OTHER FANTASY NOTES
- Joe Burrow is out for “several weeks” with a calf strain.
- Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says WR Justyn Ross is “getting better every day“.
- Trey Lance receives fewer first-team reps than Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold.
- Brian Robinson had some impressive catches early in camp.
- Pittsburgh Steelers running “a ton” of 2 RB looks, featuring Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
- Bijan Robinson making one-handed snags after leaving defenders in the dust.
