After months and months of waiting, NFL Training Camp is finally here!
Throughout each afternoon, the RSJ staff is tracking fantasy football news and highlights from around the league, serving as your lead blockers to fantasy greatness. From viral highlights to familiar coach-speak narratives to season-altering injuries, we’ve got you covered.
Here are some standout fantasy news and notes from training camps around the NFL on Aug. 4.
AMON-RA ST. BROWN IS SET TO EXPLODE IN 2023
“We get so used to St. Brown making every play and being a security blanket for Goff that we may take him for granted sometimes. St. Brown has been terrific so far in camp. He completely dominated the third day of practice with six touchdowns in a 10-play stretch in 7-on-7 and team periods. The way he’s looked in camp, 100-catches and 1,000 yards is about the floor for him.”
– Tim Twentyman, detroitlions.com
The Sun God is picking up where he left off last season and appears to be even better as he enters his third year. St. Brown posted an impressive 90-912-5 his rookie season and broke out in a big way as a sophomore, snagging 106 receptions for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games.
Thus far in camp, St. Brown has reportedly been unguardable and his rapport with Jared Goff has been off the charts. He’s making plays at all three levels and most importantly, he’s a perfectionist who is always working hard to improve his game — as evidenced by his displeasure about dropping one ball in practice earlier this week.
“I’m pissed off,” St. Brown told reporters after dropping one pass. “I mean, I shouldn’t drop anything but shoot, even the best ones drop them, but like for me I’m mad, it’s just the way I am. I know I’m going to go out there and the next one I’m going to make. But I’m so hot, a drop like that, it’ll ruin my whole day for sure, Definitely my whole practice, especially a practice like that where I don’t get a chance to make up for it. It definitely, it’ll (bleep) up my day.”
Right now, St. Brown is coming off the board in Best Ball at WR9 (13.8 ADP) on Underdog Fantasy. For those drafting at the end of the first round, St. Brown is an absolute steal who will produce WR1 numbers at the turn.
JORDAN ADDISON “LOOKS TO BE THE NEXT GREAT VIKINGS WIDE RECEIVER”
“It’s honestly too early to know for sure with it being his first training camp, but Jordan Addison looks to be the next great Vikings wide receiver. He has tremendous feet for a receiver and snagged an impressive touchdown on the back line of the end zone. I refuse to get hyperbolic with the praise for Addison, but he looks every bit the player that we thought he could be coming out of USC.”
– Tyler Forness, USA Today
The Vikings found a good one in Jordan Addison. Not only has he made an immediate impact in the Vikings offense taking over from Adam Thielen, but his elite route-running skills make him a devastating complement to Justin Jefferson — which will only take this passing game to another level.
With 144 targets up for grabs from the Thielen and Dalvin Cook departures alone, Addison has a chance to be the next great rookie standout receiver. According to Vikings beat writer Matt Anderson, Kevin O’Connell is moving Addison around the formation and he’s crushing every opportunity from every position. Plus, it helps that he’s already forming a connection with Kirk Cousins.
Addison is currently WR36 with a 71.4 ADP. Expect his ADP to skyrocket by redraft time, because the buzz will continue to mount each and every day.
OTHER FANTASY NOTES
- Lions rookie TE Sam LaPorta is going to “play a big role” in the Lions offense “starting Week 1”
- DeVonta Smith has 11 catches on 14 targets in team drills through only five practices
- Bengals rookie RB Chase Brown looks like the next man up behind Joe Mixon after the Trayveon Williams injury
- Deep sleeper alert: Patriots 6th round rookie WR Demario Douglas has dominated camp and could be a roster lock
- Dan Duggan of The Athletic projects Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, and Parris Campbell as the Giants starting receivers
- We all know about the Justin Fields–DJ Moore connection but don’t sleep on Chase Claypool
- The Saints are utilizing Alvin Kamara vertically in the passing game again *eyes emoji*
- The CJ Stroud & Nico Collins rapport might be a thing
- ALERT! Patrick Mahomes is still good at football, completing 15 straight passes in 11v11 today
