Fantasy Football Impact of NFL Training Camp's Biggest Battles

With each passing week of the summer, we grow that much closer to the moment when the Philadelphia Eagles begin their title defense against the Dallas Cowboys to open the 2025 NFL season.

And we're about hit another important benchmark on the way to the new campaign: Training camp is almost here.

Training camp is the first real look at this year's teams. This isn't shorts and shells or voluntary workouts that many veterans skip. Everyone is expected to be at camp. There will be pads. There will be contact.

Camp is also our first real look at the position battles that have developed around the NFL as veterans switch teams and rookies join them. This isn't to say we haven't already been speculating wildly about who will start where—it's what we do. But now we get to see who is getting first-team reps and who draws raves on the practice field.

Many of those position battles are of particular interest to fantasy football managers. Choose wisely, and it could mean landing an impactful asset on the cheap. Getting a big-time value.

And value, dear friends, is how fantasy leagues are won.

Mile-High Running Back Competition

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

R.J. Harvey

The fantasy hype train for rookie running back R.J. Harvey started picking up steam the moment the Denver Broncos took him in the second round of the NFL draft.

The 24-year-old topped 1,400 rushing yards each of the past two years and had a clear path to lead back duties in the Mile High City.

At least he did until the Broncos signed J.K. Dobbins, who set a career high in rushing and topped 1,000 total yards a year ago with the Los Angeles Chargers.

While speaking to reporters, Denver head coach Sean Payton talked up the veteran back while asserting that the pecking order in the backfield is still to be determined.

"When you see [Dobbins'] consistency, it's not an accident," he said. "It's another good football player we're adding to our team. Then we'll see how training camp goes, see how all the carries go."

For his part, Dobbins also had good things to say about Harvey, because...clarity.

"[Harvey is] going to be really good," he said. "He's going to help me out, and I'm going to help him out. He's going to be great."

As Michael Moore of Fantasy Pros pointed out, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an either-or scenario, as Payton has a history of utilizing multiple backs:

"This is the same coach who consistently utilized two running backs in New Orleans, making both fantasy relevant. Remember 2017? When Payton coached both Alvin Kamara (Harvey?) and Mark Ingram (Dobbins?) to top-10 fantasy running back seasons. Granted, that was a best-case scenario, but even when Payton had the likes of Latavius Murray paired with Kamara, the former still performed better than what Dobbins' ADP is at now."

That ADP currently sits at RB41, while Harvey is coming off the board at RB21. Dobbins' durability issues are a legitimate concern (and an injury could make this all moot), but if this does become a "thunder and lightning" backfield, Dobbins would become an intriguing dart-throw in the double-digit rounds.

And the more touches the 26-year-old gets, the harder it becomes to justify drafting Harvey as a low-end RB2.

Colts' QB Duel Between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson

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Daniel Jones

Quarterback play has been a thorn in the side of the Indianapolis Colts since Andrew Luck surprisingly retired ahead of the 2019 season.

When the team drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023, it was supposed to resolve the situation.

Instead, after two seasons of erratic play and injuries from the Florida product, the Colts are again holding a competition under center—one that will impact the entire Indianapolis offense.

The Colts brought in Daniel Jones to compete with Richardson, and with the latter sidelined by shoulder soreness in OTAs, Jones has built a "significant lead" in the battle to start.

No definitive timetable has been offered as to when Richardson might return, which opens the door for Jones to take the job, according to Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports:

“The AC joint injury Richardson suffered in minicamp is concerning, especially considering this injury is in the same shoulder that required surgery and sidelined Richardson for most of his rookie season in 2023. Richardson has been injured and inconsistent since entering the NFL, and will have to prove he'll be healthy in training camp before winning a competition.

"Jones usually flashes in minicamp and training camp, so he certainly could stampede ahead of Richardson in the quarterback competition. While Jones has a questionable track record regarding injuries as well, he's more accurate than Richardson and gets a fresh start behind a significantly better offensive line than the one he had in New York."

Jones winning the job isn't a great look for Colts general manager Chris Ballard, but it could make wide receivers Josh Downs (ADP: WR48) and Michael Pittman Jr. (ADP: WR51) values in the later rounds of drafts.

Jones isn't a world-beater by any stretch, but he has been a much more consistent passer over his 69 career starts than Richardson, who has barely completed half his throws in the NFL.

The Rookie vs. the Veteran at RB in Los Angeles

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Omarion Hampton

The Denver Broncos aren't the only team in the AFC West with a battle in the backfield brewing.

The Los Angeles Chargers made an even heftier investment in the backfield in April's draft, using their first pick on Omarion Hampton, a wildly productive three-down back who topped 1,500 rushing yards and scored 15 times on the ground each of the past two years with North Carolina.

That pick came after the Bolts signed veteran tailback Najee Harris to a one-year deal. He wasn't especially explosive in four years in Pittsburgh and never gained more than 4.1 yards per carry. But he gained over 1,000 yards on the ground all four years and has never missed a game in the pros.

Now, however, the 27-year-old's status for the beginning of camp is uncertain after he injured his eye in a July 4 fireworks mishap.

As Daniel Popper noted for The Athletic, that could mean the end of this competition before it even starts:

“Hampton has tremendous upside, and there was always a possibility he’d beat out Harris for a lead back role at some point this season. If Harris misses time in training camp, that possibility becomes even more likely. Hampton has a chance to be an immediate difference-maker in the run game, a player with the explosiveness to score anytime he touches the ball. And he could be getting the bulk of the first-team work early in camp.”

The reality is that this was always going to be Hampton's backfield at some point. The team invested a first-round pick in him for a reason. The question was whether Harris (ADP: RB34) would eat into his workload enough to make the rookie's fourth-round price tag in fantasy drafts a case of drafting at ceiling.

That may still be the case. Harris has been durable and productive over four pro seasons. But the longer the veteran sits, the more time Hampton will have to show he should be an every-down workhorse.

3-Headed RB Battle in Jacksonville

AP Photo/John Locher

Travis Etienne Jr.

Not a lot went right for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, including the fourth season for 2021 first-round pick Travis Etienne Jr.

After rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, his production fell off a cliff in 2024. He barely cleared 550 rushing yards, averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry and was outplayed (soundly) by Tank Bigsby.

When the Jaguars used a fourth-round pick on a running back in Bhayshul Tuten, many fantasy managers saw that as a changing of the guard. When trade rumors started to swirl, it only added fuel to the fire that Etienne's time as lead back was over.

However, head coach Liam Coen has refuted the idea that the Clemson product is on the trade block.

"He's done a great job," he said. "I don't really understand some of the stuff I've seen out there. That's absolutely inaccurate. Every day, everything we've asked him to do, he's done at a good clip for us. His vision in the run game has been good. He's done everything we've asked—and more."

Tuten was an explosive runner at Virginia Tech, but he also struggled with fumbles—an issue that carried over into OTAs. Bigsby averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year, but he has been a complete non-factor in the passing game with eight receptions in two seasons.

Coen's backfield in Tampa Bay was a fantasy goldmine in 2024: Bucky Irving's breakout RB14 finish won more than a few managers leagues, and Rachaad White was also a top-20 fantasy option in PPR formats.

This isn't to say that there's any guarantee the Jaguars backfield will be able to duplicate that success. But Etienne (ADP: RB33), Tuten (ADP: RB43) and Bigsby (ADP: RB46) are all coming off the board in Round 9 or later.

If one of these backs separate themselves (or it becomes clear two will form a "Thunder and Lightning" committee) they could be a jackpot fantasy pick, especially for Zero RB enthusiasts.

4-Player Free For All Under Center in Cleveland

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Kenny Pickett

It's hardly a state secret that the quarterback situation in Cleveland has mostly been a disaster since, well, forever.

Since the team returned to the NFL in 1999, a long list of has-beens, never-weres and "Who?" have made Browns fan cry. And the Deshaun Watson fiasco is the single worst personnel move in the history of the National Football League.

In 2025, the Browns appear to be taking a carpet-bombing approach to solving the problem. They signed veteran Joe Flacco and traded for 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. And they drafted a pair of signal-callers in Dillon Gabriel (Round 3) and Shedeur Sanders (Round 5).

For this analyst (and long-time Browns fan...sigh), Pickett appears the best bet to be the Week 1 starter. He has NFL experience without an AARP membership to go with it.

At the NFL owners meetings in March, Browns general manager Andrew Berry had good things to say about the fourth-year pro while addressing the media:

"[We] feel like he's a good decision-maker, he does a really good job of protecting the ball. He's very mobile, and we think that his relative strengths are something that fit well with the offense that we're putting into place for this upcoming year. We do think that there's a pretty credible path for him to continue to improve and take a step forward, and I think you've seen that with players that they get into maybe new or sometimes maybe better environments for their particular path in their career."

With the exception of deep leagues and superflex formats, no fantasy manager should want any part of the Cleveland quarterbacks themselves. But if the Browns can cobble together even mediocre QB play, the likes of wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (ADP: WR34) and Cedric Tillman (ADP: WR66) and tight end David Njoku (ADP: TE9) could all be undervalued fantasy assets.

Or it could be that those pass-catchers' asking prices are depressed because the Browns are just that depressing.

Wide-Open WR Room in Titletown

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Jayden Reed

The Packers finally did it.

After 23 years without drafting a wide receiver in the first round, they made Matthew Golden their first selection in the 2025 draft.

The Texas product told KPRC 2 (h/t Bobby Kownack of NFL.com) he's anxious to show Green Bay what he can do and build a rapport with quarterback Jordan Love:

"Just my versatility, what I can do, I can play anywhere on the field. Just doing what the team needs me to do. That's what I did at Texas and that's what I'm going to continue to do. Just being in the position to play for the Green Bay Packers, man, it means so much to me."

Golden added:

"It's going to be what it's supposed to be, you know, over time, you got to build, you got to gain (Love's) trust. So, for me, it's just going out there, you just put my best foot forward each and every day and just allowing him to know that I'm going to be right where I need to be. So, I just feel like for me it's going happen over time."

Golden's talent is undeniable, but so is the fact that Green Bay has one of the most crowded wide receiver rooms in the league.

In addition to the rookie (ADP: WR46), there's third-year pro Jayden Reed (ADP: WR45), who led the team in receiving yards last year. And Romeo Doubs (ADP: WR68). And Dontayvion Wicks (ADP: WR88). And Christian Watson (ADP: WR114), who is working his way back from an ACL tear. And tight end Tucker Kraft (ADP: TE12), who paced the team in touchdown catches a season ago.

Based on draft cost, the prevailing wisdom is that Reed and Golden will be Green Bay's top two receivers. But with both being drafted in the back half of WR4 territory, the confidence level in that hypothesis appears low.

If a wide receiver can distance himself from the pack, there could be value to be had. And if Love can take full advantage of the weapons at his disposal, he could be undervalued with an ADP of QB17 as well.

Who's No. 2 in Houston?

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Jayden Higgins

The Packers aren't the only team breaking in a new wide receiver this year.

As a matter of fact, the Houston Texans are breaking in several.

After Stefon Diggs departed in free agency and with Tank Dell's 2025 status very much in doubt after a late-season knee injury, the Texans needed a running mate or two for Nico Collins.

The team was aggressive in procuring wideouts in the offseason. In addition to adding veteran Christian Kirk in free agency, the Texans spent a pair of Day 2 draft picks on Iowa State teammates Jayden Higgins (Round 2) and Jaylin Noel (Round 3).

Collins told reporters he is looking forward to leading Houston's new-look receivers:

"Man, they got some dawgs. They got some playmakers, man. It's gonna be fun. It's gonna be a great year. I can't wait to get going with everybody.

"It's crazy how time flies. It's a blessing to be in this position, man. It's only right for me to lead by example. I know they're gonna push me, I'm gonna push them. That's the only way we can get better and we're gonna shine on Sundays. So, push each other and let them boys know, let the DBs know what's up. I can't wait to join the guys, man. I'm excited to get back with them boys, for sure."

Kirk is rehabbing an injury of his own, but he was on the field at OTAs and reportedly showed good rapport with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The 28-year-old has shown the ability to be a viable fantasy asset (he was 12th among receivers in PPR points in 2022), but whether it's his injury or the rookies' inexperience, fantasy managers aren;t rushing to draft any Houston wideout who isn't Collins—the rest all have an ADP outside the top 50.

Someone is going to emerge as the Robin to Collins' Batman in the Texans' passing game, though. We have seen Houston's No. 2 WR produce for fantasy managers.

Choose widely, and fantasy managers could land a late-round steal here.

Backfield Quagmire in Dallas

AP Photo/Bart Young

Javonte Williams

The Dallas Cowboys got a surprise 1,000-yard rusher last year in Rico Dowdle, but the even bigger surprise was that they made zero effort to bring him back in 2025. Instead, the team decided to…well they…um…

They did something, but what it was isn't entirely clear.

The Dallas backfield is a menagerie of "meh" entering training camp. There's Javonte Williams, who has topped 1,000 total yards twice but hasn't averaged four yards a carry since 2022. There's Miles Sanders, who rushed for over 1,200 yards in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles but was poor over two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Rookie Jaydon Blue has speed to spare but is an undersized back. Deuce Vaughn is…well, he's there.

For his part, Williams told reporters the injuries that sapped his explosiveness the past few years are in the past and he believes the Dallas backfield will surprise in 2025:

"From what I've seen, I feel like they're trying to run the ball a lot. Then, we've got a lot of playmakers on the outside and a great o-line, a great quarterback, so they're going to do their thing too, but I feel like getting the run game of the ground is something that they've been preaching on.

"I like it a lot, everybody's energetic. There's a lot of camaraderie, even though we're competing, I feel like everybody's still getting along and kind of looking out for each other."

To say there's a lack of fantasy enthusiasm surrounding the Dallas backfield is an understatement. Williams, who reportedly got the bulk of first-team reps in OTAs, has the highest ADP of the lot at RB38.

Landing any lead running back that late in drafts can be a big deal. And with an asking price in Round 10 or later, there's minimal risk in throwing a dart at the Dallas backfield.

No season was ever ruined in the double-digit rounds of a draft.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.