Training camp is up and running for all 32 teams, and with it, camp hype is real. The NFL news cycle is hot and heavy, with injuries, incredible catches, and muscular quads all over your social media timeline. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds with every “news” blurb that’s being reported. What’s real? What’s fake? What matters? What doesn’t?
Join Matthew Betz and me reacting to the biggest news of the first week of training camp, giving our thoughts on how to adjust in the fantasy football market, and discussing who truly is in the best shape of their life.
Without further ado, here are the biggest storylines we’re currently monitoring from Week 1.
Editor’s Note: For continuously updated Rankings and Projections from Andy, Mike, and Jason, with context around those rankings, be sure to check out the 2025 Ultimate Draft Kit.
1. RB Miles Sanders is looking good at camp.
Sanders has stood out the most so far in training camp among the Cowboys’ running backs, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Julia – Noise. The Cowboys didn’t aggressively invest in the RB room this offseason, taking Jaydon Blue (5th round) and Phil Mafah (7th round) in the NFL draft to add to the group of Javonte Williams and Sanders. It was assumed that Williams would be the de facto RB1, but I think we could see more of a battle in camp. Sanders had a rough couple of years in Carolina, culminating with an ankle injury at the end of last season. I don’t think this blurb is important yet, but if Sanders impresses enough to fully snag the RB1 job in Dallas, he is worth keeping an eye on, especially with his pass-catching upside.
Betz – Noise. No disrespect to Jon, who does great work, or any other reporters, but I generally don’t value beat reporters’ opinions of talent levels in camp. I want to know the objective facts from camp – the injuries, the rotation in drills, who’s running with the first team, etc. There’s only been a couple of padded practices, and there’s not really much (if any) tackling, so how can we really evaluate an RB’s performance in shorts? Perhaps this is more of an indictment on Javonte Williams if Sanders, who’s been one of the NFL’s least efficient backs since leaving Philly, looks more explosive than his teammate. To me, Jaydon Blue still has the most upside in this backfield. We need more info before taking any action here.
2. Matthew Stafford is dealing with back soreness.
Rams coach Sean McVay said last Saturday that Stafford isn’t going to return to practice Monday and is considered week-to-week, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Julia – News. This all started on July 25, when Stafford reported to training camp with a sore back, leading him to work with the trainers. The next day, HC Sean McVay quickly said that Stafford would not return to camp as expected, and he will take things weekly. He made it clear that there was no setback. This is something to listen to as 37-year-old Stafford has a history of back problems. In 2018, he played through small fractures, in 2019, he missed eight games due to fractured bones in his back, in 2021, he dealt with chronic back pain, and in 2022, he suffered a spinal cord contusion. He IS a seasoned veteran who can still have a great NFL season sans training camp, but it would be comforting to see him clock some hours on the practice field with new Ram Davante Adams. Jimmy Garoppolo is the backup in Los Angeles, and he and Adams weren’t the most successful when they were together in Las Vegas.
Betz – News to watch. Stafford is 37 years old and has been in the league forever. He doesn’t necessarily need reps in late July to be effective this year, but given his age and his injury history (see Julia’s note above), if Stafford still isn’t practicing in two weeks, then I’m concerned. For now, I’m keeping close tabs on this over the next 1-2 weeks, given that Puka, Adams, and Kyren Williams are all high picks in fantasy drafts.
3. Andy Holloway’s past “My Guy” Tank Bigsby is getting first-team reps.
“Bigsby seemingly got the bulk of the key reps for Liam Cohen’s offense, and as a result stood out quite a bit more than Travis Etienne.” (Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley)
Julia – News. Draft Twitter darling Bhayshul Tuten has been cautious with a hamstring injury, and it seems that Bigsby has taken the opportunity to impress. It is a new staff in Jacksonville, and I think if Bigsby looks good, they are more than happy to hitch themselves to that Duval wagon. Etienne was horribly inefficient last year, and if Bigsby can hold onto the ball, he could win the starting job. I might be higher on Bigsby than Betz, as I see a world where the Jaguars look to move Etienne this season.
Betz – News. The Jags’ RB room is one that could change throughout the season, but if we’re trying to figure out who’s going to have value early on, I think this matters to some degree. Bigsby was objectively a more efficient runner than Etienne last year, so this does make some sense. Bigsby could earn the “RB1” role as the lead ball carrier with Etienne providing that change-of-pace/pass-catching role. For now, while the price is cheap, I don’t mind taking some shots on Bigsby, but by no means is this camp battle settled, so this backfield is a price-dependent situation for me. In other words, I don’t know that I’d feel comfortable chasing Bigsby up draft boards if he starts to steam. I’m still intrigued by Bhaysul Tuten’s late-season upside, but he’s dealing with a minor hamstring injury early in camp, which obviously hurts his chances of winning the job right out of the gate.
4. Brandon Aiyuk does not have a concrete timeline.
San Francisco GM John Lynch told reporters on July 22 that 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk currently is “not anywhere close to having a concrete timeline” to return from the knee injury suffered last season.
Julia – News. I know they desperately need WRs in Northern California, but as Betz has said many times, Aiyuk’s injury was significant.
Betz – News. Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from an ACL+ injury that includes damage to the meniscus and MCL. I’m expecting him to start on PUP and then take a month or so to ramp up. I talked about that more in the UDK Injury Report and in this social post:
Both Diggs and Aiyuk tore their ACL's last year…
Our injury expert Betz breaks down the difference in recovery timelines between the two wide receivers and what to expect from them in fantasy this year
pic.twitter.com/lU9qgCAweg
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) July 26, 2025
5. HC Jim Harbaugh doesn’t know if Najee Harris will be back for training camp.
Harbaugh acknowledged that there is still no timetable for the return of Harris to practice, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Julia – News. With the cagey words from Harbaugh mixed in with the hoodie and large sunglasses Najee is donning, I am concerned. I would be less worried about Harris’s ability to insert himself in the offense if this were Pittsburgh, but he is on a new team. If the Chargers add an RB to the roster, we know the potential for concern is high, but that aside, Omarion Hampton could have one heck of a season.
Betz – Noisy News. Let me explain. I am definitely monitoring Najee’s status very closely, as no one knows what the heck is actually going on, but Jim Harbaugh loves to play games with the media in camp, especially when he’s not required to provide actual injury updates. I don’t think this actual quote changes much. His ADP is in free fall, and it will continue to be until we see him in pads on an NFL field.
6. Justin Jefferson sits out of practice due to some mild leg tightness.
HC Kevin O’Connell said Friday that he is dealing with a mild left hamstring strain, and the Vikings will re-evaluate the WR next week, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Julia – Noise. I know they need to report any sort of tweak, but Jefferson has been present every day at practice, just sitting out the field work. The fact that this hamstring is not the same hamstring that caused him issues in 2023 relaxes me slightly as well.
Betz – News. Any skill-position player with a soft tissue injury in late July/August is certainly worth monitoring. That said, the fact that the Vikings have six weeks until Week 1 gives me confidence that this can become a non-issue over the next 2-3 weeks. So long as there are no setbacks, it should be all systems go for JJetts.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/yoUaMFQ
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