All NFL teams have opened training camps, and fantasy football managers get to watch exciting positional battles play out over the coming weeks, helping us make properly informed draft decisions. Here’s a spin around the league’s most important competitions to keep an eye on.
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew vs. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders: Head coach Antonio Pierce is in no hurry to name a starter, and he noted it will be abundantly clear when it is indeed the right time. For now, it appears to be O’Connell’s job to lose over the next month.
Sam Darnold vs. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings: It’s all but certain we’ll see Darnold starting the opener, though McCarthy should find his way into the lineup this year — unless the 2018 No. 3 overall pick somehow manages to shock the world.
Denver Broncos: The 24-year-old Bo Nix has more than 60 collegiate starts under his belt and is poised to step in as the Day 1 starter, but there will be some degree of a competition in camp. He will duke it out, even if nominally, with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Jacoby Brissett vs. Drake Maye, New England Patriots: While the first-round rookie should eventually find his way onto the field in 2024, Brissett will open the year as the starter, barring a radical change in the next few weeks.
Running backs
Los Angeles Chargers: Gus Edwards vs. J.K. Dobbins is the primary battle here, but they both do similar things on the field, and neither is much of a receiving threat. That puts rookie Kimani Vidal in play for a notable role on third downs, provided he can pass protect effectively. Edwards is the best back around the goal line. Vidal profiles as the more dangerous receiving back. Dobbins is the most explosive between the 20s, provided he returns to form after multiple serious lower-body injuries.
Najee Harris vs. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers: This one may not necessarily fit the classic billing of a “positional battle” as much as it will give new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith a better feel for which back should be used when and how much. Harris is playing for a new contract, and Warren is vying to put his name among the ranks of football’s top backs.
Zack Moss vs. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: This one also isn’t exactly a conventional competition. Moss has a leg up as the incoming free-agent signee, but he’s far from a lock to be the lead back if Brown outplays him in camp.
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Denver Broncos: Javonte Williams has to fend off rookie Audric Estime (knee), Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin for the RB1 chores in what projects to be a committee approach anyway. Recent reporting says Williams and Perine may be fighting for a rosters spot, so this battle truly is up in the air. Estime is the only one who appears to be guaranteed a lineup spot.
Carolina Panthers: Miles Sanders fell out of favor last year under a different regime, and Carolina spent a second-round pick on Texas back Jonathon Brooks, whose currently recovering from a torn ACL but figures to factor in at some point in 2024. That leaves Chuba Hubbard as the presumed RB1, and he’ll have to play his best pro ball to fend off the eventual return of Brooks.
Roschon Johnson vs. Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears: D’Andre Swift should be the top option and presents three-down utility, but his injury history makes whoever comes away with the RB2 spot an intriguing fantasy flier.
Alexander Mattison vs. Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders: Zamir White is a one-dimensional back who lacks the chops to serve as a dangerous receiving outlet, which is what Laube does better than Mattison. The rookie has a prime opportunity to build on a strong showing in OTAs in contrast to Mattison coming off a down year in Minnesota.
Elijah Mitchell vs. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers: The oft-injured Mitchell faces a powerful rookie challenger in Guerendo, though the latter is currently dealing with a hamstring injury suffered on Day 1 of camp. That will put him at a disadvantage entering Week 1, but Mitchell’s fragility suggests we may see Guerendo before long.
Dameon Pierce vs. Cam Akers, Houston Texans: Pierce was underwhelming in 2023 and now takes a backseat to Joe Mixon, but there’s a new challenger in town. Akers is coming off his second Achilles tear (each one) in the last three years, and he is in no way guaranteed a roster spot.
Eric Gray vs. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants: Tracy, a receiver turned running back, enters as a rookie looking to spell Devin Singletary, whose career has been lackluster to date. Gray struggled to stand out over limited touches in 2023 but returns with valuable experience gained. In all likelihood, either back will matter in fantasy.
New York Jets No. 2: This one is all about finding the correct handcuff in case Breece Hall goes down. Likely to garner the most attention in fantasy is 20-year-old rookie Braelon Allen, a fourth-rounder, who stands 6-foot-1, 235 pounds. Another rookie, Isaiah Davis, and 2023 rookie Israel Abanikanda will duke it out in a three-way fight. This one really could go any direction, but Allen appears to be the safest bet for the time being.
Kenneth Gainwell vs. Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles: The only reason this one matters is because of Saquon Barkley‘s lengthy injury history. Neither really is a direct handcuff, and we’ll probably see a split approach should the former New York Giant go down.
Bucky Irving vs. Chase Edmonds, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edmonds doesn’t have a strong resume and is on his fourth team in three seasons. It will be awfully surprising if Irving doesn’t win this battle to serve as Rachaad White‘s backup and direct spell.
Wide receivers
Buffalo Bills: A nearly wholesale reset at the position this offseason saw Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis depart, leaving Khalil Shakir as the lone holdover among the top trio. He at least has the benefit of chemistry with Josh Allen. Second-round rookie Keon Coleman may be the most intriguing based on his physical attributes and will be a true wild card for fantasy purposes, depending on how quickly he picks up the pro game. Curtis Samuel is a career underperformer but could finally enjoy a legitimate breakout through volume alone. Unless one of those three struggles to meet expectations, the likes of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler and Andy Isabella will tussle for the No. 4 spot and remain irrelevant.
Kansas City Chiefs: The passing game still funnels through Travis Kelce until proven otherwise. Therefore, the WR1 is devalued. KC’s actual wide receivers’ pecking order will be dictated by whether Rashee Rice is suspended for his alleged off-field incident. Veteran deep threat Marquise Brown should lock down the No. 2 spot but could lose ground to rookie Xavier Worthy‘s record-setting speed. Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman will vie for a role as the No. 4 if the aforementioned trio are on the field, though they’re not fantasy-worthy regardless of how it shakes out.
Los Angeles Chargers: Joshua Palmer is the returning veteran of this crew, and he hasn’t done more than flash a few times when given modest opportunities. Second-rounder Ladd McConkey has positioned himself toward being an immediate contributor in Year 1 and will be watched closely during camp. Last year’s top pick, Quentin Johnston, fell flat as a rookie but shouldn’t be entirely written off just yet. The well-traveled DJ Chark Jr. brings an oft-injured vertical asset into the mix, and seventh-rounder Brenden Rice will attempt to show he belongs.
Pittsburgh Steelers No. 2: Van Jefferson reportedly has the inside track on the job as George Pickens‘ sidekick. The journeyman is three years removed from any kind of relevance in fantasy, and he’ll face a rookie challenger in Roman Wilson. Calvin Austin and Quez Watkins will factor in as deep threats, and veteran Marquez Callaway will attempt to get his career on track. Long story short, it’s a run-heavy design and there’s not enough room for Pittsburgh’s No. 2 to consistently matter in fantasy.
New England Patriots: Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Probably not, but someone has to catch passes, and every team’s WR1 has some degree of fantasy utility. Kendrick Bourne returns from a torn ACL, Demario Douglas has flashed a few times, and veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster is on the downswing of his once-promising career. Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, out of Washington, is the most promising option of the lot, and he will compete for the top billing. K.J. Osborn and rookie Javon Baker are in the mix, too, so this competition is as wide open as any.
Adonai Mitchell vs. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts: It probably doesn’t matter in fantasy without an injury ahead of them, but Mitchell, a vertical rookie, and Pierce, a third-year pro, aren’t without relevant traits to succeed. Mitchell will be the more popular gamble as Pierce appears to have fallen out of favor. Just don’t get carried away with your draft investment in the rook.
Denver Broncos No. 2: An unsettled quarterback situation (see above) will make this uneasy, but there’s a role to be filled behind Courtland Sutton. Presuming it’s Bo Nix under center, he doesn’t have a trustworthy target otherwise, which opens the door for any one of Josh Reynolds, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, and Troy Franklin to become more than a fleeting blip on the fantasy radar.
New York Jets No. 3: Rookie Malachi Corley will face off with the likes of Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson, though all three probably carve out independent roles. None of them are expected to present consistent fantasy utility, however.
Tight ends
Brock Bowers vs. Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders: A Day 1 rookie drafted a year after a second-round pick was invested into the position suggests we’ll see a lot of both players, but this one is Bowers’ job to lose for now. Count on each guy being incorporated, though it could come at the detriment of neither standing out many weeks.
Zach Ertz vs. Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders: The rookie, Sinnott, takes on a cagey veteran who very well could have one last strong season in the tank. Ertz knows the system, and Washington is in need of a capable third target beyond the line of scrimmage, so expect the vet to stave off Sinnott.
Daniel Bellinger vs. Theo Johnson, New York Giants: Both have dealt with injuries this spring, but Johnson (hip) is the one who has a steeper hill to climb as a rookie missing valuable time. Bellinger could prove to be a sneaky flier in deep leagues.
Tommy Tremble vs. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers: Rookie TEs rarely matter in fantasy, and this passing game is deeper than it has been in recent memory. Even if Sanders wins, there’s really no value here.
