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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Charles Curtis

8 early NFL training camp trends to buy and sell on in fantasy football: Dameon Pierce, RB1?

Dameon Pierce NFL Romeo Doubs Devante Parker Fantasy football Football Matw Stafford Skyy Moore Chase Claypool George Pickens

OK, fine: We’ve had exactly one NFL preseason game — the Hall of Fame game — and it’s the extra one that no one really cares about.

But we have had some training camps going on for a little while. And while that’s just a peek at what certain NFL teams are doing and how players are fitting in, we can start to identify some trends and figure out how they fit into fantasy football.

So I’m doing some VERY early buying and selling on those emerging trends to figure out what to do later in the month when fantasy drafts really get going:

1
Is Dameon Pierce really the RB1 in Houston?

We’re getting to the point where he might be TOO hyped. The 2022 fourth-rounder out of Florida looks every part the RB1 for the hapless Texans, and while that didn’t produce a ton of value for anyone last year, it’s intriguing particularly when Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman are all there vying for carries.

But if he’s there late in your drafts — at this point, given the hype, I don’t know if that happens — go ahead and grab him.

VERDICT: Buy

2
Is Josh Jacobs about to have a bad season?

It wasn’t a great sight to see Jacobs playing a lot in the Hall of Fame game.

But here’s the thing: How high are you on Jacobs to begin with?

He scored nine times last year. He did catch 54 passes last year. But he was just meh. There might be some competition for carries in Las Vegas. The Raiders might be throwing a ton more with Davante Adams in town.

So, yeah, I’m avoiding him no matter what.

VERDICT: BUY

3
Is drafting Kareem Hunt a bad idea?

Uhhhh …

This is one where you probably will wait til your draft to figure out. Maybe the Browns plan on giving him an extension. But maybe they trade him somewhere if he’s unhappy and suddenly he’s an RB1 on another team.

So don’t necessarily avoid him because of this.

VERDICT: Sell

4
Are we really buying into the hype around Romeo Doubs?

We’ve been here before, haven’t we? Every year, we roll the dice on a non-Davante Adams receiver doing something for the Packers, because theoretically someone has to be a WR2, right?

Fool me once, etc etc.

So now we get to Romeo Doubs.

A reminder that Adams is no longer a Packer and the current top receiver is Allen Lazard, who is good but maybe not a traditional WR1.

Also: Doubs — a fourth-rounder in 2022 out of Nevada — is 6-foot-2 and is turning heads at camp.

In short, I’m willing to buy on this if it keeps up, and if in Week 1 he catches one pass for 10 yards, I won’t be shocked.

VERDICT: Slight buy

5
Are we concerned about Matthew Stafford and his elbow?

Welp.

If I’m drafting right now, I roll the dice anyway. This is concerning but until we hear that it’s really a problem, it’s a green light for Stafford and his receivers.

VERDICT: SELL

6
Is Skyy Moore about to be a thing in Kansas City?

HMMM!

I’m a little hesitant. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman are probably ahead right now in the WR corps in KC — and we know Travis Kelce will do Travis Kelce things again this year — but in a deep league? And in dynasty leagues? Fine! I’ll roll the dice on the rook.

VERDICT: Slight buy

7
Is Devante Parker a true WR1 in New England?

I have been all in Parker before when he was a Dolphin. And, well, that hasn’t always panned out.

But …

Here’s my thing: The Patriots generally spread the ball out. Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor are still in Boston. So I’m nervous to spend a ton of draft capital on Parker.

VERDICT: Sell

8
Should we worry about Chase Claypool?

He’s injured right now …

… the George Pickens hype train has picked up …

… and his QB situation isn’t great.

I’m probably avoiding this one for sure.

VERDICT: Buy

 

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