Fantasy football meets real life in the dog days of summer as NFL teams and fantasy owners alike are forced to make tough roster decisions.
One of these challenging decisions focuses on positional battles. With several top roles up in the air, it’s important to monitor the statuses or various teams’ training camp battles in the days leading up to your fantasy draft.
Here are 10 positional battles to monitor with drafts just days away.
New England Patriots | No. 2 Wide Receiver
Candidates: Mohamed Sanu, N’Keal Harry
The Patriots, who find themselves making two appearances on this list, have pieced together a solid receiving corps for Cam Newton in his first year in New England. Julian Edelman is the clear No. 1 wideout, but there’s an ongoing battle for the starting role opposite him.
As of now, Mohamed Sanu and N’Keal Harry are both making a push for that WR2 spot in their second seasons in New England.
Harry appeared in just seven games last year as a rookie, missing the other nine due to injury. The first-round pick reeled in just 12 of 24 targets for a measly 105 yards and two touchdowns. On the other hand, Sanu, who was acquired from the Falcons midway through the season, notched 26 catches, 207 yards, and one touchdown in New England, adding on to the 33 catches, 313 yards, and one score he posted in Atlanta.
This battle is heating up and it might be a while before a decision is made. Harry has more attention on him as the former first-round pick and future of this New England receiving core, but Sanu is also a reliable threat in the passing game who cost the Patriots a second-round draft pick.
New England also has Damiere Byrd and rookies Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski on its depth chart.
Indianapolis Colts | No. 2 Wide Receiver
Candidates: Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell, Michael Pittman Jr.
Behind No. 1 wideout T.Y. Hilton, a battle is brewing. The Colts head into the final two weeks without a true WR2, which is a position that is sure to see lots of attention in the Colts’ new offense with veteran quarterback Philip Rivers at the helm.
Pascal saw a large role in 2019 when Hilton was injured, appearing in all 16 games and tallying 607 yards and five touchdowns on 41 catches. Campbell had a much smaller sample size in what was his rookie year as he appeared in just seven games (three starts), catching 18 passes for 127 yards and a score. Pittman, meanwhile, impressed in the college ranks with 101 catches, 1,275 yards, and 11 touchdowns in just 13 games.
Pittman had the odds stacked against him due to the cancellation of all preseason games, which are traditionally huge for rookies battling for a position on the depth chart or even a roster spot in general. However, despite this knock, there’s a growing sense that the No. 2 receiving role will belong to him. While drafted in the second round, Pittman has clear first-round talent and fits the description of an ideal Philip Rivers target.
With that said, Campbell and Pascal are in the running, too, and they appear to be neck-and-neck. Pascal has the better track record, but the Colts have invested more in Campbell and are waiting for him to show off what they envisioned when they drafted him in the second round of the 2019 draft.
The Colts’ depth also includes Marcus Johnson, Dezmon Patmon, Daurice Fountain, and Ashton Dulin.
Miami Dolphins | No. 1 Running Back
Candidates: Matt Breida, Jordan Howard
An overlooked battle by many, the Dolphins have a peculiar competition for their RB1 job. Why is it so peculiar? The two players vying for the starting role have never taken a snap in a Dolphins jersey.
Breida was acquired by the Dolphins in a draft-day trade while Howard found his way to South Beach during free agency. Both have had bursts of star-caliber play but also found themselves demoted to the second or third spots on their old teams’ depth charts. They hope to reverse that course of woes as they start a new chapter in Miami.
In 13 games (five starts) last year, Breida posted 623 yards on the ground and 120 in the passing game while scoring twice. Howard, meanwhile, appeared in 10 games (four starts), adding 525 rushing yards and 69 receiving while still managing to find the end zone seven times.
The thought going into camp was that Howard would be the true RB1 while Breida would be the RB2. However, don’t be surprised if Miami hasn’t made a decision until early September. These two players have fascinatingly similar career paths and results despite being two different types of running backs. It should not be forgotten that Howard posted 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage in each of his first three pro seasons while Breida had a 1,000-yard season of his own in 2018. These are two talented running backs looking to revive their careers and prove themselves again in a young and up-and-coming Miami system.
Miles Gaskin, Kalen Ballage, and Patrick Laird will battle for the RB3 role.
Kansas City Chiefs | No. 2 Wide Receiver
Candidates: Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins
There’s a lot of chatter in Kansas City about the wide receiver battle, and it sure is warranted. Second-year speedster Mecole Hardman and proven veteran Sammy Watkins are each working hard in hopes of being dubbed the WR2 behind perennial Pro Bowl wideout Tyreek Hill.
Hardman, a receiver and talented returner, made just five starts last year but appeared in all 16 games. He caught 26 of the 41 passes thrown his way for 538 yards and six touchdowns. Watkins, meanwhile, made 13 starts in 14 games, amassing 52 catches on 90 targets for 673 yards and three touchdowns.
As of now, it appears that the top pick to fill in behind Hill is Hardman. After all, the latter’s speed essentially mirrors the former’s. Hardman has been healthy and has proven he can catch passes, making a name for himself as a top receiving threat for perennial MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes. However, although injured a lot, Watkins also has a shot at the job thanks to his proven success and longevity in the league. The six-year veteran hasn’t played in all 16 games since his rookie year, but he has posted numbers year in and year out that at least make him a candidate for the WR2 role, if not a favorite.
There can only be one No. 2 receiver, and Andy Reid and co. have a big decision on their hands.
Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, and Gehrig Dieter round of the remainder of the Chiefs’ receiving depth.
Indianapolis Colts | No. 1 Running Back
Candidates: Marlon Mack, Jonathan Taylor
If you haven’t heard the chatter surrounding the Colts’ backfield, you’re missing out. The Marlon Mack vs. Jonathan Taylor debate has been ablaze throughout social media platforms and press boxes alike, and nobody appears to have a clear answer regarding who will occupy the important RB1 spot in Philip Rivers’s offense.
In 14 games last year (12 starts), Mack ran the football 247 times for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns, an impressive finish in the eyes of fantasy owners who were originally frustrated by his injury that allowed the talented backup running backs to showcase themselves. Taylor, meanwhile, spent 2019 running for the Wisconsin backfield and preparing himself for the 2020 NFL Draft. He finished his junior year with a whopping 2,003 yards on the ground and another 252 through the air.
It’s obvious that Taylor is the Colts’ running back of the future, especially with Marlon Mack set to enter his final year under contract. However, that doesn’t automatically mean, Taylor is cemented as the RB1 come Week 1. While they hope to turn him into a long-term starter, he could be transitioned into the role slowly, leaving Mack as the starter for the first handful of weeks. Additionally, Taylor is a rookie and won’t have preseason games to showcase his brilliance over Mack.
Colts head coach Frank Reich said he expects the team to open the year with Mack as the starter. While other theories have Mack being traded and Taylor slotting into the No. 1 role that he arguably deserves, it’s hard to disagree with anything a head coach says during training camp because he knows best what the team is expecting to roll out.
Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins are battling for the RB3 spot, although it’s quite possible the team could carry four backs.
Las Vegas Raiders | No. 1 Wide Receiver
Candidates: Tyrell Williams, Henry Ruggs III, Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards
Before you go crazy about the presence of four candidates for the top job, take a deep breath and read this first paragraph. These four players aren’t really all WR1 candidates, but with the current health and talent concerns regarding the wide receiver corps, it’s tough to tell who is really battling for the first and second receiver roles.
Williams automatically gets a shot at the role because he was the starter in 12 of the 14 games he appeared in last year. He hauled in 42 passes for 651 yards and six touchdowns. Renfrow, meanwhile, appeared in 13 games but made just four starts. He still managed to catch 49 passes for 605 scores, finding the end zone four times. Of these two returning wideouts, Williams is clearly the top choice, but he’s nursing an injury and could see a demotion because of it.
Ruggs finished his stint at Alabama by appearing in 12 games and catching 40 passes for 746 yards and seven touchdowns. Arguably the No. 1 receiver in the draft and a lock for the first round, Ruggs also recorded a rushing touchdown in his final collegiate year. Edwards, meanwhile, saw similar success in what was his senior year of college at South Carolina. In 10 games, the eventual third-round pick caught 71 passes for 816 yards and six touchdowns.
So there you have it. The Raiders’ wide receiver room consists of four proven wideouts who have pure talent. Two had college brilliance, one is a speedy and talented weapon, and another is a banged-up but proven veteran and starter.
All in all, the competition will likely come down to Williams and Ruggs, but expect all four to see plenty of action on the field this year.
Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones are also looking to make an impact in the passing game this year.
Washington Football Team | No. 1 Running Back
Candidates: Bryce Love, Adrian Peterson, Antonio Gibson
Washington already had a crowded and confusing backfield, but with the release of Guice, a plethora of new questions has emerged.
Of the three candidates, Love is the least likely to claim the starting role this year. He impressed in college but missed his rookie year in 2019 due to injury. Gibson, meanwhile, burst onto the scene with an impressive junior year as a receiver at Memphis as he hauled in 38 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for an additional 369 yards and four scores. Washington took him in the second round of the 2020 draft. And last but not least, Peterson has 13 years of veteranship in which he has won awards, been selected to Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams, and set NFL records. He was the lead back in Washington last year as he notched five touchdowns and over 1,000 total yards from scrimmage.
Love has seen first-team reps but can pretty safely be eliminated from this list. He’s a valuable third-down back who could see some end zone touches, too.
Gibson is the most interesting player here because he has received a lot of hype out of training camp. Coaches, media, and teammates have all praised Gibson’s spread and elusiveness, and he has a legitimate shot at breaking camp as the No. 1 back.
There’s not much to say about Peterson other than the fact that the ageless wonder is always a reliable backfield threat and will likely play great football no matter where he finds himself on the depth chart.
Baltimore Ravens | No. 1 Running Back
Candidates: Mark Ingram, J.K. Dobbins
The Ravens had an incredible 2019 from a rushing standpoint as Lamar Jackson and Ingram stole the show, each rushing for over 1,000 yards apiece. However, Baltimore made an interesting move by pulling the trigger on highly-regarded running back prospect J.K. Dobbins when he fell to them in the second round.
Ingram joined Baltimore in 2019 after an impressive run complementing Alvin Kamara with the New Orleans Saints. In his first year with Baltimore, the former first-round pick posted 1,265 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns on 228 total touches. Dobbins, meanwhile, finished his senior year at Ohio State with a whopping 2,250 scrimmage yards and 23 scores on 324 touches.
Take a second to debrief and try to figure out how this backfield will work when you have two running backs who put up numbers like that. There’s no question that they’ll be good. The only concern is who the RB1 will be. Expect Ingram to open the year in the lead role with Dobbins being given a fair shot to come from behind and take the job from Ingram in the early weeks of the season.
And don’t forget the Ravens have Gus Edwards and Justice Hill on their depth chart. Look out for this backfield.
Pittsburgh Steelers | No. 2 Wide Receiver
Candidates: Diontae Johnson, James Washington
The Steelers produced a decent season in 2019 despite the overwhelming turmoil throughout the offense. With Ben Roethlisberger back under center and JuJu Smith-Schuster poised for a bounce-back year as Pittsburgh’s WR1, all that’s left to be figured out is the No. 2 wide receiver conversation.
Johnson showed promise in his rookie campaign last year, showing signs of potential mixed in with underwhelming performances. While frustrating, it’s unfair to dig into his down weeks too much considering the wild quarterback carousel that the Steelers witnessed. The third-round pick appeared in all 16 games, making 12 starts and catching 59 passes for 680 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Washington, in his second pro season, served as a reliable deep threat for college teammate Mason Rudolph. Washington finished the year with 10 starts in 15 games, accumulating 44 catches for 735 yards and three touchdowns.
With Roethlisberger under center, Johnson is seen as someone who could fill the role that JuJu Smith-Schuster occupied when Antonio Brown was a Steeler. However, Washington has also impressed frequently during regular season play and is a legitimate candidate to usurp Johnson as the Steelers’ WR2. This is a fascinating battle to monitor.
Pittsburgh also has rookie red zone weapon Chase Claypool as its No. 4 receiver.
New England Patriots | No. 1 Running Back
Candidates: Damien Harris, Lamar Miller, Sony Michel, James White
You were warned that New England would make a curtain call, weren’t you? The Patriots have a lot of positions up for grabs, and RB1 is one of them. Sony Michel would normally be the clear pick here but an injury could cost him his starting job. New England is expecting big years from receiving back James White and second-year weapon Damien Harris, but they also brought in veteran Lamar Miller as he looks to bounce back from injury.
Harris only appeared in two games as a rookie last year but did impress with over 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his last three years of college. Miller made the Pro Bowl in his last season (2018) but missed 2019 with a torn ACL. He did, however, post over 1,000 scrimmage yards in every season from 2014 to 2018, making him a fitting reclamation project for the Patriots.
White and Michel provide a little more certainty. You know what to expect from White, who posted 908 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns after a 2018 season in which he scored 12 times and racked up over 1,000 scrimmage yards. Michel is also a predictable back outside of his injuries; he finished with over 900 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons and added a total of 13 touchdowns along the way.
It’s impossible to even provide analysis on this battle because there are so many players with different stats, styles, and skillsets. We’ll let Bill Belichick be the one to judge these backs and settle on one ahead of the Patriots’ season opener against Miami.
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