It is soccer season. Oh, wait, it is fantasy soccer season! What can we count on, and the way will issues play out? Our NFL Nation reporters reply fantasy soccer questions each Wednesday in the course of the NFL season to assist in giving you all the knowledge you’ll want to get an edge as you make your choices. This is what they needed to say about a number of the largest questions heading into the season.
Will Kyler Murray play this season?
It is probably in some unspecified time in the future this season that Murray will take the sector for the Cardinals. When? That is the difficult half. He is out for, at the very least, the primary 4 video games as a result of he is beginning the season on the PUP listing, nevertheless it’s probably going to be extra as he practices throughout his three-week window after getting activated. Is there the likelihood he would not play? Positive. But it surely’s more likely that he performs at the very least half the season, in order that, if something, the Cardinals can consider how Murray works with the present teaching workers earlier than deciding on his future in ArIzona. — Josh Weinfuss
How do you count on the vast receiver goal shares to shake out between Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman?
The Ravens actually do not even know at this level. All through coaching camp, Lamar Jackson has had a powerful chemistry with Beckham and Flowers. Beckham has frequently made powerful catches, and Flowers has repeatedly gotten open. The catches and receiving yards needs to be pretty comparable for Beckham and Flowers by the tip of the season. The wild card is Bateman. He appeared like a No. 1 vast receiver earlier than he injured his foot final season, and he has struggled to constantly observe since. It is troublesome to undertaking Bateman as a significant component when he has missed a complete of 16 video games in his two NFL seasons. — Jamison Hensley
How will the accidents to the offensive line have an effect on Justin Fields? And the way do you count on the Chicago Bears’ backfield rotation to play out?
Head coach Matt Eberflus supplied a constructive damage replace on cut-down day that other than left guard Teven Jenkins, who stays week-to-week with a leg damage, “everyone [else] seems to be wholesome proper now.” Which means Cody Whitehair, Lucas Patrick and Nate Davis are in line to play Week 1. Whether or not Whitehair, who has a hand damage, strikes again to heart or stays at left guard is up within the air, however the go safety in entrance of Fields at the very least seems to be trending in the proper course with further depth on the inside after the Bears despatched a sixth-round decide to Miami in change for Dan Feeney. So far as the backfield rotation, Khalil Herbert would be the Bears’ lead again, whereas D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson will probably be squarely within the combine for carries. “We’re working again by committee,” Bears working backs coach David Walker mentioned. “Saquon Barkley would not put on a Chicago Bear helmet, Josh Jacobs would not put on a Chicago Bear helmet. We have plenty of good gamers, and people guys all complement each other, and so they all can have roles throughout the room as we transfer ahead.” — Courtney Cronin
Given Sean Payton’s historical past of backfield tandems, how do you count on Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine will probably be utilized for the Denver Broncos?
How Payton spreads out the workload early within the season may not be what it’s because the season wears on, so there’s a stay-tuned component to this. Williams continues to be simply 10 months faraway from his season-ending knee damage suffered in Week 4 final season. He performed in a single preseason sport and acquired three carries. Williams is the RB1, however there’s each indication the Broncos are nonetheless going to be winding him as much as full power because the season goes on. Williams and Perine will divvy up carries, with — if he continues to progress — Williams ultimately getting extra. Williams is an efficient blocker in go safety, however Perine is likely one of the finest backs within the league in go safety, so some third-down snaps or longer down-and-distance motion would possibly go his manner due to that. And if practices are any indication, Williams will probably be barely extra concerned within the passing sport. There may be all the time a chance Williams and Perine seem collectively in some unspecified time in the future within the two-back units, however that hasn’t been one thing Payton has proven in an open observe format but. — Jeff Legwold
Do you count on Quentin Johnston to fill the WR3 function for the Los Angeles Chargers, or is Joshua Palmer nonetheless an element?
It was simple to imagine that with the Chargers choosing Johnston with a first-round choice that he would mechanically substitute third receiver Joshua Palmer. However, not so quick. Palmer, who led the receivers group with 72 catches final season, continued to raise his sport all through coaching camp to show he’s nonetheless very a lot a contender for the third receiver function. Regardless who begins, count on Johnston and Palmer to each play vital roles. — Lindsey Thiry
What stage of confidence ought to fantasy managers have in a comeback season from Michael Thomas? Will his snap rely be managed?
Fantasy managers needs to be much less apprehensive about Thomas’ well being and extra involved about his quantity of targets. A number of Saints gamers and coaches have mentioned the Saints intend to unfold the ball round this 12 months. Which means Thomas will probably be competing for catches with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Alvin Kamara (when he returns), amongst others. The times of 140 targets are in all probability over. Thomas can definitely nonetheless be very efficient, however he will not be the first Saints go catcher like he was in 2018 and 2019, so proceed accordingly when making draft choices. — Katherine Terrell
Tight finish Darren Waller seems to be the highest pass-catcher, however who would be the prime choice from a crowded New York Giants WR room?
There actually isn’t any definitive reply. Clearly, that’s not good from a fantasy standpoint. Parris Campbell looks as if a great choice as a result of he’ll do injury on crossing routes understanding of the slot. Bear in mind, Richie James was prime 10 within the NFL final season with 44 receptions out of the slot. However Campbell may cede some targets to Wan’Dale Robinson, who’s getting back from a knee damage. That would presumably make Darius Slayton the Giants’ most efficient vast receiver (once more) with someplace between 700 and 800 yards. Yawn. — Jordan Raanan
How will backfield snaps play out for Dalvin Prepare dinner and Breece Corridor because the season progresses?
For Week 1, Prepare dinner figures to see extra touches than Corridor, who is barely 10 months faraway from ACL surgical procedure. Prepare dinner had no coaching camp after signing late, however he is a confirmed vet who is aware of find out how to get his physique prepared for a season. Will he get 20 carries on the outset? In all probability not. Search for a timeshare within the backfield, with a lean towards Prepare dinner. The scenario will evolve as Corridor will get extra snug in the course of the season. The Jets nonetheless see him as their RB1; they consider he will probably be an enormous issue over the second half of the season. — Wealthy Cimini
Who’s the favourite to seize the most important share of the early-season workload within the Philadelphia Eagles’ backfield?
The Eagles have been protecting this image cloudy, rotating D’Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott and Trey Sermon with the primary workforce throughout coaching camp. It is shaping as much as be a working again by committee. There is a case to be made for Swift getting the most important share of reps, given his versatility. Philadelphia has been lining him up all around the subject this summer time, utilizing him largely within the go sport with some runs sprinkled in, and he has been efficient in each roles. He is a house run risk and is arguably the most important matchup headache for opposing defenses, so there’s cause to assume the coaches will need him on the sector greater than some other again. — Tim McManus
Is Kenneth Walker III the clear RB1 for the Seattle Seahawks, or is it extra of a timeshare with Zach Charbonnet?
The most effective guess at this level is that it is one thing in between. Walker continues to be the starter and the favourite to get the vast majority of the work, however the Seahawks did not draft Charbonnet 52nd total to provide him solely 5 or so touches per sport. Primarily based on how good Charbonnet has appeared and the way coaches have raved about his professionalism, one thing within the neighborhood of 10 touches per sport would not appear unrealistic. The issue with attempting to undertaking Seattle’s backfield workloads with any certainty is that DeeJay Dallas has been a fixture as a third-down/change-of-pace choice the previous few seasons, and the Seahawks additionally spent a seventh-round decide on Kenny McIntosh, whom that they had rated a lot greater. — Brady Henderson
How will the Washington Commanders distribute touches between Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson?
Robinson would be the main again and has appeared good this summer time, so the Commanders will need to use him as a lot as potential. He had a three-game stretch from Weeks 12 to 14 final season through which he gained a mixed 343 yards. He will help them within the go sport much more than he did in 2022, when he caught 9 passes. Gibson will open in a third-down function, as they need to get him the ball in house as a lot as potential. He has measurement and glorious pace, and the Commanders need extra large performs. It is also why he may return kickoffs once more this season. Washington will use units when each are on the sector collectively, however the plan could be for Robinson to get the majority of the carries. And yet another nugget: The Commanders additionally like hard-running sixth-round rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. — John Keim