2022 NFL Training Camp Report August 16: New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara Unlikely to Be Suspended
With the first full weekend of NFL Preseason games in the books and 2022 NFL Training Camps rolling on, we have plenty of fantasy football news and headlines to dive into! As you prepare for your fantasy football drafts, it's important to stay on top of all the latest NFL news, training camp hype, injuries, and everything in between. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara headlines today's NFL Training Camp report as an update on his suspension status could impact his fantasy football ADP and NFL pre-season projections. Plus, Los Angeles Rams running backs Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson were recently added to the NFL injury report. Then we have potential fantasy football sleepers like Dameon Pierce, Jaylen Warren, and Isiah Pacheco all rising up fantasy football player rankings over the past few days. Be sure to check out Fantasy Alarm's 2022 Fantasy Football Ultimate Cheat Sheet to dominate your own leagues this season. Plus, take advantage of our FREE Fantasy Football Draft Guide. Now let's get to some fantasy football advice involving the biggest NFL Training Camp news, injuries, and storylines.
2022 Fantasy Football NFL Training Camp News
Could Saints RB Alvin Kamara Avoid Suspension in 2022?
The big question surrounding Alvin Kamara in fantasy football drafts this summer has been whether or not the New Orleans Saints running back will be suspended for his alleged role in a fight back in February. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that “there’s a real chance” that Kamara’s battery case and potential discipline “is not going to affect his availability this season.” The hearing for this case has already been delayed multiple times with September 29th currently set as the new date, at the earliest, for any such hearing. Schefter says it looks “more and more unlikely” that Kamara will be suspended for any part of the 2022 season because the case keeps getting pushed back. It’s previously been reported that the Saints RB could serve a six-game suspension for his role in the Las Vegas fight during Pro Bowl weekend, but it appears that may not come until the 2023 season now. This news should force Kamara’s fantasy football ADP to rise in the coming days and weeks before Week 1 now that we have some more clarity that he’ll be available.
Rams RBs Cam Akers & Darrell Henderson Dealing With Soft Tissue Injuries
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters yesterday that Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson are both dealing with “soft tissue” injuries and sitting out practices right now. We didn't get more information on the severity of the injuries, but soft tissue is never a good thing to hear. These can re-emerge at any point this season and force Akers or Henderson to miss time. It seems like both will be ready to go for Week 1, but this is definitely something to monitor if you've already drafted one of the Rams running backs or are considering it. Keep an eye on rookie Kyren Williams and Jake Funk as the next men up if Akers/Henderson are sidelined at all this year.
Falcons WR Drake London Knee Injury Update
In Friday’s preseason game, Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Drake London suffered a knee injury that quickly sent waves of panic through the fantasy football streets. Thankfully, it appears this isn’t a serious injury for London. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said the first-round pick’s knee problem isn’t something the team is “concerned about long term,” per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. Smith also said that London will probably sit out the next week of practices. On the one hand, this is great news that the Falcons wideout avoided a serious knee injury. Still, the issue could easily pop back up this season and keep him sidelined for a week or two.
Is Texans RB Dameon Pierce a Fantasy Football Sleeper?
Fantasy football managers, especially in dynasty formats, got excited about Dameon Pierce as soon as the Houston Texans selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That was before Pierce put on a show in the Texans’ preseason opener on Saturday. The University of Florida product racked up 49 rushing yards on five carries in his pro debut, averaging an impressive 9.8 ypc. He showed off his ability to break tackles, find holes in the defense, and gain yards after contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Pierce was actually the highest-graded running back in Preseason Week 1.
Yes, it’s just preseason, but the rookie even had head coach Lovie Smith talking. We all know the competition for backfield touches in Houston isn’t that tough, with Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead currently the co-starters. Pierce could easily grab the lead back role early in the season if he continues to reel off big gains in actual game action. Before Saturday, he had Texans reporters buzzing during training camp with ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime calling Pierce the team’s “best running back.” If that’s the case and the rook eventually emerges as Houston’s starter, then he’s a bargain at his current fantasy football ADP. Just ask Justin Fensterman in the latest ADP TV video.
Could the Chiefs Cut Ronald Jones?
It wasn't too long ago that many fantasy football managers and Chiefs fans thought Ronald Jones would eventually take over the lead running back role in Kansas City. Clyde Edwards-Helaire hasn't totally lived up to the hype yet and the Chiefs brought in Jones this offseason with Darrel Williams departing. We all know Jones never took hold of the lead job in Tampa Bay with Leonard Fournette there. Now, it appears he has a real chance of being cut in Kansas City before the regular season even begins. By now you've surely seen all the training camp buzz surrounding rookie Isiah Pacheco. The Athletic's Nate Taylor reports that Jones has fallen down the depth chart and predicts that the Chiefs will keep Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon over Jones in the RB room behind Edwards-Helaire. If that's the case, we could see another team sign Jones if the Chiefs cut him and he may actually still be fantasy relevant elsewhere. Either way, it's clear that Pacheco's hype is real in KC.
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren Getting First-Team Reps
It's no secret that Najee Harris is the clear lead back in Pittsburgh. No one is denying that and the Steelers would be crazy to think otherwise. However, we always need to be aware of which backup running backs are the handcuffs to guys like Harris. ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported yesterday that rookie Jaylen Warren was getting first-team reps at Steelers camp and appears to have the leg up on the backup RB role behind Harris. Warren, who went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in the 2022 Draft, had an impressive preseason debut with six carries for 34 rushing yards and four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. Now it looks like he's risen up the Steelers depth chart ahead of Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland, and Master Teague III. So, if you're looking for a Harris handcuff, Warren might be the guy to grab late in drafts.
Eagles Trade J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to Seahawks
It may not involve Jimmy Garoppolo, but we did have an NFL trade yesterday. The Philadelphia Eagles have traded WR/TE J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for DB Ugo Amadi. This transaction may not have a big fantasy football impact, but it’s still notable. Arcega-Whiteside is a former second-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft who could never carve out a meaningful role in the Eagles’ receiving corps. He totaled just 16 receptions for 290 yards and one touchdown over the last three seasons and even changed his position to tight end this offseason. ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports the Seahawks will use Arcega-Whiteside in a “hybrid” wide receiver/tight end role in hopes that he can revive his career with a change of scenery. For what it’s worth, Philadelphia was likely going to cut him before this trade.
Buccaneers Sign RB Patrick Laird
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed running back Patrick Laird on Monday. In a corresponding move, the Bucs also placed Kenjon Barner on the season-ending Injured Reserve. The signing of Laird may have more to do with Gio Bernard than Barner, though. Bernard suffered an ankle injury during Saturday’s preseason game and could be sidelined a bit longer than just a week or two. Laird now gives Tampa Bay some more backfield depth behind Leonard Fournette, Rachaad White, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. It’s a long shot and depends on the health of the Bucs’ running backs, but Laird could possibly have fantasy value in PPR leagues at some point this season. He was a capable pass-catcher out of the backfield at times for the Miami Dolphins and had at least five receptions in five different games back in 2019. For all we know, Tom Brady will turn Laird into the next James White if Bernard misses extended time. Just don’t get your hopes up for the newest Buccaneer unless multiple guys go down in front of him.
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Player News
Texas WR Matthew Golden visited the Chargers, Broncos, Lions, and Texans.
Golden was already reported to visit the Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Packers last week. He has since also visited the Lions, Texans, Chargers and Broncos. The Lions and Texans don’t need a WR1 but could use an additional wideout for their offenses and the 21-year-old Golden offers speed and vertical ability. Meanwhile, the Chargers can insert Golden on the outside with Ladd McConkey in the slot to stretch the field with Mike Williams back in Los Angeles. The Broncos recently signed Courtland Sutton to an extension, but Golden would add another outside target for Bo Nix’s growth. Several teams are evaluating Golden as his rising draft stock sits squarely in the first round.
Steelers brought in Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson for a top-30 visit.
They also brought in Central Florida RB RJ Harvey, not to be confused with PJ Harvey. Nine of Pittsburgh’s top-30 visits were spent on running backs. We’re starting to believe they might be serious about drafting a running back this year. Henderson has previously visited the Cowboys, Bengals and Panthers. He’s been tied heavily to the Raiders as well as Chip Kelly, Vegas’ offensive coordinator, coached the Buckeyes offense this past season. Henderson is an explosive scat back and that would make him an interesting fit with the Steelers as he would seem on paper to replicate what Jaylen Warren already brings to the table.
New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard reports the Rams have “spent a lot of time” with Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.
“Some league sources believe that Dart to L.A. is a strong possibility based on a combination of mutual interest, fit and breadcrumbs,” Leonard continues. While the Rams aren’t exactly in a position of short-term need at quarterback given their investments in Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, the year-to-year nature of Stafford’s contract means we can’t dismiss the idea of them investing in a new quarterback. Dart has generally been regarded as the third quarterback in the draft behind Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, though it’s possible that someone like Tyler Shough rises past Dart in the process. It wouldn’t be completely surprising if both Dart and Shough sneak into the bottom of the first round, where the Rams pick at 26th overall.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reports the Packers have received interest and remain committed to waiting for a deal to be made for CB Jaire Alexander.
Silverstein’s sources add that the Packers were close to dealing Alexander near the start of free agency, but that the combination of “trade compensation and Alexander’s willingness to alter his contract to fit the other team’s salary cap have made it difficult to close a deal.” We’ve been blurbing about Alexander’s situation all offseason and nothing has changed to this point. If the draft passes without a trade, we’re likely headed to a place where the Packers would be more compelled to release or keep him than trade him.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said “I never know what’s going to happen” when asked if he expects Mark Andrews to be with the team in 2025.
“I can tell you this, Mark Andrews is a warrior. He’s a great player and we’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can,” DeCosta continued. It’s a bit of a departure from John Harbaugh saying he “fully expected” Andrews to be here in late March. Reading between the lines, it sounds like Andrews may be available in a trade but that nobody has really given the Ravens an offer they’d consider feasible. We’d bet on Andrews returning still, but it is noteworthy that DeCosta wouldn’t commit to it.
NewOrleans Football’s Mike Triplett’s “best guess” is that Derek Carr is “trying to force a divorce” with the Saints.
“Either a) he legitimately is like my shoulder has reached a point where I think I’d rather take care of it than play this season or ... b) it’s some sort of threat, like we asked for you guys to release us, you didn’t, we were upset when you just restructured the contract instead of trying to work out a release, so now here’s another path for us not showing us, and maybe now we’ll force a release,” Triplett continued. “I don’t know how there’s any resolution from this,” Triplett added. The Athletic’s Diana Russini added that she believes Carr does not want the “Kirk Cousins treatment” where a team is not committed to him long-term. Triplett and Nick Underhill believe that Carr wanted out and was very upset when the Saints restructured his contract and forced him to stay. It sure feels like Carr is intent on not playing for the Saints this season.