The fantasy football news, injuries, and rumors never stop as 2022 NFL Training Camps roll on with the regular season just three weeks away. As you prepare for your own fantasy football drafts, it's key to stay on top of all the latest NFL headlines and storylines coming out of training camp and 2022 NFL Preseason action. We begin today's report with news that the Carolina Panthers are expected to name Baker Mayfield their starting QB for Week 1, which should boost his NFL pre-season projections. We also have Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker landing on the NFL injury report, which may cause him to slip in fantasy football rankings. Then there's Travis Fulgham, who will see his fantasy football ADP rise after being signed by the Green Bay Packers. We have plenty of more NFL news and reports from camps across the league that could result in some fantasy football sleepers emerging this year. Let's dive into all of the fantasy football advice surrounding today's NFL Training Camp report.

 

Baker Mayfield Expected To Be Panthers Starting QB in Week 1

The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold appears to be over. Mayfield is expected to be named the Panthers’ starting QB for Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe and Joseph Person. Considering the team traded for Mayfield this offseason, many of us expected this news at some point before the regular season opener. Howe says the former Browns QB will be declared the starter when Carolina is ready to make a decision. What does this mean for fantasy football? Well, you can certainly draft Mayfield more safely now if you need a backup QB or a second one in 2QB or SuperFlex leagues. Who knows how long the leash is, though, with Darnold and rookie Matt Corral lurking if the new starter starts slow or gets hurt? For now, Mayfield at quarterback should also help the Panthers’ receivers and pass-catchers overall as he’s a slight upgrade to Darnold.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker Likely Out Rest of Preseason

Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Kenneth Walker will undergo a “procedure” for his injury and is expected to be back for Week 1, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Though he wouldn’t specify what the exact injury is, Carroll did say it’s not a sports hernia or a core muscle injury as originally feared. That’s at least some good news and it appears Walker will just miss the rest of preseason and return for the start of the regular season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the surgery was for a different kind of hernia injury and Walker is expected to make a full recovery. This is an unfortunate setback for those that were drafting the rookie in hopes he would begin the season as Seattle’s clear lead back. Now it looks like Rashaad Penny could be the starter in Week 1, even if Walker is back after missing weeks of practice.

Is Javonte Williams “The Guy” in Denver Backfield?

Fantasy football managers are wondering if Javonte Williams will be the Denver Broncos’ clear lead running back this season after he split time with Melvin Gordon last year. Well, it seems Gordon himself can shed some light on this. When asked about his backfield mate yesterday, Gordon said that the Broncos want Williams to be “the guy," per Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com. If you've already drafted Williams, then you likely agree. We'll see if this comes to fruition, though, in terms of him being a true RB1 for fantasy while living up to or outperforming his ADP. Just a week ago, we had Denver offensive coordinator Justin Outten say that Williams and Gordon would be a on a “pitch count” this season. 

 

Packers Claim WR Travis Fulgham Off Waivers

With Davante Adams gone, everyone wants to know which wide receiver will become Aaron Rodgers’ go-to target in the Green Bay Packers offense this season. Allen Lazard is the presumed favorite to step into the No. 1 WR role. Meanwhile, second-round rookie Christian Watson, veteran Randall Cobb, and offseason signee Sammy Watkins could all emerge as the team’s receiving leader. Then there’s fourth-round rookie Romeo Doubs, who’s been getting plenty of buzz during training camp and preseason. 

How about we throw Travis Fulgham into the mix? The Packers claimed Fulgham off waivers on Wednesday, two days after the Denver Broncos cut him. This move is an interesting one because it comes shortly after Aaron Rodgers’ frustrating comments about Green Bay’s younger wideouts. Fulgham brings some veteran experience to the WR corps and he at least has some proven production in the NFL after being the Philadelphia Eagles’ leading receiver in 2020. Don’t go drafting Fulgham over Lazard, Watson, Watkins, Cobb, or even Doubs just yet, but this is definitely something to monitor.

Darren Waller Back at Raiders Practice

This is fantastic news for anyone that’s already drafted Darren Waller or was considering doing so. The Las Vegas Raiders tight end finally returned to practice Wednesday after missing the last two weeks of camp with a hamstring injury. It was getting a bit worrisome that Waller’s injury was more serious than the team was letting on, but it appears he’s on track to be ready for Week 1. That is, of course, barring any setbacks with the hamstring. 

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman Suffers Groin Injury

When the tweets started coming in about Mecole Hardman being carted off the practice field with a left leg injury, it didn’t sound good. We received some more clarity later on when the Kansas City Chiefs said it’s a groin injury for Hardman, who jumped for a ball and came down awkwardly in practice. It remains to be seen how serious this groin issue is for the speedy wideout, but Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com reports that it's “isn't severe.” Still, groin injuries are always finicky and could be something that keeps him on the injury report for Week 1 and possibly beyond. This may benefit rookie WR Skyy Moore, who’s been battling Hardman for starting wideout snaps and could help fill the playmaking void left by Tyreek Hill. 

Colts TE Andrew Ogletree Out For Season

Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Andrew Ogletree suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The sixth-round pick out of Youngstown State went down with a non-contact knee injury during Wednesday’s practice and had to be helped off the field. Ogletree was making headlines at Colts camp this season and could've been a possible fantasy football sleeper. Now, it's Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Gransen as 1-2 on the Indy tight end depth chart with rookie Jelani Woods also in the mix.

 

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