Tue Aug 12th 2025

Week Three Training Camp Report

This week, Dynasty Freeks did not have to rely on reports from training camp. They got to see live action on the field during preseason games. Many teams allowed their starters to play for a few series, and almost every team gave their rookies and young players plenty of snaps. It was enjoyable to watch while considering the future impact of young players on our dynasty roster. I watched almost every play in every game this week. In his article, I'll share my takeaways from training camp week three and the first week of preseason.

Shedeur Sanders

• Quarterback injuries led to Shedeur Sanders receiving the starting role in the Browns' preseason opener, and Sanders stole the show. He threw two touchdown passes in his preseason debut and looked like he was in control of the offense on all his drives. He played with second and third string players, and he made them look great.  His completion percentage was just over 50%, so he has room for improvement, but his debut was far better than I expected and will have fans clamoring for him to win the starting role. If the Browns' quarterbacks cannot get back on the field and Sanders improves upon this performance in the next preseason game, he'll rightly deserve a shot at the starting role. I was very surprised by his solid performance.

Jaxson Dart

• Dart also looked impressive in his preseason debut. He looked poised in the pocket and accurate with his throws. His incompletions (7) were skewed a bit because of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. That can be its problem, but I'd rather see that than incompletions based on inaccurate passes. He did what I loved best about him in college - throwing moon balls downfield for a touchdown and making plays on the ground. He is an excellent runner, and that showed in his first preseason game. He will start for the Giants sooner rather than later if he continues to play well in the preseason.

Cam Ward

• Ward made his debut with the first team offense and led the team to a touchdown-scoring drive in their second possession. He also looked like a professional right away, with eyes downfield for bigger chunks of yardage, including three completions to Calvin Ridley for 27, 13, and 10 yards on the touchdown scoring drive. He and Ridley have a tight connection already, rightly raising the expectations of Ridley managers. He'll be fun to watch throughout the preseason, though he will see fewer reps than the other rookie quarterbacks since he has already won the starting job. Titan fans and dynasty managers with Titans on their rosters must be excited from their first short glimpse of Ward.

Justin Fields

• For the first few weeks of training camp, the reports were negative on Fields. His accuracy issues were a problem as they have been throughout his career. There may be cause for concern, but you could not notice it on the first drive of his preseason game, the only drive he played. He took the team down the field with accurate passes and did what he does best at the end by running for a touchdown to end his one and only drive. His reported chemistry with WR-3, Tyler Johnson, also stood out. Johnson may finally earn a starting role in the NFL and put himself back in consideration for dynasty rosters after years on the waiver wire. Fields has always looked and played different in live game action, and he's likely to do so again. His dynasty managers should weigh his preseason games more than his practice reports.

Kyren Williams

• As I hoped, the Rams agreed to a new contract with Williams this week, making him their RB-1 for years to come. Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter's dynasty managers were disappointed by this development as neither is in line to be the future starter for the Rams after this signing. They are highly valuable backups, but their dynasty stock did not rise to the level their managers had hoped this year. Corum's play in their first preseason game looked a lot better than Hunter's. It's just one preseason game, but it was clear that Corum is the RB-2 behind Williams so far, and I expect him to stay ahead of Hunter this year and the years to come.

TreVeyon Henderson

• Oh, my goodness! How about running the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to start your NFL debut! That's what Henderson did, and he looked just as explosive in several other carries and catches he had in the Patriots' first preseason game. There's no denying his big-play ability. He's the rookie running back in this class most likely to have a Jahmyr Gibbs style breakout in his rookie season. Rhamondre Stevenson also looked good with his carries, but Henderson will eat into his load sooner rather than later this season. Stevenson will have to hang on to the goal-line role to score fantasy points, but he might not get a chance if Henderson scores from 20 yards out many times this season. Henderson managers are thrilled with his first preseason action.

Will Shipley

• Shipley took almost all the second-team carries for the Eagles, and he looked sharp. He had one breakaway run of 38 yards that skewed his yards per carry average significantly, but he did look more explosive and ready to be Saquon's backup than A.J. Dillon did. I'm expecting an increased role for Shipley this season as the team tries to give Barkley more rest this year and a huge role for Shipley if Barkley gets injured. Reports surfaced in camp that Dillon was moving into the RB-2 role, but it did not look like it in their first preseason game. Shipley is the handcuff to have this year if Barkley gets injured.

RJ Harvey

• Harvey ran out with the first team in his first preseason game, but I was disappointed with his play for two reasons. First, he tried to bounce runs outside too often. He got around the corner once for an eleven-yard run, but the other times he was strung out and taken down. I wanted him to run more downhill. Secondly, as we were told in camp, Harvey is not trusted in the passing game. JK Dobbins came in on every passing situation and third downs, proving that Harvey is not yet trusted in pass protection. It's just one preseason game, but the Broncos made it clear that he's not trustworthy on passing downs. I expect Harvey to have a limited role for much of the season, unfortunately.

Jaydon Blue

• Two weeks ago, I wrote about how I was down on Blue this season after negative reports early in camp. Those reports have turned over in the last two weeks. Just when he started receiving a lot of positive buzz, he injured his foot and was unable to play in the Cowboys' preseason opener. Seeing live action could have changed my view on Blue, but I did not get to see it. Phil Mafah had a decent share of carries in the preseason game instead, and he looked better than average in his first NFL action. The Cowboys' backfield is a mess, and reports have hyped up Miles Sanders as the favorite to lead the team this year, too. There are too many reports coming out of Dallas, and the Cowboys rested their starters in the preseason game, so their game did not solidify my opinion this week. Still, I am open to believing Blue has impressed since I last wrote about him.

Keenan Allen

• Allen signed with the Chargers, disappointing dynasty managers banking on Tre Harris and the rising KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Allen is sure to take a ton of targets away from both rookies and Quentin Johnston. The only dynasty player helped by this signing is Justin Herbert, who will renew his magic with Allen. I expect Allen to take a secondary role to Ladd McKonkey, but he will have another productive season despite his age. Other than Dont'e Thornton, Lambert-Smith was my most picked-up player after rookie drafts, so I am disappointed with Allen signing with the Chargers.

Tetarioa McMillan

• Apart from one drop in the end zone when McMillan did not get his eyes and hands turned around quickly enough, McMillan looked great. He made a very impressive over-the-shoulder catch deep downfield, and he has another nice catch and run for a first down. The Panthers played their starters for several series, and McMillan was a focal point in the passing game on those drives. He'll make an instant impact this season for his dynasty managers and become an every-week starter in dynasty lineups sooner rather than later, if not a starter in week one. 

Tory Horton

• Horton's drumbeat has been steady over the last week, and he had a great game in his preseason debut. The Seahawks did not play their starters, but he led the team in targets (7) and had a touchdown reception while playing with the second team. He's fighting for a starting role in three-receiver sets. If he continues to play well and impress coaches, he could become a starter by week one. He's on that trajectory already. He's one of the late-round rookies I wish I had drafted. I will target him in the third round of my two remaining drafts and pick him way higher than I would have before training camp and his steady drumbeat started.

Adonai Mitchell

• Other than Horton, Mitchell has been one of the most hyped receivers in recent weeks of training camp reports. He's "Mossing" guys in practice and showing significant improvement in his second year. While I believe the hype and am not surprised that he's playing well, I am not buying it from a dynasty perspective. There are too many mouths to feed in Indianapolis. Mitchell will be fourth on the target list behind Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Tyler Warren, who could become the top target for the Colts like Brock Bowers was last season. There's not enough volume for Mitchell, even though I believe in his talent.

Tyler Warren

• Warren received three targets and caught them all in the first quarter. The Colts made him a focal point in the passing game in the first quarter of their preseason game, giving managers hope that while the quarterbacks are weak in Indianapolis, they will still find ways to get Warren the ball.  They said as much during training camp, so to see it on the field was proof that they will do it and can do it no matter who wins the starting job for the Colts at quarterback. He's poised to be this year's Brock Bowers.

Theo Johnson

• Johnson caught three passes on the Giants' first drive with Russell Wilson. He'll be an active part of the passing game in his second season, if not the second leading target. He could be this year's Trey McBride, who has a quiet rookie season but became a superstar by the end of his second season. Johnson has the athletic traits that make for highly productive tight ends in the NFL, and he has little competition for the second-targeted player behind Malik Nabers. I only have one share of Johnson on my dynasty rosters. I picked him up off waivers after an impatient manager let him go last year. Wise managers who were patient will reap the reward this season. Johnson is the player I try to trade for the most this week after watching their first preseason game.

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