2023 NFL Training Camp Position Battles to Monitor

Quarterback: San Francisco 49ers

In all likelihood, Brock Purdy will resume his role as the starter at some point this season. However, his health casts doubt as to whether that will come to fruition in Week 1. So, will it be the retread, Sam Darnold, or the enigmatic Trey Lance under center to start the year?

Thus far, Kyle Shanahan has been coy about the situation. Perhaps, the most illuminating quote he’s given is that Purdy is “the leader in the clubhouse.” To be fair, it’s hard to argue against what Purdy accomplished late last season. He was highly efficient, putting up a 13:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His quarterback rating of 65.6 would have placed him fifth on the season had he maintained it throughout a full 17 games.

On the other hand, Sam Darnold has largely been a disappointment. His tumultuous time with the Jets was followed by a lackluster stretch with the Panthers. After beginning his career with the infamous Adam Gase, it’s a blessing for the young man to be tied to Shanahan. His offensive system has managed to yield results even with C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens leading the charge. If Darnold is looking for a career revival, Shanahan is arguably the best man for the job.

Now, what to do with Trey Lance? Given Purdy’s success, Lance will need to quickly show significant development if he plans to stay with the team. Rumors swirled this offseason about the team looking to trade him. Even worse, there was said to be no market for Lance. His chance to start last year was quickly derailed by his ankle injury in Week 2. If he can’t establish himself over Darnold, he’s likely lost his chance entirely with the team.

Quarterback: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What a difference a year makes. Baker Mayfield lost his job in Cleveland after the 2021 season and has since become a bonafide journeyman. Following short stints in Carolina and Los Angeles, Mayfield finds himself battling for the starting job in Tampa Bay. Despite struggling in Carolina, Mayfield showed signs of life in Los Angeles. He led the Rams to a 17–16 victory against the Raiders after only having been claimed two days before. He’ll be squaring off against the second-year Kyle Trask for the starting gig.

Trask threw only nine passes last season, and even more unimpressively, he completed just three of them. Still, the Bucs spent a second-round pick to acquire him only a season ago. That kind of investment from the team will allow him a chance to compete in camp.

If there’s a silver lining for Mayfield, it’s that Dave Canales is taking the helm as Tampa’s offensive coordinator. Canales is the play caller that helped engineer Geno Smith’s comeback season in 2022.  Unless Trask takes a major step forward, expect Baker to be given what will likely be his last shot as a starter.

Running Back: Buffalo Bills

James Cook began to carve out a more prominent role in Buffalo’s offense at the end of last season. Despite having a relatively limited workload, he flashed explosive playmaking ability. He averaged a whopping 5.7 yards per carry. However, the newly signed Damien Harris could throw a wrench into a true breakout narrative for Cook. 

Coming over from the rival Patriots, Harris struggled down the stretch last year while dealing with a thigh injury. Still, he has a respectable resume under his belt. He’s a sturdier back than Cook and represents a real threat in terms of goal-line touches. He has a nose for the end zone and tallied 15 touchdowns just two seasons ago. From a receiving standpoint, Cook has the edge between the two. Harris has yet to manage more than 18 receptions in a season.

Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines fill out the rest of the running back room. Both rushers are nice depth pieces on a roster but expect the lion’s share of work to be split between Harris and Cook.

Running Back: Miami Dolphins

Despite having a below-average rushing offense in 2022, the Dolphins opted to re-sign both Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert. Wilson joined the team at the trade deadline and showed flashes, but neither back established themselves as the clear alpha. Still, familiarity with the Shanahan system makes them valuable to the team.

Adding a third option to the backfield, Miami drafted Devon Achane in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Achane’s lightning speed and pass-catching talents add an explosive element to Miami’s running back room. He’s on the smaller side, weighing 189 pounds, but he demonstrated the ability to be an all-purpose back in college. Mike McDaniels will assuredly employ a committee approach, but Achane provides home run potential every time he touches the ball.

There have also been rumors about the recently released Dalvin Cook joining the rotation. While he’s recently been linked to the New York Jets, his arrival remains a possibility.

Running Back: Chicago Bears

After David Montgomery left town in free agency, the fantasy community had high hopes for Khalil Herbert. His electric 5.7 YPC dominated Montgomery’s pedestrian 4.0. Following Montgomery’s departure, Chicago brought D’Onta Foreman into the fold. Foreman is coming off a successful season in Carolina. He racked up 914 yards on 203 carries. While he adds nothing to the passing game, he’s a threat to Herbert’s early-down work. 

In addition to signing Foreman, the Bears drafted rookie running back Roschon Johnson in the fourth round. The reviews on Johnson coming out of rookie minicamp were glowing. He’s receiving early praise for his physicality and tenacity. Herbert and Foreman will likely lead the pack in carries, but Johnson’s ability to pass-protect should garner third-down opportunities. 

 Running Back: Kansas City Chiefs

It wasn’t long ago that Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the darling of dynasty rookie drafts. Oh, how times have changed. Fantasy managers were offered a glimmer of hope when Edwards-Helaire tallied five total touchdowns through Week 4 of the 2022 season. However, it didn’t take long for his unsustainable run to come crashing back to earth. Starting in Week 6, Edwards-Helaire failed to reach double-digit touches in a game before ultimately losing his season to a high-ankle sprain in Week 11.

Seventh-round rookie, Isiah Pacheco, had already begun to make his presence felt before Edwards-Helaire went down. Pacheco ran for 830 yards in his rookie campaign and continued to be productive in the playoffs. His aggressive, bulldozing run style offers the Chiefs a different skill set from his teammates. His rushing stats are noteworthy, but his 13 receptions last season suggest that he won’t be a factor in the passing game. 

Instead, look to the re-signed veteran, Jerick McKinnon, to take on third downs. McKinnon is in his third season with the team. Additionally, he has earned the trust of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, as he hauled in 56 receptions last season. Finally, his 9.14 YPR makes him a lethal safety valve for Mahomes.

Wide Receiver: Carolina Panthers

Carolina’s wide receiver room is a head-scratcher. The aging Adam Thielen and the oft-injured DJ Chark were two of the team’s highlight signings in free agency. Thielen has been trending down for the last several years. He posted a career-low 10.2 yards per reception last season. Adding to his statistical decline, his six-touchdown total is the lowest it’s been since 2019. Meanwhile, DJ Chark, although a dangerous deep threat, has only played 15 games in the past two seasons.

The team spent big in this year’s draft by selecting Jonathan Mingo out of Ole Miss. Mingo has already been gaining favor with Carolina’s coaching staff. It was reported that he quickly developed chemistry with Bryce Young in rookie minicamp. His best feature perhaps is the versatility he demonstrated in college. Additionally, he has demonstrated the ability to play both the slot role and on the outside. Offensive coordinator, Thomas Brown, should have no problem finding ways to deploy the talented rookie.

Last, and sadly maybe least, is Terrace Marshall Jr. It’s been a disappointing start to the young receiver’s career. In his first two seasons, he’s scraped together a combined 658 yards and only one touchdown. It’s uncommon for a player with this little production to begin their career to turn things around, but he briefly showed a pulse during the home stretch last season.

The WR1 spot is up for grabs in Carolina. Thielen is likely the frontrunner, but that’s hardly a certainty.

Wide Receiver: Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud isn’t starting his NFL career with a strong wide receiver core. His most noteworthy pass-catcher is the 31-year-old Robert Woods. The veteran receiver spent an uninspiring year with the Titans last season. He hauled in a meager 53 receptions for 527 yards and two touchdowns. Hopefully, another year removed from his ACL injury in 2021 will breathe new life into his game. 

The only returning receiver from last year’s roster is Nico Collins. He’s shown potential, but he’s missed his fair share of games in his first two seasons. His role in the offense saw a significant jump over the last four games of the season. He was targeted an impressive 36 times in that stretch. If Stroud can top Davis Mills’ 33.3 quarterback rating, Collins will have an opportunity to take the next step. 

The other notable names in the mix are rookie, Tank Dell, and second-year John Metchie III. Dell was drafted in the third round of this year’s draft. Dell is a versatile player that ran routes at all levels of the field in college, but his size is a concern. His footwork is impressive, but he may struggle with press coverage against bigger cornerbacks. 

Furthermore, Metchie III missed his first year in the league due to a battle with Leukemia. He’ll have an opportunity to carve out a large role in Houston’s offense in his first NFL season. However, he certainly has speed,  separation ability, and versatility at his disposal. The Texans can utilize his skill set in a variety of ways. At Alabama, he demonstrated a knack for making the most of short slant routes and bubble screens. Additionally, his most exciting trait is his big play ability. He has an uncanny knack for blowing the top off of defenses. Overall, he is perhaps the most exciting name of the bunch. 

NFL Twitter will soon be abuzz with camp videos. Hopefully, Allen Robinson taught you a valuable lesson in not believing everything you see in practice. There will be headlines galore in the coming weeks. As your timelines become flooded with beat writers lending their takes, stay up to date on the training camp position battles above. 

Trending Now

Fantasy Football Private Consultation

Best Ways to Determine Your Fantasy Football Draft Order

2023 Best Ball Rankings

Fantasy Football Team Names

For the latest free agent news, check out the Fantasy Football News Tracker.

Connect and Engage with the Show:

• Subscribe on YouTube
• Visit us on the Web
• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Instagram
• Subscribe on Google Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

Join our Communities:

• The FF Faceoff Facebook Group
• Join our Discord Community