This article is part of our Training Camp Notes series.
The NFL preseason schedule has officially wrapped as 10 teams played their final tune-ups Sunday. As such, this was our last televised look at some of the job battles across the league, and news declaring the winners of those competitions should be pouring in soon. We'll glean what we can from what we saw on the field, while also looking at the fallout from some of the latest injury news.
• J.K. Dobbins' season is over before it began, as tests revealed that the Ravens' back tore his ACL and is out for the season. Gus Edwards' value takes a huge leap, and Justice Hill also stands to see a sizable jump in workload as the complementary back with Ty'Son Williams also a possibility.
• Cam Newton started all of the Patriots' preseason games, including Sunday against the Giants. This would seemingly indicate whom Bill Belichick views as his Week 1 starter, even though the coach said he still hadn't decided when asked after the game. Newton wasn't nearly as impressive in the contest as Mac Jones was, and it may not be long until the Patriots' top 2021 draft pick is under center if he doesn't get the gig to start the season.
• Like Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo started all of his team's preseason games and is seemingly going to begin the season under center for the 49ers. Coach Kyle Shanahan did employ Trey Lance in some new ways Sunday, however, subbing him in for Jimmy G near the goal line and running a zone read to get into the end zone. Lance didn't perform as well as a passer in his last preseason opportunity but may steal some red-zone chances from Garoppolo during the year, as Shanahan has spoken of a Taysom Hill-like role for the North Dakota State product. That would be an annoying development for fantasy managers invested in 49ers running backs and receivers, who would be deprived of scoring opportunities as a result.
• Carson Wentz looks like he'll be ready for Week 1 as he's expected to be back in full-team drills Monday — very good news for the Colts' offensive weapons. That is, save for T.Y. Hilton, who is slated to miss a few games to begin the season with a disc issue in his neck. Those two bits of information add up to really good news for Michael Pittman, who was already a popular breakout pick in Indianapolis and now will be the Colts' No. 1 receiver for at least a couple weeks and maybe much longer. The 34th overall pick from 2020 is a steal in drafts with an ADP of 117, though expect that number to rise in the coming days. Parris Campbell also stands to see much more volume, as does Zach Pascal. Both are practically free in most drafts; I prefer Campbell of the two.
• Another trendy sleeper/breakout pick is trending the opposite way. Irv Smith needs a procedure on his meniscus and likely will be out at least four weeks. It could also be season-ending, however, depending on which of two possible surgeries he ends up needing. Smith's fantasy managers need to make alternate plans at tight end for the start of the season, possibly longer.
• Ja'Marr Chase's preseason bout with the dropsies continued in Saturday's exhibition contest with the Dolphins. Given the consistent negative buzz surrounding his preseason, I'd rather have Tee Higgins or Tyler Boyd on my team, as they are more proven options at the pro level going for roughly the same price (Higgins) or a couple rounds later (Boyd).
