Rookie Risers and Fallers: NFL Training Camp Insights

Training Camp Rookie Risers And Fallers

This year’s rookie class has already arrived at training camps around the NFL. It won’t be long before the veterans arrive to kick off full camps. There is an influx of new talent. Player movements via free agency are also occurring. With these roster shifts, fantasy managers need to stay on alert to know what is going on in training camp. And what to look for as they prepare for this year’s fantasy league drafts.

Before training camp gets underway, there have already been a few noticeable nuggets that have dropped. These gems will help fantasy managers get ahead of the pack when it comes to the draft. Even more so when you consider that some players can be targeted later in the draft. Fantasy managers should keep in mind that fantasy values change constantly during the offseason. Circumstances that may or may not be within their control will affect when they are drafted. It may even affect whether they are drafted at all.

This is why it is important to keep an ear to the streets during the offseason. With fantasy values changing, there are going to be players whose stock will rise and those whose stock will fall. Here are a few players that fit both sides of the argument.

The Risers

Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams recently announced his retirement. That’s one less competitor for the rookie wide receiver to contend with for targets. However, the Chargers can still opt to bring in another veteran target for Justin Herbert. Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, and Gabriel Davis are viable options to add from free agency. Until that happens, Tre Harris’ main competition looks to be Quentin Johnston. Johnston has struggled with drops over the last few seasons. While Johnston did improve in other areas last season from his rookie year, seven drops at a 7.7% drop rate were not ideal.

Harris is worth keeping an eye on during training camp. Justin Herbert needs more reliable pass catchers to throw to. The Chargers’ coaching staff under Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. However, they will still need a receiver to step up. Ladd McConkey is already penciled in as the top target. Adding another in Tre Harris would be beneficial for fantasy managers. They may be looking to target a wide receiver later in the draft.

Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns

With the recent news of fellow rookie running back Quinshon Judkins making rounds, Sampson’s stock should be on the rise. The Browns drafted Sampon in the fourth round. He was expected to see the field in tandem with Judkins. While Sampson comes at a smaller size (5’8″, 201 lbs). But he is no stranger to the rigors of the running back. In 2024, Sampson rushed for 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns, becoming the SEC Offensive Player Of The Year.

Should Judkins be suspended, Sampson will be asked to step in as the lead back for the Browns. Sampson averaged 5.8 yards per attempt in 2024 on 258 carries. He also averaged 7.2 yards per reception, though not frequently used as a receiver. More will be asked of Sampson in his rookie season should Judkins miss time.

Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

The real question for Omarion Hampton is, “Can his stock get any higher?”. The Chargers are going to run the ball more this season. They also invested a first-round pick to bring in Hampton. Some believed that the backfield would be split between Najee Harris and Hampton. Harris got injured during a Fourth of July fireworks display. As a result, Hampton is already out in front heading into training camp. Considering the talent that Hampton has shown in college, he could start the season as the starter.

Hampton was even praised enough by some to be the top running back prospect over Ashton Jeanty. Expectations have already begun to be placed on the former Carolina Tar Heel. If Harris misses a significant part of the Chargers’ training camp, then Hampton’s stock rises significantly. This could indicate a much larger leap in his career prospects.

The Fallers

Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders drafted Jack Bech in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. This was in an effort to revamp their wide receiver room. There haven’t been any outright negative reports on Bech during OTAs and mini-camp. However, some notable things caught folks’ attention. One notable nugget was that Bech wasn’t running with the first team during the Raiders’ early offseason program. Another concern is Bech’s fit into the Raiders’ offense under Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly.

Bech has played both inside and out but is largely considered a “power slot” receiver. Likely due to his 6’1″, 212 lbs, and physicality that he has shown. But veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has also made his living working out of the slot. Meyers played 437 snaps in the slot for the Raiders last season. That’s 72.5% of his total snaps.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns

Quinshon Judkins untimely legal troubles could end up costing him playing time during his rookie season. If the NFL even allows him to play at all. Judkins is dealing with a battery case from early July. He hasn’t shown up to training camp yet. What’s worse is that his rookie contract has yet to be signed as well. The Browns initially saw Judkins as their starting running back. This expectation came after he was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft.

Judkins rushed for a thousand yards at Ole Miss and Ohio State. He achieved this despite sharing the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson in 2024. Fantasy managers may want to avoid Judkins for now as his legal issues continue to develop. The Browns have even requested that Judkins stay away from training camp until his case is resolved. Judkins stock will continue to take hits as the offseason continues. And if Judkins gets suspended by the NFL, even more so.

RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos

RJ Harvey’s case is different but he still lands on this area of the article. Then Denver Broncos lauded drafting the rookie running back. Broncos head coach Sean Payton was talking praise over Harvey during OTAs. Then they signed former Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins to bolster the Broncos backfield and it cooled the hype for Harvey. Harvey was already expected to share the backfield in some capacity with Audric Estime. Now it seems that the tandem the Broncos will use this season will involve Dobbins and Harvey.

Harvey is a smaller back than Dobbins but that doesn’t mean he isn’t ready. Harvey put on a show during the Broncos offseason program. He caught the eye of many in the fantasy football community. While Dobbins presents an early obstacle for Harvey this could be one that changes as the season begins. Harvey’s talent and draft capital could be the things that allow him to overtake Dobbins for more work. For now, Harvey’s stock may have declined a bit but it may not stay down for long.