Training camps are underway, and that means it’s hype season! Reports come out of camps every year that get everyone excited and influence fantasy football drafts. Sometimes they work out, but often, they do not. Below are three early training camp reports you’re better off ignoring come draft day. Don’t believe the hype!

Wan’Dale Robinson Impressing at Giants Camp

Source: Peter King of NBC Sports

There’s no doubt that Wan’Dale Robinson, the rookie second-round draft pick, is an exciting prospect. He was electric at Kentucky last year, hauling in 104 receptions for 1,334 yards and seven TDs with a very high YPC. He’s a big play waiting to happen, but there are a few problems from a fantasy perspective.

First, the Giants’ offense is a work in progress, as King reports in the same piece. There have been multiple reports this summer that Daniel Jones has not been sharp, and with a new head coach and system, it’s hard to predict what the offense will look like.

Second, there’s a lot of competition for touches. At this point, Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Darius Slayton are all healthy, and Sterling Shephard may be ready by the start of the season. Also, Saquon Barkley looks good per King, and we know he’s an excellent pass-catcher. Robinson will have a hard time breaking through consistently in this offense.

Last, Robinson is small for an NFL player. His 5’8″ and 185-pound frame helps make him the fast, shifty player he is, but it also makes him vulnerable to injury. He’s already had an injury scare in camp per Dan Benton of Giants Wire, and it’s questionable how well he’ll hold up this year.

Robinson will likely be a better NFL player than a fantasy football player as gadget-type players are hard to rely on week-in-and-week-out. He feels like a boom-or-bust option who may be of some value in dynasty and best ball formats but isn’t likely to be a reliable player in redraft leagues. He’s worthy of a late-round flier but is not worth reaching for on draft day.

Julio Jones Lighting It up in Practice

Source: Brianna Dix on Bucs’ official website

There will be a few weeks this season when Julio Jones goes off. How could he not? He’s a future Hall-of-Famer catching passes from the GOAT. Tom Brady is a master of exploiting matchups, and there will be games when Jones takes advantage.

There are two reasons why you shouldn’t get too excited, however. First, how many games is Jones going to play? It feels like father time is catching up with him as he played only nine games in 2020 and 10 games last season. He’s an injury waiting to happen. As a result, the Bucs will probably limit his snaps to try to keep him on the field. Fewer snaps means fewer targets. Plus, if Tampa is in a good playoff spot late in the season, they may rest him to ensure his availability for the playoffs.

Second, the Bucs are loaded with talent. Brady’s ability to exploit matchups will sometimes work against Jones, too, as he has plenty of other weapons at his disposal. Jones will probably be the fourth receiver on the depth chart behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage. As such, it seems unlikely he’ll get targeted consistently.

Jones is a fine upside play as your fourth or fifth WR, but you don’t want to draft him as a starter. He may come out of the gates fast if Godwin isn’t ready to start the season but will probably fade as the season wears on.

James Cook Impressing at Bills’ Camp

Source: Thad Brown on Twitter

James Cook may be the most hyped player of this offseason. There’s a good reason for this – he’s explosive, plays on a great offense, and has an excellent family pedigree as the brother of Dalvin Cook. The positive reports this spring and summer give Bills fans and fantasy managers plenty of reason to be excited. The only worry with Cook is that he’ll get too hyped and thus become over-valued on draft day.

At this point, Cook’s ADP in half-PPR leagues is 41, which seems about right. Reports out of Bills’ camp indicate he’ll be utilized primarily in the passing game. This puts him on a par with players like Nyheim Hines, J.D. McKissic and Kenneth Gainwell – albeit on a better offense. Currently, his ADP is higher than all three, which is understandable as he’s an unknown commodity.

However, as the hype train churns on, there’s a strong likelihood that Cook’s ADP will rise. People love the unknown, and there’s a lot to get geeked about with Cook; however, Devin Singletary and Zack Moss still exist. The Bills also added another pass-catching back in Duke Johnson this offseason, and are loaded at wide receiver with Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis and Jamison Crowder. The bottom line is there’s a ton of offensive talent on this team, and thus a lot of competition for touches.

Cook is a great upside play for your bench but is best drafted as your fourth or fifth back in PPR or half-PPR formats. He has very little value in standard leagues. If you draft him with plans to use him in your flex spot Week 1, you may regret your decision.

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Trade Analyzer – which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.