Get Your Free NFL Training Camp Coachspeak Decoder

In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Premier National Sports:

Every offseason, we have the same debate about which is more useful when prepping for fantasy drafts: Grinding the tape or analyzing the stats. The answer to that question is a resounding “BOTH,” but there’s also a secret third option that we don’t talk about enough: Deciphering coachspeak.

And that’s where I come in. See, I’m not some spreadsheet whiz or film guru. I’m just a guy who took a lot of Communications courses in college and knows how to read between the lines of what coaches say about their players this time of year.

From now until the opening kickoff of the 2025 NFL season, we’re going to get a nice big stew of flowery quotes from coaches, assistant coaches, and assistants to the regional manager of football operations (and a heap of fantasy football mock drafts, because it's officially Month of the Mock, featuring Draft Champion!).

Most of them won’t mean much, but a lot of people are going to overreact anyway. And I don’t want you to be one of them!

But some of the scuttlebutt we hear is worth our time and consideration, and if nothing else, can be used as tiebreaking material when you’re on the clock in drafts.

And speaking of a spreadsheet whiz (and a catchy jingle from yours truly) …

👉 DWAIN MCFARLAND REVEALS SOMETHING NEW! 👈

Coach Quotes To Decode

Eagles OC Kevin Patullo on Saquon Barkley’s Expected Workload:

“I think it’s very game-specific. It depends on how the flow of the game goes ... He does a really good job of knowing himself, when he needs to come out, when he wants to go back in … A lot of that will be on him.”

Translation: He’s not going to tell Eagles fans that the guy who backwards-hurdled his way into their hearts and put up 2,000+ yards in the process is going to take it easy this year. But running backs who touch the ball 380+ times (in the regular season alone) rarely get a HEAVIER workload the next year.

Regression is likely coming in some form or another. But don’t worry, our projections still have Barkley right around 290 rush attempts, if he can stay healthy.

Jets OC Tanner Engstrand on Who Will Be Their WR2:

“It’s up for grabs. Everybody's trying to win the job … They're all competing, and we're gonna let the chips fall where they may when it's all said and done.”

Translation: SOMEBODY HELP! SEND ADDITIONAL RECEIVERS ASAP! OR AT LEAST SOME THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!

Without Garrett Wilson, Justin Fields becomes that meme of John Travolta looking around for someone, anyone to throw the ball to. Will that someone be 30-year-old Josh Reynolds, who’s on his fifth team in as many years? Or will it be Malachi Corley, who broke THE cardinal rule of never celebrating a touchdown too early as a rookie?

Or maybe if Wilson’s not open, Fields will just rush his way for a 1,000-yard season.

Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer on their seventh-round rookie running back:

“Phil Mafah, I’m starting to feel him … I’m starting to feel Phil.”

Translation: He has no idea who’s going to actually lead the Dallas backfield, so he wants to hype up every running back with a pulse just in case. Also, he just learned Phil Mafah’s name that day.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on whether he expects Quinshon Judkins to play for Cleveland, considering his legal issues:

“I do, but we all understand due process … but yes, we’re cautiously optimistic.”

Translation: It’s Dylan Sampson season.

Saints HC Kellen Moore on a New Orleans QB Competition:

“I'm fired up to just let those guys play it out … We’ll let the process take as long as it needs … We feel good about letting all these guys go for it.”

Translation: Life after Derek Carr is about to get very weird in New Orleans. Tyler Shough was drafted in the 2nd round as an insurance policy, not as the expected starter. He’ll probably win the gig eventually … or this competition might stretch into Week 18.

Bears OC Declan Doyle on DJ Moore’s anticipated usage:

“I think that DJ is a player that you can kind of do a lot with … I think that you’ll start to see some things that are maybe a little bit different, in the way that we’re gonna use him.”

Translation: Hey, DJ, the Bears know they drafted some extra firepower for the offense, but they’re not going to forget you, buddy. Please don’t get mad.

But seriously, we’ve already heard reports that Moore is catching passes out of the backfield in training camp. And schemed touches are a nice thing for fantasy.

Giants HC Brian Daboll on rotating QBs in practice:

“Sometimes they don't even know when they're going in, or the offensive coaches don't know when I'm switching them either. That was a situation there at the end where Jameis was taking a rack, and I just threw Dart in there. Try to keep the coaches on their toes and the quarterbacks so they can practice numerous situations.”

Translation: In an effort to get off the hot seat and save his job, Daboll will make each quarterback start multiple games (or at least multiple halves of games) so he can use that as an excuse for why the team once again goes 3-14 this year.

MORE TRAINING CAMP UPDATES TO MONITOR

Your Athlete. Their Future. Our Mission.

If you’ve got a rising star under your roof—or on your roster—Premier National Sports is here to help them go next level. We’re a trusted recruiting and NIL resource built for high school athletes and their families. From personalized recruiting strategies to NIL education, we guide student-athletes through every step of their journey to college sports. Our team includes former coaches, recruiters, and industry pros who know what it takes to stand out in a crowded field. We don’t promise hype. We deliver a plan—built around your athlete’s goals, strengths, and future. If you’re serious about turning potential into opportunity, let’s talk. Because talent deserves direction.

Explore how we help athletes get noticed and get next-level ready by inspiring excellence and unity through sports.

LEARN MORE

The Final Piece of the Rankings and Tiers Puzzle: WRs

Over the two weeks, we’ve slowly revealed Dwain McFarland’s rankings and tiers for every 2025 positional group:

And today, we add the final infinity stone to ~~Thanos’~~ Dwain’s Infinity Gauntlet.

Nine total tiers, player-by-player analysis on the top six tiers, including breakdowns on the top 55 WRs in Dwain’s rankings, and more.

We won’t bury the lede this time. No more cryptic clues or games, just (in our best Dwain McFarland voice) straight up wide receiver rankings and tiers, y’all!!🤠

It’s time to dive into the WR position. ⤵️

TWO COWBOYS COULD BOTH GO BOOM