Fantasy: 5 important training camp storylines to follow in the NFC

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

Football is back.

While we're still 10 days away from preseason action, NFL players have returned to the practice field as several teams have begun training camps, with the rest kicking things off this week.

This is the time when fantasy players are desperate for clues that will help them get an edge on their competitors.

Let's take a look at five NFC storylines you should pay close attention to during training camp.

Is John Brown back healthy?

Two years ago, Brown posted his first 1,000-yard season and appeared to be the next star in the Cardinals' receiving corps. Unfortunately, his health didn't cooperate as his 2016 campaign was hijacked by issues with his sickle cell trait and a cyst on his spine.

Offseason reports suggest Brown has returned to his 2015 form after having the cyst removed, but his hype train was derailed again when a hamstring injury sidelined him during OTAs.

Brown's consensus ADP has him going off the board in the 12th round as the WR49, which is insane for a player that carries top-24 upside if he can put his health issues behind him.

How does Christian McCaffrey fit into the Panthers' offense?

Seeing how McCaffrey, and to a lesser extent Curtis Samuel, are deployed by the Panthers will be one of the most interesting stories across all camps.

Carolina wasn't shy about its desire to add McCaffrey, using the eighth overall pick on the well-rounded back, who it hopes will bring a new element to the offense. It's not a knock on Jonathan Stewart, but the veteran isn't exactly a dynamic pass-catching threat out of the backfield and Cam Newton hasn't been prone to using his backs as receivers, so McCaffrey's arrival will require some getting used to.

McCaffrey's third-round price tag in fantasy drafts is a bit steep considering the team may still use Stewart on early downs. However, if McCaffrey proves he can handle more of the workload, the potential for him to deliver a top-12 fantasy season does exist.

Can the new coaching staff bring life to the Rams' offense?

Sean McVay's ability to get the most out of Kirk Cousins and the Redskins' offense helped land him the head coaching job with the Rams. Now the degree of difficulty becomes far greater as he attempts to resurrect the Rams' offense, while trying to help Jared Goff avoid the bust label.

For fantasy purposes, it's best to stay away from any element of the Rams' passing game until we see if either overpaid free-agent Robert Woods or rookie Cooper Kupp can emerge as a volume player.

The real focus in training camp will be on Todd Gurley, who was one of the biggest fantasy disappointments in 2016. The new system coupled with some improvements on the offensive line could get Gurley back into RB1 territory, but he'll need to generate some positive buzz in camp before fantasy owners are willing to trust him again.

Which Packers rookie RB will win the No. 2 job?

Everyone is in love with Ty Montgomery - and for good reason. The former receiver flashed elite skills when the Packers moved him to running back last season and he enters camp as the starter in the high-powered, Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay offense.

But there are a couple of reasons to question Montgomery's hold on the No. 1 job. The first being that he's only handled 12 carries or more once in an NFL game, and the second being that the Packers invested so heavily in running backs during the draft with Jamaal Williams (fourth round), Aaron Jones (fifth round) and Devante Mays (seventh round).

Williams and Jones will battle it out over the next month for the right to serve as Montgomery's immediate backup, a spot that could be extremely valuable in fantasy if the incumbent fails to live up to expectations.

Will Brandon Marshall be a difference-maker for the Giants?

It's easy to see why people would be excited for his arrival on the Giants. Marshall has always produced big numbers in his first season on a new team, averaging 1,505 yards and 12.5 touchdowns in his debut campaigns with the Bears and Jets. He also gives Eli Manning a legitimate weapon across from Odell Beckham Jr., making the Giants' passing attack look extremely dangerous - at least on paper.

Marshall is 33 years old and coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro. While he should give the team another quality red-zone option, it's hard not to compare his situation to Andre Johnson joining the Colts in 2015. Johnson was 34 years old and still considered to be an impact player, but in a new jersey he looked like a shell of his former self and failed to make his mark in Indy.

Marshall isn't likely to fall off a cliff as fast as Johnson did, but it's not out of the realm of possibility and fantasy owners would be wise to temper their projections for the newest G-Man.