Preseason News and Notes: Week 1
Mon Aug 11 11:39am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Henderson shows big play ability
We are going to do this every week going forward, giving you a quick recap of all the pertinent news and notes from the preseason games that took place. We will talk about injuries, position battles, depth charts and anything else that could impact the fantasy world.
Here is all the news from Week 1 of the preseason. . . .
Ravens rookie receiver LaJohntay Wester made a strong case to get some consistent touches during the regular season. He returned a punt for a touchdown and had two receptions for 41 yards on three targets. He showed off his great speed and big-play ability. He is battling for the fourth receiver job and could have a leg up over Devontez Walker and Tylan Wallace right now.
Running back Keaton Mitchell continues to make plays for the Ravens. He is having a strong camp and that carried over to his first preseason game. He had nine carries for 68 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown. Derrick Henry is clearly the starter but Mitchell is going to be in the mix for carries and looks to be the handcuff to Henry. Mitchell could end up getting six to eight touches per game even if Henry is healthy and playing, giving him some standalone fantasy value.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson did not have the start he hoped, leaving the game early after getting sacked. He suffered a dislocated finger but avoided the worst and should be fine going forward. He did not suffer a break. He needs to be on the field to win the starting job, though, so missing preseason action is not a positive for him. The good news for Richardson is Daniel Jones was pretty ho-hum after taking over for Richardson. Jones was just 10-of-21 for 144 yards. He did not seize his opportunity.
Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders got his chance to start and took advantage of the opportunity, going 14-of-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns, adding 19 rushing yards on four carries. Sanders made some great throws and showed off his big-time arm in the game. Joe Flacco still seems likely to open the season as the starter for Cleveland and Sanders was fourth on the depth chart going into this game, so he still has a lot of work to do to make the roster and make an impact for the team his rookie season. This game was certainly a step in the right direction for that to happen, though.
Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is another rookie that showed well in his preseason debut. He ran once for 18 yards and caught three passes for 12 yards. He also returned the opening kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown. Henderson showed off his big-time speed and playmaking ability in the open field. He is going to be a problem for opposing defenses and looks to be a big part of this Patriots offense his rookie season. This game should really get fantasy owners excited about his prospects for this coming season.
We stick with the rookie theme and look at Panthers rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. He got five targets in his preseason debut and caught two for 43 yards. McMillan has a chance to rack up a ton of catches his rookie season in this offense. Bryce Young looked his way early and often.
And speaking of the Panthers, quarterback Bryce Young was efficient in his first preseason game, going 4-of-6 for 58 yards and a touchdown. He had a great finish to last season and looks to carry that momentum into this year. Things are looking up for the third-year signal caller. This Panthers offense could take a big step forward.
The Giants have to be excited about rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. He was 12-of-19 for 154 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in New York's preseason opener. Russell Wilson is the starter this year but he is keeping the seat warm for Dart. He is the future at the position and could be starting sooner than later if he keeps progressing like he has to start his career. New York might have finally found their franchise quarterback in Dart.
The Vikings got their first look at quarterback JJ McCarthy. He wasn’t in there long but showed pretty well, finishing 4-of-7 for 30 yards. McCarthy certainly looked like he belonged and can handle the starting quarterback duties for the Vikings. He also was without Justin Jefferson, who might be the best receiver in football. McCarthy has a chance to make some noise in his first season as a full-time starter in the NFL.
It looked pretty bad at the time but it seems Titans running back Tyjae Spears avoided the worst with his injury in the preseason. He suffered a high-ankle sprain and will miss some time. But he had to be carted off the field because of the injury, so many thought he suffered a possible season-ending injury. The good news is he will be back but the bad news is he could be slowed early in the regular season. Tony Pollard might have to carry the load a little more to start the year.
There were a lot of bad reports out of Jets camp in recent days, saying Justin Fields is struggling. He got to play in their preseason opener and did well, which was encouraging. Fields was 3-of-4 for 42 yards and ran for 14 yards and a touchdown. His work on the ground is what makes him so intriguing to fantasy owners. Fields can do some big-time damage with his legs.
The Titans have to be happy with what they saw from rookie quarterback Cam Ward. He got his feet wet and played a few series, looking pretty solid. Ward finished 5-of-8 for 67 yards. He looked Calvin Ridley’s way often. Ridley had three receptions for 50 yards. This connection could be a great one for fantasy owners.
Many fantasy owners want to see how the Jaguars are going to use rookie Travis Hunter. If the first preseason game is any indication, it sure looks like he will be used a lot more offensively than defensively. He ran with the first-time offense to start the game and caught two passes for nine yards. He did not play defense at all until his day as a receiver was over. It sure seems like Hunter will be used more as a receiver to start his career, getting some situational work as a cornerback defensively. This is good news for his fantasy value going forward if this remains the pattern for his usage.
The Vikings seem likely to be without receiver Rondale Moore for the rest of the season. He suffered a knee injury in their preseason game and it didn’t look good. Head coach Kevin O’Connell stated after the game that the injury was pretty significant. Moore was set to serve as the No. 4 receiver and possible return man for the Vikings.
Dolphins running back Alexander Mattison is looking to grab the No. 2 running back job but left their first preseason game early because of neck and shoulder soreness. He is going to need to be on the field and performing if he hopes to be the top backup in the Dolphins high-powered rushing attack. This injury is one to watch going forward. It could hurt his chances for playing time early in the year.
The Saints have a quarterback battle on their hands between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. Rattler has been outperforming him in camp but Shough was the better of the two in their first preseason game. This battle seems wide open right now. Shough was 15-of-22 for 165 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Rattler threw for just 53 yards and ran for 22 but lost a fumble. Who knows how this quarterback battle plays out?
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Injury Status: Week 3
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Lineup Prep: Week 3
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Waivering: Week 3
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: The Weekly Bender: Week 2 Hot Takes and Takeaways
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 3
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 2
- Commanders $3.7B stadium project gets D.C. City Council OK
- Cardinals place CB Garrett Williams, DL L.J. Collier on injured reserve
- Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) misses Wednesday practice
- Colts TE Tyler Warren sits Wednesday with toe injury
- Cowboys great D.D. Lewis dies at 79
- Chiefs WRs Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals practice in limited capacity Wednesday
- Early return? 49ers QB Brock Purdy limited in practice Wednesday
- Chargers placing LB Khalil Mack (elbow) on IR, expect return this season
- Bengals optimistic QB Joe Burrow will return this season
- Commanders ready Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels (knee) idle
- Injured Bills DT Ed Oliver, LB Matt Milano out against Dolphins
- Jets rule out Justin Fields, to start Tyrod Taylor vs. Bucs
- Packers WR Jayden Reed has clavicle, foot surgeries
- Super Bowl LIX rematch brings in 33.8M viewers for Fox Sports
- Commanders sign DE Preston Smith to aid defense
- Vikings placing RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) on IR, signing Cam Akers
- Jaguars release veteran S Darnell Savage
- WR Christian Kirk returning to Jacksonville for Texans debut
- Vikings sign QB Desmond Ridder with JJ McCarthy ailing
- Panthers sign 2 to fill roster spots of injured OL Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Goal Line Report Week 2: Bryce Young, Panthers and Key Players Inside the 5
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Start-Sit Week 3: Matthew Stafford, Jerry Jeudy, and More Tough Calls
- Fantasy Six Pack: Box Snap Usage Through Week 2: The IDP Safety Dance
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Football Every-Down Linebacker Week 3: Snap Counts, Green Dot Stars & Start/Sit
- Fantasy Life: Malik Washington Is The Fantasy Football Sleeper To Add For Week 3
- Fantasy Life: Week 3 Bold Predictions: Another Big Week for Jonathan Taylor
- Fantasy Life: Week 3 Fantasy Football Buy, Sell, Hold: Let's Go Get Ashton Jeanty!
- Fantasy Life: 10 Things to Know For Week 3: Return of the Sheesh Report, Can Hot Players Stay Hot? and More
- Fantasy Life: Week 3 Defense (DST) Streamers: The Falcons Stack Up Well For The Next Two Weeks
- Fantasy Life: Resetting the Running Backs: The Bell-Cows, The Handcuffs, The Rookies and More
The Paur Report
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler's apparent improvement in Year 2 has sufficiently quieted any QB controversy rumblings, with Nola.com reporting that Saints coach Kellen Moore hasn't fielded a single question about replacing Rattler with rookie Tyler Shough since naming the former the starter. To his credit, Rattler won the competition in the offseason and has played better than expected in the first two games, completing 65% of his passes for 421 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Saints are 0-2 and among the worst rosters in the league, but Rattler is coming off a three-touchdown performance against a solid San Francisco defense and has shown some sneaky streaming appeal for Superflex leagues and as a backup in one-QB formats.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) will test the injury pregame Thursday at Buffalo as there is growing optimism the receiver will be able to play. The Alabama product is officially listed as questionable for the Dolphins, who are double-digit underdogs against the Bills and facing the real prospect of an 0-3 start. Waddle has been decent in spite of the Dolphins' poor start, registering nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown through two games. But given the injury, a Buffalo defense that has fared well against fantasy receivers, and a Miami offense that is going through a rough patch, Waddle is a low-end WR3/flex play while playing on a short week.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice ahead of Week 3's home matchup against the Raiders. This seems to be a new injury for McNichols, and the severity is unknown at the moment. McNichols is set to step into a larger role in Washington's backfield as their primary third-down and pass-down back with Austin Ekeler out for the season. McNichols is a highly trusted veteran in pass protection, and he showed some ability to be versatile last season, gaining tough yardage as a runner and catching some passes as a receiver. His most important skill is pass protection, which will keep him on the field a lot. That makes him worth considering as an option to pick up off the waiver wire to see how the Washington backfield shakes out.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel saw his first game action in the NFL in their 41-17 Week 2 blowout at the Ravens. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. With the offense scuffling with Joe Flacco as the starter, discussions about a quarterback replacement are starting to pop up in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says that Cleveland's situation "bears monitoring" in response to the question of which quarterback is most in danger of being benched. While Flacco is safe for now, he compared the situation to Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots last season. Drake Maye's first NFL start came at home against the Texans in Week 6 of last season, for reference. Gabriel has operated as the No. 2 quarterback all summer and has been praised for his mobility, quick release, and overall grasp of the offense. It will likely only be a matter of weeks before Gabriel slides in as the starter in Cleveland. He makes for an intriguing upside swing to stash in redraft superflex leagues and deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) returning in Week 4 'feels like a real possibility,' sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: Godwin hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 3, but it sounds like Week 4 is a more realistic possbility for his return. Even when he does return, it could take Godwin a few games to find his rhythm, and he will also have to compete with Emeka Egbuka for targets. Godwin is worth stashing, but he doesn't need to be starting until he proves it on the field.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Reynolds hasn't been on the practice field since last Thursday due to a shoulder issue. He sat out last week's game and is in danger of missing the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence should result in a higher workload for Allen Lazard. However, there's really no viable receiving options on this team outside of Garrett Wilson. The Jets are going to be without Justin Fields (concussion), so Tyrod Taylor should be under center. Even if Reynolds plays, fantasy managers can find a better streaming option for Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) was held out of Wednesday's practice session. Engram was dealing with a calf issue last week, but still managed to play in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. However, fantasy managers might not have noticed he played considering he only hauled in one catch for 12 yards during that contest. The veteran tight end has a total of four catches through the first two weeks. His decrease in usage should be more of a concern than this back injury. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for another update on his status. If he sits, Adam Trautman would see an increased role for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram should be rostered in most formats, but is tough to trust after two straight duds.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was spotted doing some running on the side during Wednesday's practice. It sounds like Aiyuk is continuing to make progress, but is still going to be sidelined for a few weeks. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list through Week 4. There haven't been many updates on his status lately. The assumption is that Aiyuk should be ready to play around Week 5 or 6, but there should be a better timetable closer to that date. Aiyuk should be stashed in most 12-team formats as he'll likely be a focal point of the offense once he's ready to play.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Mooney missed most of training camp and Week 1 due to a shoulder issue. He made his season debut last week, but was mostly quiet on the field. He hauled in two of his four targets for 20 yards in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The fact he was a limited participant on Wednesday could be the Falcons being cautious. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday to see if his status changes at all ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran wideout should be rostered in most 12-team formats despite a slow start.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as Tuten still has plenty of time to get ready before the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. Without Tank Bigsby in the picture, Tuten was able to make a big splash last week. He rushed eight times for 42 yards while adding two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sadly, Tuten is going to have his value limited as the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. right now. Despite that, Tuten should continue to see his role rise if he plays well. He should be rostered in most 12-team formats at the moment even as the backup.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said that second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin is "starting to develop into the player everyone knows he can become." Franklin, who was teammates with Nix at Oregon, had a breakout game in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout currently leads the Broncos in targets (15), catches (12), and receiving yards (133) through the first two games in 2025. Franklin probably won't take over WR1 duties from Courtland Sutton, but a second-year breakout could very well be in the cards for him, especially because of his strong chemistry with Nix. His primary competition for weekly targets will come from Marvin Mims Jr., who is more of a big-play deep threat than one who will be consistently peppered with targets. If you need WR help early on, Franklin is definitely worth a waiver-wire pickup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (non-injury) was given the day off for rest and did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Adams has made an immediate impact for the Rams, logging a team-high 21 targets through two games. Perhaps more importantly, both he and Puka Nacua are putting up strong numbers simultaneously, so there is reason to believe that Adams can continue to have success. At the very least, Adams is a WR3 with upside.
From TheHuddle
Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey is "an important piece of what we're doing," according to head coach Sean Payton. That may be true, and Harvey could see his role grow as the season progresses, but right now, his fantasy value is capped with J.K. Dobbins serving as the RB1 in Denver. Harvey was out-touched 15-6 by Harvey in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and finished with only five carries for eight yards (1.6 yards per tote) while adding one catch for a nice 16-yard gain. In the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, the UCF product had six carries for 70 yards and one reception for a loss of a yard. The 24-year-old is slippery with plenty of big-play potential, but right now, he's merely an RB3/flex for fantasy managers with a low floor and ceiling. Harvey and the Broncos also have a difficult upcoming divisional tilt against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on the road this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams OG Steve Avila (undisclosed), DL Braden Fiske (undisclosed), WR Davante Adams (non-injury) and OT Rob Havenstein (non-injury) did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) was a limited participant.
From TheHuddle
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn't exactly ease fantasy managers' concerns regarding second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. when talking to the media on Wednesday. "There's only one ball. We've been playing this game for a long time. Some days he's gonna get 10, and some days he might get 3. You never know," Murray said when asked if he felt Harrison should have more targets through two weeks. Harrison and Murray supposedly improved their chemistry in the offseason, but through two games, we have yet to see it. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick is tied for 49th among WRs with 11 targets through two games and has caught seven of them for 98 yards and a touchdown. It might take Harrison a bit more time to reach his true potential, but fantasy managers will be hoping he'll rebound in a divisional matchup this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as a limited participant on the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. It's probably just a bit of rest for the veteran RB early in the week, but it's something worth watching the next few days for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has been Green Bay's workhorse back through two weeks, as expected, handling 42 carries for 150 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground, adding one catch for four yards. The Packers will have more than a week of rest going into a Week 3 tilt against the Cleveland Browns, so we'd expect Jacobs to return to practice later this week and play on Sunday. Jacobs should be considered a must-start RB in fantasy if he's active. If he's out or limited, both Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson would likely share backfield touches.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa (non-injury), OT Spencer Burford (knee), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), FB Kyle Juszczyk (concussion), RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), S Siran Neal (concussion) and OT Trent Williams (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. QB Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) was limited during practice, while RB Jordan James (finger) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
The Washington Commanders are expected to "err on the side of caution" with quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) as he battles a knee sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Daniels will not practice this week until at least Friday, and if there is any doubt at all by then, the team is expected to keep him out in Week 3 on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. In a best-case scenario, it seems like Daniels will be questionable this weekend. The Commanders had backup Marcus Mariota meet with the media on Wednesday, an early sign that they are leaning toward starting him under center against the Raiders. Fantasy managers should not plan on having Daniels available in Week 3. If he's out, Washington could lean on the ground game more with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will be making his 2025 debut after Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey probably will not practice much this season but is on track to play in Week 3. He has been productive in both the running and passing game over the first two weeks and is a must-start option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
