Preseason News and Notes: Week 1
Mon Aug 15 10:40am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Pierce makes his case to start
We are going to do a quick recap of the preseason action after each week, giving you the good, bad and ugly (injuries) from all the preseason action. There is a lot to digest each week, but we are here to break it down for you. We will do it each week until the start of the season. There are plenty of position battles happening, making the preseason games intriguing for fantasy owners.
Here is the recap for Week 1. . . . .
The big injury of the week happened to Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. The good news is he didn’t suffer a season-ending injury. There was fear he tore his ACL, but that wasn’t the case. Wilson suffered a partially torn meniscus and bone bruise to his knee. He is going to be out a few weeks but there is a chance he is ready for Week 1. The Jets might bring along their franchise quarterback slowly, though, so don’t be surprised if he misses a few weeks of the regular season. Joe Flacco will be the No. 1 quarterback for the Jets while Wilson is out of action.
Rookie running back Dameon Pierce shined for the Texans. He was clearly the best back for the team, running five times for 49 yards. Pierce has been getting plenty of praise in camp and looks to be the starter in this offense before long. He is a playmaker that can play three downs and do just fine in pass protection. Pierce could make a run at top fantasy rookie this year if he his current play continues.
Falcons rookie receiver Drake London suffered a knee injury in his preseason game. He avoided something too serious, though, and could be out just a short period of time. The Falcons aren’t revealing how much time he is expected to miss just yet, so keep an eye on his player notes for the latest. He could be back practicing in a few days. The sooner he can get back on the field, the better for London.
Falcons rookie running back Tyler Allgeier didn't get a ton of work but ran three times for 25 yards. He averaged an impressive 8.3 yards per carry. He is making a case to start for the Falcons his rookie year and this showing didn’t do anything to dispel that. Allgeier is trending upward right now and could be starting for the Falcons before long.
Rookie Malik Willis showed well in his NFL debut, giving the Titans hope they have found their franchise quarterback. He won’t start this year, but could the Titans starter sooner than later. He was 6-of-11 for 107 yards and ran five times for 38 yards and a touchdown. Willis showed his dual threat ability and made plays down the field throwing the ball. Willis is a very talented player that certainly looks the part of an NFL star.
The Browns gave Deshaun Watson the start in their first preseason game. He had plenty of rust after not playing at all last year. He was just 1-of-5 for seven yards. Watson did not look great. There remains plenty of speculation that his suspension will be lengthened to the entire season, so this might be the only time you see Watson playing in a game this year.
Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts was sharp as the Eagles came out throwing early and often. Hurts was 6-of-6 for 80 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. If this first game was any indication, the Eagles are going to be throwing the ball a lot this year to take advantage of all their weapons in the passing game. Hurts is a very intriguing fantasy option this coming year, having top-five potential at the position.
The Trey Lance era opened in San Francisco and it was impressive. Lance was 4-of-5 for 92 yards and a touchdown. He also ran once for seven yards. Lance is another dual threat at quarterback that seems ready for a breakout season. It was just a preseason game, but things are looking good for Lance this coming year.
Packers rookie receiver Romeo Doubs has turned heads in training camp and carried that over to the preseason. He caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. He led all Packers receivers with seven targets. He is a player to put on your radar right now. Doubs is trending towards earning a starting job and big role in the Packers offense his rookie season.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is another rookie making waves in camp and he got some playing time with the first-team offense his first preseason game. This is a pretty good sign that the Chiefs feel comfortable with Pacheco and he could be the No. 2 back behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He is moving up the fantasy rankings while Ronald Jones should be moving down. Jones is fourth or fifth on the depth chart right now and ran four times for just a yard. He could be a player that is cut before the start of the season.
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold played similar as they battle it out for the right to start in Carolina. Darnold threw a touchdown pass, so maybe he gets a bit of a leg up after one week of action. Mayfield was 4-of-7 for 45 yards. Darnold was 2-of-3 for 16 yards and a touchdown. Mayfield probably remains the heavy favorite to start, but he isn’t going to be handed the job.
Antonio Gibson lost a fumble and found his way to the bench, rushing four times for just two yards. It was not a good performance and cause for some concern. Rookie Brian Robinson looked pretty good with his chances, running six times for 26 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 15 yards. Gibson is going to need to get his fumbling issues under control if he hopes to keep starting in Washington. Robinson is an intriguing late-round grab right now for fantasy teams.
Geno Smith opened as the starter for Seattle, but was probably outplayed by Drew Lock. Both moved the offense, but Lock had two touchdown passes. Smith was 10-of-15 for 101 yards without a touchdown or a turnover. Smith did run in a score, rushing two times for nine yards and a score. Lock was 11-of-15 for 102 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. This quarterback battle remains very close.
The Steelers are the only team in the NFL with three quarterbacks battling it out to start. All three played pretty well this past week. Rookie Kenny Pickett was the best of the group, though. He was very impressive, going 13-of-15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. Mitchell Trubisky started and made plays, finishing 4-of-7 for 63 yards and a touchdown. Mason Rudolph was first off the bench and was 9-of-15 for 93 yards and a touchdown. Trubisky seems the leader but Pickett’s strong showing was encouraging for his future. He could be moving up the depth chart if he keeps playing well.
Rookie George Pickens might be generating the most buzz of any player this training camp and didn’t disappoint in his first preseason game. He had three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. Pickens is drawing rave reviews in camp looked the part of an NFL superstar in this preseason game. Pickens is going to keep moving up draft boards until the start of the season.
So Josh Jacobs started the Raiders first preseason game and that drew all sorts of speculation because the rest of the starters mainly sat that game. What did that mean for Jacobs? Is he not the starter or thought of as highly as the other starters in Las Vegas? Well, Jacobs didn’t play that second preseason game for the Raiders. Maybe everyone needs to pump the breaks on Jacobs playing a much smaller role for the Raiders this year. Las Vegas might rotate backs more than past years in this new offense, but it certainly looks like Jacobs is the starter and likely to be a big part of the offense. Don’t let that first preseason game freak you out about drafting Jacobs this year. He might end up being a great value to fantasy teams as his stock starts to fall.
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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
The Los Angeles Chargers are set to undergo a rebuilding phase following the hiring of head coach Jim Harbaugh and the departures of longtime offensive weapons Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams. L.A. has been rumored to be a top landing spot for Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison or LSU wideout Malik Nabers, but Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report suggests they are likely to pick an offensive tackle if they stay at pick No. 5. Notre Dame's Joe Alt is expected to be the first player at the position off the board. Alt has been mocked to the Tennessee Titans at pick No. 7 for much of the offseason, so the Chargers picking the 2023 first-team All-American would shake things up drastically. The Chargers have a lot of options with teams potentially trying to move up for a quarterback, so they are one of the key teams to monitor in the first round on Thursday.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants are in an interesting predicament at the quarterback spot. The organization signed Daniel Jones (knee) to a four-year, $160 million deal last offseason, but he didn't play well in 2023, and he is coming off a torn ACL. There has been plenty of buzz surrounding New York selecting a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that they could pass on a quarterback if North Carolina's Drake Maye isn't available at pick No. 6. "Most teams believe if Maye is off the board, the Giants' most likely scenario is to go wide receiver to land a player who can help an offense that was last in the league in yards after the catch in 2023," Russini wrote. If the reports are true, look for New York to target LSU's Malik Nabers in that draft slot. That said, Washington's Rome Odunze is likely in consideration as well.
From RotoBaller
University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has seemingly been rising draft boards this offseason, and NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that he could enter the discussion to be one of the first four quarterbacks off the board. "It's been assumed the top four QBs are Williams, Daniels, Maye, and McCarthy," Russini wrote "But don't be surprised if Penix enters the discussion come Thursday." Penix, who will be 24 years old during his rookie season, had a monster two-year stretch with Washington after four injury-riddled campaigns at Indiana. In 2022 and 2023, combined, the lefty posted 9,544 passing yards, 67 passing touchdowns, and 67 interceptions. He ran between a 4.51 and 4.57 forty-yard dash at the Huskies' Pro Day, so his 226 career rushing yards might not demonstrate his full rushing ability.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a monster 2023 season, throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He led Detroit to the No. 3 seed in the NFC and the organization won two playoff games in a single postseason for the first time since 1957. On Wednesday, the team signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell to high-dollar four-year contract extensions, but Goff is reportedly not close to agreeing to a new long-term deal. According to Adam Schefter, no new deal is "imminent" as of now. This will be an interesting development to watch play out, as the former Los Angeles Rams No. 1 overall pick is entering the final year of his contract in the Motor City and could become a free agent next offseason.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Lions have signed wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: The contract is basically a four-year, $120 million extension with $77 million guaranteed, the most ever for a wide receiver in NFL history. It's a huge haul for St. Brown, who has quickly established himself as one of the best players in the NFL. After his 119/1,515/10 season last year, the Lions were going to either pay him or risk losing him after his rookie deal expired. They've clearly chosen to build around him and he should be firmly cemented as a WR1 in dynasty moving forward. St. Brown is an easy target for any team looking for a premier centerpiece to their dynasty team as the best could truly be yet to come.
Dynasty | The Steelers are not expected to pick up the fifth-year option on the contract of Justin Fields. Dynasty Analysis: This isn't much of a surprise as the Steelers would be on the hook for $25 million in his fifth year and don't even know if they want him as their long-term starter at this point. Pittsburgh is likely going to go into the season with Russell Wilson as their starter but also quietly evaluating Fields to be a possible successor. We'll see what happens but Fields looks like a player who could be a sneaky buy in the next few months leading up to the season as his ADP has tanked.
Dynasty | The Bengals are picking up the fifth year option on the contract of Ja'Marr Chase. Dynasty Analysis: Consider this a placeholder as Cincinnati now needs to prepare to make Chase the highest paid receiver in the league. Amon-Ra St. Brown has set the market with a four-year, $120 million extension ($77 million guaranteed), so the Bengals are going to need to assemble a few armored cars here soon. Chase and Justin Jefferson should both be set to sign historic deals and while the option being picked up buys the Bengals one more season, dynasty managers shouldn't worry about him hitting free agency any time soon. Chase remains a bona fide candidate for the top overall selection in dynasty leagues.
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning recently talked with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and said the Broncos are interested in him with the 2024 NFL draft beginning on Thursday night. "I know Denver is very interested in him and it sounded like a place he'd love to come to but it's a little bit out of his control," Manning told Denver Sports over the air. McCarthy played in a pro-style offense at Michigan and led the Wolverines to the national championship earlier this year. He wasn't allowed to throw the ball that much in college, but he really impressed at his pro day and has been rising up draft boards ever since. McCarthy is a candidate to go in the first five picks on Thursday night, although it seems unlikely that Denver has the ammunition to pull off a trade up into the top five this year to select McCarthy, especially after trading for Zach Wilson on Tuesday.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell agreed to terms on a four-year, $112 million contract extension with the Lions on Wednesday that makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. The deal also includes $85 million guaranteed. The Lions were active in keeping several key contributors of their offense around for the long term, as they also gave receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown a four-year extension that makes him the highest-paid wideout in the league for the time being. Sewell, who was drafted seventh overall in 2021 out of Oregon, has made the Pro Bowl each of the last two years and was a first-time All-Pro in 2023. The 23-year-old has been a big reason for the Lions' resurgence in the last two years.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) was fully cleared for football activities earlier in April, his doctor informed teams in a letter. Howard is currently a free agent and battled a foot injury last year that limited him to 13 games with the Miami Dolphins. In those 13 games, he had 45 tackles (36 solo), an interception and 12 passes defended. Now that the 30-year-old defensive back appears to be fully healthy, he should be able to sign with another team in advance of the 2024 season this fall. The four-time Pro Bowler was a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 2016 out of Baylor and has a total of 331 tackles (258 solo), two sacks, eight tackles for loss, 29 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 95 passes defended, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries (two returned for TDs) in his eight years in Miami.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers did a simple restructure of the salary of pass-rusher Alex Highsmith's contract on Wednesday to create more than $7 million in salary cap space, according to a source. The Steelers will convert a portion of Highsmith's base salary in 2024 into a signing bonus. The 26-year-old former third-round pick in 2020 out of Charlotte has put up 21.5 sacks in the last two years and had 57 tackles (34 solo), seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles in 17 regular-season starts in 2023 in his fourth year in the league. Along with All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt, Highsmith is a key member of the Steelers' defense moving forward.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Rashod Bateman to an undisclosed contract extension on Wednesday that ties him to the team through the 2026 season. Bateman was able to stay healthy in 2023, but he was overshadowed by rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers and finished with a disappointing 32 catches for 367 yards and just one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games (12 starts) in his third year in the league. The 24-year-old former 27th overall pick in 2021 out of Minnesota hasn't lived up to his first-round billing and has found the end zone just four times in three years. The Ravens continue to say that Bateman is going to have a bigger role in the passing attack in 2024, but fantasy managers will want to see it before they believe it.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't expected to pick up quarterback Justin Fields' $25 million fifth-year option, according to league sources. The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears last month for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Fields and Russell Wilson will now both be entering the last year of their contracts in 2024. Wilson is fully expected to open the 2024 campaign as the starter under center for Pittsburgh, but if he falters, Fields will get a shot to prove that he belongs with the Steelers beyond this season. The 25-year-old showed some improvement late last year with Chicago, but it wasn't enough to keep him as the franchise signal-caller in the eyes of Bears brass. Fields' fantasy stock is obviously way down entering next season, but he could become a high-upside waiver-wire pickup if Wilson is benched.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions agreed to a four-year contract extension with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on Wednesday that is worth $120 million with $77 million guaranteed. The deal makes St. Brown the highest-paid receiver in the league and ties him with Miami's Tyreek Hill in average annual value ($30 million). The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of USC has been an excellent value for Detroit. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons and put up career-highs in catches (119), targets (164), receiving yards (1,515) and touchdowns (10) in 16 regular-season games in his third year in the NFL in 2024. With Quarterback Jared Goff still peppering St. Brown with targets in 2024, he'll continue to serve as a high-end WR1 for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals exercised the fifth-year option for wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on Wednesday, as expected. Chase is now officially locked up through the 2025 season. The 24-year-old former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in the NFL and set a career-high with 100 catches on 145 targets for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in 2023, despite the fact that quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) missed considerable time with a season-ending injury. Chase's seven touchdowns in 2023 were a career-low, but he should bounce back in that department in 2024 as long as Burrow can stay healthy all year. Chase's fantasy arrow continues to point up and he should be considered a top-tier WR1.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been in trade rumors ever since the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Although general manager John Lynch has seemingly tried to shut down trade rumors, NFL insider Michael Silver said a potential trade is still "very much in play." "To this point, the 49ers have asked for a 2024 first-round pick," Silver wrote. An executive for another team reportedly said the asking price is too high, while another league general manager said he believes the 49ers might ultimately accept a second-round selection. Aiyuk's camp is reportedly asking for an average salary of around $25 million, a price that San Francisco has been unwilling to offer. The 26-year-old could be a true No. 1 wide receiver for another organization, but the target competition on the 49ers roster has made it more difficult for him to be a consistent producer.
From RotoBaller
The NFL announced on Tuesday that their review into potential tampering from the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons is ongoing and will not conclude this week. That said, any potential punishments will come after the 2024 NFL Draft and will not affect this year's draft order. The Falcons are being investigated for allegedly making contact with quarterback Kirk Cousins before they were allowed to, while the Eagles are facing similar circumstances with running back Saquon Barkley. The Miami Dolphins lost their 2023 first-round pick over attempts to acquire quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton in 2019 while they were active members of other organizations. That said, Atlanta and Philadelphia could be handed similar punishments in future drafts if they are found to have engaged in illegal tampering.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent quarterback Logan Woodside signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, the team announced on X. The former Toledo signal-caller was selected by the Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he was waived before his rookie season began. He then signed with the Tennessee Titans but lasted just a few weeks with the organization before spending time with the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF. He made his way back to the NFL with Tennessee for three and half years before one and a half years with the Atlanta Falcons. The 29-year-old has completed just four passes for 34 yards in his professional career, so it'd be a surprise if he beat out Jake Browning for the QB2 job behind Joe Burrow.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos have picked up the fifth-year option on Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain II, meaning he will remain under contract through the 2025 NFL season. Since being selected by Denver with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Surtain has earned two trips to the Pro Bowl and one first-team All-Pro honor. In 50 career games, he has racked up 187 tackles (150 solo), one forced fumble, seven interceptions, and 36 pass deflections. The Broncos are in an interesting time for the organization with Sean Payton at the helm, and the roster needs major reinforcements. However, they have their true No. 1 cornerback locked in for at least the next two seasons.
From RotoBaller
The NFL reinstated Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. from his year-long suspension on Tuesday for violating the league's policy on gambling. Rodgers was with the Indianapolis Colts when he was suspended on June 29 but was released by the team later that day and signed with the Eagles in August. Rodgers said bets were made from his account for people who lived in Florida, where online sports betting at that time remained illegal. At the time of his suspension, Rodgers had placed more than 100 bets, including some on Colts' games. In his three seasons in Indy, Rodgers had three interceptions and 10 passes defensed while also playing on special teams as a kick and punt returner. The Eagles are hoping he can provide them with some secondary depth after their defense last year was highly disappointing.
From RotoBaller
