Preseason News and Notes: Week 1

Mon Aug 11 11:39am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Adonai Mitchell Aug 12 9:00pm CT
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has been dominant in training camp and has moments where he looks like a perennial Pro Bowl player, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. A second-round pick out of Texas in 2024, Mitchell was used sparingly as a rookie. In 17 games, he had just 23 receptions for 312 yards and zero touchdowns. The Colts have three productive wide receivers in Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce. However, none of those three are elite enough talents to keep Mitchell off the field if he can hit on his high-end potential. His fantasy outlook for 2025 is murky due to both the target competition and shaky quarterback situation in Indianapolis, but Mitchell is a name to monitor.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Aug 12 8:40pm CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is showing "improved chemistry" with quarterback Joe Flacco, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Jackson writes that Jeudy had his best practice of the summer last week when the Browns held a joint session with the Carolina Panthers. The 26-year-old had his most productive NFL season in 2024, recording 90 catches for 1,209 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games for Cleveland. Jeudy took off once Jameis Winston replaced Deshaun Watson at quarterback for the Browns, and Flacco profiles similarly to Winston as a high-volume gunslinger at this point in his career. There's a chance that Flacco is replaced by one of the young quarterbacks in Cleveland at some point this season. However, until that happens, Jeudy is a good bet to outperform his early-seventh-round average draft position.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Aug 12 8:30pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson will "get half of the running back snaps this season," according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Graff writes that Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has "publicly backed (running back) Rhamondre Stevenson several times and seems inclined to at least try out a running back committee." A second-round pick out of Ohio State, Henderson impressed in his preseason debut on Friday by catching three passes and returning the game's opening kickoff for a touchdown. There's no doubt Henderson is an explosive player, but Stevenson is an established veteran who has averaged at least 12 carries per game in three straight seasons. Henderson profiles as a mid-tier RB2 in fantasy, but he has massive upside if he can seize the lion's share of the backfield touches in New England.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Aug 12 8:20pm CT
Justin Fields

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields has been "mostly playing it safe" in the passing game in practices, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt notes that Fields has been throwing a lot of "quick slants, dump offs, (and) screens." Fields set a career-high in air yards per pass attempt (7.21) in 10 games last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but has typically been more comfortable checking down to underneath targets than most mobile quarterbacks. If the Jets' plan is for Fields to get the ball out of his hands quickly, it could benefit running back Breece Hall's reception totals. It could also remove some chances for Fields to make plays in scramble situations. A good portion of Fields' fantasy value comes from his legs (career 50.2 rushing yards per game).

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Aug 12 8:00pm CT
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring) is "getting close" to returning from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for two weeks, head coach Sean McDermott told the media. Thanks to the injury, Samuel has gotten off to an inauspicious start in 2025 as he looks to rebound from a disappointing first year in Buffalo. After back-to-back solid seasons in Washington, Samuel left for the Bills in free agency and went on to catch 31 passes on 46 targets for 253 yards and a touchdown in 14 games in 2024. He's largely off the fantasy radar now as part of an offense known for spreading the ball around to several targets.

From RotoBaller

Jacob Cowing Aug 12 7:40pm CT
Jacob Cowing

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) returned to practice on Tuesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports. Cowing, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of camp, did individual work and mixed in some team snaps in his first practice back. The 5-foot-9, 171-pounder appeared in 15 games as a fourth-round rookie last year and caught a mere four passes for 80 yards. However, he garnered praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan during minicamp, and there was talk of Cowing helping to replace the departed Deebo Samuel Jr. in a gadget role. Now, there may be a path to more opportunities with the 49ers facing issues at the receiver position. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will miss the first several weeks of the regular season, Jordan Watkins (ankle) is out for a month, and Jauan Jennings (calf) is also banged up. Additionally, Demarcus Robinson is staring at a potential suspension from a 2024 misdemeanor DUI charge.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Aug 12 7:20pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are listed as co-starters on the team's unofficial depth chart. Nevertheless, it was Etienne who looked like the "top option" during Tuesday's practice, according to John Shipley of SI.com. Etienne broke some long runs and looked more comfortable as a receiver than the Jaguars' other backs. The 26-year-old dealt with cramps at the end of practice, but it doesn't seem there's much concern over that. After back-to-back productive seasons from 2022-23, Etienne's output fell off a cliff over 15 games last year. The former Clemson star totaled career-low marks across the board as a runner with 558 yards and two touchdowns on 150 carries. As a receiver, he chipped in 39 catches for 254 yards and no scores. Etienne is now stuck in a crowded RB room with Bigsby and a pair of promising rookies in Bhaysul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr., making him a risky option from a fantasy standpoint.

From RotoBaller

Bhayshul Tuten Aug 12 7:20pm CT
Bhayshul Tuten

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten has continued to see an increase in team reps in practice, per John Shipley of SI.com. Tuten logged another positive showing on Tuesday, ripping off "the best run of the day" on an explosive play up the middle. The fourth-round pick from Virginia Tech tied Tank Bigsby for the team lead in carries (six) and yards (24) in the Jaguars' preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. He also scored Jacksonville's sole rushing touchdown of the game and caught two passes for 16 yards. Tuten is listed behind co-starters Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. on the Jags' unofficial depth chart, but it's notable that he has impressed new head coach Liam Coen enough to receive first-team work in practice on occasion. He'll have a chance to continue turning heads against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey Aug 12 6:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (undisclosed) was back in 11-on-11 drills at Tuesday's training camp practice, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. "I feel like I'm there now. It's just about building everything back up and...getting my conditioning back to where it needs to be," McConkey said when asked how close he is to 100% health. The Chargers and McConkey haven't disclosed the nature of his injury. Now that the 23-year-old second-year wideout is back at practice, he could play in the team's third preseason contest this Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. The second-rounder in 2024 out of Georgia quickly became quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to receiver last year and finished with an 82-1,149-7 line in 16 games played. McConkey is a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in fantasy going into his sophomore season.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Aug 12 5:40pm CT
Nick Chubb

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (head) has moved through the league's concussion protocol and was not wearing a non-contact jersey at Tuesday's training camp practice, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Chubb entered the concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head last week, but he looks to be fine now. The 29-year-old four-time Pro Bowler was among the best RBs in the league on a yearly basis before suffering a gruesome knee injury in 2023. He made it back to play in eight games in his final season in Cleveland in 2024 but had a career-low 3.3 yards per carry and didn't look like the same back. Chubb could have a decent role for the Texans early in the season if starter Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) isn't ready, it could also be more of a committee approach involving Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks.

From RotoBaller

Omarion Hampton Aug 12 5:20pm CT
Omarion Hampton

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that even if running back Najee Harris (eye) isn't ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener, rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton will rotate in with another back. Who the other RB is remains wide open, according to Roman. If Harris isn't ready for Week 1, it would be either Kimani Vidal Hassan Haskins sharing backfield touches with Hampton. With that said, Hampton's fantasy value heading into his first year in the NFL has continued to go up with Harris still on the Physically Unable to Perform list thanks to a fireworks accident that injured his eye. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the No. 13 fantasy RB currently. He's expected to be L.A.'s primary back by season's end, regardless of Harris' health, and he has intriguing big-play ability in what will be a run-first offensive attack.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Aug 12 5:20pm CT
Najee Harris

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) has made some progress and was able to do some jogging at training camp on Tuesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Harris has gotten off to a bad start with his new team, suffering an eye injury during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July. The former Steelers RB remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list and has yet to practice with the rest of the team. What initially seemed like a minor injury actually has a chance to keep the 27-year-old sidelined for the start of the 2025 regular season. The former first-rounder has been durable in his NFL career and has recorded 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four seasons, but he's lacked big-play ability and could very well take a back seat to rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton whenever he gets back on the field. Harris has fallen to RB49 status at RotoBaller.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Aug 12 5:10pm CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that wide receiver Calvin Austin III (abdomen) and tight end Jonnu Smith (knee) are considered day-to-day. "Hopefully they're back sooner rather than later," Tomlin said. The head coach categorized Smith's injury as knee soreness, while Austin is working through a minor abdominal issue. It remains to be seen if either play will suit up for the second preseason game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but even if they don't, they should be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Austin has the inside track to be the WR2 behind DK Metcalf this year, but that role is still unlikely to give the 26-year-old enough volume to make him an every-week starter in fantasy. Meanwhile, Smith lost most of his fantasy appeal in the offseason trade from Miami to Pittsburgh.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Aug 12 3:33pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (leg) left practice early Tuesday, Aug. 12, after injuring his shin or ankle but was able to return for team drills.

Fantasy Spin: Rodgers may have been stepped on and could miss a practice or two but should be fine for the regular season. He will be working in a new offense and with new pass catchers, so he should be considered a No. 2 quarterback in fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Rondale Moore Aug 12 3:20pm CT
Rondale Moore

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore (knee) has suffered another season-ending knee injury, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. This one really hurts for Moore, who also missed the the entire 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Falcons due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old was selected in the second round (49th overall) in 2021 by the Arizona Cardinals out of Purdie. Moore spent the first three seasons of his career in the desert, catching 135 of 182 targets for 1,201 yards and only three touchdowns (one per year) in 39 games (23 starts) over those three seasons. It might be an uphill battle the rest of his career for him to get back to a prominent role on offense in the NFL. Moore wasn't really on the fantasy radar to begin with in 12-team leagues, but his injury is significant for a WR room that will also be without Jordan Addison (suspension) for the first four games.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Aug 12 3:00pm CT
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (shoulder) did not take part in the scrimmage on Tuesday due to a minor shoulder injury that he picked up in the preseason opener last week against the New England Patriots, according to John Keim of ESPN. Keim adds that the Commanders were just taking precaution by holding the rookie out on Tuesday at training camp. The 24-year-old had eight touches for 32 yards last week and is expected to make the final 53-man roster heading into the regular season. The seventh-rounder will now compete for the No. 3 role in D.C. with Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. Croskey-Merritt is most likely going to need an injury to one or both of Ekeler and B-Rob in order to become a popular midseason waiver-wire target.

From RotoBaller

Miles Sanders Aug 12 2:40pm CT
Miles Sanders

Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders (knee) was back at Tuesday's training camp practice in full pads, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Meanwhile, rookie Jaydon Blue (heel) remained out. Sanders returns to the gridiron after missing around two weeks due to a left-knee bruise, including Dallas' preseason opener on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old veteran will now continue to split first-team work in the backfield with Javonte Williams now that he's over his knee issue. Because Sanders is back so early in the week, he figures to suit up for the second preseason game on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders will have a role in Dallas' backfield, but this could be a full-on committee between Williams, Sanders and Blue by the time the regular season roles around, limiting Sanders' already weak fantasy value after a couple disappointing seasons in Carolina.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders Aug 12 2:30pm CT
Shedeur Sanders

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that Cleveland Browns rookie fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders has "generally outplayed Dillon Gabriel throughout camp." Sanders also "delivered a steady, poised performance" last Friday in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, who played most of their defensive starters the first two series. Despite the fact that Sanders impressed during the preseason opener and threw two touchdowns, he was still listed as fourth on the QB depth chart this week behind Gabriel. Gabriel missed the preseason opener due to a minor hamstring injury, but he's been back at practice and could start the second preseason game this Saturday against the Eagles. If Gabriel struggles this week, it's possible that Sanders could pass him on the unofficial depth chart. Either way, neither Sanders nor Gabriel are realistic contenders for the starting gig come Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Aug 12 2:20pm CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (abdomen) has been dealing with a minor abdominal muscle issue, sources told Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. According to Austin's agent, it is the only reason that he has not been practicing with the team at training camp. Austin has missed practice for several days and didn't play in last week's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he expects Austin to return to practice soon, and his injury isn't expected to impact his readiness for Week 1 of the regular season. He's entering the final year of his current deal, but his agent, Rodney Williams, confirmed that his client isn't holding out. If healthy, the 26-year-old is the favorite for WR2 duties in Pittsburgh in 2025 behind DK Metcalf, although that role isn't expected to yield much volume for what should be a run-first offense.

From RotoBaller

Mason Taylor Aug 12 2:10pm CT
Mason Taylor

New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) has returned to training camp practice and is a full-go, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Taylor has recovered quickly from what was being called a high-ankle sprain. The 21-year-old second-rounder missed the team's preseason opener last week, but now that he's back to full practices, he should be able to suit up for Saturday's second preseason game against the New York Giants. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues are probably going to ignore Taylor in 12-team leagues, but it's worth noting that he's fully expected to open the year as the Jets' top pass-catching tight end. The Jets' offense is expected to lean heavily on the ground game, but quarterback Justin Fields won't have many weapons to throw to outside of WR1 Garrett Wilson. Taylor should be a TE3 with upside for more.

From RotoBaller