Fantasy Takeaways from Every Preseason Game – Week 2

NFL Preseason Week 2 is in the books, and I’m back with my fantasy takeaways from every preseason game. We only have one more week of exhibition football left before the regular season is within our reach. Drafts are right around the corner, so now’s the time to start getting caught up on all the latest NFL action. If you didn’t have time to watch each game, no big deal; I got you covered.

Remember, most of the preseason is about practice squad players trying to make the team. What we see is not always prescriptive of how the first-team offense will perform, but there are some valuable nuggets of fantasy knowledge we can take away if you know where to look. Here are this week’s takeaways:

Cleveland Browns vs Philadelphia Eagles

• Neither team played relevant starters.
• Rashaad Penny had a nice 16-yard run, but otherwise, nothing worthwhile took place unless you’re in a deep league or dynasty.
• PHI’s Trey Sermon made some nice plays, redeeming himself from an early fumble. He’s still buried behind Penny and D’Andre Swift and is irrelevant for fantasy.
• CLE’s Austin Watkins Jr. erupted for 7-139-1 on 14 targets. For the second week in a row, he led the Browns’ backup squad in targets, receptions, and yards. He continues to make play after play and could play himself onto the team if he finishes strong in next week’s final preseason game. He’d be a name to keep an eye out for if something were to happen to Amari Cooper or Elijah Moore.
• IDP Watch: CLE safety Tanner McCalister was involved in seven tackles (five solo) with a sack, and a pass defended. He played well, diagnosing plays and finishing tackles.

Carolina Panthers vs New York Giants

• Daniel Jones came out of the gates targeting Darren Waller over and over. He certainly seemed like the number one read and he could be a Travis Kelce/Mark Andrews type of focal point for this offense without a clear wide-receiving option.
• Jalin Hyatt made up for an egregious drop by running himself wide-open for an easy 33-yard score. He had the most targets on the day for the Giants, but none came from Jones. He did get an end-around that lost yards with the first-team offense, so he could be flexed around the formation to put him in a position to make plays.
• Bryce Young struggled in his second stint of NFL action. He missed on a few throws, but his mobility was again on display. He may find himself running more than expected when his first reads aren’t there and his middle-of-the-pack line collapses.
• Rookie Jonathan Mingo showed strength and balance after taking a hit for his only reception. He could be their biggest receiving threat playing alongside the aged Adam Thielen and an uninspiring DJ Chark Jr.
• Chuba Hubbard got a lot of run in the first half of the game while Miles Sanders continued to recover from a groin injury. If Sanders is limited, or even out, for the start of the season, Hubbard will lead the team in backfield touches.

Cincinnati Bengals vs Atlanta Falcons

• Bijan Robinson! That’s it. End of sentence. He’s electric, and a legit top-5 RB as a rookie. He’s going to have a monster season barring injury.
• Desmond Ritter was surprisingly adequate in managing the offense on his only drive. He hit his receivers in stride and moved around the pocket as needed. If he actually is good, this offense could be sneaky potent with their young, stud playmakers in Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts — each of whom made noteworthy plays.
• Chris Evans again looked good in his limited action, running hard, and breaking through tackles. He could be the number two behind Joe Mixon, which could be a highly-relevant role on a high-powered offense if Mixon were to miss time for his off-the-field issues.
• Tyler Allgeier started and split snaps with Bijan on the first-team offense. Normally if we see this cycling style of usage we would think committee, but that’s not happening here, not with Robinson’s draft capital and skill. Allgeier will spell him from time to time, but this is Robinson’s show.
• The most notable news from Cincinnati in this preseason game is that Joe Burrow wasn’t there. He stayed home to rehab from his calf injury. Head coach Zac Taylor said, he “feel[s] good about the progress Joe Burrow is making right now and that’s all you’re getting outta me.”

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Detroit Lions

• Neither team played their first-team offenses.
• Tank Bigsby displayed vision and power, churning out chunk runs to the tune of 5.4 YPC on 13 carries. He’s solidified his backup role to Travis Etienne. He’ll mix in and have some standalone value, but his real value is in his potential to be a workhorse back if Etienne were to miss time.
• The Jaguars’ offensive line enabled D’Ernest Johnson to run for 6 YPC and two TDs. If the first-team line is as effective, Etienne will be quite productive this year.
• The most productive Detroit Lion was Craig Reynolds, rushing eight times and catching four passes. He’s not relevant for fantasy, even in deeper leagues.
• IDP Watch: DET’s James Houston had six tackles with four tackles for a loss, a QB hit, and one sack.

Miami Dolphins vs Houston Texans

• Raheem Mostert got the start and ran hard and well with the ones for Miami. De’Von Achane exited the game with a shoulder injury and Jeff Wilson Jr. sat out with an undisclosed injury. If both Wilson Jr. and Achane are less than 100% entering the season, the crowded Miami backfield boils down to Mostert, who would then have tremendous upside in what projects to be a high-flying offense.
• Salvon Ahmed looked spry rushing for 99 yards on 12 carries while also catching four balls for 32 yards and a touchdown. Ahmed won’t be a factor in the regular season, but his performance is more of a “hat tip” to the offensive line. Whoever ends up carrying the rock for the Dolphins will be productive and valuable for fantasy.
• CJ Stroud missed some easy throws, but you can see the athleticism and why he was drafted 2nd overall. Regardless, he’s pretty far down draft boards in Superflex leagues.
• Dameon Pierce got the start with the ones and had two whole drives to himself before Devin Singletary came in and had three touches for 10 total yards. It appears as though Pierce is still the RB1, but Singletary will mix in and be involved. Pierce’s talent and opportunity put in him the RB2 – Flex range.

Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers

• Pittsburgh’s starters put up 14 points in less than five minutes before calling in the reserves. Josh Allen was making a statement drive to respond, but a beautiful 35-yard throw and catch to Gabe Davis was negated by a holding penalty, killing the drive. Allen created a few plays with his pocket presence and scrambling, and he should again be a top-3 quarterback drafted in all leagues.
• Najee Harris ground out a few runs while Jaylen Warren spelled him on third down. It was Warren who exploited a big hole and took his only carry 62 yards to the house. This could be a glimpse into the regular season. Harris will be the first and second down grinder, and Warren will be the third down, homerun-hitting back. Warren should be viewed as a 1B to Harris’ 1A.
• Once again, Kenny Pickett showed great command of the offense and his three completions were sharp, accurate throws. Pat Freiermuth‘s touchdown was a thing of beauty. I’m beginning to believe this offense can climb out of the basement in scoring.
• Dalton Kincaid caught Allen’s first pass of the day and had a few more from the backups. Rookie tight ends rarely produce good, consistent fantasy numbers, but Kincaid has a case to be an outlier. He’s a high-capital draft pick tied to one of the best quarterbacks in the game on a great offense. Touchdowns will be scored and he could easily catch a half-dozen of them.

Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts

• Neither team played their starters.
• The Colts’ wide receiver room did nothing to sort out the pecking order behind Michael Pittman Jr. We’ll need to see Anthony Richardson on the field more to evaluate his tendencies and preferred targets. For me, it’s Pittman and no one else.
• IND’s Deon Jackson got the start with Jonathan Taylor still away from the team and Zach Moss injured. If Taylor doesn’t reconcile his situation with the team, Jackson could be the back-to-own. He was involved in runs and passes.
• Khalil Herbert looked on as D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson battled for RB2 in Chicago. Johnson made more out of his opportunities and he looked good doing it. It’s possible we see more and more of Johnson as the season progresses and he develops.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New York Jets

• Neither team played their primary players.
• The Buccaneers offensive line looked terrible. Ke’Shawn Vaughn was repeatedly hit in the backfield (4 rushes, -8 yards) and Tampa Bay rushers averaged 2.3 YPC. If that is a theme in the regular season, Rashaad White will struggle.
• Kyle Trask led the secondary squad, proving Baker Mayfield is, in fact, the starter. Trask played well enough (20-218-1), but his receivers did him no favors with several drops. We could easily see Trask being called into action if Mayfield struggles to lead the offense.
• Backup Zach Wilson did the best he could on a 35-yard scramble to prove he’s still a capable QB. He has raw talent, but he needs a lot more development. There’s no one better to teach him than Aaron Rodgers.
• Israel Abanikanda again showed flashes of what he is capable. Unfortunately for him, he’s buried on the depth chart behind new Jets’ teammate Dalvin Cook, recovering Breece Hall, and possibly Zonovan “Bam” Knight based on the usage in this game. He’s only a dynasty stash at this point, completely off the redraft radar.

New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers

• For the second game in a row, Jordan Love looked the part as he led the first-team offense on a touchdown drive. He spread the ball around well and navigated the pocket like a veteran. I expect Love to progress similarly to Kenny Pickett, both ascending to capable QB2 status for Superflex leagues.
• Love targeted rookie TE Luke Musgrave three times (2-13), Romeo Doubs twice (2-52), and rookie Jayden Reed twice (1-19). Christian Watson wasn’t targeted at all. Both Doubs’ receptions were impressive catches. He looked like Love’s number one.
• GB rookie Emanuel Wilson has been the Packers’ best offensive weapon through the first two preseason games. He runs with agility, balance, and speed. If Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were to both go down, Wilson could be a league-winner. Get him in dynasty.
• Rhamondre Stevenson had a nice 23-yard run and powered through for a touchdown at the goal line on the play after. It’s still unclear what role newly-signed Ezekiel Elliot will play, but this should still be Stevenson’s backfield with Elliot providing a change-of-pace role.
• Mac Jones made a few throws but was overall uninspiring. I’m out on the entire New England passing game. I’ll happily let someone else endure Jones and the likes of Devante Parker, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Kendrick Bourne. For those that care, Bourne was targeted on 4 of Jones’ 9 pass attempts.

Tennessee Titans vs Minnesota Vikings

• Neither team played their key players.
• Rookie RB Tyjae Spears impressed again, breaking tackles and picking up chunk yards. Spears is a high-value handcuff to Derrick Henry.
• Malik Willis did his best Jalen Hurts impression, passing for 71-1, and rushing for 91-1. Should he continue to develop, he could be a fantasy-relevant starter if Ryan Tannehill were to miss time.
• Three of the top four receiving leaders for Minnesota were tight ends. They accounted for 115 of the team’s 200 total receiving yards. TJ Hockenson has a high ceiling if Kirk Cousins favors the TE as much as his peers.
• Rookie Jordan Addison continues to progress through the concussion protocol. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell doesn’t sound too worried and fully expects Addison to be ready for the regular season.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Arizona Cardinals

• Patrick Mahomes is truly a master of his craft. He has elite pocket presence, surprising agility and speed, and sniper-level accuracy. I’ve never had the privilege of owning him on a fantasy team, but it sure must be fun to watch him earn points for you every week.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire sluggishly ran for ten yards on four carries and caught two passes for eight yards. Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon will be the backfield production this season, just as it was last season. CEH will only serve to annoy owners. Pacheco is good for flex appeal with RB2 upside while McKinnon is a great PPR play with a nose for the endzone on an elite offense.
• Rashee Rice had a nice day (8-96) but it all primarily came from the backups. The jury is still out on the Chiefs’ wide receiver pecking order. Mahomes is so good, he can make any of them adequate. The only Chiefs receiver you can rely on is Travis Kelce. He’s going to be the number one fantasy tight end yet again, barring injury.
• James Conner and Keontay Ingram looked good. If the Cardinals don’t sign anyone, look for Ingram to be the backup to the oft-injured Conner.
• Arizona appeared to script plays to get Rondale Moore involved. They need a playmaker behind Marquise Brown, and Moore may be expected to do it. He’s not fantasy relevant until he can prove it; he’ll need Kyler Murray back too.

Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers

• It was great seeing Javonte Williams return to the field and run around on his surgically-repaired knee. He was involved often in the passing game (5 targets, 4 catches) and split carries with Samaje Perine (3-3). Perine was more efficient, rushing for 22 yards (compared to 12 for Williams). I project Williams and Perine to form a 1A-1B committee; Williams will take passing work and Perine will be the bruiser at the goal line.
• Brock Purdy looked clean in his first 2023 action. He was decisive, accurate, and effective. There was a focus on getting Deebo Samuel involved, and he showed his YAC ability. Samuel is more productive on plays that are designed for him. When he’s not the hot route, Brandon Aiyuk tends to be the next option.
• Russell Wilson’s legs may be a bigger emphasis than we think for new HC Sean Payton. Wilson ran for 25 yards on three runs, and he had another 15-yard option run that was negated by a penalty. If they use Wilson’s mobility as a weapon, he could be a surprising, high-baseline, rushing QB for fantasy. His passing still leaves a lot to be desired (3/6 for 24 yards).
• SF seventh-round wide receiver Ronnie Bell had another impressive outing (7-114), showing elusiveness, stability, and speed. He’s worth an add in dynasty and best ball.

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Rams

• Neither team played their main weapons.
• Jimmy Garropolo did get the starting drive. He didn’t do much, but that’s who he is — a game manager. He just has to not suck. He’s not a streamable fantasy option at this time.
• The Raiders’ options consist of Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs (or Zamir White if he doesn’t play). In deeper leagues, names like Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers, and Michael Mayer might come up. I’d play the wait-and-see approach with them to see who, if any, becomes a consistent contributor for Garropolo.
• The most fantasy-relevant tidbit to take from the Rams’ game was Cooper Kupp’s interview. He was asked about his hamstring recovery and if he is going to play this upcoming week in joint practice. Kupp replied, “That’s the hope, that’s the plan. I’m feeling really good, able to throw it around a little bit with Matthew [Stafford] this morning. I felt really good there, so, looking forward to getting back out there with the guys, man.” Hopefully, he takes it easy, hamstring issues can be a nuisance throughout a season.

Dallas Cowboys vs Seattle Seahawks

• Dallas didn’t play their starters and Seattle only played a few.
• Geno Smith was on point in his appearance. He looked calm, confident, and decisive, making a handful of accurate throws. He is a great late-round quarterback to target that looks like he’ll have a safe-enough floor with top-5 upside.
• Zach Charbonnet only had four touches, but he took one of them 29 yards, displaying vision and speed. He’s going to have desirable value in this stacked Seahawks’ offense, it’s just a matter of how many opportunities will he get alongside Kenneth Walker III. The latest on Walker is that he participated in solo drills at practice at the end of last week, recovering from a groin injury. All signs point to him being ready for Week 1.
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba flashed his big-play ability with a beautiful, 48-yard, over-the-shoulder catch and run, falling short at the one-yard line. He’s fully expected to carry that superstar-level play into the regular season behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. He has the talent, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in Seattle, so predictability may be difficult.
• Another rookie playmaker on display was Deuce Vaughn. He broke one tackle, then spun around another on a nice 14-yard jaunt to the endzone. He’s currently competing with Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis for the backup job to Tony Pollard. Vaughn is often mocked for his size (5’6″, 176 lbs), but we’ve seen small backs be good in the NFL, and good for fantasy, e.g. Darren Sproles, Danny Woodhead, etc. Don’t count him out, especially if Pollard were to miss time.

New Orleans Saints vs Los Angeles Chargers

• Neither team played their core pieces.
• Kendre Miller was mostly bottled up, but he showed toughness, speed, and versatility as a runner and receiver. He made a gorgeous diving catch along the sideline, then followed that up with a quick burst for a touchdown. He’ll have the first three weeks to form a two-man tandem with Jamaal Williams to prove he deserves snaps before Alvin Kamara returns from suspension.
• Quentin Johnston showed much better hands this time around, catching all three targets he received. We still have yet to see him catch passes from Herbert, but reports out of the Chargers’ camp say that Johnston has become one of Herbert’s favorite targets. With Keenan Allen aging and Mike Williams often injured, Johnston could play a valuable role in the NFL and fantasy.
• LAC’s backup Easton Stick scrambled his way to 63 yards and 2 TDs. If this is something new-OC Kellen Moore is emphasizing in his quarterbacks, Justin Herbert could tack on some valuable rushing stats to go along with his elite passing skills. He can run, he just often doesn’t need to.
• In the battle for backup in Los Angeles, Isaiah Spiller made more of his five touches (27 yards) than Joshua Kelley (14 yards). With Austin Ekeler playing out what seems like his last year in LA, one of these guys will be the de facto starter next year on a high-flying offense. That will be a valuable role for fantasy, it’s just unclear who it’ll be, if either. That’ll be something to pay attention to as the year goes on.

Baltimore Ravens vs Washington Commanders

• Terry McLaurin suffered a foot injury and limped off the field. It was reported that X-rays came back negative for a big toe fracture, so it looks like he avoided a serious injury. As of this writing, he’s suffering from a toe sprain and is day-to-day. There is hope he’ll be ready for Week 1.
• Sam Howell played well, distributing the ball accurately around the field, affirming HC Ron Rivera’s decision to name Howell the starter last Friday. Howell targeted McLaurin and Jahan Dotson regularly while using his mobility to escape pressure and buy time. He looked legit. If he can play like this in the regular season, he could be a potential streaming option in redraft and a solid QB2 in Superflex.
• Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson split touches throughout the first half. Robinson out-carried Gibson (5-4) and caught more passes than Gibson (4-3), but Gibson is the one that got into the endzone.  It was a given that Robinson would out-carry Gibson, but for him to be catching more passes is surprising. If their committee is less about roles and more just swapping drives, Robinson could catch more passes than we thought.
• Zay Flowers looked like the stud he was drafted to be. He only caught two passes, but both catches displayed good route-running, agility, and speed. Flowers has as good a chance as Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. to be the Ravens’ WR1. We’ll need to see the whole first-team offense together to get an idea of the pecking order.

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