Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is not likely to be ready for Week 1 of the new NFL season. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Hockenson could miss anywhere from three to seven weeks to start the season as he still recovers from an ACL tear last year. Despite some of the latest reports saying that he's recovering ahead of schedule, it doesn't seem like the Vikings will take any chances and make sure he's as close to 100% healthy as possible. That means backups Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan, and Johnny Mundt will compete to see who gets a bulk of the workload while Hockenson remains sidelined.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye only saw six plays in his preseason debut and sat out for the rest of the game. The rookie is taking things day by day as he continues to get plenty of reps in practice. Head coach Jerod Mayo said that there are still two more preseason games to get him some more game speed reps, but he's not going to force Maye to play with backup offensive linemen or put him in any tough situations. This all seems to be a way to protect Maye, so he'll likely be the top quarterback on the depth chart this season, but how safe the Patriots are willing to be is to be determined. Dynasty managers will want to check for updates as the preseason rolls on.

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Free-agent quarterback Nick Foles has officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday. The Super Bowl-winning backup quarterback was still searching for a new team this offseason but has decided to step away from the game instead. In 11 seasons, Foles appeared in 71 games while starting in 56 of them. He posted 14,227 yards 82 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions with a completion percentage of 62.4%. His playoff run in 2017 will go down in Philadelphia lore as one of the best runs in football when he threw six touchdowns to one interception and 971 yards in three games. On top of that, he won a Super Bowl MVP against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

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New York Giants third-string quarterback Tommy Devito was thrown into the fire in the team's preseason opener against the Lions after Drew Lock (hip) exited early with an injury. While he didn't light up the stat sheet, he managed to steady the ship. DeVito went 8-for-15 with 92 passing yards, showing flashes of composure but failing to find the end zone. The young quarterback also chipped in two yards on four rushes, but his legs weren't much of a factor. DeVito's performance was far from fantasy-relevant, but he did what backup quarterbacks are supposed to do: keep the offense moving without making costly mistakes. While his yards per attempt won't supplant Daniel Jones, DeVito's ability to avoid turnovers is a positive takeaway. If Lock's injury lingers, DeVito may see more snaps in training camp and the final two games.

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New York Giants rookie sensation Dante Miller made his presence known in the team's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. The undrafted free agent out of South Carolina showcased his elite burst, tallying 57 yards on just 11 carries. While the stat line might not jump off the page, Miller's performance was a clear indicator of his potential value as a change-of-pace back in the Giants' offense. Miller's 5.2 yards per carry highlighted his ability to find seams and turn the corner with ease, a skill set the Giants have sorely lacked. His combination of speed and vision was on full display, especially during a 19-yard scamper that electrified the Giants' sideline and gave fantasy managers a glimpse of his upside. With Devin Singletary locked in as the starter, Miller is carving out a role that could see him make this team.

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New York Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers made his highly anticipated NFL debut on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. The rookie wide receiver, who has been a camp standout, saw limited action, playing just 12 snaps with the second-team offense. Despite running eight routes, Drew Lock didn't target Nabers, leaving fantasy managers with a goose egg in the stat column. However, don't let this quiet night fool you. Nabers was open on several occasions, showcasing the route-running prowess that has coaches buzzing. While the box score may be barren, his ability to create separation is undeniable. Keep a close eye on Nabers as he earns more playing time; his breakout potential remains sky-high in this Giants' offense. This is a classic "don't chase the points, trust the process" situation for savvy managers.

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Eric Gray showed the New York Giants that their investment in him is starting to pay dividends in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year back had a breakout performance, totaling 98 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice. Gray's night was highlighted by a stunning 48-yard touchdown run that had echoes of his college days and reminded fantasy managers why the Giants took a flier on him in the fifth round last year. But it wasn't just the flashy run; Gray also showed versatility by adding 46 receiving yards on top of his 52 rushing yards, making him a dual-threat weapon. His second score, a gritty 1-yard plunge, sealed the victory and might have sealed his spot as a serious fantasy option moving forward. With Devin Singletary as the starter for now, Gray's emerging role could make him a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, especially if the Giants look to lighten Singletary's workload.

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Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld completed just 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He also rushed three times for an additional 14 yards on the ground. The 30-year-old played most of the game, only ceding reps to Hendon Hooker (head) in the third quarter. (Hooker departed after two drives and entered concussion protocol, bringing Sudfeld back into the game.) Neither player led a touchdown drive, and while Hooker was quite impressive on the ground, his new injury could give Sudfeld the early advantage in the fight to be Jared Goff's backup. If Hooker is expected to miss time, Detroit could add another quarterback to compete with Sudfeld ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki rushed four times for 29 yards during Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Giants. He broke off a solid 15-yard run in the effort, but perhaps his best play was a fumble recovery after a Giants defender lost the football on an interception return. A fourth-round pick out of Utah, Vaki projects to make the 53-man roster, slotting in behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs on the running back depth chart. He's an appealing option in deep dynasty leagues (and even deeper redraft formats) given that he could earn a handful of opportunities if Montgomery or Gibbs miss any time in 2024.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaiah Williams caught all four of his targets for a total of 35 yards during Thursday's preseason loss against the New York Giants. Undrafted out of Illinois, Williams is now firmly in the mix for a depth role after a solid showing in Week 1 of the preseason. He showcased considerable quickness and change of direction skills in the loss, even earning a shoutout from head coach Dan Campbell following the game. Williams has less than one month (and two more games) to show the coaching staff why he's worthy of a coveted 53-man roster spot.

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Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (head) completed five of nine passes for 36 yards during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He was also productive on the ground, rushing four times for a team-leading 34 yards on the ground. Nearly half of his yardage came on a 16-yard run, which was the Lions' biggest gain on the ground in their loss to New York. On a more negative note, Hooker departed the game in the second half and has since entered concussion protocol. It remains to be seen if he'll miss additional time and whether an extended absence could spoil his chance of winning the backup quarterback job over Nate Sudfeld.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught three of his six targets for a total of 53 yards during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. The former LSU receiver saw his snaps alongside quarterbacks Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe, who are competing for the third-string role ahead of the 2024 season. Boutte himself is competing for a roster spot after an uninspiring rookie campaign in which he was active for just five games, catching two of the seven passes thrown his way. A misdemeanor underage gambling charge and felony computer fraud charge also made his status a bit murky, but he's been cleared of those charges as of mid-July. Boutte has one month (and two more preseason games) to show the new Patriots coaching staff why he's worthy of a roster spot. Even if he does make the team, he'll be buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats.

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New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton completed four of six passes for 54 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. He was also effective on the ground, rushing five times for 22 additional yards. The Tennessee product is believed to be competing for the No. 3 quarterback job given that it would take an enormous turn of events for him to surpass Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye on the depth chart. New England should carry three quarterbacks into the season, though, and a strong preseason could give him the edge over Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, he remains off the fantasy radar.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer completed 11 of his 21 passes for 86 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots. Plummer played the first three-quarters of the game and was eventually relieved by Jake Luton. The 24-year-old signed with the Panthers after going undrafted in this year's draft and looks to be locked into the QB3 position behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton. He remains off the fantasy radar for the upcoming season.

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Carolina Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews caught all three of his targets for 48 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading all pass-catchers in yards on the night. The bulk of his yardage came from a 28-yard pass from Jack Plummer in the second quarter. The 31-year-old spent the majority of last season on Carolina's practice squad. With the addition of rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, Matthews will likely remain on the practice squad this season and is off the radar from a fantasy perspective.

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Carolina Panthers running back Mike Boone rushed the ball eight times for 34 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading the team in touches and yards on the night. Boone also reeled in three catches for 13 yards through the air. The 29-year-old signed with Carolina in January of last season but remained on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2023 season. Boone will look to find his way onto the 53-man roster while rookie Jonathan Brooks remains on the PUP list but is firmly off the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.

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New England Patriots running back Kevin Harris rushed eight times for 22 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. In the passing game, he hauled in one of three targets for an additional six yards through the air. Harris is heading into his third pro season, but he's still just 23 years old. Rumors out of Patriots training camp suggest that Harris has out-performed JaMycal Hasty, putting him in line to open 2024 as the No. 3 running back. Nevertheless, he won't be a reliable contributor during the regular season. He can be avoided in fantasy football.

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New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Mason Tipton (hamstring) left Wednesday's practice early with a hamstring injury. The severity of the injury is unknown, but this certainly puts his chances of playing in the Saints preseason opener in jeopardy. Tipton has been a standout at camp thus far and is making his case for a roster spot. The Yale product is smaller in stature (5-foot-9) and never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season during his tenure as a Bulldog. However, he did run a 4.33 40-yard dash, and New Orleans does not boast impressive depth at wide receiver. In fact, behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed (hamstring), this WR room is ripe for the taking. Tipton is nothing more than a late-round dart throw (NFFC ADP 331) or deep-league stash, but someone to monitor, considering the hype.

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Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (undisclosed) was removed from Thursday night's game against the New York Giants to be evaluated in the locker room. Hooker scrambled on a play-action boot and truck-sticked a Giants defender for an impressive 16-yard gain. The drive would stall, though, after his pass was later batted down at the line of scrimmage. After the possession, the second-year quarterback was getting looked at in the medical tent, and he then made his way to the locker room. There have been no further updates from the team, though it is possible he was getting checked for a concussion. He completed five of nine pass attempts for 36 yards and rushed for 34 yards on four attempts in Thursday's win. Hooker is listed as the third-string quarterback on the Lions unofficial depth chart behind Nate Sudfeld and Jared Goff.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason is making the most of his opportunities in camp in the absence of superstar running back Christian McCaffrey (calf). San Francisco is hurting right now with Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and rookie Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) also dinged up. Mason has been running with the first team recently, and while others have rotated in his stead, he has impressed his coaches thus far. Most notably, the third-year running back has made it a point to improve his pass-blocking prowess -- previously his kryptonite. During one rep, Mason was 1-on-1 with a blitzing Fred Warner and delivered a blow that sent the All-Pro linebacker flying off his feet. With McCaffrey unlikely to play during the pre-season and other critical depth pieces injured, there is a path to playing time here for the former undrafted free agent if he can continue his momentum. RotoBaller has Mason ranked 73rd among all running backs, but that would change if he became the one to handcuff behind CMC.

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