Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert won't play during Sunday's second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Taylor Heinicke will get the starting nod for this contest. Trey Lance started during the Hall of Fame game last week. The two of them are competing for the backup gig behind Herbert to begin the season. It's unclear if Herbert is going to play at all during the preseason. At the moment, Herbert should be considered a fringe top-10 fantasy quarterback.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (undisclosed) was seen back on the practice field on Friday. According to Kris Rhim, McConkey was seen in uniform going through a walkthrough. This is the first time that we've seen McConkey on the field since July 28. He has been missing practice due to an undisclosed injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried, as the coaching staff has downplayed the issue. McConkey is unlikely to play in the first preseason game, but this shouldn't be something that lingers into the regular season. He is a low-end WR1 option in fantasy after a breakout rookie season.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and the starters on offense are not expected to play in Friday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots. The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala writes that it will be the Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman show. Daniels and the starters presumably will see their most preseason work next week on Aug. 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota is dealing with a lower-leg injury and did not travel with the team this weekend. Daniels played about as well as any QB last year, but what made it really impressive is that it was his first year in the league. The 24-year-old former second overall pick out of LSU looked to have the "it" factor as a playmaker with both his arms and legs. Daniels finished as the QB5 in fantasy in 2024 and has quickly jumped into the top-five rankings at the position.

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Gilbert Manzano of Sports Illustrated writes that New Orleans Saints rookie second-round quarterback Tyler Shough showed improvement at practice on Thursday while working with the first-team offense. Head coach Kellen Moore said he hasn't decided how he'll divvy up the QB snaps in the preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it's a good sign that Shough was the first to see first-team reps on Thursday. The 25-year-old showed confidence and made quick decisions with the football while also using his legs a few times. According to receiver Rashid Shaheed, Shough is thinking less and allowing his pass-catchers to make plays. Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are still competing for the QB job, and the Saints don't seem to be in a rush to name a Week 1 starter. Fantasy managers should be avoiding the situation entirely in 2025.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on the team radio on Thursday that rookie fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders will play the majority of the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Carolina Panthers. "Fifty plays of game work, which I think will be great for him," Stefanski said. The Browns are choosing to rest veteran Joe Flacco, the favorite to start in Week 1, while Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel are both managing hamstring injuries. Once Sanders exits on Friday, the newly signed Tyler Huntley will take over under center. The 23-year-old Sanders has reportedly held his own during training camp, but he could struggle on Friday since he hasn't taken any snaps with the first-team offense during practices. Sanders isn't going to win the Browns' starting job in 2025, and he's merely competing to prove he belongs on their roster going into 2026.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (undisclosed) will not play in the team's preseason game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. The Steelers are going to play it safe with Austin in their preseason opener, but Austin and DK Metcalf are locks for the receiver room in 2025. The departure of George Pickens (traded to Dallas) definitely opens up opportunity for Austin as the WR2 in Pittsburgh this year, but can he take advantage? The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder took a step forward last year with 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (eight starts). What Austin lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. However, the Steelers are expected to be a run-first offense that uses a lot of two-tight end sets, so Austin's volume may not increase all that much. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is also a big question mark.

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In the Detroit Lions' second preseason game on Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, starting quarterback Jared Goff will not suit up, giving third-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker the start. Kyle Allen made the start in the first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers and played the entire first half. Allen and Hooker, who went 3-for-6 for 18 yards, combined to throw three interceptions in the opener, so head coach Dan Campbell is looking for better communication, execution and ball movement on Friday. Allen and Hooker are in a close competition to be Goff's backup entering the 2025 season, according to Lions beat writer Tim Twentyman. If Hooker can get off to a good start against Atlanta and keep the offense moving, he could separate himself from Allen a bit in the backup competition this summer.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (finger) dislocated his right pinkie finger in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night and was removed from the game, but ESPN's Stephen Holder reports that he could return to practice as early as Saturday, according to multiple sources. Members of the Colts' medical staff quickly popped Richardson's finger back into place, and Richardson tested his ability to grip a football before eventually being shut down. X-rays came back negative on A-Rich's finger, and if he can throw the ball effectively, he'll likely return to practice on Saturday. The former first-rounder only went 2-for-3 passing before his injury, while Daniel Jones went 10-for-21 for 144 yards. Richardson continues to be injury-prone, but his latest injury isn't a big issue, and he's still very much in the thick of the QB competition this preseason.

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Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson went 3-for-5 on field goals in Thursday's 23-23 tie with the Seahawks. The veteran connected from 27, 51, and 56 yards, but missed a 55-yarder before halftime and had another from the same distance blocked on the game's final play. Despite the inconsistency, Carlson's powerful leg remains a key asset. With the Raiders' offense expected to improve under new leadership, his scoring opportunities should increase. Fantasy managers should remain confident, Carlson is still a strong candidate to finish as a top-10 kicker in 2025.

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Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai is getting work with the first-team offense during 11-on-11 drills at training camp practice on Friday, according to Zack Pearson of 247 Sports. Monangai was seen working mostly with the second-string unit in practices earlier this week, but the 23-year-old seventh-round pick is getting a shot with the starters at the end of the week. It probably has something to do with Roschon Johnson (foot), who is the favorite for goal-line work this year, dealing with a foot injury at camp right now. In addition to Johnson, D'Andre Swift is also ahead of Monangai on Chicago's RB depth chart heading into his first NFL season. A lot can change in this Bears backfield as the season progresses, but as things currently stand, Monangai will be the RB3, at best, in a change-of-pace role that won't yield a ton of weekly opportunities.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (oblique) was present but not suited up at Friday's practice as he manages an oblique injury, per head coach Mike McDaniel. The team is exercising caution with the star wideout, and Hill is expected to return soon as he ramps up for Week 1. In his absence, Malik Washington, Erik Ezukanma, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine should see increased reps with the first team. Hill is looking to bounce back from a relatively down 2024 season, where he totaled 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns, well below his typical production.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (back) is dealing with a back contusion that he suffered when he took a hard hit during Thursday's training camp practice, a source told ESPN's Todd Archer. Ferguson's injury isn't considered serious, though, so the Cowboys appear to have avoided an injury scare with the No. 1 tight end. The Cowboys are definitely exhaling after signing the 26-year-old to a four-year, $52 million extension just a few weeks ago. He probably won't practice on Friday or suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, but Ferguson should be fine for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. Injuries to himself and quarterback Dak Prescott derailed his 2024 campaign, but Ferguson is looking to bounce back as a low-end TE1 in fantasy in 2025 after he was a Pro Bowler in 2023.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (finger) exited Thursday night's 24-16 preseason loss to the Ravens after being sacked by David Ojabo, but X-rays came back clean after he dislocated his pinkie finger. The team expects Richardson to return to practice in the coming days. The second-year signal-caller completed two of three passes for 21 yards and led an 18-yard drive that ended in a 53-yard field goal. Meanwhile, Daniel Jones failed to seize momentum in extended action, completing just 10 of 21 passes for 144 yards, keeping the quarterback competition wide open.

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Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will not play in Sunday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. First-year head coach Ben Johnson is taking a cautious approach as Williams continues to learn the offensive system and build chemistry with his teammates. The Bears are expected to start Tyson Bagent with the first-team offense, while Case Keenum and Austin Reed should also see playing time. Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is expected to be the full-time starter once the regular season begins, but will watch from the sidelines this weekend.

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Las Vegas Raiders sixth-round rookie quarterback Cam Miller made the most of his limited opportunity in Thursday night's 23-23 tie with the Seahawks. Entering in the fourth quarter, Miller quickly led a 65-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 41-yard strike to Shedrick Jackson down the right sideline. He followed that with a game-tying field goal drive and nearly orchestrated a game-winner, if not for a blocked field goal on the final possession. While Geno Smith remains locked in as the starter, Miller is making a strong case to overtake Aidan O'Connell for the backup quarterback job.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker couldn't get in on the action during the team's preseason debut against the Indianapolis Colts. The second-year wideout wasn't fully to blame for his zero receptions on two targets in this contest. While the offensive line struggled, so did Devin Leary, who overthrew Walker when he was open in the end zone. On another play, Walker fought off a defensive pass interference and caught a ball while falling backwards, but it didn't show up on the stat sheet. Walker was drafted in 2024 to eventually become a deep threat, but with LaJohntay Wester having a big debut, he may start to feel some real pressure.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks ran for 26 yards off 10 attempts in Thursday's preseason loss to the Eagles. He added one catch (two targets) for three yards. Chase Brown began the contest with the rest of the starters. While Brooks handled the bulk of the touches, he only averaged 2.6 yards per carry. Despite the subpar showing on Thursday night, the 2025 No. 193 overall pick has looked good throughout training camp and appears to have earned the trust of the coaching staff. However, with Brown expected to get the majority of the snaps out of the backfield in 2025, there could be little room for Brooks to remain consistently involved, even if the rookie manages to secure the No. 2 spot on the depth chart over Samaje Perine. With the Bengals dropping their first game of the preseason, the team will look to get on track versus the Commanders on August 18.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray has looked very strong in training camp and is receiving strong buzz from reports. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted that the tight end looks like a "high-end" starter. Throughout his four-year career in Kansas City, Gray has typically taken the backseat to future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce. However, after catching just 28 passes in both 2022 and 2023, Gray was able to enjoy a mini-breakout season in 2024. Last fall, Gray caught a career-best 40 passes for 437 yards and five touchdowns. He enjoyed productive stretch from Weeks 10 through 15 when he averaged a solid 10.2 PPR points per game. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his progression early in the season as he could continue to carve out a role behind Kelce. However, for now, Kelce remains the clear TE1 in Kansas City. Gray is best viewed as a high-upside TE3 in deeper formats.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell posted the most efficient game out of the backfield in the 24-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The third-year back finished with nine carries for 68 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown. During his 22-yard score in the first quarter, Mitchell showed great patience and bursts of speed to hit every part of the open field that his blockers gave him. As of right now, the competition is for the third running back spot, so Mitchell has to separate himself from Rasheen Ali and D'Ernest Johnson. While Ali scored as well, Mitchell seems to be in the driver's seat so far.

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According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Kansas City Chiefs are expecting top wide receiver Rashee Rice to be suspended "in the neighborhood of four to six games." While no suspension has been made official, due to past cases, Rice will likely be suspended for at least a portion of the regular season. Earlier this offseason, Rice was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days of jail time for his involvement in a multi-car crash that occurred in Dallas in 2024. At the start of the 2024 season, Rice emerged as Patrick Mahomes' go-to option as he caught 8.0 passes per game with 96.0 yards per game and two total scores through the first three weeks. However, he saw his season cut short due to an LCL tear in Week 4. For the time being, fantasy managers should view Rice as a high-end WR2 but should expect him to miss at least the first month of the season. When he returns, he should once again be heavily targeted by Mahomes in the slot. While he is out, second-year wideout Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce should lead the passing attack.

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