Dynasty | Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 46 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in Washington's second preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: "Bill" has quickly risen up the depth chart and has made a strong case to be part of the Washington offense early this season. With Brian Robinson apparently on the outs, he's going to clearly have a chance to do just that. One of our favorite sleepers all Summer, Croskey-Merritt is going to likely end up in a backfield mix that includes Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez. The chance to add him in dynasty leagues has likely passed and he's looking like the early favorite for "late round steal" in previously held rookie drafts.

Dynasty | Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will be the backup to Daniel Jones to start the season. Dynasty Analysis: Yikes. The Colts drafted him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, based on some tantalizing physical skills but also with a real lack of experience. Unfortunately, that lack of experience and his lack of availability (he's played 15 games in two years) has resulted in a lack of trust within the organization after just two seasons. While Daniel Jones is unlikely to flourish in the starter's role and completely close the door on Richardson, this is going to take his ADP and put it into a major tailspin.

Dynasty | Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez had 62 rushing yards on six carries in Monday's preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: With Brian Robinson apparently on the outs, Rodriguez started the game and proceeded to rip off a 40-yard carry on the game's first drive. Robinson is likely to be traded in the coming days and Rodriguez certainly stated a strong case to be part of the mix. While the Commanders are likely to go with some kind of rotation featuring Rodriguez, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Austin Ekeler, Rodriguez undoubtedly needs to be rostered in dynasty leagues.

The Dallas Cowboys and All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons haven't had any contract negotiations since late March or early April, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter goes on to say that it sounds like it's personal now and that each side appears to be dug in. Parsons has already asked for a trade. "I see these two sides headed towards a divorce in time," Schefter said. The 26-year-old linebacker has also been dealing with a back injury during training camp, but the main reason why he's not practicing with the rest of the team is because of his contract situation. It remains to be seen if the Cowboys will actually trade Parsons before the regular season begins in two weeks, or if they will wait until after the 2025 campaign. With no end in sight to the stand-off between Parsons and Dallas, his Week 1 status against the Eagles is firmly up in the air.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf will not suit up for the team's preseason finale on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. Pass-rushers T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward also will not play. Rodgers will end up not playing at all in the preseason as he heads into his first year with the Steelers and potentially his last year in the NFL. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer will take on his former team, the New York Jets, in Week 1 on Sunday, Sept. 7, where he'll be an unappealing, low-upside QB2 option for fantasy managers against a strong defense. Rodgers has looked slow during training camp and is expected to be more of a game manager in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme in 2025. With Rodgers on the sidelines on Thursday, Mason Rudolph should start against Carolina.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones (knee) is not at training camp practice on Tuesday after spraining his knee in the second preseason game over the weekend, according to The Athletic's David Lombardi. Jones' injury isn't believed to be serious, but it explains the recent signing of Nate Sudfeld for additional QB depth. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Jones will not play in the club's preseason finale on Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the Niners believe that Jones will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. In addition to Sudfeld, the team has Carter Bradley in their QB room behind starter Brock Purdy. The 26-year-old Jones will be off the fantasy radar unless he's forced into a starting role in 2025 due to a Purdy injury.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday and was pretty active, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Guerendo will have more opportunities for reps with both Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) and Corey Kiner (ankle) both injured. The 25-year-old missed a couple of weeks at camp with a shoulder injury but is now back in time to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in two weeks. It remains to be seen if the Niners will play him in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. Guerendo, a fourth-rounder last year, had a healthy 5.0 yards per carry and 420 rushing yards on 84 carries in 16 games (three starts) in his first season in the NFL. He's primarily a handcuff option for the injury-prone Christian McCaffrey, but if CMC misses more time with injury, Guerendo would be an every-week fantasy starter.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jordan Watkins (ankle) remained sidelined at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Jennings initially suffered a calf injury back in the spring and then aggravated it early in camp this summer. The 28-year-old is also dealing with contract-extension negotiations with the organization, but the fact that he's missed most of camp and the presason so far has to have fantasy managers a little less bullish on his breakout potential in 2025. With that said, Jennings should have a big role in San Francisco's passing attack if he's healthy for the start of the regular season with Deebo Samuel Sr. out of town and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) unlikely to be ready. Jennings nearly had his first career 1,000-yard season and scored six times in 2024. He's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 38 fantasy wideout.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans WR Calvin Ridley (undisclosed) did not participate in practice Tuesday, Aug. 19, because of soreness, according to head coach Brian Callahan.

Fantasy Spin: Ridley may miss a few practices but will most likely be ready for the start of the regular season. He will see plenty of targets each game and should be a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers and WR DK Metcalf will not play in the final preseason, according to head coach Mike Tomlin.

Fantasy Spin: Neither Rodgers nor Metcalf played in a preseason game, so their first game snaps will happen during the Week 1 game. Metcalf will be the main target in the passing game for the Steelers and can be a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in fantasy leagues. Rodgers is coming off a decent 2024 season but should only be a No. 2 quarterback in fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

ESPN's Rich Cimini writes that it appears that New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields will not play in the preseason finale on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Aaron Glenn said "a good amount" of starters will not play, but didn't give specifics. Fields was active for the team's first two preseason games, but the 26-year-old only played three offensive possessions. The former first-rounder by the Chicago Bears in 2021 out of Ohio State showed improvement last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being benched in favor of Russell Wilson, and the Jets are now hoping he can take another step forward as their unquestioned starter in 2025. So far during training camp, Fields has mostly just been dumping the ball off in th short and intermediate areas, but his rushing upside is what makes him a low-end QB1 target in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. Hopkins was held out of practice as a precaution on Monday and will return to the team's first padded action since the second preseason game. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Baltimore hold Nuk out of the preseason finale on Saturday against the Washington Commanders, but the 33-year-old should be ready to roll for the Week 1 regular-season clash on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Buffalo Bills. The former first-rounder (27th overall) in 2013 by the Houston Texans out of Clemson is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, but he had only 56 grabs for 610 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games (eight starts) with the Titans and Chiefs a year ago. In a run-first offense as likely the fourth target for QB Lamar Jackson, Hopkins will be avoided in 12-team leagues.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) left practice early Tuesday, Aug. 19, after suffering an apparent shoulder injury.

From TheHuddle

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen was non-committal on Tuesday when asked if he sees a future for quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. to start again for the team. "That's hard to say. Obviously, Daniel Jones is our starter right now. And if something happens to Daniel at some point, AR gets another opportunity," Steichen said. It comes after the Colts' announcement on Tuesday that Jones has won the QB job over Richardson to begin the 2025 regular season. The 23-year-old former first-rounder has dealt with shoulder and finger injuries during spring and summer workouts, but he's fully healthy now. Richardson still has the higher fantasy ceiling than Jones because of his elite rushing ability, and there's a good chance that he'll make some starts at some point this year if Jones continues to struggle like he did with the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (thumb) threw to wide receivers Jayden Reed (foot) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) after the team's practice on Tuesday, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reed and Wicks weren't running routes, but they were lining up at distances where Love might have to put the ball if they had been running routes. The 25-year-old Reed ditched his walking boot late last week but hasn't returned to training camp practices and did not play in the second preseason game on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts. Not only is Love recovering from surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb, but Reed, Wicks, Romeo Doubs (back) and Christian Watson (knee) are all injured with the regular-season opener just several weeks away. Reed has become a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy with injury concerns.

From RotoBaller

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (undisclosed) and Josh Downs (hamstring) are both out of training camp practice on Tuesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Pittman appears to be dealing with a minor undisclosed ailment after making his preseason debut on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, Downs has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in last Thursday's practice. Pittman should be good to go by the Week 1 regular-season opener, but Downs' timeline is a little more unclear. Indy's announcement on Tuesday that Daniel Jones will open the year as the starting QB is good news for all of the Colts' pass-catchers. Pittman had 808 receiving yards and only three touchdowns on 69 catches last year and will face more competition for targets from Downs, Adonai Mitchell and rookie tight end Tyler Warren.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens WR DeAndre Hopkins (undisclosed) is participating in practice Tuesday, Aug. 19.

Fantasy Spin: Hopkins has been dealing with an injury recently, but it seems like a minor issue. He should see a few targets in the passing game as the team's No. 3 receiver but probably is only a No. 5 receiver in some fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel (hamstring) participated in team drills during practice Tuesday, Aug. 19, for the first times since suffering his injury.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent QB Nate Sudfeld (Lions) signed an undisclosed contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

From TheHuddle

Dynasty | The Bucs have placed wide receiver Jalen McMillan on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: A severe neck strain is apparently going to wipe out close to half of his season. With Chris Godwin still coming back, this is going to open the door for Emeka Egbuka to have a massive role early on. It's also a tough break for McMillan who looks like a player who is going to tumble down the depth chart, despite a pretty solid pedigree. Now lost in the shuffle in Tampa, it's hard not to believe his ADP is going to start to tumble and he may actually see the waiver wires in some leagues.

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