Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze recently heaped high praise on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, describing his performance as "pretty unreal." Odunze highlighted a memorable moment: "He's throwing off one leg, putting it on my outside shoulder. It's like ooh, it's magical what he's doing back there in the backfield. He's special." This excitement about Chicago's revamped offense is well-founded, especially given the impact both players are making. During their latest preseason game, Williams connected with Odunze for a spectacular 45-yard completion late in the first half, putting the Bears in scoring position. Odunze's standout performance also included a 16-yard rush on a reverse. Williams capped off the drive with a thrilling 7-yard scramble into the end zone. Given their impressive preseason showings, both rookies are shaping up to be intriguing late-round fantasy picks this year.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton caught all three of his targets for 59 yards in Saturday's 28-10 loss to the Houston Texans. The veteran wideout led all Giants starters in receiving yardage this week and nearly caught a long touchdown up the left sideline that ended in a 44-yard gain down to the Houston 1-yard line. It was a vintage performance from Slayton, who is listed as the third wide receiver on New York's depth chart behind Wan'Dale Robinson and rookie Malik Nabers. He should be afforded better looks this year now that Nabers is presumed to draw the more difficult defensive matchup every week. Additionally, the revamped Giants offensive line had a good showing and kept quarterback Daniel Jones clean. A clean pocket could do wonders for the G-Men this season. Slayton and the rest of the wide receiver room would stand to benefit from that. He and the rest of the first-team offense will get their last taste of preseason action next Saturday when the Giants take on the New York Jets.

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Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers hauled in four receptions for 54 yards in New York's 28-10 defeat against the Houston Texans. He was targeted six times. Nabers participated the entire first half with the other New York starters and was used early and often in this one. The LSU product was targeted on the first play from scrimmage by Daniel Jones on a pass nearly intercepted by the Texans' D. He was targeted again two plays later on 3rd-and-6, but the two couldn't connect again on what would have been a big gain. Nabers showed off the electric athleticism Saturday that made him the Giants' sixth-overall pick in this April's draft, and his stock is rising heading into the regular season. It is evident that New York plans to use the highly-touted prospect often this season, and he will likely lead this team in targets come the season's end. Expect him to suit up for his last action of the preseason next Saturday when the Giants take on the New York Jets in their final game before the start of the regular season.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones completed 11-of-18 passes for 138 yards and no touchdowns in the team's 28-10 loss to the Houston Texans. He tossed two interceptions and added 12 rushing yards on one attempt. It was the preseason debut for the Giants' quarterback and first game action since tearing his ACL last November against the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a bit of a mixed bag for Jones as he made a few foolish throws and some good ones on Saturday. The sixth-year veteran hit Darius Slayton for a big gain down to the Houston 1-yard line and made a few nice connections with rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers in this one -- accounting for his highlights. It would have been a bigger day for him, but Nabers barely missed catching what would have been at least a 20-yard gain on the first drive. On a positive note, the Giants' offensive line has improved vastly from 2023. The unit consistently opened holes for Devin Singletary in the run game and did not allow New York's signal-caller to be sacked. The Giants will take on their cross-town rivals -- the New York Jets -- next Saturday. Expect Jones to suit up for one final tune-up before the regular season.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones completed 11-of-18 passes for 138 yards and no touchdowns in the team's 28-10 loss to the Houston Texans. He tossed two interceptions and added 12 rushing yards on one attempt.It was the preseason debut for the Giants' quarterback and first game action since tearing his ACL last November against the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a bit of a mixed bag for Jones as he made a few foolish throws and some good ones on Saturday. The sixth-year veteran hit Darius Slayton for a big gain down to the Houston 1-yard line and made a few nice connections with rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers in this one -- accounting for his highlights. It would have been a bigger day for him, but Nabers barely missed catching what would have been at least a 20-yard gain on the first drive. On a positive note, the Giants' offensive line has improved vastly from 2023. The unit consistently opened holes for Devin Singletary in the run game and did not allow New York's signal-caller to be sacked. The Giants will take on their cross-town rivals -- the New York Jets -- next Saturday. Expect Jones to suit up for one final tune-up before the regular season.

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Raheem Morris explained the decision to sit Michael Penix Jr. for today's game by noting that Penix had already shown enough during the first preseason game against Miami. Given his strong performance there, the coaching staff felt it wasn't necessary for him to play today. Although it was surprising that Penix didn't start in Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, Taylor Heinicke took the helm to showcase his abilities as a potential trade asset for quarterback-needy teams. If the Falcons have a successful season, Penix may not see any meaningful snaps. While it would seem beneficial for Penix to gain game experience, considering his history with knee injuries and his guaranteed spot on the roster, the team likely wants to avoid unnecessary hits. This is positive news for Atlanta's playmakers, who should be well-positioned even if Kirk Cousins has to miss any time.

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Cowboys defensive lineman Mazi Smith (allergy) will miss the team's preseason game against the Raiders in Las Vegas as he continues to recover from an allergic reaction he experienced on Friday. Smith, the Cowboys' 2023 first-round pick, impressed coaches with his performance in the preseason opener against the Rams, where he showcased his ability to excel in a traditional nose tackle role under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Last season, Smith started just three games, played 28 percent of the defensive snaps, and recorded 13 tackles and one sack. However, he has shown significant improvement during the offseason and training camp, recording three tackles in 20 snaps during the first preseason game. Despite the Cowboys' addition of defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, expectations for Smith this season remain high.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb declined the latest contract offer from the team. The Cowboys and Lamb's representation met on Thursday, where he was reportedly offered $33 million per season. However, the wideout wasn't satisfied, considering Justin Jefferson would still earn more annually. But Dallas needs to get something done soon or risk Lamb missing time. With that said, he's certainly proven he deserves top money after amassing 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns off 135 catches last season. There will be more on this situation. Yet, it's likely Lamb won't sign anything until he becomes the highest-earning receiver in the National Football League.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold won't be active for Saturday's preseason showdown with the Cleveland Browns. Instead, No. 2 signal-caller Nick Mullens will get the start. With J.J. McCarthy (knee) out for the season, Darnold is now atop the Vikings depth chart. The 27-year-old spent his first six seasons in the league with the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers. However, he never met expectations, throwing for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions while completing just 59.7% of his throws. While McCarthy could still eventually earn the starting job in Minnesota, Darnold has a chance to turn things around this season, especially with Justin Jefferson on the roster, arguably the top wideout in the National Football League.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (back) has been with the team despite not practicing while seeking a new contract. Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that Aiyuk is considered a "hold-in." However, Shanahan added that the wideout hasn't been fined because he's also dealing with a "sore back." Without question, it has been a rocky offseason between both parties as a result of the contract dispute. But the latest revelation regarding Aiyuk's back is something that could negatively impact his fantasy value even more, at least until more information is released surrounding the severity of the ailment.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is expected to start for Sunday's preseason battle against the Saints. However, the signal-caller will likely play sparingly. Purdy spent all of last offseason recovering from an elbow injury. Yet, he still threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks during the 2023-24 campaign, adding two scores off 39 carries. With Purdy coming off a Super Bowl appearance, expectations are higher than ever. Fantasy managers should view him as a week-to-week starter in most formats, especially with Christian McCaffrey (calf), George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr., and possibly Brandon Aiyuk at his disposal.

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New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (hip) won't return to Saturday's preseason matchup with the Houston Texans. The 24-year-old was injured after tackling Dameon Pierce in the first quarter and remained down. Of course, any injury is never good. However, it's even worse that McFadden was carted off the field. The 2022 No. 146 overall pick has spent his first two years with the Giants, totaling 160 tackles, three sacks, four fumble recoveries, and one pick. McFadden was replaced by Darius Muasau and will likely undergo further testing soon.

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Tennessee Titans edge rusher Arden Key won his appeal and will not be facing a six-game suspension to begin the 2024 regular season, according to a league source. Key was facing a six-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policies, but now it appears as though the 28-year-old pass-rusher will be with the team for their Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions. The former third-rounder by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2018 out of LSU had a career-high-tying 30 tackles (17 solo), six sacks, 12 QB hits and two forced fumbles in 17 games (nine starts) in his first year with Tennessee in 2023. Key isn't much of a fantasy option in IDP leagues, though, with only 20 career sacks in six seasons with four different teams. This is great news for the Titans' defense heading into the start of the season this fall.

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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said to expect rookie first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels to play one to two offensive series in Saturday's preseason contest versus the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe came away very impressed with Daniels after watching him in a joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday. The 23-year-old second overall pick out of LSU led the offense to five straight touchdowns during a red-zone drill on Thursday against Miami and looks comfortable and confident with the Commanders' scheme heading into his first NFL campaign. In his NFL debut last week against the New York Jets, Daniels went 2-for-3 for 45 yards and ran for a three-yard TD while playing only one series. So far, Daniels looks like the real deal and should even have QB1 upside in favorable matchups in fantasy in 2024.

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Because of the season-ending injury to Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee), Jaren Hall will likely make the 53-man roster out of training camp as the No. 3 behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. The fifth-round pick a year ago is still raw, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Mark Craig writes that we still have no idea if Hall has a long-term future in the NFL, even as a QB2 or QB3. Hall served in mop-up duty in the preseason opener and wasn't very good until the very end of the game. He completed four of his first 12 passes for 32 yards but then completed two of his last three passes for 31 yards to set up the win. It's likely that Hall will get most of the work in the preseason game on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns and then start the preseason finale next week versus the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Atlanta Falcons rookie first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. came onto the field in Baltimore on Saturday in street clothes and appears unlikely to suit up for the preseason contest against the Ravens. The Falcons are planning to hold veteran Kirk Cousins (Achilles) out for the entire preseason, too, so it looks like we'll see a lot of Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock under center for the Falcons on Saturday. In his NFL debut last week in the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, the 24-year-old Penix went 9-for-16 for 104 yards. There's a good chance Atlanta tries to trade Heinicke before the start of the regular season, especially if they're sold on the early development of Penix, so Saturday will give Heinicke a chance to audition for other NFL teams looking for more QB depth. Penix could be the direct backup to Cousins in his first year in the NFL.

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New York Giants first-round rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (ankle) will play in the team's preseason game on Saturday against the Houston Texans after suffering a mild ankle injury recently in training camp practice. We will now get to see Nabers working with quarterback Daniel Jones for the first time in an NFL game, although the first-team offense probably won't stay in the game for long. Nabers also suited up in the team's preseason opener last week against the Detroit Lions, but he wasn't targeted at all by quarterback Drew Lock. The 21-year-old's ankle injury is a thing of the past, and he should be the most targeted wideout on the Giants in his first year in the NFL. Nabers, the second receiver taken in this year's NFL draft, has all the skills to become a WR2 for fantasy managers right away, but that will all depend on the health and productivity of Jones.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) is set to make his preseason debut this year against the Houston Texans on Saturday. Jones was likely to play in this game all along after sitting out last week's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, but now it's official. The 27-year-old suffered an ACL tear in his knee last year and had surgery in November, but he was fully cleared for the start of training camp and is fully expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Jones probably won't get more than a series or two on Saturday, with Tommy Devito expected to play most of the game due to Drew Lock's (hip) injury. Jones, a former first-round pick, is entering a make-or-break year with the G-Men. The addition of first-round rookie receiver Malik Nabers should help, but until further notice, Jones should be considered a low-end QB2 option in fantasy.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is reportedly seeking a new contract, according to Kole Musgrove of USA Today. Smith's current contract is set to expire after the conclusion of the 2025 season. NFL insider Mike Garafolo said on Jason Puckett's podcast that both sides have discussed a new deal. Garafolo further noted that it could be something that is settled by Week 1, but the Seattle front office is not in a rush to get the deal done. While Smith may be entering his age 33 season, he does not have a lot of miles on him as he served as a backup for several seasons with the Jets, Giants, and Seahawks before taking over the starting role. Smith is worth drafting as a low-end QB2 in superflex formats but could have some upside, given the high-quality pass catchers on his offense.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love expressed the importance of using team practices to push the offense forward. Love stated that the value of a practice rep is to "push the limit." Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette noted that Love tended to focus more on check-downs in camps last summer as he was in the process of learning the playbook. However, this camp is much different as the Utah State product has had his eyes downfield throughout the summer. In his most recent practice, he opened the session by throwing a 16 and a 20-yard completion consecutively. After getting off to a slow start in his full season as a starter, Love caught fire down the stretch and was the No. 2 overall QB from Week 10 to 17. Love will be a popular pick in fantasy drafts as he looks poised to take another step forward in his second full season.

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