Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught one pass for a team-high 38 yards in Friday's 31-0 preseason win against the Atlanta Falcons. The LSU product hasn't touched the ball much this preseason, but he's made big plays when he has. BTJ's speed should get him on the field early on, with his main competition for playing time being Gabe Davis, who was signed this offseason from Buffalo. Typically, rookies become valuable in fantasy as they improve later in the season. Given the first-round WR's draft capital and path to playing time, he could easily fall into that category and become a league winner down the stretch. With an ADP of 128, fantasy managers who believes in the talent should take a shot on Thomas as a bench stash.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Sr. saw his only preseason action of the summer in a 24-24 tie with the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday night. The 28-year-old took the field with the starting unit for San Francisco's first three possessions and showed early rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy, toe-tapping the sideline for a 27-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. Samuel, Sr. finished with two catches on three targets for 32 yards. The most important thing for 49ers fans and fantasy managers is that Samuel came away healthy after taking an awkward high/low combo shot on his second reception. Samuel, Sr. will be a low/mid WR1 when the 49ers open up against the New York Jets at home on September 9.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle looked sharp in a 24-24 preseason tie with the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday night. Kittle, who suited up in neither of the 49ers' two previous preseason games, caught three of four targets for 34 yards in Vegas. Kittle got his work in during the first quarter with the first team, including quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. It was noted during the broadcast, however, that San Francisco's starters were facing Las Vegas' number three defensive unit. Kittle will be ready to roll as a mid-level fantasy TE1 in Week 1 when the 49ers open up at home against the New York Jets.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason made his case to enter 2024 as the team's primary backup by leading all rushers in Friday night's preseason 24-24 tie with the Las Vegas Raiders. The third-year undrafted Georgia Tech product took eight carries for 42 yards, including a four-yard touchdown. He also caught one of two targets for seven yards. Mason is locked into a positional battle with the incumbent but banged-up Elijah Mitchell, rookies Isaac Guerendo and Cody Schrader, as well as veteran Matt Breida. It would seem that Mitchell would have the inside track for the job behind Christian McCaffrey after spending the better part of a season-and-a-half occupying the position. However, Mason showed much more burst in 2023, averaging 5.2 YPC to Mitchell's 3.7 YPC. Guerendo didn't do much to leapfrog Mason, gaining 10 fewer yards in three more carries than Mason, though Guerendo did have an impressive kick return for a near-touchdown. Fantasy managers looking for Christian McCaffrey's handcuff will have to speculate or wait until the situation becomes clearer.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy shook off a bit more rust in a 24-24 preseason tie at the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old completed nine of twelve pass attempts for 96 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. He was sacked once and took one carry for a 14-yard gain. Overall, Purdy looked better than he did last week versus New Orleans while he took the offensive snaps in the first three San Francisco possessions on Friday night. Purdy showed rapport with fellow starters, involving Deebo Samuel and George Kittle for five of his nine completions, albeit against Las Vegas' third unit. The interception is better attributed to an excellent defensive play than any mistake by Purdy as Sam Webb deflected a frozen rope intended for a slanting Samuel, which landed in Chris Smith II's hands. The real mistake Purdy made on the play was throwing his head at Smith II's legs in a successful -- but meaningless -- attempt to end the return. Luckily, he wasn't hurt. Purdy will begin his 2024 season on September 9 against the New York Jets on the QB1/2 border for fantasy.

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Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright rushed seven times for 36 yards in Friday night's 24-14 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He added 41 yards and four receptions on six targets. Wright saw the most touches of all Dolphins' running backs but was the second to enter the game behind Jeff Wilson Jr., who ran with Mike White and the second-team offense. He saw a few snaps with Mike White but did most of his damage after Skylar Thompson came in to finish out the game. The fourth-round pick was stuffed a few times early on but showed off his strength and athleticism on his other runs and ultimately ended the game with a strong 5.1 yards per carry. His passing-game usage is also positive news as he looked spry in the open field, regularly turning the corner and bursting up the sideline for an extra chunk of yards. The former Volunteer is vying for the RB3 job behind Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane to open 2024 with Miami, and his performance tonight did not hurt his chances. Wright is the RB52 in Yahoo!'s ADP and a nice handcuff option or flier in deep leagues late in drafts.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White got into some game action during Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins. White rushed four times for 16 yards and scored a touchdown in the win. He also hauled in his lone target for 17 yards through the air as he played all the first-team snaps during this game. The Bucs just wanted to shake off the rust a little bit before the regular season starts. White has little competition at his position and should be a workhorse back in Tampa Bay. He has proven to be an asset in both the receiving and rushing game. Fantasy managers should consider White a solid RB2 heading into the regular season.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington stuffed the stat sheet Friday in the team's 24-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie wideout showed his versatility in the team's final preseason game, highlighted by his athleticism and field-flipping ability. Washington was the recipient of a Mike White pass on the Dolphins' first play from scrimmage -- a screen that went for a pickup of seven yards. He did leave the game for a few plays on the next possession but returned shortly after that and, on Miami's third drive of the night, took an end around and sprinted up the sideline for a gain of 40 yards. Washington then made his mark on the game again in the second quarter when he took a kickoff from his own 1-yard line to the 46 for an electric gain of 45. He also had one pun return for 28 yards. It was a productive day for the Virginia product as he racked up 120 all-purpose yards -- putting his best on display as we head into the season. As Yahoo!'s WR274 in ADP, he's an afterthought, but the speedy rookie may be an asset if your league puts return yards at a premium. Otherwise, he is a distant depth piece at wide receiver for Miami rather than a target for fantasy managers sans best ball and dynasty formats.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was once again heavily involved in the offense during Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins. The rookie back saw six carries for 26 yards while hauling in his lone target for five yards in the win. Irving has been competing with Sean Tucker for the backup role behind Rachaad White to begin the season. Honestly, neither back has really done enough to separate themselves during the preseason. The expectation is that both backs could see minor roles behind White to start the season. Between the two, Irving has the higher upside and is the better long term hold for fantasy managers in deep leagues or dynasty formats. However, it's unlikely that either back has weekly fantasy value with White being the workhorse back.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Cody Thompson has put together strong performances over the last two preseason contests. Thompson hauled in five receptions last week and he was able to top that on Friday. The 28-year-old hauled in seven of his eight targets for 45 yards in the win over the Miami Dolphins. Sadly for Thompson, the Bucs have pretty solid depth in terms of wide receiver. However, Thompson has certainly done enough to earn himself a spot on the 53-man roster. It remains to be seen if the team decides to keep him, but Thompson could be an asset if a few injuries happen. He won't have fantasy value to begin the season, but Thompson has played well enough to stick around on this roster.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has made a strong case for the No. 3 role on this offense. The rookie wideout has been battling with Trey Palmer for the third wideout spot behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. McMillan was on the field for all the first-team snaps during Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins. The rookie wideout hauled in his lone target for 28 yards in the win. McMillan has been quiet during the preseason games but he remains the favorite for the No. 3 role heading into the regular season. On paper that sounds great, but McMillan probably won't see a ton of action with Evans and Godwin healthy. There could be some deep league value, but McMillan is unlikely to make a significant impact right away.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson completed 19-of-27 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the team's Saturday night 24-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mike White started the game for Miami and racked up just 39 yards on 5-of-9 completions. On his drives, the Dolphins went three-and-out once and failed to convert two fourth downs. Thompson entered the game in the second quarter and immediately drove the team down the field for a score -- connecting with tight end Hayden Rucci three times, including the 20-yard touchdown. He then engineered another scoring drive in the third, hitting wide receiver Kyric McGowan for a 1-yard touchdown. That would be the final time the Dolphins scored. It was an efficient night for Thompson as he makes his case to climb the depth chart and be the primary backup to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The next time we see Miami suit up for action will be their home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars two weeks from Sunday.

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New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty is pushing for the team's RB3 role leading up to the regular season. Hasty is buried behind Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, and Kevin Harris on the depth chart, but his skill set could lend well to New England's revamped offense. According to Hasty in an interview with reporters on Friday, Alex Van Pelt wants to be the best screen team in the NFL. He was also quoted as saying that AVP likes to "mix it up" and that he and the other RBs "run routes like the receivers do." It's an encouraging development that hopefully foreshadows a good amount of passing-game activity for the Patriot's running backs in 2024. The exact way touches will shake out here remains to be seen, but Stevenson will likely handle most of the work, with Gibson mixing in as a change of pace. The mystery is compounded further by the fact that we've yet to see what this offense is about. Hasty is Yahoo!'s RB118 and presents as little more than a late-round deep-league dart throw until this situation changes.

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Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds(leg), who left the team's final day of training camp early Wednesday, appears to have avoided serious injury. The exact nature of the ailment sustained by Reynolds is unclear, though two defenders apparently sandwiched him on a run in the red zone at about the mid-point of practice. It appears he'll be okay and looks to return to the field quickly. Reynolds is currently entrenched in a battle with rookie Sione Vaki for Detroit's RB3 role, and any time away from the field is less time fending off the rookie from supplanting him. Whichever back wins the positional battle would not hold standalone value but rather be a potential handcuff option in deep leagues and best ball formats. This version of the Lions' offense has shown us a propensity to value the use of a dual-RB system, and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) is improving but not fully healthy with the season just two weeks away. Reynolds is Yahoo!'s RB100 off the boards in drafts currently.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (groin) will not play Sunday in the team's preseason finale against the New England Patriots. Mariota was seen on the side during 11-on-11s and is trending toward practicing in full next week. Jeff Driskel will likely get the bulk of the work at quarterback for the Commanders this weekend, and Sam Hartman (shoulder) could mix in if he's recovered enough from his injury. With Jayden Daniels officially named as the team's starter heading into Week 1, Washington head coach Dan Quinn is opting not to push Mariota at this time and allow him to recover fully. While they would prefer not to have to go to him, it would be beneficial for him to be healthy in 2024, as he'll be the primary backup for Daniels to start the year.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) did not participate in practice Friday and was off on the side field instead. Apparently, the veteran wideout has picked up an Achilles injury of sorts, though it doesn't seem to be very serious. When asked about Reynolds, Broncos' head coach Sean Payton said, "he's doing well." "Today, he felt a lot better. He's got some wear and tear on one of his Achilles. He's fine; we just kind of backed off. But today, he was much better." There isn't much concern here as of now, and we'll likely get an update on him over the coming days. Behind Courtland Sutton, the Denver wide receiver room is mostly vague regarding who will be the next man up. If he can stay healthy, the journeyman wideout likely has a shot to do just that. He's Yahoo!'s WR105 and has a decent chance to contribute in a situation that has not yet cleared itself. Reynolds remains a target in best ball and deep-league formats.

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Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round tight end Tip Reiman has established himself as a potential No. 2 option at tight end for the Cardinals behind budding superstar Trey McBride. Reiman was mostly known for his blocking as an NFL draft prospect, but he has showcased his receiving skills during training camp and the preseason. His versatility will help him get on the field sooner than later in his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old can be ignored by fantasy managers in single-year leagues. The 6-foot-5, 271-pounder from Illinois will mostly be asked to do the dirty work as a blocker in his first year in the NFL. It's encouraging that he's shown some interesting pass-catching chops in camp, but don't expect Reiman to be much of a factor through the air in 2024.

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It hasn't taken Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to establish himself as the WR1 with his new team. By the time the Cardinals broke minicam in June, Harrison, the fourth overall pick back in April, was already seen in that role by both his teammates and the coaching staff. Since then, he's solidified his spot as the WR1 and perhaps the second-most important player (behind quarterback Kyler Murray) in this offense. The 22-year-old is expected to be the one person in the Cardinals' offense runs through and the option Murray looks to in "gotta have it" moments. The expectations for Harrison are massive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers. If Murray stays healthy, it's easy to see how Harrison will slot in as an easy top-10 fantasy wideout when all is said and done in 2024.

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Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.

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There is a package of plays being carved out for Cincinnati Bengals rookie fourth-round tight end Erick All Jr., and the Bengals have been extremely impressed with him in training camp and the preseason. All had a full workload in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night and continued to impress, including a big block coming in motion to spring a Trayveon Williams run. Sixth-round rookie Tanner McLachlan didn't touch the field in the first half on Thursday, indicating that the Bengals won't be keeping him on the 53-man roster. The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. expects the Bengals to prioritize keeping undrafted free agent Cam Grandy. The 23-year-old All caught his lone target for 10 yards against Indy. All is versatile, but he's likely to be more of a blocker in 2024 as he provides depth behind Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson.

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