The Minnesota Vikings appear unlikely to have starting running back Aaron Jones against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was held out of practice on Thursday for an undisclosed reason, watching from the sideline. It remains unclear what's keeping Jones out of action for the Vikings, but fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned for the time being. Jones is entering his age-30 season during his first year in Minnesota, lining up as the team's lead back and a midrange RB2 option in fantasy to begin 2024 after producing the second-most yards per route run (1.85) at his position among qualifiers in 2023 with the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Additionally, the former Pro Bowler surpassed 115 scrimmage yards in each of his final five appearances of the campaign, including the postseason.

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Dallas Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have both gotten their share of first-team reps in training camp this summer. In the joint scrimmage with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dowdle looked very good with his opportunities. With that said, it might've been the best day of camp so far for Elliott, who was decisive in his cuts. His burst was on display as well to hit running lanes and quickly make it to the second and, at times, to the third level of the defense. Dallas' backfield is becoming a compelling storyline to watch for fantasy managers entering 2024, and Sunday's preseason opener against the Rams should help provide some clarity on this situation. As it stands, Elliott should be deemed the early favorite to lead Cowboys backs in snaps and carries this season, as his value in pass protection figures to be invaluable, while Dowdle remains a late-round sleeper with plenty of upside.

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The New England Patriots are releasing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday, according to a source. The writing was on the wall all offseason after the Patriots snagged rookie wideouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in April's NFL draft. Smith-Schuster was a non-factor for the Patriots last year, even after Kendrick Bourne (knee) tore his ACL, finishing with just 29 catches on 47 targets for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games (seven starts). The 27-year-old wasn't targeted at all in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions while playing 11 offensive snaps. He'll look to latch on with another organization before the start of the 2024 regular season, but even if he does, he'll likely be off the fantasy radar. The release of Smith-Schuster is good news for Jalen Reagor and KJ Osborn as they look for roles in New England's receiving corps.

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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner will be a factor in the offense this year, considering his strong training camp and Michael Gallup's retirement. The Raiders were counting on Gallup for 40-plus catches in 2024, so that production will now go elsewhere. "All of a sudden he's had a great offseason and is getting plays at wide receiver and he's flashing -- balls down the field, plays across the middle, screens," head coach Antonio Pierce said of Turner. "He's got a thick body, built like a running back, so hopefully we can get some YAC out of him." The 27-year-old will be competing for the WR3 role with Tre Tucker behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Unless Adams or Meyers miss time with an injury, Turner will most likely be off the fantasy radar in this offense.

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The Las Vegas Raiders themselves aren't expecting a juggernaut offense with either quarterbacks Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell running the show. "We're probably not going to be, to be honest, a juggernaut offense," head coach Antonio Pierce said. "Would I love to be? Yeah. To sit here and say we're going to score 30 points a game, that's not realistic." Pierce has deemed the QB battle at 50-50 right now, with both Minshew and O'Connell to play one quarter each over the first two preseason games before a winner is announced. Minshew is good when the pocket breaks down, while O'Connell can deliver accurate balls in the pocket. Neither signal-caller will be much more than a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy, and the winner of the battle will likely come down to who takes better care of the football.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has "really, really, really stepped up his game" in Year 2 with the team, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. "Since the offseason, he's been lights-out," Pierce said. Things couldn't have gone much better for Meyers in his first season with the Raiders in 2023, especially considering the quarterback situation, as he finished with 71 receptions (106 targets) for 807 receiving yards and a career-high eight touchdowns in 16 starts. He also rushed for two scores. The 27-year-old pass-catcher is almost certainly going to face touchdown regression in 2024, especially since he'll be working with either O'Connell again or newcomer Gardner Minshew. Meyers' numbers in the other receiving categories could also take a step back after the addition of rookie pass-catching tight end Brock Bowers.

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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, who is in a contract year, will very much remain the focal point for the team's backfield for the foreseeable future. Fowler thinks Conner still has untapped potential as an RB2 for fantasy managers after coming off a career-best 5.0 yards per carry and his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2023. The only thing that could hold him back from a volume standpoint is durability. The 29-year-old has never played a full season in the NFL, so the Cardinals might manage his workload accordingly. But if his health cooperates, another 200-plus-carry season should be in the cards for Conner. Fantasy managers that roll with Conner as their RB2 would be wise to handcuff him later in drafts with rookie third-rounder Trey Benson, who should eventually leapfrog Emari Demercado as the primary backup in Arizona.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and the vast majority of the team's starters will see action in the preseason opener this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium against the visiting Denver Broncos, according to head coach Shane Steichen. "The starters will play a series or two and then we'll get the young guys in there," Steichen said after Friday's practice. It will be Richardson's first time playing in an NFL game since suffering a season-ending right-shoulder injury in Week 5 of last year. He then had surgery on Oct. 24 to fix a sprained AC joint. The 22-year-old former first-rounder has little experience in the league and is more of an injury risk than most QBs because of his propensity to run with the ball, but his dual-threat upside is elite and will make him a popular QB1 target in fantasy drafts once the top-tier names come off the board.

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Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said quarterback Kyler Murray has gone "above and beyond" in responding to challenges from his coach, which coupled with his competitive spirit and immense talent, gives the Cardinals hope for the future. Murray completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games after coming back from a torn ACL in 2023. The former first-rounder was urged by Gannon to get "submerged with the group," particularly on offense, including offseason throwing sessions. The Cardinals will hold the 27-year-old signal-caller out of preseason action this year. With a fully healthy offseason under his belt, Murray is rising as a fantasy QB1, especially after the addition of rookie first-round receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as his new No. 1 weapon in the passing game.

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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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