Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray saw almost one quarter of playing time in the team's first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs and posted a solid showing outside of one big mistake. In the 20-17 victory, Murray finished with 96 yards on 7-for-8 passing with one interception, and two carries for nine yards. While the interception was quite the egregious mistake, since the throw was straight to the defense, his play overall was what everyone would expect. He found Michael Wilson for a 12-yard gain and hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 15-yard play, while peppering in a couple of scrambles before the first drive came to an end. In the second drive, he added a couple of 20-yard plays to two different pass-catchers and ultimately led the team to a field goal. Murray had high expectations last season and finished as a fringe QB1. He's likely to remain around the same area if he stays healthy.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was quarterback J.J. McCarthy's top target on Saturday, as the pair connected three times for 33 yards on Minnesota's opening drive against Houston. Justin Jefferson (hamstring) was held out, but Addison served as the clear preferred target on the only drive in which the Vikings' starting offense played. The third-year pro is facing a three-game suspension to begin the season, but has proven to be a capable fantasy WR2/flex option in spite of the Vikings' quarterback turbulence the past two seasons.

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Quarterback Sam Howell played well in his Minnesota Vikings debut, completing 11 of 13 passing attempts for 105 yards and adding a rushing touchdown in a 20-10 victory against Houston. The former North Carolina star is now on his third team in three years after Minnesota traded for him during the NFL Draft, adding a veteran option behind presumptive starter J.J. McCarthy. Howell has the inside track on the No. 2 job over journeyman backup Brett Rypien and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, and Howell certainly looked the part of a capable backup on Saturday.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy finished 4-for-7 passing for 30 yards and added an 8-yard run for a first down Saturday in a 20-10 win against Houston. The second-year quarterback led the Vikings to a field goal on the opening drive before giving way to backup Sam Howell. McCarthy is now the clear top option in Minnesota, but he's effectively a rookie in terms of playing time after missing the entire 2024 regular season with a meniscus injury. From a fantasy perspective, McCarthy figures to be a high-upside QB2 flier alongside proven skill players and revamped offensive line in Minnesota.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Owen Wright put together a strong performance on the ground during Saturday's preseason matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Wright rushed the ball 18 times for 87 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It was the first preseason game, so a majority of the Bucs backups took the field in this one. Wright is currently competing for a spot on the roster behind Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. There's unlikely to be fantasy value here, but maybe a strong preseason can earn Wright a spot on the roster.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker made some noise on the ground during Saturday's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. Tucker rushed the ball 13 times for 50 yards, including a touchdown in the first half. The Bucs sat a majority of their starters on Saturday, so Tucker and Owen Wright saw a majority of the carries in the backfield. Both backs are competing for a spot on the roster behind Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Tucker finished last season with 308 yards on the ground on 50 rushing attempts with two touchdowns in 17 games. He figures to remain the third string back in Tampa Bay, which doesn't come with much fantasy value.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ryan Miller was active during Saturday's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. Miller hauled in six of his seven targets for 66 yards in the blowout victory. The Bucs didn't play a majority of their starters for long in this game. Both Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka each saw two targets. Miller is fighting for a role as a depth player to start the season. The 25-year-old hauled in 12 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games with the Bucs last season. He figures to serve as a depth option which won't offer much fantasy value when the team is healthy.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Cody Schrader rushed five times for 59 yards during Saturday's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He also converted his lone target into a nine-yard touchdown reception. All in all, it was a productive outing for the 25-year-old. He averaged nearly 12 yards per carry, partly skewed by his big 25-yard run in the fourth quarter. Although Saturday's performance certainly helps his case, the Missouri product still faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster. After all, he's buried on the depth chart behind Kyren Williams, Jarquez Hunter, and Blake Corum. Even if the Rams keep a fourth running back, he'd still be competing with Ronnie Rivers. Given his improbable path to playing time, Schrader should be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 16 of 24 pass attempts for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during Saturday's preseason opener. He also took one sack and rushed three times for an additional 11 yards on the ground. A former fourth-round pick, Bennett is heading into his third pro season and has never taken a regular-season snap. He's unlikely to break that streak anytime soon, as he's almost a lock to open 2025 as the Rams' No. 3 quarterback behind veterans Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo. Although Bennett, like any quarterback, would have some appeal in superflex leagues if thrust into the starting role, his path to playing time is too improbable. Fantasy managers should leave him on waivers in all formats.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum rushed nine times for 32 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He also converted two targets into one reception for four yards. Although Corum was relatively inefficient in terms of yards, averaging just 3.6 per carry, his ability to find the end zone on two of nine carries is impressive. That rate isn't sustainable, but perhaps it offers a glimpse into his role for the upcoming season. At the very least, Corum is a candidate to carve out a short-yardage or goal-line role in a backfield that also features Pro Bowler Kyren Williams and rookie Jarquez Hunter. Heading into his second pro season, Corum isn't a reliable redraft option, but he's worth stashing at the end of your roster in deep dynasty formats.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries during Saturday's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He was not targeted in the passing game, but he did add a 21-yard kick return to his stat line. Although we would've liked to see him average more than 3.7 yards per carry, the rookie did turn heads by taking on a high-volume role in his preseason debut. Not only does Hunter's fourth-round draft capital give him a leg up over Blake Corum to be the Rams' backup running back, but he is also expected to push for some of Kyren Williams' snaps. As a likely handcuff with potential standalone value, Hunter is worth stashing in the final rounds of fantasy drafts with at least 14 teams.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. scored the team's first points of the preseason on Saturday. Taylor ran it into the end zone from five yards out to seal the deal on the Niners' first drive. The touchdown ended up being the 49ers' only offensive score in their 30-9 loss to the Broncos. The fifth year back was otherwise unimpressive, finishing the game with seven yards on five carries. He also caught his sole target of the game for a four-yard gain. Taylor ranks fourth on San Francisco's early depth chart but drew the start with coach Kyle Shanahan opting to preserve Christian McCaffrey's health, and with fellow backs Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger) already ailing and expected to miss multiple weeks. Taylor will have to overcome this week's inefficiencies when the 49ers face the Las Vegas Raiders next week if he wants to maintain his position.

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Wide receiver Jordan Watkins, the 49ers' fourth-round pick out of Ole Miss, made a good first impression on San Francisco's fans during the 30-9 loss to the Broncos. On the team's opening drive, quarterback Mac Jones dropped a long pass over Watkins' shoulder as he was fighting off a defender, and the rookie rumbled an extra 25 yards after the catch for a 50-yard gain on his first touch as a pro. Watkins later added two more catches for significantly shorter gains, finishing with 56 yards on the three receptions. He led the team in those categories, as did his six targets. With Brandon Aiyuk's (knee) recovery timeline unclear and Jauan Jennings (calf) nursing an injury while at loggerheads with the team over his contract, Watkins may enter the season in a more significant role than previously expected. His next opportunity to show what he can do will come against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 16.

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Rookie Corey Kiner had a solid day in his professional debut. In the 49ers' preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, Kiner led San Francisco's backfield in touches and yards, taking 10 carries for 45 yards and catching one pass for a two-yard gain. He also served as a kick returner, bringing one back for 17 yards. Kiner, an undrafted free agent, comes to the 49ers after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a Cincinnati Bearcat and figures to see a lot of work in the preseason. San Francisco is unlikely to put Christian McCaffrey's health on the line so early, and Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and fellow rookie Jordan James (finger) are set to miss multiple weeks while nursing injuries. Kiner will have his next chance to impress next week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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The San Francisco 49ers opened the preseason with the newly acquired Mac Jones under center. Jones made a good first impression on his new fanbase, captaining a 71-yard drive that culminated in a score. On the drive, Jones dropped a deep pass over the shoulder of Jordan Watkins, who stretched the play into a 50-yard gain. A few plays later, Jones kept the drive alive with his legs on a designed run on 4th & 1 at Denver's seven-yard line, setting the table for running back Patrick Taylor's touchdown. Things turned south during the second drive, however. Jones took sacks on consecutive plays and nearly suffered a third before throwing the ball away. The former first-rounder went on to kill the 49ers' third drive with an interception on his final play of the day. He finished 4-for-7 for 74 yards and the pick and a two-yard rush. His next chance to show what he can do in Brock Purdy's stead comes next week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Robert Tonyan led the team with three catches for 49 yards in the 17-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The former Green Bay Packer was acquired by the Chiefs this offseason and could play a role in the offense this season. Tonyan was a touchdown machine in 2020, hauling in 11 touchdowns while catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. While his fantasy value is capped playing behind Travis Kelce, Tonyan could make himself valuable as a touchdown-scorer. Keep an eye on his usage once the regular season begins.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele led the running backs with 15 rushing yards in the 17-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Steele was involved in the Kansas City backfield following Isiah Pacheco's early season injury, but ultimately ceded work to Kareem Hunt. Steele will presumably remain third on the depth chart heading into the 2025 season, which means he's best left undrafted in most leagues.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw one pass for one yard and a touchdown in the 17-20 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Mahomes found himself on the field earlier than expected after the Cardinals fumbled the opening kick deep in their own territory. The Chiefs found themselves on the Cardinals nine-yard line to begin the game and reached the one-yard line after an eight-yard rush by Isiah Pacheco. Mahomes found Jason Brownlee for a goal-line fade to cap off his only drive of the game. Mahomes has nothing to prove in these preseason games, and the team will likely continue to preserve him for the regular season. The hope is that he can bounce back from a mediocre fantasy season last year.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was on the field with the starters during the team's opening drive and had one carry for eight yards. His carry on the first drive was also his only carry of the game, but it was an encouraging sight to see. After a lackluster return from injury last season, questions surrounding the backfield began swirling, but Pacheco running with the starters is a good sign that the role is still his. Fantasy managers will hope to see a return to form for Pacheco this season after having the offseason to recover.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt totaled 17 yards on three touches, with 12 yards on the ground and five through the air. Hunt to a backseat to starting running back Isiah Pacheco, which will likely remain the case during the regular season. Pacheco was lighting the world on fire before his injury last season, and Hunt took his place. Hunt was a serviceable fantasy asset, mostly due to his goal-line role, but it remains to be seen if he will be viable this season. Hunt should be viewed as a valuable handcuff this draft season.

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