Preseason News and Notes: Week 3
Mon Aug 25 1:01pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Sutton has big finish to preseason
Well, another preseason is in the books. Now the fun begins. But before we get to the regular season, let’s take a look at all the info we gained from this last week of the preseason. Here is the latest. . . . .
Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson continued his ho-hum preseason, rushing five times for 24 yards. He caught a pass for two yards. Right now, it seems Jaylen Warren is the clear No. 1 back for the Steelers with Kenneth Gainwell serving as the top backup. Johnson is going to get some weekly work but has some work to do to move up the depth chart and get a larger role in this offense.
It was another solid showing for Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. He was 6-of-12 for 81 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also had a 23-yard run. He had quite the showing in the preseason and could be the starting lineup for the Giants sooner then later, especially if Russell Wilson has any struggles. Dart looks to be the real deal, finally solving the Giants franchise quarterback issue of the last several seasons.
Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo returned to action from his hamstring injury and ran three times for 12 yards. Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary were both rested in this game, indicating they are both likely ahead of Skattebo on the depth chart right now. Tracy seems pretty entrenched as the starting back for the Giants.
Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue ran nine times for 25 yards and a touchdown, but suffered a sprained ankle in the game. He could miss some time with this one. The bigger story might be Javonte Williams was rested along with the other starters for Dallas, meaning he is likely to open the season as the starting back for the Cowboys. It is his job to lose right now.
The Titans seem to have a battle on their hands for the other starting spot at receiver opposite Calvin Ridley. Elic Ayomanor had a strong camp and preseason, putting him in the mix to start. He had three catches for 25 yards this week. Van Jefferson is having an up-and-down preseason but came up big in this game, catching three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. He might have the upperhand to start right now but nothing is certain. The Titans seem to like what they have in Ayomanor.
The Chiefs played their starters a good chunk of the game and Patrick Mahomes looked in mid-season form, going 8-of-13 for 143 yards and a touchdown. He used the ball down the field often, which might be a sign of things to come for this offense. Rookie Brashard Smith didn’t do a whole lot but got some run with the starters. He ran two times for a yard and caught a pass for 12 yards on three targets. Smith seems to be carving out a role in the offense his rookie season.
Bears receiver Rome Odunze had another strong showing, catching three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. Odunze seems poised to take a big step forward in year two in the Bears new offense. He is building a nice rapport with quarterback Caleb Williams.
The most interesting aspect of the Commanders game this week was who didn’t play. The team rested most of their starters and rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was one of those players resting. It seems he has earned a big role his rookie season, especially after the team traded Brian Robinson.
It really is anyone’s guess how the Browns depth chart might shake out at quarterback after Joe Flacco. It seems the team is going to keep four quarterbacks on their roster. Dillon Gabriel had the better game than Shedeur Sanders this past week. Gabriel was 12-of-19 for 129 yards and a touchdown. Sanders was just 3-of-6 for 14 yards, playing with the third and fourth stringers.
Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was getting playing time with the starters and had two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown. He is getting rave reviews in camp and seems to have earned a role with the team his rookie season. He could cut into the playing time and targets of starter David Njoku.
The Lions seemed to have found something with rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa. He capped off his big preseason with two receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. TeSlaa has a real shot to be the No. 3 receiver in this explosive offense to open his rookie season. He just made plays all preseason with his chances.
Houston is another team that rested nearly all their starters for their last preseason game. And one of those players on the bench was running back Nick Chubb. He seems to be the favorite to start for the Texans while Joe Mixon is sidelined. Chubb could have some early-season value for fantasy teams.
The Saints still haven’t named a starting quarterback and the last preseason game didn’t do much to solve that question. Rookie Tyler Shough played better but still wasn’t anything special, going 12-of-20 for 102 yards. He did run in a score, rushing two times for 20 yards and a touchdown. Spencer Rattler didn’t play as much, finishing 5-of-8 for 43 yards. It still seems Rattler has the slight lead here but who really knows?
Denver gave their starters plenty of action to end the preseason. Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton put on a show. Nix was 10-of-14 for 110 yards and a touchdown. Sutton had four receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. This duo could be a big problem for the rest of the season this year. Rookie running back RJ Harvey got some chances with the first-team offense but didn’t do much, rushing three times for four yards. It sure looks like JK Dobbins is going to be the starter for the Broncos to open the season.
It sure looks like Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon earned the No. 2 running back job with his strong finish to the preseason. He had eight carries for 43 yards. The Dolphins aren’t shy to rotate backs, so Gordon could have a decent role offensively his rookie season. He is a player on the rise.
The Raiders are looking for a new backup quarterback. Aidan O’Connell broke his wrist and is going to be out the next six-to-eight weeks. Look for the Raiders to make a move at quarterback this week, bringing in a veteran backup to Geno Smith.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice ahead of Week 3's home matchup against the Raiders. This seems to be a new injury for McNichols, and the severity is unknown at the moment. McNichols is set to step into a larger role in Washington's backfield as their primary third-down and pass-down back with Austin Ekeler out for the season. McNichols is a highly trusted veteran in pass protection, and he showed some ability to be versatile last season, gaining tough yardage as a runner and catching some passes as a receiver. His most important skill is pass protection, which will keep him on the field a lot. That makes him worth considering as an option to pick up off the waiver wire to see how the Washington backfield shakes out.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel saw his first game action in the NFL in their 41-17 Week 2 blowout at the Ravens. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. With the offense scuffling with Joe Flacco as the starter, discussions about a quarterback replacement are starting to pop up in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says that Cleveland's situation "bears monitoring" in response to the question of which quarterback is most in danger of being benched. While Flacco is safe for now, he compared the situation to Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots last season. Drake Maye's first NFL start came at home against the Texans in Week 6 of last season, for reference. Gabriel has operated as the No. 2 quarterback all summer and has been praised for his mobility, quick release, and overall grasp of the offense. It will likely only be a matter of weeks before Gabriel slides in as the starter in Cleveland. He makes for an intriguing upside swing to stash in redraft superflex leagues and deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) returning in Week 4 'feels like a real possibility,' sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: Godwin hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 3, but it sounds like Week 4 is a more realistic possbility for his return. Even when he does return, it could take Godwin a few games to find his rhythm, and he will also have to compete with Emeka Egbuka for targets. Godwin is worth stashing, but he doesn't need to be starting until he proves it on the field.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Reynolds hasn't been on the practice field since last Thursday due to a shoulder issue. He sat out last week's game and is in danger of missing the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence should result in a higher workload for Allen Lazard. However, there's really no viable receiving options on this team outside of Garrett Wilson. The Jets are going to be without Justin Fields (concussion), so Tyrod Taylor should be under center. Even if Reynolds plays, fantasy managers can find a better streaming option for Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) was held out of Wednesday's practice session. Engram was dealing with a calf issue last week, but still managed to play in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. However, fantasy managers might not have noticed he played considering he only hauled in one catch for 12 yards during that contest. The veteran tight end has a total of four catches through the first two weeks. His decrease in usage should be more of a concern than this back injury. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for another update on his status. If he sits, Adam Trautman would see an increased role for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram should be rostered in most formats, but is tough to trust after two straight duds.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was spotted doing some running on the side during Wednesday's practice. It sounds like Aiyuk is continuing to make progress, but is still going to be sidelined for a few weeks. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list through Week 4. There haven't been many updates on his status lately. The assumption is that Aiyuk should be ready to play around Week 5 or 6, but there should be a better timetable closer to that date. Aiyuk should be stashed in most 12-team formats as he'll likely be a focal point of the offense once he's ready to play.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Mooney missed most of training camp and Week 1 due to a shoulder issue. He made his season debut last week, but was mostly quiet on the field. He hauled in two of his four targets for 20 yards in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The fact he was a limited participant on Wednesday could be the Falcons being cautious. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday to see if his status changes at all ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran wideout should be rostered in most 12-team formats despite a slow start.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as Tuten still has plenty of time to get ready before the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. Without Tank Bigsby in the picture, Tuten was able to make a big splash last week. He rushed eight times for 42 yards while adding two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sadly, Tuten is going to have his value limited as the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. right now. Despite that, Tuten should continue to see his role rise if he plays well. He should be rostered in most 12-team formats at the moment even as the backup.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said that second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin is "starting to develop into the player everyone knows he can become." Franklin, who was teammates with Nix at Oregon, had a breakout game in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout currently leads the Broncos in targets (15), catches (12), and receiving yards (133) through the first two games in 2025. Franklin probably won't take over WR1 duties from Courtland Sutton, but a second-year breakout could very well be in the cards for him, especially because of his strong chemistry with Nix. His primary competition for weekly targets will come from Marvin Mims Jr., who is more of a big-play deep threat than one who will be consistently peppered with targets. If you need WR help early on, Franklin is definitely worth a waiver-wire pickup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (non-injury) was given the day off for rest and did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Adams has made an immediate impact for the Rams, logging a team-high 21 targets through two games. Perhaps more importantly, both he and Puka Nacua are putting up strong numbers simultaneously, so there is reason to believe that Adams can continue to have success. At the very least, Adams is a WR3 with upside.
From TheHuddle
Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey is "an important piece of what we're doing," according to head coach Sean Payton. That may be true, and Harvey could see his role grow as the season progresses, but right now, his fantasy value is capped with J.K. Dobbins serving as the RB1 in Denver. Harvey was out-touched 15-6 by Harvey in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and finished with only five carries for eight yards (1.6 yards per tote) while adding one catch for a nice 16-yard gain. In the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, the UCF product had six carries for 70 yards and one reception for a loss of a yard. The 24-year-old is slippery with plenty of big-play potential, but right now, he's merely an RB3/flex for fantasy managers with a low floor and ceiling. Harvey and the Broncos also have a difficult upcoming divisional tilt against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on the road this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams OG Steve Avila (undisclosed), DL Braden Fiske (undisclosed), WR Davante Adams (non-injury) and OT Rob Havenstein (non-injury) did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) was a limited participant.
From TheHuddle
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn't exactly ease fantasy managers' concerns regarding second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. when talking to the media on Wednesday. "There's only one ball. We've been playing this game for a long time. Some days he's gonna get 10, and some days he might get 3. You never know," Murray said when asked if he felt Harrison should have more targets through two weeks. Harrison and Murray supposedly improved their chemistry in the offseason, but through two games, we have yet to see it. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick is tied for 49th among WRs with 11 targets through two games and has caught seven of them for 98 yards and a touchdown. It might take Harrison a bit more time to reach his true potential, but fantasy managers will be hoping he'll rebound in a divisional matchup this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as a limited participant on the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. It's probably just a bit of rest for the veteran RB early in the week, but it's something worth watching the next few days for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has been Green Bay's workhorse back through two weeks, as expected, handling 42 carries for 150 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground, adding one catch for four yards. The Packers will have more than a week of rest going into a Week 3 tilt against the Cleveland Browns, so we'd expect Jacobs to return to practice later this week and play on Sunday. Jacobs should be considered a must-start RB in fantasy if he's active. If he's out or limited, both Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson would likely share backfield touches.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa (non-injury), OT Spencer Burford (knee), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), FB Kyle Juszczyk (concussion), RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), S Siran Neal (concussion) and OT Trent Williams (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. QB Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) was limited during practice, while RB Jordan James (finger) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
The Washington Commanders are expected to "err on the side of caution" with quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) as he battles a knee sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Daniels will not practice this week until at least Friday, and if there is any doubt at all by then, the team is expected to keep him out in Week 3 on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. In a best-case scenario, it seems like Daniels will be questionable this weekend. The Commanders had backup Marcus Mariota meet with the media on Wednesday, an early sign that they are leaning toward starting him under center against the Raiders. Fantasy managers should not plan on having Daniels available in Week 3. If he's out, Washington could lean on the ground game more with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will be making his 2025 debut after Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey probably will not practice much this season but is on track to play in Week 3. He has been productive in both the running and passing game over the first two weeks and is a must-start option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs DE Mike Danna (quadriceps) and CB Kristian Fulton (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. WR Jalen Royals (knee), WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and OT Josh Simmons (illness) were limited during practice. WR Hollywood Brown (ankle), DE Ashton Gillotte (elbow), QB Patrick Mahomes (wrist), DE Charles Omenihu (hand), OT Jawaan Taylor (ankle, knee) and LB Drue Tranquill (knee) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (wrist) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Mahomes is off to a pretty quiet start to the season with 445 passing yards and two passing touchdowns but has been able to help his fantasy value by rushing for two touchdowns and having at least 55 rushing yards in each of the first two games. He may get one of his receivers back this week and can be a starting option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
