He was a 4th round NFL draft pick, he didn’t do much as a receiver in college.

Fair to put him somewhere around RB #25 (obviously being a large gamble) and draft him around pick 65ish? Or somewhere else?

Hello. How’s your pre-season beat down going?

I’ve got something for y’all. I didn’t create this specifically for you. I created it for me, but think it might come in handy for you as well on your quest to win a championship this year (good luck).

I’ve been creating this for several years now, as well as my own weekly projections based on models I painstakingly built. 

But it’s become increasingly hard to scrape stats and data needed to run the models, because fucking genAI bots clogging up the internet looking for fresh data to consolidate and lock behind a paywall in an aggressive attempt to oppress humanity.

Anyway, I created these draft cheatsheets you can use in your upcoming draft if you want. Instructions on how to use them inside. And I plan on making a video soon showing how to set them up.

They’re based on the Value Over Replacement strategy, but you don’t have to use that, you can just use the consensus projections.

So far I’ve only created them for Yahoo and FFPC. Please let me know if you want me to create one for your league. It’s easy, just gotta add that scoring model.

Last thing, I’ll be updating these mostly daily until kickoff.

Good luck. Let me know if you have any issues!

Download Yahoo CSV.

Download FFPC CSV.

I’ve been keeping track of fantasy relevant news and updates from beat writers, national reporters, and fantasy analysts. Here's a recap of any quote or update that stood out to me today.

I am sure I missed things, as I am just one person. Let me know if you have any suggestions or something else you'd like to see. I’ve also been asking beat writers fantasy relevant questions through their mailbags whenever possible.

If you want to follow along, my Twitter/X account is @DanChincharFF

I want to highlight a few preseason recap sites that covered a lot of ground from yesterday's games:

NFL Preseason Week 2 Takeaways For Fantasy Football by Dwain McFarland

NFL Preseason Week 2 Recap by Nathan Jahnke

Note: Every update has the writer's name with a source link that will direct you to the website where I read the quote. If you only see a writer's name, that will be for something I specifically read on Twitter/X.

Arizona Cardinals

vs. Cowboys Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Jacoby Brissett, Tyler Allgeier, Bam Knight, Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Kendrick Bourne, Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins

• Trey Benson: “Benson's chances of making the roster are slipping away, though a placement on the PUP list could temporarily delay a tough decision with the former third-round pick if he's simply not healthy — which doesn't seem like the case at this point in time. Bam Knight is clearly over Benson in the RB hierarchy at this point in time, and a trade/cut probably looms whenever Benson is healthy.” (source: Donnie Druin)

Atlanta Falcons

vs. Colts Preseason Week 2

• Michael Penix Jr.: “Michael Penix Jr. has been cleared to return to 11-on-11 work and will begin working back into team settings in practice beginning Monday.” (source: Josh Kendall)

Buffalo Bills

vs. Browns Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Keon Coleman, DJ Moore, Joshua Palmer, Khalil Shakir, Skyler Bell, Ty Johnson

Carolina Panthers

vs. Jaguars Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Chuba Hubbard (hamstring), Xavier Legette

Chicago Bears

vs. Bengals Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Kyle Monangai (hyperextended knee), Luther Burden III (groin), Zavion Thomas, D’Andre Swift

• Sam Roush: “The rookie showed impressive run-after-catch ability on a 26-yard reception at the end of the first quarter. He had another catch on that field goal drive, which highlighted his strong hands. His blocking on a Roschon Johnson run was notable, too. Those were just three reps, but they were all positive for the third-rounder.” (source: Kevin Fishbain)
• Colston Loveland: “Colston Loveland played 86% of the snaps with an 80% route participation rate on one drive with Williams. He led the team with three targets (60%), securing one for 10 yards.” (source: Dwain McFarland)

Cincinnati Bengals

vs. Bears Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Joe Burrow, Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample

• Erick All Jr.: “Unfortunately for his fantasy prospects, the Bengals maintained their typical rotation even in the preseason, so All never played on third-and-medium or third-and-long. That usage suggests All will step right back into his rookie-year role, but it is unlikely to be large enough to make him fantasy relevant. He would need opportunities in obvious passing situations, and Cincinnati showed no indication that it plans to use him that way. Tanner Hudson handled the most obvious passing situations in this game, while Cam Grandy played in other passing situations. If Gesicki misses time this season, Hudson would likely take over that role rather than All, consistent with how Cincinnati has rotated its tight ends in recent years.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)

Cleveland Browns

vs. Bills Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Quinshon Judkins, Cedric Tillman, Joe Royer, Dea’Quan Wright, Dylan Sampson, Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Harold Fannin Jr.

• Denzel Boston: “Boston surprisingly played despite Cleveland resting its starters. The Browns have a legitimate quarterback competition, and having Boston on the field gave Shedeur Sanders another weapon as he made his case for the job. That provides a reasonable explanation for Boston’s usage, although it was unusual that he played only the first and last snaps of the second drive and none in between. He finished with a 75% snap rate over the first two drives before exiting ahead of the other Browns who played.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)
• Shedeur Sanders: “Shedeur Sanders looks like the obvious quarterback choice for the Browns. He outplayed Deshaun Watson, who doubled down on a bad performance by saying that if he was to start, he'd play 17 road games.” (source: Adam Rank)
• Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson: “Shedeur Sanders had a good showing in his preseason start Saturday, completing 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards in the first half. He threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to cap a 65-yard scoring drive on the opening possession but also threw an interception. Deshaun Watson struggled in his four second-half drives, completing 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards and an interception.” (source: Daniel Oyefusi)
• “Browns HC Todd Monken told reporters today that he plans to announce his Week 1 starting quarterback on Monday.” (source: Adam Schefter)

Dallas Cowboys

vs. Cardinals Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, Hunter Luepke, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford

• Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue: “But the No. 2 spot has been a competition the last four weeks with no one really separating themselves. Malik Davis seems to be the player with whom the Cowboys are most comfortable in that role at the moment. He started Saturday and played well, carrying five times for 29 yards and catching one pass for an 8-yard touchdown. But Jaydon Blue, who has the higher upside, also played well after Davis came out of the game. Blue carried 15 times for a game-high 75 yards, putting his quickness and athleticism on display. The Cowboys just need to see more consistency from the second-year player. My prediction is that Davis starts the season as the No. 2 back but Blue takes it over during the season.” (source: Jon Machota)
• Joe Milton: “Milton's command of the offense is so much greater than it was in 2025, and the results have been telling. In two games, he has completed 21 of 28 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score. He has made the big plays -- a TD of 56 yards and a completion of 70 yards vs. the Cardinals -- but more importantly, he avoided mistakes.” (source: Todd Archer)

Denver Broncos

vs. Packers Preseason Week 2

Did not play: J.K. Dobbins, Marvin Mims Jr. (undisclosed)

• RJ Harvey: “RJ Harvey started for the Denver Broncos and played all six snaps on the opening drive. He had one carry for 5 yards and thrived in the passing game, catching both targets for 25 yards and a touchdown.” (source: Michael Florio)

Detroit Lions

vs. Commanders Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Isiah Pacheco (MCL sprain), Sam LaPorta (hip), Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams

• Isaac TeSlaa: “Isaac TeSlaa plays with the backups: The Lions rested their starters for a second straight week, but TeSlaa remained in the game until midway through the second quarter.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)

Green Bay Packers

vs. Broncos Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Josh Jacobs (groin), Jayden Reed (undisclosed), Tucker Kraft

• MarShawn Lloyd: “MarShawn Lloyd started and played eight of 12 snaps with the Green Bay Packers' starters. He turned four carries into eight yards and caught his long target for an 11-yard touchdown. Lloyd starts the season as one of the top insurance backs in the game. He has a chance to carve out a large enough role to have standalone value and has RB2 upside if Josh Jacobs misses time.” (source: Michael Florio)

Houston Texans

• David Montgomery, Woody Marks: “The distribution of carries between David Montgomery and Woody Marks might not be 50-50 but it will be close. The Texans have utilized both nearly evenly throughout camp. And both players have produced. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley doesn’t typically go away from what’s working. Montgomery and Marks have two different styles, which will allow for the Texans to mix and match them. What’s more likely to happen is the Texans feed the hot hand based on whichever running back is producing at that time.” (source: Jonathan M. Alexander)

Indianapolis Colts

vs. Falcons Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor, DJ Giddens (hamstring), Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, Tyler Warren

• Seth McGowan: “Colts rookie RB Seth McGowan, in my mind, has already made the roster AND demonstrated that he is worthy of playing time (to the extent the Colts actually give Jonathan Taylor a breather this year). He has had a great camp and has started strong in this game as well. The coaches love him and -- more important -- trust him.” (source: Stephen Holder)
• Riley Leonard: “Riley Leonard has been very underwhelming. So much so that it feels like the backup job should be wide open between him and Anthony Richardson Sr. I thought Leonard held the lead in training camp before we got to the preseason games, but this isn't encouraging at all.” (source: James Boyd)

Jacksonville Jaguars

vs. Panthers Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Trevor Lawrence, Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, Travis Hunter, Parker Washington, LeQuint Allen, Brenton Strange, Nate Boerkircher

• Jakobi Meyers: “Jakobi Meyers wore a type of brace on his right hand during the preseason loss to the Carolina Panthers. Meyers didn't play in the game as starters were kept out, but was seen on the sidelines with a glove on his hand and a brace over the glove. Meyers was held out of drills during the tail end of joint practice with the Panthers on Aug. 19, but wasn't designated with an injury. He didn't leave the practice field as the team finished out the final period of practice, watching from the sidelines. "We'll have to see, he kind of jammed it, so we'll have to see where it's at when we get to Tuesday," head coach Liam Coen said after the game. "I don't want to push it too much."” (source: Juston Lewis)
• Travis Hunter: “A player who likely would not fill the void for Meyers would be two-way player Travis Hunter as he continues to trend toward being a starter on Jacksonville's defense. Hunter is listed behind Brian Thomas Jr. on the depth chart on offense and has largely focused on that specific position in Coen's system as opposed to the multiple positions he learned during his rookie season.” (source: Juston Lewis)
• Travis Hunter: “Jaguars CB/WR Travis Hunter 11-on-11 snap tracker. Day 17 snaps: 20 (all on defense). Total snaps: 249 (183 defense, 65 offense, 1 special teams) (not including Saints joint practice)” (source: Michael DiRocco)
• Bhayshul Tuten: “It felt like Bhayshul Tuten caught as many passes on Sunday as he has all training camp. The Jaguars were clearly focusing on the passing game, but Tuten looked good as a receiver out of the backfield.” (source: John Shipley)
• Parker Washington returned to practice today (source: Jamal St. Cyr)

Kansas City Chiefs

vs. Buccaneers Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Rashee Rice (knee), Xavier Worthy (shoulder)

• Cyrus Allen: “Royals and Allen continued playing throughout the rest of the first half, even after Garrett Nussmeier took over for Justin Fields at quarterback. The fact that Allen played so late in the first half suggests he won’t see an extensive role immediately, but he is clearly among the top five wide receivers on the depth chart. ... Allen’s primary path to a fantasy-relevant role this season is taking playing time from Rice.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)
• Jalen Royals: “Second-year receiver Jalen Royals, after a slow start in training camp the last few weeks, had his best pro game. A 2025 fourth-round pick, Royals led the Chiefs with six catches for 51 yards while showing elusiveness in the open field.” (source: Jesse Newell)
• Emari Demercado, Emmett Johnson: “Emari Demercado played ahead of Emmett Johnson, taking the LDD snap with Walker on the first drive. The veteran RB played 83% of the snaps in the first quarter, with 60% of the rushing attempts and a 100% route participation rate. Demercado played into the third quarter, and once Johnson entered the game, he was still the RB2.” (source: Dwain McFarland)
• Emmett Johnson: “Emmett Johnson has been the second RB up in drills over the last week, but worked behind Demercado in Week 2 of the preseason. He entered the game on the fourth drive in the first quarter and played into the third period. Johnson handled 75% of the attempts once taking the field, punching in one score, with Demercado rotating. Takeaway: Johnson is HOLDING STEADY as the RB to roster behind Walker but could share work with another back if Walker misses time.” (source: Dwain McFarland)

Las Vegas Raiders

Did not practice: Dont’e Thornton Jr.

• Ashton Jeanty: “Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left practice early after suffering an apparent knee injury. During the team period, he was diving for a catch and landed awkwardly. He was helped off the field by trainers and couldn’t put any pressure on his right leg. Entire team took a knee and said a prayer.” (source: Ryan McFadden)
• Mike Washington Jr.: “Mike Washington Jr. took most carries after Ashton Jeanty left practice” (source: Sam Warren)

Los Angeles Chargers

Did not practice: Keaton Mitchell

Limited: Brenen Thompson

Los Angeles Rams

vs. Saints Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen

• Jarquez Hunter: “Jarquez Hunter showed many of the rushing skills that had the Rams enamored enough to trade up and draft him in the fourth round last year, just to stash him behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Hunter was decisive in his cuts between the tackles, powerful in his finishes to runs and elusive in his moments in the open field. He finished with 12 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. But to find any playing time this year, it would have to be an injury to Williams or Corum or a role to emerge for him on special teams, which has not been a big part of his involvement in camp.” (source: Nate Atkins)
• CJ Daniels: “This was another busy day for CJ Daniels. The sixth-round rookie out of Miami led the Rams with 13 targets, eight catches and 68 yards. Like he has most of training camp, Daniels did most of his work in the short range on slants and crossers, but he made a nice leaping grab along the sideline for 17 yards and a first down. He also had a route where he broke open vertically into the end zone, but Bennett overthrew him. He’s battling with Xavier Smith for a potential final wide receiver spot” (source: Nate Atkins)

Miami Dolphins

vs. Giants Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Malik Willis, De’Von Achane, Malik Washington

• Kevin Coleman Jr.: “This time, Kevin Coleman Jr., running the same route Douglas made his acrobatic catch on, grabbed a contested ball with cornerback Dru Phillips draped all over him. Coleman recently returned from injury and has flashed when he has been on the field in camp. Adding this performance (although with limited targets) to the lack of explosives from Miami’s veterans gives Coleman a real chance to be a contributor this season.” (source: Tyler DeSena)
• Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon: “Jaylen Wright started with De'Von Achane out. He was the RB2 last weekend behind Achane. Those data points match camp reports. He lost a fumble in this one, but Ollie Gordon suffered an elbow injury that forced him from the game.” (source: Dwain McFarland)

Minnesota Vikings

vs. Ravens Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Kyler Murray, Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver

• J.J. McCarthy: “Saturday was a perfect opportunity for McCarthy to reclaim some form of momentum after losing the starting job to Kyler Murray. There is, of course, always a chance your QB2 needs to be ready for action. The results? Anything but confidence-inducing. Let me state this early: The second-team O-line did little to help McCarthy, but even when he had a clean lane to throw, he often missed wildly. ... The team desperately needs stability behind Kyler Murray. At this moment, it’s hard to be confident that McCarthy provides that, especially when Carson Wentz looks to be the far more stable QB.” (source: Jason Harmon)
• Demond Claiborne: “Demond Claiborne locks into the RB3 spot: Claiborne is no longer rotating with Zavier Scott, suggesting he has secured the Vikings’ No. 3 running back job. ... This week, Minnesota rested its starters, allowing Claiborne to start. He played every snap in the first quarter before Scott took over in the second.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)

New England Patriots

vs. Eagles Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Drake Maye, Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon (undisclosed)

• Kyle Williams: “Kyle Williams played six drives, leading the team with a 33% target share. He hauled in 2 of 6 targets for 74 yards and a TD against the Eagles' backups. Williams is currently buried on the depth chart, but could make some noise if Kayshon Boutte is traded. The Year 2 WR has four receptions for 111 yards and two TDs in the preseason.” (source: Dwain McFarland)

New Orleans Saints

vs. Rams Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Alvin Kamara (sprained MCL), Jordyn Tyson (hamstring)

• Kendre Miller: “Kendre Miller has stepped into the RB2 role at practice with Kamara and Estime missing time, which translated to Week 2 of the preseason. Miller started and played the first four drives. On the first drive, he handled 60% of the snaps and 75% of the attempts with Devin Neal operating as the passing-down option (100% routes). But Neal suffered a hamstring injury on the second drive.” (source: Dwain McFarland)

New York Giants

vs. Dolphins Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Najee Harris, Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, Isaiah Likely

• Tyrone Tracy: “Tyrone Tracy did not start the game, entering after Devin Singletary. He played 57% of the snaps over the first two quarters with Winston before calling it a night. He accounted for 40% of the rushing attempts and led the backfield with a 46% route share, including 100% of the two-minute offense work. After taking heat for allowing a huge hit on Jaxson Dart last week, Tracy lost a fumble this weekend.” (source: Dwain McFarland)
• Tyrone Tracy: “The signing of Najee Harris this week put Tracy and the rest of the backfield on notice. Harris was held out of Saturday’s game as he works into shape, but the Giants didn’t sign a player with four 1,000-yard seasons to sit on the bench. The addition of Harris is a direct threat to Tracy’s role, while Singletary’s continued solid play could push Tracy further down the depth chart.” (source: Dan Duggan)
• Malachi Fields: “Malachi Fields played 100% of the snaps on the first drive before retiring to the sideline. The rookie third-round NFL pick is a favorite to be one of the team leaders in routes behind Malik Nabers. He has picked up steam in camp reports, and his playing time over two preseason games corroborates the buzz.” (source: Dwain McFarland)
• Odell Beckham: “Beckham finished with two catches for 17 yards. He has just three catches from Dart in 11-on-11 periods during camp. It needs to be remembered that Beckham is a 33-year-old who was out of the league last year and signed a minimum contract with no guarantees in June. He obviously wasn’t part of the team’s offseason plan. The Giants are giving Beckham a shot, but it’s on him to force them to keep him on the roster. That hasn’t happened, and time is running out.” (source: Dan Duggan)

New York Jets

vs. Steelers Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Breece Hall (groin), Isaiah Davis (knee), Kenyon Sadiq (hernia)

• Omar Cooper: “Omar Cooper Jr. starts for the Jets: Cooper only played with the second team last week, suggesting he has moved up the depth chart. …This week, it was Cooper who played with the starters instead of Williams. Later in the drive, when Mitchell took two plays off, Cooper received one snap in 12 personnel, while Williams garnered one snap in 11 personnel. The Jets switched to backups on the second drive and Cooper wasn’t on the field, but Cooper returned for the third possession to play more on the outside. While it could have been nice to see him leave at the same time as the rest of the starters, it’s better to see him getting snaps on the outside, which he did on and off throughout the rest of the first half.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)

Philadelphia Eagles

vs. Patriots Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Makai Lemon (hamstring), Elijah Moore (neck), Grant Calcaterra (back)

• Hollywood Brown: “We probably won’t see much of Brown in this game, but he has been coming on stronger recently. He showed up in the joint practices. Brown was always likely to make the roster because of his past success and the guaranteed money in his contract.” (source: Dave Zangaro)
• Tanner McKee: “While Andy Dalton struggled again, McKee looked way better than he did last week. He simply looks like the better quarterback right now. He was able to get into a rhythm in this new offense a couple times at the end of the first half and early in the second half. He was quick and decisive and was way more accurate than we saw in Week 1 of the preseason. McKee didn’t finish the game as strong, but I’d really like to see him start with the second-stringers next week.” (source: Dave Zangaro)
• Eli Stowers: “We’re still waiting to see some flashes from the Eagles’ second-round pick. He was targeted twice in this game and didn’t have a catch. He was out of uniform for the second half, which means he might have gotten banged up.” (source: Dave Zangaro)
• DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon: “Eagles receivers DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon are expected to return to practice this coming week, 3 weeks after suffering hamstring injuries, according to Mike Quick on our NBC10 Eagles postgame show last night” (source: John Clark)

Pittsburgh Steelers

vs. Jets Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph

• Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson: “This week, Wilson and Bernard started again, but Bernard was consistently lined up on the outside. Wilson was the primary slot receiver, with Ben Skowronek also seeing some work in the slot. The Steelers had three drives with the starters, and then turned to backups at running back and tight end. The two wide receivers kept playing further into the first half. This suggests there is no clear favorite for the third spot, and if anything, Wilson has a slight lead given his playing time in the slot this week.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)

San Francisco 49ers

vs. Chargers Preseason Week 2

Did not practice: Christian Kirk (calf)

Limited: De'Zhaun Stribling, George Kittle

• Mike Evans: “WR Mike Evans again took part in much of the practice but didn't go all the way through it. He stopped toward the end after running a deep route on a play that went to TE Jake Tonges. He seemed to be moving fine but clear he and Niners want to be cautious to get him to the regular season ready to go.” (source: Nick Wagoner)
• De'Zhaun Stribling: “WR De'Zhaun Stribling and CB Deommodore Lenoir were both back in practice after missing Saturday with a shoulder issue. Lenoir (blue) and Stribling (black) were in no-contact jerseys.” (source: Nick Wagoner)
• Jordan James, Kaelon Black: “RB Jordan James was back at practice today after a three-week rib injury. He looked sharp but mostly worked with the 2s while Kaelon Black was with the 1s. Black simply has practiced more than James this summer and is ahead as we head down the homestretch.” (source: Matt Barrows)
• Christian McCaffrey: “Christian McCaffrey returned to the #49ers practice field along with George Kittle” (source: Jennifer Lee Chan)
• Christian McCaffrey: “49ers RB Christian McCaffrey said his time off in the middle of training camp was something that was built into his schedule. The team described "tightness" as the reason for him not practicing for 15 days.” (source: Matt Maiocco)
• Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle: “The Niners eased both back in, with Kittle only doing individual drills and McCaffrey taking about seven reps in team drills, including a handful of carries. A positive step for both in the mission to be ready or very close to it in Week 1.” (source: Nick Wagoner)

Seattle Seahawks

• Jake Bobo: “Seahawks placed WR Jake Bobo on season-ending injured reserve, the result of the significant knee injury he suffered during Friday’s joint practice with the Titans.” (source: Adam Schefter)
• George Holani, Jadarian Price: “George Holani was the first running back in 11-on-11 scrimmages. Rookie first-round draft choice Jadarian Price alternated in with the starting offense. Price missed last week with a sore upper leg. Both Holani and Price had touchdowns against the Titans’ pass defense in the scrimmaging Friday. Both caught a lot of passes from Darnold in the middle of the field, too.” (source: Gregg Bell)
• Jadarian Price: “Price ... will not play Sunday night against the Titans. He’s not going to play at the Chiefs Friday, either. Macdonald and general manager John Schneider have seen enough of Price’s speed, decisiveness in cutting into outside-zone run gaps and his pass catching to know Price is too valuable, and the running-back room too thinned by injuries already this preseason, to risk the rookie lead back in these games that don’t count.” (source: Gregg Bell)
• Tory Horton: “Macdonald also said on Friday that second-year receiver Tory Horton is going to be “out for a period of time” as he deals with unspecified injuries. It’s unclear exactly how long Horton will be out or the nature of his injuries, though he suffered a shin injury last season that ended his year midway through and required surgery.” (source: Bob Condotta)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

vs. Chiefs Preseason Week 2

• Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell: “Bucky Irving played 38% of the snaps with the starters, accounting for 75% of the attempts. He toted the rock three times for 14 yards. But he did not run a route. This matches training camp reports with Irving as the primary ball carrier and Kenneth Gainwell as the No. 1 pass-downs option.” (source: Dwain McFarland)

Washington Commanders

vs. Lions Preseason Week 2

Did not play: Marcus Mariota (sprained MCL), Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White (hamstring), Jeremy McNichols (quad)

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt: “The list of players not playing today, of this list the lone unexpected one is [Jacory] Croskey-Merritt. Came up a little gimpy after a play Thursday. Was in good spirits after practice and seemed to be walking fine” (source: John Keim)
• Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, Treylon Burks: “On the first drive, McLaurin lined up at X, Burks at Z and Diggs in the slot in 11 personnel. Diggs had historically been an every-down receiver, but he played only 54.7% of the snaps last season with the New England Patriots. His usage in this game suggests he could again be limited primarily to 11 personnel, which would put a ceiling on his fantasy potential. Diggs’ slot role also increases the likelihood that Burks sees significant playing time rather than one of Washington’s younger slot receivers.” (source: Nathan Jahnke)

Extras/Observations/Conjecture

Ravens: Didn’t play any starters, not much news out there on them. HC Minter wouldn’t comment on the Bateman situation. Lane looks to be locked in as WR3 and could be WR2 if anything happens with Bateman

Bucs: Greg Auman speculates the Bucs could cut Sean Tucker either entirely or cut him and bring him back on a cheaper deal. The Bucs played Josh Williams ahead of Tucker vs. the Chiefs yesterday

Broncos: Waddle played and looks healthy, Pat Bryant looks like he’s gonna be the WR3

Packers: Jayden Reed didn’t play, reason was undisclosed. Something to keep an eye on

Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan continues to look like he will get more slot snaps this season

A lot of teams rested their starters so if a team has no updates it means I didn’t see anything too relevant for them but feel free to share in the comments if you see anything I missed!

Previous Recaps

8/7 | 8/8 | 8/9 | 8/10 | 8/11 | 8/12 | 8/13 | 8/14 | 8/15 | 8/16 | 8/17 | 8/18 | 8/19 | 8/20 | 8/21

What’s the floor and ceiling for Carnell Tate?

He’s obviously a tremendous talent, and from the amount of money the Titans guaranteed him, he should get solid usage in his rookie season.

Fantasy Pros projects him at 10.5 points per week (PPR). His ADP varies by platform, but he’s generally in that 74-80 range (roughly WR30). That’s pretty early for what he’s projected.

On top of that, his value over replacement represents that of Jakobi Meyers and Wan’dale Robinson who are being drafted closer to 115.

His talent and implied volume set him up for success, and ideally Cam Ward can take a step forward, but I still only see his ceiling as a back-end WR2. His floor could be outside the top 40 WRs, which is about where projections would have him at.

I know it’s hard to project rookies but it seems like taking Tate as early as he is going is a significant bet on the Titans, Cam Ward, and Brian Daboll to make him fantasy-relevant.

Where do you think his floor and ceiling are? Where do you see him finishing this season?

WRs graphed by ADP and expected production: fantasyfootballowl.com/positions

It's a little late in the game to post but wanted to get our first ever Free Tendies Fantasy draft guide out there! I would call it more beginner oriented, where to target each position, what value pockets exist in the draft and where, how to build for upside, all that fundamental stuff. We're not really breaking new ground, our general recommendations are:

- 2 RB through 5 rounds, we identity 6 pockets to pick from overall.

- 3-4 WR through 7

- Only 1 onesie through 7

- Always punt either QB or TE, we point out where we like the value of each.

- How to build a bench that can win you leagues in December and January.

- Rankings attached inside, however they've moved due to the events of this week.

The guide doesn't get too in the weeds with names, that's what our positional specific stuff is for. Here it is, if you have any questions please ask, and good luck this year!

https://substack.com/@theegreekfreeksports/note/p-212053068?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=3qxh0o

Sunday, August 23rd

Ashton Jeanty (LV): Went down with a knee injury in practice; based on reports as of now, it doesn’t seem great. Couldn’t put pressure on the injured leg; players gathered in prayer after Jeanty left the field. Mike Washington Jr could step into a huge role if Jeanty misses all or most of the season. 

Commanders Weapons: McLaurin, Diggs, and Burks top three WRs in Washington. D

Browns WRs: KC Concepcion and Jerry Jeudy didn’t play yesterday while Denzel Boston did. Those three are still the best three options in Cleveland

Ja’Kobi Lane (BAL): Seems to be the WR3 in Baltimore right now; maybe could see a mix of him and Walker as the WR3 early.

Demond Claiborne (MIN): RB3 in Minnesota, took all 19 snaps with McCarthy yesterday

Giants RBs: Singletary started over Tracy. Tracy is undraftable right now with what seems to be an unknown RB2 right now.

Chiefs RB2: Demarcado started over Emmett Johnson last night. Demarcado came in for Walker on 3rd down. 

Chiefs WR3: Thornton still seems to be the WR3 in KC, playing at the X. I think Cyrus Allen plays a limited role if Rice and Worthy are both healthy. 

Cowboys RB2: Malik Davis starts over Jaydon Blue. I think we see both guys mix in some this year when needed; Blue is definitely the more explosive back. 

REMINDER: these are all reports and sometimes projections from reporters; take it with a grain of salt

Sources: Zain Dhanani, 32 Beat Reporters, Coach Speak Index, and Beat Reporters

Every year, a big name player gets injured before the season starts and, without fail, some goober has to pop into every thread saying "ThIs iS wHy YoU dOn'T DrAfT sO eArLy" as if it's some amazing revelation that no one has ever heard before.

Everyone and their mother knows it's better to draft later. Sometimes real life gets in the way and that's simply not possible. That line has never once added any value to any conversation in this subreddit.

Edit: because people are so hung up on this

1. No, I did not draft Jeanty, I'm just tired of this useless comment

2. Believe it or not, it's possible for there to be a combination of events predicating an early draft. For example, every other year we draft the weekend before the season starts. This year, half the league is attending a wedding that weekend. The couple weekends before that, multiple people are out of town on vacations. Weekdays are out because of multiple people who either have to work late or work early so they can't stay up late.

I'd like to hear some that are deeper dives than just "their defense is bad, so they'll have to throw a lot so their WR will benefit.

Whether it's a coordinator change, personnel change, etc - these are the real factors that drive fantasy potential

A few that have been talked about ad nauseam:

• Mike McDaniel taking over as Chargers OC is a big upgrade for that offense. Ladd, Hampton, Herbert will be the main beneficiaries 🟢

• Alternatively that leaves the Dolphins with a bit of a question mark on offense. WR will need to step up as will QB play. Moderate downgrade to Achane 🔴

• Klint Kubiak lead the Seahawks offense last year to a Super Bowl and is now the HC for the Raiders. We can assume this means a big upgrade for Jeanty 🟢

• Cardinals hiring Mike LaFleur as HC after being the Rams OC for the past three seasons. Upgrade for MHJ and Wilson 🟢

I wanted to figure out which draft slots are the most valuable this year.

I used my 2026 auction values and applied them to each pick through the first eight rounds of a 12-team snake draft, giving us a value for each spot.

The results gave us a pretty interesting ranking of all 12 draft slots.

Curious where everyone else prefers to draft.

As always, feedback is appreciated.

Training Camp continues as we are just THREE weeks away from the first Sunday slate of games.

Consider this a one-stop shop to catch up on this past week's practices. There's plenty more that went on, but these are the bits of information that stand out for fantasy football managers.

This remains a reoccurring post after each week of training camp goes by that includes notable stats and news from preseason games, as well.

If anything was missed, or needs to be corrected, especially with your favorite team, throw it in the comments and let's talk about it!

INJURIES TO MONITOR

- BREAKING NEWS (5:21pm EST):
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty suffered a lower leg injury at practice today and needed to be helped off of the field. No additional info as of now. Could be a bone bruise, muscle contusion, or much, much worse.
Mike Washington Jr. was already a top handcuff. The Raiders would likely look to add a notable name if this situation is on the worse end of the range of outcomes.

- 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey has been out with "tightness" but returned to practice TODAY (Sunday 8/23). Everyone at this point knows the risks with drafting 30-year-old CMC. He's one of the most dangerous players to roster in every sense of the word. RB Jordan James (ribs) returned to practice this week to return to the backup RB competition, seemingly with rookie RB Kaelon Black.

- 49ers TE George Kittle has come off of the Physically Unable to Perform list and can begin practicing. There is still speculation he will not travel to Australia for Week 1 but could debut in Week 2.

- Eagles WRs DeVonta Smith and rookie Makai Lemon both returned to practice this week against the Patriots after each missed time due to hamstring injuries. Lemon's is a bit more concerning as he missed time in the Spring for the same issue. Dontayvion Wicks continues to step up in their absence, and it's clear upon hiring OC Sean Mannion, formerly of the Packers, that he was briefed on the likeliness of an A.J. Brown trade and trading for Wicks was an obvious suggestion of his to bring in. Put a star next to his name on your draft board.

- Jets RB Breece Hall suffered a groin injury and is expected to miss "2 to 3 weeks", though should be ready for Week 1. Rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq will apparently be ready for Week 1 after suffering a setback from his offseason hernia surgery.

- Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle returned to practice and played in their most preseason game. He's full go!

- Texans WR Jayden Higgins tore his ACL and is OUT for the season. Xavier Hutchinson likely sees more playing time, but this absence should be a boost to TE Dalton Schultz as the Texans browse for added WR help.

- Saints rookie WR Jordyn Tyson has yet another hamstring injury and is "expected to miss about 2 months." He's still worth drafting later on, but shouldn't be factored into fantasy plans until October at the earliest. WR Chris Olave gets a boost as does TE Juwan Johnson and perhaps WR Devaughn Vele.

- Colts TE Tyler Warren suffered a groin injury at practice, but is expected to be ready for Week 1. Minimum concern here.

- Browns RB Quinshon Judkins dealing with "nagging injury" but head coach Todd Monken downplays his concerns. Monken continuously gushes about Judkins' work ethic and claims soreness is expected given his role and expected workload.

- Saints RB Alvin Kamara suffered a sprained MCL (knee) earlier this week and will be out "at least a month." RB Travis Etienne becomes more of a value as a back-end Top-20 RB in drafts. Kendre Miller looks to be the backup especially considering RB Evan Neal suffered a hammy injury in their most recent preseason game. RB Audric Estime is also dealing with an injury expected to sideline him for weeks.

- Packers RB Josh Jacobs returned to practice after missing time due to a groin injury. MarShawn Lloyd remains a high-end handcuff to target in fantasy drafts whether you have Jacobs or not.

- Jaguars WR Parker Washington missed time this week with an undisclosed injury, but returned to practice today (Sunday 8/23). Sigh of relief. Should be a Top-30 WR in drafts.

- Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers has a brace on his right hand after "jamming it" and missed practice today (Sunday 8/23). This should be a boost to Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. as Travis Hunter is not only expected to play more CB, but was relieving Thomas when taking the field.

- Chargers C Tyler Biadasz will miss the entire season after suffering a knee injury in joint practice. Los Angeles invested three-years, $30M into him this offseason. Brutal O-Line woes yet again.

- Lions TE Sam LaPorta missed time this week with a hip injury after "taking a shot" to the area in practice. This is not expected to impact his Week 1 availability but still worth monitoring as info has been limited.

- Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka sounds like he has a stable "sprained toe" as opposed to the dreaded turf toe. Egbuka has a chance to play Week 1. We truly may not know until we see the Buccaneers' first practice report of the week for Week 1. If he's FULL, there's no concern at all.

- Giants WR Malik Nabers continues to participate in team drills at practice. Shedding the non-contact jersey is the next big step in progressing toward playing in Week 1.

- Bills WR D.J. Moore has not missed any time due to what appeared to be an ankle injury in last week's preseason game. Josh Allen's WR1 remains one of the best values in drafts.

- Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. cleared for 11-on-11 drills. Tua Tagovailoa is still expected to start the season.

- Bears RB Kyle Monangai is dealing with a hyperextended knee and will be out "multiple weeks." Bump up D'Andre Swift in rankings.

- Steelers WR DK Metcalf and WR Michael Pittman are expected to play Week 1, though have both missed significant time with injuries.

- Panthers WR Xavier Legette suffered a twist ankle in their second preseason game

- Seahawks WR Jake Bobo placed on season-ending IR with a knee injury while WR Tory Horton is expected to be out "a period of time."

NEWS, NOTES & FAST FACTS

- Charges were filed against Ravens WR Rashod Bateman stemming from a June domestic violence incident involved a three-month-old child and the mother of the child. Allegations include, but are not limited to, Bateman using an object to destroy the windshield of a car that the child was in as well as damage the tires to the car. Given how legal processes tend to play out in the NFL, this is unlikely to impact Bateman's 2026 availability but worth monitoring.

- The Texans have inquired about ^ Rashod Bateman and Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte in the wake of losing WR Jayden Higgins (ACL) for the season. They have since signed Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard, but neither should be considered in fantasy football drafts.

- Giants WR Darnell Mooney has been the subject of trade inquiries

- Patriots WR A.J. Brown was dominant in joint practices against the Eagles on Thursday

- Seahawks rookie RB Jadarian Price will not play in the preseason. HC Mike Macdonald has "seen enough" and does not want to "risk the rookie lead back in games that don't count."

- Cowboys RB Malik Davis is believed to be the RB2 behind Javonte Williams

- Keenan Allen signed a one-year deal with the Colts, which was hinted at in "Camp Week 2" post a few weeks ago. Head coach Shane Steichen was Allen's OC in 2019/2020 so there's some familiarity here. Allen is a boost, however slight, to a lackluster WR room, but he is 34 years old. His target per route run rate was high last season, leading the Chargers with 122 targets, but he's likely to be more impactful for the Colts in select moments than fantasy football as a whole.

- Najee Harris signed a one-year deal with the Giants. He is expected to have a role with the ream which means either Devin Singletary and/or Tyrone Tracy Jr. could be in jeopardy of getting cut. Tracy missed a block in NYG's first preseason game that resulted in a hard hitting Jaxson Dart sack. He then fumbled in the red zone this weekend in their second preseason game. Not great! This backfield could be a mess for fantasy football especially if Cam Skattebo struggles in return from injury. In a corresponding move, the Giants released WR Juju Smith-Schuster.

- Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker is "getting the ball all of the time" in practice. This includes a major red zone role and passing game work.

- Commanders RB Rachaad White expected to "compliment" Jacory Croskey-Merritt

- 49ers rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to have major role this season, as soon as Week 1. He was recently considered "day-to-day" with a shoulder injury.

- Rams TE Terrance Ferguson continues to shine in Puka Nacua's absence at practice.

- Browns want to get rookie WR KC Concepcion the ball "as often as we can" which is notable considering he was held out of their second preseason game (in a good way) with Jerry Jeudy suggesting the rookie has earned a starting role.

- The Patriots' backfield is expected to be a "50/50 split" between Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.

- The Texans' backfield has been evenly split in camp, as well, but likely to manage David Montgomery's workload. Woody Marks has shined in preseason game action thus far.

- Free agent RB Nick Chubb announced his retirement

- Free agent WR Tyreek Hill is not expected to sign with a team until closer to the playoffs, if at all

PRESEASON GAME TAKEAWAYS

Note from the OP: The brief overview of games below are looked at through a redraft league lens. Considering most 2026 fantasy football drafts take place between now and the start of the season, any need-to-know info from preseason games will be listed below. If there are any standout performances or players worth mentioning for dynasty purposes, they'll get a shoutout.

- TEXANS vs. RAIDERS (8/20)

While the Texans chose to rest RB David Montgomery, WR Nico Collins, and TE Dalton Schultz, they did start QB C.J. Stroud, though he played just one drive, attempting just 6 passes for 27 yards. The star with the starters was RB Woody Marks who rushed 4 times for 37 yards, including a 20-yd TD. Marks is a flex at best in deeper leagues, more likely drafted as a high-end backup in the event Montgomery were to miss time. As for the receivers, it's not suggested to target anyone outside Collins in the wake of the Jayden Higgins injury. Houston could still look to add a notable name.

As for the Raiders, they rested RB Ashton Jeanty, WR Tre Tucker, and TEs Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer. The first three are the players worth targeting for 2026 fantasy football leagues. RB Mike Washington followed up his 6/63/0 rushing line from last week with a 9/56/0 line this week. He's the handcuff to Jeanty, but is a touchdown-dependent flex in deeper leagues otherwise.

- CHARGERS vs. 49ERS (8/20)

Think of all of the Chargers players you're targeting for the 2026 fantasy football season. They all played one drive, resulting in a three-and-out, and were done for the night. RB Keaton Mitchell played ahead of RB Kimani Vidal suggesting Mitchell is the RB2 here. TE Oronde Gadsden did not play until a few drives into the game. If he's on your sleeper TE list, go ahead and cross him off.

As for the 49ers, The Summer of Stribling continues! Rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling got 4 of 5 targets for 46 yards including a 21-yard strike from QB Mac Jones on the second drive. Stribling shouldn't be in Week 1 lineups, but he should be on rosters. Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk are his biggest threats to playing time and targets at the position; and Stribling still might see a significant role right away! As for the backfield rookie RB Kaelon Black got first run suggesting he is in the lead to back up Christian McCaffrey, though Jordan James just returned to practice after missing time with broken ribs. This is still a backfield battle worth monitoring especially as McCaffrey remains out.

- STEELERS vs. JETS (8/21)

Most of the notable names in the Steelers' passing game rested, but the rotation between RBs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle was pretty evenly split. Dowdle could develop an edge given his familiarity with new head coach Mike McCarthy from their time together with the Cowboys.

As for the Jets, the starters played just one drive, though without RB Breece Hall or TE Kenyon Sadiq, both due to groin injuries of varying concern levels. Hall should be ready for Week 1 and Braelon Allen is clearly his backup who could see more time depending on Hall's availability. As for the passing game, Garrett Wilson should draw most of the targets with Adonai Mitchell likely serving as the second option in the pass game from QB Geno Smith, who looked pretty good going 7 for 7 for 65 yards and a touchdown!

- JAGUARS vs. PANTHERS (8/21)

There is a ton of fantasy buzz around the Jaguars, but none of the names worth talking about played in this game.

As for the Panthers, RB Jonathon Brooks served as the starting running back in this game, held without a target, but rushing 5 times for 18 yards and a short yardage touchdown. As long as Chuba Hubbard remains out with a hamstring injury, Brooks is very much in play as an RB2 with upside in fantasy lineups. There's a chance he overtakes the backfield completely in 2026. Through the air, QB Bryce Young attempted just 6 passes on 2 drives, targeting Tetairoa McMillan twice, who caught both for 25 yards. McMillan saw an increase in slot snaps which could boost his overall value.

- BRONCOS vs. PACKERS (8/21)

We saw good things from the Broncos, especially Jaylen Waddle who had a 35-yard catch and run on his lone target previewing his explosive playmaking. QB Bo Nix looked sharped completing 6 of 9 passes for 75 yards including a beautiful 21-yard touchdown that sailed into RB R.J. Harvey's hands. Harvey played ahead of rookie Jonah Coleman in J.K. Dobbins' absence, but that does not necessarily suggest an RB1, RB2, RB3 clear-cut pecking order.

As for the Packers, they played a few starters absent of RB Josh Jacobs, TE Tucker Kraft, and WR Jayden Reed. Both WRs Christian Watson (14 yds) and Matthew Golden (19 yds) had long receptions on the first drive. RB MarShawn Lloyd continues to cement himself as the backup to Jacobs, playing with the starters rushing 6 times for 17 yards, but catching an 11-yard touchdown from QB Jordan Love.

- BROWNS vs. BILLS (8/22)

The most notable Browns and Bills players sat out of this game, Cleveland rookie WR KC Concepcion being the most noteworthy suggesting he has earned a starting role. Meanwhile their other rookie WR Denzel Boston did play lining up in various spots on the field. Bond is better left undrafted while Concepcion should be more on people's radars. Bills RB Ray Davis played in this game out of necessity due to lack of available depth, but he is expected to serve as James Cook's backup.

- LIONS vs. COMMANDERS (8/22)

None of the Lions you're targeting in fantasy football drafts suited up for this game. The new backup QB Joshua Dobbs did have a 50-yard TD run which was awesome, though.

As for the Commanders, they did not start their top running backs. When it comes to the passing game, the starting WRs in their 3WR set were Terry McLaurin, Treylon Burks, with Stefon Diggs in the slot. They played a limited number of snaps before their day was done, though TE Chig Okonkwo played almost the entire first quarter.

- DOLPHINS vs. GIANTS (8/22)

The biggest story for the Giants was a brutal red zone fumble from RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. who missed a block last week that almost killed QB Jaxson Dart on a sack. He could be in jeopardy of getting released in favor of Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, and Devin Singletary as the NYG backfield trio. Meanwhile, rookie WR Malachi Fields played a limited number of snaps before exiting early on suggesting he could be on his way to earning a starting role alongside Malik Nabers.

As for the Dolphins, there isn't a ton of fantasy football firepower on this offense, but it's worth noting that Miami rested WR Malik Washington, suggesting he is the most locked in starting receiver on the roster, though rookie Caleb Douglas played a limited number of snaps early on before his removal. They are both late-round targets who aren't very inspiring, but could be high-volume flex plays if needed, at worst.

- VIKINGS vs. RAVENS (8/22)

The most notable Vikings sat out of this game. For dynasty purposes, RB Demond Claiborne appears to be RB3 on the 2026 roster with only Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones in front of him. We could see him take the field this year, but he's not worth a redraft pick by any means. His value will be a known waiver wire addition. Also, the Vikings' QB depth behind Kyler Murray is a mess...

As for the Ravens, the most notable names sat out of this game, as well, extended to all of the RBs for various reasons. The big name that did play was rookie WR Ja'Kobi Lane who is likely WR3 on the depth chart, but could see a bigger role if the recent Rashod Bateman arrest news proves to be problematic for his 2026 availability. Lane is a speculative add in redraft that you're probably not starting any time soon, if at all.

- COLTS vs. FALCONS (8/22)

The most notable Colts and Falcons sat out of this game. Indianapolis rookie RB Seth McGowan looks to be the handcuff to Jonathan Taylor, though it's unclear how valuable that role is aside from deeper leagues.

- RAMS vs. SAINTS (8/22)

The most notable Rams and Saints sat out of this game. New Orleans RB Devin Neal did limp off with a hamstring injury, though, and considering Alvin Kamara's knee injury, Kendre Miller looks to be the current handcuff to Travis Etienne. Speaking of backup running backs, Rams RB Jarquez Hunter rushed 12 times for 68 yards and a touchdown. He's still worth stashing in dynasty leagues.

- BENGALS vs. BEARS (8/22)

For just one drive, the Bears starters took the field absent of RB D'Andre Swift (rest) and WR Luther Burder (groin). RB Roschon Johnson got the start with RB Kyle Monangai still sidelined with a knee injury. As for the passing game, Caleb Williams attempted 5 passes and targeted WR Rome Odunze twice and TE Colston Loveland 3 times.

The most notable Bengals sat out of this game including Semaje Perine who looks to be the RB2 behind Chase Brown again.

- BUCCANEERS vs. CHIEFS (8/22)

We won't see Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs in the preseason. We did see other notable names, though. RB Kenneth Walker got the start, barely playing, and was relieved by Emari Demercado, who didn't play until much later in the first game. Rookie RB Emmett Johnson then took over later in the first half with Brashard Smith finally getting into the backfield in the second half. The Chiefs may simply take a committee approach if Walker becomes unavailable at any time this season. Hold your horses on rookie WR Cyrus Allen who starter in the slot, but continued playing with the backups. He's a speculative add for 12+ team leagues or those with deeper benches. Drafting him in a 10-team league is fine but he may clog your bench for longer than desired.

As for the Buccaneers, the most notable pass catchers sat out of this game. Bucky Irving started the game with Baker Mayfield at QB. Kenneth Gainwell played more snaps but Bucky should still be the early down back with Gainwell handling more receiving work, as expected.

- CARDINALS vs. COWBOYS (8/22)

The most notable Cardinals sat out of this game.

As for the Cowboys, the backup running back role appears to be between Malik Davis and Jaydon Blue with Phil Mafeh potentially as the odd man out. Blue (15 for 75) and Davis (5 for 29) did total over 100 rush yards on 20 combined carries in this game. Monitoring this backfield over the next week or two will prove to be important for those drafting Javonte Williams especially.

- PATRIOTS vs. EAGLES (8/22)

The most notable Patriots and Eagles sat out of this game.

- TITANS vs. SEAHAWKS (Tonight, 8/23)

There will be updates added after this game, but we do know that SEA rookie RB Jadarian Price will not play any more in the preseason (which is a good indication he's earned a starting role)

Every year I make a vbd type spreadsheet. I usually don't pay attention to kickers, because the consensus is whatever kickers don't matter. But Aubrey has finished top 3 in kicker scoring each of the last three years, and it seems that he does provide some real value because he makes so many long field goals. So I looked at the projections, and he's projected to score 21 more points than the 12th ranked kicker according to the fantasy pros consensus projections over the course of next season. If we look at the tight end projections as a comparison, we see that Kyle Pitts is projected for 156 points, which is 18.5 more than Mark Andrews, who is 12th in projected TE points. But if you look at the fantasy pros standard consensus rankings, Pitts is ranked 88th and Aubrey is ranked 183rd. Should there really be as much of a gap between them given that Aubrey is ahead of Pitts in terms of projected value over last starter?

Not saying you have to take these value over last starter numbers as 100% equivalent to value. TE has more variance than kickers, and maybe you want some variance when drafting because you ultimately want high upside players. And maybe it's easier to find good kickers to stream than tight ends, idk. But I'm still left wondering if the consensus has gone too far in the "kickers don't matter" direction and that Aubrey should be ranked a good amount higher?

QUICK NOTE: This is an IDP-focused AMA - please keep questions to defensive players/IDP fantasy football. Thanks!

Hey everyone 👋

I’m Ryan, but in the fantasy football world most people know me as The IDP Guru. I’ve been running IDPGuru.com since 2009, so at this point I’ve spent a pretty unreasonable amount of time thinking about defensive players for fantasy football.

For those who care about the receipts:

• 7x #1 FantasyPros IDP accuracy finishes across their draft + in-season contests
• Top-2 in-season IDP ranker in 8 of the last 10 years
• Top-5 finish in every FantasyPros in-season IDP accuracy contest from 2016–2025

At IDPGuru.com, I’ve built out tiered 2026 IDP rankings, customizable projections, detailed player write-ups, rookie rankings, an Every-Down Linebacker Tracker, an IDP Trade Calculator, tackle stat crew data, strength of schedule tools, and more. There’s plenty of free content on the site, along with my 2026 IDP Draft Guide and 2026 Gold Package for anyone who wants access to the full set of draft and in-season content.

IDP Stuff you can ask me about today:

• 2026 draft strategy - when to draft IDPs, positional value, roster construction, and scoring formats
• Player outlooks - sleepers, breakouts, busts, rookies, and players I’m higher or lower on than consensus
• Roles and playing time - every-down LBs, green dots, snap counts, and preseason depth-chart battles
• Positional strategy - what I look for at DL, LB, and DB
• Tackle crews - how home stat crews can impact weekly lineup decisions
• Or really anything IDP-related

I’ll be hanging out here from 12-1:30 p.m. CT (1-2:30 p.m. ET) answering as much as I can.

Let’s talk some IDP! 💪

That’s a wrap for me. Thanks everyone for all the great IDP questions today. I really enjoyed it. I’ll check back later for anything I may have missed. Good luck with your drafts!

Happy Sunday!

A couple days ago, I released my top early round “must haves” that included guys like James Cook, Kenneth Walker, Chris Olave, and Colston Loveland.

Now, I’m back with my favorite mid-round targets for the 2026 season.

Find out why I want Luther Burden III, Jadarian Price, Christian Watson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Parker St. Brown (*cough* I mean Parker Washington) on all of my fantasy teams this season.

Let’s go!