Nearly 48 hours of preseason football were played across the NFL this weekend, and while the final scores won’t matter once September arrives, how teams deployed their players absolutely does.
Preseason football gives fantasy managers their first opportunity to see whether months of training-camp reports actually translate onto the field. Snap counts, personnel groupings, target shares, and which players are held out entirely can sometimes tell us more than the box score itself. One game shouldn’t completely change how we evaluate a player, but several developments from the opening week could have a significant impact on fantasy drafts over the next few weeks.
After watching every game, these are the 22 biggest fantasy football takeaways I came away with from Week 1 of the preseason.
1. Cam Ward’s Slow Start Creates More Concern for Carnell Tate
Cam Ward entered his second season as one of the more intriguing late-round quarterbacks in fantasy football, but his preseason debut did little to inspire confidence. Ward completed just five of his 12 attempts for 57 yards against a San Francisco defense that rested several starters, failing to lead Tennessee on a touchdown drive.
It’s obviously far too early to make any definitive conclusions about Ward’s development based on 12 preseason attempts. The larger fantasy concern is what inconsistent quarterback play would mean for Carnell Tate. Tennessee invested heavily in Tate to become the centerpiece of its passing attack, but even elite receivers need enough accurate volume to consistently produce WR1 numbers. Tate failed to record a reception in his preseason debut, and if Ward hasn’t taken the step forward Tennessee is expecting, Tate’s current fantasy price becomes considerably more difficult to justify.
2. De’Zhaun Stribling Is Becoming One of My Favorite Late-Round Sleepers
Few players improved their fantasy stock more this weekend than De’Zhaun Stribling. The rookie was targeted eight times and turned those opportunities into seven receptions for 63 yards, with all seven catches coming before halftime. Stribling consistently created separation and converted multiple important third downs while immediately looking comfortable in San Francisco’s offense.
The performance becomes even more important when considering San Francisco’s current situation at receiver. Injuries throughout the pass-catching group have created opportunities for Stribling to earn meaningful snaps much earlier than expected, and Kyle Shanahan has already discussed expanding his role by moving him around the formation. One preseason performance doesn’t guarantee regular-season production, but Stribling is talented, inexpensive, and suddenly has a legitimate path onto the field. That’s exactly the profile I want to target with my final picks.
3. Jeremiyah Love’s ADP Is Going to Keep Rising
Jeremiyah Love looked every bit like the featured running back Arizona drafted third overall. Love handled 11 carries for 58 yards while adding three receptions for another 14 yards, but the usage was even more encouraging than the production. He dominated the work alongside Arizona’s starters while Tyler Allgeier operated clearly behind him.
Love did suffer an ankle injury and is expected to miss at least a week, although Arizona has indicated the injury isn’t believed to be significant. That’s the main development to monitor before moving him significantly up rankings. Assuming the ankle progresses as expected, however, this looked much closer to a featured role than a committee. Love already possessed one of the highest ceilings in the rookie class, and if Arizona is willing to use him this heavily immediately, his current draft price isn’t going to last.
4. I’m Starting to Buy Into the DJ Moore Hype
I’ve been hesitant to completely buy into DJ Moore’s move to Buffalo, but his first preseason action was difficult to ignore. Moore played 11 of the Bills’ first 15 offensive snaps and commanded four targets, catching three passes for 61 yards.
The important part isn’t the receiving total. It’s Buffalo immediately making an effort to involve Moore when he was on the field. Josh Allen’s tendency to spread targets around has been one of my biggest concerns, but Moore doesn’t need a massive 30% target share to return value at his WR25 price. If Joe Brady views him as the clear WR1 and consistently manufactures opportunities for him, Moore has significantly more upside than I originally gave him credit for. Now let’s hope his recent ankle injury is nothing serious.
5. Isaiah Likely Might Be Entering Another Tight End Rotation
Isaiah Likely’s move to New York created plenty of breakout hype this offseason, but his first preseason game looked eerily similar to the role that frustrated fantasy managers in Baltimore. Likely operated as the primary receiving tight end while Theo Johnson and Chris Manhertz were more involved in running situations.
That doesn’t mean Likely can’t produce. In fact, he was one of the focal points of New York’s offense when he was on the field. The problem is his rising price. If Likely is being drafted inside the top 12 at tight end, fantasy managers need consistent routes and opportunities rather than a specialized passing-down role. We watched a rotation limit his ceiling for years in Baltimore, and I’m not interested in paying a premium price if New York plans to use him similarly.
6. Drew Allar and Ty Simpson Impressed in Their Debuts
Two young quarterbacks made strong first impressions this weekend. Drew Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards while accounting for three touchdowns, while Ty Simpson finished 21-of-25 for 190 yards and two scores.
Neither performance should dramatically alter redraft rankings, but both matter in dynasty formats. Quarterback value can change extremely quickly once a young player demonstrates he belongs on an NFL field, and Allar and Simpson both showed encouraging accuracy and command of their offenses. Allar’s performance was particularly notable as Pittsburgh generated one of the better quarterback performances of the opening slate. His dynasty price should begin moving upward if he continues playing this well.
7. Jonathon Brooks Has a Real Opportunity in Carolina
Jonathon Brooks received exactly the opportunity fantasy managers wanted to see with Chuba Hubbard sidelined. Rather than rotating multiple backs, Carolina allowed Brooks to operate as its primary option.
That matters considerably more than his preseason box score. Brooks has always possessed the talent to become a fantasy difference-maker if his health and workload cooperate, and this was an encouraging indication that Carolina trusts him with significant volume. Hubbard’s eventual return complicates the ceiling, but Brooks’ ADP should continue climbing if he maintains control of the backfield while Hubbard is unavailable.
8. Denzel Boston Is the Cleveland Rookie Receiver I Want
Denzel Boston didn’t need a huge box score to improve his fantasy stock. His usage told us enough.
Boston played 10 of Cleveland’s first 11 offensive snaps and, more importantly, remained on the field across the team’s 12-personnel packages. Staying on the field when an offense removes a receiver is an excellent indication of where a player sits in the hierarchy. Boston is currently available around WR60, which makes the risk minimal. There are plenty of late-round receivers with theoretical upside; Boston is already showing signs that he could actually have the playing time required to realize it.
9. Tyjae Spears Could Be a Massive Value Compared to Tony Pollard
Tennessee’s running back usage was one of the more interesting developments of the weekend. Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard essentially operated in a 50/50 snap split, which is difficult to reconcile with the massive difference between their fantasy prices.
Pollard is currently being selected roughly 90 picks ahead of Spears in drafts. If that gap reflected a clear featured-back role, it would make sense. The opening preseason game gave us the opposite indication. We need another week or two before declaring this a true committee, but if the split continues, Spears becomes one of the easiest values to target at running back while Pollard becomes increasingly difficult to justify at ADP.
10. Oronde Gadsden’s Preseason Usage Is a Major Red Flag
I was already lower than the market on Oronde Gadsden, and his preseason usage did nothing to change that.
Gadsden played while David Njoku and Charlie Kolar were held out, an indication that Los Angeles may not currently view all three players at the same level of the depth chart. Being on the field in preseason isn’t automatically negative, particularly for younger players, but it’s difficult to ignore when established players at the same position are resting. With Gadsden already carrying a relatively aggressive fantasy price, I don’t see a reason to take the risk until we get evidence that his regular-season role will be larger.
11. The Giants’ Backfield Could Be Frustrating
Anyone hoping Cam Skattebo would immediately take over New York’s backfield didn’t get the answer they wanted. The Giants deployed three running backs, with Tyrone Tracy leading the group in snaps while Skattebo played only four.
One preseason game isn’t enough to determine how John Harbaugh will distribute touches in September, but this backfield deserves close attention over the next two weeks. Skattebo’s fantasy ceiling is tied heavily to earning a significant share of the rushing workload. If New York continues using three backs rather than consolidating around him, his current price becomes much less appealing.
12. Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington Are Legitimate Late-Round Targets
Miami’s wide receiver depth chart has been one of the biggest mysteries of draft season after the departures of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. We finally received our first meaningful clue this weekend.
Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington operated as Miami’s starting receivers and combined for five targets across only 14 snaps, with Douglas also making one of the better catches of the weekend. Neither player costs much in drafts, which makes this exactly the type of situation worth attacking late. Miami has a massive amount of vacated receiving production, and if Douglas and Washington remain atop the depth chart, both have considerably more upside than their ADPs suggest.
13. Jaydon Blue Looks Locked Into Dallas’ RB2 Job
Jaydon Blue’s fantasy appeal isn’t necessarily about what he can provide immediately. It’s about what happens if Javonte Williams misses time.
Blue appears to have established himself as Dallas’ primary backup, giving him one of the more appealing handcuff profiles available late in drafts. Williams has dealt with significant injuries throughout his career, and Dallas’ offense should provide plenty of scoring opportunities for whoever controls the backfield. Blue doesn’t need standalone value to be worth drafting. His path to becoming extremely valuable following one injury is enough.
14. Jahan Dotson Is Clearly Atlanta’s WR2
Jahan Dotson played every snap alongside Atlanta’s starting offense, providing one of the clearest depth-chart signals of the weekend.
Drake London remains the unquestioned centerpiece of the passing attack, so Dotson isn’t suddenly someone fantasy managers need to aggressively target. However, playing 100% of the starter snaps creates enough opportunity to make him interesting in deeper formats. Late-round selections are about finding players with defined roles and paths to unexpected volume, and Dotson currently checks both boxes.
8 More Preseason Developments You Need to Know
The biggest stories weren’t the only actionable developments from the weekend. Several depth charts became clearer based on who played, who rested, and which players stayed on the field in specific personnel groupings.
15. Quinshon Judkins continues to look like Cleveland’s featured back. Judkins played roughly 80% of the snaps alongside the starters, providing another strong indication that Cleveland intends to give him significant volume.
16. Keaton Mitchell appears firmly ahead of Kimani Vidal. Mitchell rested while Vidal played in the preseason opener. For fantasy purposes, that strengthens Mitchell’s case as the primary backup and one of the more interesting late-round running backs.
17. Omar Cooper Jr. has work to do. Cooper currently appears to be behind Adonai Mitchell on the Jets’ depth chart, making him difficult to justify outside deeper formats.
18. Eli Stowers isn’t draftable right now. Stowers appears buried around fourth on Philadelphia’s tight end depth chart. Until that changes, there’s simply no reason to spend a fantasy pick on him.
19. Marshawn Lloyd remains the Green Bay handcuff to target. With Josh Jacobs sidelined, Lloyd operated as the Packers’ primary running back. That gives him legitimate contingent upside if Jacobs misses regular-season action. Late-round backup running backs remain one of the best ways to attack fantasy drafts, and Lloyd fits that profile.
20. Matthew Golden’s role continues to expand. Golden received opportunities in 12 personnel ahead of Jayden Reed, an encouraging development because it creates a path toward staying on the field regardless of Green Bay’s formation. His fantasy stock should continue moving upward if that usage sticks; early fantasy reaction has similarly identified Golden as one of the opening week’s winners.
21. Jack Bech’s role is more limited than fantasy managers want. Bech currently appears dependent on 11 personnel to get onto the field for Las Vegas. That’s a major concern for a Raiders offense expected to utilize plenty of two-tight-end formations, and it puts a clear cap on his route volume.
22. Demario Douglas looks secure in New England’s top three. Douglas rested alongside several Patriots starters while Kayshon Boutte played, providing another indication that New England views Douglas as its clear WR3. That doesn’t guarantee major fantasy production, but his depth-chart position looks considerably safer than it did earlier this offseason. Contemporary preseason observations have also interpreted the decision to rest Douglas as confirmation of his WR3 standing.
What Preseason Week 1 Actually Changed
The biggest mistake fantasy managers can make right now is overreacting to preseason box scores. A 60-yard performance against backups doesn’t automatically create a sleeper, and one bad quarterback series doesn’t erase an entire offseason of evaluation. The information that matters most is how teams are using their players.
That’s why Jeremiyah Love dominating starter snaps matters. It’s why Tyjae Spears splitting the backfield with Tony Pollard matters. It’s why Denzel Boston staying on the field in heavier personnel matters, and why players like Oronde Gadsden and Jack Bech being removed from certain formations should raise concerns.
Stribling, Love, Boston, Spears, Douglas, and Golden are among the players whose stock I’m moving upward after the opening week. Likely, Gadsden, Skattebo, Bech, and several others now have additional questions they need to answer before the regular season.
There are still multiple preseason games left for these roles to change, but fantasy draft season is happening right now. Finding these changes before ADP fully adjusts is where preseason football can actually give you an advantage.
