Preseason Fantasy Football: A Week Two Review
Preseason fantasy football is fun, but it’s about time for everyone to rejoice as we move closer to real football! Understandably, excitement reigns with the conclusion of preseason coming next week. But do not take the rest of preseason lightly. The all-important third games, where most starters appear for significant portions of time, kick off on Thursday and run through Sunday. Fantasy championships can be won or lost by getting a few extra tidbits. There are plenty of tidbits from around the league and Week 2 of the preseason. Who proved to be special and who struggled? We welcome you back to another edition of Sizzle/Fizzle and investigate all the happenings from around the league. Hope you enjoy!
Eagles At Jaguars
Sizzle
So many fantasy fans out there are huge believers in Miles Sanders. After an uneventful opener against Tennessee, Sanders shined against Jacksonville. Sanders had two runs over 10 yards and looked like a star in the making. Sanders also outperformed Jordan Howard.
Philadelphia’s backup quarterback situation improves dramatically with the addition of Josh McCown. With Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler sidelined, the veteran McCown adds needed stability. Fantasy owners investing in Philadelphia’s skill position players have less reason to fret a Carson Wentz absence.
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Fizzle
After getting shutout in their first preseason game, Jacksonville did not find the end zone until the fourth quarter. With players such as Leonard Fournette, Nick Foles, and Dede Westbrook out of action, Jacksonville’s “depth” delivered another dud. Additionally, veteran running back Alfred Blue suffered an ankle sprain. While Blue does not move the needle much, he offers steadiness behind Fournette. Maybe Blue’s absence opens the door for rookie Ryquell Armstead to make a move. A concussion has kept Armstead out of action, but if he returns Thursday in Miami and performs well, he might be Fournette’s all-important handcuff.
One bit of positivity for Jacksonville comes with Marqise Lee coming off the active/PUP list. The Jaguars missed Lee’s steady presence last season after tearing his ACL. Fantasy owners need to take a wait and see approach with Lee. He may not be ready for the start of the season. And the missed time prevented him from finding a connection with Foles. But with uncertainly among the Jacksonville receiving corps, Lee could look appealing down the road on the waiver wire.
Cowboys At Rams
Sizzle
Dallas appears to have a gem in fourth-round rookie running back Tony Pollard. The former Memphis Tiger rushed for 42 yards on just five carries. Pollard also delivered a 14-yard touchdown run. Yes, Jerry Jones should not have said “Zeke Who.” The Cowboys and fantasy owners need Ezekiel Elliott to return. But should Elliott’s holdout linger into the season, plan on Pollard making an impact.
Dallas wants further progression from second-year wide receiver Michael Gallup. Gallup hauled in a 31-yard strike from Dak Prescott. Despite considerable promise, Gallup may not develop into a regular fantasy starter in a run-heavy offense. But he will help daily league players and best ball owners hit some home runs.
Fizzle
Rams head coach Sean McVay once again chose not to play the mainstays of the Los Angeles offense. With that in mind, our focus shifts again to rookie Darrell Henderson given he actually logged time. Many fantasy owners will happily make Henderson part of their team. And the rookie will reward them with big plays and quite a few receptions. Henderson caught six passes on Saturday.
But some believe Henderson will lead the Los Angeles backfield if Todd Gurley breaks down. Henderson averaged 2.7 yards per carry after averaging 2.2 yards in an earlier clash with Oakland. At least at this point, he looks to be more advanced as a receiver than runner. Malcolm Brown should not be dismissed by anyone late in drafts.
Chiefs At Steelers
Sizzle
For the second game in a row, James Washington shined for the Steelers. Washington pulled in four passes for 78 yards. Although Washington appears to still be behind Donte Moncrief on the depth chart, his stock keeps rising. Jaylen Samuels, whose stock has also risen as a potential compliment to James Conner, scored a touchdown. Mason Rudolph may have moved ahead in the battle to be Pittsburgh’s backup quarterback. And ultimately, the more united Steelers have to be smiling just because they do not have Antonio Brown anymore.
Mecole Hardman scored a touchdown for the second week in a row. His previous touchdown was on a shovel pass where he did most of the work. Hardman scored this time around by pulling in a strike from Chad Henne surrounded by three defensive backs. Despite being hit, Hardman held onto the ball. As mentioned before, Hardman will be inconsistent. But when filling out the back end of your squad, his home run capability gives you a big asset.
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Fizzle
On paper, Carlos Hyde did not have a bad night, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Unfortunately for Hyde, he lost a fumble. And rookie Darwin Thompson delivered more production. Thompson averaged 7.5 yards per carry. The rookie also garnered praise from Kansas City head coach Andy Reid. The usage of both backs behind Damien Williams on Saturday against San Francisco will be something to watch. Thompson being a higher upside handcuff than Hyde would not be a surprise.
Bears At Giants
Sizzle
After Daniel Jones delivered a dynamic debut, the calls for Eli Manning to be benched were loud. Eli at least temporarily answered the critics, as he was four-for-four for 42 yards and a touchdown. An overall sharp showing for Jones was marred by two lost fumbles. So Eli stays in the lead, but Jones grants the Giants brass a seemingly positive future.
There are valid reasons to be concerned about New York’s backfield depth behind Saquon Barkley. I know I harshly critiqued the non-Barkley entities last week. So in the issue of fairness, I want to point out Rod Smith averaged 4.2 yards a carry. And Paul Perkins generated 65 total yards. With Wayne Gallman ailing, Perkins looks to be ahead of Smith at the moment. Hopefully the situation will be further sorted out after game three of the preseason.
Fizzle
With so many key Chicagoans sitting out, we were denied another look at the Bears backfield breakdown. A report by Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports states the Bears love David Montgomery. The risks seem to be higher with Tarik Cohen and Mike Davis because of Montgomery. Additional perspective should come after Chicago clashes with the Colts on Saturday.
In the ongoing Chicago kicker saga, the Bears cut Elliott Fry after he missed a 47-yard field goal. Eddy Pineiro holds the job for now. Expect Chicago to potentially make another move should Pineiro struggle in Indianapolis.
Raiders At Cardinals
Sizzle
Everyone knows big story with the Raiders. The wide receiver with the frozen feet and ill-fitting helmet dominates all the headlines. There are other things happening with the Raiders outside of Antonio Brown’s diva dynasty.
First-round rookie running back Josh Jacobs averaged 5.3 yards per carry in the victory over Arizona. Jacobs adds legitimacy to the Raiders offense and offers fantasy owners upside as an RB2. Fellow rookie Hunter Renfrow picked up a couple of receptions. Derek Carr led a touchdown drive highlighted by a 27-yard connection to newcomer Tyrell Williams.
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Rightfully, the Raiders are not regarded as a great offense for fantasy players. But at least there are some positives heading into the third week of preseason. And the “Boycott Brown” draft plan keeps growing.
Fizzle
After performing well against the Chargers, Kyler Murray struggled against the Silver and Black. Murray went 3-for-8 for 12 meager yards and was sacked for a safety. Looking very much like a raw rookie, will some now give pause to picking Murray? In reality, if someone in your league passes up Murray and you can get him later, go for it. His ceiling stays high despite the off night. And you can always pair him with someone like Ben Roethlisberger and have a safety valve.
Arizona lost cornerback Robert Alford to a fractured tibia. With superstar cornerback Patrick Peterson suspended for the first six games, the Cardinals could be surrendering lots of points early on. While that would be a natural positive for Murray, it also benefits anyone with players squaring off against Arizona.
Packers At Ravens
Sizzle
Talented rookie Justice Hill led Baltimore in rushing, scoring a touchdown and compiling 49 yards on 10 carries. Hill remains an excellent flyer in the second half of drafts. Although it was called back because of penalty, Lamar Jackson scrambled into the end zone on an electrifying play. If you were looking for one play to make Jackson’s fantasy case, consider yourself lucky. Chris Moore, who Baltimore may lean on early as their rookie receivers get acclimated, racked up four receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Fizzle
Back tightness resulted in Aaron Rodgers sitting out. While there appears to be no reason for panic, it would have been nice to see Rodgers out there. Those investing in Marquez Valdes-Scantling want to see an increased rapport between the young receiver and Rodgers. Even though Valdes-Scantling looks to be the starter alongside Davante Adams, Rodgers has more history with Geronimo Allison. Allison caught two passes for 29 yards in the loss to the Ravens. Geronimo will not be going away, even if Valdes-Scantling offers more breakout potential.
Bengals At Redskins
Sizzle
Did we inch closer to a potential quarterback controversy in Cincinnati? Probably not right away, but rookie Ryan Finley was 20-for-26 for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, incumbent Andy Dalton had a pass tipped that turned into a pick six for the Redskins. With Cincinnati projected by most to finish last in the NFC North, maybe Finley sees time later in the season. He offers decent potential in dynasty leagues.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Dwayne Haskins looked better in his second appearance. Haskins was just 7-for-14, but connected with Robert Davis on a 55-yard scoring strike. With Colt McCoy expected to be sidelined into the regular season, Washington’s options are Haskins and Case Keenum. Veteran Keenum leads the race, but could Haskins steal the job with a big game Thursday in Atlanta?
Fizzle
Do you want to roll the dice on Derrius Guice? With each passing week where Guice lacks clearance to play, the risk keeps growing. We may finally see him this time around on in Atlanta. Adrian Peterson rushed for an impressive 31 yards on four carries in the loss to the Bengals. Sure, risk exists with Peterson at his age. But even a diminished Peterson continues to be more of a proven commodity than Guice. As does Chris Thompson, who despite an injury-plagued history will be Washington’s primary pass catching back.
According to ADP data at Fantasy Football Calculator, Peterson can be drafted well after Guice. Thompson lacks value in standard formats, but happens to be available much later than Guice in PPR formats. Barring a dramatic turn of events, feel free to fade Guice in the sixth/seventh round range. Later on down the line, you may be able to pick him for next to nothing.
Jets At Falcons
Sizzle
Could Green Bay’s trash be New York’s treasure? Packers castoff Ty Montgomery rushed for 36 yards on seven carries and scored New York’s first touchdown. Montgomery looks to have emerged as the best handcuff to Le’Veon Bell. Sam Darnold and Robby Anderson looked sharp in limited action. Anderson caught three of Darnold’s five completions.
Ito Smith produced 58 total yards and his second touchdown of the preseason. While rookie Qadree Ollison averaged 4.9 yards per carry, Brian Hill struggled. Hill had been outperforming Smith. Smith may not be the safest handcuff pick since Ollison and Hill could be factors. However, heading into the season, Smith looks to still be the first replacement should something happen to Devonta Freeman.
Fizzle
While New York’s offense has been humming along, their defense suffered a big loss in Atlanta. Ace linebacker Avery Williamson was lost for the season with a torn ACL. An excellent leader who produced 120 combined tackles in 2018, IDP owners will also feel the loss of Williamson.
Will the Jets again be looking for a kicker? After Chandler Catanzaro retired after a sour showing during Week 1 of the preseason, New York added Taylor Bertolet. And Bertolet’s showing in Atlanta undoubtedly gives the Jets brass reason for concern. Bertolet missed two extra points, just as Catanzaro had done.
Sure, I know most of you probably are not concerned about the identity of New York’s kicker. But with the Jets offense potentially on the rise, the right kicker could be useful for your squad. Former kicker Jason Myers kicked seven field goals in one game last year and five in another. Perhaps the Jets should have kept Myers to begin with.
Browns At Colts
Sizzle
We did not witness very many of Cleveland’s key performers. One who made another good impression was Rashard Higgins. Cleveland’s third receiver with Antonio Callaway suspended for four games, Higgins now has nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdowns so far in the preseason. The Cleveland offense will be able to support multiple receivers. As mentioned previously, Higgins lurks as a late-round asset.
Fizzle
Andrew Luck’s injury haunts the Colts no matter how many positives they produced against Cleveland. Up-and-coming wide receiver Deon Cain caught seven passes for 80 yards. Eric Ebron scored a touchdown. Devin Funchess grabbed a couple of passes. And Luck’s backup, Jacoby Brissett, played well. With Luck not practicing this week, Brissett gets closer to drawing the start on opening day against the Chargers. Unlike some backup quarterbacks, Brissett would not destroy the fantasy integrity of the playmakers around him. But if Brissett starts for an extended period, all Indianapolis offensive components need to drop down your rankings.
Patriots At Titans
Sizzle
Sidelined since Week 1 last year, the Titans are thrilled to have Delanie Walker back. Walker snared two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Doubts rightfully exist about Walker regaining TE1 status, but you may be able to get him as a TE2. Although Walker lacks the upside of younger tight ends, at that price point, he at least offers stability.
Rumblings about Ryan Tannehill making a run at the starter’s job for the Titans persist. Tannehill played well again, completing 7-of-11 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Mariota made strides after an ordinary opener, throwing the touchdown to Walker and scoring on a 2-point conversion. In the end, Mariota almost assuredly will start heading into the season. But those in 2QB formats with deep rosters would have little to lose by drafting Tannehill.
After missing practice time due to a hand issue, Damien Harris seemed to disappear from fantasy sight. Harris composed a quick resurrection, rushing for 80 yards on 14 carries. Proving to also be a factor as a receiver, Harris caught four passes for 23 yards. Sony Michel and James White are the clear leaders for touches in the New England backfield. But Harris will not be vanishing again anytime soon. Do not sleep on Damien again. The Patriots backfield yields plenty of twists and Harris ending up in a lead role would not be surprising.
Fizzle
Josh Gordon’s return overshadows everything with New England. Gordon’s latest comeback attempt generates a surge for Tom Brady’s value. But outside of Brady, it increases the question marks with the rest of the New England receivers. Will Gordon torpedo N’Keal Harry’s potential? Will the efforts of Jakobi Meyers, who had six more catches for 82 yards against Tennessee, be wasted? Julian Edelman’s target volume ought to be safe, but even his upside subsides somewhat.
And of course, now fantasy owners must decide if gambling on Gordon makes sense. With several aborted comebacks already, do you want to take someone who may not make through an entire season? In addition, a soaring ADP makes Gordon even riskier. Will he ever get back to his 2013 form? Paying a heavier price for past production can backfire. So Gordon’s return essentially generates more challenges than solutions.
49ers At Broncos
Sizzle
Triumphant returns are almost always reasons to celebrate. And while questions can justly be posed about his fantasy worth, Emmanuel Sanders looked great. Showing no ill effects from his torn Achilles, Sanders ran for 19 yards on a reverse. Additionally, he caught a long ball downfield that was called back because of penalty. Many are sleeping on Sanders because he was hurt late in the 2018 season. The growth of Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton are also reasons to doubt Sanders. Nevertheless, Emmanuel’s ADP will move up in the wake of Monday night. As long as it does not get too high, Sanders gives owners a reliable commodity at a reasonable cost
More clarity exists in the 49ers backfield with Jerick McKinnon unfortunately sidelined. But if you want to buy into another installment of the Kyle Shanahan freight festival, deep backups Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson each scored touchdowns. Mostert briefly had fantasy value in 2018. For those wanting to breathe easier, Tevin Coleman gained seven yards per carry.
After catching two passes for 61 yards in the opener, Deebo Samuel gained 45 yards on a toss play. The 49ers are fortunate that Samuel and his rookie colleague Jalen Hurd have shown well so far.
Fizzle
I figured the worst thing I would see during this game was a multitude of Progressive Auto Insurance commercials. Instead, it was Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo left the field with a quarterback rating of 0.0. He completed one pass for zero yards and tossed an interception. He headlines the list of players needing to make major improvements during the all-important third week of preseason.
Denver’s backfield partnership of Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman found themselves stuffed by San Francisco’s defense. Limited to 14 yards, Lindsay looked a little better than Freeman, who gained zero yards. The bad night likely changes little in terms of Denver’s plans. Regardless, a higher level of productivity would have been nice. Hopefully that will come this week.
Seahawks At Vikings
Sizzle
Adam Thielen played like an All-Pro, with three receptions for 45 yards in a brief cameo appearance. Rookie tight end Irv Smith looks sharp. Smith caught five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. Mike Boone generated another big play with a 45-yard reception. Stuck behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, Boone needs help to make fantasy waves. He has the talent to make an impact if everything breaks right.
With surgery scheduled for D.K. Metcalf, some of the other Seattle receivers will need to step up. Jaron Brown snagged two passes for 52 yards. Brown has never caught more than 31 passes in a season, but scored five touchdowns for Seattle last year. David Moore showed flashes last year and would be a better dice roll than Brown. In the end, Moore and Brown are best suited for roles as inexpensive daily plays. One must not forget that any receiver on Russell Wilson’s radar bears watching, even in Seattle’s run dominant offense.
Fizzle
Once again, Rashaad Penny failed to outpace Chris Carson. Penny compiled minus two yards rushing on six carries. Carson, on the other hand, rushed for 25 yards on five carries. Heading into training camp, the Seattle backfield looked to be close to a time share. Now, Penny needs to have a big game this week to creep back closer to Carson. He certainly has not fallen to the point of being a mere handcuff. However, another slow showing and Penny’s flex appeal would continue to fade. A matchup with the Bengals in Week 1 may be what bails him out.
Lions At Texans
Sizzle
Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins know how to showcase their partnership in style. In Watson’s first action of the season, the lethal Texans connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Vyncint Smith scored on a 31-yard pass from backup quarterback Joe Webb. DeAndre Carter caught three passes for 40 yards. Smith and Carter are not exactly hot fantasy commodities at the moment. But with Keke Coutee out and Will Fuller having past injury issues, they could be players to watch. Ka’imi Fairbairn, one of fantasy’s top kickers, nailed three field goals and three extra points.
Fizzle
Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson made the start for the Lions. Johnson deserves somewhat of a pass since he just landed in Motown, but was responsible for two turnovers. David Fales outplayed Johnson. Whether the leader in the bullpen is Fales, Johnson, or Tom Savage, Matthew Stafford needs to stay healthy. If we are looking for positives for Detroit in this one, Kerryon Johnson averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
Dolphins At Buccaneers
Sizzle
Tampa Bay’s tangled backfield has long been expected to be anchored by Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones. But Dare Ogunbowale keeps making a positive impression on head coach Bruce Arians. Dare made his way through Miami’s defense for 88 total yards. Ogunbowale may plateau as a preseason wonder. Or, he could have a lot to offer. With neither Barber nor Jones being particularly distinguished, Ogunbowale might push for playing time at some point. Another solid showing on Friday by Ogunbowale and the Buccaneers backfield gets even more interesting.
Fizzle
After looking like an All-Pro against Atlanta, Miami’s Preston Williams did not live up to his previous preseason pedigree. Williams caught one pass for seven yards and dropped a couple of balls. He looked closer to losing a roster spot than becoming the next big thing.
Neither Josh Rosen nor Ryan Fitzpatrick seems to be staking a serious case to be Miami’s starting quarterback. We all know how hot and cold Fitzpatrick can be. Frosty Fitz happened to be on display in Tampa, as the veteran completed just 33% of his passes. Rosen was 10-for-18 for 102 yards and zero touchdowns. Fitzpatrick will start this week. If he bombs and Rosen delivers an adequate showing, that could change. Either way, Miami’s offense, despite having interesting parts like Kalen Ballage, will be one defensive streamers should target regularly.
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Bills At Panthers
Sizzle
In a positive twist for the Bills, Josh Allen the passer outperforms Josh Allen the runner. Often inaccurate as a rookie, Allen went 9-for-11 for 102 yards. Five of Allen’s completions went to slot specialist Cole Beasley. The connection the Buffalo brass had been hoping to see was on clear display in Charlotte. Regarded as a low-ceiling PPR option, Beasley might be a positive option at the end of fantasy benches. Any evolution as a passer only enhances Allen’s positive-trending stock.
Fizzle
It was not a totally lost night for Devin Singletary. Buffalo’s compelling rookie runner caught three passes for 25 yards. Nonetheless, Singletary did not get many opportunities on the ground. LeSean McCoy rushed for a score and T.J. Yeldon received the most carries of any Buffalo back. Singletary needs to shine in the all-important dress rehearsal against to have a legitimate shot at early season credibility.
Carolina’s backup quarterbacks behind Cam Newton continue to struggle. Kyle Allen completed just 4-of-11 passes. Will Grier tossed a pick six to cornerback Kevin Johnson. Let’s hope Newton’s health outlook stays positive. The Panthers offense possesses a lot of positives as long as Newton stays afloat.
Saints At Chargers
Sizzle
Anyone with New Orleans players on their roster last year grimaced when Taysom Hill entered near the goal line. Who might Hill steal a score from? But when you go outside of the fantasy scope, you remember New Orleans knows what they are doing. Hill deserves to be out there. He proved it on Sunday, throwing for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Hill also added 53 rushing yards. Bringing it back to fantasy, Hill’s dual-threat ability would be very interesting if he ever saw extended playing time. With the end on the horizon for Drew Brees, stashing Hill in dynasty would be quite savvy.
Fizzle
The showdown with the Saints became very secondary to the Chargers due to a boatload of bad news. Star safety Derwin James will be out several months with a foot injury. The loss of James lowers the ceiling for one of fantasy football’s best team defenses. Keenan Allen has an ankle injury that will sideline him for the rest of the preseason. Allen ought to be okay for Week 1, but his situation must be monitored. And of course, Melvin Gordon’s holdout shows no signs of ending.
