Analysis and fantasy notes from Week 1 of NFL preseason

Key takeaways, fantasy football thoughts, and everything else you need to know from the NFL preseason games.

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Sunday games

Dolphins still getting stuffed

Miami's offense struggled in short yardage last year, finishing as the only team to convert fewer than 50% of 3rd- or 4th-down attempts with one yard or less to go. Mike McDaniel admitted at the end of the season that the team's physicality had to improve. So far, not so good.

The Dolphins had an opportunity to make a statement in this critical area when their opening drive against the Bears got down to the 8-yard line. The starting offensive line was in the game, and so was Jaylen Wright, who received Tyreek Hill's endorsement as a more fitting goal-line back. Wright gained 6 yards on his first attempt before getting stuffed at the goal line on each of the following three. You can have all the speed and finesse you want, but there's no escaping that situations like this often decide games. Miami has to find answers soon.

Monangai making his case

D'Andre Swift is penciled in as Chicago's starting running back. Roschon Johnson also remains in the mix, and the Bears could be on the verge of adding another veteran after working out Jamaal Williams over the weekend. Still, don't overlook Kyle Monangai.

The seventh-round rookie appears to be making a positive impression during his first NFL training camp. Ben Johnson mentioned last week that he was already earning the staff's trust, and he got some first-team reps at practice Friday. Monangai offers a fascinating blend of physicality and elusiveness as an early-down runner. We saw flashes of that unique skill set in the first half against the Dolphins, where he averaged 5 yards per carry. It's not difficult to envision a scenario where an otherwise underwhelming backfield leaves the Bears looking for a spark. That makes Monangai a potential sleeper to monitor heading into fantasy draft season.

Saints QB competition

I have no idea what to make of the Saints' quarterback competition. It's possible they don't either. Spencer Rattler got the start and played nearly the entire first half Sunday against the Chargers. The results were unspectacular, to say the least, as he finished his day 7 of 11 for 53 yards while taking three sacks. New Orleans had yet to put points on the board by the time he exited with less than two minutes to play in the second quarter.

Tyler Shough got his chance from there, and his debut was a mixed bag. A few short completions established a rhythm and got the Saints in position for a field goal before the half. A brutal pick-6 on his second possession of the third quarter threatened to tank the entire outing, but he rebounded nicely with a 54-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open Mason Tipton on the following drive. Overall, Shough had some decently encouraging moments while completing 15 of 22 passes for 165 yards.

The Saints will probably need to see a lot more from these two before making a decision on a Week 1 starter. The next step could be flipping things around and having Shough run with the first-team offense next week. Either way, they have to be hoping that the second-round rookie does enough to win the job. Shough needs to play as much as possible this season so the staff knows what it has at quarterback. The way this roster is shaping up, it wouldn't be a surprise if there's a big decision to make near the top of next year's draft.

Saturday games

Dart drops a dime

Shedeur Sanders isn't the only rookie quarterback to put on a show in his preseason debut. Jaxson Dart was every bit as impressive Saturday against the Bills, giving Giants fans plenty of reason for optimism looking to the future.

The first-round rookie entered the game after Russell Wilson got the start, and he looked confident and comfortable at the controls of New York's offense. The highlight of the day came on a 28-yard touchdown to Lil'Jordan Humphrey, where Dart stood in against the rush and delivered a dime down the left sideline. That's the kind of explosive play we saw regularly at Ole Miss. By the end of the first half, Dart completed 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards.

Truthfully, I wasn't super high on Dart heading into this year's draft. At the top of my list of concerns were his decision-making and a potentially difficult transition from a gimmicky offense. One preseason game with vanilla play-calling isn't nearly enough to dismiss those reservations, but I'm open to being wrong. However, Dart is tough, can spin it, and has the athleticism to make plays as a runner either by design or when a play breaks down. While a redshirt year may be ideal, we certainly can't rule out the possibility that he forces his way into the lineup at some point during his rookie season.

Giants D-line looking scary

Saturday's game in Buffalo was also our first look at the Giants' new-look defensive line, and the star-studded unit didn't disappoint. Even without Dexter Lawrence, we got all the confirmation we needed that this group will be a problem in 2025.

Most notably, No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter looked incredible coming off the edge, pressuring Mitchell Trubisky three times on the first two drives, including a near sack. One of those pressures also came with Carter as an interior rusher in a third-down sub package, giving us a taste of how the Giants are going to get the most out of an edge group that also features Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Roy Robertson-Harris was consistently in the backfield, too, further demonstrating New York's unrivalled talent up front. Factor in a few key additions on the back end, and New York's defense should be better than many expect.

Etienne starts for Jaguars

There's been a lot of talk from Jaguars camp about Tank Bigsby having the edge in the running back competition. It's seemed for a while now that the third-year back was trending toward operating as the high-volume ball-carrier, with Travis Etienne primarily working in a pass-game role. Maybe not.

Etienne got the nod to open Saturday night's game against the Steelers, and there were no situational substitutions. He was on the field throughout the offense's 12-play drive, recording a pair of carries and one reception. Bigbsy got his chance along with the second-team offense on each of the following two possessions. Position battles can be fluid, and there's still lots of time for this one to play out before Week 1. There's a chance this was a trade showcase for Etienne, who knows? But it also seems possible that the Bigsby buzz was premature.

Hunter plays both ways

Travis Hunter got some work in on both sides of the ball in his preseason debut. He didn't have many opportunities to make plays, but perhaps there's something we can learn from the workload.

The two-way phenom was on the field for 10 snaps at receiver on Jacksonville's game-opening drive. That was all for him and the rest of the starters on offense. He wasn't on the field with the first-team defense on the following drive, but he did play corner on the two defensive possessions that followed.

Hunter is going to play both ways in some capacity - that much we know. But this first appearance would appear to suggest that his role on the offense is his early priority. It might make the most sense to get him a somewhat full workload at receiver and keep his defensive reps to pass-heavy sub packages, limiting the wear and tear he may incur in the run game.

Cam Ward 🤝 Calvin Ridley

Add Cam Ward to the growing list of young quarterbacks making a strong first impression. The Titans rookie bounced back from an early three-and-out to put together an outstanding touchdown drive in his only other opportunity against the Buccaneers. The easy arm talent that made him a no-brainer No. 1 overall pick was on full display as Tennessee's starting offense marched downfield to cap its night in style.

Ward, much like any other rookie, is bound to go through some ups and downs in his debut season. A strong connection with a veteran receiver can go a long way toward minimizing those growing pains. The Miami product appears to have that in Calvin Ridley, who was the recipient of three passes for 50 yards on that second drive alone. Considering the early chemistry, as well as the lack of options elsewhere in this receiving corps, Ridley is a player you're going to want on your fantasy team this year.

Spears has high ankle sprain

Tyjae Spears appears to have dodged a major injury after being carted off against the Buccaneers. Titans head coach Brian Callahan later revealed that the third-year running back will miss a few weeks with a high ankle sprain.

We'll have to keep an eye on this leading up to the regular season, as these kinds of injuries can linger. But it would appear that Spears now has a chance to minimize, or even avoid, any sort of missed time to start the season. That would open the door for the dynamic back to further expand his role as expected, potentially emerging as the 1A to Tony Pollard's 1B in Tennessee's backfield timeshare.

White goes down

Rachaad White had entered training camp needing to hold off Sean Tucker for the primary backup running back job in Tampa Bay. His chances of doing so took a hit when he was forced to leave Saturday's game against the Titans with a groin injury.

We probably won't have a sense of his expected timeline for a few days, but even a brief absence could be enough to wrap up this competition. Tucker was incredibly efficient in limited opportunities last year, averaging 6.2 yards per carry on 50 attempts. A good chunk of that production came in a sensational outing against the Saints, where he racked up 192 total yards and a pair of touchdowns while working alongside Bucky Irving in place of an injured White. Tucker would make his share of plays as the No. 2 back in this offense, and he'd be in a position for a monster breakout if Irving was ever forced to miss time.

Reed in a boot

Jayden Reed sat out Saturday's game against the Jets with a foot issue. There hasn't been any word on the severity of his injury, but the Packers wideout being spotted on the sideline with a walking boot wasn't exactly the most reassuring development.

This could simply be a precautionary measure to protect the foot while he gets some rest. We're still nearly a month away from the regular season. But any stretching beyond that point would obviously be a huge hit to the Packers' offense. In the meantime, first-round rookie Matthew Golden should only have more opportunities to build his connection with Jordan Love. There's been some excitement about the progress on that front already, and Golden was on the receiving end of Love's only completion against the Jets.

Jets start strong

Nobody would blame you if you had major reservations about what this Jets offense is going to look like. There's a reason Justin Fields is already on his third team. But it's also not hard to understand the formula for success here. I, for one, am intrigued.

The offensive line is finally solidified after years of turmoil, with first-round tackle Armand Membou rounding out one of the league's most talented, young groups. The Jets will hope that Fields can finally take a step forward as a passer, and a true No. 1 receiver like Garrett Wilson can only help his chances. But a run-heavy approach centered around Fields himself, as well as a talented running back room, could also be a perfectly fine complement to a strong Aaron Glenn defense. Fields finishing his only drive against the Packers with a 13-yard touchdown scamper was a great example of how that could be tough to defend.

Little from way downtown

I wasn't expecting to be talking about kickers in this space, but here we are. Cam Little didn't give me much of a choice when he drilled a 70-yard field goal for the Jaguars on Saturday night. For reference, the monster kick was four yards clear of the NFL's regular-season record.

Little isn't just a long-drive specialist, either. He was excellent for the Jaguars as a rookie last season, converting 27 of 29 attempts, including a long of 59 yards. Kickers in general are better than ever, but this combination of power and accuracy is particularly special. Little could be a valuable weapon for the up-and-coming Jaguars.

Friday games

Strong start for Shedeur

I've been looking at this Browns quarterback competition as if Shedeur Sanders doesn't have a chance to win the starting job. If we're being honest, he probably doesn't - Cleveland almost certainly has Joe Flacco locked in as QB1. However, Sanders' preseason debut should, at the very least, prompt people to question why the Browns would also have him behind Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.

The Colorado product did plenty of good things in his extended action against the Panthers, finishing 14 of 23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders' first score came on an impressive touch throw between a pair of defenders while drifting to his left. His second was a strike over the middle after some nice movement within the pocket. He also showed flashes of poise to stand in and deliver against pressure and the mobility to make plays with his legs.

Getting carried away and starting Sanders out of the gate would likely be a mistake, both for the team and his early career development. The chaotic improv acts he made at Colorado (and at times Friday night) will surely get him into trouble against NFL defenses. His timing might need some work, too. But Sanders has more than enough talent for the Browns to bring him along slowly with an eye on giving him a real look when they're inevitably out of the mix in the season's second half. Why not see what you have at QB before taking a big swing at the top of next year's draft?

Bryce, T-Mac locked in

The Panthers' starters had the luxury of working against Cleveland's backups Friday night, so we probably shouldn't make too much of the encouraging results. Nonetheless, it was great to see live examples of Bryce Young developing a strong connection with first-round rookie Tetairoa McMillan.

McMillan got his debut started with a 30-yard catch down the right sideline before adding a 13-yard gain a few plays later. He should be Carolina's clear-cut No. 1 target from Day 1. McMillan's size, route-running, and underrated yards-after-catch ability could help Young take his game to another level after last year's second-half breakout.

Coker picks up where he left off

Staying with the Panthers' receiver room, don't sleep on Jalen Coker. The second-year undrafted free agent capped off Carolina's second drive with a short touchdown reception before pulling down a beautiful one-handed catch on a 34-yard strike from Andy Dalton. Although the explosive gain was called back due to a penalty, we count those for evaluation purposes in the preseason.

Xavier Legette, drafted by Carolina in the first round in 2024, is likely a lock for a significant role alongside McMillan. Coker building on last year's flashes and making a case to round out three-receiver sets could conceivably open the door for an Adam Thielen trade. And while there are plenty of young quarterbacks around the league who would benefit from the addition of a reliable veteran, a Vikings reunion makes too much sense. Thielen's presence alongside Justin Jefferson would go a long way toward helping J.J. McCarthy hit the ground running despite Jordan Addison's three-game suspension.

TreVeyon dazzles immediately

Talk about a terrific way to start your NFL career. TreVeyon Henderson announced his arrival in spectacular fashion against the Commanders, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Special teams won't be Henderson's primary role, but the electric return was an exciting glimpse of the dynamic skill set he'll bring to the Patriots offense. He also got involved in that phase of the game Friday night, taking his lone carry for 18 yards while chipping in three receptions for another 12 yards.

Henderson was a big-play machine at Ohio State, and the second-round rookie just so happens to be the rare running back who enters the league as an extremely capable pass-protector. That'll get Henderson on the field early and often, giving him a chance to emerge as New England's most important playmaker from the outset of his pro career. He should be a top candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Maye the dual-threat

We didn't get to see Drake Maye open it up as a passer in his first game action with New England's new-look offense. The sophomore quarterback completed 3 of 5 attempts for 12 yards before taking a seat for the rest of the night. However, he also showcased another aspect of his game that should generate excitement among Patriots fans and fantasy football managers alike.

The former No. 3 overall pick had an 11-yard run for a first down on his second drive. Five plays later, a second scramble put the Patriots in the end zone. That's nothing new. Maye led all qualified passers with 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie. And while Josh McDaniels is best known for his work with Tom Brady, this is also the guy who drafted Tim Tebow in the first round. McDaniels was thrilled to add a QB-run element to his playbook with Cam Newton back in 2020. You can bet he'll take full advantage of Maye's unique skill set.

Thursday games

Richardson hurt early

Anthony Richardson getting the start after some positive reviews out of training camp was the big draw against the Ravens. Unfortunately, the Colts quarterback had his night cut short. Richardson left the contest early in his second drive after taking a massive hit on a sack from an unblocked defender off the edge.

Head coach Shane Steichen later shared that he's day-to-day with a dislocated finger, so perhaps it's not as bad as it could have been. But this is certainly a situation worth monitoring. Richardson appeared to have fallen behind Daniel Jones in the quarterback competition after aggravating his shoulder in the spring. Any absence would likely squash his recent momentum and mark yet another setback for his development. He needs these reps as much as anyone.

Keep an eye on Keaton

Keaton Mitchell had some incredible flashes as a rookie back in 2023, averaging an obscene 8.4 yards per carry on 47 attempts before going down with a gruesome knee injury. After getting back on the field for a few games late last year, it seems like he's regained his previous form. Mitchell's rare explosiveness was on full display with multiple long runs against the Colts. In total, he took nine carries for 68 yards and a touchdown.

The Ravens will continue to ride Derrick Henry as their high-volume workhorse, but Mitchell is one to watch. His big-play ability could absolutely get him on the field in rotation. And if Henry is to miss any time, the former undrafted free agent could go from secret weapon to breakout star.

Bengals try something new

Cincinnati has typically been one of the teams that rests starters during the preseason. Joe Burrow, for example, attempted all of eight passes in exhibition games across his first five seasons. Zac Taylor evidently believes it's time for that to change.

The Bengals head coach revealed earlier this week that his top players would see more action in an effort to avoid another slow start to the regular season. It remains to be seen whether that will make a difference come Week 1, but Burrow and the rest of the first-team offense couldn't have looked much better against the Eagles' backups. Cincinnati's starters marched downfield for a pair of easy first-quarter touchdowns before shutting it down for the night.

New year, same defense?

It's still early, so we'll try to avoid overreacting to a few unflattering preseason reps. There's still plenty of work to be done before the games start to matter. That being said, it sure would have been nice if the first look at the Bengals' defense gave us any reason to be optimistic after what we saw in 2024.

That's not quite how it played out, as Philly's second-team offense didn't face much resistance on a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to start the game. Will Shipley provided the key play by turning a massive hole into a 38-yard run. Again, it's preseason. Trey Hendrickson wasn't out there, but plenty of Bengals starters were. This group has to improve on last year's disappointing performance or it won't matter how good the offense can be.

An elite handcuff

Speaking of Shipley, he should probably be on everyone's fantasy radar heading into the 2025 season. I've always envisioned him as a passing-game specialist, but the former fourth-round pick is clearly the Eagles' No. 2 running back behind Saquon Barkley. He offers far more upside than A.J. Dillon.

And while he didn't have to do much on his big run Thursday night, it was an important reminder of the plays that are so often available to running backs in this offense. Barkley missing any sort of time during the regular season could make Shipley the kind of player that wins you your fantasy league.

Raiders defense struggles

Pete Carroll is a legendary defensive coach. He's got about a month to figure out how to make sure the Raiders' defense isn't the reason his win-now plans end up looking too ambitious.

Las Vegas opened Thursday's game against the Seahawks with starters across the board before slowly rotating in depth players. Drew Lock and the rest of Seattle's backups had plenty of success moving the ball against both throughout the first half. A new-look offense has a chance to make the Raiders a sneaky-fun team. As is the case with the Bengals, though, that won't be nearly enough if the defense is consistently getting pushed around.

Horton making noise

Tory Horton Jr. has been generating plenty of buzz since landing with the Seahawks as a fifth-round pick in April. His performance against the Raiders suggests it won't be quieting down any time soon.

The Colorado State product, who finished his night with three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown, is an excellent route-runner with impressive athletic traits. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is probably still the favorite for WR3 duties alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, but it seems like he's had a quiet camp. The rookie may be gaining ground.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.