Thu Jul 31 7:58pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer
Hampton is looking even better
If there’s one thing you can count on, year after year, in fantasy football, it’s a massive love for rookies. The shiny, new toy, the mystery box, whatever you want to call it, someone in your league is a college football enthusiast and wants nothing more than to be the one who “discovers” the NFL’s next big thing. Not that there’s anything or anyone to discover, per se. They just love being the person who drafts the youngster and, if he pops in Year 1, can be the one to say, “I knew he would be a stud.”
But drafting rookies early can be a very dangerous game. While yes, we’ve seen stars like Ezekiel Elliott get drafted early and perform at a high level, we’ve also seen rookies wildly over-drafted and instantly become disappointments. Take Marvin Harrison Jr. from last season. He actually had a great season for a rookie on a rebuilding team as he finished the year with 885 yards and eight touchdowns on 62 receptions and 116 targets. But since everyone drafted him in the early second round expecting a premier season like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, his overall totals left his owners wanting more. A lot more.
And speaking of Chase and Jefferson, remember their rookie camps? Jefferson had a run of drops and, if memory serves, a hamstring issue that slowed him in camp. Chase couldn’t catch the football because it didn’t have white stripes on it like the college ball and he had trouble seeing it. Neither of them was taken in the first half of fantasy drafts in their rookie seasons and both ended up as dominant forces at bargain prices.
Every draft class is different. There are hyped up guys who get drafted early and may disappoint and there are lesser-known commodities who could shine bright and turn a 14th-round dart-throw into a super-stud first-rounder next year. With the calendar about to flip to August and training camps underway, now is as good a time as any to see how the rookies are shaping up. They’ve gone through May OTAs and June mini-camps. Let’s see who’s doing what and what we as fantasy players should be watching for as we head into our drafts.
Quarterbacks
Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
The No. 1 overall pick seems firmly entrenched as the starter this season. Will Levis is having season-ending shoulder surgery already and Ward has very little competition for first-team reps. As a developing first-timer, there is no reason to treat Ward as anything but a third quarterback in a superflex format. He has strong weapons but there will always be growing pains, so throw a dart at him if you like but don’t rely on him as your guy.
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
He’s having a perfectly fine camp as he learns the ropes behind two very capable veterans. At some point later in the season, once the Giants are out of playoff contention, he could start to get some looks from Brian Daboll, but he’s not someone you want in a redraft league this season. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see Russell Wilson hold the job all season long.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Likely to be thrown directly into the fire at the start of the season, Shough is sharing first-team reps with Spencer Rattler right now and probably will for a little while longer here in camp. Similar to Ward, you could look to him as a third QB for superflex but he is not someone fantasy owners want to rely on. The weapons are there and we expect the Saints to be so bad that they are forced into throwing heavy late in games, but that’s not how you want to build your team.
Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Expectations are high and so is his ADP. I’ve seen Jeanty go as high as fifth in a draft, so you know everyone is pushing the chips all-in. He will be the focal point of Chip Kelly’s offense and we all know Pete Carroll loves to run the football as much as he loves to chomp gum on the sidelines. The fantasy community is basically looking at him as this year’s Bijan Robinson but without the Arthur Smith/Tyler Allgeier nonsense. He’s having a solid enough start to camp that I think you can draft with confidence.
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
He’s getting a lot of steam lately with Najee Harris sitting out with a mysterious eye injury suffered during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July. Harris hasn’t been active in camp at all and Hampton is getting first-team reps over the likes of Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins. Sure, the Chargers added Nyheim Hines to the mix, but this is starting to look more and more like Hampton’s backfield. I still have concerns for him in relation to Harris’ potential workload. If the eye issue clears up, the Chargers are paying him $9.5M with $5M guaranteed. They’re not going to just throw that money away if he’s healthy.
TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
Pats fans are getting their wish as they continue their search for the next James White. We know how OC Josh McDaniels utilized White back in the day and right now, he seems to be doing just that with Henderson. Reports are coming in about how McDaniels is lining Henderson up all over the field and keeping him very heavily incorporated in the passing attack. I’m not pushing him up draft boards just yet, but in full-point PPR formats, he could be a great pick at his current ADP.
Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
Not touching him with a 10-foot pole. No way. There are domestic violence charges looming, he’s not with the team and all reports out of Cleveland say that the team is in no rush to sign him to his rookie contract. Sure, there’s talent there, but I’m not touching him nor am I recommending him to anyone. If you want a Browns back, Jerome Ford is likely the primary with fellow rookie Dylan Sampson getting the third-down passing work.
RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
I liked Harvey coming into the NFL Draft and I walked away loving him when I saw he landed in Denver. Joe Lombardi and Sean Payton do amazing things for their running backs in the passing game and with the signing of J.K. Dobbins, it looks like he and Harvey will blossom into the next Alvin Kamara/Mark Ingram tandem Lombardi and Payton had in New Orleans. What was even more encouraging was how the coaching staff gave rave reviews to Harvey’s work once the pads went on in camp. He fits the wide-zone blocking scheme very well, has good hands and a strong field of vision. I’ve drafted him in plenty of the Beat Howard Bender Best Ball Tournament drafts.
Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
I really like the player and I feel like he fits the scheme Arthur Smith is running in the Steel City. He’s a no-brainer pick in dynasty and I definitely have shares of him across all formats right now. However, we are seeing some early reports that he is struggling with his pass-blocking and that is never good for a rookie. Especially when you have a guy like Jaylen Warren on the team, a guy who is routinely lauded for his pass-blocking talents. He’ll have a solid share of the work, but keep a close eye on camp reports moving forward to see if he’s making the improvements we fantasy owners need him to make.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
It hasn’t been the best of starts for the former Virginia Tech speedster as he experienced some fumbling issues in mini-camp that plagued him during the latter part of his college career. Now he’s sitting on the sidelines nursing a hamstring issue, so Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are getting all the work. That’s not to say Tuten is a bust, but you should definitely temper your expectations if you are looking to draft him. He’ll sit third on the depth chart and likely needs an injury or two to earn a larger role.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
He’s starting to become a bit of a cult hero for Giants fans and he just started to get some first-team reps, but don’t let that sway you too much. This should still be Tyrone Tracy’s backfield for the most part, with Skattebo coming in on some between-the-tackles, short-yardage work as well as some snaps at or near the goal line. I don’t see him racking up a ton of yardage, but I could definitely see him as an annoying touchdown-vulture. Keep watching how they are using him in camp and don’t be afraid to draft him at his current ADP.
Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys
There was a report that stated former Cowboys assistant coach Glenn Smith referred to Blue as “borderline lazy,” which set off quite a few alarms for people. But in response, head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke very complimentary of Blue’s talents on the field and then gave him first-team reps the next day. Then OC Klayton Adams praised his rookie runner as well, citing his explosiveness with the ball in his hands. Maybe this is just coach-speak in hopes that the kid’s confidence doesn’t get shaken, but keep a watchful eye on how he is used in camp over the next few weeks. Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams seem to have an early hold on the job.
Wide Receivers
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
We already knew there would be plenty of buzz surrounding Hunter and the early reports that had him playing predominatly as a wide receiver and only playing defense on a limited basis still didn’t deter people from taking him around the fifth round of their best ball tournaments. But then we watched him struggle a bit as a receiver, catching the ball with his body and not his hands, and suddenly, people started to cool on him. His ADP dipped to the sixth/seventh round which, in my opinion is a much more sensible price. But then ESPN listed him as a WR/CB and he started playing two-way a lot more in practice and scrimmages, so now people are back to chasing him. I don’t mind drafting him, but probably no higher than the sixth0round for me. He needs to show bigger improvements as a receiver before I invest in any pick higher than that.
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
He’s having a solid camp and everything seems to be in line for him to remain the Panthers’ No. 1 receiver and top target for Bryce Young. He is currently dealing with a minor leg issue, but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of concern. I wish his ADP was a little lower, but I still believe he could be looking at a 25-percent target share and with that kind of volume, you definitely want a piece of him.
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He’s already getting rave reviews from beat writers and the coaching staff, but fantasy owners need to rein in their expectations. We know he’s talented, but the fact that Todd Bowles continues to remind everyone that Chris Godwin remains “on track in his recovery,” tells me that the rookie isn’t leapfrogging anyone on the depth chart anytime soon. Maybe Egbuka sees more snaps than Jalen McMillan should Godwin miss any time, but he is not running away with any job and once Godwin is back, it will be him and Mike Evans in the two-receiver sets.
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
Yes, the Packers drafted him in the first round and yes, he is likely to be a better field-stretching option than Christian Watson. But Golden is already dealing with some early camp growing pains and while he is fast, the team is trying to get him up to speed on route-running and catching the football. He’s had some nice moments but he’s also made some mistakes. Hopefully, the ADP takes a dip and we can take a shot on him at a lower cost, much in the way we were able to do with Chase and Jefferson. Not that we are equating talents – more just hoping some negative camp-talk gets us a lower price tag.
Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
No news is good news. How about that? We know the talent is there, but there really haven’t been many reports discussing how he’s looked in camp and I’m ok with that. We know the offense suits him well and with CJ Stroud having more autonomy at the line, perhaps he and Higgins continue to form a bond. Continue t draft him at his ADP with confidence.
Luther Burden, Chicago Bears
If we were doing progress reports or end of semester grades, we’d have to give Burden an incomplete. He suffered a hamstring injury back in May and has only just now been back on the field at training camp. Ben Johnson says Burden “is a little behind right now,” and he is being eased back in on 7-on-7 drills. Keep following his progress.
Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
Everything I was expecting when the Ole Miss product got drafted by the Chargers is coming to fruition. Monday’s camp and post-practice press conferences were littered with praise for Harris, who apparently looked incredibly dynamic in all facets of the game. As the big split-end the Chargers need to complement Ladd McConkey, Harris could be starting to leapfrog Quentin Johnston as the Chargers No. 2 wideout and could prove to be a very strong fantasy asset. Even in a run-first scheme, Harris could get a strong number of targets this season.
Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders
He’s gotten off to a good start with the team, though fellow rookie Dont’e Thornton is also getting some camp buzz as well. Neither will be passing Brock Bowers or Jakobi Meyers on the targets leaderboard, so don’t look to Bech as anything more than some roster depth for potential bye week issues. The ADP is low and probably shouldn’t move in redraft leagues at all.
Kyle Williams, New England Patriots
Much like Higgins from Houston, no news for Williams is good news. He’s had moments of being splashed in with the first team, but he is still very much learning the complexities of a McDaniels offense. He’s good to be drafted at his current ADP because there is strong potential that he finds his way into the No. 2 receiver role behind Stefon Diggs. Sure, you’ve got Mack Hollins as a field-stretcher and Demario Douglas as a low-aDOT, move-the-chains type guy, but Williams has the ability to develop into a more complete receiver and a bigger asset for Drake Maye.
Tight Ends
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
It’s been a rough spring and summer for the No. 10 overall pick as offseason shoulder surgery has kept Loveland out of OTAs and mini-camps. Just like his fellow rookie teammate Luther Burden, Loveland is now being eased into camp in 7-on-7 drills and will continue to work with the second team. It shouldn’t be long before he starts seeing more action, but don’t expect Cole Kmet to go away anytime soon, given the work he is already putting in.
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
There has been a lot of camp praise doled out on the rookie tight end and it seems like the Colts finally have their guy. What’s even better is that he’s becoming a reliable option for both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, so whoever wins this job, at least we know there’s an on-field rapport already established. Personally, I prefer Jones to win the job as he is the stronger passer, but we are hearing some things about improvements being made to Richardson’ passing work as well.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets
My sleeper tight end pick of the season is starting to get a little more camp buzz, which makes me nervous that his ADP could start to climb a little. Head coach Aaron Glenn was heaping on the praise with regard to Taylor’s blocking and he’s already looking like a reliable go-to option for Justin Fields. When it comes to fantasy tight ends, it’s all about opportunity and if the coaches are confident in all aspects of his game, the snap-share will be huge. The Jets also lack wide receiver depth, which could put Taylor as the No. 2 receiving target.
Five Fantasy Football Sleepers
Cleveland Browns starting center Ethan Pocic (knee) left Saturday's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams with a knee injury, the team announced. Pocic "appeared to get rolled up on during a 14-yard pass from quarterback Joe Flacco to rookie running back Dylan Sampson," according to Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com. Pocic exited in the first quarter, and the Browns replaced him with Luke Wypler. The 30-year-old Pocic is entering his fourth season as Cleveland's No. 1 center and has started in all 44 of his appearances with the team. He made a career-high 16 starts a year ago and ranked 28th among 64 centers at Pro Football Focus. If he misses any regular-season time, it would be an unwelcome development for Flacco and the Browns' running backs.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted more than a week ago that he would use mostly starters in the team's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints for eight to 10 plays, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. On offense to begin Saturday's game, rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey was the starting RB. Veteran J.K. Dobbins will also be heavily involved in Denver's backfield this year, but he's been injury-prone in his career, and Harvey wasn't drafted in the second round for no reason. The 24-year-old from Central Florida was very productive in college despite standing at only 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds. While Harvey won't be a workhorse right away in the NFL, that could quickly develop if Dobbins misses more time due to injury. The rookie is shifty, quick and tough to tackle and should be a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 target for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (knee) is back in uniform at practice on Saturday after missing the entire preseason with a knee injury, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. This will be Smith's first practice since tweaking his knee on Aug. 5. The 30-year-old should be on track to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the New York Jets. However, after a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, Smith's fantasy value took a huge hit after being traded to Pittsburgh in the offseason. He should still be involved in offenive coordinator Arthur Smith's system, but he's expected to take a back seat to incumbent Pat Friermuth. In single-TE fantasy formats, managers can avoid Smith on draft day. Outside of his 88-884-8 line last year, Smith's best season was a 50-582-3 line the year prior in Atlanta.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb will not suit up for the team's preseason finale on Saturday versus the Detroit Lions, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Alexander notes that unless Chubb is dealing with an injury, he's likely a lock to start in Week 1 of the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7, with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) still sidelined due to injury. Dameon Pierce, rookie Woody Marks and Dare Ogunbowale were all in uniform for Saturday's contest in Detroit. In his lone preseason appearance, the 29-year-old Chubb had five carries for 25 yards and caught one pass for a gain of four yards. Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler, might get the start in Week 1, but Houston figures to mix and match in their backfield until Mixon is able to return. He did not look like the same explosive back last year after a serious knee injury in 2023 and is only the RB53 at RotoBaller.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is not playing in the team's preseason finale on Saturday against the Detroit Lions, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Other starters that will sit out include running back Nich Chubb, receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk and tight end Dalton Schultz. Stroud and the rest of Houston's offense will be looking to get off on the right foot in a Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7. The 23-year-old Stroud has enough pass-catchers to rebound from a frustrating 2024 campaign, but it will all depend on how well Houston's offensive line holds up after he took a whopping 52 sacks in 17 regular-season starts last year. The former first-rounder threw for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 picks in 2024 and is currently ranked as the QB19 in fantasy going into Year 3.
From RotoBaller
JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington thinks it's interesting that Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is getting carries in the team's preseason finale on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt sitting out. It "might tell the RB depth-chart story" heading into the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. The Commanders' backfield picture is still a bit blurry, but after the team traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, Croskey-Merritt has a real opportunity at a big role on early downs in D.C. in 2025. Austin Ekeler will be the team's primary pass-catching/third-down back, which leaves JCM and Rodriguez fighting for the RB1 role. Washington also likes Jeremy McNichols, though, and this backfield could be more of a timeshare. At the very least, though, Croskey-Merritt is quickly rising on draft boards as an RB3/4 target.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (finger) is uncertain for Week 1, as reported by Zach Berman of The Athletic. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said, "We'll see," when asked about the club's primary backup, so Philadelphia may have to turn to rookie Kyle McCord or Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the No. 2 spot. In any case, it's the Jalen Hurts show in Philly for as a long as he's healthy, relegating McKee mostly to an emergency spot in fantasy leagues with very deep rosters.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that wide receiver Xavier Gipson (shoulder) was held out of Friday's game because of the injury, according to a report from Zach Rosenblatt of The Athletic. The third-year receiver's primary value to the team is as a return man, but the injury could impact whether he's ready for Week 1. Gipson sustained the injury in the Jets' second preseason game, which isn't ideal for a player uncertain to make the first 53-man roster. New York signed Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson this offseason to a receiver corps that also includes Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee) should be ready for Week 1, as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN. The veteran has missed most of the preseason recovering from an arthroscopic procedure, but looks to have a role behind projected Jets starter Justin Fields. As per usual, Taylor's fantasy value will totally depend on the health of the starter in front of him, making him a useful insurance policy in deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Wide receiver Elic Ayomanor started and caught all three of his targets for 25 yards in Tennessee's preseason-concluding victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. The rookie from Stanford already has developed a connection with Titans quarterback Cameron Ward and looks to be carving out a role for 2025. Ayomanor set up a touchdown with a red zone target on Friday, a week after hauling in a 47-yard pass from Ward. Though Calvin Ridley is all but sure to be the Titans' No. 1 receiver, Ayomanor's competition for playing time is journeyman Van Jefferson and fellow rookie Chimere Dike, making immediate playing time look realistic.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue (ankle) said he's not worried about the injury sustained during Friday's game, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The rookie is stepping into one of the most uncertain backfield situations in the league, so calling the injury "nothing serious" is a positive development for Dallas. The team signed short-term deals with running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders for a rotation that also includes Deuce Vaughn, giving Blue a very realistic path to playing time during his first season. He remains an intriguing rookie breakout candidate on a Cowboys offense that has significant skill-position talent around him.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will not play in the team's final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Daniels is joined on the bench by most of the team's starters, including wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Daniels played one drive in the team's second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday without attempting a pass. The 24-year-old can now turn his full attention to Washington's Week 1 matchup against the division rival New York Giants. Daniels is a high-end fantasy QB1, but he may be without his top weapon in wide receiver Terry McLaurin to open the season due to McLaurin's ongoing contract dispute with the team.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Feleipe Franks caught all three of his targets for 24 yards, most of which came on a 23-yard catch and run that he was able to take in for a touchdown. Franks also caught one pass for nine yards last week and was not targeted in the first preseason game. He was battling Teagan Quitoriano for the third tight end spot behind Kyle Pitts Sr. and Charlie Woerner, and with Quitoriano not receiving a target in the preseason, Franks appears to have a leg up. Unfortunately, third-string tight ends don't have any value for fantasy, so no need to roster him in any leagues.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt will not play in the team's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. A seventh-round pick this past April, Croskey-Merritt has been one of the breakout stars of the summer. Washington traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, opening up a spot for Croskey-Merritt to be the team's early-down workhorse right away. Veteran Austin Ekeler should handle the majority of passing-down work, and Washington also has a pair of backs with NFL experience in Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols. Notably, Croskey-Merritt and Ekeler are the Washington backs who will not play on Saturday, which could be an indication of the current pecking order in the backfield. Croskey-Merritt profiles as an RB4 with upside in redraft fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Van Jefferson recorded 102 yards and a touchdown on three catches in his team's 23-13 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. Jefferson scored a 65-yard touchdown on a long catch-and-run in the second quarter. The 29-year-old is entering his first season in Tennessee after logging 24 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. Jefferson projects to open the season as the WR3 in Tennessee alongside veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett. However, he may struggle to hold off the team's pair of fourth-round rookie wide receivers, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Jefferson should be off the radar of fantasy managers in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt moves up the depth chart with the trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: It's now officially "Bill" season. Still, expectations should be tempered. Yes, Croskey-Merritt has torn up camp by all accounts and clearly should be on rosters everywhere. However, Chris Rodriguez may have already been tabbed as the goal-line and short-yardage back for the team and Austin Ekeler is still a great pass-catcher and option for a lead back. Croskey-Merritt has the looks of a late round rookie gem this year and that's exciting but his ADP could also skyrocket a little prematurely as people go overboard.
Dynasty | The trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers creates an uncertain backfield in San Francisco. Dynasty Analysis: If there's a loser in the Robinson deal, it's probably Guerendo. He would likely split time with Robinson should Christian McCaffrey be injured but this deal makes it abundantly clear San Francisco is concerned about his injury history and not willing to leave themselves vulnerable should CMC go down. Guerendo has been a solid handcuff to own over the past two seasons but even if he was to remain the RB2, it's hard to see a situation where Robinson doesn't still split time with him. His dynasty ADP is going to slip over the next month.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that right tackle Kaleb McGary (leg) will miss "significant time" and could be placed on injured reserve after injuring his leg in practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. Atlanta signed McGary to a two-year, $30 million extension earlier this month. He's started 92 games across six seasons with Atlanta, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the 17th-best run-blocking tackle in the NFL in 2024. With backup tackle Storm Norton (ankle) set to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, the Falcons now have a massive hole on the right side of their offensive line. With a left-handed quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., McGary's absence could be a major issue for the team's pass protection as well as its run game.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons third-string quarterback Easton Stick completed 20 of 28 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 31-13 preseason loss to the Cowboys, adding three rushes for 18 yards. He also threw one interception in the game. The 29-year-oldhas now thrown a touchdown pass in each of the team's three preseason games and appears to have solidifiedhimself as the third QB option behind Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, especially with the team waiving Emory Jones this past week, who also had been used in the preseason. Without a starting gig, however, Stick won't be relevant for fantasy unless both of the other quarterbacks become unavailable.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers pushes rookie running back Jordan James down the depth chart. Dynasty Analysis: James has been a popular late round rookie pick but Robinson's arrival throws a big bucket of cold water on his short-term value. Should James make the team behind Christian McCaffrey, Robinson and Isaac Guerendo, his path to playing time looks murky. No longer fully guaranteed a roster spot, James is a player to monitor the last week of the preseason as he may need to show something to avoid the practice squad. Regardless, he looks to be fourth on the depth chart and that's not anything to get too excited about.