- KC Concepcion scores in his first NFL game: The first-round rookie has already emerged as the Cleveland Browns’ top slot receiver and could also see playing time in two-receiver sets.
- Injured running backs return to the lineup:Cam Skattebo and Quinshon Judkins were unable to finish their rookie seasons due to injury, but both have recovered enough that their teams were comfortable playing them in a preseason game.
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Carolina Panthers@Buffalo Bills
Jonathon Brooksstarts for Carolina: Brooks played in his first NFL game since December 2024
Carolina moved on from Rico Dowdle this offseason, knowing Brooks would return to join Chuba Hubbard and Trevor Etienne in the Panthers’ backfield. Hubbard entered training camp as the starter, but there has been plenty of speculation that Brooks could eventually take over the job if he plays well enough, particularly given that Hubbard has lost playing time to other backs in the past
Brooks’ ADP began to skyrocket after Hubbard was declared week-to-week with a hamstring injury. The initial expectation was that Brooks could take over at some point during the season, but Hubbard’s injury has created a path for Brooks to potentially start as early as Week 1. His usage with the starters in this game was nearly ideal, as he played in every situation except third-and-long, when Etienne took over. Once Carolina turned to its backups, Brooks’ day was done and Etienne became the every-down back.
Carolina’s decision to use Brooks on early downs and in short-yardage situations offers a strong indication of how he could be deployed during the regular season. Hubbard has played in all situations throughout his career, so a two-man backfield could push more of his work toward passing downs while Brooks handles the bulk of the rushing opportunities. That type of split would likely make Brooks the more valuable fantasy back of the two
Brooks may no longer qualify as a clear value in fantasy drafts given his rapidly rising ADP, but his potential workload gives him a legitimate chance to spend much of the season as a fantasy starter
Bills use a four-man wide receiver rotation: The addition of DJ Moore has shaken up Buffalo’s wide receiver room
Buffalo utilized several wide receivers last season, with injuries and inconsistent play leading to a constantly changing rotation. The Bills added Moore to bring some stability to the position. He joins Khalil Shakir as the only wide receivers with seemingly secure roles near the top of the depth chart, while Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman are competing for playing time behind them
Buffalo experimented with several receiver combinations in this game and rotated players more frequently than we should expect during the regular season. That included some snaps in 11 personnel without Shakir, something that should be rare once the games count. The Bills also tried several combinations in 12 personnel. While Coleman primarily played X in previous seasons, he, Shakir and Palmer all saw notable snaps in the slot. The one constant was Moore lining up at X whenever he was on the field. Moore has played multiple roles throughout his career, but he was the Bears’ X receiver last season and also played there for the Carolina Panthers when Joe Brady was on the coaching staff.
The Bills pulled most of their starters after the first two drives, including Moore and Shakir, while Palmer and Coleman remained in the game. That provides another indication that neither Palmer nor Coleman has secured a full-time starting role. Ultimately, this game shouldn’t have a significant impact on the ADP of any Bills wide receiver
The Bills consolidate their tight end rotation:Jackson Hawes played just one snap with the starters after playing 43% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps last season
Buffalo retained its top three tight ends from last season in Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and Hawes. Kincaid was typically on the field in clear passing situations, while Knox and Hawes were the primary tight ends in 12 personnel
That rotation changed significantly in this game. Buffalo ran five plays out of 12 personnel with the starters, and Kincaid and Knox were on the field for all five. Hawes’ only snap with the starters came in 21 personnel. Kincaid and Knox also split the snaps in 11 personnel
Kincaid still might not play as much as a typical fantasy starting tight end, but this usage suggests his playing time could increase from last season, particularly in 12 personnel. Buffalo has also been cautious with Kincaid in previous preseasons, so the fact that he played as extensively as he did is an encouraging sign for his health and role
Kincaid is an ideal target for fantasy managers who wait at tight end
- Bills backup wide receiverTyrell Shavers remains on the PUP list as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in the playoffs last season.
- Third-down backTy Johnson and rookie wide receiverSkyler Bell were among the other Bills players who didn’t play. Johnson suffered aknee injury in practice earlier this week. It’s unclear why Bell was held out, but several Bills beat reporters noted that he was not in uniform during warmups.
- With Johnson out, both James Cook and Ray Davis took snaps in third-and-long situations with the starters.
- Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker played 100% of snaps with the starters while Xavier Legette joined them in 11 personnel. This is how the Panthers used their wide receivers at the end of last season.
- While it has been widely reported that the Panthers will sign veteran tight endDarren Waller, the move is not yet official, so Waller did not play.
- Without Waller, Carolina used all three of their tight ends with the starters. Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans split 12 personnel snaps and early 11 personnel snaps. Ja’Tavion Sanders played on only third downs and in clear passing situations. Waller is expected to take Sanders’ snaps, and potentially other 11 personnel work.
Cleveland Browns@Chicago Bears
Quinshon Judkinstakes 80% of the snaps with the starters: The Browns’ backfield has gone from a three-man rotation to a two-man committee
Last season, Judkins handled the early-down, short-yardage and goal-line work, while Jerome Ford served as the third-down and two-minute-drill back. Dylan Sampson was the primary backup in most situations. Ford departed in free agency, and Cleveland didn’t make any substantial additions at running back, condensing the rotation to Judkins and Sampson
The Browns played two drives with all of their starters before beginning to mix in backups on the third. Judkins played eight snaps, handling 100% of the early-down and short-yardage situations, while Sampson took both third-and-medium or third-and-long snaps. The smaller rotation should lead to a substantial increase in playing time for both backs. The starters didn’t have any goal-line snaps in this game, but Judkins handled only 60% of those snaps last season. That rate could approach 100% this year. The biggest remaining question is how Cleveland will divide the two-minute-drill work, as both backs saw snaps in those situations last season.
Judkins ended last season with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. While he has been practicing, it was reassuring to see Cleveland comfortable enough with his recovery to play him in a preseason game. Judkins is being drafted as a low-end RB2, but his expected volume gives him a strong chance to finish as a mid-range RB2
First look at the Browns’ wide receiver rotation: Rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston have already worked their way into the starting lineup
The Browns had the lowest-graded wide receiver unit last season, prompting the team to spend two early draft picks at the position. Boston was already named a starter earlier in the week, while Concepcion was also listed with the first team on Cleveland’s unofficial depth chart. They joined Jerry Jeudy on the first two drives. As expected, Boston lined up at X, Jeudy at Z and Concepcion in the slot
Concepcion primarily played in 11 personnel, but he also took one snap in place of Jeudy in 12 personnel with the starters. Jeudy left after two drives, while Boston and Concepcion remained in the game. Isaiah Bond replaced Jeudy, and the three receivers rotated in 12 personnel. Cleveland’s willingness to use Concepcion in two-receiver sets is encouraging, as it gives him a path to more playing time than a typical slot receiver. If he plays well enough, he could eventually take a larger share of those snaps from Jeudy.
The later rotation also reinforced Bond’s standing as the top backup. He primarily played in the slot as a rookie but lined up outside throughout this game. If any of Cleveland’s top three wide receivers misses time this season, Bond appears most likely to see a significant increase in snaps
Boston and Concepcion are both intriguing mid-round fantasy picks. Their ADPs are unlikely to move much based on this game, however, as their usage largely confirmed expectations entering the preseason
Bears begin in 14 personnel: While most teams keep their personnel groupings relatively vanilla in the preseason, Chicago gave opponents something extra to think about
Chicago shifted toward more 12 personnel last season after adding Colston Loveland, using the grouping on 34.4% of its plays. After seeing the Los Angeles Rams succeed out of 13 personnel last season, Chicago spent a third-round pick on Sam Roush, suggesting we could see Loveland, Cole Kmet and Roush share the field frequently. The loss of D.J. Moore provides another reason for Chicago to lean further into multiple-tight end sets
Roush was the most notable Bears skill-position player to appear in this game. While he is unlikely to carry much fantasy value himself, his usage provided another indication that Chicago could lean even more heavily into multiple-tight end formations. The Bears opened the game with four tight ends on the field, a personnel grouping they didn’t use at all last season. That could point toward Chicago keeping a fourth tight end on the roster while rarely taking Loveland or Kmet off the field. From a usage standpoint, it may be useful to think of Loveland as closer to one of Chicago’s wide receivers, with Kmet operating as the more traditional tight end.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Brownsannounced before the game that fullback Michael Burton, wide receiver Cedric Tillman and tight ends Joe Royer and Jack Stoll wouldn’t be playing.
- It’s unclear whether Tillman’s absence is related to an undisclosed injury, but reporters have speculated a trade may be imminent. Royer has been away from the team throughout training camp for an undisclosed personal reason. Burton and Stoll have recently missed practice time due to injury.
- Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. played nine of 10 snaps with the starters, and left the game at the same time as Quinshon Judkins and Jerry Jeudy. The one play he was off the field was a short-yardage situation.
- Bears lead wide receiver Luther Burden III suffered a groin injury a week ago, which will likely keep him out of the entire preseason. There is optimism he will be ready for the start of the season.
- Rookie Zavion Thomas was also absent from this game after suffering a knee injury that isn’t expected to be serious.
- Chicago rested the rest of their starters and key backups, including quarterback Caleb Williams, running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, wide receivers Rome Odunze and Kalif Raymond and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.
Minnesota Vikings@New York Giants
Vikings have unexpected wide receiver usage:Tai Felton played ahead of Jauan Jennings, while Jordan Addison spent more time in the slot
Last season, Justin Jefferson served as the Vikings’ X receiver, with Addison at Z and Jalen Nailor joining them in the slot in three-receiver sets. Nailor left for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, leading Minnesota to eventually sign Jennings. While Jennings most recently played X for the San Francisco 49ers, he began his career in the slot, making him a logical candidate to replace Nailor there
Jefferson had the day off, and Felton replaced him at X in both two- and three-receiver sets. The 2025 third-round pick caught only three passes as a rookie, so seeing him play ahead of Jennings was somewhat surprising. That doesn’t necessarily mean Felton is ahead of Jennings on the depth chart, as Felton continued playing with the backups while Jennings’ day was done. It does, however, suggest Felton is Jefferson’s direct backup, meaning Jennings might not see a significant increase in playing time if Jefferson misses time.
Minnesota spent most of its time in two-receiver sets, with Jennings joining Felton and Addison when the Vikings went to three receivers. Surprisingly, Addison moved into the slot more often than not, while Jennings lined up outside. Addison has averaged 1.19 yards per route run from the slot in his career compared to 1.66 out wide. Jennings has averaged 1.86 yards per route run from the slot over the past three seasons compared to 1.55 out wide. However, this came over a sample of only four plays, and the Vikings weren’t entirely consistent with their alignments during those snaps.
This will be a situation worth monitoring throughout the preseason, as a shift into less familiar roles could impact the fantasy production of both Addison and Jennings
The Giants’ committee at running back:Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary all received work with the starters
New York retained the same top three running backs from last season despite bringing in a new coaching staff. While many expected Skattebo to emerge as the clear lead back, head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy have long histories of utilizing committees at the position. That uncertainty was reflected on the Giants’ first unofficial depth chart, where both Skattebo and Tracy were listed as starters
Skattebo started the game and played the first two snaps before Tracy took over on third down and remained on the field for the final four plays of the drive. Singletary opened the second drive with the starters, followed by Tracy and then Skattebo, with all three rotating heavily for the remainder of the drive. The one consistent trend was Skattebo coming off the field on third downs, but he still played only five of 12 early-down snaps
Skattebo is returning from a season-ending injury, and a new coaching staff has reason to give all three backs opportunities during the preseason. There is still plenty of time for him to establish himself as the clear lead option on early downs. However, there is also a chance Skattebo won’t be fully back to form this season, and this rotation raises the possibility that none of the three backs will consistently play more than 50% of the offensive snaps. That uncertainty makes Skattebo difficult to justify at his current ADP, particularly when other players in the same range have more secure roles in their offenses.
The Giants’ wide receiver room is wide open: New York made several changes at wide receiver this offseason, but it remains unclear who will be in the starting lineup in Week 1
New York retained Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton from last season but added free agents Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III early in the offseason, followed by Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios later in the offseason. The Giants also drafted Malachi Fields in the third round
The Giants were without Nabers (knee), Smith-Schuster (knee) and Jalin Hyatt (leg) for this game. Of those three, Nabers is the only one assured of a starting role when healthy
New York used a consistent four-man rotation of Slayton, Fields, Mooney and Austin with the starters. Austin played exclusively in 11 personnel and typically lined up in the slot. The other three receivers all saw snaps at X, while Mooney also played five snaps from the slot. That leaves several possibilities once Nabers returns. Any of Slayton, Fields or Mooney could start at X, while Austin or Mooney could handle the slot role. If Nabers isn’t ready for Week 1, any of the four could also line up at Z.
All four receivers remained in the game for the third drive, when Beckham and Berrios began to mix in. That suggests Beckham and Berrios are no higher than sixth on the depth chart at this point. Smith-Schuster and Hyatt appear to face an uphill battle to make the roster, as their injuries have prevented them from competing for spots during the preseason
Until the rotation becomes clearer, Nabers is the only Giants wide receiver worth drafting in most fantasy leagues
Isaiah Likely’s troubling playing time: Likely played only six snaps with the starters, all in 11 personnel
Likely spent the first four seasons of his career in a tight end rotation with the Baltimore Ravens — where Mark Andrews was typically the primary receiving tight end, and Charlie Kolar handled much of the blocking work. Likely followed John Harbaugh to the New York Giants, where he was expected to emerge as the primary tight end. However, New York retained Theo Johnson, its top receiving tight end from last season, as well as its top blocking tight end in Chris Manhertz
The Giants ran 10 plays out of 11 personnel, with Likely playing six and Johnson playing four. All six of Likely’s snaps were pass plays, while three of Johnson’s four were runs. Johnson and Manhertz handled both snaps with two tight ends on the field, while Manhertz was the primary tight end in 21 personnel. That usage suggests Likely could remain in a rotation similar to the one he experienced in Baltimore, except he would now occupy the Andrews role, with Johnson filling something closer to Likely’s old role.
It’s worth noting that the Giants ran only one play out of 12 personnel, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about Likely’s role in that grouping. New York also rotated heavily at running back and wide receiver, so plenty could change between now and the start of the regular season. One encouraging sign was that Likely’s day ended after two drives alongside several other starters, while Johnson and Manhertz remained in for the third. Still, this is a situation worth monitoring, and it would have been more encouraging to see Likely on the field more frequently with the starters.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Giantswere without wide receivers Malik Nabers (knee), JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Jalin Hyatt (leg).
- Jaxson Dart exited the game for two plays after taking a big hit, but he was able to return to the game and complete the Giants’ second drive.
- The Vikings rotated Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason every one or two plays, regardless of situation. We occasionally see this kind of rotation in the preseason, but rarely in regular-season practice. We can generally expect Jones to play more in passing situations and Mason more in rushing situations once the regular season starts, with this game giving us minimal indication how close to 50-50 that split will be.
- Minnesota’s tight end rotation largely resembled last season, with T.J. Hockenson playing in 11 personnel, Josh Oliver playing in 21 personnel, and the two sharing the field for 12 personnel. There was one exception with Oliver playing in 11 personnel on a run play.
Los Angeles Rams @Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs wide receiver depth chart takes shape: Kansas City appears to have a clear top five wide receivers, with players fighting for playing time
Kansas City had five different wide receivers play between 350-650 snaps last season in Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton. Smith-Schuster and Brown left for the NFC East in free agency. Kansas City is replacing them by expecting 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals to be a part of the rotation as well as fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, who has received significant praise throughout training camp
Rice and Worthy sat out this game, leading Kansas City to use Thornton and Royals on the outside, and Allen in the slot on its first drive. After the first possession, Kansas City subbed out some key players, including Thornton and tight end Noah Gray. It appears Kansas City is already comfortable with Allen in the slot, because after the first drive, he started playing specifically in 12 personnel on the outside to give him more experience in those situations. Royals continued to play with the backups, but only in 11 personnel. 2025 undrafted wideout Andrew Armstrong joined them on the outside, while Nikko Remigio played in the slot. Allen started seeing more playing time again in 11 personnel in the slot closer to the two-minute drill.
The Chiefs’ wide receiver rotation was a little unique, as most teams will just play some players and then move on to players further down the depth chart. Of the three wide receivers who played in this game, Allen has the most upside. While it would have been nice to see him exit the game after one drive with the starters, it’s understandably rare for a fifth-round rookie to already be held in that high regard after one preseason game. It was good to see Kansas City use Allen in different roles on offense, suggesting the team could see him play multiple roles in the regular season. However, both Allen and Royals continued to play into the third quarter, which is longer than you would like to see for players who might have fantasy value this season.
An initial pecking order for the Kansas City backup running backs:Brashard Smith played with the starters, while Emari Demercado didn’t play until the fourth quarter
Kansas City completely re-worked its running back room this offseason, adding Kenneth Walker and Demercado in free agency, drafting Emmett Johnson in the fifth round and retaining 2025 seventh-round pick Smith. Walker is undoubtedly the lead back who will see a high percentage of snaps. Chances are, there will be some plays, particularly in passing situations, where Walker will need a break. There is a question to who will be that receiving back, which all three other players could fill, as well as who would be the lead back if Walker suffers an injury.
It’s unlikely we will have a great answer heading into the season. Under Andy Reid, Kansas City has consistently played its running backs in all situations in the preseason, playing one player for some snaps and then moving on to the next. Smith and Johnson spent the first three quarters taking a drive or two at a time. Demercado was playing on special teams throughout the game, and didn’t see his first offensive snaps until the fourth quarter. This would suggest that Demercado is a distant fourth on the depth chart. However, he was listed on second on the unofficial depth chart, putting some doubt in the order of the running backs.
It’s worth noting we saw Isiah Pacheco high on the depth chart for a preseason game in his rookie season, and that didn’t play out until the middle of that year. Last year, Elijah Mitchell was high on the depth chart in the first week of the preseason, and Carson Steele was the primary backup to Pacheco in the second game
None of these backup running backs should be drafted in most redraft leagues. Whoever has the most early down snaps outside of Walker in Week 1 could be a sneaky waiver wire pickup
Xavier Smithcould fall down the Rams depth chart: Smith was the one notable Rams skill player who played in this game
The Rams largely kept the same skill players from last season. The only players who played a snap who are no longer on the roster are sixth-string wide receiver Tutu Atwell and fifth-string tight end Nick Vannett. Every other player who took a snap was among the Rams players who were resting, except for Smith
Smith was rarely involved in the offense early in the season, or in their 13- or 12-personnel packages, but from Weeks 13-17, he played 63.1% of snaps in 11 personnel. Los Angeles drafted CJ Daniels in the sixth round, and Daniels joined Smith in the starting lineup for this game. This opens the door for Daniels to surpass Smith on the depth chart
Anyone who rests for Los Angeles in the first week of the preseason typically rests for the other two games, with a few names joining that list as the preseason goes on. It will be interesting to see if Smith or Daniels join that list at some point this preseason, which would likely secure their spots on the roster
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Rams announced before the game they wouldn’t play quarterback Matthew Stafford, running backs Kyren Williams, Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers, wide receivers Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield and tight ends Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen.
- 2025 fourth-round running back Jarquez Hunter remains fourth on the depth chart, and he appears to be a distant fourth considering Rivers is among the players who didn’t need to play.
- Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t play because the team is being cautious about his knee after tearing his ACL and LCL last season.
- Usually, Kansas City will play its starters. But with Mahomes out, the team opted not to play wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce.
- Running back Kenneth Walker only played on the first play of the game, and then his day was done.
- The only skill player to not dress for this game due to injury was backup wide receiver Jimmy Holiday.
Jacksonville Jaguars @New Orleans Saints
First look at the Jaguars’ rookie tight ends:Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol have already worked their way to second and third on the depth chart
Brenton Strange was the Jaguars’ starting tight end last season, but they had a few veteran backups in Johnny Mundt, Hunter Long and Quintin Morris, with none maintaining a consistent role. Jacksonville saw the success of the Los Angeles Rams using multiple tight end sets and wanted to replicate some of that, by adding Boerkircher and Koziol in the draft
Boerkircher and Koziol were the only skill players in this game who are likely to see significant playing time this regular season. This gave us a look at how the Jaguars might use their tight ends in the regular season, particularly if Strange were to miss time due to injury
The Jaguars ran seven plays out of 11 personnel, nine out of 12 personnel and one out of 13 personnel with the starters. The two rookies were joined by Hunter Long in 13 personnel. The two played most 12 personnel snaps together, with Long taking one snap from Koziol. In 11 personnel, Boerkircher played five snaps to two by Koziol. Koziol spent more time lining up in different positions, including one snap in the backfield, one out wide and three in the slot. Both tight ends continued to see playing time after Nick Mullens was done, with Koziol starting to see more opportunities.
We should expect Boerkircher to join Strange in 12 personnel in the regular season, but it’s unlikely he will have much fantasy value. If Strange suffers an injury, it will be debatable which of the two rookies has more fantasy value with this usage. Boerkircher would likely run more routes, but Koziol would see more targets per route
Oscar Delpmakes his Saints debut: New Orleans also added a rookie tight end, who could see value if there is an injury to Juwan Johnson
The Saints similarly have a lead tight end in Juwan Johnson, but opted to make several changes to their backups. They added veteran Noah Fant and drafted Delp in the third round
This led Delp and 2025 seventh-round pick Moliki Matavao to be the two tight ends for the Saints in this game. Over the first three drives, Delp played more in receiving situations and Matavao more in blocking scenarios, although this left a few passing plays where Delp was off the field. Delp spent a third of his snaps lined up in the slot, which is similar to the rate of Johnson last season
This suggests Delp will be a direct backup to Johnson, while Fant will likely join Johnson in 12 personnel. It’s also possible Matavao or a different blocking tight end could take Johnson’s place in 12 personnel. Johnson will be turning 30 before the start of the season, and Johnson’s PFF grade has been 67.0 or less in each season of his career. There is an opportunity for Delp to take over as the lead receiving tight end if he plays well enough, but that is unlikely to happen in 2026
Miscellaneous Notes
- Saints backup wide receiver Mason Tipton remains on the PUP list. Tipton is currently recovering from tibia surgery.
- The Saints didn’t play quarterback Tyler Shough, running backs Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and Devin Neal, wide receivers Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson and Devaughn Vele and tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.
- Fourth-round rookie wide receiver Bryce Lance was also among the players not playing. Typically, this would mean Lance is simply fourth on the depth chart and was among the key players not participating. However, healthy Day 3 rookies typically suit up in the first week of the preseason no matter how highly they are thought of.
- Jacksonville rested quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running backs Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen, wide receivers Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Travis Hunter and tight end Brenton Strange.
Philadelphia Eagles@Baltimore Ravens
Eli Stowersstarts fourth on the depth chart: Stowers appears unlikely to make a significant impact as a rookie
Philadelphia drafted Stowers in the second round with the expectation that he could become its tight end of the future. Dallas Goedert is 31 and restructured his contract this offseason, ensuring he will remain with the Eagles this year, but he is entering the final season of his deal. Ideally, Stowers would have positioned himself to contribute as a rookie before potentially taking on a larger role next season
The buzz surrounding Stowers has been relatively negative since the draft, as he hasn’t made much of an impact during OTAs or training camp. He is known primarily as a receiving tight end, which makes his path to the No. 2 job more difficult because backup tight ends often need to contribute as run blockers. There is still room for Stowers as a receiving-oriented third tight end who could serve as Goedert’s backup, but he doesn’t appear to have secured that role yet
Philadelphia rested Goedert for this game, along with Mundt, who has spent much of his career in a blocking role. Grant Calcaterra was also retained and played well ahead of Stowers. Calcaterra logged 12 of 13 snaps over the first four drives, compared to five for Stowers. Stowers replaced Calcaterra for one snap in 11 personnel, while Cameron Latu replaced Stowers for one snap in 12 personnel. Calcaterra’s day ended after that stretch, while Stowers continued playing into the second half
There is still plenty of time for Stowers to move ahead of Calcaterra on the depth chart, but his dynasty value will continue to trend downward until he starts making more of an impact in training camp or preseason games
Ravens wide receivers compete for playing time: Rookie Ja’Kobi Lane and Devontez Walker both received significant playing time in the first half
Baltimore retained its top two wide receivers from last season in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. The Ravens opted not to re-sign veterans DeAndre Hopkins or Tylan Wallace, opening the door for a new No. 3 receiver to emerge. Walker, a fourth-round pick in 2024, 2025 sixth-round pick LaJohntay Wester, and 2026 mid-round picks Lane and Elijah Sarratt have all been in contention. Walker and Lane were listed with the second team on the unofficial depth chart, while reports from training camp have suggested Lane has begun to separate himself.
With Flowers and Bateman out, Lane and Walker opened the game as Baltimore’s top two wide receivers, with Wester joining them in three-receiver sets. Lane primarily lined up at X, while Walker spent more time at Z. Although Tyler Huntley played only two drives, Baltimore kept the same three receivers on the field for each of its first four drives. Sarratt didn’t enter until the fifth drive, suggesting he is unlikely to have a significant role early in the season
This game didn’t provide a definitive answer on Baltimore’s No. 3 receiver, but it did make clear that Lane and Walker are the primary contenders. Both caught three passes, with Lane adding a touchdown, while Wester was held without a reception. Ideally, Baltimore will play more of its starters later in the preseason, giving us a clearer indication of whether Lane or Walker has the edge for the third receiver job
Miscellaneous Notes
- Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith has been dealing with a hamstring injury and didn’t play, although he went through warmups. First-round rookie Makai Lemon has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
- Backup wide receiver Johnny Wilson (knee) and running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) also missed the game due to injury.
- Philadelphia rested several starters, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and tight ends Dallas Goedert and Johnny Mundt.
- Second-string running back Tank Bigsby played three snaps on third-and-5 or longer with the starters, matching his total in those situations from the entire 2025 regular season.
- Free-agent addition Hollywood Brown played on the first two drives before leaving ahead of the rest of the Eagles’ starters, providing further evidence that he is fourth on the wide receiver depth chart.
- Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (quadriceps) returned to team drills Thursday after missing a few days. He didn’t play in this game, although he likely would have been held out even if fully healthy.
- Backup running back Rasheen Ali and undrafted rookie wide receiver Octavian Smith were also sidelined by injuries.
- Baltimore also rested quarterback Lamar Jackson, running backs Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, wide receiver Rashod Bateman, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe.
- While it may have been surprising to see rookie Josh Cuevas and Matthew Hibner still playing in the fourth quarter, they were the only two tight ends active. Baltimore has only four tight ends on its roster, with Andrews and Smythe both resting.
Dallas Cowboys @Seattle Seahawks
Jaydon Blueappears locked into the backup running back role: Blue dominated the first-half snaps, suggesting the No. 2 job is his to lose
When Blue was drafted in the fifth round last season, there was some thought that he could compete for the starting job with veteran free-agent additions Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Instead, Blue began the season as a healthy inactive, with Williams and Sanders atop the depth chart and fullback Hunter Luepke capable of handling halfback duties in an emergency. Blue received opportunities after Sanders suffered a season-ending injury, but Malik Davis eventually emerged as the primary backup.
Dallas didn’t re-sign Sanders and largely kept the same group of backups, including 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah, who missed nearly all of last season due to injury. Although Davis finished last season as the primary backup, the Cowboys have made it clear they want Blue to win the job. Blue played 20 of 26 snaps in the first half of this game, coming off the field only for stretches of longer drives when Mafah rotated in. Davis didn’t enter until the second half
Williams remains the unquestioned starter, but Blue appears to have established himself as his primary handcuff. In deeper leagues where most backup running backs are rostered, Blue should be drafted. In typical redraft leagues, he is right on the fringe of being worth a pick in the final rounds
Elijah Arroyois closer to a breakout: Arroyo saw time in both 12 and 22 personnel with the starters in this game
AJ Barner won the starting tight end job last season and remains firmly atop the depth chart, leaving Arroyo in a backup role. Seattle also retained its top three tight ends from last season, including blocking specialist Eric Saubert. Saubert’s presence has limited Arroyo’s opportunities, but Arroyo has consistently made plays throughout training camp
Barner was among the starters who rested in this game, giving Arroyo opportunities in situations he typically wouldn’t see during the regular season. Saubert remained the primary tight end in 21 personnel and handled a few early-down snaps in 11 personnel, but Arroyo played in passing situations while also seeing significant work on running plays. The less encouraging sign was that Saubert exited after the first quarter, while Arroyo remained in the game throughout the second quarter in an every-down role.
It will be difficult for Arroyo to become fantasy-relevant as long as Barner is healthy, but this game provided a glimpse of the role Arroyo could inherit if Barner misses time. If that happens at any point this season, Arroyo would immediately become a priority waiver-wire target
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Cowboys rested their starters throughout last year’s preseason, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer has said he plans to do the same this year. That includes quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Javonte Williams, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin, and tight end Jake Ferguson.
- Backup tight end Luke Schoonmaker played each of Dallas’ first eight offensive snaps before exiting ahead of the rest of the Cowboys’ starters.
- Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet remains on the PUP list after tearing his ACL in the divisional round of the playoffs. He is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery but is still expected to miss the start of the season.
- First-round rookie running back Jadarian Price has been dealing with soreness. He recently returned to practice but sat out this game. Emanuel Wilson also missed the game due to injury.
- The Seahawks also rested several established starters, including quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp, and tight end AJ Barner.
- Wide receiver Tory Horton has returned to practice after ending last season on injured reserve, but he didn’t play in this game.
Table Notes
• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, such as offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats exclude these plays
• Targets may differ from official NFLwhere the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not
• Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game
