August 23, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Washington - JP Finlay
August 23, 2025
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.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic.
August 23, 2025
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) said he's not ready to rule out playing in Week 1, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The Cowboys' No. 1 cornerback has ramped up his rehab recently, though it's still viewed as unlikely he'll play right away. That Diggs is quickly getting back to full speed, however, could be a good sign that he won't miss as much time as some early projections feared. Dallas likely will have to go with DaRon Bland, Kaiir Elam, and Caelan Carson at corner if Diggs isn't ready right away.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic
August 23, 2025
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.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic
August 23, 2025
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.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
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.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
August 23, 2025
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.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic
August 23, 2025
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.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
August 23, 2025
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.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
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.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
August 23, 2025
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.
--Will BradySource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
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-old has now thrown a touchdown pass in each of the team's three preseason games and appears to have solidified himself 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.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
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.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Marc Raimondi
August 23, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie running back
Kalel Mullings (ankle) injured his ankle during the team's preseason game on Friday against the Minnesota Vikings. However, Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that the injury should not result in significant missed time. Mullings rushed for 27 yards on six carries before getting injured on Friday and shared the field with quarterback
Cameron Ward during Tennessee's second offensive series. With
Tyjae Spears (ankle) currently sidelined, Mullings is battling with
Julius Chestnut for carries behind
Tony Pollard in the Titans' backfield. If Mullings is unavailable to start the season, Chestnut would have a clear path to the RB2 role early on.
--Will BradySource: Paul Kuharsky
August 23, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Julius Chestnut got the start in his team's final preseason game on Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings and rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown on five carries. The 24-year-old played in 17 games for the Titans in 2024, recording 22 carries for 102 yards. With
Tyjae Spears (ankle) currently sidelined, Chestnut could have an opportunity to open the season as the RB2 in Tennessee behind
Tony Pollard. Sixth-round rookie
Kalel Mullings figures to be Chestnut's biggest competition, so it could be telling that it was Chestnut who played the opening drive against the Vikings on Friday.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
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