August 24, 2025
Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver
Savion Williams (hamstring) was one of 19 Packers players to miss the team's preseason finale due to injury. The 6'5" 225-pound third-round pick out of TCU missed time earlier in camp due to a concussion, and he could not participate in any of the team's preseason games. With his inability to stay on the field, there are concerns that his impact could be limited, especially early in the season. The Packers have been without three of their top receivers --
Jayden Reed (foot),
Dontayvion Wicks (calf),
Christian Watson (knee) -- for much of camp, so the opportunity has been there to carve out a role in Matt Lafleur's offense. Unfortunately, Williams has been unable to seize that opportunity, and as such, should remain an afterthought in most draft formats.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Bill Huber
August 24, 2025
Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end
Elijah Arroyo was among a group of healthy players held out of Saturday's preseason finale against the Packers, indicating his spot near the top of the depth chart. Arroyo was selected in the second round of the 2025 Draft and was eased into action following a knee injury suffered at the Senior Bowl. He was targeted twice in the team's first two preseason games, coming down with all four grabs for 33 yards. The Seahawks were comfortable enough with what they have in Arroyo and second-year tight end
AJ Barner to release
Noah Fant in July. Arroyo displays incredible twitchiness for his size and has been moved all over the formation during Seahawks practices. He could carve out a substantial role in Seattle's new look offense and is an intriguing selection late in drafts.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Curtis Crabtree
August 24, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back
Bhayshul Tuten finished his preseason with 16 carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns. The fourth-round pick out of Virginia Tech, who missed some training camp time with a hamstring injury, has shown flashes of his dual-threat ability. Tuten, who had 1,159 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground and 23 catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns in his final year at Virginia Tech, will start the season behind
Travis Etienne Jr. and
Tank Bigsby. However, he is a late-round stash with massive upside if either of the starters gets hurt. He could carve out a significant pass-catching role for himself throughout the season.
--Don FanelliSource: ESPN
August 24, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jaylin Noel finished his preseason with a quiet stat line of three catches for 18 yards and no touchdowns. Despite the limited production, the rookie third-round pick from Iowa State has garnered significant praise from quarterback
C.J. Stroud, who told beat writer Jared Koch that the young wideout "looks great" and is "making plays out here every day." While Noel currently sits behind veteran wide receiver
Christian Kirk on the depth chart, Kirk is entering his eighth season and is coming off an injury. Given that his Iowa State teammate,
Jayden Higgins, appears to have earned a starting role, Noel could also see the field a fair amount this season. Noel is a solid late-round fantasy flier, especially for managers who believe Kirk may be on the downslope of his career.
--Don FanelliSource: Jared Koch
August 24, 2025
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver
Pat Bryant, a third-round pick out of Illinois, finished his impressive preseason with 10 catches for 129 yards. The 6'3", 190-pound wideout, who had 54 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year, has earned the backup role to the team's top wideout,
Courtland Sutton. This was made possible by the Broncos' trade of
Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints on August 20, which moved Bryant up the depth chart. The rookie has received a lot of praise from coach Sean Payton and is a player to keep an eye on. If anything were to happen to Sutton, Bryant could immediately step into a significant role, making him a sneaky late-round pick in drafts and a future waiver-wire target.
--Don FanelliSource: ESPN
August 24, 2025
Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver
Tory Horton (ankle) is still dealing with a minor ankle injury he sustained during last week's preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. However, his strong camp and preseason performance may have already earned him a starting spot. The fifth-round pick out of Colorado State finished the preseason with four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Horton had over 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons at Colorado State, and the Seahawks' beat writer suggests he has been "rising up the depth chart so fast that he is now expected to start alongside
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and
Cooper Kupp." If Horton does begin the season as a starter, he could be a sneaky late-round flier in fantasy drafts. Keep an eye on his injury status for Week 1, as his fantasy stock is on the rise.
--Don FanelliSource: Tim Weaver
August 24, 2025
New York Jets rookie tight end
Mason Taylor was one of many key players who did not play in the team's final preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. A second-round pick out of LSU, Taylor battled an ankle injury earlier in training camp but has reportedly impressed in practice during his time on the field. Taylor was listed behind
Jeremy Ruckert at tight end on the team's first unofficial depth chart. However, Ruckert was on the field for the preseason finale, which could indicate that Taylor will open the season as the team's top tight end. Taylor should not be expected to provide top-12 fantasy production at the position early in his rookie season. However, he could eventually emerge as a key contributor in New York with the team low on pass-catching talent behind top wide receiver
Garrett Wilson.
--Will BradySource: NFL.com
August 24, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Tanner McKee (thumb) has suffered a fractured thumb that could lead to him being unavailable for Week 1, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. McKee is not expected to require a stint on injured reserve as the fracture is considered relatively minor. Philadelphia acquired quarterback
Sam Howell from the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, so Howell could open the season as the backup to
Jalen Hurts while McKee is sidelined. However, Rapoport writes that the Howell trade "likely would've happened" regardless of McKee's injury status, so the Eagles may be planning to carry three quarterbacks. Assuming McKee can make a quick return, he remains the name for fantasy managers to know should Hurts go down with an injury.
--Will BradySource: NFL.com - Ian Rapoport
August 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that he hasn't yet settled on a backup quarterback behind veteran
Joe Flacco for Week 1, but that he expects
Kenny Pickett (hamstring) to be available, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Pickett suffered a hamstring injury in July that prevented him from playing in the preseason, but he was able to return to practice in a limited fashion in late August. It appears as though Cleveland might still be more comfortable with Pickett than either of the team's two rookie quarterbacks,
Dillon Gabriel and
Shedeur Sanders. Regardless, Pickett is highly unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
August 24, 2025
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver
Jayden Higgins recorded two catches for 18 yards in his team's final preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday. Higgins finishes preseason play with five catches on seven targets for 40 yards. The 22-year-old is listed as a starter at wide receiver alongside veterans
Nico Collins and
Christian Kirk on Houston's unofficial depth chart. Higgins has excellent size and was a highly productive player in college, recording 87 catches and nine touchdowns in his final season at Iowa State. He should be prioritized as a late-round flier with upside in fantasy drafts.
--Will BradySource: NFL.com
August 24, 2025
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver
Kyle Williams (undisclosed) returned to practice on Sunday for the first time in a week, per Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. Williams was forced out of the team's second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings after being hit in the head, and as a result, did not participate in the preseason finale against the New York Giants on Thursday. Williams' return to practice is an encouraging sign for his Week 1 availability. The 22-year-old is not expected to start the season as one of the Patriots' top three wide receivers, but he's a big-play threat who could eventually work his way into a larger role.
--Will BradySource: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
August 24, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars beat writer John Shipley of Sports Illustrated believes that the team is looking to trade one of its veteran running backs,
Travis Etienne Jr. or
Tank Bigsby. Jacksonville has been rotating first-team reps between Etienne Jr., Bigsby, and fourth-round rookie
Bhayshul Tuten throughout the preseason. Rookie seventh-rounder
LeQuint Allen Jr. is also expected to make the 53-man roster, per Shipley. Between Jacksonville's two backs with NFL experience, Etienne Jr. is the superior pass-catcher, while Bigsby is a better early-down and goal-line rusher. Both profile as low-end RB3/flex options in fantasy as long as they are splitting reps in Jacksonville, so it's possible that a trade would help the outlooks for each.
--Will BradySource: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
August 24, 2025
Indianapolis Colts rookie first-round tight end
Tyler Warren is already living up to the hype going into his first NFL season after being described by the team's brass an an "easy" selection at No. 14 overall back in April's draft. The Colts have been very pleased with their pick thanks to Warren's sure hands, physical running after the catch and development as a blocker. ESPN's Stephen Holder writes that coaches have been struck by Warren's "overall toughness and physicality that they believe will set the tone for them." The Colts are expected to prominently feature plays that will give him the chance to gain yards after the catch. Warren's physical running and impressive body control at 6-foot-6, 256 pounds give him the ability to thrive in the open field. Given the shallow depth at the TE position in fantasy, Warren is on the TE1/2 borderline already.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
August 24, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback
Cam Miller saw extra work in Saturday's 20-10 loss to the Cardinals, stepping in following
Aidan O'Connell's fractured wrist. Miller finished 12-of-24 passing with four sacks, showing flashes of arm strength but also the growing pains expected of a developmental rookie. His promotion to QB2 ensures more practice and in-game reps over the next two months, giving the Raiders a chance to accelerate his growth. While not a redraft option, Miller could emerge as an intriguing dynasty stash if he continues to build confidence and sharpen decision-making against NFL competition.
--Shaun AlbinSource: nfl.com
August 24, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Brennan Presley caught all three of his targets for 51 receiving yards during Saturday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns. He also rushed three times for an additional 23 yards on the ground. The rookie out of Oklahoma State certainly turned heads with the preseason wrapping up, but it might have been too little, too late. Los Angeles made six receivers inactive on Saturday, indicating that those six will make the 53-man roster. Meanwhile, the receivers who played (including Presley) are likely going to be cut. Nevertheless, Presley's strong impression throughout the whole preseason could earn him a practice squad spot in Los Angeles or elsewhere.
--Andersen PickardSource: NFL.com
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