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
August 23, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward led a touchdown drive in his final possession of the preseason on Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings. Ward finished the night three-for-four as a passer for 36 yards and was sacked once for a loss of three. The number one overall pick played in all three of Tennessee's preseason games, completing 10 of his 19 passes for 145 yards with zero touchdowns, but also zero interceptions. Ward is the unquestioned starter for the Titans heading into his rookie campaign. He profiles as a low-end QB2 in redraft fantasy leagues who could have bursts of huge production but will likely struggle with inconsistency in his first NFL season.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
August 23, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings gave quarterback
Max Brosmer a long look Friday, during which he completed 15 of 23 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. The undrafted rookie nearly had an even better night statistically, but a perfect long ball that would have converted a fourth down and set up first-and-goal was dropped. Of the quarterbacks on the Vikings' current roster,
Sam Howell still seems most likely to back up starter
J.J. McCarthy, though Brosmer has made a compelling case to stick around in Minnesota.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
Dallas Cowboys running back
Deuce Vaughn led his team in rushing on Friday night in preseason action against the Atlanta Falcons, recording 10 carries for 42 yards. Vaughn has been limited in training camp by a hamstring injury, but he earned the start at running back in the preseason finale. A sixth-round pick in 2023, Vaughn has just 40 career carries in 14 games played. However, there could be an opportunity for him to earn playing time in Dallas this season, given the team's muddled backfield situation. Veterans
Javonte Williams and
Miles Sanders are likely to open the season earning the majority of the reps, leaving Vaughn to battle with rookies
Jaydon Blue and
Phil Mafah for a depth role. Blue (ankle) left Friday's game with an ankle injury, which could open a spot for Vaughn early in the year.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
August 23, 2025
Tight end
Bryson Nesbit scored the Minnesota Vikings' lone touchdown on Friday at Tennessee thanks to a 21-yard connection with quarterback
Max Brosmer. The North Carolina product finished with two catches for 45 yards on four targets in the preseason finale for the Vikings. Minnesota will once again roll with
T.J. Hockenson and
Josh Oliver at tight end, but it's open season beyond that. Draft pick
Gavin Bartholomew (back) is on the PUP list, leaving Nesbit, fellow undrafted rookie
Ben Yurosek, and veteran journeyman
Nick Vannett competing for the third spot formerly held by
Johnny Mundt. After a strong showing Friday, Nesbit has a real shot of being on the Vikings' 53-man roster.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
In his first game action with the Minnesota Vikings, running back
Xazavian Valladay led the team in rushing with 39 yards on eight carries and added one catch for two yards on Friday at Tennessee. It was a solid day for the new acquisition, who has bounced around the league since going undrafted in 2023. The Vikings have an opening for a third running back behind
Aaron Jones Sr. and
Jordan Mason, but Valladay will have an uphill climb to make Minnesota's final 53-man roster before Week 1 of the regular season.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
Wide receiver
Jeshaun Jones led the Minnesota Vikings with four catches on four targets Friday at Tennessee, which he turned into 41 receiving yards. It was a solid showing for a Minnesota team in need of extra help at receiver with
Jordan Addison (suspension) and
Rondale Moore (knee) set to miss time. Jones has a chance to stick around, but it's highly probable Minnesota will add another receiver between now and Week 1.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
Ryan Flournoy led his team in receiving yards on Friday night in preseason action against the Atlanta Falcons, hauling in four of his five targets for 45 yards. A sixth-round pick in 2024, Flournoy had 10 catches for 102 yards in 11 games as a rookie. Heading into 2025, Dallas has a clear top four in its wide receiver room with
CeeDee Lamb,
George Pickens,
Jalen Tolbert, and
KaVontae Turpin. The team's presumed WR5,
Jonathan Mingo (knee), is expected to start the year on injured reserve with a knee injury. Mingo's injury could give Flournoy a better chance of making the roster.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
August 23, 2025
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back
Jaydon Blue (ankle) returned from ankle and heel injuries to make his preseason debut on Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Unfortunately, Blue was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter after injuring his right ankle. Before getting hurt, Blue logged nine carries for 25 yards and a touchdown. A fifth-round pick out of Texas, Blue is expected to push veterans
Javonte Williams and
Miles Sanders for playing time in the Dallas backfield at some point in 2025. However, his inability to stay on the field during the preseason may limit his chances of earning playing time early in the year.
--Will BradySource: DallasCowboys.com - Patrik Walker
August 23, 2025
Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Joe Milton III had an impressive showing in his team's final preseason game on Friday, a 31-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Milton III completed 10 of 18 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown. He also had 33 rushing yards and a touchdown on four rush attempts. Milton III looks to be solidified as the backup quarterback in Dallas behind
Dak Prescott. The 25-year-old has plenty of arm talent and offers some ability to make plays with his legs as well. If Prescott were to get injured, Milton III would become a priority waiver-wire target in fantasy.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
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