August 23, 2025
New Orleans Saints quarterback
Spencer Rattler got the start over rookie
Tyler Shough, who opened last week's game against the Jaguars. Rattler went 5-of-8 for 43 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Saturday's 28-19 loss to the Broncos. A positive sign for the Saints was his ability to connect with both starting receivers, completing three passes to
Chris Olave and two to
Rashid Shaheed. While Rattler avoided major mistakes, but he only led the offense to six points on a pair of
Blake Grupe field goals. Neither Rattler nor Shough stood out, leaving the Week 1 starting job still undecided. From a fantasy perspective, neither quarterback is worth rostering at this time.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
August 23, 2025
New Orleans Saints quarterback
Tyler Shough entered the game in the second quarter of Saturday's 28-19 loss to the Broncos. He went 4-of-6 for 17 yards on his first drive, which ended with a 48-yard field goal from
Blake Grupe. The 25-year-old rookie finished 12-of-20 for 102 yards, adding 20 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He did lose a fumble in the third quarter, but responded on the next possession by leading a 77-yard drive for the Saints' only touchdown. Shough's 20 pass attempts were easily the most on the team, and he's hoping it was enough to earn the Week 1 start against Arizona. Still, whether it's Shough or
Spencer Rattler under center, neither is worth a fantasy roster spot.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
August 23, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Cooper Rush had a perfect passing day in the 30-3 preseason win over the Washington Commanders, completing all five passes for 59 yards and zero touchdowns. This outing marked a bright spot in what has otherwise been an unimpressive preseason for the 31-year-old, who previously spent eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He ends the preseason with 27 completions on 39 attempts for 273 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Rush is currently listed as the backup quarterback to
Lamar Jackson. However, his overall subpar preseason, coupled with
Devin Leary's unimpressive play, raises concerns about the Ravens' backup quarterback situation should anything happen to Jackson. Despite the statistical line in this game, it should have no significant impact on Rush's fantasy value as he remains off the radar in redraft leagues.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
August
23,
2025
Baltimore
Ravens
running
back
Rasheen
Ali
showcased
some
versatility
for
the
teamread more...
August 23, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Devin Leary had an unimpressive showing in the 30-3 preseason victory over the Washington Commanders, completing 17 of 23 passes for just 71 yards and zero touchdowns, averaging a mere 3.1 yards per attempt. The second-year, former day-three selection from Kentucky also added two carries for nine yards, averaging more yards on the ground than through the air. Leary's performance did little to impress, likely confirming his position as the third quarterback on the depth chart.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
August 23, 2025
Baltimore Ravens running back
D'Ernest Johnson posted a solid stat line in the 30-3 preseason victory over the Washington Commanders, carrying the ball 17 times for 45 yards and scoring one touchdown, adding three receptions for 18 yards. Johnson's significant workload came while Baltimore primarily utilized their third- and fourth-stringers most of the game. Despite this notable preseason performance, Johnson is not currently featured on the Ravens' official depth chart and is actively competing with
Rasheen Ali to be the team's fourth running back. Given his current status, this game is unlikely to have a significant impact on Johnson's fantasy value, as he remains off the radar for nearly all redraft leagues.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
August 23, 2025
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.
--Connor ByrneSource: Dan Labbe - Cleveland.com
August
23,
2025
The
Cleveland
Browns
plan
to
head
into
the
regular
season
with
quarterbacks
Joe
Flacco,
Kenny
Pickett
(hamstring),
Dillon
Gabriel,
and
Shedeur
Sanders
(oblique)
on
their
read more...
August 23, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
August 23, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
August 23, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
August
23,
2025
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
read more...
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
RADIO
