Preseason football doesn’t light up the ratings like the regular season, but football junkies like you and me live for it. Let the established starters put a headset on and mentor the young guys who are clawing like hell for a spot on the final 53-man roster.

The NFL has a long-established history of digging up diamonds in training camp. Names like Victor Cruz and last year’s RB1 Austin Ekeler come to mind as undrafted prospects who turned a studly preseason into an illustrious career. The following players are now officially on breakout alert after having a fabulous run through summer.

• Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
• Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
• Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
• 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

Preseason Studs (2023 Fantasy Football)

Sam Howell (QB – WAS)

Aw, shucks! Ron Rivera recently lamented that he would have started fifth-rounder Sam Howell earlier if he “knew he was this good.” Really, dude? Carson Wentz was horrendous and was supplanted by Taylor Heinicke. Howell started Week 18 against the Cowboys and ripped through their top-5 defense for 20 fantasy points. Oopsy.

The North Carolina product was tracking to be a first-round pick after a fantastic sophomore season in Chapel Hill. His 2021 season was less stellar and resulted in his slipping to Day 3 of the 2022 Draft. He was so impressive in training camp and in preseason action that he was named Washington’s starter over Jacoby Brissett more quickly than some were guessing.

The weaponry is adequate, while the real excitement stems from new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy. Howell has been one of my favorite sleeper QBs for this season, but he’s picking up so much steam now that he’s whistling everyone awake.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB – CLE)

Five-year starting QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson was not expected to be the Browns’ backup QB this season. From his very first series in the Hall of Fame Game versus the Jets, it was abundantly clear that he was a huge upgrade over Kellen Mond. DTR did not relent with the quality play, adding in two more solid games and was retained while Mond was released.

The Las Vegas native is stylistically similar to starter Deshaun Watson and has oodles of experience in a pro-style offense under Chip Kelly. Cleveland has a very serviceable replacement who can steer the ship should Watson miss any game action.

Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)

Former Oklahoma State RB Jaylen Warren is still underrated in fantasy drafts. Some might see Najee Harris‘ decline in receiving volume and assume it was due to Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. Kenny Pickett doesn’t check down as often as Big Ben did, but it should not go unnoticed that Warren was targeted 33 times last season. This was in spite of only cracking a 50% snap share once all year.

Warren got everyone’s attention when he busted loose for a 62-yard touchdown against Buffalo. Whereas Harris is a rare bell cow RB who has yet to miss any time in his two NFL seasons, Warren is plenty good enough to cut himself a larger slice of the pie in Pittsburgh this season.

Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)

How can you not root for an RB named Tank? Tank Bigsby, from Auburn, is already cementing himself as the thunder to Travis Etienne‘s lightning in Jacksonville. Etienne was not very good in short-yardage situations and still hasn’t taken the next step as a pass catcher. Bigsby has already showcased his ability to do both of those things very well.

Doug Pederson’s offense is going to be very difficult to slow down, especially if they have two very talented backs alternating series. Bigsby is a perfect fit.

George Pickens (WR – PIT)

I’m slowly coming around on George Pickens. The athleticism is obvious, but he still struggles to earn ample separation for a receiver of his stature. Pickens was fresh off an injury-shortened season at Georgia when he burst onto the scene as a rookie. Where he lacked in consistent production, he certainly made up for with multiple plays that blew up Twitter and made the SportsCenter top 10.

Between scrimmages and a bit of preseason game action, Pickens is showing that same flare for the highlight reel, with perhaps a bit more technical polish. If he can learn to win more consistently in coverage, there is absolutely no ceiling above him.

A.T. Perry (WR – NO)

The only reason I watched any Wake Forest tape from last season was to gawk at A.T. Perry’s effortless strides and arrogant hands in contested catch situations. Tall and lanky, Perry was also a track and field standout. Like Howell, Perry’s descent into Day 3 came as a shock to many draft analysts. The Saints scooped him up, and Perry has rewarded them with a stellar camp.

The Saints have Chris Olave and Michael Thomas as their short and intermediate-route technicians. Perry figures to be an upgrade over Marquez Callaway as the vertical field stretcher along the boundary for new Saints QB Derek Carr.

Luke Musgrave (TE – GB)

It was a bit perplexing to see the Packers take a tight end in consecutive rounds of the 2023 Draft. Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave came off the board in the second round, while South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft went in the third. A pair of Day 2 TEs filled a gaping hole in the depth chart for Green Bay, and it figured to be quite a camp battle between the two for playing time.

Musgrave not only won that battle very quickly, but Kraft failed to make the 53-man roster. Musgrave is a savvy player with a well-rounded skill set. Though not an incredible athlete, his preseason performance earned him a lot of early playing time this season.

Cole Turner (TE – WAS)

It sure seemed like it was only the great Matt Waldman and I who were touting Nevada’s Cole Turner entering 2022. He landed in a great spot to move up the depth chart in Washington. The Commanders have the oft-injured Logan Thomas and journeyman John Bates, but Turner was impressive in limited work as a rookie last season. He parlayed that into a really impressive preseason as a blocker and receiver in the month of August.

Thomas is still on the mend, while Bates is more suited for inline blocking work. Turner has incredible hands and is really good at finding space in zone coverage. I have him rostered in a number of deeper dynasty leagues, hoping he can take one more step into becoming an everyday starter.

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