The NFL preseason is now in the rear-view mirror and the regular season is but a few short days away. Before jumping into Week 1, fantasy managers should take a moment to reflect upon the last three weeks to judge if some of the stars (or duds) of the preseason are real or just figments of our imagination.
Ascertaining meaningful data is difficult since most NFL teams will opt to rest their high-profile players for the vast majority of snaps, not wishing to risk injury on games that don’t count. This also provides players on the bubble a chance to prove themselves in live action. Whittling down the roster to the final 53 is a tricky process, and each snap is precious for those fighting for one of the last few spots.
Here are a few players who caught my eye during the preseason and performed well when given the opportunity.
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NFL Preseason Studs & Risers
Quarterbacks
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB – CLE)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, affectionally known as “DTR” for brevity, performed exceptionally well when given a chance for Cleveland. Completing 38-of-55 passes for 375 yards and a touchdown, he exuded confidence within the pocket and found tertiary options for the Browns when looking downfield routinely. His success has prompted Cleveland to actively pursue trade offers for Jameis Winston, opening up the possibility he could slide into the backup role if a move occurs.
After his disastrous run as a starter with the New England Patriots, it was easy to write off Mac Jones, but it is clear he is comfortable with the new offensive scheme under head coach Doug Pederson in Jacksonville. Jones led all quarterbacks in the preseason with a 73.1% completion rate and finished third in passing yards with 421. Furthermore, he led all preseason starters with a 115.9 passer rating and entrenched himself as the clear-cut backup to Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville.
Minshew’s battle with Aidan O’Connell for the starting role in Las Vegas was something many fantasy players were keeping a close eye on, especially those who happened to have Davante Adams or Brock Bowers on their squads. Head coach Antonio Pierce declared Minshew the starter in mid-August. His veteran leadership (and slightly better accuracy) ended up vaulting him over the top. He tends to be reckless with the ball under duress but will take more shots downfield when given the opportunity.
Running Backs
Jerome Ford’s inclusion on this list wasn’t due to the statistics he totaled during the preseason but rather the injury situation with incumbent option Nick Chubb. Chubb was recently placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after the conclusion of the third preseason game, meaning he will miss a minimum of four games to start the regular season. Entering the year at age 28 and having already experienced significant knee surgery back in college at Georgia, it stands to reason Chubb will be eased into action upon returning. Even once Chubb returns, Ford will still have Fantasy relevance as the third-down back in explicit passing-down situations. Our expert consensus rankings (ECR) have Ford currently ranked as the RB37, with Chubb barely trailing him as the RB39 in the fantasy football rankings.
Cam Akers finished with 112 rushing yards on 24 carries this preseason and looked much more explosive than Dameon Pierce on the field. Fresh off a disappointing 2023 campaign when he totaled just 60 rushing attempts over seven games, one had to seriously wonder if Akers’ career in the league was over. The former 2020 second-round selection exhibited plenty of burst with the ball in his hands in the receiving game and looked no worse for the wear following recovery from his second Achilles tear. Houston beat reporters have been universal in their opinion that Akers will push Pierce for the RB2 job with the Texans — a valuable role on an ascending team behind an aging veteran in Joe Mixon, who has an average draft position (ADP) of 42 overall.
Wide Receivers
Anyone checking social media sites during the Rams’ preseason games would see plenty of comments about Jordan Whittington becoming “the next Puka Nacua” for Los Angeles. That comparison might be a total stretch, but I’m not so quick to write off how comfortable Whittington looked in Sean McVay’s offense. At best, Whittington is the WR4 for Los Angeles behind Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson, but he will push for snaps to rise the depth chart. Securing 11 receptions for 126 yards, this sixth-round pick from the University of Texas fits best as a slot receiver, where he can use his larger frame and toughness to make contested catches on crossing routes.
Few players have steadily risen in ADP over the last several weeks like Rashee Rice, who is expected to dodge any suspension for his off-field transgressions until next season. To start the summer, Rice’s ADP was well into the eighth or ninth rounds, but now he is being selected as a top-25 option at the position instead. The second fiddle to Travis Kelce in the Kansas City Chiefs’ passing game, Rice will look to surpass his robust 79/938/7 statistics as a rookie. He will still need to compete with Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown for targets at receiver, but his strong rapport with Patrick Mahomes should separate him from the pack.
Tight Ends
Ben Sinnott (TE – WAS)
Perhaps it is a rite of passing to be stuck behind Zach Ertz before breaking out at the position (just ask Trey McBride). Regardless, Ben Sinnott caught my eye multiple times this preseason with Mark Bavaro-esque receptions where he would drag several defenders for multiple yards before finally going down. Washington further cleared his path to the field by trading Jahan Dotson to Philadelphia. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has raved about their connection. I don’t believe it will be long before the torch is passed from Ertz to Sinnott in Washington, where he could develop as the next Sam LaPorta. Sinnott’s collegiate tape at Washington State was eye-opening.
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