“It’s only the preseason.”
Sure, it can be foolish to make sweeping generalizations based on games that mean nothing in the standings. But savvy fantasy football managers know that preseason games often yield helpful clues about what to expect when the real games begin in September.
Here are what I believe to be the most important fantasy football takeaways from the first week of the NFL exhibition season. Let’s go position by position.
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Fantasy Football Draft Advice: NFL Preseason Takeaways
Wide Receiver
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown had a crash landing after an 11-yard catch, resulting in a sternoclavicular dislocation of his shoulder. Brown didn’t require surgery, but the injury docs seem to think he’ll miss 4-6 weeks. It’s a troublesome development for a player who’s missed eight games over the last two years. I’ve dropped Brown to WR46 in my rankings and have inched up Rashee Rice (WR35) and Xavier Worthy (WR45). Skyy Moore became the Chiefs’ No. 3 receiver in Brown’s absence but should still be considered a fantasy toxin.
Christian Kirk enthusiasts have reason to be worried. When the Jaguars used two-receiver sets early on in their game against the Chiefs, Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. were on the field, with Kirk watching from the sideline. If Kirk only plays in three- and four-WR sets, he’s going to be hard-pressed to return a profit on his WR31 ADP. This is a case where I’m willing to err on the side of overreaction. I’ve dropped Kirk to WR38, and I’ve moved up Thomas a few spots to WR54.
Not a big surprise here, but Rome Odunze only played in three-receiver sets for the Bears. It might take an injury to either D.J. Moore or Keenan Allen for Odunze to become playable in a managed league.
It’s looking more and more as if Keon Coleman will be the most fantasy-relevant receiver in Buffalo. On top of making highlight-reel catches seemingly every day in training camp, Coleman played every snap with Josh Allen, while Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel rotated in two-WR sets. I still want to see more before I move Coleman (WR48), Shakir (WR53) or Samuel (WR54) in my rankings.
Van Jefferson played 15-of-17 snaps with Justin Fields, who started at QB for the Steelers. It looks as if Jefferson is Pittsburgh’s No. 2 receiver, but that might not mean much in OC Arthur Smith’s offense. When Smith was offensive coordinator for the Falcons last year, No. 2 receiver Mack Hollins had 30 targets all year.
Fans of rookie WR Jermaine Burton probably haven’t been pleased with reports that Burton seems to have fallen behind Andrei Iosivas in the battle for the Bengals’ No. 3 receiver role. Iosivas did indeed serve in that role when Joe Burrow was in the game, taking a number of coveted slot snaps. But let’s not count out Burton yet. The rookie entered the game after Burrow was gone but had three catches for 82 yards, including a snazzy 38-yard TD catch down the sideline.
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