Running analysis and fantasy notes from Week 1 of NFL preseason

Key takeaways, fantasy football thoughts, and everything else you need to know from the NFL preseason games. Check back for updates.

Friday games

Strong start for Shedeur

I've been looking at this Browns quarterback competition as if Shedeur Sanders doesn't have a chance to win the starting job. If we're being honest, he probably doesn't - Cleveland almost certainly has Joe Flacco locked in as QB1. However, Sanders' preseason debut should, at the very least, prompt people to question why the Browns would also have him behind Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.

The Colorado product did plenty of good things in his extended action against the Panthers, finishing 14 of 23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders' first score came on an impressive touch throw between a pair of defenders while drifting to his left. His second was a strike over the middle after some nice movement within the pocket. He also showed flashes of poise to stand in and deliver against pressure and the mobility to make plays with his legs.

Getting carried away and starting Sanders out of the gate would likely be a mistake, both for the team and his early career development. The chaotic improv acts he made at Colorado (and at times Friday night) will surely get him into trouble against NFL defenses. His timing might need some work, too. But Sanders has more than enough talent for the Browns to bring him along slowly with an eye on giving him a real look when they're inevitably out of the mix in the season's second half. Why not see what you have at QB before taking a big swing at the top of next year's draft?

Bryce, T-Mac locked in

The Panthers' starters had the luxury of working against Cleveland's backups Friday night, so we probably shouldn't make too much of the encouraging results. Nonetheless, it was great to see live examples of Bryce Young developing a strong connection with first-round rookie Tetairoa McMillan.

McMillan got his debut started with a 30-yard catch down the right sideline before adding a 13-yard gain a few plays later. He should be Carolina's clear-cut No. 1 target from Day 1. McMillan's size, route-running, and underrated yards-after-catch ability could help Young take his game to another level after last year's second-half breakout.

Coker picks up where he left off

Staying with the Panthers' receiver room, don't sleep on Jalen Coker. The second-year undrafted free agent capped off Carolina's second drive with a short touchdown reception before pulling down a beautiful one-handed catch on a 34-yard strike from Andy Dalton. Although the explosive gain was called back due to a penalty, we count those for evaluation purposes in the preseason.

Xavier Legette, drafted by Carolina in the first round in 2024, is likely a lock for a significant role alongside McMillan. Coker building on last year's flashes and making a case to round out three-receiver sets could conceivably open the door for an Adam Thielen trade. And while there are plenty of young quarterbacks around the league who would benefit from the addition of a reliable veteran, a Vikings reunion makes too much sense. Thielen's presence alongside Justin Jefferson would go a long way toward helping J.J. McCarthy hit the ground running despite Jordan Addison's three-game suspension.

TreVeyon dazzles immediately

Talk about a terrific way to start your NFL career. TreVeyon Henderson announced his arrival in spectacular fashion against the Commanders, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Special teams won't be Henderson's primary role, but the electric return was an exciting glimpse of the dynamic skill set he'll bring to the Patriots offense. He also got involved in that phase of the game Friday night, taking his lone carry for 18 yards while chipping in three receptions for another 12 yards.

Henderson was a big-play machine at Ohio State, and the second-round rookie just so happens to be the rare running back who enters the league as an extremely capable pass-protector. That'll get Henderson on the field early and often, giving him a chance to emerge as New England's most important playmaker from the outset of his pro career. He should be a top candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Maye the dual-threat

We didn't get to see Drake Maye open it up as a passer in his first game action with New England's new-look offense. The sophomore quarterback completed 3 of 5 attempts for 12 yards before taking a seat for the rest of the night. However, he also showcased another aspect of his game that should generate excitement among Patriots fans and fantasy football managers alike.

The former No. 3 overall pick had an 11-yard run for a first down on his second drive. Five plays later, a second scramble put the Patriots in the end zone. That's nothing new. Maye led all qualified passers with 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie. And while Josh McDaniels is best known for his work with Tom Brady, this is also the guy who drafted Tim Tebow in the first round. McDaniels was thrilled to add a QB-run element to his playbook with Cam Newton back in 2020. You can bet he'll take full advantage of Maye's unique skill set.

Thursday games

Richardson hurt early

Anthony Richardson getting the start after some positive reviews out of training camp was the big draw against the Ravens. Unfortunately, the Colts quarterback had his night cut short. Richardson left the contest early in his second drive after taking a massive hit on a sack from an unblocked defender off the edge.

Head coach Shane Steichen later shared that he's day-to-day with a dislocated finger, so perhaps it's not as bad as it could have been. But this is certainly a situation worth monitoring. Richardson appeared to have fallen behind Daniel Jones in the quarterback competition after aggravating his shoulder in the spring. Any absence would likely squash his recent momentum and mark yet another setback for his development. He needs these reps as much as anyone.

Keep an eye on Keaton

Keaton Mitchell had some incredible flashes as a rookie back in 2023, averaging an obscene 8.4 yards per carry on 47 attempts before going down with a gruesome knee injury. After getting back on the field for a few games late last year, it seems like he's regained his previous form. Mitchell's rare explosiveness was on full display with multiple long runs against the Colts. In total, he took nine carries for 68 yards and a touchdown.

The Ravens will continue to ride Derrick Henry as their high-volume workhorse, but Mitchell is one to watch. His big-play ability could absolutely get him on the field in rotation. And if Henry is to miss any time, the former undrafted free agent could go from secret weapon to breakout star.

Bengals try something new

Cincinnati has typically been one of the teams that rests starters during the preseason. Joe Burrow, for example, attempted all of eight passes in exhibition games across his first five seasons. Zac Taylor evidently believes it's time for that to change.

The Bengals head coach revealed earlier this week that his top players would see more action in an effort to avoid another slow start to the regular season. It remains to be seen whether that will make a difference come Week 1, but Burrow and the rest of the first-team offense couldn't have looked much better against the Eagles' backups. Cincinnati's starters marched downfield for a pair of easy first-quarter touchdowns before shutting it down for the night.

New year, same defense?

It's still early, so we'll try to avoid overreacting to a few unflattering preseason reps. There's still plenty of work to be done before the games start to matter. That being said, it sure would have been nice if the first look at the Bengals' defense gave us any reason to be optimistic after what we saw in 2024.

That's not quite how it played out, as Philly's second-team offense didn't face much resistance on a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to start the game. Will Shipley provided the key play by turning a massive hole into a 38-yard run. Again, it's preseason. Trey Hendrickson wasn't out there, but plenty of Bengals starters were. This group has to improve on last year's disappointing performance or it won't matter how good the offense can be.

An elite handcuff

Speaking of Shipley, he should probably be on everyone's fantasy radar heading into the 2025 season. I've always envisioned him as a passing-game specialist, but the former fourth-round pick is clearly the Eagles' No. 2 running back behind Saquon Barkley. He offers far more upside than A.J. Dillon.

And while he didn't have to do much on his big run Thursday night, it was an important reminder of the plays that are so often available to running backs in this offense. Barkley missing any sort of time during the regular season could make Shipley the kind of player that wins you your fantasy league.

Raiders defense struggles

Pete Carroll is a legendary defensive coach. He's got about a month to figure out how to make sure the Raiders' defense isn't the reason his win-now plans end up looking too ambitious.

Las Vegas opened Thursday's game against the Seahawks with starters across the board before slowly rotating in depth players. Drew Lock and the rest of Seattle's backups had plenty of success moving the ball against both throughout the first half. A new-look offense has a chance to make the Raiders a sneaky-fun team. As is the case with the Bengals, though, that won't be nearly enough if the defense is consistently getting pushed around.

Horton making noise

Tory Horton Jr. has been generating plenty of buzz since landing with the Seahawks as a fifth-round pick in April. His performance against the Raiders suggests it won't be quieting down any time soon.

The Colorado State product, who finished his night with three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown, is an excellent route-runner with impressive athletic traits. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is probably still the favorite for WR3 duties alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, but it seems like he's had a quiet camp. The rookie may be gaining ground.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.