Key takeaways and fantasy football analysis from Week 1 of the NFL preseason.
Thursday games
📝 Packers-Steelers
Sorting through Packers' WR rotation
Matthew Golden was on the field for every snap of Green Bay's nine-play opening drive, and Christian Watson sat out only one. Jayden Reed played seven, though all of them came in three-wide-receiver sets.
The Packers have heavily rotated their wideouts in years past, but that doesn't seem to be the case this year. Golden will be fantasy relevant if he leads the wide receiver room in snaps.
MarShawn Lloyd
Lloyd started and played the first 15 snaps with the Packers' top unit - a clear indication he's carved out the role as Josh Jacobs' backup. Lloyd's responsibilities would drastically increase if Jacobs can't play due to a potential suspension or injury, making him an intriguing option at his current average draft position (ADP) of 215.
Germie Bernard
In his Steelers debut, the rookie wideout tallied 51 receiving yards on four catches, including one that featured a mean run up the sideline and several broken tackles. On another play, he nearly scored a touchdown but was pushed out of the back of the end zone. Bernard will ultimately need to earn Aaron Rodgers' trust, but the second-round pick was impressive in his first outing.
📝 Lions-Bengals
Who is Lions' RB2?
With Isiah Pacheco sidelined with an MCL injury, Jacob Saylors started for the Lions and ran well. The second-year back had eight carries for 55 yards, including one 27-yard burst, and added another 28 yards through the air. Saylors is simply a name to watch at this point, but his value will grow as Jahmyr Gibbs' potential backup if Pacheco can't get healthy.
Bengals' starters move as expected
Joe Burrow started the game and took seven of his 12 snaps under center. The Bengals have made it known they plan to use shotgun less this season, which should increase the effectiveness of play-action calls. Burrow was sacked in his second drop back of the game, raising the same offensive line concerns that have plagued Cincinnati for a few years. Overall, the offense looked solid, though, with Ja'Marr Chase snagging a 16-yard pass and Chase Brown contributing on the ground.
📝 Colts-Patriots
JT's new handcuff?
Neither team played their starters, but it was interesting to see seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan get the first rushing touches for the Colts. Jonathan Taylor's handcuff should be rostered in all leagues, and it appears McGowan is earning the role over DJ Giddens, who didn't play due to a hamstring injury.
📝 Chargers-Texans
Chargers' RB pecking order
This was another contest in which no starters played, but it should be noted that Keaton Mitchell was held out alongside the Chargers' first unit, while running back Kimani Vidal and tight end Oronde Gadsden played.
📝 Cardinals-Raiders
Could the Cardinals be ... fun?
Yes, it's preseason, but new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur's offense has scored 57 points in two games. If Jacoby Brissett can play all 17 games this season, Arizona may surprise from a fantasy perspective.
Rookie Jeremiyah Love racked up 73 total yards on a whopping 14 touches while showing flashes of the potential that made him the third overall pick. Marvin Harrison Jr. scored an early touchdown, and Michael Wilson caught both of his targets for 23 yards.
Wide receiver Jalen Brooks has been the Cardinals' preseason MVP so far, recording nine catches for 151 yards and a touchdown in two games. He's not relevant in fantasy right now, but if there's an injury to either Harrison or Wilson, the former seventh-round pick may be worth an add.
Mendoza gets off to quick start in debut
Fernando Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut. He looked poised for a rookie and made some nice throws through tight windows over the middle of the field. Mendoza may not win the starting job for Week 1, but his performance Thursday has to be encouraging for those willing to take Brock Bowers in the second round of drafts.
Raiders' rushers find room
Ashton Jeanty averaged 5.3 yards per attempt on three carries, one of which was a 10-yard scamper. Most encouraging was his ability to find running lanes - something the Raiders' offensive line couldn't provide last season. Jeanty had a league-worst 16.9% tackle-for-loss percentage a year ago, but the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum has already seemed to help.
Rookie Mike Washington relieved Jeanty early in the game and took six carries for 63 yards, the majority of which he gained on a 53-yard run. Washington appears to be the clear handcuff to Jeanty and would be a viable option if anything were to happen to the Boise State product.
📝 Titans-49ers
All aboard the Stribling hype train
It didn't take long for the De'Zhaun Stribling hype train to reach maximum velocity. The second-round rookie caught seven of eight targets for 63 yards in his 49ers debut. With Ricky Pearsall sidelined for the season, Stribling will take on an important role in Kyle Shanahan's offense. He's currently going as the 58th wide receiver off the board in fantasy drafts, but that will certainly change after Thursday's performance.
Ward struggles to begin 2026
Cam Ward completed only 5 of 12 passes against the 49ers' backups. Last year's first overall pick already wasn't likely to be fantasy relevant this season, but his initial showing in the preseason is concerning for the outlook of Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson.
Subscribe to push notifications in our NFL Fantasy News section.
