Key takeaways and fantasy football analysis from Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
Saturday games
📝 Commanders-Lions
The Commanders' starters only played three snaps, but it was noteworthy to see Treylon Burks on the field for all of them. Stefon Diggs played two snaps with the starters out of the slot, pushing rookie Antonio Williams down the depth chart.
Meanwhile, the Lions rested their starters entirely. Isaac TeSlaa logged the most snaps among Detroit's available skill-position players, cementing him as the team's WR3 and a handcuff option to both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in deeper leagues.
📝 Ravens-Vikings
This was another game in which both sides sat their starters. Ravens rookie Ja'Kobi Lane played 19 snaps, ran 11 routes, and received two targets. He's locked in as Baltimore's WR3 and has the potential to overtake Rashod Bateman as Lamar Jackson's second option at receiver. He's going as the WR56 in fantasy drafts but continues to climb.
📝 Bills-Browns
Both teams rested the majority of their starters. Denzel Boston did log snaps for the Browns but didn't receive a target on his five routes run. He'll be the Cleveland's X receiver in an offense that's expected to struggle to throw the ball. However, Boston profiles as a solid red-zone option and may still be worth a flier late in drafts.
📝 Falcons-Colts
Make it four games Saturday in which no starters meaningfully participated. Seth McGowan again assumed the role of the Colts' RB2 with DJ Giddens sidelined. If you're drafting Jonathan Taylor in the first, McGowan has to be on your radar as a potential late-round selection.
📝 Saints-Rams
Saints' WR2 battle
The Saints sat a lot of their players, including rookie wideout Barion Brown, who's had a strong camp and is in the running to replace the injured Jordyn Tyson as the Saints' WR2. Fellow rookie Bryce Lance is also in the mix. He played 26 snaps, ran 17 routes, and caught both of his targets for 16 yards.
📝 Giants-Dolphins
Four-man RB rotation in New York?
Cam Skattebo started for the Giants, but Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary quickly joined the party. Meanwhile, Najee Harris, who signed with New York on Tuesday, sat out Week 2 of the preseason but should also see work at some point. The addition of Harris is a bad sign for Skattebo's health concerns; if the Giants were confident in their running back room, they wouldn't have signed a veteran back coming off a torn Achilles.
📝 Bears-Bengals
Few starters played for the Bengals, but the Bears rolled out most of their top unit. Kalif Raymond notably took the first three snaps with Chicago's starters in place of Luther Burden III, who's nursing a groin injury. If Burden can't return for Week 1, Raymond could be thrust into a starting role.
📝 Eagles-Patriots
No starters played, and no notable backups made an impact.
📝 Chiefs-Buccaneers
End of the Allen hype?
Cyrus Allen has been turning heads in Chiefs training camp, but he only appeared in three-receiver sets Saturday against the Bucs. Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals played ahead of Allen, killing much of the momentum that the fifth-round rookie built during camp. Perhaps Week 3 of the preseason will shed more light on the situation, but for now, Allen can't be viewed as a worthwhile fantasy option.
📝 Cowboys-Cardinals
Cowboys RB2 up for grabs
The battle to be Javonte Williams' backup is up for grabs. Malik Davis started against the Cardinals after Jaydon Blue started last week. The role reversal suggests Davis is in line to be Williams' handcuff, but Blue ran well Saturday night. The former fifth-round pick had 15 carries for 74 yards in three quarters of work, and definitely has much more potential than Davis. Week 3 of the preseason could provide clarity, but for now, neither back is worth taking a shot on in fantasy until the situation is finalized.
Friday games
📝 Jets-Steelers
Geno-AD connection
Geno Smith went a perfect 7-for-7 with a touchdown in his preseason debut. He found Adonai Mitchell on two of those completions for 21 yards. Despite the small sample size, it was a promising performance for the Jets' offensive outlook. Prior to last season, Smith enjoyed a three-year stretch with the Seahawks in which he averaged 4,075 passing yards and 23.7 TDs per season. If - and that's a big if - Smith can return to that level of play, you should feel confident drafting Garrett Wilson in the fourth round.
Steelers provide zero clarity
Jaylen Warren started the game, but Rico Dowdle split time with his running mate. Both handled five carries, with Warren going for 18 yards and Dowdle for 17. Warren is projected to receive work in the passing game, but it was Dowdle who caught the lone reception between the two. This will likely be a frustrating backfield to roster if the pair continues to split time in an offense with limited upside.
📝 Panthers-Jaguars
Brooks' backfield to lose
With Chuba Hubbard sidelined, Jonathan Brooks got the start for Carolina and looked solid. He logged five carries for 18 yards and converted a goal-line touch into a score. However, Brooks whiffed on a routine block in pass protection that will infuriate his coaching staff. He still has work to do to earn the starting gig, especially since Hubbard is trusted and considered a team captain, but Brooks provides much more upside than his veteran teammate.
📝 Packers-Broncos
Broncos' new toy
Jaylen Waddle made his Broncos debut Friday and proceeded to haul in a 35-yard reception on his first target from Bo Nix. Denver hasn't possessed a receiving weapon of Waddle's caliber in a long time, making him an enticing option at his current draft position of WR21. Waddle already showed that he can be a team's top wideout when Tyreek Hill missed time in Miami, and he now has a clear path to lead the Broncos in every receiving stat, which would undoubtedly make him a draft-day steal.
Packers' RB2
MarShawn Lloyd got the start for Green Bay, indicating he's earned an RB2 role with the team that could expand if Josh Jacobs misses time. Lloyd wasn't overly impressive on the ground, taking six carries for 17 yards. However, he hauled in an 11-yard reception for a touchdown, displaying the versatility that would make him an every-week fantasy starter if he ends up as the Packers' regular-season starter.
Jacobs is still potentially facing discipline by the league for an offseason domestic assault arrest.
Thursday games
📝 Raiders-Texans
Magic Mike
The Raiders may have found themselves a steal in running back Mike Washington Jr. The fourth-round rookie again showed why he's one of the most athletic backs ever tested at the NFL combine, this time breaking off a 33-yard run after initially getting stuffed near the line of scrimmage.
Washington had 56 rushing yards at halftime Thursday after registering 63 yards in Las Vegas' preseason opener. Ashton Jeanty remains the clear starter, but it will be hard for new head coach Klint Kubiak to keep Washington on the sideline if he continues to break off huge gains.
Texans' murky WR room
Jayden Higgins tore his ACL on Tuesday and will miss the 2026 season, creating a competition for the Texans' WR2 role. But it's difficult to read who's leading the way. Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell remain sidelined with injuries; Noel is dealing with a hamstring issue, while Dell is still working his way back from a horrific leg injury suffered in 2024. Xavier Hutchinson filled Higgins' role versus the Raiders, but he's produced very little during his three-year career. Higgins' injury may simply offer a lot more targets for Nico Collins.
Tucker cemented as Raiders' WR1
Tre Tucker didn't play against the Texans, signaling that the Raiders view him as their top wide receiver. Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and rookie Malik Benson all played to varying degrees Thursday. WR1 isn't the most lucrative role in Las Vegas, considering Brock Bowers is the team's go-to guy, but Tucker has shown flashes previously and could outperform his WR71 average draft position in fantasy.
Mendoza's mistake
Fernando Mendoza made his first NFL mistake, throwing a pick-6 on his third pass attempt of the evening. In all, he was 8-for-15 for 86 yards, a slight step back from his debut against the Cardinals.
📝 49ers-Chargers
CMC's backup
Kaelon Black appears to be Christian McCaffrey's backup. The third-round rookie started for the 49ers, handling eight carries for 33 yards. He will rarely see the field with McCaffrey slated for another massive workload in 2026, but if anything happens to the 49ers' starting back, Black will assume a big role in San Francisco.
Stribling shines again
De'Zhaun Stribling didn't start but saw plenty of action in his first two drives of the game. The Ole Miss product caught four of five targets for 46 yards in limited work, adding to the 63 receiving yards he recorded in Week 1. Notably, three of those receptions were delivered by Brock Purdy, who seems to have quickly built a connection with the rookie receiver.
Mike Evans is the clear No. 1 in San Francisco, and Deebo Samuel will have his niche role in the offense, but Stribling appears to be heavily involved in an offensive unit that shouldn't have an issue scoring points.
Chargers struggle on the ground
There's a lot of hype around what Mike McDaniel can do for the Chargers' rushing attack, but it wasn't on display Thursday night. The trio of Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal finished the first half with a combined eight carries for five yards. However, there's no reason to overreact. The Chargers didn't start their entire offensive line, and Justin Herbert only took three snaps.
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