Training camp and preseason reports and games can sometimes give us false hope about players, but if you keep your head on your shoulders, they can be extremely helpful for fantasy football. With fewer preseason games and full contact practices, teams have fewer opportunities to evaluate players in game-like settings. That means they need to take advantage of those times. Things change of course, but depth charts and playing time are forged in preseason games. We now have some data to filter through as Week 1 of preseason has wrapped up.
TreVeyon Henderson moves ahead of Antonio Gibson
Henderson started his NFL career with a bang as he returned a kick for a 100-yard touchdown, showing his electric ability. But, more importantly for fantasy, he was used with the starters, splitting time with Rhamondre Stevenson on the first couple drives, while Antonio Gibson was deployed after Henderson.
Stevenson, as long as he can hold onto the ball, is likely to remain the lead back, but Henderson has the juice to put up good numbers as the RB2. We know the receiving back can be useful for fantasy in a Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Chig Okonkwo plays a full complement of snaps with starters
The bane for most fantasy tight ends is that they don’t receive a large enough percentage of snaps. Okonkwo has been one of those tight ends, as he was rotated in and out of the game often last season. In his first preseason game this season, per Pro Football Focus, he played every snap with the starters. We know Okonkwo has a strong set of offensive tools and there is upside with Cam Ward now at the helm over Mason Rudolph and Will Levis from last season.
Tyjae Spears suffers high ankle sprain
Spears appeared poised to take at least a small step forward this season, as reports were positive heading into preseason. Unfortunately, Spears suffered a high ankle sprain on Saturday against the Buccaneers. That injury will keep him out of the rest of the preseason and could linger into the season. Tony Pollard gets a bit of a bump, as Spears gets bumped down. We don’t win fantasy leagues in the first few weeks of the season, so there is still hope for Spears, but he’ll need to get back to 100% and keep from any setbacks.
Marvin Mims sees uptick in snaps with starters
We know how dynamic Mims is on offense, but he has been a part-time player, knocking his fantasy upside. Per PFF, Mims played on 16-of-19 snaps with the starters. It’s still early, but this is a good start for Mims’ fantasy value. If he can keep this up, he becomes much safer in redraft leagues.
Sean Tucker gets bump with Rachaad White injury
White is behind starter Bucky Irving, but is the No. 2 in an offense that has given two running backs fantasy value in the past. The extent of White’s injury is unknown at this time, but we know groin injuries can linger and reoccur. Tucker doesn’t get a huge fantasy bump here, but he makes for a better late round flier at the moment.
Jayden Reed spotted in walking boot
Figuring out the Packers receiver room continues to be tough for fantasy. Now, de facto WR1, Jayden Reed, has a sprained foot.
This likely helps rookie Matthew Golden carve out a better role for himself, and if this injury were to linger, Golden could really see good usage if things go well.
James Cook declines to play in preseason during contract negotiations
Bills head coach Sean McDermott wanted RB1 James Cook to play in Week 1 of preseason, but Cook declined. McDermott spoke to the media following the game, per ESPN.
”We wanted him to play. I wanted him to play, but I don’t really want to go into it any further. There is really no change at this point in time from what it was going into this weekend and the game today, so he warmed up, like I said, but at this point, due to the situation and position he’s in, he was not willing to play, so that’s where we’re at. Again, it was a good conversation, but really no change overall.
At this point we can still expect Cook to be there on Week 1 of the regular season, but it isn’t a mortal lock. Cook likely isn’t going to get the contract he wants and he’ll either need to relent in negotiations, play to prove he deserves more money from a different team, or hold out. backup Ray Davis has the ability to lead the team, so if you do get Cook in drafts, be sure to grab Davis as insurance.
Braelon Allen splits time with Breece Hall
We’ve read plenty of reports that Allen should see an uptick in work this season and the first preseason game bore that out, as Allen and Hall split time with the starters. This jives with reports and the new offensive mindset of coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who comes from the Ben Johnson school. Johnson split time between two strong running backs in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Hall was still the starter and third-down back Isaiah Davis saw time with the starters as well, and they freely came in and out of the game. So, we will likely learn more as we move forward in preseason, but we can expect Hall and Allen to both see plenty of time on the field, which will hurt both of their fantasy upside.
