Below is a summary of all the Week 1 preseason action by team. The primary focus is on player utilization and usage with the starting offense.

Typically, starters are determined by drives played with the starting QB. Some instances differ depending on who started, as outlined in each team's position section. You can find definitions for all the table abbreviations at the bottom of this article.

We will update the most recent teams that played as we get the data throughout the weekend.

Note that some teams might not update until Monday.

Kansas City Chiefs

Quarterback

  • Patrick Mahomes played the first drive. He had six snaps and four dropbacks, completing three of four passes for 27 yards.
  • Carson Wentz was the QB2.

Running Back

 

  • Isiah Pacheco took 100% of the snaps with the first-team offense.
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire has battled illness throughout camp, casting doubt on his role as the No. 2. However, CEH was the second RB up in Week 1 of the preseason, playing the second drive before calling it a night.
  • Deneric Prince was the third RB through the rotation.
  • Carson Steele is listed as a fullback on the Chiefs depth chart, but he had four carries for 29 yards and a touchdown on the fifth drive (his only drive). The rookie averaged 14 carries for 70 yards per game last season at UCLA after transferring from Ball State.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Hollywood Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint injury on the first play, placing his Week 1 status in doubt. I have reduced Brown's projections by one game and moved him down five spots in the rankings. In fantasy, he still projects as a WR3 with WR2 upside on a points-per-game basis.
  • Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce didn't leave the field on the drive with Mahomes.
  • Xavier Worthy was on the field for the game's first snap and registered a 75% route participation rate with Mahomes, but neither had a target. Worthy is a low-end WR3 with WR2 upside – especially if Brown misses time.
  • Skyy Moore entered the game after Brown's injury and posted a 75% route participation. While the other receivers were done after one drive, Moore stayed in for three more series.

Offensive Line

  • Four of five starters played the first series with Mahomes.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Travis Etienne handled 100% of the snaps with the first-string offense. He caught a nine-yard TD on an angle route inside the ten-yard line. Etienne has never lived up to his college hype as a receiver, so seeing him get involved beyond the line of scrimmage in the passing game is a plus.
  • Tank Bigsby was the second RB to enter the game, playing the third drive. He played one more snap on the fourth drive. Bigsby struggled as a rookie, so operating as the No. 2 and not playing long in Week 1 of the preseason is a positive.
  • D'Ernest Johnson was the RB3 and played four drives.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Brian Thomas Jr. played 100% of the snaps with the starters. He wasn't targeted by Lawrence but pulled down a 42-yard reception from Beathard on the third drive to finish his night. The Jaguars have some nice receiving options, but none of them are alphas, which leaves room for the first-round NFL Draft pick to emerge in a big way as a rookie. Thomas is one of my favorite targets in fantasy drafts.
  • Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk posted 100% and 80% route participation rates, respectively.

Offensive Line

  • Three of five starters played two drives with Lawrence.

Seattle Seahawks

Quarterback

  • Geno Smith rested.
  • Sam Howell played nine drives, completing 16 of 27 passes for 130 yards and one TD. He scrambled twice for 20 yards and was sacked twice.

Running Back

  • Kenneth Walker rested. The team has hinted at a more prominent role for Walker this season, and this move aligns with that thinking. Still, the team invested a Round 2 pick in Zach Charbonnet last year, so let's see what kind of trend we get over the next two games.
  • Zach Charbonnet started and played the first drive before exiting.
  • Kenny McIntosh was the RB3.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Noah Fant (injury) did not play.
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba played the first three drives and garnered two targets (18%) with a 93% route participation. The fact that JSN played while veterans Metcalf and Lockett rested isn't ideal, but it isn't surprising, given his lackluster Year 1. It's a small sample, but the more significant concern was his low aDOT (6.0), an issue that plagued his upside last season. If JSN is going to live in that range, he must be an absolute volume hog to a level similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown or up his YAC game. I am not moving Smith-Njigba down in projections or the ranks, but seeing some signs of life would be nice.

Offensive Line

  • Two of the five projected starters played two to three series. 

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback

  • Justin Herbert rested (plantar fascia).
  • Easton Stick started and played eight drives, going five of 13 for 31 yards and an INT. He was sacked twice.

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Josh Palmer and Ladd McConkey did not play.
  • DJ Chark Jr. and Brenden Rice posted 100% route participation rates over the first two drives with all the starting linemen. Simi Fehoko got on the field in 11 personnel 100% of the time as the slot WR on those drives.
  • Quentin Johnston – the team's 2023 first-rounder – didn't see the field until the third drive. He played six drives and failed to earn a target. Johnston exited the game ahead of Rice and Fehoko, and I couldn't find anything about an injury. Maybe that is a positive? (I am grasping for anything). Recent reports that the team has big plans for Johnston don't align with camp reports or his role in Week 1 of the preseason. There is a chance this is tough love from Jim Harbaugh, but given Johnston's play as a rookie, don't hold out hope. It's time to move on, it's time to get going. – Tom Petty

Offensive Line

  • Four of five projected starters played the first two to three drives.

New Orleans Saints

Quarterback

  • Derek Carr started and went two of six for 12 yards on two drives. He played nine snaps and dropped back to pass six times. Half of Carr's snaps were from under center, a hallmark of Klint Kubiak's offense. Five of six dropbacks only had two WRs on the field, and four included motion – additional staples of Kubiak's offense. This installation will take some time for Carr to get used to, but if he can master the offense, we could see efficiency gains, depending on the growth of the WRs.
  • Jake Haener was the QB2, and Spencer Rattler was the QB3.

Running Back

  • Kendre Miller (hamstring) did not play.
  • Alvin Kamara handled 67% of the rushing attempts and notched a 67% route participation with the starters.
  • Jamaal Williams handled 33% of the attempts with the first team. Williams remained in the game two drives longer than Kamara. Williams would be the No. 2 back if the season started today, but Miller's health could quickly change that.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) and Juwan Johnson (foot) did not play.
  • Chris Olave played every pass play with the starters. He was targeted a team-high four times (67%) but only secured one reception. One was a great breakup by a diving defensive back. Another was a miscommunication, where Olave faded toward the sideline to create space from another route, and Carr placed the ball inside. If they can work out the kinks in the new scheme, Olave's will still offer a high ceiling. I remain bullish about his projections and rank.
  • Cedrick Wilson Jr. filled in for Shaheed, playing 100% of the snaps opposite Olave rather than A.T. Perry. Perry rotated into the lineup after Olave left and played into the early fourth quarter – not a great sign.
  • Taysom Hill played 67% of the snaps and posted a 67% route participation with the starters. Foster Moreau played 100% of the snaps at TE, but Hill moved all over the formation. He lined up inline twice, once in the backfield, twice wide and once from the slot. It is hard to say how much of this will continue when the team has Shaheed and Johnson back, but Kubiak could embrace Hill similarly to the previous playcallers. We will monitor this one as the preseason moves forward, but Hill is now a boom-bust high-end TE2.

Offensive Line

  • All the starters played two series, and three played five.

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback

Running Back

  • James Conner rested, and Emari Demercado didn't play.
  • Trey Benson started and played the first five drives. He played 63% of the snaps and garnered a 62% rush share and 50% route participation rate. Benson averaged only 2.6 yards per rush behind the backup line, which made for a long day. The rookie didn't play with the authority you would like to see from a back his size, but there was little room to get anything going on many of the carries. The good news is Benson appears locked into the RB2 role, which is all I am worried about for now – let's see some reps with the starting offensive line.
  • Michael Carter rotated with Benson, handling 31% of the attempts and a 43% route participation rate, but Demercado was out.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zay Jones and Trey McBride did not play.
  • Marvin Harrison Jr. played one series and ran one route before retiring to the bench for the night. It was surprising the Cardinals even put Harrison on the field with the backups, but it was a home game. I am not reading anything into this at this point.

Offensive Line

  • The starting offensive line rested.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds rested.
  • Bucky Irving played 100% of the snaps and handled 75% of the attempts over the first two drives with mostly starting offensive linemen. He played four drives and finished with 28 rushing yards on six carries – including a TD – and two targets. We will see how these splits look when Edmonds plays. It isn't unusual for a veteran like Edmonds to get the first game off, but it doesn't mean he is ahead of Irving. I have Irving projected as the No. 2 with a 25% rush share, but Edmonds is still getting 8%. It would be nice to see how the Bucs use them when both are available.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Cade Otton rested.
  • Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer played the first two drives before getting the rest of the night off. McMillan converted two targets into two receptions for 23 yards, while Palmer had one reception for 21 yards on one target. Most of their reps were playing from outside, filling in for Evans and Godwin, which was encouraging.

Offensive Line

  • The Bucs are still figuring out their starting lineup, but several starters and potential starters played some during the first few series.

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Zack Moss did not play due to an illness.
  • Chase Brown played 100% of the snaps with the starters and got the rest of the night off. He finished with five carries for 10 yards and one reception for zero yards. We can't read too much into Brown's utilization with Moss out, but this feels like a split backfield based on camp vibes. The team resting Brown immediately after one drive is positive – they view him as a contributing starter. Brown is one of my favorite late-round targets.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Ja'Marr Chase did not play.
  • Tee Higgins, Trenton Irwin and Andrei Iosivas posted 86% route participation marks with Burrow. Iosivas, a camp darling, played the most (46%) from the slot. Irwin mainly played outside but has operated from the slot in the past. The battle for the third WR spot in Cincinnati is far from settled, but if the season started today, this would probably be a rotation.
  • Jermaine Burton – a Super Model favorite – had to wait until the fifth drive before he played a snap and didn't see significant playing time until late in the game. However, the third-round rookie came up big once on the field. Burton hauled in three catches for 82, including a sweet 38-yard TD. Iosivas has muddied the waters for the WR3 role, but Burton still carries the most upside. If Higgins or Chase missed time, Burton is the player who could go nuclear. I am keeping Burton in the pole position for the third-most routes – let's see how far he climbs up the depth chart next week after this performance.
  • Mike Gesicki had a 71% route participation with Burrow. The veteran TE played 57% of snaps from the slot – another factor that could muddy the third WR rotation in this offense.

Offensive Line

  • The starters played the first drive with Burrow.

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Christian McCaffrey (injury), Elijah Mitchell (injury) and Isaac Guerendo (unknown) did not play.
  • Jordan Mason played 100% of the snaps on the opening drive before retiring for the night. Camp reports have suggested that Mason could be the No. 2 behind CMC, and he looked patient yet decisive and powerful with six carries for 34 yards and a TD. It is hard to take too much away from his utilization, given the injury to Mitchell, but I have tightened their projection splits.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • There were no takeaways for the 49ers at WR or TE, with all starters sitting and Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) not playing.

Offensive Line

  • The starting offensive line rested.

Tennessee Titans

Quarterback

  • Will Levis played the first two drives. He played 14 snaps and dropped back to pass six times, going four of five for 35 yards. Levis scrambled once and had a QB sneak for a TD at the goal line. Levis came off of deep reads a couple of times to get the ball to the underneath option – something we didn't see much last season.

Running Back

  • Tony Pollard played 57% of the snaps and accounted for 50% of the designed rush attempts with the starters. He posted a 33% route participation, caught two targets for 11 yards, and rushed for 35. Pollard held a slight utilization lead in this contest, but he and Tyjae Spears should be tight in usage all season. The coaching staff has told us multiple times that they view Pollard and Spears interchangeably, which matches Week 1 of the preseason. Pollard is an RB3 with RB1 spike-week upside.
  • Spears handled 43% of the snaps, 38% of the rushing attempts and registered a 50% route participation rate. His box score didn't look as good, with only two yards on three carries, but he faced multiple defenders in the backfield on two carries. Spears still flashed his playmaking ability with a sweet cutback for a TD. Like Pollard, Spears is an RB3 with RB1 spike-week upside.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • DeAndre Hopkins (injury) didn't play.
  • Calvin Ridley had an 83% route participation and saw two targets (40%) with Levis. The free-agent acquisition turned on another gear to secure a first down on third and long with a juicy run-after-the-catch effort.
  • Treylon Burks played 100% of the snaps with Hopkins out but wasn't targeted. I have concerns about Hopkins this year, and if he falters, Burks could get one more chance to show the Titans why they spent a first-rounder on him three years ago.
  • Tyler Boyd had an 83% route participation and operated primarily from the slot (73%). The Titans used 11 personnel on 11 of 13 plays, so Boyd could get some run if Brian Callahan fully implements a 3 WR mentality like we saw in Cincinnati (78% in 2023).
  • Chig Okonkwo was in a route on 67% of the routes but didn't have a target. Most of the short stuff went to the RBs (three targets instead).

Offensive Line

  • All five of the starting linemen played for two drives.

Chicago Bears

Quarterback

  • Caleb Williams played 18 snaps and dropped back to pass eight times on two drives. He completed four of seven passes for 95 yards and added 13 rushing yards on a scramble. Williams looked impressive, converting a third and 12 to DJ Moore, keeping a screen alive with what looked like a no-look pass to D'Andre Swift that went for 42 yards and a sick throw rolling to his right that found Cole Kmet for 26 yards. We shouldn't overreact to the preseason (i.e., Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett last season), but Williams made plays we don't see every day. Williams had an easy check-down option on the long third-down conversion but knew what he needed to get the first and fired away. He offers as much upside as any QB going outside the top 12 in fantasy drafts.

Running Back

  • D'Andre Swift started the game but only played two snaps (11%). After Swift's first carry, Khalil Herbert took the next handoff. The snap after that was third and 12, which Travis Homer took with fullback Khari Blasingame flanked to the other side of Williams. Swift then returned to catch a middle screen pass for 42 yards. Swift didn't return after the long reception. I have Swift projected for 45% of the Bears carries with a 40% route participation as the face of a committee, making him a mid-range RB3.
  • Khalil Herbert bogarted 72% of the snaps and 82% of the rushing attempts with the starting offense. Swift didn't return after his long reception, which might have been a choice by the coaching staff. Given that Roschon Johnson also didn't have a snap (I couldn't find out why), we shouldn't make any overblown assumptions regarding Herbert's role in the offense. Johnson played ahead of Herbert in the Hall of Fame game, but Herbert left the game sooner (second drive). I have Herbert projected as the RB2 in this offense, but still battling Johnson for touches.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Keenan Allen didn't have a target with Williams but played 100% of the dropbacks, including reps outside in 12 personnel. Allen played 47% of his routes from the slot – mostly when the team went to 11 personnel. We are dealing with a small sample that could change next week, but knowing which Bears WRs will be on the field in 2WR sets matters. The team has two quality TEs and Shane Waldron utilized multi-TE sets often in Seattle.
  • DJ Moore posted a 63% route participation rate with Williams at QB. There is nothing to overreact to here based on one game, but there is some risk with the Bears' WRs and playing time, given that they could use plenty of two-TE sets. Moore led the team with three targets, with two of them off of play action boots with him as a primary read.
  • Rome Odunze had a 50% route participation and one target with the starters. If Allen continues to get most of the looks in 2WR sets, it could dramatically impact Odunze's outlook – especially early in the season. Odunze is still the type of talent profile we want to bet on, but some patience could be required unless Waldron shifts to an 11-personnel-centered attack.
  • Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett registered 63% route participation rates. With the starters only set to play two drives, the coaching staff might have forced things a bit with Everett, but his presence is a threat to Kmet's fantasy value, which already took a hit with the arrival of Allen and Odunze.

Offensive Line

  • Three of the five starters played with Williams.

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback

  • Josh Allen played eight snaps with four dropbacks. He left the game midway through the second drive.

Running Back

  • James Cook handled 57% of the designed rush attempts and posted a 54% route participation with the starting offensive line. However, he did exit the game with Josh Allen.
  • Ray Davis accounted for 43% of the designed rush attempts and notched a 31% route participation with the starters. Davis looks like the No. 2 in Buffalo, but his main competition, Ty Johnson (hamstring), didn't play, so this is a situation we will check back on next week. If Davis does have this No. 2 role locked down, he offers serious upside as a late-round sleeper.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Keon Coleman led the Bills with a 100% route participation over the first two drives with the starters. He delivered a 27% target share. I have Coleman projected for 80% route participation this season, with Mack Hollins (who didn't play) taking away some work, but this is still an encouraging sign for the rookie.
  • Curtis Samuel didn't play the first drive but ended up with a 69% route participation and 18% target share with two targets – including a quick screen – with the starters. He had 75% participation with Allen, and many of his routes were at or behind the line of scrimmage. I have Samuel projected for a 75% route participation rate and a 17% target share. While reports from camp have indicated Samuel was playing more outside, he played from the slot on 67% of the snaps – battling with Khalil Shakir for playing time.
  • Khalil Shakir played all three snaps on the first drive, but his route curiously dipped to only 39% with the starters. On plays with Allen, he was at 50%. Still, Shakir accumulated three targets (27%) and looked like the Bills' best WR during his limited playing time, leading the starters with 28 yards. He played from the slot on 86% of snaps, which aligns with camp reports, but Samuel stole many of those reps in Week 1 of the preseason.
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a 77% route participation rate and zero targets during the first two drives, with most of it from 11 personnel. MVS was only at 25% with Allen and likely saw a bump in playing time due to Hollins not playing.
  • K.J. Hamler returned two kickoffs but mishandled one, which he recovered. Hamler is a playmaker if he gets a chance to stick with the team. Injuries derailed his career.
  • Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox garnered 75% route participation marks on plays with Allen. Each player saw two routes from 12 personnel and one from 11 personnel.

Offensive Line

  • The starters played two drives.

Washington Commanders

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Brian Robinson Jr. led the Commanders' backfield with 55% of the attempts with Daniels in the game. He was limited to a 33% route participation rate in the passing attack.
  • Austin Ekeler handled 25% of the rushing attempts and led the team with a 67% route participation rate on the first drive with the starters.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Terry McLaurin never left the field and saw one target from Daniels.
  • Jahan Dotson notched a 100% route participation with Daniels and played primarily from the slot (80%). The third-year WR wasn't targeted, but it could create more positive matchups if the move inside sticks.
  • Dyami Brown played with the first-team offense in 11 personnel groupings and caught a 42-yarder from Daniels.
  • Luke McCaffrey entered the game after Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus and Jamison Crowder. We are still early, but there is a chance the former QB needs more time to be ready to challenge for a role early in the season.
  • Zach Ertz didn't play.
  • Ben Sinnott didn't enter the game until the third drive, but he played well, snaring all three of his targets for 57 yards – including a 44-yard beauty. Kliff Kingsbury buried Trey McBride behind Ertz as a rookie, but Sinnott remains a viable late-round TE because if things go his way, he has the talent to pop in the fantasy boxscore. There is a chance Sinnott is already the second-best receiver on this team.

Offensive Line

  • Three of the five projected starters played the first drive. Two of five remained for the second drive.

New York Jets

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Breece Hall rested.
  • Braelon Allen played three drives, including 100% of the snaps on Taylor's two. The fourth-round rookie led the team with 54 yards on six totes. It was an excellent first performance all around. Allen ran with power, picked up a blitz and picked up a reception on the scramble drill from Taylor. Allen's preseason Week 1 utilization and play align with camp reports. He is starting to look like one of the better handcuffs in fantasy.
  • Isaiah Davis was the second back, entering the game on the third drive and playing until halftime.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • The starting WRs and TEs rested.
  • Malachi Corley registered a 100% route participation with Taylor. He caught one pass behind the line of scrimmage for a one-yard loss. His average route depth was 5.5 yards on the night.

Offensive Line

  • Tyron Smith, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Morgan Moses rested. Starting center Joe Tippman and rookie first-round tackle Olu Fashanu played. Tippman played two drives, while Fashanu played six.

Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

  • Aidan O'Connell started and played one drive with 14 snaps and 10 dropbacks. He completed seven of nine passes for 76 yards.
  • Gardner Minshew played the next three drives and completed five of 10 passes for 114 yards and a TD.

Running Back

  • Zamir White handled 79% of the snaps, with 100% of the rushing attempts and a 60% route participation on the first drive with the starters. Over the first three drives, he handled 55% of the attempts.
  • Alexander Mattison played 100% of the snaps on the second drive.
  • Dylan Laube worked behind Ameer Abdullah, but rookies often have to earn their way up the depth chart this time of year.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Davante Adams did not play.
  • Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer posted 79% and 86% snap rates with the starters. It is a small sample, but we last saw that type of playing time for two starting TEs in New England in the Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez days. On the downside, Bowers and Mayer each had a 50% route participation. Overall, the snap rates are encouraging, and the routes could come up when the Raiders get tackle Kolton Miller (PUP) and guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (PUP) back.

Offensive Line

  • The Raiders three healthy starters played the first drive.

Minnesota Vikings

Quarterback

  • Sam Darnold started and was on the field for one drive. He played 12 snaps and had eight dropbacks and looked in charge of the offense. Darnold went four of eight for 59 yards.
  • J.J. McCarthy totaled 30 snaps and 19 dropbacks on the six drives. He looked sharp, going 11 of 17 for 188 yards with two TDs and one INT. He also scrambled twice for 18 yards. I don't want to overreact to preseason performances against backup defenses, but there is a chance I have underrated the Vikings passing prospects this season. I will hold the projections where they are for now, but let's see how McCarthy and Darnold look next week.

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Justin Jefferson did not play.
  • Jordan Addison had a 100% route participation and a 47% air yards share (20 aDOT) on two targets from Darnold.
  • Jalen Nailor posted a 100% route participation rate and led the team with three targets from Darnold. This utilization matches the reports from camp – Nailor has taken over the WR3 spot and is worthy of a late-round pick in best ball.
  • Johnny Mundt handled 83% of the snaps and had a 63% route participation with the starters. Mundt was the TE1 for the Vikings after they lost T.J. Hockenson last year and looks like the frontrunner until Hockenson returns in 2024.

Offensive Line

  • The starters played the first drive.

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Josh Jacobs handled all the work on a short first drive and got the rest of the night off. MarShawn Lloyd – the back most likely to push Jacobs for playing time due to his complementary style – injured his hamstring. If the rookie back starts slow, expect Jacobs to start hot.
  • A.J. Dillon was the second back to enter the game, playing the second and third series before resting. If the season started today, Dillon would be the No. 2, but it isn't a situation that I am confident lasts very far into the season if Lloyd is healthy.
  • MarShawn Lloyd was the fourth back in the rotation behind Emanuel Wilson and injured his hamstring. We often see rookie backs pushed down the depth chart in preseason games, so that isn't a huge concern, but if the hamstring injury forces Lloyd to miss much time, it could hamper his early-season playing time.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • The Packers will likely rotate all their skill-position players, as we saw last season – which was the case in a *tiny sample of three snaps* in Week 1 of the preseason.
  • Romeo Doubs: 100% snaps
  • Christian Watson: 67% snaps
  • Jayden Reed: 67% snaps
  • Dontayvion Wicks: 33% snaps (one reception for 62 yards and a TD) – this guy might be a WR1 if another Packers WR goes down.
  • Luke Musgrave: 67% snaps
  • Tucker Kraft did not play.

Offensive Line

  • Three of the five starters played the first series.

Cleveland Browns

Quarterback

  • Deshaun Watson rested.
  • Jameis Winston played eight snaps and dropped back to pass eight times on the first drive. He went four of five for 30 yards. Given Watson's injury issues over the last two seasons, having a fantasy safety net for the Browns weapons like Winston is a plus.

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Offensive Line

  • Wyatt Teller was the only starting offensive lineman to play (one drive).

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Offensive Line

  • All starters rested.

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • All of the starters rested. Braxton Berrios and Erik Ezukanma didn't play due to injury.
  • Malik Washington started and played the first nine drives. He posted a 17% target share and had one carry for 21 yards. Washington is a name to keep an eye on if he can find his way to the WR3 role. He is a great YAC player who could boom in this scheme if Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle misses time.

Offensive Line

  • All starters rested.

Houston Texans

Quarterback

  • C.J. Stroud played two drives and dropped back to pass four times.
  • Davis Mills played four drives after Stroud exited the game.

Running Back

  • Joe Mixon (injury) rested.
  • Dameon Pierce played 100% of the snaps with Stroud. He wasn't very effective, with only four yards on four carries, but he seems locked into the No. 2 role for now.
  • Dare Ogunbowale entered the game after Pierce and played most of the snaps with Mills.
  • J.J. Taylor, Cam Akers and Jawhar Jordan each played one drive after (in that order) after Ogunbowale's exit.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

 

Offensive Line

Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback

  • Russell Wilson did not play.
  • Justin Fields played the first three drives, going 5 of 6 for 67 yards passing. He also had three carries for two yards.

Running Back

 

Wide Receiver and Tight End

 

  • George Pickens played every passing play with Fields and garnered two targets (33%).
  • Van Jefferson looks like the early favorite to start the season as the No. 2 option, with Calvin Austin III vying for slot reps in 11 personnel.
  • Roman Wilson (injury) did not play.

Offensive Line

  • Four of the five starters played with Fields.

Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Offensive Line

  • All starters rested.

Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Derrick Henry and Justice Hill rested.
  • Owen Wright started the game and handled 70% of the snaps and 88% of rushing attempts with Johnson in at QB. Wright exited after five drives.
  • Rasheen Ali, the Ravens' fifth-round pick, handled 30% of snaps and 13% of the rushing attempts with Johnson in the game. Ali played nine drives, also rotating with Lew Nichols.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Offensive Line

  • Most starters rested.

Carolina Panthers

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver & Tight End


 

Offensive Line

  • All starters rested.

New England Patriots

Quarterback

  • Jacoby Brissett played the first drive, going 0 for 3.
  • Drake Maye played the second drive with the starting offensive line still in the game. Maye should eventually overtake Brissett, but this pecking order is consistent with camp reports.
  • Bailey Zappe was the third QB, followed by Joe Milton III.

Running Back


 

  • Rhamondre Stevenson played the first drive with Brissett and exited the game.
  • Antonio Gibson stayed in to play the second series with the starting offensive line and Maye, plus one more drive.
  • Kevin Harris was the third back to take the field, matching training camp reports.

Wide Receiver and Tight End


 

  • Ja'Lynn Polk didn't enter the game until the second drive with Maye and played until halftime. He wasn't targeted with the starting unit but saw three looks from third-string QB Zappe. Some coaches want rookies to earn their way up the depth chart and the four WRs that started in front of Polk won't have staying power over the season. For now, I am not adjusting my expectations.
  • Hunter Henry had the night off and appears locked into the TE1 role on a team not sure about its pass catchers. He remains a strong sleeper with low-end TE1 upside if you get boxed out of the position.
  • Jaheim Bell didn't play until the end of the game.

Offensive Line

  • All starters played the first two drives except LT CaeDan Williams (injury).

Detroit Lions

Quarterback

  • Jared Goff rested.
  • Nate Sudfeld started and played the first nine drives, then Hendon Hooker played two drives before suffering a concussion and turning things back over to Sudfeld. Neither QB looked particularly impressive, but Hooker had four carries for 34 yards.

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End


 

Offensive Line

  • All starters rested.

New York Giants

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Devin Singletary rested.
  • Tyrone Tracy Jr. started and handled 89% of the snaps with Drew Lock in the game. The rookie looked sharp with five attempts for 26 yards. It is a small sample, but Tracy didn't sub out for short yardage (SDD) and obvious passing downs (LDD). Tracy is a sleeper to target late in fantasy drafts.
  • Eric Gray played after Tracy, but the Giants got him off the field after the seventh drive. Gray scored two rushing TDs and compiled 98 total yards. He had a 13% target share with Lock in the game.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton rested.
  • Malik Nabers and Jalin Hyatt played the first three drives before retiring for the night. On those drives, both WRs posted an 89% route participation. We know Nabers is in for a big role, but we must see how things look for Hyatt when Slayton is active. Hyatt was a third-round pick last season. He has blazing speed and could add a vertical element to the Giants' attack.
  • Isaiah McKenzie played 100% of the 11 personnel snaps, but that probably won't last when Robinson plays.
  • Isaiah Hodgins and Allen Robinson were the third and fourth WRs to rotate into the game.
  • Theo Johnson led the starting tight end group with a 56% route share over the first three drives with the starting WRs in the game. He is splitting time with Daniel Bellinger, but this is a significant first step for the rookie TE out of Penn State. The high-end athlete looks like a solid last-round pick in larger formats – especially TE premium.

Offensive Line

  • All starters rested.

Glossary

  • Snaps: Percentage of snaps the player played with the starters.
  • Rush Att: Percentage of rushing attempts with the starters.
  • Routes: Route participation with the starters.
  • Targets: Target share with the starters.
  • TPRR: Targets per route run with the starters.
  • SDD Snaps: Percentage of short-down-and-distance (short yardage) with starters.
  • LDD Snaps: Percentage of long-down-and-distance snaps (obvious passing downs) with starters.
  • Two-Minute Snaps: Percentage of snaps in the two-minute offense with the starters.
  • Catchable: Percentage of targets deemed catchable with the starting QB per PFF.
  • aDOT: Average depth of target with the starters.
  • Air Yards: Percentage of the team's air yards with the starters.
  • 3rd/4th Down Targets: Percentage of targets on 3rd and 4th down with the starters.
  • 11P: Percentage of snaps played in 11 personnel (1RB, 3WR, 1TE) with the starters.
  • 12P: Percentage of snaps played in 12 personnel (1RB, 2WR, 2TE) with the starters.
  • 21P: Percentage of snaps played in 21 personnel (2RB, 2WR, 1TE) with the starters.