Below is a summary for each team from Week 2 of the NFL preseason. 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.

This week, I will focus more on the teams that played their starters up top and then transition to takeaways from games where starters rested.

Teams that played their starters

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback

Running Back

  • James Cook played 88% of the snaps and handled 100% of the rushing attempts (six) during his four drives with the starting offensive line. He also posted an 82% route participation. Last week, the third-year back handled 100% of the work before exiting with Josh Allen. We never want to overreact to small preseason samples, but there is a chance he bests the 49% rush share and 48% route participation rate in my projections by a decent margin.
     
  • Ray Davis was the second back to enter the game and even carved out a few snaps while Cook was still playing (12%). However, he rotated with Ty Johnson over the fifth and sixth drives. On those two drives, Davis had a 36% snap share and handled 40% of the attempts, with Johnson taking 64% and 20%. It is a positive that Davis worked ahead of Johnson, but things are still too close to assume Davis has run away with the RB2 role. He is the favorite, but we need more data.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Curtis Samuel rested.
     
  • Keon Coleman registered his second-consecutive 100% route participation mark with the starters over the first five drives. He remained in the game for two additional drives and ended the night with one reception for 12 yards on three targets. Coleman's game comes with concerns, but it appears the Bills are going to get him on the field a lot, and that is hard to ignore when your QB is Josh Allen.
     
  • Khalil Shakir had a 39% route participation rate with the starters in Week 1 of the preseason (50% with Josh Allen), but that improved to 73% in Week 2. Still, it is difficult to know if this will continue when Samuel returns to the lineup. Shakir remains an upside WR5 in fantasy drafts, but we might have to wait for Week 1 of the regular season to understand the Bills' plans for this WR rotation truly.
     
  • Mack Hollins missed the first preseason game but registered a 91% route participation with the starting offensive line. He played ahead of Marquez Valdes-Scantling (MVS got injured after Hollins was finished). Hollins left the game three drives before Coleman. We know that Hollins isn't a target earner, but he could turn into a spike-week deep threat with an occasional good game with Allen at the helm. He shouldn't be drafted outside of last-round best ball darts.
     
  • Dalton Kincaid only played one drive before the team put him in bubble wrap. He and Dawson Knox were both on the field for two out of three snaps on the drive.

Offensive Line

  • All five starters played the first four drives (17 snaps).

Chicago Bears

Quarterback

  • Caleb Williams started and handled the first five drives in Week 2. He struggled in the boxscore, going six of 13 for 75 yards, but dropped a dime on the run to Rome Odunze and just missed tossing an amazing TD on a Houdini play where Odunze didn't get his feet in bounds. Williams was a potent rusher once his team got inside the ten-yard line in college, and that continued in this game with a scramble for a TD. For the second week in a row, I have to say that Williams looks special—he is making plays that only a handful of QBs can make in the NFL.
     
  • Williams is now at 39 snaps and 23 dropbacks over two preseason games.

Running Back

  • D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson rested.
     
  • Khalil Herbert handled 67% of the snaps and 71% of the rushing attempts in Week 2 with the starters. It is hard to know how this backfield will divide once we see all three backs in a game together.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • DJ Moore and Keenan Allen posted 100% route participation rates on the first three drives before calling it a night. Both WRs stayed on the field in 12 personnel, which appears to be a grouping Shane Waldron wants to use as the team's No. 2 package.
     
  • Rome Odunze boosted a 68% route participation rate—leaving the field on 12 personnel snaps—over the first three drives with the starters. In Week 1, he was at 50% with Moore and Allen. Things could change as the season progresses, but it looks like Odunze will be the No. 3 WR when the season kicks off. He hauled in a long bomb from Williams and could have scored a TD in the back of the end zone if he had his feet in bounds—so we know the big-play upside is there. That makes him a name we continue to want to bet on in fantasy drafts, but he could be a tricky player to start early in the season.
     
  • Cole Kmet finally had his breakout season last year, but we shouldn't expect similar results in 2024. Kmet has a 39% route participation rate with Williams this preseason, while Gerald Everett is at 61%. While I don't expect Kmet to play behind Everett, it is clear that Shane Waldron plans to bring his TE-rotating ways with him from Seattle to Chicago. Kmet is an avoid in fantasy drafts in 2024.

Offensive Line

  • Four of five starters played all five drives with Williams.

Denver Broncos

Quarterback

  • Bo Nix started at QB as planned and played two drives, dropping back to pass on 12 of 19 snaps. Nix went eight of nine for 80 yards and a TD while scrambling three times for 12 yards. Per his college MO and the Sean Payton offense MO, he primarily targeted pass catchers underneath (3.8 aDOT). Still, he had an excellent strike to Courtland Sutton downfield on a deep dig route to get into scoring position and looked comfortable running the RPO game and throwing on the move. My money is on Nix to start Week 1, and if that isn't the case, it shouldn't take long before the rookie takes over.

Running Back

  • Javonte Williams posted a 42% snap share and handled 30% of the rushing attempts on two drives with Nix. He and Jaleel McLaughlin rotated on both drives. Williams only had a 25% route share and was targeted one time—the backs are going to be heavily involved in this attack, given the lack of WRs and Payton's history of peppering the position with looks. Williams had a receiving TD on a scramble drill called back because Nix was beyond the line of scrimmage when he let the ball go. This backfield will be a rotation, but Williams is the favorite to lead the team in rushing. Williams is an RB3 heading into Week 1.
     
  • Jaleel McLaughlin played 58% of the snaps with the Broncos in pass-first mode on Nix's two drives. The second-year RB handled 30% of the attempts and delivered a sweet 67% route participation rate. Payton has a long history of maximizing receiving backs, and McLaughlin could be the next in line, looking like the favorite to lead this team on passing downs. McLaughlin is an RB4 with upside.
     
  • Samaje Perine entered the game after the starters were through as the third back.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Courtland Sutton had a 92% route participation with Nix and is the clear-cut WR1 for the team.
     
  • Tim Patrick was the WR2 with a 75% route participation rate and led the team with four targets, converting into four receptions for 30 yards and a receiving TD. Patrick moved around the formation often and might be the big-bodied WR that the team leans on in a way Payton used to do with Michael Thomas and Marques Colston. Don't get it twisted—Patrick is coming off of two season-ending knee injuries at age 30, making him a long shot to provide high-end fantasy upside, but he could sneak into the WR3 conversation if Nix is functional in Year 1. Patrick is worth a flier in the last rounds in deep leagues.
     
  • Marvin Mims only played one snap with the starters, while Troy Franklin entered the game when the backups took over. One of these young WRs *might* find their way into the lineup as the season progresses, but their early-season outlooks aren't good.
     
  • Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, and Lucas Krull each posted a 33% route participation with the starters. Dulcich is the most talented pass catcher of the group (targeted twice for 27 yards by Jarrett Stidham), but right now, this looks like a committee we will have to monitor as the season starts.

Offensive Line

  • Four of the five starters played the first two drives with Nix.

Houston Texans

Quarterback

  • C.J. Stroud started again, pushing his total to 21 snaps and 14 dropbacks in the preseason.

Running Back

  • Joe Mixon rested for the second consecutive game. Mixon returned to practice from a hamstring injury last week.
     
  • Dameon Pierce looks like the clear-cut RB2. He has a 91% snap share and 86% rush share with the starters with Mixon out. Pierce hasn't been effective (again). With the entire starting offensive line, he managed only five yards on four carries in Week 2 of the preseason—which casts some doubt on his long-term standing.
  • Cam Akers might be climbing the depth chart—he entered the game on the third series and played two drives. He handled 69% of the snaps on those two possessions, with Dare Ogunbowale taking 31%. Akers looked spry on his touches, including a sweet cutback for a big gain. Given how ineffective Pierce was last year and continues to look this preseason, Akers could find himself as the new handcuff to Mixon in 2024.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Nico Collins leads the Texans with a 93% route participation on plays with Stroud this preseason. Last season, the Collins reached 90% only two times, with Houston heavily rotating its WRs. Collins looks like the clear WR1 in terms of playing time and could be in store for more reps than in 2023, which would help him offset new target competition from Stefon Diggs.
     
  • Stefon Diggs ranks second this preseason with an 86% route participation rate with Stroud. The newly-added veteran appears ahead of Tank Dell in 12 and 21 personnel groupings. Diggs converted a third-and-two on a slant route against man coverage and picked up a carry inside the 10-yard line.
     
  • Tank Dell is primarily playing in 11 personnel packages, and his lack of involvement when the team plays two tight ends or a fullback is dragging his route participation down (64%). Dell still has the play-making ability (he had a 23-yard gain called back this weekend) to come through with significant spike weeks, but we can also expect more low-floor outputs if he can't push toward 80% route participation when the season kicks off.
     
  • Dalton Schultz registered a 100% route participation last week with the starters, but that number fell to 55% in Week 2 with the return of Brevin Jordan. Schultz hovered between 70 and 80% route participation last season, but that number was 69% over the final four games when Jordan carved out a more prominent role. Schultz remains a high-end TE2, but he needs all the routes he can get in a crowded offense.

Offensive Line

  • All five starters played with Stroud in Week 2.

Kansas City Chiefs

Quarterback

  • Patrick Mahomes played two drives with 18 snaps and 14 dropbacks. That brings his total to 24 snaps and 20 dropbacks over the first two preseason games.

Running Back

  • Isiah Pacheco played 100% of the snaps on the first drive before calling it a night.
     
  • Carson Steele took 100% of the snaps on the second drive with the starters with Clyde Edward-Helaire out. The undrafted rookie out of UCLA worked behind CEH last weekend, so we can't assume Steele is the RB2. However, Steele might be climbing the depth chart after entering the game ahead of Deneric Prince. If CEH continues to battle an illness, Steele could quickly find himself as a relevant fantasy handcuff behind Pacheco in deep leagues.
     
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire did not play.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Hollywood Brown didn't play (injury).
     
  • Rashee Rice has a 94% route participation rate and 38% target share on plays with Mahomes this preseason. The second-year WR is picking up right where he left off, soaking up all the underneath (3.7 aDOT) and designed looks for the Chiefs offense. There is more competition for targets in KC this season, but there is still a world where Rice pushes for a WR1 in one of the best offenses in the NFL. No WR is more underpriced in drafts than Rice.
     
  • Xavier Worthy has a 25% target share with Mahomes in two preseason games. The rookie speedster is working the opposite areas of the field from Rice with a 20.8 aDOT, leading the team with a 68% air-yard share. Worthy's 89% route participation might be slightly inflated with Hollywood Brown out of the lineup, but the rookie is making the most of his opportunities. We may get a Tank Dell-type of rookie season out of Worthy even in a crowded offense.
     
  • Justin Watson didn't play in Week 1 of the preseason but took over a starting role in Week 2 with Brown out. Watson isn't a target earner, so fantasy-wise, there is nothing to do here.

Offensive Line

  • Three of the five starters played with Mahomes.

Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

  • Gardner Minshew was named the Raiders Week 1 starter. He played most of the first half (five drives) in Week 2 of the preseason, accumulating 22 dropbacks on 27 snaps.

Running Back

  • Zamir White and Alexander Mattison have played the same number of drives in the first two preseason games. In Week 1, they played drives one through three, and White handled 45% of the snaps and accounted for 55% of the rushing attempts. In Week 2, they played drives one through eight. White played 35% of snaps and lugged the rock 33% of the time. It is hard to know precisely how this backfield will shake out, but we shouldn't be highly confident that White is the clear-cut No. 1 like the coaching staff has touted. I am lowering White in my projections and the fantasy football rankings—there is a chance we are looking at a committee on a struggling offense.
     
  • Dylan Laube entered the game after Ameer Abdullah again, but both backs played until the ninth drive. Laube bested Abdullah in snaps 15% to 4% with an 18% route participation rate.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Offensive Line

  • All the healthy starters (three) played in the game. Two of those starters played all five drives with Minshew.

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins rested.
     
  • Kimani Vidal started the game and handled 35% of the attempts with the starters. Vidal played the first two drives but not the next three, as the team heavily rotated the backups. The rookie played into the fourth quarter. After starting the second game, Vidal may still have life, but he is only a late-round flier.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Joshua Palmer played only the first drive before resting. Oddly, he played only 67% of the pass plays, but the Chargers were rotating a lot of players in a weird manner during this contest.
     
  • Ladd McConkey played the first two drives and garnered a 64% route participation. The rookie played 100% of snaps in 11 personnel but didn't see a snap in 12 personnel. McConkey could still be a fantasy producer, but a sub-70% route rate on a run-oriented offense isn't a recipe for high-end success.
     
  • Brenden Rice started the game and posted a 71% route participation rate in five drives with the starters. He played only one more drive before resting. The Chargers need someone to step up in their WR room, and it appears Rice could be making headway toward more playing time.
     
  • DJ Chark Jr. had a 67% route participation rate with the starters and played into the third quarter with Quentin Johnston.
     
  • Will Dissly started and played the first drive before calling it a night.
     
  • Hayden Hurst did not play.

Offensive Line

  • Four of five starters played the first drive. Joe Alt played the first five drives.

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback

  • Tua Tagovailoa played one drive with the starters. He had 11 snaps and five dropbacks.

Running Back

  • Raheem Mostert handled 82% of snaps and 83% of rushing attempts on the first drive. The team has stated the veteran back is the starter, and while his utilization won't come close to these one-drive rates, Mostert is the favorite to lead the team in touches early in the season.
     
  • De'Von Achane accounted for 18% of the snaps and 17% of the rushing attempts on our one-drive sample with the starters. There is nothing to react to here from a fantasy perspective. We expected Mostert to get the first snaps, but the splits should be much closer between the two backs in a complete game.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle rested. Odell Beckham remains on the PUP.
     
  • Malik Washington played with Tagovailoa, posting a 100% route participation rate along with River Cracraft. Braxton Berrios entered the game in 3WR sets. If Hill or Waddle were to miss time, Washington offers the run-after-the-catch skill set that helps this offense tick.
     
  • Jonnu Smith notched a 60% route participation rate with the starters and earned two targets (40%). This variant of the Kyle Shanahan offense asks their TEs to do a lot of blocking, which has historically created playing-time challenges for players who can only handle some aspects of the position. Smith is more along the receiving TE archetype, which puts him at risk of losing snaps when the team goes to 21 personnel, which happened in Week 2 with Julian Hill taking those plays. Historically, TEs with a route participation rate below 70% have rarely thrived in fantasy.

Offensive Line

  • Two of the five starters played with Tagovailoa.

New Orleans Saints

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Alvin Kamara rested, and Kendre Miller didn't play (hamstring).
     
  • Jamaal Williams tallied a 55% snap share and accounted for 39% of the rushing attempts on three drives with Carr in Week 2. Jordan Mims was the second RB to enter the game, with a 27% snap share with the starters.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Rashid Shaheed didn't play (toe).
     
  • Chris Olave has a 94% route participation rate and a whopping 57% target share on plays with Carr this preseason. We will see if Klint Kubiak can revive the Saints' passing attack, but Olave is in for a ton of targets in 2024. If the offense does turn things around, he offers WR1 upside.
     
  • Cedrick Wilson Jr. has operated as the No. 2 option with Shaheed out. Wilson has a 100% route participation rate with Carr but has done little with the opportunity, garnering only two targets (14%). Wilson is a journeyman, so we should expect more fantasy production from New Orleans' WR2 once Shaheed returns.
     
  • Bub Means worked ahead of A.T. Perry in Week 2 of the preseason with a 36% route participation.
     
  • Juwan Johnson hasn't played this preseason, which has left more playing time for Foster Moreau (89% route participation) and Taysom Hill (53%) on plays with Carr over the first two games. The more significant item of note is Hill's 31% rush share with the starters. It appears Hill has won over Kubiak as he did Sean Payton and Pete Carmichael – he will have some big fantasy weeks. If Hill is eligible to play at TE in your fantasy league, he is a high-end TE2 who will provide TE1 spike weeks.

Offensive Line

  • Four of five starters played all three drives with Carr.

New York Giants

Quarterback

  • Daniel Jones saw his first preseason action, playing five drives in the first half. He finished the day with 30 snaps and 19 dropbacks. It was a rough outing with two interceptions, including a terrible decision that resulted in a Texans TD. Jones went 11 of 18 (61%) for 138 yards without a TD.

Running Back

  • Devin Singletary dominated the first-team usage, playing 90% of snaps and handling 83% of the rushing attempts. Singletary rarely left the field, notching a 79% route participation rate.
     
  • Tyrone Tracey did not play due to an ankle injury.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Malik Nabers led the receiving corps with an 89% route participation rate and a 33% target share. Nabers made two incredible grabs, and Jones looked comfortable forcing the ball to his new No. 1 in tight spaces. Nabers had Derek Stingley Jr. easily beat on another potential long-gainer but couldn't hang on. The QB play caps Nabers' ceiling, but don't be surprised if he still challenges for a WR1 finish as a rookie – he is an absolute steal in fantasy drafts.
     
  • Wan'Dale Robinson posted a 79% route participation, playing 100% of the snaps in 11 personnel.
     
  • Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton rotated opposite of Nabers, with Hyatt leading the way with a 68% route participation. Slayton made the bigger impact, coming down with a dime from Jones deep down the left sideline, leading to a Singletary rushing TD to cap the drive.
     
  • Theo Johnson started ahead of Daniel Bellinger and secured a target on a designed TE screen on the first drive. The team also tried to create space for Johnson on a pivot route back into the flat that went awry for a defensive pick-six. It is good to see the team trying to design looks for Johnson and his athleticism, which has him leading a TE committee. Johnson needs more playing time to become a fantasy factor, but he is trending in the right direction, making him a fine late-round TE sleeper in deep leagues.

Offensive Line

  • All five starters played with Jones. The Giants rotated two centers.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback

  • Russell Wilson started the game and played five series. Wilson went eight of 10 for 47 yards while getting sacked thrice on his 13 dropbacks. He played 20 snaps.

Running Back

  • Jaylen Warren injured his hamstring and is expected to miss several weeks, jeopardizing his Week 1 status. Before leaving the game on the fourth drive, Warren had a 57% snap share and 20% rush share. He handled most of the passing downs with a 56% route participation. Warren still has league-winning contingency upside if something happens to Harris, but he comes with the added risk of re-injury if the Steelers rush him back.
     
  • Najee Harris becomes a borderline RB1 in games without Warren. Harris is an adequate pass catcher and offers every upside in an offense that should heavily feature its backs. Based on this news, it is hard to bump up Harris too much in the rankings since the season is 23 days away, and Warren could be ready for Week 1.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • George Pickens posted a 100% route participation with Wilson in the game and was targeted two times but only had one catch for four yards.
     
  • Van Jefferson was in a route on 100% of Wilson's dropbacks. Wilson didn't play in Week 1 due to his calf injury, but Jefferson had an 89% route participation with the starters. Jefferson isn't a target earner, but he looks like the Week 1 favorite to handle the most snaps opposite of Pickens.
     
  • Calvin Austin again handled the slot duties with an 85% route participation, with Roman Wilson sidelined.
     
  • Roman Wilson didn't play due to an ankle injury for the second consecutive week, but he could get some playing time in the final preseason game.

Offensive Line

  • Four of the five starters played with Wilson.

Washington Commanders

Quarterback

  • Jayden Daniels played two drives, accumulating 17 snaps and 12 dropbacks. The rookie QB went 10 of 12 for 78 yards and added two designed rushing attempts for 13 yards. Daniels mostly settled for quick passes underneath in this one, but he looked crisp, and we saw him hit a deep shot last weekend.
     
  • Daniels has totaled 28 snaps and 15 dropbacks over two preseason games.

Running Back

  • Brian Robinson Jr. has handled 62% of the rushing workload with the starters this preseason, but has given way to Austin Ekeler on passing downs. Ekeler leads the team with a 53% route participation and an 83% snap share on LDD snaps. Expect a committee with Robinson handling more of the rushing duties and Ekeler providing value in a passing attack with little behind Terry McLaurin. Both backs profile as high-end to mid-range RB3 options but carry RB1 contingency upside.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Terry McLaurin has played every pass play with Daniels this preseason and is tied for the team lead with a 27% target share. The veteran is the clear-cut WR1 on the Commanders.
     
  • Jahan Dotson posted a 92% route participation with the starters in Week 2. This came on the heels of comments from Dan Quinn earlier in the week suggesting the team was still searching for their WR2. Dotson played 100% from the slot for the second consecutive game but wasn't a significant factor, with a 17% target share. He now sits at a 13% target share with a 93% route participation rate with Daniels in two games.
     
  • Luke McCaffrey once again didn't get any playing time with a starting offense in need of a WR to step up. Maybe the rookie can dial things up as the season goes, but he doesn't appear to be in the Commanders' early-season plans unless the team pulls a Sean McVay smokescreen.
     
  • John Bates continues to work ahead of Ben Sinnott, but the rookie earned a few routes with the first-team offense, which is a step in the right direction.
     
  • Zach Ertz rested and might be the TE1 to start the season. Ertz posted a TE1-worthy 23% TPRR last season while with the Cardinals.

Offensive Line

  • Four of five starters played with Daniels.

Teams that rested their starters

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback

Running Back

  • Trey Benson started, handling 82% of the attempts and 65% of snaps over the first four drives. Benson was once again behind the backup offensive linemen but fared better than in Week 1, with 43 yards on nine attempts. The holes weren't always there, but the rookie looked much more decisive and flashed high-end acceleration and elusiveness with four missed tackles forced.

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

  • Michael Penix Jr. rested with Kirk Cousins and the starters. Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson brought that don't-play-your-important-players-in-the-preseason approach from the Rams.

Baltimore Ravens

Running Back

  • Rasheen Ali didn't play due to a neck issue. His roster spot isn't a lock.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Nelson Agholor and Deonte Harty rested with the starters.
  • Devontez Walker, the Ravens' Round 4 pick in 2024, didn't see the field until the third quarter despite so many players resting. The rookie is currently buried on a team looking for a WR3 to step up— not ideal.

Offensive Line

  • Three of five starters played the first three drives.

Carolina Panthers

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Jonathan Mingo started the game and was the first WR to leave. Xavier Legette didn't play due to an injury, but Mingo would be the No. 3 if the season started tomorrow.
  • Ja'Tavion Sanders started but is behind Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas—who both rested—on the depth chart for now. As the season progresses, Sanders could emerge as a weapon for the Panthers, but expect a rotation early.

Cincinnati Bengals

Running Backs

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin rested with the starters. Iosivas was the starting slot WR in Week 1 of the preseason, with some starters active. The second-year WR wins a steady-drum-beat award with all signs pointing to him as the Week 1 starting slot, but don't be surprised if we see some form of a rotation.
     
  • Jermaine Burton played the first five drives of the game before resting. We would rather he get a night off with the starters, but at least Burton got on the field with the first group of backups. For now, Burton appears behind Iosivas for the WR3 role.

Cleveland Browns

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Cedric Tillman rested with the rest of the starters. He is likely their WR4 to start the season but could push for WR3 reps.

Dallas Cowboys

Running Back

  • Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle rested.
     
  • Malik Davis took the first drive, followed by Royce Freeman, handling drive No. 2. Deuce Vaughn got the third series. We can't read too much into this situation other than the Cowboys wanted to get a look at all three guys with some of their better offensive linemen in the game. It is worth noting that Davis and Vaughn played into the third quarter, while Freeman was done at halftime. Usually, we wouldn't care about a third-string RB, but given the Cowboy's depth chart, No. 3 could challenge for a more prominent role.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks played the first three drives before resting. Tolbert is the favorite for the WR3 role, but Brooks has also flashed this preseason.

Offensive Line

Detroit Lions

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Kalif Raymond rested with the rest of the starters and appears to be the favorite for the WR3 role.
     
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones and Kaden Davis posted 89% and 86% route participation over the first five drives as the top two Lions' backup WRs. This utilization was a shakeup from last week, where Peoples-Jones was buried.

Green Bay Packers

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Indianapolis Colts

Running Back

  • Tyler Goodson started at RB with Trey Sermon sidelined by a hamstring injury. Evan Hull was the second RB to enter the game. Goodson handled 55% of the rushing attempts on his four drives and notched a 64% route participation rate. Hull was at 27% and 33%, respectively.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Jacksonville Jaguars

Running Back

  • Tank Bigsby garnered 74% of snaps and 71% of the rushing attempts over his first two drives before calling it a night. D'Ernest Johnson played 26% of snaps and handled 14% of the attempts. The two were close in route participation rate at 43% and 36%, respectively. This utilization matches what we would expect if something happened to Travis Etienne. Bigsby would be in line for the lion's share of attempts while Johnson would spell him and ease the load on passing downs. Bigsby is a fine last-round dart as a handcuff RB in larger leagues.

Los Angeles Rams

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson rested with the superstars of the Rams offense.
     
  • Jordan Whittington posted a 29% target share during his seven drives, leading the team. The rookie WR continues to impress, but the Rams have notoriously kept their starters like Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua under wraps by not playing them in the preseason. While this trend goes against that, Whittington continues to make the most of his playing time, which could unlock opportunities as the season progresses and injuries pop up.
     
  • Colby Parkinson did not play.

Minnesota Vikings

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Jalen Nailor played the first three drives before calling it a night. He is the favorite to be the Vikings WR3 this season.

New York Jets

Running Back

  • Isaiah Davis started the game and accounted for 89% of the snaps over the first two drives after Braelon Allen was the starter in Week 1 of the preseason. Deciphering the Jets' intentions with their backup pecking order can be challenging. Davis and Allen both played over the first four drives of the game, with Allen taking a more significant role over the second two drives. Allen finished the game with more work, but that was partially driven by a 12-play drive when he was in on the fourth series. At this time last week, Allen seemed like a lock for the No. 2 role, but things are murkier now, and we could have a committee if something happens to Breece Hall.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Xavier Gipson and Allen Lazard did not play.
  • Malachi Corley, the Jets' third-round NFL Draft selection, started alongside Jason Brownlee and Lance McCutcheon. Corley operated almost exclusively from the slot (93%), and both had two targets with an average route depth of 4.3 yards for the game, per PFF. The rookie has a long way to go as a route runner, and trusting Nathaniel Hackett to figure out how to get him on the field enough isn't the most reliable path to Year 1 fantasy production. Corley remains a late-round dart throw but could be tough to keep on rosters early in the season.

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback

  • Brock Purdy played three drives, going two of six for 11 yards on 11 snaps and seven dropbacks.

Running Back

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Offensive Line

  • Three of the five starters played with Purdy.

Seattle Seahawks

  • We had no meaningful takeaways from the Seahawks, who rested all their starters.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Running Back

  • Bucky Irving started and played 100% of the snaps and accounted for 100% of the designed rushing attempts over the first two drives with three of five starting offensive linemen. Irving played well, flashing his ability to make one cut and quickly accelerate downhill—a trait that the coaches have praised throughout camp. Irving looks like the No. 2 back in Tampa Bay, but it is worth noting that we still haven't seen an active Chase Edmonds in the preseason to test that theory.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

  • Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer started their second consecutive game with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin resting. McMillan led the team with three targets during his two drives. The rookie out of Washington is the favorite for the WR3 role in Tampa.

Tennessee Titans

Wide Receiver and Tight End

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.