​​The month of August is upon us. We are now entirely in the throes of fantasy football draft preparation. While it’s crucial to disregard the excessive training camp hype, there are valuable lessons to be learned that can inform our opinions as draft season approaches.
This article’s focus will be on which players/situations fantasy managers should pay attention to in the NFL Preseason.
Which Players Should Fantasy Managers Be Watching This Preseason?
Deciphering what matters and what does not is the challenge we face every training camp and preseason. It’s important not to overreact to quarterbacks throwing interceptions or wide receivers not catching passes in practice. We have no idea what the intent is of a specific drill or situation.
Coaches also frequently speak overly positively about their players. It’s why praise doesn’t matter, but negative comments do. The most important thing is that we cannot adjust our rankings daily based on players having good or bad practices. We must remain disciplined.
With all that said, the preseason does matter. There are positional battles taking place on every team, and who wins has an impact on fantasy.
Of course, we have the issue of preseason playing time. I firmly believe that no starters should ever play during the preseason. Some coaches share that philosophy. Others don’t, and to varying degrees.
That means we will get extended looks at specific players. Some we will only see for a handful of plays. Others we won’t see at all. Here are the players fantasy managers should care about this August.
Which Quarterbacks Should Fantasy Managers Be Watching This Preseason?
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Last season, as a rookie, Caleb Williams played plenty in the preseason. He completed 10 of 20 passes for 170 yards without turning the ball over. His lone preseason score was a rushing touchdown. This performance had fantasy managers pretty bullish on the No. 1 overall pick. We all know how that turned out.
This year, it’s entirely possible we don’t see Williams at all. First-year head coach Ben Johnson should want to get his players some live reps with his system, which is new to them. However, Johnson comes from the Dan Campbell coaching tree, and Campbell does not play starters in the preseason at all.
Assuming Williams does get in some snaps, we certainly don’t want to see him look bad. As last year proved, looking good isn’t necessarily indicative of in-season performance. Nevertheless, seeing Williams reading the field and implementing Johnson’s playbook will give us some insight as to whether we should expect a significant step forward this season.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
I am not sure how much we will see of J.J. McCarthy in the preseason. Last season, Sam Darnold appeared in one game and threw a total of eight passes. However, after missing his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus, it stands to reason Kevin O’Connell may want to get an extended look at his new starter.
McCarthy has a mid-QB2 ADP and an extensive range of potential outcomes. His ceiling is better than what we saw from Darnold last season, when the veteran averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game.
There’s legitimately league-winning upside with McCarthy. He also could be an abject disaster. We have never seen him throw a pass in an NFL game.
Letting it riiiiiiiiiip 🎯🎯@jjmccarthy09
📺: Back Together Weekend on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/pO1wTTjLaj
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 26, 2025
Given Justin Jefferson’s status as a consensus top-three wide receiver, how McCarthy looks in training camp and the preseason matters. Jefferson could end up being the clear No. 2 overall pick if McCarthy is effective. If we’re getting adverse reports and McCarthy struggles in preseason action, we could see Jefferson fall to the back half of the first round. The Vikings QB is one to watch.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Easily the most critical QB battle is the one taking place in Indianapolis. Anthony Richardson has elite QB1 upside due to his rushing ability. He may not be an NFL-caliber player, either, given that he is one of the worst passers in league history.
If Richardson wins the job, his ADP is going to skyrocket from undrafted to a high QB2. Despite his upside, it’s hard to justify him any higher, as it’s doubtful he starts 17 games this season, both due to performance issues and injury risk.
Much like Justin Fields’ last season, Richardson could go from every-week fantasy starter to the waiver wire overnight. It’s tough to justify keeping a real-life backup on your roster.
WOW. Anthony Richardson with the truck-stick TD 💪
📺: #INDvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ckY85OazuX— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024
But this battle’s importance extends far beyond the quarterbacks themselves. Daniel Jones is far from a capable NFL starter, but he is a much better passer than Richardson. Jones winning the job significantly improves the fantasy outlooks of Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and Tyler Warren. Where fantasy managers are willing to take the three fantasy-relevant Colts pass-catchers will shift based on who is playing quarterback.
Last season, Downs averaged 2.2 PPG more without Richardson than with him. With Pittman, the difference was even more substantial, at a staggering 4.7 PPG. Especially for fantasy managers drafting before the preseason is over, getting a bead on who is winning this job could determine whether you want to target Colts pass-catchers or not.
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
We know Russell Wilson is starting in Week 1, provided he doesn’t get hurt between now and then like he did last season. However, it is highly improbable that Wilson starts the entire season.
The Giants are projected to be one of the worst teams in football. They also have a challenging schedule. If they’re headed into December with more than eight losses, what incentive would they have for continuing to trot out a 37-year-old veteran?
While no one will be clamoring to stream Jaxson Dart, the rookie taking over will matter for those spending a 1/2 turn pick on Malik Nabers. Dart will only see second and third-team defenses in the preseason. So, we won’t be able to glean much. But, at the very least, we want to see him look competent and prove capable of getting the ball to his receivers.
If Dart looks the part, it can help alleviate some concerns about Nabers losing his QB late in the season. However, if Dart looks like a disaster, perhaps some caution should be exercised when it comes to taking Nabers over similarly high-end receivers without situation concerns.
Which Running Backs Should Fantasy Managers Be Watching This Preseason?
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
For better or worse, Andy Reid has his system for playing his starters in the preseason. They usually get one drive in the first game. They play the entire first quarter and sometimes into the second in the second game. Then, they sit in the third game.
We are going to see Patrick Mahomes & Co. this August. We are going to see Rice in a preseason game.
Guys like Mahomes and Travis Kelce, we don’t care what they do in the preseason. Just don’t get hurt. Mahomes could go 0/10 with three interceptions, and it wouldn’t change anyone’s opinion of him. At running back, though, what we see matters more than it should.
Last season, Isiah Pacheco was shaping up to be one of the best picks in all of fantasy. Then, he broke his leg in Week 2. When Pacheco returned a little over two months later, he was very clearly not himself. He probably shouldn’t have been playing. He performed so poorly that Reid turned back to the plodding and inefficient Kareem Hunt as the primary back during the postseason.
What we want to see in the preseason is Pacheco looking like his pre-injury self. The Chiefs re-signed Hunt, signed Elijah Mitchell, and drafted Brashard Smith in the seventh round. All four backs saw at least some reps with the starters in training camp. There’s no absolute allegiance to anyone.
At the same time, Pacheco is the presumptive starter, and there is a world where he returns to being that 16-18 opportunity-per-game back. That would make him a tremendous value at his RB25 ADP. There’s also a world where he is unable to separate from his teammates, and this devolves into an undesirable three-headed committee.
#Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco going through an intense workout & looking forward to a healthy & productive 2025.
🎥: IG | bigplayskillz pic.twitter.com/OsFXdI8Hl1
— Starcade Media (@StarcadeMediaKC) July 4, 2025
Watch Pacheco in the preseason. Is that angry running style and explosiveness back? The answer will not only determine whether Pacheco is worth targeting in fantasy drafts, but also how much we should care about the other three members of this backfield.
Nick Chubb and Woody Marks, Houston Texans
Not to sound alarmist, but this is how it often happens for older running backs. They’re fantasy RB1s, and then they’re just done.
I think there’s a greater than 50% chance we’ve seen the last of Joe Mixon as a fantasy-relevant running back. It’s very easy to paint a picture where Mixon never quite gets healthy this season, gets cut next year, and then can’t find a job as a 30-year-old in 2026.
Mixon’s foot injury is concerning. While the expectation is he’ll be back for Week 1, it’s no guarantee, and it’s also no guarantee he can stay healthy. As great as Mixon was last season, averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game, finishing as the overall RB9, he missed three games with a high ankle sprain, and completely faded down the stretch, failing to reach double digits in Weeks 16, 17, or 18.
It is worth noting that Mixon posted 16.9 and 18.0 fantasy points in each of the Texans’ two playoff games, suggesting his late-season struggles were more matchup-related than him running out of gas.
With Mixon sure to miss the entire preseason (not that he would’ve played anyway), that leaves what remains a bit uncertain. Nick Chubb is the established veteran, but he looked beyond cooked last season.
For the first time in his career, Chubb failed to average at least 5.0 yards per carry. But it wasn’t a gradual decline; he averaged 3.3 YPC and showed absolutely no explosiveness returning from yet another devastating knee injury. Chubb had just two carries all season that went for 15+ yards. He played in eight games before a broken foot ended his season in December.
Nearing his 30th birthday, it’s very fair to wonder if Chubb has anything left to offer. A veteran like him typically doesn’t play in the preseason. However, considering he’s not the presumptive starter and is new to the team, he may get some burn. I’d love to see if any of his trademark bursts have returned.
In addition to Chubb, the Texans spent a fourth-round pick on Woody Marks. The rookie is on the older side, more than halfway to 25 years old at the start of the season. But he comes with a ton of experience, especially as a pass-catcher.
Marks caught 261 passes in his 57 collegiate games. It’s pretty clear what his role is going to be, assuming he can beat out Dare Ogunbowale for the primary passing-down back.
USC’s Woody Marks is probably the best RB in the #NFLDraft2025 class you haven’t seen play. He’s BUILT for today’s dual-backfield NFL game.
Explosive rusher with 261 career collegiate receptions. Don’t sleep. pic.twitter.com/8Az8Fe8MH6
— Ray G (@RayGQue) January 7, 2025
Marks is going to play in the preseason. Pay attention to how he’s used. Is he playing on passing downs with the first team? Is he the hurry-up back? How involved is he as a runner?
These are all things we can learn from a couple of preseason games that could give us insight into what this backfield might look like if Mixon either misses the start of the season or aggravates his injury at some point early on.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Head coach Brian Daboll is not big on starters playing in the preseason. However, the Giants have an entirely new quarterback room and no real offensive players that warrant special protection outside of Nabers, who we should expect to see very little of, if at all.
As a rookie, Cam Skattebo is playing in the preseason. Tyrone Tracy Jr. is the incumbent and will almost certainly be the starter, but that doesn’t mean he will necessarily be the most valuable member of this backfield for fantasy.
Tracy was quite the pleasant surprise as a rookie. However, he’s still a late-fifth-round selection. That stigma doesn’t go away. He may have incumbent status, but Skattebo has better draft capital, and Tracy wasn’t all that impressive in 2024.
Tracy is the better receiver and should have that role secured. Still, Skattebo, despite his size and lack of speed, was a very productive pass-catcher in college, hauling in 45 receptions in his final season at Arizona State. Both of these backs have three-down skill sets, which means there’s 20-touch potential for either one if he can separate from the other.
Of course, the notion that there ends up being a clear starter and a clear backup is unlikely. This is projected to be a split all season. But with Tracy and Skattebo so close in ADP, one emerging into the 60% of a 60/40 split could make a difference in fantasy.
The preseason won’t dictate how things play out throughout the season. In all likelihood, it will be a hot hand approach, with the apparent better fantasy asset shifting every couple of weeks. Regardless, fantasy managers should keep a close eye on how each back performs.
Jacksonville Jaguars Backfield
The Jaguars have two incumbents in Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby. They also have rookie fourth-rounder Bhayshul Tuten. Most importantly, they have a new coaching staff with no allegiance to anyone. This could be a true meritocracy where the best players get the most playing time.
There’s certainly a world where none of these backs end up worth starting in fantasy. Bigsby is a classic two-down grinder with absolutely nothing to offer in the passing game. That caps his upside, but also makes him the favorite for early down and goal line work.
Etienne has a three-down skill set, but struggled mightily last season. Bigsby severely outplayed him to the point where Bigsby straight-up took the lead runner role. Etienne was sharing passing down duties with D’Ernest Johnson.
If we get Bigsby handling most of the carries with Etienne splitting the receiving role with Tuten, none of these guys will be startable. Bigsby will be a touchdown-or-bust RB3, and Etienne and Tuten will cannibalize each other to the point where neither catches enough passes to be useful.
With Liam Coen inserting a new offense, though, this could go in any direction. It could be a three-headed monster. We could see one of the three backs get phased out. We could see Etienne or Tuten take over if one can outplay the others.
What we’re looking for in the preseason is more than just how they perform. We want to see how these backs are deployed and when. Who is playing with the starters? Is anyone still seeing snaps in the fourth quarter? Is Etienne or Tuten pulling ahead in the satellite back role?
The uncertainty regarding this backfield has all three of their ADPs depressed. Any insight into more solidified roles would move ADPs around and impact who we might want to target.
Dallas Cowboys Backfield
Similar to Jacksonville, the Cowboys also have a backfield that is entirely up in the air. No team has taken the term “Running backs don’t matter” more literally than the Cowboys, which is ironic considering they drafted Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 overall in 2016.
The Cowboys went into last season with Rico Dowdle as their lead back. This year, they let Dowdle walk and did not draft a running back until the fifth round, selecting Jaydon Blue, who joins two newcomers, veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, in a chaotic backfield.
There’s a legitimate chance the Cowboys do not roster an NFL-caliber running back. Williams was a promising rookie, but has been unable to get his explosiveness back since tearing his ACL as a sophomore.
Sanders is a sub-replacement-level journeyman who probably shouldn’t be in the NFL. Blue is a fifth-round rookie with blazing speed, but a flawed prospect profile. The point is, this backfield is wide open.
JAYDON BLUE, HOW DO YOU DO?!?! 🔥
A 77-YARD TOUCHDOWN TO MAKE IT A TWO-SCORE GAME VS. CLEMSON 😱 pic.twitter.com/cCzmh6V5W2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 22, 2024
The lead back in the Cowboys offense has fantasy value. If Dowdle can post RB2 numbers, any one of these guys could bumble his way to fantasy relevance if he can earn 12+ touches a game.
Williams and Sanders, being the veterans, have been working ahead of Blue, but we know who they are. Blue is the unknown and offers the most upside, but amidst reports of him not being a hard worker and drawing the ire of the coaching staff, we want to see how he performs on an NFL field.
It’s unlikely we see much of the Cowboys’ starters in the preseason, but given that this is an open competition at running back, all three backs should play. We want to note the rotation as well as who is performing best to hopefully give us an idea as to who we should target in fantasy drafts.
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
The Browns’ situation is a very unfortunate one. It’s the part of fantasy football we hate the most. Quinshon Judkins was all set to be the Browns’ Nick Chubb replacement. Drafted in the early second round, he was looking like the clear starter. Now, due to domestic violence allegations, there’s no guarantee the Browns will even sign him.
Even if Judkins ends up on the team and with only a modest suspension, he is missing valuable training camp time. That leaves the door open for rookie fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson to work with the first team. If Judkins doesn’t get on the field, we’re looking at Sampson sharing the backfield with Jerome Ford.
Both backs will undoubtedly see opportunities, as this is not going to be a situation where there’s a clear lead back. We are very much interested in what Sampson looks like in the preseason. If he shows promise, we should continue to draft him ahead of the veteran. If he struggles, perhaps we are undervaluing Ford, who has been competent in filling in for Chubb over the past two seasons.
Which Wide Receiver Should Fantasy Managers Be Watching This Preseason?
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
We know a suspension is coming for Rashee Rice, but he will still be able to play in the preseason. In addition to the off-the-field issue, Rice is returning from a torn LCL. He’s been fully cleared for several weeks now, but anytime a player is returning from surgery, it’s something we need to care about.
For better or worse, the Chiefs have their system with playing their starters in the preseason. They usually get one drive in the first game, then they will play the starters’ entire first quarter and sometimes into the second quarter in the second game.
We are going to see Patrick Mahomes & Co. this August. We are going to see Rice in a preseason game.
First snap of 11 on 11s goes to Rice. pic.twitter.com/QvzxF1gJRZ
— Lyle Graversen (@LyleGraversen) July 27, 2025
I don’t care at all about whether Rice catches a bunch of passes or is heavily targeted. I just want final confirmation that he’s fully healthy. That’s all we need to see from Rice in what will undoubtedly be limited preseason action.
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s unclear what Coen’s philosophy will be on playing starters in the preseason. Regardless, it’s doubtful a rookie gets rested, especially given Travis Hunter’s two-way status.
We want to pay attention to a couple of things in Hunter’s preseason action. First, how does he look? Are his routes crisp? Is he getting open?
Second, and the thing everyone wants to know, is how much he plays on each side of the ball. This one is a bit trickier because Hunter could end up playing an entire series on offense so coaches get a good look at him, sitting out the whole next series on defense, and then playing the one after that.
Snap distribution in the preseason is often designed to get players reps as opposed to simulate a real game. Nevertheless, the fantasy community will react. If Hunter plays exclusively on defense in one game, even if it was purely part of the plan to have it be a defense-only game as Hunter integrates himself into the NFL, it will impact his ADP.
Sometimes, that nuance is lost on the greater fantasy community. How Hunter is utilized will be one of the biggest stories of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
After a rash of injuries decimated the Texans’ receiving corps last season, they made it a point to address the position this offseason. In addition to signing Christian Kirk, the Texans drafted Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Nico Collins is entrenched as C.J. Stroud’s top target. Beyond him, it’s wide open. We want to get a good look at how Higgins and Noel look. Higgins, having the higher draft capital, is the favorite for the WR3 role, but a strong performance could see him overtake Kirk as the WR2. At the very least, it could serve as evidence that even if Kirk opens as the WR2, Higgins is coming for that job later in the season.
Jayden Higgins on vertical targets pic.twitter.com/SwwqpIICDd
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 1, 2025
Kirk could end up being the WR2 all season. He could also fall to WR4 if Noel also performs well. This is a wide-open situation behind Collins and one we need to keep an eye on.
Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is probably not taking any preseason snaps. He didn’t last season, although that could’ve been due to his foot injury. However, rookie Tre Harris is going to see some action.
Ladd McConkey is a true alpha and one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He’s the WR1. No one is threatening his target share. But that WR2 role is wide open.
Currently, Quentin Johnston is the incumbent, but he’s been wildly disappointing over his first two seasons. The Chargers immediately had McConkey supplant him last season, and they are hoping Harris can do the same this year.
Can he? How the rookie does in the preseason will certainly matter.
Players We Care About But Likely Won’t See
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
One of the most critical players in fantasy this season, Tyreek Hill, could be a league winner with his lowest ADP since 2017, or a league loser if he’s done.
Coming off the worst season of his career that saw him average 12.8 fantasy points per game, we are left wondering whether this was a blip caused by Hill’s wrist injury and Tua Tagovailoa’s injuries, or if it was the beginning of the end for one of the 10 best wide receivers in the history of the sport. To help answer that question, it would be cool to see Hill in an actual game.
Unfortunately, while Mike McDaniel did give Tagovailoa a singular drive last season, he did not play either of his top two receivers. Maybe he wants to get a look at Hill this year, but probably not. We will have to rely on training camp reports for this one.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin is returning from multiple surgeries on his broken ankle. Currently, the expectation is that Godwin will be ready for Week 1, but it’s far from a certainty.
Even if Godwin is back on the practice field by the end of August, it’s hard to envision any scenario where he plays in a preseason game. His health is a significant story this August as it impacts not only his fantasy value, but Emeka Egbuka’s as well.
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
Stefon Diggs has made a remarkable recovery from his midseason ACL tear. Initially projected to miss the first month of the season, Diggs is now trending toward being available for Week 1.
New head coach Mike Vrabel never played starters in the preseason when he was leading the Tennessee Titans. Even if he decides to give Drake Maye some snaps, it’s improbable he will put a veteran like Diggs, coming off a serious injury, at risk in meaningless games. We will just have to monitor training camp reports, as the next time we see Diggs play in a real game, it will be the regular season.
