Fantasy Football: Rookie QB debuts impress, more Week 1 preseason highlights
By Jennifer Eakins, 4for4
Special to Yahoo Sports
It’s tough to get too excited about preseason football games, especially when they take place on weekend nights during the final days of summer. Week 1 usually offers a series from first-team players, maybe two if we're lucky. But fantasy football players need some clarity before the bulk of drafting starts, so that's where I come in. Here's a position-by-position look at how Week 1 went down, so managers can plan and adjust accordingly for the onslaught of upcoming drafts.
Quarterbacks
Perhaps the Falcons weren’t all wrong for their Michael Penix Jr. pick: We’ve all had a good laugh or probably more about the selection of the rookie back in April, and it’s still a baffling pick, but he did have some wow plays (and some not so wow ones) in his first NFL contest. The rookie was in for the first five drives of the game against Miami, completing 9-of-16 passes for 106 yards — the highlight was a 41-yard floater down the sideline to Chris Blair.
Jayden Daniels is a company and perhaps franchise guy: The rookie showed up to his first NFL game in a throwback Doug Williams jersey, then played like the former great in limited action of just one series. Daniels completed 2-of-3 passes for 45 yards and scampered untouched for a three-yard rushing touchdown. This dual-threat QB is leaving draft boards as the QB14 in the ninth round of 12-team drafts on Yahoo.
Caleb Williams is still good at football: The No. 1 overall pick orchestrated two drives in his NFL debut, going 4-of-7 for 95 yards with a 13-yard scramble. Both drives ended in field goals, and there were some drops, but Williams showed poise, particularly on his first completion, which came on third-and-long after he worked through his progressions and found DJ Moore for a 12-yard gain. His longest completion was a 42-yarder that read like a no-look pass over the middle to running back D’Andre Swift. This offense should be fun to watch in 2024.
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Sam Darnold saw starter reps, but J.J. McCarthy was impressive: Coming in for Darnold on the second possession, McCarthy went 11-of-17 for 188 yards and threw two long touchdown passes. He also scrambled twice on third down for 18 yards. It’s still TBD if this performance moved the needle for an earlier start for the rookie, but he showed NFL prowess. Both Darnold and McCarthy currently boast fantasy QB3 ADPs.
The Raiders QB situation is what it is: Aidan O'Connell started the game and played for one series, completing 7-of-9 passes for 76 yards, while Gardner Minshew connected on 6-of-12 passes for 117 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to DJ Turner. Mishew will likely start the next preseason game.
Bo Nix may have taken the lead for the QB job in Denver: He didn’t start the contest but put up a 15/21-125-1 line, along with three rushes for 17 yards. Nix was the most efficient between himself, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, orchestrating four scoring drives in his five possessions.
Running backs
Don’t write off Eric Gray as the RB2 for the Giants: Saquon Barkley is out and Devin Singletary is in as the starter in New York. All the backup hype has been on rookie Tyrone Tracy (who unfortunately suffered a non-contact injury in practice), but Gray showed he’s not going away quietly. The sophomore carried the ball four times for 52 yards with an additional four catches for 46 yards, with two end zone trips on Thursday night. Tracy put up a 5-26-0 line and is going undrafted in most Yahoo leagues, while the same holds true for Gray.
It was a speedy and solid NFL start for Jaylen Wright: The fourth-round pick was patient behind the line and it paid off for a total of 55 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. The Dolphins' RB room is stacked and crowded, but Wright should be on your radar as a late-round guy with a current ADP of RB49 at 131.8.
Rookie Braelon Allen wants that RB2 job in New York: With Breece Hall not playing along with almost all starters, the fourth-round pick showcased power and vision on his way to 54 yards on six carries. Allen makes for an exciting insurance option with upside heading into the season and is going undrafted in most Yahoo leagues.
Wide Receivers
The Packers WR room is deep, but Dontayvion Wicks picked up right where he left off: QB Jordan Love wasn’t in for long, but he tossed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Wicks on his third play. Wicks ended his rookie season hot, scoring four touchdowns in a three-game stretch, which included the wild-card game against Dallas. Green Bay has a plethora of WRs to pick from, and Wicks is currently the third one off draft boards in the 11th round of 12-team drafts.
Tennessee’s new-look offense is looking like it will be Calvin Ridley-friendly: The Titans threw the ball 29 times, which included a Will Levis pass that was short of the sticks on third-and-10, but Ridley made the defender miss for a 22-yard gain. These two have been working together this offseason, and it appears to be paying off. Ridley is being drafted as a fantasy WR3 at the end of the seventh round.
After a quiet camp, Brian Thomas Jr. flashed: The rookie caught an underthrown 41-yard ball from C.J. Beathard by fighting through contact from CB Joshua Williams. It was his only catch of the night, but it was a good one. Thomas’ ADP is 130.7 as WR55.
[2024 Fantasy Draft Rankings: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers]
Tight Ends
Not surprisingly, Brock Bowers was involved — and in several different ways: The first-round pick for Las Vegas had two catches for 25 yards in his first contest. Aside from tight end, the Raiders also lined him up at fullback in some experimental formations with fellow tight end Michael Mayer, plus he also spent time out wide and in the slot.
Kicker, yes, Kicker
The mixed bag continues for rookie Jake Bates: After a rough few days of camp where there was a possibility of the Lions bringing in some competition, Bates was assured by HC Dan Campbell that they would give him a chance to grow and respond. The former USFL leg nailed a 53-yard field goal in the rain to post Detroit’s only points of the night, but also missed the landing zone on the following kickoff, allowing New York to start from its 40-yard line.
Jake Elliott should be glad it’s only the preseason: Coming off a K4 performance in fantasy points last season, Elliott stumbled on Friday night. He did kick the game-winning field goal but missed one earlier in the game, along with an extra point.
The kicker spot for Green Bay is still highly competitive: Anders Carlson nailed two field goals (46 and 33 yards) and converted his only extra-point attempt. Greg Joseph hit a 35-yarder and also made his one extra point.
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In-Game Injuries
QB Drew Lock left the game against Detroit with a bone contusion and strained oblique and is expected to miss some time, but doesn't need surgery.
RB MarShawn Lloyd left with a hamstring injury. He had one carry for eight yards prior.
WR Hollywood Brown was hospitalized due to a sternoclavicular joint dislocation with his availability for Week 1 in question.
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This article was originally published on 4for4.com
A proud alumna of the UGA Grady College of Journalism, Jennifer Eakins has been working in the sports industry for well over a decade. She has had stints with CNN Sports, the Atlanta Hawks and the Colorado Rockies. Her first fantasy football draft took place in 1996 where she selected Ricky Watters with the first overall pick, and she has been a fantasy degenerate ever since.