Award-Winning Fantasy Football Advice

Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza was sharp in his preseason debut vs. the Cardinals on Thursday night, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs. But QB Kirk Cousins got the start and is still the favorite to open the regular season as Vegas' starter, HC Klint Kubiak confirmed after the game.

RB Jeremiyah Love got his first preseason action Thursday night in the Cardinals' second exhibition, and they worked him like a lead back against the Raiders. The third overall pick racked up 14 first-half touches: 11 carries for 58 yards (5.3 per rush) and 3 receptions for 14 yards on three targets. Love also came away from the game with a minor ankle injury, but it appears we don't need to worry about that.

Rams HC Sean McVay expects WR Puka Nacua back at practice next week "ready to go," according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop. Nacua suffered what McVay revealed as a psoas injury on Tuesday. (The psoas is a deep core muscle connecting the lower spine and pelvis to the thigh bone.) Nacua worked off to the side of practice on Thursday, per Barshop.

Chigoziem Okonkwo was commended for the standout training camp he’s had by Commanders Senior Writer Zach Selby in a recent article, but Selby noted that “...the tight ends were not used much in the passing game during the offensive periods that I watched (team red zone, third-down emphasis, and two-minute).”

Carson Beck won’t play in tonight's preseason game after suffering a rib injury in last week’s Hall of Fame game, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s not considered serious, and Beck practiced throughout the week before being held out as a precaution.

The Eagles star running-back appeared to tweak his ankle during practice. Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that “During the last period Saquon Barkley was getting his left ankle checked out by a trainer. He never went to the tent but still has his cleat off.”

Trey McBride is coming off a season in which he finished as the highest-scoring fantasy TE, but new HC Mike LaFleur thinks he can do more, per Cardinals beat reporter Theo Mackie. “I think he can have maybe a deeper intermediate route tree.” LaFleur said of McBride.

Saints WR Jordyn Tyson left Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury, according to New Orleans Football's Mike Triplett. Nick Underhill hears that the injury isn't "super serious," but it's still a concern given Tyson's history of hamstring trouble.

Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano came away from the Commanders' joint practice with the Dolphins believing that WR Stefon Diggs will play a big role this season. "His skills and reliability seem as good as ever," Vacchiano wrote. "It also looks like he could be a high-volume receiver for the Commanders. Yes, they still have Terry McLaurin, too. But Diggs could be a [Jayden] Daniels favorite, running a lot of underneath routes that he could potentially turn into big plays."