If you’re not paying attention to the preseason, you’re missing valuable information. Teams are more honest about their intentions in preseason games than they are at any other point before Week 1.
The key, of course, is knowing what to look for in these exhibitions. We watched all 48 games over the past 3 weeks and compiled the takeaways that matter:
Now, here are 20 teams and players who are trending up or down with the 2022 preseason in the books.
Fields was awesome in the preseason finale, completing 14 of 16 passes for 156 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs. It was a good reminder of his high-level talent.
But we’re more encouraged by what we saw from this Luke Getsy offense. The new OC had Fields on the move on bootlegs and called play action on 31% of Fields’ dropbacks – up from 24% last year.
Fields’ weak supporting cast still figures to cap his fantasy upside this season. But it at least looks like he’ll be in a system that better accentuates his skill set. He’s an intriguing QB2 target.
The early reports out of Steelers camp painted an ugly picture of the QB situation. But Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett both played well in the preseason. Trubisky posted a 71% completion rate and 8.3 yards per attempt; Pickett an 81% completion rate and 7.3 yards per attempt. They combined for 5 TDs and 0 INTs.
Trubisky figures to get the Week 1 nod, but we’re expecting to see Pickett before the end of the season. Neither guy is a target outside of 2-QB and Superflex leagues.
But if Pittsburgh gets league-average QB play, it’d be an upgrade from last year and good news for RB Najee Harris, WRs Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Chase Claypool and TE Pat Freiermuth.