Broncos RB Javonte Williams played in Saturday night's preseason game -- his first live action since last October's multi-ligament knee injury. He carried three times for 12 yards and caught four of five targets for 18 yards. Williams didn't do anything spectacular but certainly didn't look limited coming off the injury. "I just wanted to get tackled again and see how it goes," Williams said afterward. "That’s the biggest hurdle I feel I have left.” He added that he feels "100 percent" and is "good to go" for Week 1. Williams still figures to be limited at least early on this season. But he continues to trend in a positive direction.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott talked about the growth he's seen from second-year TE Jake Ferguson. “I think he’s close to becoming a big-time guy," Prescott said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. "As far as a playmaker, he’s there. ... And then you see him make a great catch in that preseason game, with a back-shoulder (catch). I think that just shows you, ‘Hey, you throw it to this guy, he wants to make the play and he expects to make the play.’ I think that’s where he takes this next step from just a playmaker to becoming a big-time player in this league.” Ferguson has taken full advantage of rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker's absence for much of the offseason and is primed to enter the season as Dallas' lead TE. He's a worthwhile late-round target in fantasy drafts.
Chargers LB Kenneth Murray has looked like a bust through three NFL seasons, after the team drafted him in Round 1 in 2020. The Chargers declined the fifth-year option on Murray's rookie contract this April. But new DC Derrick Ansley is hopeful. “This is really going to be the year, I think, he can break out,” Ansley told The Athletic's Daniel Popper. New LBs coach Jeff Howard also made a point of connecting with Murray early, and they've made a point to simplify Murray's duties within the scheme. The LB, meanwhile, is coming off his first full, healthy offseason since entering the pros. That can only help. And veteran LB Eric Kendricks has reportedly mentored Murray since arriving as a free-agent this offseason. Murray should be so far down IDP draft boards -- likely even going undrafted in many leagues -- that he carries only upside as a fantasy prospect. We've added him to our IDP rankings after initially leaning toward rookie Daiyan Henley as the likely starter next to Kendricks.
Panthers HC Frank Riech said Wednesday that RB Miles Sanders is "getting close" to returning from his groin injury. Reich added that Sanders probably won't play in either of the remaining two preseason games. But it sounds like he'll be ready to roll come Week 1. We haven't moved Sanders down the 2023 fantasy football rankings.
Per The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf, Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson “has done nothing that would cause him to relinquish” the starting job. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker has enjoyed “some solid moments” since returning from a foot injury, but a big early-season role isn’t likely. Consider Ferguson a deep sleeper to star on your fantasy cheat sheet.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that new Jets RB Dalvin Cook is still "at least a week away" from being cleared to practice after undergoing shoulder surgery in February. It sounds like Cook should be ready in time for Week 1, but the missed practice time isn't ideal as he works to settle into a new offense. We'll see when he's able to get on the field. Teammate Breece Hall, of course, remains on the PUP list.
The Jets have agreed to a one-year deal with RB Dalvin Cook. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Cook is getting "up to $8.6 million ... with the majority guaranteed." He adds that it's the largest annual average of any deal for a RB free agent this offseason. This seems to signal a few things: First, the Jets like Cook much better than any of their current RB backups and were iffy enough on that crew to make a significant upgrade. Secondly, it also indicates they want to make sure not to overwork Breece Hall in his return from the ACL tear. Hall has yet to take the field in training camp, though reports have said they expect him to be ready for the regular season. Even if that holds true, expect Cook to cut way into the available work. That moves Hall down our RB rankings and gives Cook nice contingent upside, in case Hall misses further games. The rest of the Jets' current RBs are no more than end-of-draft fliers. At least one among Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, and Israel Abanikanda probably isn't making the regular-season roster.
Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert is “clearly” the team’s No. 4 WR, per The Athletic’s John Machota. Tolbert caught two balls for 29 yards in the preseason opener, and he’s reportedly enjoyed a strong camp. The 2022 Round 3 pick is a name to remember in deep formats.
Panthers RB Miles Sanders is sitting out Saturday’s preseason opener. Per NFL Network’s Cam Wolfe, Sanders has a “very mild” groin injury. Wolfe added that the first-year Panther would have played had it been the regular season. Sanders remains inside RB2 range in our fantasy RB rankings.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams confirmed last night that he’ll play in Week 2 of the preseason. Denver faces San Francisco next Saturday. Ultimately, we’d be surprised if Williams plays more than a couple of series in his first game since October 2.
The Athletic's Joe Person named WR Jonathan Mingo a training camp “riser.” According to Person, the rookie showed he’s “going to be a big part of the rotation with a solid camp.” Mingo should also benefit from the strong showing by QB Bryce Young. See where Mingo stacks up in our fantasy WR rankings.
Speaking with CBS reporters Thursday, Broncos HC Sean Payton said RB Javonte Williams is "100% right now." He added that he doesn't know how much he'll play Williams in the preseason opener. But that Payton is even considering playing Williams in the exhibition aligns with all the positive reports on Williams' return from the 2022 knee-ligament tears. The RB has been climbing ADP charts lately but remains at the bottom of RB2 territory -- and still outside it in many places. There will still be risk to drafting Williams, but we're on board at cost. Williams has moved up our RB rankings since the start of training camp.
Panthers HC Frank Reich said RB Miles Sanders "tweaked" his groin in Wednesday's practice and will be held out of the preseason opener. This doesn't sound like a significant injury, but we'll see when Sanders is able to get back on the field.
The Panthers' initial -- and "unofficial" -- depth chart lists rookie WR Jonathan Mingo as a starter, alongside WRs Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark. This might mean nothing, of course, given that teams differ in how seriously they treat released depth charts. But rookies more often appear lower vs. reality on these initial charts -- not higher than their actual standing. So we'll take this is a good sign for the second-round pick. That doesn't make Mingo an exciting fantasy football draft pick in a situation with limited ceiling potential. But he's fine as a best ball selection. No Panthers WR sits inside the top 50 in either our fantasy football rankings or ADP.
Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker made his practice debut on Monday. The rookie missed all of spring workouts and the first week+ of training camp with plantar fasciitis. He has a lot of catching up to do if he wants to earn a Week 1 role. We'll track his progress over the next month. For now, Jake Ferguson is the favorite to open the season as Dallas' lead TE.
Panthers HC Frank Reich told reporters Saturday that he held RB Miles Sanders out of team drills after Sanders "tweaked something" early in practice, according to multiple reports. Darin Gantt of the team websites added that it was "mostly a precaution." We'll watch for any signal that this is something more significant.
Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker (foot) recently suffered a setback, per HC Mike McCarthy. It’s “nothing major,” according to beat writer Jon Machota, but the team isn’t sure on a return time. Jake Ferguson should lead Cowboys TEs in snaps come Week 1.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Broncos RB Javonte Williams is expected to play in preseason games. HC Sean Payton has said the coaching staff is still determining whether or not the third-year back will make his debut in the first or second game but that they "like how he's progressing." A torn ACL and LCL in Week 4 cut the former second round pick's 2022 campaign short, but it seems the ailment isn't slowing him down in his comeback effort this season. Agreeing to play him in the preseason is Williams' most significant vote of confidence to date after he avoided the PUP list and was cleared to contact at the beginning of camp. Fantasy managers hoping for a resurgent season from Williams ought to feel encouraged. We're still cautiously optimistic yet, but Williams has received a slight boost in our RB rankings.
Cowboys rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker worked off to the side but in full pads Tuesday, according to ESPN's Todd Archer, "normally a sign a player is close to getting on the field for practice." The second-round pick has been out with plantar fasciitis. We'll see if he's back in time for preseason games. He'll likely still face a tough battle with Jake Ferguson for playing time.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah came away from Cowboys training camp “concerned” about the O-line. LT Tyron Smith “looked a little bit old,” per Jeremiah. He also noted the absence of G Zack Martin (contract). It’s a storyline to follow, but we’re not too worried about this unit limiting Dak Prescott and company. See why in our recent piece on O-line play and fantasy production.
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