New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III caught six of his eight targets for 50 yards and a touchdown during Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. He also returned a punt for 11 yards. We had heard a lot about Chism's talent and ability through training camp so far, but it was even more exciting to see him produce in a game. The 23-year-old Eastern Washington product is an underdog story after going undrafted this past spring. He signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent and, despite facing an uphill battle, has put himself in the mix for a roster spot. He still has work to do in order to make the team, but pacing the team's receivers on Friday was a great place to start. Should Chism survive final cuts at the end of the preseason, he'd fill a back-end depth role in New England and would struggle to carve out a role for fantasy football purposes.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks led the team in receiving in their first preseason game against the Patriots, catching all five targets for 59 yards. The 2025 undrafted free agent stepped in to play the majority of the second half and made the most of his opportunity. Brooks, a former five-star recruit out of high school, played at Alabama before transferring to Louisville for a season. He has good size at 6'2", 190 pounds, and posted over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in his final collegiate season. However, his poor athletic testing dragged him down in the draft process. With the Terry McLaurin contract situation and the state of the Commanders' receiver room, there is an opportunity for Brooks to make the roster as the sixth receiver. He'll need to continue to stack positive days at practice as well as produce when the lights come on for him to have a chance.

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New England Patriots running back Lan Larison rushed seven times for 35 yards and a touchdown during Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. He also caught each of his two targets for a total of nine yards through the air. Larison, a 23-year-old UC Davis product, signed with the team as an undrafted free agent back in May. As a result, he faces an uphill battle to make the roster. Nevertheless, he certainly made a positive impact and got himself noticed with Friday's productive showing. As the summer carries on, Larison will likely continue to compete with Terrell Jennings and JaMycal Hasty for the No. 4 running back role.

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New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 36 yards on seven carries during Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. He was not targeted in the passing game. Although Stevenson has been productive through four seasons and has a 1,400-yard year under his belt, he still faces some job security. He was benched late last season for Antonio Gibson, and now he must also fend off the likes of TreVeyon Henderson. That won't be easy, as Henderson contributed a 100-yard kick return touchdown on Friday and also broke off an 18-yard rush. This backfield competition continues to be a must-watch for fans and fantasy managers alike as the summer carries on.

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New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson registered an 18-yard rush, caught all three of his targets for 12 yards through the air, and delivered a spark with a 100-yard touchdown return during Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. The Ohio State product wasted no time making a first impression, as his big touchdown return came on the very first play of the game. Although Henderson only played two offensive drives, he was productive both on the ground and through the air, showcasing a blend of volume and efficiency. As the incumbent starter, Rhamondre Stevenson has the early leg up on the competition to be New England's primary running back in Week 1. However, Henderson will continue to be a thorn in Stevenson's side, and nobody would be surprised to see the rookie jump to the top chart by the season opener. At the very least, we expect Henderson to be handling the bulk of the backfield snaps by midseason, especially after the Patriots spent the 38th overall draft pick on him. His rushing ability and blocking skills fit nicely in a Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels system, and if Friday's game is any indication, it looks like he'll carve out some targets in the passing game, too. Henderson has low-end RB2 appeal in fantasy drafts given his ceiling, and his dynasty stock is even higher.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed three of his five pass attempts for 12 yards during Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. He also registered two carries, 16 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown. The touchdown came on Maye's second and final drive of the game, as he scrambled into the end zone to put the Patriots ahead by two scores. On a less positive note, Maye did take a sack and lose a fumble in the preseason opener. Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the former Tar Heel in his second pro season. Not only should he benefit from a new coaching regime led by Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, but he'll also have a full season, offseason, and training camp under his belt. The blend of playing experience and quality coaching will serve Maye well. The same can be said of his rushing skills and New England's offseason additions, both in the trenches and among the offensive skill positions. Maye is currently being drafted as a mid-to-low QB2 in most fantasy leagues, but there's a legitimate chance that he finishes among the top 10 quarterbacks in fantasy points this year. As long as Maye continues to make strides this preseason, he should be a hot commodity in fantasy drafts given his rushing ability.

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Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott drew three targets and had two receptions for 10 yards against New England on Friday. It was a relatively quiet opener for the 2024 second-round pick, but he made a couple of nice catches and got separation on other throws where he wasn't targeted as well. He got most of the reps in the first half with veteran Zach Ertz resting before taking the second half off. The Kansas State product had modest production as a rookie with six catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in the regular season and playoffs combined. His snap count decreased over the final stretch of games, but he's generated positive reports from head coach Dan Quinn throughout Commanders' training camp. Sinnott has elite athletic traits at the tight end position and could be entrusted with a larger role in his second season. He carries contingent fantasy value if Zach Ertz were to miss any time.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (ankle) was held out of Friday's scrimmage after he tweaked his ankle Thursday. Olave watched the full scrimmage and didn't appear to be in significant pain. Olave finished practice on Thursday despite initially having his ankle taped. Despite missing practice, there is little to no concern about Olave's ankle, and he was held out of practice as a precaution. Saints head coach Kellen Moore stated that "half a dozen starters would not suit up for their preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday," so expect Olave to be a part of that group. This likely has no significant impact on his current value, but it is worth monitoring.UPDATE: Olave's ankle injury is considered insignificant, and he's listed as day-to-day. He should be back soon.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) exited Friday's preseason game early due to an apparent shoulder injury. Polk took a jet sweep for a short gain and fell awkwardly on his right shoulder. He went to the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room with a towel over his head. Polk was recovering from offseason surgery on his right shoulder and seemed to potentially re-injure his repaired shoulder. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said there's no update on Polk's status yet, but he will undergo more tests and see team doctors. This situation warrants monitoring, as the second-year receiver aims to secure a spot on the 53-man roster in New England.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman played the first half of the Commanders' first preseason game in New England and was largely ineffective. He completed nine of 19 passes for 64 yards and threw one interception. He didn't take a sack and also added a six-yard scramble. The former Notre Dame signal caller was let down by his receivers a bit, with multiple drops by receiver Chris Moore and KJ Osborn. He delivered a beautiful deep ball to Moore down the sideline, who momentarily caught it before losing control when he hit the ground. On his final drive of the night, he again dropped it in the bucket to Osborn on a slot fade in the endzone, but he couldn't come down with it. Otherwise, Hartman struggled with accuracy and threw a poor interception after being late on the throw. He's been battling for the QB3 position in Washington with journeyman Josh Johnson, who may have the upper hand with a solid performance in the second half.

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New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced Friday that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler will get the start Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Rattler will start and be followed by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, and then second-year quarterback Jake Haener will go third in the order. Moore also stated that "half a dozen players will be rested on both sides of the ball." This suggests that Rattler has the lead in the quarterback competition. Rattler had a shaky rookie season, completing 57% of his passes and throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions in his six starts. If Rattler were to start, he would be throwing to Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Alvin Kamara, and Juwan Johnson in a new system under Moore. If he starts, Rattler would be rosterable in deeper superflex leagues with little to no change to the Saints' playmakers' values.

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Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt made his much-anticipated preseason debut on Friday against the Patriots. Croskey-Merritt totaled 24 yards on seven carries and added an eight yard reception on the night. While the numbers don't jump off the stat sheet, he showed off his burst and shiftiness on all of his touches, consistently making defenders miss and fighting for extra yards. The rookie briefly entered the medical tent with a shoulder injury, but he later returned to the game. He has been the talk of Commanders training camp so far, and has explosiveness as a runner that the team otherwise doesn't have at running back. He looked dynamic in his first taste of NFL action and has plenty of upside to dream on as a late round selection in fantasy drafts.

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Dynasty | Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 4-of-6 passes for 58 yards and one touchdown in the Panthers' preseason opener. Dynasty Analysis: Young was on the cusp of being labeled a total bust as recently as last season, but it really does look as if he has things turned around and headed in the right direction. He likely won't get too much preseason work moving forward but he looked like he did late last season - a competent quarterback with the ability to win in the NFL. His ADP may actually be a bit low at the moment.

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Dynasty | Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught two passes for 43 yards in the Panthers preseason opener. Dynasty Analysis: It has looked all along like McMillan was going to be a factor this season and if tonight was any indication, he's going to be the top target for the Panthers moving forward. The counting stats aren't amazing but he didn't play much and had absolutely no problem getting open. With Bryce Young looking solid, McMillan is going to continue battling Travis Hunter to be this year's rookie WR1 and it's going to be hard to argue taking him as such in late rookie drafts.

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Dynasty | Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson rushed once for 18 yards, caught 3-of-3 targets for 12 yards and returned the opening kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown in the Patriots' preseason opener against the Commanders. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that works. Henderson was even better as advertised, taking his first NFL touch to the house on the opening kickoff. He was clearly the Patriots most explosive option on offense and while Rhamondre Stevenson is going to be a big part of the offense this season, Henderson is going to get his chances. His ADP may actually go up after dynasty managers watch the highlights of this one.

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Dynasty | Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, adding 19 rushing yards on four carries in the Browns preseason opener. Dynasty Analysis: Dynasty managers need to be honest - Sanders is fighting for a roster spot. However, if you're being honest, he also looked pretty solid on the night. Dillon Gabriel was out with a hamstring issue and may need to get back quickly because Sanders looked like a player worthy of consideration on this roster. The Browns currently sport Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on the top of the depth chart and Sanders made their decision on who to ultimately keep a lot harder tonight as he wasn't perfect, but also looked like the player many thought he was coming out of Colorado.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed (ankle) was taken down by a defender with an illegal hip-drop tackle in training camp practice on Sunday and suffered a season-ending ankle injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Colts placed Ahmed on season-ending Injured Reserve on Friday and have signed former Dolphins RB Nate Noel in a corresponding move. Jonathan Taylor is the unquestioned RB1 in Indy, with Tyler Goodson and rookie DJ Giddens battling for backup duties in 2025. With Ahmed now done for the entire 2025 campaign, it will mean added opportunities for Khalil Herbert, Ulysses Bentley and Noel as they look to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. The 26-year-old Ahmed spent his first four seasons in Miami and had a combined 593 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 163 carries over 38 games (four starts).

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (hamstring) is not expected to play in the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Cleveland Browns, but he is hopeful to return for the second preseason game next week against the Houston Texans. Renfrow's hamstring injury isn't all that serious, but he hasn't practiced at training camp since late July, and the Panthers aren't going to push him into the first preseason game. The 29-year-old is pushing for a depth role in his first year in Carolina and probably won't be better than the WR4 in 2025 behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and veteran Adam Thielen. The Clemson product had a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2021 with the Raiders but was never able to recapture that magic and didn't play at all in 2024 due to health issues. Renfrow can be avoided in most fantasy leagues.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is expected to play in the team's first preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday night, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. The number three overall pick in the 2024 draft, Maye is entering his first full season as the starter in New England after appearing in 13 games (12 starts) as a rookie. The soon-to-be 23-year-old completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,276 yards while throwing 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Maye has reportedly been taking better care of the football in training camp practices, and he'll get his first chance at translating that into game action on Friday night. He profiles as a fringe QB1 in fantasy with significant upside.

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Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is among the players who are not expected to play for the team in its first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Many key offensive contributors for Cleveland are not expected to play, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, tight end David Njoku, and quarterback Joe Flacco. Notably, Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is expected to suit up. With fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins still unsigned due to a July arrest, Sampson and Ford are competing for backfield snaps in Cleveland. Ford is entering his fourth season with the Browns, so he has less to prove in preseason action than Sampson.

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