Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted more than a week ago that he would use mostly starters in the team's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints for eight to 10 plays, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. On offense to begin Saturday's game, rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey was the starting RB. Veteran J.K. Dobbins will also be heavily involved in Denver's backfield this year, but he's been injury-prone in his career, and Harvey wasn't drafted in the second round for no reason. The 24-year-old from Central Florida was very productive in college despite standing at only 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds. While Harvey won't be a workhorse right away in the NFL, that could quickly develop if Dobbins misses more time due to injury. The rookie is shifty, quick and tough to tackle and should be a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 target for fantasy managers.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (knee) is back in uniform at practice on Saturday after missing the entire preseason with a knee injury, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. This will be Smith's first practice since tweaking his knee on Aug. 5. The 30-year-old should be on track to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the New York Jets. However, after a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, Smith's fantasy value took a huge hit after being traded to Pittsburgh in the offseason. He should still be involved in offenive coordinator Arthur Smith's system, but he's expected to take a back seat to incumbent Pat Friermuth. In single-TE fantasy formats, managers can avoid Smith on draft day. Outside of his 88-884-8 line last year, Smith's best season was a 50-582-3 line the year prior in Atlanta.

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Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb will not suit up for the team's preseason finale on Saturday versus the Detroit Lions, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Alexander notes that unless Chubb is dealing with an injury, he's likely a lock to start in Week 1 of the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7, with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) still sidelined due to injury. Dameon Pierce, rookie Woody Marks and Dare Ogunbowale were all in uniform for Saturday's contest in Detroit. In his lone preseason appearance, the 29-year-old Chubb had five carries for 25 yards and caught one pass for a gain of four yards. Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler, might get the start in Week 1, but Houston figures to mix and match in their backfield until Mixon is able to return. He did not look like the same explosive back last year after a serious knee injury in 2023 and is only the RB53 at RotoBaller.

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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is not playing in the team's preseason finale on Saturday against the Detroit Lions, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Other starters that will sit out include running back Nich Chubb, receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk and tight end Dalton Schultz. Stroud and the rest of Houston's offense will be looking to get off on the right foot in a Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7. The 23-year-old Stroud has enough pass-catchers to rebound from a frustrating 2024 campaign, but it will all depend on how well Houston's offensive line holds up after he took a whopping 52 sacks in 17 regular-season starts last year. The former first-rounder threw for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 picks in 2024 and is currently ranked as the QB19 in fantasy going into Year 3.

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JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington thinks it's interesting that Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is getting carries in the team's preseason finale on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt sitting out. It "might tell the RB depth-chart story" heading into the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. The Commanders' backfield picture is still a bit blurry, but after the team traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, Croskey-Merritt has a real opportunity at a big role on early downs in D.C. in 2025. Austin Ekeler will be the team's primary pass-catching/third-down back, which leaves JCM and Rodriguez fighting for the RB1 role. Washington also likes Jeremy McNichols, though, and this backfield could be more of a timeshare. At the very least, though, Croskey-Merritt is quickly rising on draft boards as an RB3/4 target.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (finger) is uncertain for Week 1, as reported by Zach Berman of The Athletic. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said, "We'll see," when asked about the club's primary backup, so Philadelphia may have to turn to rookie Kyle McCord or Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the No. 2 spot. In any case, it's the Jalen Hurts show in Philly for as a long as he's healthy, relegating McKee mostly to an emergency spot in fantasy leagues with very deep rosters.

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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that wide receiver Xavier Gipson (shoulder) was held out of Friday's game because of the injury, according to a report from Zach Rosenblatt of The Athletic. The third-year receiver's primary value to the team is as a return man, but the injury could impact whether he's ready for Week 1. Gipson sustained the injury in the Jets' second preseason game, which isn't ideal for a player uncertain to make the first 53-man roster. New York signed Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson this offseason to a receiver corps that also includes Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.

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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee) should be ready for Week 1, as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN. The veteran has missed most of the preseason recovering from an arthroscopic procedure, but looks to have a role behind projected Jets starter Justin Fields. As per usual, Taylor's fantasy value will totally depend on the health of the starter in front of him, making him a useful insurance policy in deeper formats.

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Wide receiver Elic Ayomanor started and caught all three of his targets for 25 yards in Tennessee's preseason-concluding victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. The rookie from Stanford already has developed a connection with Titans quarterback Cameron Ward and looks to be carving out a role for 2025. Ayomanor set up a touchdown with a red zone target on Friday, a week after hauling in a 47-yard pass from Ward. Though Calvin Ridley is all but sure to be the Titans' No. 1 receiver, Ayomanor's competition for playing time is journeyman Van Jefferson and fellow rookie Chimere Dike, making immediate playing time look realistic.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue (ankle) said he's not worried about the injury sustained during Friday's game, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The rookie is stepping into one of the most uncertain backfield situations in the league, so calling the injury "nothing serious" is a positive development for Dallas. The team signed short-term deals with running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders for a rotation that also includes Deuce Vaughn, giving Blue a very realistic path to playing time during his first season. He remains an intriguing rookie breakout candidate on a Cowboys offense that has significant skill-position talent around him.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will not play in the team's final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Daniels is joined on the bench by most of the team's starters, including wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Daniels played one drive in the team's second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday without attempting a pass. The 24-year-old can now turn his full attention to Washington's Week 1 matchup against the division rival New York Giants. Daniels is a high-end fantasy QB1, but he may be without his top weapon in wide receiver Terry McLaurin to open the season due to McLaurin's ongoing contract dispute with the team.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Feleipe Franks caught all three of his targets for 24 yards, most of which came on a 23-yard catch and run that he was able to take in for a touchdown. Franks also caught one pass for nine yards last week and was not targeted in the first preseason game. He was battling Teagan Quitoriano for the third tight end spot behind Kyle Pitts Sr. and Charlie Woerner, and with Quitoriano not receiving a target in the preseason, Franks appears to have a leg up. Unfortunately, third-string tight ends don't have any value for fantasy, so no need to roster him in any leagues.

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Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt will not play in the team's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. A seventh-round pick this past April, Croskey-Merritt has been one of the breakout stars of the summer. Washington traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, opening up a spot for Croskey-Merritt to be the team's early-down workhorse right away. Veteran Austin Ekeler should handle the majority of passing-down work, and Washington also has a pair of backs with NFL experience in Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols. Notably, Croskey-Merritt and Ekeler are the Washington backs who will not play on Saturday, which could be an indication of the current pecking order in the backfield. Croskey-Merritt profiles as an RB4 with upside in redraft fantasy leagues.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Van Jefferson recorded 102 yards and a touchdown on three catches in his team's 23-13 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. Jefferson scored a 65-yard touchdown on a long catch-and-run in the second quarter. The 29-year-old is entering his first season in Tennessee after logging 24 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. Jefferson projects to open the season as the WR3 in Tennessee alongside veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett. However, he may struggle to hold off the team's pair of fourth-round rookie wide receivers, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Jefferson should be off the radar of fantasy managers in 2025.

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Dynasty | Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt moves up the depth chart with the trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: It's now officially "Bill" season. Still, expectations should be tempered. Yes, Croskey-Merritt has torn up camp by all accounts and clearly should be on rosters everywhere. However, Chris Rodriguez may have already been tabbed as the goal-line and short-yardage back for the team and Austin Ekeler is still a great pass-catcher and option for a lead back. Croskey-Merritt has the looks of a late round rookie gem this year and that's exciting but his ADP could also skyrocket a little prematurely as people go overboard.

Dynasty | The trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers creates an uncertain backfield in San Francisco. Dynasty Analysis: If there's a loser in the Robinson deal, it's probably Guerendo. He would likely split time with Robinson should Christian McCaffrey be injured but this deal makes it abundantly clear San Francisco is concerned about his injury history and not willing to leave themselves vulnerable should CMC go down. Guerendo has been a solid handcuff to own over the past two seasons but even if he was to remain the RB2, it's hard to see a situation where Robinson doesn't still split time with him. His dynasty ADP is going to slip over the next month.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that right tackle Kaleb McGary (leg) will miss "significant time" and could be placed on injured reserve after injuring his leg in practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. Atlanta signed McGary to a two-year, $30 million extension earlier this month. He's started 92 games across six seasons with Atlanta, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the 17th-best run-blocking tackle in the NFL in 2024. With backup tackle Storm Norton (ankle) set to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, the Falcons now have a massive hole on the right side of their offensive line. With a left-handed quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., McGary's absence could be a major issue for the team's pass protection as well as its run game.

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Atlanta Falcons third-string quarterback Easton Stick completed 20 of 28 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 31-13 preseason loss to the Cowboys, adding three rushes for 18 yards. He also threw one interception in the game. The 29-year-oldhas now thrown a touchdown pass in each of the team's three preseason games and appears to have solidifiedhimself as the third QB option behind Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, especially with the team waiving Emory Jones this past week, who also had been used in the preseason. Without a starting gig, however, Stick won't be relevant for fantasy unless both of the other quarterbacks become unavailable.

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Dynasty | The trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers pushes rookie running back Jordan James down the depth chart. Dynasty Analysis: James has been a popular late round rookie pick but Robinson's arrival throws a big bucket of cold water on his short-term value. Should James make the team behind Christian McCaffrey, Robinson and Isaac Guerendo, his path to playing time looks murky. No longer fully guaranteed a roster spot, James is a player to monitor the last week of the preseason as he may need to show something to avoid the practice squad. Regardless, he looks to be fourth on the depth chart and that's not anything to get too excited about.

Dynasty | The Commanders have traded running back Brian Robinson to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: San Francisco sends a sixth round pick in exchange for Robinson. It's a deal that seemed inevitable after he was inactive for this week's preseason game. Robinson clearly fell out of favor with Washington as he just didn't seem to fit their offense as well as others on their roster. It's a small price to pay for San Francisco, who now gets a capable backup to Christian McCaffrey. As for Robinson, his dynasty value is going to spiral as he's now simply a capable handcuff instead of a starter in the NFL.