Tue Aug 18th 2026

Preseason Week One

• Medonza looked calm and in command in his first game action. His completion rate doesn't look good on paper after completing 10 of 16 passes, but many of the incompletions were smart throwaways, and he had one dropped on one of his specialty back-shoulder throws. It was a great debut by Mendoza and by coach Kubiak. Together they will make this a much more productive offense this season and for years to come. Counsins played well, too, but I expect Mendoza to see the starting lineup by at least midseason.

Cade Klubnik

• Klubnik looked great in his very short time on the field with the first-team offense. He led the team on two scoring drives on his only two possessions. He looked calm in the pocket, found open men, and converted third downs. He found Garrett Wilson on two of his five completions, so he knows where his bread is buttered. I’ve thought that the Jets should go to Klubnik late in this season to see what they have in him. If he plays this well in the next two preseason games, he may cause the Jets to look at him even earlier this season.

Ty Simpson

• Simpson took a ton of snaps with the second and third teams and looked fantastic in his first NFL action. He was playing against second- and third-team defenses. Still, his performance is worth noting. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Coach McVay seemed intent on calling pass plays with Simpson to see what he could do. He most often got Simpson moving with bootleg action, accurately hitting wide-open receivers while he was on the move. He and fellow rookie Max Klare connected seven times, tying De’Zhaun Stribling as the player with the most catches in week one of the preseason. I’m eager to see Simpson running with the first team in one of the next preseason games to see how much better he looks than Stetson Bennett.

Tua Tagovailoa

• I wish I could write something good about Tua’s debut in Atlanta, but he looked absolutely terrible. He’s still too afraid in the pocket, gets happy feet, and checks down on many passes. Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London need a more versatile, fearless quarterback to produce at the elite level they are capable of, but Tua doesn't look like the answer. I’d have more hope for these dynasty studs if Michael Penix gets healthy and takes the role from Tua. Coach Stefanski won’t tolerate what he witnessed in this week’s game.

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders

• Watson won the quarterback battle this week. He only wishes his coach would have pulled him sooner. Watson started the game off pretty well, making quick, smart decisions and delivering well-timed, confident throws. But as the first half of the game continued, he looked more and more hurried, indecisive, off balance, and unable to see the field. Sanders had a few good plays but didn't sustain drives as Watson did at the start of the game, and he overthrew a pass that led to an interception. Sanders gets to run with the first team next week, apparently, so we’ll see if that changes things, but for now Watson has the edge even though neither quarterback was consistent.

R.J. Harvey and Jonah Coleman

• I am so glad I got rid of my two Harvey shares last year. He’s a good player, but not the kind of player who can be more than a backup or a passing-downs back in the NFL. JK Dobbins did not play in the first preseason game, so Harvey ran with the first team, but he’s unable to push a pile and get the simple yards the Broncos want in their running game. Coleman came in and looked like a completely different kind of back in size and running style. It’s just one preseason game, but Coleman averaged six yards per carry, and Harvey averaged 3.2. I’ve bought in and bet big on Dobbins this season in my leagues, and I’m confident in that decision, but I wish I had a share of Coleman as he could become Denver’s future workhorse.

Mike Washington

• Washington’s landing spot behind Ashton Jeanty on the Raiders was a big bummer for his ultimate dynasty stock. If her landed on a team with a weaker depth chart, he would have had a chance at a starting role in the NFL. Now he’s looking like a handcuff dynasty back for the next several years. Even so, he could be one of the most important handcuffs, especially if he shows the power and breakaway ability that he showed in his first preseason game, where he had an explosive run of 53 yards. It’s just one run, so we should not get carried away, but dynasty managers who were willing to draft him later than they thought they would can be hopeful that they have an every-week starter when or if Jeanty misses time. It was a great debut for Washington.

Emmitt Johnson

• The other rookie running back whose dynasty stock fell significantly after the draft, based on which team drafted him, was Johnson. He landed with the Chiefs, who paid big money to sign Kenneth Walker this offseason, so Johnson seemed buried on the depth chart, especially since the Chiefs drafted Breshard Smith last year and also added Emari Demercado in free agency. Still, Johnson has the opportunity to move up the depth chart to the primary backup role to Walker, who has a history of injuries. In his first preseason game, he made his case to move up the depth chart. He played a lot and touched the ball 15 times with 12 carries and three catches. He showed he can carry the load, and he may get the chance to do so for short stints this season.

Courtland Sutton

• Sutton made two fantastic contested catches and was targeted twice on third downs to convert to first downs. I mention him because he’s been poo-pooed on this week by several dynasty analysts and those who believe Pat Bryant will overtake his job this season. I say, “Not so fast, my friend.” Sutton is a crafty veteran who knows how to body out defenders and make the high-point catches, which makes him the Broncos’ most reliable player on third downs and in the red zone. I expect him to continue to produce alongside Jaylen Waddle and Pat Bryant as he develops and contributes significantly to fantasy teams this season.

Jack Bech

• I’m still burning a candle for my man, Jake Bech, but it’s as dim as it has ever been. Seeing him make a few contested catches, convert first downs, and score a touchdown in a preseason game makes me hopeful that he will survive the roster cut dates in my leagues. He wasn't on the field with the first team very often and was missing from several personnel packages. Still, I hope his strong play in this first preseason game can give him more opportunities in practice and the next two preseason games before my dynasty roster cuts take place.

KC Concepcion

• It was great to see Concepcion used as a pass catcher, runner, and returner in his first preseason action. Coach Monken clearly knows he’s a player the Browns must draw up plays for because he’s a playmaker. He almost broke away for a touchdown on a punt return. He had three catches and an awesome touchdown run. Ugh! I was never in a position in the middle of the first round to draft Concepcion, but I sure wish I had a share of him. He will get a lot of looks and be very productive as a rookie and for years to come if he can stay healthy. Denzel Boston just had one catch, but he was on the field almost every snap with the first team, so his ascension to the starting role is now complete, too. Please! Give them a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft!

Malachi Fields and Ja’Kobi Lane

• Okay. I won’t say much more since I’ve written about these two “my guys” too often lately. That said, when the camp hype is met with a touchdown catch each in their first preseason action, I have to give myself a pat on the back. Fields was on the field a ton with the first team, which was positive for his dynasty managers. Lane had an excellent post-game interview that I listened to, which made me respect his humility and desire to get better. My most drafted rookies are Fields, Lane, and Denzel Boston, and they are arguably the most raved-about players during training camp.

Malik Washington and Caleb Douglas

• I’ve been very hesitant to buy into the Miami passing game except for targeting Chris Bell in rookie drafts, though I was only able to select him once. I was unwilling to draft Caleb Douglas because he wasn't in my original top-60 ranked rookies before the NFL Draft. I had to move him into my rankings after the Dolphins, to the great surprise of everyone, including the likes of Matt Harmon, drafted him in the third round. I was a major doubter, so I never ranked him high enough to draft him. Now I have a few regrets. His buzz at training camp has been high as well, and judging by his reps with the first team in this week’s preseason game, he’s a starter. He almost made a great catch on a bad throw, which brought one of his feet out of bounds, and then he did make the catch of the week on a leaping one-handed grab while falling to the ground. The quick and easy targets in this preseason game went to Malik Washington, but the downfield throws went to Douglas. Malik Willis looked solid in his preseason debut, so he may be able to help his receivers help their dynasty managers after all. I’m still skeptical, but more interested after watching this first preseason game.

Isaiah Likely

• Likely’s hype has been building in camp, and my dynasty leagues have bought into the hype. Likely was traded for pick 2.5 in one of my leagues that still hasn't held its rookie draft, and he was traded for Trevor Lawrence in another one-quarterback league, so dynasty managers want in on the Likely action. In last week’s article, I said I am more hesitant on Likely because I believe Theo Johnson is a more significant threat than dynasty managers realize. After just one preseason game, I have changed my tune. Likely was heavily involved in the first-team offense and was the top target twice on third-down conversion plays. I could tell from even just the minimal amount of plays Jaxson Dart and the first-team offense ran that Likely will be a big part of the offense. I renounce my take from last week. A good dynasty analyst is always willing to let the evidence change his mind. I have.

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