Sun Aug 23rd 2026

Preseason Week Two

• The 49ers have their own draft board and don’t give a lick about the consensus board, which is why they drafted Stribling and Black several rounds earlier than predicted. So far this preseason, they look like geniuses with the pick of Stribling, who caught seven passes last week and four more this week, including several for third-down conversions. His only mistake was letting a ball slip through his hands on what would have been a long touchdown catch. It feels like it was his first mistake since he was drafted. I wasn't a believer, but I am now after the draft capital matched the training camp hype, which matched his preseason play. I’ve moved him up to 13^th in my rookie rankings, though I only have one rookie draft remaining. He’s the biggest riser by far.
• Black, the running back the 49ers supposedly reached on, saw his first preseason action after missing a few weeks with injuries. He had a great debut, too. As he did in Indiana University’s championship run last season, he picked up the tough yards and always moved the pile forward. He had eight carries for 33 yards, which is 4.1 yards per carry. He didn’t explode on the scene like Stribling, but he looked very strong and capable as a runner. He has every chance to solidify himself as the top backup to Christian McCaffrey, especially while the entire 49ers’ backfield is banged up. I’m glad I have two shares of Black and have been bidding on him in a rookie auction this week. His upside of becoming the 49ers’ future lead back is a very high ceiling.

Woody Marks

• Marks looked fantastic on the first drive when he ran with the first-team offense while his veteran teammate, David Montgomery, did not play.  He caught one pass and had four carries and scored a touchdown on a 20-yard run to cap the first drive of the game. It’s just one game and one drive, but he averaged 9.3 yards per carry. He and Montgomery can be a successful committee for the Texans this season. Dynasty managers with Marks are disappointed that the Texans signed Montgomery as a free agent, but there’s no need to think his dynasty value is sunk. He’ll be a startable player in dynasty rosters at many times this season and an automatic starter if Montgomery gets injured. He’ll never be a superstar in the NFL, but he’s a good back that does everything well.

Demond Claiborne

• Claiborne had the same number of touches as Kaelon Black, but he did not capitalize on his opportunities. To be fair, the Vikings’ offensive line made several mistakes, causing Claiborne to get smashed immediately in the backfield, but even on plays where the line held up, Claiborne looked hesitant and lacking in power. He’s received some buzz in training camp that gave dynasty managers hope that he could replace Aaron Jones next year and cut into his playing time this season even, but he hasn’t looked great in his first two preseason games. I’m glad I did not draft Claiborne in any of my leagues.

Charlei Kolar and Orande Gadsden

• Kolar was one of my most added players this offseason. He was on the waiver wire in almost all of my leagues. When he signed with the Chargers this offseason, it was clear that they had very specific plans for him. Now, based on watching the first-team reps in the last two preseason games, he appears to be the team’s starting tight end. This is great news for me since I added him to so many teams, but it is terrible for Orande Gadsden’s managers. Gadsden was playing very late in the last two preseason games, signifying that he is no longer the starter. The team has shifted the type of tight end they want on the field most often, and Kolar is a better traditional tight end and blocker. People forget how productive Kolar was in college. I don’t forget because he was a nuisance to my Longhorns for years in the Big 12.  He’s never been given the opportunity in the NFL, but this year he’ll get that chance.

Kaytron Allen

• Allen has received a ton of touches in his first two preseason games as a rookie, but he’s failed to impress.  His offensive line is part of the problem, and the loss of Laremy Tunsil will be a problem for the Washington running game no matter who is in the backfield.  Still, Allen has not looked great in his first preseason action, and he deserves some of the blame. It’s easy to label big running backs as slow and plodding, but that is how he’s looked so far. He’s had 33 carries in the preseason games, and he’s averaging 3.5 yards per carry. He’ll have more opportunities this season, but if dynasty managers hoped he could climb the weak depth chart in Washington, they’re mistaken. His workload in preseason games proves he’s not in their top rotation, and his play hasn't made the team think otherwise.

Christian Watson and Matthew Golden

• Watson and Golden looked great with the first-team offense. They are clearly the two starters in two-receiver sets. Jordan Love looks in total command of the offense and will give Watson and Golden the breakout seasons their dynasty managers want so badly this season. Watson will lead the team in targets, and he was the first read most of the time in this week’s game. Golden got first looks too and was targeted on third-down conversions where he made some great contested catches. I’m very confident that dynasty managers will be thrilled about their productivity this season.

Jonathan Brooks

• I’ll end this week’s short article by pumping up my fellow Longhorns from Matthew Golden to Jonathan Brooks to Adonai Mitchell.  Brooks saw very limited action again this week, but dynasty managers were thrilled to see him back on the field after two years of waiting.  I have Brooks on four of my ten dynasty rosters, and I can tell you that I was thrilled. He did not show much this week, but he did have a nice 11-yard run and scored on a one-yard touchdown. The better news for Brooks’s managers is that the Caroline offense looked significantly better than they did in preseason week one. Brooks needs Bryce Young to be a threat in the passing game before he can have a solid first real season in the NFL, and Young looked much better this week. The offense, in my opinion, is a bit gimmicky, with too many RPOs for my taste, but it worked this week. Hopefully the Panthers are holding some things back and keeping things simple in these preseason games.  Everyone is waiting to see if Brooks can live up to his early first-round draft capital in rookie drafts three years ago. It’s been such a long wait!

Adonai Mitchell

• There’s no doubt that Mitchell is the WR-2 in New York opposite Garrett Wilson. Geno Smith led the first-team offense to a touchdown-scoring drive, and the base sets in the offense had Mitchell and Wilson on all the snaps. Mitchell was targeted twice and caught both passes on the drive, which is one more target and reception than Wilson had on the drive.  Dynasty managers who endured the wait for Mitchell in Indianapolis will get rewarded this season with a breakout year. Mitchell will become a startable receiver in most deep dynasty leagues. His long wait, like Brooks’s long wait, will pay off. I am more confident that Mitchell will break out this season than I am in Brooks, but I wish them and all my fellow Longhorns well.  Hook’ Em!

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