Fantasy Football 2016: Matt Camp's Post-Preseason Week 1 Notebook

If you were excited for NFL preseason action only to find yourself bored by backups in the second quarter, you aren’t alone. And luckily for you, I watched the majority of all 16 preseason games in Week 1 to catch you up on what you may have missed and to add some context to the statistics that may look really bad or really good but ultimately mean very little. 

While I don’t make sweeping changes to my rankings or opinions of players based on one preseason game, it’s important to see where players are now and where they end up by the start of the regular season. Can they match the hype of training camp by performing well in game action? What kind of shape are they in if they’re returning from injury? Are they playing with backups or getting chances with the projected starters? 

You won’t see every player covered, but I tried to focus on those who put something worthwhile on tape and those who have significant questions about their fantasy value. 

In addition, you’ll get five players who improved their rankings, a review of last week’s average draft position watch, five new ADPs to watch and another tip of the week.

Game Reviews

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles

Key players who didn’t see the field: RB Charles Sims (TB), WR Jordan Matthews (PHI), RB Darren Sproles (PHI), RB Wendell Smallwood (PHI)

QB Jameis Winston, TB: 7-of-9 passing, 97 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 18 snaps

Winston looked comfortable running the offense, as he made smart decisions going through his reads to take what the defense gave him, including a nice completion to Vincent Jackson (1 reception, 17 receiving yards, 1 target, 14 snaps) between two defenders. His touchdown pass was a good completion, but the last 10 yards came as a result of poor tackling. 

RB Doug Martin, TB: 5 carries, 13 rushing yards, 1 reception, 11 receiving yards, 1 target, 13 snaps

Martin didn’t have a lot of room to run but was able to make something out of nothing on most occasions when it looked like the defense had him bottled up.

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

QB Carson Wentz, PHI: 12-of-24 passing, 89 passing yards, 1 interception, 3 carries, 15 rushing yards, 39 snaps

If you’re going by the numbers, Wentz had just an OK debut, but the flashes of his immense talent were on display. On his second attempt, Wentz did a great job to slide away from the rush and throw a bullet to Zach Ertz (3 receptions, 26 receiving yards, 5 targets, 37 snaps) for a 19-yard gain. There’s a clear difference in the way the ball zips out of his hand compared to Sam Bradford (1-of-1 passing, 3 passing yards, 3 snaps). On a couple of occasions, the receivers let down Wentz by dropping passes that were slightly off. As he showed in college, Wentz has no problem staying in the pocket to absorb a hit if it means finding an open receiver. That’s a great sign for a young quarterback.

Wentz also showed the ability to extend a play with his legs while keeping his eyes downfield to hit a receiver who ran open. His accuracy wasn’t top-notch, but on three different occasions, receivers couldn’t haul in passes that him them in the hands. Wentz also made a big mistake with the Eagles just 11 yards from the end zone when an overthrow was intercepted as he took a hit. Concerns about Wentz’s tendency to overthrow are valid, as he missed open receivers even in times when he had a clean pocket. Unfortunately, the young quarterback suffered a hairline rib fracture, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. While Wentz can throw, he has discomfort. He’s expected to return before the start of the regular season.

RB Ryan Mathews, PHI: 2 carries, 15 rushing yards, 3 snaps

Not only did Mathews play in the opener, but he also looked good doing so after a hamstring issue caused him to miss some practice early in training camp. His first two carries resulted in a hard-fought 10 yards and a five-yard touchdown run. Both runs saw Mathews power through contact for extra yards. Bradford worked from under center in what’s much more of a power-run offense.

Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens

Key players who didn’t see the field: RB Jonathan Stewart (CAR), WR Mike Wallace (BAL), RB Justin Forsett (BAL), WR Steve Smith Sr. (BAL), WR Breshad Perriman (BAL) 

WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR: 1 reception, 5 receiving yards, 1 target, 8 snaps

Unfortunately, we didn’t see much of Benjamin with quarterback Cam Newton, but Benjamin did catch his only target for five yards.

Panthers Backfield

On the opening drive, the Panthers ran the ball with Fozzy Whittaker (3 carries, 0 rushing yards, 18 snaps), Mike Tolbert (3 carries, 11 rushing yards, 5 snaps) and Cameron Artis-Payne (5 carries, 10 rushing yards, 15 snaps), so we didn’t learn much about the handcuff situation for Jonathan Stewart. I don’t expect that to clear up before the start of the regular season.

Ravens Backfield

Javorius "Buck" Allen (6 carries, 6 rushing yards, 1 reception, 19 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 target, 19 snaps) got the start, but I'm not reading much into that. He struggled to get anything going on the ground. Terrance West (9 carries, 25 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 reception, 7 receiving yards, 1 target, 18 snaps) followed up his camp hype with a solid effort, including touchdown runs of one and two yards. He showed good vision and power, which helped him pick up some extra yards. The numbers may not look impressive, but West did enough to give credence to the praise he’s received over the last few weeks. Kenneth Dixon (9 carries, 44 rushing yards, 24 snaps) finished with the best stats of the group, although 28 of those yards came on two carries, a 19-yard run through a massive hole and a nine-yard gain that saw Dixon keep his balance after getting tripped up to pick up extra yardage.

Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons

Key players who didn’t see the field: TE Jordan Reed (WAS), WR Josh Doctson (WAS)

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

QB Kirk Cousins, WAS: 5-of-5 passing, 39 passing yards, 8 snaps

Cousins didn’t take many chances, but he made good, quick decisions, which is all Washington wants out of him. There was nothing special about his start, but that’s just fine. 

Redskins Backfield

The team didn’t get much out of Matt Jones (2 carries, 1 rushing yard, 6 snaps), as a holding penalty wiped away his most impressive play—a 12-yard run, which mostly came after contact. Chris Thompson (1 reception, 9 receiving yards, 8 snaps) is one to watch, specifically in points-per-reception leagues. He caught his only target out of the backfield on 3rd-and-long and nearly picked up the first down thanks to some excellent quickness. He could be a productive pass-catcher in similar situations this season.

Falcons backfield

Both Devonta Freeman (5 carries, 9 rushing yards, 2 targets, 11 snaps) and Tevin Coleman (2 carries, 9 rushing yards, 9 snaps) worked early in the game and remained in the mix even when Matt Schaub (10-of-15 passing, 179 passing yards, 31 snaps) relieved Matt Ryan (0-of-4 passing, 0 passing yards, 6 snaps) after the second series. Coleman flashed a bit, including a nice 10-yard run. It should have gone for less, but the 23-year-old fought through multiple would-be tacklers. Freeman saw multiple looks as a receiver in the red zone, including a bad drop that should have been a six-yard touchdown.

Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR Eddie Royal (CHI), TE Zach Miller (CHI) 

QB Mark Sanchez, DEN: 10-of-13 passing, 99 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 20 snaps

Sanchez came out hot on the opening drive with a 10-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a 32-yard touchdown to Demaryius Thomas (2 receptions, 43 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 2 targets, 10 snaps), who was able to beat suspect coverage. That positive start ended on the next drive when Sanchez made a poor decision to throw into traffic, which led to an interception. The opening drive was impressive enough to feel good about Sanchez’s command of the offense. 

QB Trevor Siemian, DEN: 7-of-12 passing, 88 passing yards, 19 snaps

Siemian took over for Sanchez to start the second quarter and went right to work leading the team to a field goal after a pair of back-shoulder throws nearly resulted in a 19-yard touchdown. The willingness to make those throws, especially on his opening drive, was a good sign. 

Broncos Backfield

While C.J. Anderson (2 carries, 8 rushing yards, 1 target, 12 snaps) is clearly on top of the team’s depth chart, the bigger question is who will be behind him. Ronnie Hillman (3 carries, 13 rushing yards, 10 snaps) got into the action before rookie Devontae Booker (4 carries, 11 rushing yards, 1 reception, 8 receiving yards, 1 target, 22 snaps), but he couldn’t get much going. Booker checked in toward the end of the first half and also had a fairly quiet night.

Bears Backfield

Jeremy Langford (4 carries, 7 rushing yards, 1 reception, 3 receiving yards, 1 target, 10 snaps) got the start, but his longest run went for just four yards. Jacquizz Rodgers (2 carries, 5 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 23 receiving yards, 2 targets, 10 snaps) took over for Langford along with the rest of the second-team offense to begin the second quarter. Ka’Deem Carey (3 carries, 8 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 22 receiving yards, 3 targets, 12 snaps) entered after Rodgers but ended up leaving to be evaluated for a concussion. Rookie Jordan Howard (5 carries, 12 rushing yards, 1 target, 13 snaps) didn’t get his first chance until the second half.

WR Alshon Jeffery, CHI: 1 reception, 12 receiving yards, 1 target, 10 snaps

Despite missing time over the last week with a hamstring injury, Jeffery ended up playing in the team’s first preseason game, albeit for a short time. However, considering he was a prime candidate to get the night off, seeing him out there was a positive sign. 

WR Kevin White, CHI: 1 reception, 3 receiving yards, 1 target, 10 snaps

The Bears might look to keep things simple for White early on, as he’s a bit raw and still figuring things out following his lost rookie season. His only reception of the night was a three-yard gain on a quick screen.

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets

Key players who didn’t see the field: RB Matt Forte (NYJ), RB Khiry Robinson (NYJ)

QB Blake Bortles, JAC: 6-of-7 passing, 105 passing yards, 18 snaps

It was a quick but productive appearance for Bortles, as he led the team to 10 points on two drives, which was great to see considering how badly the Jaguars struggled early in games last season. Bortles hit four different receivers, including three completions to top wide receiver Allen Robinson (3 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 3 targets, 13 snaps). On back-to-back plays, Bortles made a great throw to the sideline for a 16-yard gain followed by a 45-yard hookup punctuated by Robinson's fantastic catch with a defender all over him. 

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Jaguars Backfield

T.J. Yeldon (4 carries, 26 rushing yards, 1 reception, 8 receiving yards, 9 snaps) got the start for the Jaguars, but Chris Ivory (6 carries, 26 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards, 1 target, 9 snaps) also saw time in the opening drive. Based on this game, neither player grabbed any kind of lead to move to the top of the depth chart, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Both should play prominent roles in the offense all season, which could be a major headache for fantasy owners.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ: 3-of-4 passing, 72 passing yards, 10 snaps

Fitzpatrick showed little rust in his first action of the season over the team’s two drives in the opening quarter. On the second drive, Fitzpatrick hit wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (2 receptions, 69 receiving yards, 3 targets, 8 snaps) for completions of 26 and 43 yards on consecutive plays to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Bilal Powell (4 carries, 13 rushing yards, 10 snaps).

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR Julian Edelman (NE), QB Tom Brady (NE), WR Chris Hogan (NE), RB Dion Lewis (NE), WR Danny Amendola (NE), TE Rob Gronkowski (NE)

Saints Backfield

Mark Ingram (7 carries, 18 rushing yards, 16 snaps) had a nice start Thursday night with an eight-yard run thanks to a small hole that opened up on the left side. He fumbled on the next play. The 26-year-old got a chance to redeem himself after the fumble with a pair of runs to get the Saints inside the 15-yard line before finishing off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. He repeated that feat on the next drive, which ended his evening.

Coming off a great finish to 2015, Tim Hightower (4 carries, 2 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 22 receiving yards, 5 targets, 15 snaps) found himself in the mix with Ingram, which makes sense, as he should be the clear backup over C.J. Spiller (2 carries, 2 rushing yards, 6 snaps). Hightower clearly showed he’s capable of handling Ingram’s role as a runner and a receiver, which should put more value in his fantasy stock as a possible handcuff.

WR Michael Thomas, NO: 4 receptions, 67 receiving yards, 6 targets, 35 snaps

I was most interested in seeing if Thomas could back up all the hype he’s receiving in camp, and so far, he’s living up to it in game action. Thomas made a great catch falling out of bounds to pick up 25 yards in a beautiful example of proper body control. The play that might launch Thomas’ ADP was a lofted throw by Garrett Grayson down the right sideline that Thomas was able to bring in on an outstanding diving catch for a pickup of 28 yards. 

TE Coby Fleener, NO: 1 reception, 11 receiving yards, 1 target, 16 snaps

I’ve questioned Fleener’s hands as a reason why I can't get too high about his fantasy value, but he did a nice job adjusting to a Garrett Grayson throw to make an 11-yard catch while staying in bounds.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo, NE: 11-of-18 passing, 168 passing yards, 4 rushing yards, 39 snaps

The Patriots were short in terms of healthy receivers, but Garoppolo looked to Martellus Bennett (3 receptions, 33 receiving yards, 4 targets, 36 snaps) on multiple occasions, even when Bennett looked covered. There’s an early connection between the two that could continue to grow throughout the preseason. As a whole, Garoppolo looked comfortable running the offense, although there have to be some concerns about his accuracy and his pass protection from the offensive line. He can extend the play with his legs, but he can’t force passes like he did against the Saints. 

Patriots Backfield

Other than a one-yard touchdown run, LeGarrette Blount (9 carries, 20 rushing yards, 16 snaps) failed to do anything of note besides a 12-yard run. With Dion Lewis stuck on the PUP list, James White (3 carries, 12 rushing yards, 1 reception, 56 receiving yards, 3 targets, 16 snaps) played early and nearly scored on a nice 56-yard catch-and-run.

Miami Dolphins at New York Giants

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR DeVante Parker (MIA), RB Kenyan Drake (MIA), RB Arian Foster (MIA), QB Eli Manning (NYG), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG), WR Victor Cruz (NYG)

QB Ryan Tannehill, MIA: 2-of-4 passing, 8 passing yards, 7 snaps

Tannehill was able to hang in there to deliver some completions with little room to work in the pocket. While you like to see him handle that pressure, you also don’t want him under the constant pressure he dealt with against the Giants. Concerns about Miami’s offensive line are clearly warranted, as it gave up four sacks on the night. 

RB Jay Ajayi, MIA: 2 carries, 6 rushing yards, 2 targets, 7 snaps

Ajayi ran hard, but couldn’t find any holes behind an offensive line that didn’t give him much help. He could be a little more patient in waiting for the right opening. 

Elsa/Getty Images

Giants Backfield

Besides staying healthy, one of the biggest keys to Rashad Jennings’ season is improvement from the Giants offensive line, which did a good job creating space for the running back (3 carries, 11 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 9 snaps) in the short time we saw him. Shane Vereen (1 carry, 19 rushing yards, 1 reception, 6 receiving yards, 1 target, 3 snaps) delivering on a called screen is what you want to see a lot more of since he’s clearly a pass-catching specialist, but we also saw him run out of the backfield while showing off his quickness and elusiveness.

I still need to see a lot more, but Andre Williams (9 carries, 41 rushing yards, 22 snaps) ran with some life for the first time in his NFL career. It’s clear he’ll need all the help he can get from the offensive line, though, as he’s not a player who creates on his own. Rookie Paul Perkins (7 carries, 36 rushing yards, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards, 2 targets, 13 snaps) showed off his speed a couple of times—he ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the combine—but two of his longer runs from the shotgun to run the clock out in the first half boosted his stat line.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG: 1 reception, 24 receiving yards, 4 targets, 31 snaps

Shepard got a bigger spotlight with Beckham and Cruz inactive and immediately took advantage by making a great sliding catch outside the numbers on an underthrown pass from Ryan Nassib. The fourth-year QB missed Shepard in a fade to the corner of the end zone, but the play was well-defended.

Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers

Key players who didn’t see the field: RB Ameer Abdullah (DET), TE Eric Ebron (DET), QB Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), WR Markus Wheaton (PIT), RB Le’Veon Bell (PIT), RB DeAngelo Williams (PIT), WR Antonio Brown (PIT) 

QB Matthew Stafford, DET: 4-of-6 passing, 58 passing yards, 1 carry, 5 rushing yards, 14 snaps

Stafford struggled to get into any kind of rhythm in his short appearance against the Steelers. He did hit four different receivers, including Marvin Jones (1 reception, 16 receiving yards, 1 target, 15 snaps) and Anquan Boldin (1 reception, 30 receiving yards, 1 target, 11 snaps). Stafford got the ball out noticeably quicker, which appeared to be by design, but he was also under a lot of pressure. Concerns about the team’s offensive line are warranted. 

Lions Backfield

With Abdullah inactive, the Lions gave Theo Riddick (4 carries, 15 rushing yards, 1 reception, 2 receiving yards, 3 targets, 14 snaps) the start. Riddick is known primarily for his pass-catching skills, but he got to run the ball in Abdullah’s absence. It wasn’t a productive day for Riddick on the ground or through the air, although the offensive line shares part of the blame.

WR Sammie Coates, PIT: 1 carry, 3 receptions, 18 receiving yards, 4 targets, 37 snaps

Coates was the only fantasy-relevant Steeler to take the field in the team’s first preseason game, so he earned much of the spotlight. While he led the team in receiving, he bobbled a catch that cost him yards and also had a fumble when a helmet hit right on the football to jar it loose.

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR Josh Gordon (CLE), WR Andrew Hawkins (CLE), WR Corey Coleman (CLE), QB Aaron Rodgers (GB), WR Randall Cobb (GB), WR Jordy Nelson (GB), WR Jeff Janis (GB)

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

QB Robert Griffin III, CLE: 4-of-8 passing, 67 passing yards, 1 interception, 1 carry, 0 rushing yards, 11 snaps

The Griffin reclamation projected started with a deep pass down the right sideline to Terrelle Pryor (2 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 3 targets, 20 snaps) only to be followed by a fumble on a handoff. Following two short completions to Gary Barnidge (2 receptions, 10 receiving yards, 4 targets, 11 snaps) and Pryor, Griffin tried to go back to Barnidge but led him too far and right into the hands of Green Bay safety Micah Hyde. Not only was it a poor decision, but it also took points off the board. 

Browns Backfield

Unfortunately, the Browns didn’t go to Isaiah Crowell (1 carry, -2 rushing yards, 1 target, 8 snaps) or Duke Johnson Jr. (1 carry, 11 rushing yards, 0 targets, 5 snaps) much in their first preseason game. Crowell was bottled up on his only carry, and Johnson had just one attempt.

RB Eddie Lacy, GB: 4 carries, 24 rushing yards, 6 snaps

The Packers featured Lacy on the first four plays from scrimmage, and he rewarded them with 24 yards on four carries, including a nice 11-yard run that saw him go through contact to pick up extra yardage. It might have been a short appearance for Lacy, but it was a positive one.

TE Jared Cook, GB: 2 receptions, 10 receiving yards, 2 targets, 16 snaps

Cook has been off the PUP list for just a short time following foot surgery, so it was surprising to see him on the field for this game. He hauled in both of his targets for 10 yards and got the start along with Richard Rodgers (0 targets, 17 snaps).

Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals

Key players who didn’t see the field: RB Adrian Peterson (MIN), WR Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN), WR Jarius Wright (MIN), WR Brandon LaFell (CIN), TE Tyler Eifert (CIN), TE Tyler Kroft (CIN)

QB Teddy Bridgewater, MIN: 6-of-7 passing, 92 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 15 snaps

It was a slow start for Bridgewater thanks to a lot of pressure from the Bengals pass rush, but he refused to be discouraged. After going three-and-out on the opening drive, Bridgewater led the Vikings on a 10-play, 96-yard drive culminating in a 49-yard heave to Charles Johnson (1 reception, 49 receiving yards, 1 target, 10 snaps) for a touchdown that saw Bridgewater step up in the pocket and hit Johnson on a perfectly placed pass as the wide receiver crossed the goal line. 

WR Laquon Treadwell, MIN: 4 receptions, 41 receiving yards, 5 targets, 25 snaps

Treadwell worked mostly with the second- and third-team offense behind Stefon Diggs (1 reception, 8 receiving yards, 1 target, 14 snaps) and Johnson. He found a soft spot in the defense on an 18-yard reception to set up a Blair Walsh field goal that ended the first half.

QB Andy Dalton, CIN: 4-of-5 passing, 32 passing yards, 18 snaps

Dalton made his return to game action after a thumb injury shortened his 2015 season. It was a short but solid stint, as he played just one series, leading the team to three points. Three of his four completions went to A.J. Green (3 receptions, 26 yards, 4 targets, 8 snaps) for a total of 26 yards.

Bengals Backfield

Jeremy Hill (3 carries, 16 rushing yards, 6 snaps) tried to put last season behind him by getting off to a positive start in his first preseason action. His best run went for 10 yards, but he exited on his third carry of the game with what looked like an injury to his left index finger; he did not return. Giovani Bernard (7 carries, 21 rushing yards, 1 reception, 6 receiving yards, 1 target, 10 snaps) struggled to find any room, with his longest run going for six yards.

Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR John Brown (ARI)

QB Derek Carr, OAK: 3-of-7 passing, 44 passing yards, 12 snaps

Carr’s accuracy was shaky on the first two drives, but he kept going back to his top two receivers, Amari Cooper (1 reception, 6 receiving yards, 4 targets, 12 snaps) and Michael Crabtree (2 receptions, 38 receiving yards, 2 targets, 10 snaps), and ended up having a short but decent appearance. Carr’s night ended after just two drives and three points. 

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders Backfield

We didn’t see much of Latavius Murray (4 carries, 21 rushing yards, 13 snaps) in the team’s preseason opener, but what we did see was some tough and, at times, powerful running from the third-year back. His best run of the night was an 11-yard scamper that saw him cut through the defense. Rookie DeAndre Washington (8 carries, 43 rushing yards, 1 reception, 32 receiving yards, 1 target, 18 snaps) backed up his early hype on his first touch of the night. He made a nice cut at the line of scrimmage and then made multiple defenders miss on his way to a 25-yard run. He also had a 32-yard catch-and-run. When you add in George Atkinson III’s strong performance (5 carries, 97 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 target, 14 snaps), which included a 53-yard touchdown, the Raiders look like a team with a loaded backfield. 

TE Clive Walford, OAK: 1 reception, 19 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 2 targets, 13 snaps

Many, including myself, are expecting a breakout season for Walford in his second year. He got the start and made an impact, getting wide-open for a 19-yard touchdown.

Cardinals Backfield

David Johnson (3 carries, 31 rushing yards, 6 snaps) showed exactly what you want to see out of arguably the top running back in all of fantasy football. He displayed his patience, vision, escapability and quickness all on the opening drive. Andre Ellington (3 carries, 41 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 7 snaps), who worked as a running back and a returner, had an excellent return to action in the team’s first preseason game. The foot issues that plagued Ellington in 2015 seemed like they were far in the past as he danced and sped through the Raiders defense on multiple occasions, including a 35-yard run. He also had a great second effort to reach across the goal line on a five-yard touchdown run. Chris Johnson (3 carries, 9 rushing yards, 7 snaps) worked in with the first team in limited fashion.

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs

Key players who didn’t see the field: RB Thomas Rawls (SEA), RB C.J. Prosise (SEA), TE Jimmy Graham (SEA), RB Jamaal Charles (KC) 

Chiefs Backfield

Jamaal Charles came off the PUP list for a ACL on Tuesday, per ESPN.com, so just like the end of last season, the Chiefs opened up their preseason with a backfield led by Spencer Ware (5 carries, 24 rushing yards, 13 snaps) and Charcandrick West (4 carries, 35 rushing yards, 2 targets, 13 snaps). Ware got the start and saw almost all his carries on the opening drive. He didn’t have a lot of room to run but bruised his way forward to get positive yardage on each attempt, including a one-yard touchdown. West also struggled to find room, but he looked impressive on a cut to the outside on a 25-yard run.

Seahawks Backfield

The Seahawks are taking it slow with Thomas Rawls (ankle), so Christine Michael (7 carries, 44 rushing yards, 17 snaps) got the start in the opening preseason game. Although he’s been wildly disappointing in his short career, Michael looked great against the Chiefs, showing good speed to the outside and burst getting through holes inside. There’s no doubt he’s the clear backup to Rawls.

Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills

Key players who didn’t see the field: QB Andrew Luck (IND), RB Frank Gore (IND), WR Sammy Watkins (BUF), RB Karlos Williams (BUF) 

Bills Backfield

LeSean McCoy (1 carry, 9 rushing yards, 1 reception, 2 receiving yards, 1 target, 3 snaps) should be in for a huge role this season as long as he stays healthy, and we got a small glimpse of that in this game. His only carry was textbook McCoy with an excellent cut at the line of scrimmage for a big gain to the outside. It would have been even longer if he didn’t stumble before regaining his footing.

Mike Gillislee (3 carries, 25 rushing yards, 6 snaps) might have a leg up on the backup role to McCoy, and he showed some nice speed to the outside on a 20-yard run. Rookie Jonathan Williams (8 carries, 44 rushing yards, 21 snaps) saw action in the first quarter with Gillislee, and the 6'0", 223-pounder put his power on display between the tackles.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams

Key players who didn’t see the field: QB Tony Romo (DAL), RB Ezekiel Elliott (DAL), TE Jason Witten (DAL), RB Todd Gurley (L.A.)

QB Dak Prescott, DAL: 10-of-12 passing, 139 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 2 carries, 13 rushing yards, 31 snaps

Admittedly, my expectations were low for Prescott, especially since he entered training camp buried on the depth chart. But with Tony Romo inactive and Kellen Moore out, Prescott got a chance to start and took full advantage of the opportunity. On his opening drive, he led the team on an 11-play, 80-yard drive culminating in a 10-yard touchdown to wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Prescott looked comfortable running the offense, working both in the pocket and on some designed rollouts. He didn’t need as much time for the team’s next score, a 32-yard touchdown pass perfectly placed over the shoulder to Terrance Williams (1 reception, 32 receiving yards, 1 target, 15 snaps). One game won’t quiet the concerns about Dallas’ quarterback situation behind Romo, but Prescott’s play was a big step in the right direction.

WR Dez Bryant, DAL: 2 receptions, 28 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 2 targets, 11 snaps

Bryant made a nice adjustment in tight coverage to catch a well-placed back-shoulder throw by Prescott. Concerns about the quarterback situation after Tony Romo won’t be going away anytime soon, but it was still encouraging to see Bryant look dominant with Prescott in the little time they had together on the field. On a jump ball in front of the goal line, Bryant boxed out the defender and elevated to make a catch before falling into the end zone for a score.

RB Alfred Morris, DAL: 3 carries, 11 rushing yards, 1 reception, 12 receiving yards, 12 snaps

Morris has become a forgotten man, but with Elliott sidelined by a hamstring injury, Morris got the first looks in the Cowboys backfield. Morris looked comfortable on a well-executed screen for 12 yards, even though he was rarely involved in the passing game with the Redskins.

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

QB Jared Goff, L.A.: 4-of-9 passing, 38 passing yards, 1 interception, 13 snaps

To put it bluntly, Goff’s debut was a poor one. He looked jittery in the pocket from the start and wound up taking a big hit on his second pass attempt, which led to an ugly interception. Goff’s second drive was better with some shorter, safer completions to rookie tight end Tyler Higbee (5 receptions, 49 receiving yards, 6 targets, 20 snaps). Goff should have had a big completion to rookie wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (0 receptions, 2 targets, 17 snaps), but Cooper got rocked, which jarred the ball loose. After taking a sack for a nine-yard loss on the next play, Goff’s day was over. He still has a lot of work to do.

San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR Travis Benjamin (SD), TE Antonio Gates (SD), WR Kendall Wright (TEN)

Titans Backfield

The Titans opened up the game with both DeMarco Murray (6 carries, 93 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 11 snaps) and Derrick Henry (10 carries, 74 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 19 snaps) in the backfield, and Murray took the first handoff around the left end for 15 yards. His best run went for a 71-yard touchdown thanks to a huge hole and some great vision, so it was the typical big play for Murray. Tennessee featured Henry more after Murray, and he was impressive, showing off power, vision and excellent cuts to change direction and make defenders miss to maximize his yards. The Titans let Henry work with the first-team offensive line, and that helped his cause.

Chargers Backfield

Melvin Gordon (3 carries, 12 rushing yards, 1 reception, 44 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 target, 5 snaps) didn’t have a lot of room to run in the short time we saw him, but he pressed forward and found the little space that did open up on his three carries. His most impressive play was a 44-yard catch-and-run that started as a short pass to the flat and wound up as a touchdown. Coming out of the first preseason game on a high note was a great step forward for Gordon. Danny Woodhead (three snaps) had a single touch for nine rushing yards in his short appearance.

Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers

Key players who didn’t see the field: WR Cecil Shorts (HOU), RB Alfred Blue (HOU), QB Colin Kaepernick (SF)

QB Blaine Gabbert, SF: 4-of-10 passing, 63 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 19 snaps

Gabbert was horribly inaccurate on some easy throws, including a pair to Carlos Hyde on the opening drive. While he did find tight end Vance McDonald for a 43-yard touchdown, it was the only positive play in which he made an impact. He was easily the worst starting quarterback I watched in the first week of the preseason and has left the door wide-open for Colin Kaepernick to hang around in this competition if he can get over his arm issues.

RB Carlos Hyde, SF: 5 carries, 27 rushing yards, 1 fumble, 2 targets, 15 snaps

Hyde couldn’t rely on Gabbert to get him the ball through the air, so he had to take care of business on the ground. Unfortunately, he followed up a 22-yard run with a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. He touched the ball just two more times before checking out for the day. 

49ers Receiving Corps

If you were hoping to see wide receiver Bruce Ellington (1 reception, 6 receiving yards, 1 target, 16 snaps) back up the hype he’s received in training camp, you’ll just have to wait longer. The 49ers offense was a bit of a mess with Gabbert under center, and that kept Ellington out of the mix for the most part. The lone bright spot for Gabbert was on the aforementioned 43-yard touchdown to McDonald (2 receptions, 54 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 2 targets, 9 snaps). If the quarterback situation wasn’t so bad, McDonald would have more fantasy buzz.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

RB Lamar Miller, HOU: 4 carries, 30 rushing yards, 12 snaps

On his first carry of the game, Miller showed some of the burst the Dolphins tried to hide last season, rushing for 14 yards around the right end. He struggled to find much room after that until a nice 10-yard run to the left side to end both the first quarter and his appearance in this game.

5 Players Who Helped Their Rankings

Look for these players to be on the move in my next Big Board update. Rankings for PPR leagues.

5. RB Melvin Gordon, SD

Last Week’s Ranking: RB26

Current ADP: 80.5, RB30

4. RB Terrance West, BAL

Last Week’s Ranking: RB75

Current ADP: 222.00, RB68

3. RB DeAndre Washington, OAK

Last Week’s Ranking: RB47

Current ADP: 145.5, RB50

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

2. RB Derrick Henry, TEN

Last Week’s Ranking: RB45

Current ADP: 113.5, RB43

1. WR Michael Thomas, NO

Last Week’s Ranking: WR64

Current ADP: 146.0, WR55

5 ADPs to Watch from Last Week

Let’s take a look at how the ADPs changed from the featured players.

5. RB Le’Veon Bell, PIT

Last Week’s ADP: 11.8, RB5

This Week’s ADP: 12.0, RB6

4. RBs Devonta Freeman, ATL/Jamaal Charles, KC

Last Week’s ADP: Tied at 18.3, RB7/8

This Week’s ADP: Freeman—17.8, RB7; Charles—18.0, RB8

3. TE Coby Fleener, NO

Last Week’s ADP: 68.5, TE6

This Week’s ADP: 66.5, TE6

2. QB Tom Brady, NE

Last Week’s ADP: 82.0, QB7

This Week’s ADP: 80.8, QB7

1. RB Arian Foster, MIA

Last Week’s ADP: 84.0, RB32

This Week’s ADP: 68.8, RB26

5 New ADPs to Watch

With a week of preseason action in the books, look for movement in the ADPs of these players.

5. TE Martellus Bennett, NE

This Week’s ADP: 123.3, TE14

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

4. RB Thomas Rawls, SEA

This Week’s ADP: 41.5, RB15

3. RB Matt Forte, NYJ

This Week’s ADP: 37.3, RB13

2. WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR

This Week’s ADP: 37.0, WR22

1. RB Eddie Lacy, GB

This Week’s ADP: 26.3, RB10

Tip of the Week: Wait for Your Quarterback

For the most part, fantasy players like to use this strategy, although some remain stubborn and can be swayed by perceived quarterback-friendly formats.

Usually, questions are raised about leagues that reward six points instead of four points for a touchdown pass. To that, I say it’s the same for every quarterback.

Those among the passing TD leaders from 2015 include: Blake Bortles (35), Eli Manning (35), Derek Carr (32), Matthew Stafford (32) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (31).

The majority of that group was available on the waiver wire when the regular season began last year, and based on the ADP of Carr (112.3, QB12) and Stafford (142.5, QB17) this year, they aren’t getting much love even after the high TD totals.

In general, you can always wait to find your quarterback, which allows you to do two things. First, instead of using an early pick on Cam Newton (ADP 41.8, QB1) or Aaron Rodgers (ADP 45.0, QB2), you can go after quality skill players at other positions. Second, if you wait on a QB and he doesn’t pan out early in the season, it makes the decision to cut him a lot easier since you didn’t have much invested in the first place.

Special thanks to our friends at FantasyPros for providing stats. Snap counts courtesy NFL.com Gamebooks.

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