Buying or Selling the Top NFL Performers of Preseason Week 2

Though it didn't bring as much excitement as the regular season ultimately will, Week 2 of the NFL preseason was quite a bit of fun. Not every game was competitive, of course, but the most recent slate of exhibition games brought some thrilling standout performances.

Of course, it's important to consume strong preseason performances with a grain of salt. Players are rarely playing with or against a full complement of starters and are frequently operating in the most basic of schemes. Some performances, while impressive, prove to be a mirage.

Last year, for example, Chris Blair led the NFL in preseason receiving yards and went on to play a mere 12 offensive snaps for the Atlanta Falcons.

Here, we'll dive into some of the biggest standout performances of preseason Week 2 and buy or sell each outing based on factors like game situations, past performances, projected 2026 role, and overall player expectations.

Buy: Joe Milton III, QB, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III had a fantastic outing against a bad Arizona Cardinals defense, finishing with 179 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and a rushing score. He also made several eye-catching throws on Saturday evening.

However, the Cowboys are still leaving the competition for their backup QB job open for now.

"This is long from over," head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters after the game (h/t ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper).

However, Milton's Week 2 display should be enough to earn him the nod over Sam Howell to be Dak Prescott's understudy. The 2024 sixth-round pick out of Tennessee has long possessed impressive physical traits, and he's beginning to add some nuance, anticipation, and processing to his game.

The fact that Milton's latest performance came against an Arizona team that seemed largely uninterested in playing defense should not diminish his development. His combination of arm talent and running ability makes him a much better fit for Dallas' offense than Howell should either be called upon to play in the regular season.

Sell: Carson Steele, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Milton wasn't the only NFC East backup to put on a show on Saturday. Philadelphia Eagles backup running back Carson Steele dropped jaws with not one, but two, instances of leaping over a defender.

His second hurdle came en route to the end zone and a go-ahead fourth-quarter score.

Steele finished with 33 rushing yards, 84 receiving yards, and the touchdown against the New England Patriots on Saturday. Was his outing a sign that the Eagles have a new offensive weapon who can spell Saquon Barkley?

Not exactly. While Steele certainly has the talent to provide depth behind Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley, he has never been a particularly efficient player in the NFL. He averaged just 3.3 yards per carry with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and spent the next season on their practice squad.

The 6'0", 228-pound Steele may stick with Philly as an option at fullback, but he's going to be an offensive afterthought once the Eagles get to the regular season.

Buy: De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox

During April's draft, the San Francisco 49ers traded down twice before taking Mississippi wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling 33rd overall.

While some viewed the selection as a reach—and, to be fair, Stribling was the 68th-ranked player on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final big board—the rookie is looking like a strong fit for San Francisco's offense.

During Thursday's 41-17 romp over the Los Angeles Chargers, Stribling tied for the team lead (with KhaDarel Hodge) in receptions and receiving yards while showcasing some big-play ability.

This marked the second strong preseason outing for Stribling, who had seven catches for 63 yards in San Francisco's preseason opener.

It would be silly to put too much stock in a receiver's numbers against backups and vanilla defenses. However, Stribling is probably poised for a strong rookie season. His combination of size (6'2", 207 lbs) and speed (4.36-second 40-yard dash) makes him well-suited for Kyle Shanahan's spacing-based passing attack, and it's not as if the 49ers are loaded with healthy receiver depth.

It's too early to be penciling in Stribling for Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, he should be walking into a substantial role, and it's not too early for 49ers fans to be excited about it.

Sell: Colbie Young, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Tanner Pearson

Like Stribling, Cincinnati Bengals fourth-round pick Colbie Young is ready to have an instant impact as a rookie, right? Based on his performance on Saturday night, one might believe so.

The 6'4", 218-pound Georgia product logged three catches and led the Bengals with 48 receiving yards. He also used his size and ball skills to show what sort of red-zone threat he could be for Cincinnati.

However, while Stribling is likely to have a big role right away in San Francisco, Young will probably tumble down the depth chart once the regular season begins.

Sure, having a tall, big-bodied receiver can be beneficial near the goal line. However, the Bengals already have premium red-zone targets in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, and Mike Gesicki. The reality is that Young just isn't likely to see many opportunities in Cincinnati's offense this season.

Let's not forget that Mitchell Tinsley was a Bengals preseason darling in 2025, due in large part to his ability to make contested catches. He went on to record just eight receptions in the regular season.

Buy: Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets

AP Photo/Justin Berl

Geno Smith officially made his New York Jets return on Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While it's certainly worth noting that he primarily battled backups, his command of the offense and near-perfection during limited action is also noteworthy.

Smith was a perfect 7-of-7 on his lone drive against Pittsburgh, which he finished with a touchdown pass.

Now, look. We're talking about the Jets, and they're seemingly not allowed to have nice things at quarterback, so it's fair to be skeptical of Smith's performance. However, fans shouldn't be shocked if he makes the offense a lot of fun in 2026.

Yes, seriously.

Smith was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, and he's a great fit for Frank Reich's offense. Had he not spent last season on the sinking ship that was the Pete Carroll-led Las Vegas Raiders, Smith would probably be carrying much higher expectations in New York.

While Smith isn't going to be an MVP candidate or lead the Jets to the Super Bowl, he should perform well with a supporting cast now headlined by Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr.

Sell: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

While Smith is flying under the radar in New York, everything that Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders does seems to be magnified.

The second-year signal-caller out of Colorado was far from perfect against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. However, he was largely solid while going 9-of-11 for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Sanders fans will be quick to point out that his interception was deflected out of his intended target's hands while his touchdown strike was on time and accurate.

However, a couple of mostly-good series against Buffalo backups doesn't mean that Sanders is ready to lead Cleveland to the postseason. It might not even be enough to put Sanders ahead of Deshaun Watson in the QB competition—even if Watson has become a frustratingly low bar to clear.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Browns plan to announce their Week 1 starter on Monday.

The difference between Smith and Sanders is that only one has shown that he can play at a consistently high level over the course of an NFL season. Sanders has only shown flashes, and while he could still develop into a quality starter for Cleveland, he's a long way away from being a franchise quarterback or making the Browns forget about the 2027 quarterback class.

Buy: Mike Washington, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

All eyes have been on Raiders quarterback and first overall pick Fernando Mendoza this summer, but he hasn't been the only Las Vegas rookie generating a bit of buzz. Fourth-round running back  Mike Washington Jr. has flashed in practices and turned a few heads against the Houston Texans on Thursday.

Washington caught a pair of passes, logged a team-high 56 rushing yards, and continued to show his big-play ability.

Through two preseason games, Washington has racked up 119 rushing yards while averaging an impressive 7.9 yards per carry. Now, it's worth noting that his average has been significantly boosted by some long runs, but he's still been one of the preseason's most impressive ball-carriers.

The question, of course, is whether Las Vegas will have a role for Washington with 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty leading the backfield. In all likelihood, it will.

New head coach Klint Kubiak used a committee approach as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator, and Washington's breakaway speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash) should make him an excellent complement to Jeanty.

And Washington can be more than just a speedy change of pace, as evidenced by the 28 receptions and 1,296 scrimmage yards he logged last season at Arkansas. Las Vegas may lean on him for the immediate future, as Jeanty suffered an injury in Sunday's practice and is believed to have a sprained ankle, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Sell: Wade Woodaz, LB, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Washington wasn't the only fourth-round rookie who made the highlight reel in the Raiders-Texans game.

Houston linebacker Wade Woodaz made the play of the day when he picked off Mendoza and ran it back for an 80-yard pick-six.

While Woodaz's two tackles and big play may foreshadow what is to come, fans shouldn't expect him to be a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate or an immediate IDP fantasy star.

A running back like Washington can easily slot into a specific role, especially on a rebuilding team that is hungry for talent. The Texans, however, are legitimate title contenders with two entrenched starting inside linebackers—Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o—with a loaded defense overall.

Woodaz doesn't have a wide-open path to playing time, and it doesn't help that he's set to undergo surgery for a broken thumb, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.

While Woodaz could very well become a future star for the Texans, Thursday's preseason outing may be his last big game for a while.