Live NFL Preseason Week 3 Fantasy Football Takeaways and Advice from Thursday's Games

Gotta be honest here—this analyst is just about out on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans, even at an ADP of WR29.

That price tag looked great earlier in the summer, when I was all about buying the dip from last year's injury-marred campaign and banking on a bounceback from one of the most robotically productive wideouts of the past decade-plus.

But Evans is also a 33-year-old who has had one soft-tissue injury after another this summer.

A bargain isn't a bargain if he can't stay on the field.

There are any number of changes to the Atlanta Falcons' offense this year. Potentially a new quarterback. A new OL coach in the legendary Bill Callahan. And more passing-game work for running back Bijan Robinson.

That got your attention, didn't it?

While talking to reporters, Robinson said the Falcons have used more screen looks this summer than a year ago.

"A couple new screens," Robinson said. "We've been doing the same kind of screen the past year, which has been effective. I love us having to add more screens, and screens that can go across the play. There are just so many things that we can do with that scheme."

It's not like Robinson's fantasy value can grow—his ADP is No. 2 overall, and he led the league in total yards in 2025.

But if you have that coveted No. 1 pick, this is something to file away when debating Robinson vs. Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions.

There's no player who is the subject of more speculation right now than Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. Once locked in as a first-round pick, Jeanty's draft stock is all over the place after he suffered an ankle injury in practice.

That injury has been described as "more low than high," although Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has been vague, saying that simply that Jeanty is, "on the mend."

Thanks, coach.

Jeanty's Week 1 status is uncertain, but it doesn't appear to be a long-term injury. Given that, if Jeanty's on the board in the second half of Round 2, the dice are worth rolling.

However, this analyst is a lot more aggressive about also drafting Mike Washington Jr. if those dice hit the table.

Will Howard is a better quarterback than Drew Allar.

Yeah. I said it.

Carnell Tate was the first receiver drafted in 2026, but there hasn't been a ton of positive fantasy buzz surrounding him in the preseason—in part because in limited game action the Tennessee offense has looked…ungood.

Consider this a reminder that Tate was drafted fourth overall for a reason—and with an ADP outside the top-30 receivers, he's being drafted closer to his fantasy floor than the ceiling.

Rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard of the Steelers isn't going to have a lot of redraft fantasy value this year unless DK Metcalf or Michael Pittman Jr. gets hurt. Too many mouths to feed in a pedestrian passing attack.

But Bernard has impressed this preseason and is absolutely worth a stash in dynasty formats.

The good news for fantasy managers who have already drafted New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is that he appears to have avoided a serious injury after going down awkwardly in practice and should be fine for Week 1.

The bad news is that there have been drumbeats for some time that not only is Henderson not going to be the clear lead back in New England, but that he has been soundly out-performed by Rhamondre Stevenson in camp.

The gap has narrowed, but Henderson is still being drafted ahead of Stevenson on average.

That's putting the cart before the horse.

Have a question regarding a player's fantasy value ahead of your draft?

Pondering a late-summer trade?

Wondering if the draft strategy you fancy will end in glory or ruin?

Hit me up on Twitter (X, whatever) at @IDPGodfather and I'll answer it here.