It was the last look at NFL teams before the games are for real in two weeks. As per usual, very few teams ended up playing their starters in the preseason finale, but we did get some starters in action. Let's recap what we learned (and what not to overreact to) from this week's games:
Anthony Richardson Inconsistent in Preseason Finale
It was a tale of two different games for Richardson in the Colts' preseason finale. He began red-hot, going 7/8 for 65 yards and a TD on the Colts' opening drive, looking very good and very comfortable in the short-to-intermediate range (which was the biggest concern heading into the season). After that first drive, it went south, going 0/5 throughout the next three series, including a pick-six and being very inaccurate on a majority of his passes. His final series was more of the same - a 21-yard pass followed by a strip-sack.
He did look a bit rattled following the pick-six, granted it was purely on a miscommunication with his receiver, but it certainly wasn't an overly comforting showing from Richardson to close out the preseason.
He still remains a top-5 to top-7 option in redraft leagues this year and definitely has the upside to finish as the top QB in fantasy football, but we have seen some indication that the passing inconsistencies may be a slight concern.
Jaguars, Buccaneers Starters Red Hot in Limited Action
Oh, boy did the Jaguars' offense look good!
In the two series the starters got, everything was clicking. Trevor Lawrence looked excellent, going 8/10 for 92 yards and 2 TDs. Travis Etienne looked excellent, going for 46 yards on 7 carries at 6.6 YPC (plus 1 catch for 3 yards), and controlled most of the 1st-team work (8/12 RB touches). Brian Thomas Jr. got involved on a near-40-yard catch and run. Evan Engram was Lawrence's go-to target, hauling in all 4 targets for 28 yards and 2 TDs. It was definitely a promising end to the preseason for Lawrence and company.
Similar story for Tampa Bay's starters, who only got one series of work but were efficient. Mayfield went 3/3 for 54 yards and looked comfortable. Rachaad White got everything in terms of RB work on that lone series, going 4 for 16 and a TD on the ground (4.0 YPC) and going 1 for 17 via the air. We didn't really get to see much from the big WRs with Mike Evans sitting and Chris Godwin only getting 1 target (1 catch, 9 yards), but the rest of the offense looked in synch and ready to get the regular season underway.
Russell Wilson, Justin Fields Each Lead Steelers' Offense to TD in QB Competition
Head Coach Mike Tomlin had stated that the Steelers' starting offense as the team continued to get a feel for who may be their Week 1 starting QB. We likely got our answer on Saturday...
Both Russell Wilson and the Steelers' starting offense looked crisp and efficient against the Lions' backups, going 60 yards on 5 plays in 1 drive of work. To summarize: George Pickens (2 targets, 2 catches, 26 yards) is the definitive top target in Pittsburgh and Cordarrelle Patterson may have a larger role than initially anticipated this offseason, especially with Jaylen Warren currently sidelined.
Justin Fields took over on the Steelers' 2nd drive and led the offense to a goal-line TD, looking solid on that opening drive. He then got two more series of work, both of which ended in 3rd down sacks.
While we await the official confirmation, Fields playing through the midway point of the 2nd quarter and Wilson getting just one series would imply the veteran will be the Steelers' Week 1 starter. It won't overly impact the receivers, but I feel a bit more confident in the likes of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren with Wilson's willingness to dump it off to the RB (compared to Justin Fields).
Bryce Young & Panthers, Geno Smith & Seahawks Efficient in One Series with Starters
The Panthers and the Seahawks each had their starters play one series against the Bills and Browns respectively - both looked very solid.
Bryce Young went 6/8 for 70 yards and a TD, including a 4th down conversion to Diontae Johnson. RB Chuba Hubbard, who may be an early-season RB2 option (until Jonathon Brooks returns) on volume alone, got 3 carries (15 yards) and played 100% of the snaps with the starters.
Geno Smith and the passing game looked very promising in its first appearance within the Ryan Grubb offensive scheme. Smith went 4/5 for 62 yards and a TD, including multiple 20+ yard shots on the opening drive. We didn't get to see Kenneth Walker at all this preseason, so one should anticipate a pretty hefty workload for him, especially early on as Zach Charbonnet had missed multiple practices with "tightness" as of late.
Titans Give Extended Look At Starting Offense, Tip Their Hand to RB Split
We got our first look at the Titans' starting offense in the team's preseason finale and got to see two full series of work from Will Levis and company. Will Levis looked good, going 7/8 for 118 yards, and seemed to really like Calvin Ridley, targeting him 3 times (2 for 39) on two series including on a 33-yard shot and an incomplete 20+ yard shot to Ridley in the endzone.
Tony Pollard was a big notable, getting all of the work with the starters on the first drive, then stole a target on Spears' drive after. Pollard ended the game with 5 carries for 17 yards and a goal-line TD, but more importantly, brought in both of his targets for 27 yards. Spears got the second drive with the starters but got the first drive with the backups as well, taking 4 carries for 12 yards and bringing in his lone target for 12 yards.
The distinct point of the Titans to give Pollard and Spears a series with the starters suggests that may be the split between the two with Pollard serving as the 1A in the Titans' backfield. Neither Pollard nor Spears should be valued very highly in fantasy due to the other's presence as the Titans likely will implement a 'hot hand' approach, leaving very little week-to-week consistency for either of these RBs.
Drake Maye Solid (Again), Jacoby Brissett Underwhelming (Again) vs Commanders
HC Jerod Mayo made it a point to note "Everyone that's healthy is going to play" and may have tipped off that he truly does intend to shelter Drake Maye as long as possible to allow him to learn on the sideline.
Jacoby Brissett started the Patriots' preseason finale and it was more of the same from him, going just 2/4 for 19 yards, which brings his preseason total to 5/14 for 36 yards and an INT. He was far from decent throughout the preseason but started every game and got very limited work, meanwhile, Drake Maye was the complete opposite.
Rookie Drake Maye looked solid once again, going 13/20 for 126 yards and a TD (3 for 17 rushing), ending the preseason 21/34 for 192 yards and a TD via the air with 7 for 32 yards and a TD on the ground. With him playing through the end of the first half, it would seem that the Pats will be going with Brissett as their Week 1 starter, not that it should influence anything for fantasy.
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