Fantasy: Takeaways from the final night of preseason games

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.

Mining for gold

Players taking the field in the final game of the preseason don't normally have a direct path to fantasy value, but there were some performances worth mentioning on Thursday night.

Jets rookie running back Elijah McGuire ripped off 56 yards on five carries, which is notable given the speculation that veteran Matt Forte could get cut when the team finalizes its roster over the weekend. For the record, Forte called those rumors "fake news."

Forte also wasn't in the lineup against the Eagles, though projected starter Bilal Powell did see the field. Powell had eight touches for 28 yards, doing most of his damage in the passing game, an area where he should excel in 2017.

Last season, in a slightly more talented Jets' offense, Forte and Powell finished as the RB21 and RB22, respectively, so there's fantasy production to be extracted from a bad situation in New York.

Powell remains the back to target in fantasy drafts, though he lacks the upside of other rushers going in the fifth and sixth rounds. Forte is only worth drafting due to the low risk involved, since his ADP currently rests in the 12th round.

Even if Forte does remain a Jet, which is the most likely scenario, an injury to the 31-year-old would open the door for McGuire to see a portion of the backfield work, making the rookie a player to put on your watchlist early in the season.

Ross leaves with knee injury

It was a promising start to the night for first-rounder John Ross, who had a 25-yard run and caught a pass for 6 yards. Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived as the rookie was taken to the locker room with a knee injury.

Ross came back to the sidelines without his helmet and was done for the night.

This is the latest sign that the speedy Ross might struggle to make an impact early in the season. He's an excellent player to add in dynasty leagues, but could be a disappointment for those who select him in re-draft leagues.

A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert will continue to dominate targets in Cincinnati, with Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd serving complementary roles.

Instant Impressions

• It's tough to fathom, but for some reason the Jets started 38-year-old Josh McCown in the preseason finale. McCown was injured in the game, but managed to finish. Christian Hackenberg wasn't a complete disaster for once and even hooked up with deep fantasy sleeper Austin Seferian-Jenkins for a touchdown. ASJ appears to be rejuvenated and could emerge as a playmaker in a passing attack that lacks a true top target.

• Jamaal Williams has been given plenty of opportunities to make an impression for the Packers, but ended the preseason with another average performance. If Williams steals any snaps from Ty Montgomery it will be thanks to his pass-blocking skills and not because he's done anything to warrant it as a runner. His teammate and fellow rookie Aaron Jones looks like the more explosive talent and totaled 49 yards and a touchdown on nine touches Thursday night.

• The Bills' offense might be headed in the wrong direction, but Jonathan Williams is coming on as a future starter. Williams gained 53 yards on 10 carries and found the end zone in the preseason finale. If LeSean McCoy were to miss time, Williams appears to be ready to carry the load.

• Rookie receiver Dede Westbrook also used the last night of exhibition action to improve his stock. Westbrook caught six passes for 115 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown. It will be tough for Westbrook to become fantasy relevant this season, but his time will come.

• Another name to keep an eye on is Terrell Watson on the Steelers. The battle to be Le'Veon Bell's top backup doesn't seem to be decided between Watson, Fitzgerald Toussaint, and rookie James Conner. Watson made his case for the job on Thursday with 19 carries for 89 yards, and two receptions for 5 yards. He's not worth drafting, but Watson could pop up as a waiver-wire add later this season.