Fantasy: Takeaways from Friday's 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.
Same as it ever was
Even with some new weapons on his offense, Jameis Winston continues to only have eyes for Mike Evans. Winston targeted his top wideout on seven of his 13 attempts, connecting four times for 58 yards. The duo were in midseason form on a 29-yard back-shoulder pass where Evans outdueled a pair of defenders to come down with the ball. Evans wasn’t able to cap the drive off with a touchdown, coming up empty handed on two chances in the end zone, but any worries about his workload can be put rest. He’s a surefire WR1 in fantasy and Winston has serious breakout potential.
Tight end Cameron Brate picked up where he left off last season, catching two passes for 27 yards in the early going. The sort of usage shouldn’t be surprising to those who’ve followed Buccaneers OTAs and training camp. The team drafted O.J. Howard in the first round, but Howard will be used for his elite blocking abilities, while Brate continues to serve as a receiver in the middle of the field.
Doug Martin won’t be allowed to participate in the first three regular-season games, but he got the start Friday and had some bounce in his step. He split first-team touches with Jacquizz Rodgers, who is the favorite to handle starting duties while Martin sits out. Martin looks poised to lead this backfield from Week 4 on, but Rodgers is a sneaky fantasy play in the first few weeks of the season.
Earning your stripes
Jeremy Hill got the start for the Bengals and actually found a few nice holes, running with renewed purpose, likely due to the arrival of rookie Joe Mixon. In the end, Hill finished with 26 yards on seven carries, for an average of 3.7 yards per rush, befitting of a pedestrian talent.
Mixon, on the other hand, looked the part of a rookie sensation, flashing his playmaking skills in the second quarter on a short pass where he made several tacklers miss and picked up 11 yards for a first down. Mixon is without a doubt the best back on the Bengals' roster and has the ability to gain yards regardless of the help from his surrounding cast. Pass protection will be the ultimate decider for when Mixon takes over in Cincinnati’s backfield.
The Bengals would be committing a major offence by limiting his playing time in Year 1. Hopefully playing behind Hill in the preseason scares off fantasy owners, dropping Mixon’s ADP into a more enticing range in the fourth or fifth round.
A Giant problem?
The Giants held out most of their key stars, allowing Josh Johnson to start at quarterback, but we did get a brief look at their new lead back Paul Perkins. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great outing for the sophomore, who didn’t look entirely comfortable on the field. That could explain why Orleans Darkwa has been getting some of the first-team reps in the offseason.
Perkins was limited to three yards on five carries, while Darkwa rushed for 18 yards on the same amount of touches. The truth is no one in the running game looked particularly impressive as the offensive line remains a problem. Perkins was hit in the backfield on multiple occasions and was stuffed on a third-and-1 at the 5-yard line when his blockers were completely blown up by the Steelers' front. For what it’s worth, Perkins converted on fourth-and-1.
Rookie Wayne Gallman also saw action Friday and came away with five carries for 11 yards, as well as one reception for four yards. If Perkins doesn’t step up during the preseason, this could quickly devolve into a running-back-by-committee situation, with Shane Vereen in the mix as well. For now, Perkins is a mid-round fantasy target with RB2 upside if he can separate himself.
Red Hot
Whether it was the Chiefs' offense performing at a high level or the 49ers' defense showing us they’re one of the worst units in the league, Kansas City’s starters were able to move the ball with ease early in Friday’s contest.
Tyreek Hill caught a 37-yard bomb down the right sidelines on the opening play of the game. Maybe Alex Smith will finally start taking more chances now that first-round rookie Patrick Mahomes is waiting in the wings. Hill dropped a screen pass on the very next play, which was almost ruled a fumble, but the officials changed their minds after a quick conference. Either way, Hill’s lone catch was enough for him to make a positive impression.
Backup Tyler Bray followed the same script on the second drive, launching an 83-yard touchdown to a streaking Chris Conley, only to have it called back by a penalty. Conley did eventually pull down two receptions that counted, for 46 yards. Perhaps the Chiefs' offense won’t be as boring as it has in years past. For the record, I laughed as I typed that last sentence.
Spencer Ware made his case to maintain the lead back role with 26 yards and a score on seven touches. There’s no question Ware will open the year as the Chiefs' top running back and might see his stock rise a bit in August, after a sharp decline spurred on by the selection of Kareem Hunt in the draft. Hunt was held in check in his preseason debut catching one pass for nine yards. The rookie is still one of the best handcuffs in fantasy this year.
Instant Impressions
- Carlos Hyde didn't do much Friday night, but he owns the 49ers' starting job after offseason speculation to the contrary. Fourth-rounder Joe Williams rattled off 60 yards on seven carries, including back-to-back 17-yard rushes, but played behind undrafted rookie Matt Breida, who had 54 total yards on 13 touches. Williams is still the backup with the most upside here; however, he still needs to usurp the man currently holding the No. 2 spot on the depth chart - veteran Tim Hightower.
- Steelers rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster had a 9-yard run and a 4-yard catch before leaving the game with a concussion. As long as Martavis Bryant gets reinstated, Smith-Schuster isn’t likely to make a major impact as a rookie.
- T.J. Watt could be a player. The Steelers' defense is an underrated unit, and Watt looks like he might give it a boost this season after tallying two sacks Friday night. Brother J.J. Watt was proud.
- Roberto Aguayo’s rookie season wasn’t a fluke. He missed a 47-yard field goal and an extra point against the Bengals. The next thing he’s going to miss is his job, when Buccaneers cut him in favor of Nick Folk.