• Commanders QB Sam Howell looks like the real deal: Fantasy managers are buying into the hype following Howell's strong showing in preseason Week 2, and his rushing upside alone might make him well worth the cost late in drafts.
• Rookie RB Deuce Vaughn has looked studly in limited preseason action for the Cowboys: There’s an opportunity to carve out a role as the RB2 in Dallas behind Tony Pollard, but Vaughn’s size creates some problems in pass protection that could keep him off the field consistently.
• Giants TE Darren Waller is the Giants’ top receiver: Daniel Jones has had eyes for Waller all offseason, and that remained true when they took the field in preseason Week 2. Waller was targeted on 50% of his routes with Jones, totaling three receptions for 30 yards on the team’s lone drive.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
We’re another week into the 2023 NFL preseason, and with that, we’ve got some decisions to make regarding whether we’re buying the hype based on what we’ve seen in limited action.
Here, we’ll take a look at the biggest risers on Underdog Fantasy following Week 2 of the preseason and decide whether to buy in or pass on their rising average draft positions.
All Underdog ADP data comes courtesy of 4for4 Football, updated Wednesday, Aug., 23.
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QB Sam Howell, Washington Commanders
Current ADP: 181.2
Previous ADP: 193.1
Ladies and gentlemen, meet your 2023 quarterback breakout. Sam Howell was officially named the Commanders’ Week 1 starting quarterback, and boy, has he earned it so far this preseason. Poised, decisive and confident so far this season, Howell has earned an 81.6 PFF passing grade from a clean pocket, leading all quarterbacks on such throws with a 134.8 passer rating.
His willingness to spread the ball across the offense and ability to extend plays with his legs on scrambles are going to provide a safe floor of QB2 production with the kind of QB1 upside that is rarely found this late in drafts. Howell is being drafted as the 25th quarterback based on his current ADP.
Verdict: Draft
RB Deuce Vaughn, Dallas Cowboys
Current ADP: 187.6
Previous ADP: 204.4
Cowboys rookie Deuce Vaughn might be the second-shortest player in NFL history, but he sure does play a big game. Despite running back Tony Pollard being the clear lock for the RB1 role in 2023, it stands to reason that the Cowboys still have plenty of vacated rushing opportunities for the RB2 in this offense amid the release of veteran Ezekiel Elliott. The competition has remained open through the offseason for that role behind Pollard, with Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle, Ronald Jones and Vaughn all in the mix.
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