• Isiah Pacheco returns to the Kansas City Chiefs: Pacheco received his first preseason action, with all three of the Chiefs top running backs playing two snaps each.
• Greg Dortch remains a clear fifth on the Cardinals' depth chart: This has been clear through the preseason and remained true in this game.
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Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs
Isiah Pacheco makes his preseason debut: Pacheco had been dealing with a shoulder injury that held him out most of training camp and the first two preseason games.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire started the game and played the first two snaps.
- Jerick McKinnon played on third down and made a 23-yard catch. He also played on the following third down on the drive.
- Pacheco took the fourth and fifth offensive snaps of the game, taking a carry for zero yards on one of those plays.
- Kansas City shifted more toward backups for its second drive, leaving all three running backs with two offensive snaps.
- It’s not overly concerning that Edwards-Helaire started ahead of Pacheco because it’s likely due to his injury, but it will be worth monitoring early in the season.
- This could be more of a three-man backfield the first few weeks of the season until Kansas City feels Pacheco is back to 100%.
- This shouldn’t have a major impact on where Pacheco is drafted, but it could impact if he should be in your starting lineup in Week 1.
Richie James sees significant playing time early: James is the one wide receiver who has clearly worked his way up the depth chart throughout the Chiefs three preseason games.
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s job has been the most secure among the Chiefs wide receivers this preseason. He led the wide receiver room in offensive snaps among the starters the first two weeks in addition to joining Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce among the veterans not playing in this game.
- Skyy Moore and Justin Watson have consistently played as starters during the preseason in each of the preseason games. They played on the first drive Saturday and then their day was done.
- Rashee Rice had been fourth on the depth chart among healthy players. He was the only other wide receiver to play with the starters in the first week of the preseason and played in eight of 20 snaps last week, but he didn’t see an offensive snap on the Chiefs' first drive.
- James went from only playing with the backups to playing six snaps with the starters last week and playing with the starters this week.
- It was notable that his day was done at the same time that Moore and Watson stopped playing, which also happened last week.
- Justyn Ross took one snap with the starters this week and two last week. Rice and Ross played much later than the rest of the Chiefs wide receivers both last week and this week.
- It’s worth remembering that Kadarius Toney has been injured throughout the preseason and will likely push most of these players down one spot on the depth chart.
- This means James could start the season fifth on the depth chart while Rice is sixth.
- Typically, a wide receiver picked early could work his way up the depth chart as a rookie, but we saw the exact same thing with Skyy Moore last year. He started the season fifth on the depth chart, and never really surpassed anyone.
Jordan Wilkins complicates the Browns' RB3 battle: Wilkins went from the bottom of the depth chart last week to starting this game.
- The competition had been between John Kelly Jr. and Demetric Felton Jr., with Kelly starting each of the last two preseason games.
- Wilkins didn’t see his first offensive snap until late in the third quarter last week, which is generally not a good sign for a running back’s chance to make a roster if they aren’t a rookie.
- Wilkins started this game and was the only running back to take a snap on Cleveland’s first and third drives. He also started the fourth drive.
- Felton took every snap on the second drive while Kelly didn’t start playing until 13 plays into the game.
- It’s possible any one or two of these players end up making the 53-man roster, but Cleveland could also be a team to watch who might add a player off waivers on Wednesday to take the third spot.
Cleveland wide receiver rotation becomes a little more clear: Cleveland was diverse in its personnel groupings unlike most teams in the preseason, allowing us to see how the players might be used in the regular season.
- Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Elijah Moore took most three wide receiver snaps, to no one's surprise.
- Peoples-Jones and Cooper were almost always the two wide receivers in 12 personnel last season. They were the primary players in that personnel grouping in this game, but Elijah Moore did take a few snaps from Cooper here.
- Peoples-Jones remained the primary player in 13 personnel similar to last season, which is the primary reason why his snaps were higher than the other wide receivers.
- David Bell received snaps with the starters while third-round rookie Cedric Tillman didn’t, but his snaps came when they needed a slot receiver while Tillman has played almost entirely on the outside. Tillman might only see significant playing time this season if Cooper or Peoples-Jones suffers an injury.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Nick Chubb was Cleveland's only skill player with the day off. He hasn’t played in the preseason since the first week of 2019 where he only played three snaps.
- Backup running back Jerome Ford missed another game due to a hamstring injury. Wide receivers Anthony Schwartz and Jaelon Darden as well as tight end Harrison Bryant were among the players on the 90-man roster out with injury.
- Browns wide receivers Marquise Goodwin and Michael Woods II remain on the non-football illness and non-football injury lists respectively.
- Jakeem Grant Sr. tore his Achilles last season missing the entire season. He missed the Browns’ first three preseason games this season but took the opening kickoff today. He injured his knee on that play, had an air cast put on and was carted off the field.
Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings
Greg Dortch remains a clear fifth on the Cardinals' depth chart: This has been clear through the preseason and remained true in this game.
- Dortch didn’t start playing until the middle of the second quarter last week, which wasn’t until after Marquise Brown, Michael Wilson and Rondale Moore stopped playing.
- The Cardinals rested their top four wide receivers today which meant Dortch started.
- Some teams would start some key veterans but only play them a drive or two, but Dortch continued to play into the second quarter.
- The only good note is he also played in 12 personnel rather than just playing the slot in three-receiver sets, so he isn’t just Rondale Moore’s backup.
- Dortch is still clearly ahead of anyone lower on the depth chart, so his job isn’t in jeopardy.
Jalen Reagor’s roster spot is in jeopardy: Minnesota rested their top five wide receivers for this game.
- Free agent addition Brandon Powell appeared to surpass Reagor on the depth chart last week, and that remained clear in this game.
- Powell didn’t play while Reagor started with other players at the bottom of the depth chart.
- His job could be safe if Minnesota elects to keep six wide receivers, but Trishton Jackson is also an option for the sixth receiver spot.
- Reagor stopped playing at the end of the first quarter while Jackson kept playing into the second quarter, which is a good sign Reagor is still in the sixth spot.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Arizona Cardinals rested quarterbacks Kyler Murray, Coly McCoy and Jeff Driskel, running back James Conner, wide receivers Marquise Brown, Michael Wilson, Rondale Moore and Zach Pascal, and tight ends Zach Ertz and Trey McBride.
- It was clear last week that Keaontay Ingram was second on the Cardinals running back depth chart, undrafted rookie Emari Demercado was third, and veteran Corey Clement was fourth. That continued to be the case for this game.
- The Minnesota Vikings didn’t play quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens, running backs Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu and Ty Chandler, wide receivers Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell, and tight ends T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt.
Buffalo Bills @ Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson becomes the third-down back: Johnson took both third-and-long snaps on the Bears’ first two drives.
- Khalil Herbert took the first- and second-down snaps on both of those drives.
- D’Onta Foreman took over on the Bears’ third drive, following the tradition of Chicago playing one back on the first two drives and another back on the third drive.
- Both Herbert and Johnson returned to action later in the game even though some backups had already begun playing.
- This included Herbert taking a second-and-19 as well as a third-and-16 on the third drive in addition to Roschon Johnson taking early down snaps on the fourth drive.
- This means the roles for the running backs aren’t set in stone despite the clear trends in the first quarter.
- Herbert is still the running back to target on this team, but it seems a little less likely he will fully take David Montgomery’s role now compared to last week considering Johnson’s playing time with the starters.
Cole Kmet finds competition from the other tight ends: Chicago used all three of their tight ends for the first time this preseason.
- Kmet took 100% of snaps in 11 and 12 personnel but only took one of the three snaps in 21 personnel.
- Marcedes Lewis made his Bears debut, taking two snaps away from Robert Tonyan in 12 personnel and taking the other two snaps out of 21 personnel.
- Lewis is known for his run-blocking at this point of his career, so it’s unsurprising to see him take snaps out of that personnel grouping.
- Kmet has taken 83% of the 21 personnel snaps last season, so the Lewis addition could lead to Kmet playing fewer offensive snaps this season.
- He caught eight passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns last season out of 21 personnel. He was the only tight end last season with over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns in that personnel grouping.
- Kmet is spending another season as a sleeper tight end who is among the top backup options in fantasy leagues, but this could hurt his upside.
Damien Harris makes his Bills’ debut: Harris missed the first two preseason games but gained some playing time with the starters.
- James Cook took the first nine offensive snaps with the Bills with Harris taking over once they hit the red zone.
- Harris took the next four snaps including a two-yard touchdown.
- Cook similarly took the first six snaps on the second drive followed by Harris taking two.
- This was at a point in the game where three of the Bills starters were taken out of the game, so it was a little surprising Cook was still playing.
- Harris played on second-and-15 followed by third-and-15 on the second drive. Harris only took 13 snaps from those situations in his three years with the New England Patriots.
- It wouldn’t be surprising if Cook sees the majority of the volume all season long, but Harris is brought in to close drives. This could be a problem for Cook's ability to score touchdowns. He might need to break a few long runs in order to get on the scoreboard.
- Latavius Murray has been third on the depth chart but he likely earned a spot on the team and is the oldest halfback currently on a roster at 33 years old, so it’s unsurprising he didn’t play.
A peak into the Bills tight end rotation: This was the most extensive work Dawson Knox received all preseason giving us our best look at how he and Dalton Kindcaid could be used.
- Knox played over the first two drives. He and Kincaid were on the field together for five plays.
- This included two plays with Kincaid out wide, one play with Kincaid in the slot, one play with Kincaid in line while Knox was in the slot, and just one play from a more traditional two-tight-end set.
- The Bills took two snaps out of 21 personnel — one with Knox and one with Quintin Morris.
- Knox took eight snaps out of 11 personnel compared to six for Kincaid. The difference is Buffalo passed the ball 100% of the time with Kincaid in 11 personnel, and 50% of the time with Knox.
- This left Kincaid running a pass route on 10-of-15 pass plays and Knox on eight-of-15.
- It’s at least possible for someone to be a top-10 fantasy tight end running a route on 66% of pass routes, but it’s difficult.
- New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson ran a route on 69% of the Saints' pass plays last season and was TE8 in part thanks to his seven touchdowns, which ranked third among tight ends.
- Kincaid can follow a similar route of catching a lot of touchdowns and being a headache for fantasy managers each week. In order for him to reach his potential, he will need to run more routes.
- The rookie kept playing into the Bills' third drive at a point where Knox stopped playing.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Chase Claypool was the only notable Bear to miss this game with his hamstring injury, but he is expected to be back for Week 1.
- It’s been clear Deonte Harty is the Bills' slot receiver in 11 personnel all preseason and that remained true this week, although Khalil Shakir was out with a rib injury for this game.
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers
Jayden Reed sticks with 11 personnel: Romeo Doubs missed this game due to a hamstring injury, which could have been a perfect chance for Reed to see snaps in 12 personnel.
- Undrafted rookie Malik Heath started the game in Doubs' place, an indication that he has passed Samori Toure on the depth chart and could have earned a roster spot.
- The Packers mostly stayed in 11 personnel, as they’ve been doing all preseason, but they took four snaps in 12 personnel in the first quarter.
- Christian Watson unsurprisingly took all four of those snaps on one side, with Heath taking three snaps and Toure taking the fourth on the other.
- Reed also didn’t play a snap in 12 personnel in any of the other 43 times they ran from that formation in the first two preseason games.
- This is a pretty clear indication that Reed will not be passing Romeo Doubs on the depth chart anytime soon.
- He continued to take the vast majority of his snaps out of the slot, which is a good sign for his fantasy value even if he’s not playing in 12 personnel.
DeeJay Dallas continues to play on third downs: Zach Charbonnet started for Seattle, but Dallas remained the third down back.
- Charbonnet took every snap on first and second down in the first quarter as well as a third-and-3, but Dallas took the snaps on third-and-long.
- Seattle also ran some plays in the first quarter with both running backs on the field, including Dallas at fullback and Dallas at wide receiver.
- Dallas took over as the primary halfback in the second quarter.
- We don’t have a great idea of how Seattle’s running backs will rotate once everyone is healthy as Kenneth Walker III and Kenny McIntosh remain injured, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Dallas still has a role as the third-down back even when others are healthy.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs is dealing with a hamstring injury, which is why he didn’t play.
- Packers running back Aaron Jones took the first snap of the first preseason game and the first snap in the second preseason game as his only preseason snaps of the year. He did not play in this game.
- Rookie tight end Luke Musgrave continued to play close to 100% of the team's snaps with the starters, as he’s done the last two preseason games. This should carry on into the regular season.
- It’s possible none of the Seattle Seahawks wide receivers who played in this game end up making the roster, as they are all seven on the depth chart or lower, although Dee Eskridge is suspended to start the season.
New York Jets @ New York Giants
Randall Cobb starts for the Jets: Cobb joined Aaron Rodgers in making his New York Jets debut.
- Cobb was expected to be fifth on the depth chart heading into training camp, but Corey Davis surprisingly retired earlier in the week.
- Allen Lazard missed practice earlier in the week with an AC joint injury, which kept him out of this game. He is expected to be fine for Week 1.
- This left Garrett Wilson, Mecole Hardman Jr. and Cobb as the top wide receivers for Saturday’s preseason finale.
- It was surprising to see Cobb start over Hardman, considering both were free agent additions signed to one-year deals and Hardman makes more than Cobb.
- Since Hardman played 28 snaps over the first two games, it’s possible the Jets wanted Cobb to see more playing time in this game.
- There were some two-wide receiver sets with the starters where Wilson and Hardman were on the field instead of Cobb.
- Hardman’s value is still better than where it was a week ago without Davis, but it could be complicated if Cobb is a big part of the offense.
- Hardman continued playing late into the first half and ended up injuring his hand, so he left for the locker room early. His injury will be one to keep an eye on, as Cobb could end up third on the depth chart if the injury is serious.
- This potentially means Cobb could have some good games this season as well, which probably won’t help anyone in redraft unless another Jets wide receiver suffers an injury. But it could be helpful in DFS.
Eric Gray doesn’t start for the Giants: Gray had been a clear third on the depth chart, but both Jashaun Corbin and James Robinson received offensive snaps before him.
- Gray played most of the first half in the Giants’ second preseason game, playing behind Matt Breida. He stopped playing by halftime, while Corbin played from late in the second quarter until the end of the game. Robinson only received snaps in the fourth quarter.
- The three running backs were the only ones to play in this game, with all three seeing their first snaps in the first quarter.
- Gray is very likely to make the roster, given the Giants spent a fifth-round pick on him, but it’s surprising he didn’t start the game.
- It’s possible the Giants are looking to keep a fourth running back on the roster and, as such, gave them more opportunities in this game. But, ideally, if this was the case, Gray wouldn’t have played at all.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Giants sat their starters and top backups, including quarterback Daniel Jones, running backs Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida, wide receivers Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell and Isaiah Hodgins, and tight ends Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger.
- Second-year wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson remains on the PUP list and could stay there to start the season.
- Running back Gary Brightwell and tight end Tommy Sweeney were other Giants who missed this game due to injury.
- Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook continued to sit out for the Jets due to injury. Michael Carter has become the clear third running back on the depth chart through the preseason, and that remained clear in this game.
- Sterling Shepard and Jalin Hyatt started but played only two drives each. They seem locked in as the backup outside wide receivers. Jamison Crowder or Cole Beasley could make the roster as the backup slot receiver — but only until Wan’Dale Robinson is healthy.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Washington Commanders
Cole Turner is locked in as the Commanders’ TE2: Turner has been ahead of John Bates and others throughout the preseason.
- Turner played 245 offensive snaps last season, third among Commanders tight ends. He finished behind Logan Thomas (680) and John Bates (510) but ahead of Armani Rogers (158).
- He got significant playing time from Week 5-7 when Logan Thomas was out with a hamstring injury and John Bates was dealing with a hamstring injury.
- He caught his only two career passes in Week 6, the one game in that stretch that Bates didn’t play.
- Turner then suffered a concussion and missed time. Once he was back, he was used as a blocker almost exclusively.
- New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has favored Turner over Bates, starting him in all three preseason games. Turner has typically stopped playing in the first half, while Bates has typically played into the fourth quarter.
- Rogers suffered an Achilles injury in May and is out for the season, so Turner hasn’t needed to worry about staying ahead of him.
- Thomas is expected to be the starter but has missed the entire preseason with a calf injury. There is no guarantee that Thomas will get his job back.
- Bieniemy has plenty of experience when it comes to having an elite fantasy tight end in the offense with Travis Kelce, so it’s at least possible that Turner starts this season and is a big part of the Commanders offense.
Cincinnati Bengals crowded wide receiver room: Nine wide receivers are fighting for six or seven roster spots.
- Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are locked into the top three spots. Trenton Irwin was the top backup last year, and he received the night off tonight, making him the likely fourth wide receiver for 2023.
- Trent Taylor, Stanley Morgan and Kwamie Lassiter II all got some playing time last year and are still on the roster, while Cincinnati drafted Charlie Jones in the fourth round and Andrei Iosivas in the sixth round.
- Trent Taylor and Iosivas started last week and this week, making them the likely fifth and sixth players on the depth chart.
- Jones has been the primary punt returner throughout the preseason. And given his pedigree as a fourth-round pick, he seems likely to make the roster.
- Taylor was the punt returner last season, but he was the fourth-lowest graded punt returner among those with at least 20 returns last season.
- This means that Lassiter and Morgan are likely the odd men out in a few days.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Commanders announced before the game that quarterback Sam Howell, running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson, wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel and tight end Logan Thomas would not be playing.
- The Bengals rested quarterback Joe Burrow, running backs Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and Trenton Irwin, and tight ends Irv Smith Jr. and Drew Sample.
- Evans having the night off while Chase Brown played tonight is a good sign that Evans remains ahead of Brown on the depth chart.
Baltimore Ravens @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ quest for their third wide receiver continues: It’s still not fully clear who will be the team’s third receiver after Russell Gage landed on injured reserve.
- Tampa Bay has four wide receivers in contention. Veteran David Moore, 2022 undrafted free agents Kaylon Geiger and Deven Thompkins and sixth-round rookie Trey Palmer.
- Tampa Bay rested both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin last week.
- Geiger and Moore started last week’s game and played into the third quarter, while Thompkins and Palmer also saw playing time in the first quarter and were done by halftime.
- Godwin played for two drives and started with Moore and Thompkins. Geiger and Palmer began mixing in on the second drive.
- Moore and Palmer have played primarily on the outside, while Geiger and Thompkins have played primarily in the slot this preseason.
- Considering Godwin is the starting slot receiver most of the time, it’s likely that Moore and Palmer might be best suited to take the third receiver spot.
- It wouldn’t be surprising if Moore, who is the most senior of the group, receives the most playing time of the four in Week 1 but Palmer slowly takes over.
- This also might not be a black-and-white situation. All four wide receivers could see a little bit of playing time.
- None of the four have stood out from the rest in terms of statistics or PFF grade.
Justice Hill remains a top-three running back: Hill played only on the first drive.
- All four plays on his drive were passes to wide receivers or tight ends, so Hill didn’t show up on the stat line.
- He played ahead of Gus Edwards in the first preseason game, but Edwards had the second game off while Hill played.
- It might not matter who the primary backup is, as Edwards will probably be the backup in running situations and Hill in receiving situations.
- Melvin Gordon III is unlikely to make the roster unless the Ravens keep four running backs. Gordon is 30 years old, and there is at least a chance this was the last game of his NFL career.
- Undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell has received plenty of praise but seems destined for the practice squad.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Ravens rested quarterback Lamar Jackson, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor and Devin Duvernay, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.
- Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans didn’t play at all this preseason after seeing at least a few snaps in every other preseason.
- Buccaneers running back Rachaad White continued playing into the third drive, dominating snaps. He played 17 in the first quarter to four by Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
Miami Dolphins @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Tank Bigsby takes 36% of snaps with the starters: Bigsby continued to cut into Travis Etienne Jr.’s playing time.
- The Jaguars used their starters for two long drives. Etienne started each drive, but Bigsby would replace him after three or four plays.
- Etienne played 100% of snaps on third and fourth down and dominated snaps out of 11 personnel, 10 snaps to four.
- Snaps were closer to balanced on first and second down, at 13 to nine in favor of Etienne. The same was true for snaps out of 12 or 13 personnel, on which Etienne led six to five.
- Bigsby averaged 6.2 yards per play compared to 4.9 by Etienne, but Bigsby lost a fumble.
- Jacksonville had just two plays in short-yardage situations, and Etienne received both of those snaps.
- Bigsby seeing this high of a percentage of snaps and a high percentage of carries is not a good sign for Etienne’s fantasy value.
- This is already a significant increase from the first preseason game when Bigsby played only one snap with the starters,
- His playing time is at 36% now, but rookie running backs tend to gain more playing time as the season progresses. We could reach a point where Bigsby is leading the team in carries.
- Etienne is still the favorite to score the most fantasy points out of the Jaguars’ backfield, but he has the 11th-highest ADP for a running back, according to FantasyPros, compared to 49th by Bigsby. They should be getting drafted closer together.
Jacksonville’s wide receiver rotation becomes a little more clear: Zay Jones will likely see more offensive snaps than Christian Kirk, but it won’t be a significant difference in pass routes.
- The Jaguars played their starters in the first preseason game, in which Jones took both snaps in 12 personnel instead of Kirk.
- Jacksonville used its starting offense more extensively in this game, giving us a better picture of how snaps outside of 11 personnel will be distributed.
- The Jaguars took nine snaps out of 12 personnel, with Jones and Kirk each seeing four snaps.
- Jones ended up with three more snaps because he played both snaps the Jaguars ran out of 13 personnel, and Kirk took one snap off out of 11 personnel with Jamal Agnew replacing him.
- Both Zay Jones and Tim Jones took nearly every snap out of 13 personnel last season, so this won’t be much of a change compared to last year. Plus, 13 personnel is typically a rushing formation, so it won’t matter much for fantasy football.
- This kind of usage still means fewer snaps out of 12 personnel for Kirk this year compared to last, but it’s not as significant as it could have been.
The Dolphins’ backfield remains unsettled: Miami has five halfbacks who could make the roster, and they could also sign a running back.
- Raheem Mostert started for the second straight preseason game with Jeff Wilson Jr. out. Mostert and Wilson split snaps when they were both healthy last season.
- Myles Gaskin had appeared to be ahead of Salvon Ahmed on the depth chart, but Gaskin missed last week’s preseason game and Ahmed saw his first offensive snaps before Gaskin in this game.
- Ahmed also broke a 42-yard run in this game.
- Miami spent a third-round draft pick on De’Von Achane, who was consistently fifth on the depth chart when healthy in the preseason. Although he is injured, he’s assured a spot on the roster, given the draft capital spent on him.
- Miami has been among the front runners in a potential trade for Jonathan Taylor, which would leave one less spot open on the roster.
- We will see at least one of these five players off the roster in the next few days, if not two.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Dolphins announced ahead of the game that quarterback Mike White, running backs Jeff Wilson Jr. and De’Von Achane, wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Braylon Sanders and tight end Eric Saubert would not play in this game, presumably all for injury reasons.
- Tyreek Hill played the first three snaps before being pulled.
- Braxton Berrios has played 100% of snaps in 11 personnel in the first quarter this preseason. He is very likely the third wide receiver for Miami, with Robbie Chosen as the primary backup to both Hill and Waddle.
- Second-round rookie Brenton Strange is clearly third on the depth chart currently, but he did receive one snap with the starters in 11 personnel, which is a sign his role could expand rather than his only playing in two- or three-tight end sets.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys
Jalen Tolbert wins the fourth wide receiver spot: The 2022 third-round pick had a disappointing rookie season, but things are looking up for his second year.
- Tolbert was inactive in three of his first five games and all of his last five in 2022.
- He reached double-digit routes run in only two games, leading to two receptions for 12 yards over his entire season.
- Dallas made minimal changes to its wide receiver room this season, swapping out Noah Brown for Brandin Cooks and adding Jalen Brooks in the seventh round of the draft.
- Tolbert, Brooks and KaVontae Turpin played the entire first half of last week’s preseason game and were the primary options for the fourth receiving spot.
- There were reports earlier this week that Tolbert had locked down the role, per Stephen Jones, and his sitting in this game further cements that.
DeAndre Carter appears locked into the WR4 role for Las Vegas: Carter was among the veterans who didn’t play in this game.
- Las Vegas tended to rest some older players and play younger ones, regardless of where they were on the depth chart. However, Carter rested while veterans Phillip Dorsett, Kristian Wilkerson and Keelan Cole Sr. played, showing Carter is ahead of those players on the depth chart.
- Carter appeared to be ahead of those players after last week’s game. He saw playing time within the first minute of the game and was done playing around the start of the second quarter. Dorsett was the only other player who wasn’t a starter and stopped playing sometime before the fourth quarter.
- It’s interesting that Carter is locked in, considering three of the top four players on the depth chart are known for playing in the slot.
- Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow and Carter all played at least 55% of their snaps in the slot last season, all for different teams.
- Third-round rookie Tre Tucker is also very likely to win a roster spot, leaving Dorsett, Wilkerson and Cole fighting for one roster spot, if that.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Cowboys rested quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush, running backs Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin, and tight ends Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot.
- Dallas traded for Trey Lance on Friday, and he didn’t play in the game.
- Running back Malik Davis had been fighting for the backup job but now might not make the roster. The Cowboys rested three running backs, and undrafted rookie Hunter Luepke started instead of Davis.
- Josh Jacobs signed a new one-year contract with the Raiders earlier Saturday, but he didn’t play in this game.
- Las Vegas also rested quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer, running backs Josh Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden, wide receivers Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow and DeAndre Carter and tight end Austin Hooper.
Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos
Lil’Jordan Humphrey could be the favorite to replace Jerry Jeudy: Jeudy primarily played in the slot. Marvin Mims Jr. will take Jeudy’s snaps in 12 personnel, but those snaps in the slot seem up for grabs.
- Jeudy was carted off of practice on Thursday and is expected to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury.
- Humphrey and Kendall Hinton seemed best suited to take those slot snaps. They joined Jeudy as the wide receivers with 20-plus snaps in the slot this preseason, while no other reached double-digits.
- Humphrey played in the second quarter last week, while Hinton didn’t enter the game until the second half.
- He was also the Broncos' slot receiver on their first three-receiver set in the game today. Hinton didn’t play his first offensive snap until late in the first quarter.
- Humphrey caught four passes for 57 yards in the first half.
- Mims consistently lined up in two-receiver sets over the first two drives after not seeing any snaps in two-receiver sets with the starters last week.
Zach Evans appears unlikely to make the Rams roster: The sixth-round rookie remains at the bottom of the Rams' running back depth chart.
- The Rams have basically done the same thing all three preseason games at running back.
- Cam Akers and Kyren Williams have sat out all three games, as they are locked into the top two spots on the depth chart.
- Ronnie Rivers has started all three preseason games and has taken 21 of 25 snaps over the first two drives of each game. He appears locked into the third running back spot.
- Royce Freeman has taken the other four snaps and has also been given significant playing time in the first half of games.
- Evans has taken only two snaps in the first half of any preseason game, both coming in the first week of the preseason.
- Rivers has consistently been done playing by halftime, whereas Evans has dominated snaps in the second half of games.
- If the Rams were considering keeping him on the 53-man roster, then he would have received at least some playing time in the first half.
- There is still a chance that he will make the practice squad.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The following Broncos players weren’t in uniform for this game: Quarterback Russell Wilson, running backs Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, and tight ends Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich and Chris Manhertz.
- Marquez Callaway was among the three starters in the Broncos’ first preseason game, but now he might be sixth (at best) on the depth chart.
- The Rams rested quarterback Matthew Stafford, running backs Cam Akers and Kyren Williams, wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua and Ben Skowronek, and tight ends Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins.
- Los Angeles traded for tight end Hunter Long early in the offseason, and he was activated from the PUP list earlier today.
Table Notes
• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
• Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown-away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
• Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.
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