28 Things We Learned From Week 1 of the Preseason

NFL football is all the way back! A full slate of preseason games provided us with a weekend full of hints about how players throughout the 2025 rookie class will be utilized. I watched every game this weekend and there is a lot to discuss, so let's get right into it.

In this newsletter:

• READ: 28 takeaways about the 2025 Rookie Class from Week 1 of the Preseason
• WATCH: The 2025 College Fantasy Football King's Classic Draft
• LISTEN: A Preview of the Top Prospects in the 2026 Draft Class

READ: 28 takeaways about the 2025 Rookie Class from Week 1 of the Preseason

What I look for while evaluating rookies in the preseason.

Week 1 was the best case scenario for Sheduer Sanders fans. He threw for two touchdowns, including a nice touch ball to the back corner. Sanders completed 60% of his 23 attempts and scrambled for another 19 yards. His tendencies to hold the ball too long, panic drop back, and throw behind his targets was also present. It is stock up for Sanders, but I still see him as QB3 on the roster at best.

LaJohntay Wester is going to make the Baltimore roster. I identified him as a special teams threat in the 2025 Rookie Guide, and he proved me right when he returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown. Wheels up for Wester.

I remain fully convinced D'onte Thornton is the Raiders rookie wideout you want. He had a nice off-target snag to bring in a 17 yard reception. Jack Bech caught his only target for five yards.

Tory Horton is going to see 70+ targets this season. He passed the eye test this week, confirming what the Seattle beat has been saying all offseason. He had twice as many targets (7) as any other receiver; it was clear they wanted him featured. I am writing off Valdes-Scantling in my next projections update to make way for Horton's increased target projection.

Dan Campbell does not think Isaac TeSlaa is a raw prospect. He caught 4 of 6 targets, including an athletic touchdown reception. TeSlaa showed off his separation ability and ball-tracking prowess. Despite not having a ton of collegiate production, he looks ready for fantasy production. I project him to be WR3 for Detroit.

Dominic Lovett is in a position to make the Detroit roster. He caught 5 of 9 targets for 31 yards, showing good hands and some turn and catch ability. The Lions beat is down on Tim Patrick and Craig Reynolds, so Lovett has a shot.

Tetairoa McMillan has the best version of Bryce Young throwing him the ball. McMillan had two receptions for 43 yards, including an awesome reaction to an off-target contested ball. Young looks confident, is using his legs and it looks like his accuracy is locked in. If Bryce Young is at his best, McMillan has a real shot to be a top 12 wide receiver this season.

I need to double TreVeyon Henderson's target projection. Understandably, most of the chatter around Henderson's debut game was his 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. I was more excited about his usage in the passing game. He caught all three of his targets on the Patriots initial drive, which featured a healthy rotation of Henderson and Stevenson on the ground. That drive told me a lot about what Josh McDaniels wants to do this season. Double might be hyperbolic, but he is going from 45 to at least 65 targets in my next projections update.

Jaxson Dart is right where the Giants want him to be. Dart made some beautiful throws-including one ball where he lead his receiver downfield perfectly for a touchdown. He mechanics looked tighter, including his footwork; the type of improvements I was hoping for. He did have examples of locking into the first read and throwing off target, but it was an overall very positive first outing for Dart. That being said, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston checked their boxes too. The Giants staff have to be encouraged, but I don't think Wilson's job is in jeopardy.

Tahj Brooks might not be RB2 in Cincinnati. Brooks is the obvious candidate to spell Chase Brown after the Zack Moss retirement. He led the Bengals with 10 carries but ran for just 26 yards. Samaje Perine and Gary Brightwell could take the job from Brooks or we could see the Bengals look to add a free agent once other teams start making cuts.

In case there were an actual doubts, RJ Harvey is RB1 for the Broncos. Harvey, despite being listed as 5th on the Denver depth chart, started alongside Bo Nix. He looked explosive and worked well outside. I'd like to see him be better utilized inside next week. Nix threw the ball two times a piece to Harvey and Dobbins in the first drive of the game; that is great for my many Nix shares and my many RJ Harvey shares.

Pat Bryant did not stand out, which checks out because Sean Payton hates the wide receivers he drafts on Day 2. Good news for Troy Franklin, though, who caught 3 of his 4 targets including 2 receptions on the opening drive with the first team offense. Okay, you caught me, I just wanted to talk about Troy Franklin.

Injuries in San Francisco have created a path to production for Jordan Watkins. He caught a team high 3 receptions on a team high 6 targets, including a nice contested catch ball. He caught my eye as a late film review this draft season-athletic, field stretcher with big play potential. A sneaky waiver wire add.

I am not sure who is, but Jordan James is not the RB2 for San Francisco. James will miss at least a few weeks with a broken finger. Fellow rookie Corey Kiner led running backs in snaps in his absence. He looked to be a solid, physical option and his college tape shows some burst. Sound like a Shanahan running back?

Jarquez Hunter is not a threat to Blake Corum. Corum looked shifty and explosive as the first running back on the field for the Rams. He scored twice, showing off his short-yard capability. Hunter did well too, rushing for 41 yards on 11 carries. He took what the defense gave him and smashed forward-exactly what his college tape told us he can do. If this was a running back committee both guys would get work. It is not, though, and it appears clear to me that Corum's upside has him clearly above Hunter.

Rams wide receiver Drake Stoops popped, catching 2 of his 3 targets for 28 yards. He looks to be a solid underneath depth choice. Stoops, though, will start the season suspended for a substance abuse policy violation. A practice squad guy to keep an eye on.

It looks clear that Bhayshul Tuten will have a prominent role in the Jaguars offense. He flashed quick feet, good burst and soft hands in his first game. Tuten rushed the ball 6 times for 24 yards, matching Tank Bigsby's stat line. He also caught both of his targets.

I would be just a little nervous if I had heavy exposure to Kaleb Johnson. He rushed the ball 8 times for just 20 yards and dropped one of his two targets. Johnson struggled to create his own space and looked indecisive at times-two concerns I had from his college tape. Johnson was ranked as a first round pick because of the volume in the offense, though, not my belief in his skillset. As long as he improves over the next two weeks, the volume should still come.

I am not sure he was ever in it, but Phil Mafah is out of the running for the Dallas RB1 job. Mafah rushed for 36 yards on 10 carries and look generally the same as his college tape. Physical, took what the defense gave him and solid hands in check-down opportunities. I still think it is Miles Sanders then Javonte Williams, then the rookies. Hopefully we see Jaydon Blue next week.

The Donovan Edwards dream is alive. Edwards rushed for 42 yards on a team-high nine attempts while getting his shot in the second half of the game. Edwards looked explosive and quick. His stat line could have been a lot better if he hadn't had a long run called back for a penalty. He also had a nice 21 yard reception. Best case scenario for him is to make the roster as the RB3, but that seems in reach.

It was a mixed-bag for Arian Smith. Smith caught the two passes thrown his way on target for 18 yards. He also made a great play to track and extend for a ball thrown too far in front of him in the endzone; nearly dragging his feet perfectly. So I liked what I saw, I just didn't like when I saw it. He was playing well into the second half of the game. Smith also was not featured as a kick or punt returner-something I was hoping for to ensure he makes the Jets roster.

He only saw two targets but Emeka Egbuka made me jump in excitement while watching the game replay at 6 in the morning, feeding my newborn. He showed off vertical athleticism and good body positioning-two things we did not get to see a lot at Ohio State.

We did not get to see too much from him, but Cam Ward looked solid against the Bucs. His mechanics look tight and his velocity popped while targeting receivers over the middle of the field. He looked confidence in the mid-field, which is always a positive for a young quarterback. Let's hope he gets a full half next week.

Kalel Mullings could be next man up for the Titans. Mullings was one of my deep sleepers in the class, his power and burst are enticing. He ran for 33 yards on 7 carries, all of which came in the second half against Tampa Bay. With Tyjae Spears missing the start of the season, Mullings can play his way into RB2 touches, with Julius Chesnut his main competition.

Forget Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai has the juice. I thought Monangai was RB2 for the Bears as soon as he was drafted. His college tape shows an explosive, power runner with good vision. His week 1 performance matched that, as he ran for 30 yards on 6 carries.

It was a no good, very bad day for Quinn Ewers. He completed just 5 of 18 passing attempts for 91 yards. He looked inaccurate and struggled with timing. Ewers also got strip sacked, giving the Bears the ball near their own endzone. He looks far off Zach Wilson for the QB2 role, and that says nothing about Zach Wilson.

Ollie Gordon outplayed Jaylen Wright. Gordon broke off a 21 yard run and converted at the goal line against the Bears. Gordon showed off the power that defined his game at Oklahoma State while looking quicker than we saw in 2024. He ran for 33 total yards and got credited for 39 receiving yards. Jaylen Wright rushed for just 16 yards on 9 carries.

I refuse to believe anyone other than Tyler Shough will be QB1 for the Saints. He went 15 for 22, throwing for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Shough missed on an out route that got jumped for a pick six. Then he showed his experience, bouncing back quickly after to throw a beautiful deep ball touchdown. Rattler and Haener just do not have the ability to make big time throws like that.

WATCH: 2025 CFF King's Classic

14 industry leading analysts, representing the best sites producing college fantasy football content gather yearly in Canton, Ohio for a live draft. This was the 5th year of the CFF King's Classic, which always includes myself and John Laub.

This is a great watch, whether you are an experienced CFF diehard or just want to get an idea of what the game is all about!

LISTEN: 2026 Positional Preview Series

This week Skip and I wrapped up our three-part series that previewed the top prospects in the 2026 class. This was a podcast-only series that featured a breakdown of 30+ prospects that I completed summer scouting reports on.