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By: Nate Christian (@NateNFL)
At this point, every NFL team has played a game of pre-season and has been able to give their players some live action football. Being able to see their players in full pads up against other teams helps the coaches get an even better idea of talent, drive, and capacity to develop. These pre-season games also help us finally get our eyes on some of these players we’ve only heard about so far. Now, there are always overreactions, and keep in mind it’s only pre-season football, but every snap on the field is an opportunity and we’ve seen some players take advantage. Without further ado, here’s what we learned from Week 1 of the pre-season.
Romeo Doubs = MVS 2.0
When Packers fans first think of a wide receiver they need to replace, they likely think of Devante Adams ($28,000,000). Well, nobody is replacing Adams. Fourth round pick Romeo Doubs ($1,085,979) might be able to replace Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($10,000,000) though. And this past week he showed his ability to get open and make big plays, but also struggled with some drops and playing through contact. Now the season is still quite young, as none of these snaps matter for wins and losses, but Doubs has been making some noise and seemed to back it up with his performance against the 49ers. Once the season starts, will Doubs have done enough to get on the field with Aaron Rodgers ($33,500,000)? I think the chances are high.
Antonio Gibson Panic Button?
I try to stay away from sensationalist headlines and thoughts, but truthfully Dynasty Owners with Antonio Gibson ($1,233,159) on their roster have to be very nervous at this point. Not only does it look like J.D. McKissic ($3,500,000) will be handling passing down work once again, but new rookie Brian Robinson ($1,261,227) might be pushing Gibson for the rest of the workload. Gibson continues to have a fumbling issue and after turning the ball over in the first quarter against the Panthers, Robinson quickly replaced him. During that time, Robinson looked good catching the ball and running between the tackles, even finding the end zone in the second quarter. Gibson’s workload seems to be diminishing with every passing day and it may be time to move him for greener pastures, if you still can.
Buffalo Bills Passing Attack
Stefon Diggs ($14,400,000). Gabe Davis ($998,595). Isaiah McKenzie ($2,200,000). That’s likely your starting three, with McKenzie working exclusively out of the slot. Behind them you have Jamison Crowder ($2,000,000) who will be swapping in and out with McKenzie. After them, you have the rookie Khalil Shakir ($1,001,787). I’ve been singing the praises of Shakir for a while now, and reports out of training camp have been complimentary. In the game against the Colts, Shakir lined up all over the formation according to PFF, seeing plenty of snaps outside, in the slot, and even a play out of the backfield. Shakir offers versatility that few of the other options in that wideout room offer, making him a candidate to get on the field for meaningful snaps his rookie year. Shakir is one of the best stashes at the position right now with McKenzie on a two-year deal (with an easy out after 2022) and Crowder on a one-year deal.
Bears Working A Committee
All the news coming out of Bears training camp points to a 1a/1b approach out of the backfield this year. David Montgomery ($1,003,845) has enjoyed a workhorse workload over the past couple years, but it sounds like the coaching staff is excited to get Khalil Herbert ($902,677) into the rotation. Montgomery will still likely handle the majority of snaps out of the backfield, but Herbert is going to be involved enough to make a difference. He started the game against the Chiefs and handled all the snaps for the first three drives. Not only does Herbert have great value as a handcuff at this point, but he also has stand-alone value on a week-to-week basis. If Herbert ends up as a solid FLEX option for your Dynasty Owner team, don’t be surprised.
Travis Etienne is Back
In the first quarter of the Jaguars pre-season game against the Browns, Travis Etienne ($3,224,526) had 10 touches (9 rushes and a catch). As long as James Robinson ($763,333) isn’t on the field, it looks like Etienne is going to get volume out of the backfield. Now how long until Robinson is back to full health? He is completing some drills right now, so it may not be as far away as we originally thought. Either way, Etienne is going to be a large part of this offense and offers big-play ability that can help win you your weeks. Keep an eye on Robinson’s recovery though because that is sure to cap Etienne’s fantasy ceiling as soon as they are splitting carries.
Quiet Rookie Starters
Despite playing the majority of starter snaps for their respective teams, Jahan Dotson ($3,762,090) and Alec Pierce ($1,650,336) are still being underrated not only as long-term dynasty assets but also as Year 1 producers. Dotson played every snap that starting quarterback Carson Wentz took against the Panthers and was out there for two-WR sets. Dotson is an electric playmaker with the ball in his hands but also boasts great route running and catch radius, possibly making him a sleeper for this year’s Rookie of the Year. Fellow rookie wideout Pierce may not have quite the same hype as Dotson but he is a starter for a team that should perform well and take shots down the field. Pierce at 6’ 3” and with 4.41 speed should be able to take advantage of that opportunity.