Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Saturday’s games

Jacory Croskey-Merritt rests for the Commanders: Washington rested more than one-third of its roster, including the en vogue seventh-round rookie.

The Commanders traded former starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, opening the door for a new lead running back to take the reins on early downs. While it’s possible Austin Ekeler will take some of those snaps, he is also the Commanders’ early-down back and a kick returner. At his age, it makes sense for the team to limit his snaps and give the early downs to another player.

Throughout the preseason, those two players have been Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr., while Jeremy McNichols has primarily been the backup receiving back. In the first preseason game, Croskey-Merritt played in the first half and Rodriguez started to mix in during the second quarter. In the second game, Rodriguez received the start, with a more frequent rotation by drive.

The fact that Croskey-Merritt was among the key players who didn’t play in this game, while Rodriguez played, suggests Croskey-Merritt is at the top of the early-down depth chart.

Croskey-Merritt’s upside is limited since he’s in an offense that has a third-down back, a backup running back on early downs and a quarterback who is capable of running the ball. Typically, a player in that role doesn’t have a lot of fantasy upside, but the fact that he plays in an offense that should be among the highest scoring in the NFL gives him potential RB2 value. His consensus ADP is currently RB48, making him a big value, but we also expect his ADP to continue to rise by multiple rounds between now and the start of the season.

Jaylin Lane also receives the day off: Lane may have leapfrogged enough wide receivers on the depth chart to receive significant playing time in Week 1.

The Commanders’ top three wide receivers are expected to be Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown. The problem is that McLaurin is currently holding out and Brown has missed the past two months with an undisclosed injury. This opens the door for a backup wide receiver to see significant playing time.

Lane started the preseason far down the depth chart but was among the top three wide receivers during last week’s preseason game, with Samuel playing in the slot and Lane and Luke McCaffrey playing out wide. Lane joined only in three-receiver sets, suggesting — at the time — that McCaffrey was ahead of Lane. The fact that Lane didn’t play in this game and McCaffrey did indicates that Lane is now ahead.

McCaffrey spent most of the preseason playing as an outside receiver, despite playing primarily in the slot last season. K.J. Osborn has been the Commanders’ primary slot receiver with the second team in the preseason. However, in this game, it was McCaffrey playing in the slot with Osborn out wide. This suggests McCaffrey could be the top backup slot receiver after losing the primary backup outside job to Lane.

While Lane might not be high enough on the target priority list to be draftable in fantasy, he is worth keeping an eye on as a waiver-wire target at the next sign of positive news.

Miscellaneous Notes

• The Commanders rested 33 players for this game, including quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, running backs Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Austin Ekeler, wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown and Jaylin Lane and tight ends Zach Ertz and John Bates.
• The Ravens didn’t play quarterback Lamar Jackson, running backs Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, fullback Patrick Ricard, wide receivers Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, as they’ve done all preseason.
• Fourth-string Tylan Wallace and tight end Charlie Kolar played in the first two preseason games in the first quarter, but they both also had the night off as key backups.
• Ravens third-string running back Keaton Mitchell missed his second straight preseason game with a hamstring injury, but the team is confident he will be ready for Week 1.

Los Angeles Rams @ Cleveland Browns

The first look at the Browns’ running back rotation: Jerome Ford made his preseason debut but didn’t start for Cleveland.

Quinshon Judkins is expected to be the lead running back for Cleveland at some point, but he has yet to sign his rookie contract or practice with the team. While Judkins is not facing criminal charges, the NFL could still discipline him. His contract is unlikely to be agreed upon until that is resolved. This leaves fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson and Ford as the top two running backs on the depth chart.

Sampson got the start. He and Ford rotated every few plays, with both players taking five snaps on the first two drives. Both received a third-and-long snap, suggesting there is no current clear third-down back or early-down back between the two. Ford caught a pass to begin the third drive, with Pierre Strong Jr. taking over after that point. Both Sampson and Ford were done on offense by then.

It will be difficult for either one of these running backs to be in fantasy starting lineups with this 50-50 split, given the offense and offensive line. However, since they were used interchangeably, it’s possible that one player starts outplaying the other and gains more playing time. Given that the Browns have seen a lot of Ford in recent years, it’s more likely that Sampson, a rookie, takes time away from Ford than the other way around.

Browns’ receiver room remains unsettled: Five different wide receivers competed for playing time in the regular season.

Jerry Jeudy is Cleveland’s top wide receiver. He played the first three snaps in this game, and then his day was done. Cedric Tillman missed this week due to a thumb injury, but his preseason usage in Week 2 suggests he is safe as the second wide receiver. Beyond that, it appears to be a wide-open competition.

Jamari Thrash seemed to be the favorite to win the Browns’ slot receiver role. In the first two preseason games, he played 32 snaps in the slot, compared to 10 out wide. He was consistently on the field in three-receiver sets. However, in this game, he was in a rotation with newly signed Isaiah Bond. One of the two was almost always on the field with the starters, but never at the same time. They were no longer consistently lining up in the slot, with nearly every receiver seeing a few snaps there. Thrash also continued to play with the backups. This suggests Thrash’s spot as the third wide receiver isn’t safe.

Diontae Johnson has also seen significant playing time with starters in the preseason, but he was in a rotation with undrafted rookie Gage Larvadain. While Johnson led the rotation, the fact that he was rotating and kept playing with the backups isn’t a good sign. Once Jeudy left the game, Kaden Davis took Jeudy’s spot and was the only receiver consistently on the field with the starters.

It’s also worth noting that DeAndre Carter and David Bell have missed the entire preseason. When either one is healthy, they could also enter the conversation.

If anything, this is good news for Harold Fannin Jr., who was the second tight end in this game after David Njoku. The Browns frequently used 12 personnel, and they seem to trust Fannin more than any of their wide receivers outside of Jeudy and Tillman. While it’s rare to see two tight ends have fantasy value on the same team, Fannin should score more points than most teams’ second tight ends.

Miscellaneous Notes

• The Browns slowly took starters out of the game on offense, which included removing tight end David Njoku three plays before Joe Flacco. He played 12 of the first 14 plays.
• The Rams rested running back Kyren Williams, wide receivers Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Tutu Atwell and tight ends Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson, as they’ve done throughout the preseason.
• Rams running back Blake Corum played in the first two preseason games but sat this week, suggesting he is still the second running back on the depth chart, ahead of Jarquez Hunter.
• Similarly, wide receivers Xavier Smith and seventh-round rookie Konata Mumpfield didn’t play, suggesting they are safely locked into the fifth and sixth roster spots.
• Terrance Ferguson sat out the first two preseason games with a groin injury. The fact that two tight ends didn’t play and Ferguson did would usually suggest Ferguson is third on the depth chart, but it’s also fair that the Rams wanted to give their rookie some experience before his first regular-season game. Regardless, the fact that Parkinson sat throughout the preseason indicates we could see all three tight ends play significantly this season.

Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals’ backup receiver group appears to be taking shape: Charlie Jones and Mitchell Tinsley were both held out, an indication that their roster spots are likely secure.

Last season, the Bengals’ top backup wideouts were third-round rookie Jermaine Burton and Trenton Irwin. Irwin signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason, opening the door for others to step up.

Charlie Jones, a 2023 fourth-round pick, saw limited action as a rookie due to a lingering groin injury that sidelined him for half the season and affected him in the second half. This preseason, he was the first backup receiver on the field in the opener and played only in the first half last week, both signs that his roster spot is secure. Though he played primarily in the slot last year, he’s lined up more frequently out wide this preseason.

Mitchell Tinsley, an undrafted rookie in 2023, spent his first two seasons on the Washington Commanders’ practice squad. He appeared in two games last year, but he played less than 10 snaps. Last week, he caught five passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns — all within a 20-second span — effectively locking in his roster spot. He’s shown versatility, playing both outside and in the slot.

That pushes Jermaine Burton to sixth on the depth chart at best. While he could still see occasional snaps, including some downfield targets, he’s unlikely to carry meaningful fantasy value this season.

Miscellaneous Notes

• The Colts rested quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr., running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Ashton Dulin, and tight ends Tyler Warren and Mo Alie-Cox.
• While quarterback Riley Leonard played throughout the first half, running back D.J. Giddens, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and tight end Drew Oglree all stopped playing at the end of the first quarter. Their spots on the depth chart are secure.
• The Bengals rested quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jake Browning, running backs Chase Brown, Samaje Perine and Tahj Brooks, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones and Mitchell Tinsley, and tight ends Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant and Tanner Hudson.

Houston Texans @ Detroit Lions

The Texans‘ running back depth chart becomes clearer: Nick Chubb was among the veterans who were resting, suggesting he will be the Week 1 starter.

Joe Mixon has spent the entire preseason on the non-football injury list. The updates on Mixon’s injury have been minimal, making it uncertain when he might be ready to play. At this point, Week 1 seems unlikely. Chubb was the Texans’ lead running back last week. He didn’t play this week, suggesting he would be the top running back while Mixon is out.

Dameon Pierce was the Texans’ primary running back to start this game. We have yet to see Chubb and Pierce in the same game, so the preseason has given us no indication of how much Mixon and Pierce might rotate. Once the first quarter ended, Pierce and wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson stopped playing, while other players who began the game kept playing. At this point, Woody Marks took over. Dare Ogunbowale played on third downs throughout the first half, as he did on third downs with the team last season.

While we don’t know how trustworthy Chubb will be for fantasy purposes at the start of the season, it seems unlikely that Marks will have an immediate impact on offense. There was some thought he could take on the third-down role from Ogunbowale, but there has been no evidence that the Texans plan on using Marks in this way to start the season.

Miscellaneous Notes

• Quarterback Kyle Allen, running back Craig Reynolds, wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa and tight end Shane Zylstra all left after the first quarter, suggesting their roles on the depth chart are secure.
• The Texans rested quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills, running back Nick Chubb, wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, and tight ends Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover.
• The Lions rested quarterback Jared Goff, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond, and tight ends Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, as they’ve done all preseason.

Denver Broncos @ New Orleans Saints

Chris Olave takes the slot role: The Saints played all three of their top wide receivers for the first time this preseason.

Brandin Cooks played in the Saints’ first preseason game, while Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed suited up for the second. Across both outings, there was no clear answer as to who would handle slot duties. Cedrick Wilson Jr. served as the primary slot receiver in each game, suggesting Cooks may be viewed more as a depth piece than the team’s No. 3 option.

In this game, the Saints used Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks exclusively over the first four drives. The trio shared the field for 11 snaps in 11 personnel. In 12 personnel, Shaheed played all five snaps, Olave played four and Cooks just one. Notably, Olave lined up in the slot on all 11 snaps from 11 personnel. That’s a shift from his typical usage—he’s played just 33% of his career snaps in the slot, including only 21% last season and 20% last week. Until now, it appeared he’d remain primarily an outside receiver.

This development could have a significant impact on Olave’s fantasy value. Over the past three seasons, he’s averaged 2.23 yards per route run from the slot compared to 2.16 out wide. New head coach Kellen Moore has a history of slot-heavy production — his primary slot receivers have averaged between 15.3 and 21.5 PPR points per game over the last three seasons. In contrast, most of his outside receivers in three-wide sets have lacked fantasy viability, with A.J. Brown last season being the major exception.

While the quarterback situation and Olave’s concussion history remain red flags, he has a chance to finish as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver in this role if he can stay healthy. The only potential problem is that the Saints traded a fourth-round pick for Devaughn Vele earlier in the week, and he primarily played in the slot for Denver. If he can surpass Cooks on the depth chart, Vele may become the Saints’ top slot receiver, pushing Olave back out wide.

Saints running back depth chart takes shape: For the first time this preseason, the Saints had their full running back group available.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara played the opening snap before calling it a day. While Kellen Moore’s exact usage plan remains unknown, it’s clear Kamara is the starter and positioned for a significant workload.

Kendre Miller, who started the first two preseason games, was next in line and appears locked in as the No. 2 back. Over the past two weeks, Cam Akers had handled third-down duties, but in this game, Miller stayed on the field for those situations. If Kamara were to miss time, Miller would be the top waiver wire target and is worth a late-round pick in deeper fantasy leagues where most handcuff backs are typically drafted.

Miller exited in the first quarter, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking over. While Edwards-Helaire and Cam Akers had previously rotated in the first two preseason games, Akers appeared clearly behind in those outings, and his late-game usage in this one suggests he may not make the roster.

Sixth-round rookie Devin Neal was next up. He missed the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury but took meaningful snaps ahead of Akers. Velus Jones Jr. also rotated in with Neal, while Akers didn’t see the field until late in the third quarter. The Saints could opt to keep four running backs, with Neal likely holding that final spot. There’s even a chance they carry five if they value Jones’ versatility and special teams contributions.

R.J. Harvey’s role remains clear: While J.K. Dobbins hasn’t played in the last two preseason games, Harvey’s role has remained consistent.

The Broncos opened with three drives featuring Harvey and Tyler Badie, while J.K. Dobbins and Jaleel McLaughlin sat out. Denver’s preseason usage patterns have been unconventional, but Harvey has consistently served as the early-down back, with Badie handling third-down duties. In this game, Harvey played 12 of 15 early-down snaps, while Badie took all five on third down.

Through three preseason games, Harvey has logged 34 of 40 first- and second-down snaps with the starters and none of the 11 third-down snaps — a clear signal that he’s locked into early-down duties. Dobbins, who handled third-down work in the first preseason game, is expected to maintain that role and mix in on early downs as well. How many early-down snaps he’ll take remains unclear, as the Broncos appear focused on evaluating Harvey rather than revealing their regular-season rotation.

Early-down usage typically holds more fantasy value than third-down work, as early downs offer more run-heavy looks and higher odds of a running back touch. Even in a potential 50/50 split, Harvey appears poised to handle the more valuable half.

The Broncos’ receiving room without Devaughn Vele: The Broncos traded Vele to the Saints earlier in the week, freeing up more room for their other wide receivers.

Through two preseason games, the Broncos’ wide receiver roles appeared fairly defined: Courtland Sutton held down the starting X role, Pat Bryant backed him up, Marvin Mims Jr. started at Z and Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele were competing in the slot. Trent Sherfield Sr. was the next man up across multiple spots.

A recent trade most directly benefits Mims. He played both inside and outside last season, with stronger production—measured in yards per route run—coming from the slot. His main issue was playing time; he didn’t top a 50% snap share in any regular-season game outside of the playoffs. This preseason, he’s clearly elevated—Mims was a locked-in starter in the opener and played every snap with the starters in this game, signaling a shift to full-time usage. With Vele out of the picture, Mims and Franklin may now share slot responsibilities. Mims remains one of the top wide receiver sleepers.

The move also helps Franklin. Rather than splitting slot reps, he played the majority of three-wide sets, increasing his path to snaps and targets. He may still fall short of weekly fantasy relevance, but the role gives him a real shot to carve out more volume.

Conversely, the trade had minimal impact on Bryant. Despite being the primary backup to Sutton at X, he didn’t play a single snap with the starters. Instead, Sherfield Sr. handled five snaps in 11 personnel. While the Broncos have shown flexibility at Z and slot under Sean Payton, Sutton has held a firm grip on the X role, which limits Bryant’s path to playing time unless he expands his versatility or Sutton misses time.

Evan Engram plays in less than half of the Broncos’ snaps: This game gave the clearest look at why Engram will be inconsistent for fantasy managers this season.

The Broncos have used both Engram and Adam Trautman together for all three games. Throughout the preseason, they’ve entered and exited the game on the same drives, sharing the field in two tight end sets, with a general tendency for Trautman to play more on early downs and Engram to play more on passing downs.

This game provided a better look at how the tight ends might rotate, as the Broncos had a blocker. Both fullback Michael Burton and tight end/fullback Nate Adkins have missed the entire preseason due to injury. However, the Broncos signed fullback Adam Prentice, with whom Payton had experience in New Orleans, this past week. The Broncos used 21 personnel only twice with the starters, but Trautman (unsurprisingly) took both of those snaps.

Trautman and Engram split 11-personnel snaps with nine each. Engram ran a route for seven of nine plays, while Trautman ran a route for only four of nine. Engram ran a route on eight of 15 pass plays. We can expect him to run a route on closer to 60-65% of routes once the regular season hits. While Engram has been part of the Broncos’ plans in the passing game, this will likely make his fantasy value inconsistent. He should have a number of weeks as a top-10 fantasy tight end, but there will also be weeks where his fantasy production is minimal.

Miscellaneous Notes

Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers

The Packers handcuff to consider: Chris Brooks played only a handful of plays before his day was done.

The Packers spent a third-round pick on MarShawn Lloyd in 2024, but he spent most of his rookie season injured. He missed the first preseason game and played in the second, but he is now dealing with another injury. His hamstring may prevent him from playing in the season opener. Once he’s back, he might not earn the primary backup spot.

Josh Jacobs played one snap in the first preseason game, and he took the second week off. And this week, he played only two snaps. Brooks took over, played the next seven snaps, and then his day was done. He and Emanuel Wilson shared the backup job last season, but Brooks has been clearly ahead of Wilson in each of the last two preseason games. Wilson took over once Brooks was done.

While Wilson’s roster spot appears more secure due to Lloyd’s injury status, Brooks looks like the primary backup to Jacobs and the most likely candidate for increased usage if Jacobs were to miss time.

Miscellaneous Notes

• The Packers announced before the game that quarterback Jordan Love, running back MarShawn Lloyd and wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams and Christian Watson would not play in the game. They are all dealing with injuries.
• Tight end Tucker Kraft played eight of the first nine snaps for the Packers, and then his day was done earlier than the other Packers starters.
• It was surprising to see Romeo Doubs play the entire two drives, given his 28 starts over the past two years, while Kraft, Josh Jacobs and Chris Brooks all stopped playing several plays earlier. This could have simply been due to the Packers’ limited number of wide receivers today, but it could also be a sign that Doubs’ playing time could be in danger once more wide receivers are healthy.
• The Seahawks rested quarterback Sam Darnold, running backs Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet and George Holani, fullback Robbie Ouzts, wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, and tight ends A.J. Barner, Eric Saubert and Elijah Arroyo.
• Most notable is Holani, who has been leading the seventh-round rookie for Damien Martinez for the third running back spot. While there is a chance both running backs make the roster, it appears Holani will make it.
• Wide receiver Tory Horton missed this game due to injury. While many expect him to become the Seahawks’ third wide receiver sooner rather than later, this game is not an indication he has reached that spot.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins

Ollie Gordon II starts for Miami: The Dolphins are down multiple running backs and could require reinforcements.

Gordon opened the preseason as Miami’s fourth running back, but a season-ending injury to Alexander Mattison pushed him up the depth chart. De’Von Achane has also missed time with a mild calf strain, and Jaylen Wright was unavailable this week due to a leg injury. Before Wright’s injury, he had been splitting snaps with Gordon, setting up a potential competition for the No. 2 role.

In this game, Gordon played 100% of the snaps with the starters. He briefly limped off near the end of the first quarter, raising concern, but returned at the start of the second. Miami recently signed veterans Mike Boone and Aaron Shampklin, who played with the backups. Still, the Dolphins are likely to explore other options—via trade or waiver claims—once teams trim rosters on Tuesday.

Miscellaneous Notes

• The Jaguars announced before the game that quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running backs Tank Bigsby, Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten, wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown and Parker Washington and tight ends Brenton Strange, Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long would not play.
• While seventh-round rookie running back LeQuint Allen Jr. wasn’t listed among the players, not playing, he didn’t start on offense. The Jaguars rotated between two running backs, so Allen was presumably the emergency running back in case one of the two suffered an injury.
• Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill remains out with an oblique injury.
• Tight end Darren Waller was activated off the PUP list and participated in pregame warmups, but he did not play in the game. Julian Hill didn’t play for an undisclosed reason.

Buffalo Bills @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elijah Moore starts for the Bills: While the Bills rested several starters and key backups, Elijah Moore was among those who saw playing time.

Several teams rested their starters and key backups today, a positive sign for those held out, and often a warning flag for those who played. While the Bills didn’t rest as many players as most, it was still notable that Elijah Moore was among those who saw the field. Buffalo has typically rotated players across its skill positions, including running back and tight end, but everyone expected to be part of those regular-season rotations was held out.

Curtis Samuel and Moore appear to be the top backups. Samuel has missed the last two preseason games with a hamstring injury and illness. Compared to last season—when Amari Cooper was a backup and Mack Hollins a starter—there’s now a more defined gap between the starters and reserves. The emergence of Keon Coleman and the addition of Joshua Palmer have helped widen that separation. That bodes well for the fantasy value of both Coleman and Palmer, but it also suggests the Bills may look externally for help if a starter goes down.

Miscellaneous Notes

Los Angeles Chargers @ San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers trade for Skyy Moore: The 49ers were desperate for help in the wide receiver room, leading the team to trade for Moore.

Four of the top six wide receivers on the 49ers’ projected depth chart—Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins—are currently dealing with injuries. As a result, the team has auditioned multiple veterans in recent weeks. Russell Gage Jr., Isaiah Hodgins, and Robbie Chosen were three of the five receivers who played in the first half last week. Gage, however, suffered an injury and was unavailable for this game.

Ricky Pearsall was among the starters given the day off, leaving Demarcus Robinson as the only expected roster lock to start this game. Chosen started alongside him, with a recently acquired receiver—Moore—joining them in three-wide sets. Acquired via trade just three days earlier, Moore played primarily in the slot for San Francisco, despite lining up out wide more frequently the past two seasons in Kansas City.

Pearsall and Robinson are likely to be two of the 49ers’ top three wideouts entering Week 1. The third spot remains up for grabs, with Moore among several contenders.

Miscellaneous Notes

• The 49ers rested quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones, running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and tight end George Kittle.
• San Francisco traded for running back Brian Robinson yesterday, but he unsurprisingly did not play.
• Running back Jordan James didn’t play in this game due to injury, but it was good to see Isaac Guerendo back in uniform after also missing time due to injury.
• The Chargers rested quarterback Justin Herbert, running backs Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris and Kimani Vidal, wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Keenan Allen and Tre’ Harris, and tight ends Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin.
• Vidal is the most notable name on the list, as it likely ensures him a spot on the roster. He could see notable playing time in Week 1, assuming Harris is still not ready to play.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Arizona Cardinals

The Raiders continue their tight end rotation: Brock Bowers drew the start for the Raiders, but Michael Mayer led the tight end group in offensive snaps.

Earlier this week, I detailed why Bowers fell in my rankings based on everything that’s happened this offseason, along with his preseason usage. This game was more of the same. Bowers rotated in and out with Michael Mayer, typically playing a snap before Mayer took two or three, then reentering. The Raiders stuck with 11 personnel while the starters were on the field—an approach that’s unlikely to carry over into the regular season. The team also didn’t face a third-and-long situation with the starters, a scenario where Bowers is expected to see more consistent usage.

Over the past three weeks with Geno Smith under center in 11 personnel, Michael Mayer has logged 14 snaps to Brock Bowers’ eight. They’ve split first-down usage evenly with five snaps each. On second downs, Mayer has played seven snaps, while Bowers hasn’t seen any. On third downs, Bowers has played four snaps compared to two for Mayer.

During the regular season, both tight ends are expected to see more playing time, especially with increased usage of 12 personnel. The team should also face more third-down situations, and Bowers figures to be heavily involved in two-minute drills and comeback scenarios. Still, this usage trend suggests Mayer will continue to take snaps from Bowers in neutral 11 personnel sets, potentially limiting Bowers’ route volume and making it harder for him to match his 2024 target total.

The Raiders’ new backup running back: Zamir White appears to have surpassed Raheem Mostert on the Raiders depth chart.

Ashton Jeanty started the game for the Raiders and played four offensive snaps before his day was done. In the first two preseason games, Mostert was the next man up behind the starter. He was the only other running back to see snaps with Geno Smith but rotated with others. In both games, Zamir White and Sincere McCormick took their first offensive snaps before Mostert logged his final one. This week, White was the clear No. 2 — finishing the first drive with the starters, then playing the entire second drive and the start of the third.

That usage suggests White has overtaken Mostert on the depth chart, pushing Mostert to the No. 3 spot. Raiders insider Vinny Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal recently left Mostert off his projected 53-man roster. If Las Vegas opts to keep a third back with more special teams value, Mostert could be the odd man out. While it’s easy to speculate a reunion with the Dolphins—given their current injuries at the position—there’s no indication Mostert would be interested in returning to Miami.

Miscellaneous Notes

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.