"Don't mind me, I'm just going to stare at the team I drafted for the next three hours."
Welcome back!
In just one short week, we’ll have real football game news and analysis to sift through. For now, let’s enjoy the last few days of pre-season hype while we can.
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Analysis & Hype:
Dameon Pierce had a 92.4 PFF Grade this preseason — The highest preseason PFF Grade by any running back since 2006.
“Lynch: WR Brandon Aiyuk, QB Trey Lance have 'incredible' chemistry”
“When I was in Bills’ camp, I was told with certainty that his [Gabriel Davis] four-TD performance in the playoff loss at Kansas City was the start of something big, not a fluke. He’s a worker, and Josh Allen sees him as a great complement – not a distant number two – to Stefon Diggs.”
“Rams head coach Sean McVay on rookie RB Kyren Williams did not play against the Bengals tonight because "he's a guy that we anticipate having a big role for us." Weighed risk/reward of him playing, ultimately decided it was best to not play him.”
In-depth Twitter thread on Michael Pittman’s breakout potential.
Benjamin Allbright when asked who he thinks will have the stronger year between Sutton and Jeudy with Russel Wilson at QB: “He and Sutton have had the connection all camp”
“Derek Carr was 6th in passing yards per game last year with Darren Waller playing only 11 games, gets a coaching staff upgrade, and added Davante Adams. Seems pretty, pretty good.”
“David Njoku's route participation and fantasy finishes:
2017 42%, 24th
2018 78%, 9th
2019 9%, 85th
2020 31% 47th
2021 51%, 22nd
2022 preseason: 80%
Great shot at a top-12 finish if that number holds and he comes off the board as TE16.
My primary late-round TE target.”
Kyle Pitts was 1st in yards per catch (per StatMuse), 1st in average depth of target (10.8), 3rd in yards per target (9.3), 3rd in receiving yards, and 8th in catches among all TEs in just his 1st NFL season.
“Fantasy Football's Top Players by VORP (2008)
1. Calvin Johnson, if he were a TE: +10.0
2. Tony Gonzalez, TE: +8.8
3. DeAngelo Williams, RB: +8.0
4. Matt Forte, RB: +7.8
5. Andre Johnson, WR: +7.7
...
14. Calvin Johnson, WR: +5.2
This is a Kyle Pitts tweet”
Jim Nagy: “Preseason is over and it’s clear [Titans Rookie QB] Malik Willis’ game is going to translate. He’s doing same things to NFL defenses that he did at Liberty. League probably overthought that one.”
“Commanders route participation with Carson Wentz this preseason:
Jahan Dotson 100%
Terry McLaurin 96%
Curtis Samuel 79%
Targets:
Samuel 26%
McLaurin 17%
Dotson 9%
Obvi a small sample.”
Twitter thread if you’re in the mood for some Travis Etienne hype.
“Justin Fields’ growth this preseason is directly linked to his coaches building their SCHEME TO HIS STRENGTHS. Lots of movement, boots/keepers and play action pass. His patented accuracy and footwork that made him a star at Ohio State have shown up. Da Bears fans have hope.”
2nd year starters preseason PFF grades:
1: Justin Fields (90.4) 2:
Trevor Lawrence (60.2) 3:
Trey Lance (59.4) 4:
Mac Jones (57.4) 5:
Davis Mills (54.5) 6:
Zach Wilson (48.4)
“I am not sure if Brevin Jordan will be a good tight end, but he has eclipsed the 80% route participation mark we want from tight ends in every preseason game so far with the starters. The Texans are done rotating tight ends. 80% typically means top-12 TE season, historically.”
“Don’t mind me. I’m just daydreaming about that time Davante Adams missed a game and Allen Lazard when for 6-146-1 against Marshon Lattimore and the Saints.”
/r/fantasyfootball thread: “Jahan Dotson Truthers, what makes him special to you?”
/r/DynastyFF thread: “Who are you selling “a year early” this season rather than a year late?”
Cold Water:
If you need a video convincing you not to draft Josh Jacobs.
“Top QB Seasons by EPA/Play [Since 2012]
1. Drew Brees, 2018 (0.368)
2. Patrick Mahomes, 2018 (0.363)
3. Aaron Rodgers, 2020 (0.362)
4. Aaron Rodgers, 2014 (0.348)
5. Peyton Manning, 2013 (0.346)
...
249. Zach Wilson, 2021 (-0.148)
Dead-last / 250. Josh Rosen, 2018 (-0.282)”
The last RB over 25 to finish as the RB1 overall was Jamaal Charles in 2013.
Noah Fant has been in a route on only 54% of Geno Smith's dropbacks this preseason.
"There’s reason to believe (Mac Jones) isn’t fully prepared for Year 2. His new de facto OC has never coordinated offense, his OL has been a mess and he’s had little to no running game throughout the preseason....it was far from the preseason he and the team were hoping for."
“Cowboys rushing left since 2019:
Smith on field (5.4 Yds per rush) Smith off field (4.3)
Accounts for a full yard per play in the run game by himself.
Dak play action since 2019:
Smith on field (78.0 QBR) Smith off field (47.2)”
The Fun Stuff:
This is probably my favorite clip from the week.
Brian Robinson made sure to fulfill his rookie duties of getting snacks for the RB room.
when you put Dameon Pierce on the trade block.
“Don't mind me, I'm just going to stare at the team I drafted yesterday for the next three hours.”
“49er GM John Lynch calling Trey Sermon "one of our best players" then cutting him three weeks later is a perfect encapsulation of the inscrutable meaninglessness of most preseason hype.”
My fantasy football team after I draft vs. 15 minutes into Week 1
One of my favorites from the girl drawing Jimmy G every day until he gets traded (right after his contract update).
“Some of y’all drafted Zero RB you just don’t know it yet”
Find you someone who gets as excited when you walk in the room as Bill Belichick gets when Chris Berman does.
These kids gotta learn.
“somehow ended up on o-linemen tiktok and I never wanna leave”
“Every NFL GM when a running back turns 26”
“If you're on the fence about drafting Cam Akers, just remember this exchange”
“Pete Carroll: “He’s feeling a lot better. We consider him day to day” Player:”
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