Fantasy Football: 20 NFL Preseason Week 2 Takeaways (2026)

Alarming reports of a potentially season-ending injury for Ashton Jeanty landed late Sunday, just as the NFL was wrapping up its second week of preseason games. Fortunately, it was reported a few hours later that Jeanty’s injury is a sprained ankle – a best-case scenario given the initial report that he couldn’t put weight on his leg after he went down.

Phew.

With the Jeanty crisis averted, let’s sift through the fantasy-relevant stuff from Week 2 of the preseason.

Once again, a shout-out to Nathan Jahnke of PFF (@FFNateJahnke) for the snap and usage data.

20 NFL Preseason Week 2 Takeaways

Washington Is Jeanty Insurance

Fourth-round rookie RB Mike Washington Jr. has been sharp in each of the Raiders’ first two exhibition games. After rushing six times for 63 yards and breaking off a 53-yard run in the Raiders’ preseason opener vs. the Cardinals, Washington had nine carries for 56 yards Thursday against the Texans, along with two catches for 18 yards.

Washington has established himself as the undisputed backup to Ashton Jeanty, and Jeanty investors might now consider Washington a mandatory handcuff now that Jeanty’s Week 1 status is in doubt.

At this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Washington clocked a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at 6-1, 223 pounds. He also had a 39-inch vertical jump.

While the size-speed combination is appealing and the early returns have been encouraging, it’s worth noting that Washington didn’t really pop in college until he was a fifth-year senior at Arkansas, and some of his advanced metrics (particularly missed tackles forced) are uninspiring. Washington also has a light resume as a pass catcher and pass blocker.

I now have Jeanty ranked RB12 in half-point PPR formats, Washington RB44.

Brooks Pushes for Starting Job

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks continues to gain fantasy steam. Nearly 21 months after a second tear of his right ACL, Brooks is making a run at a starter’s job,

Brooks played 12 of 13 snaps with Panthers QB Bryce Young and the other Carolina starters Friday night against the Jaguars and had five carries for 18 yards and a touchdown. Brooks’ 1-yard TD run opened the scoring in a 34-17 Panthers victory, and Brooks also popped off an 11-yard run.

The Panthers’ other candidate for the starting RB, Chuba Hubbard, didn’t play due to a hamstring injury.

Brooks’ Real-Time ADP is now RB29, 79th overall. I think he’s the favorite to start over Hubbard in Week 1 even if Hubbard is able to play, and I have Brooks at RB27, 74th overall in my half-point PPR rankings.

Stribling Buzz Gets Louder

Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling, selected at the top of the second round in this year’s draft, once again dazzled in the preseason.

Stribling had four catches for 46 yards against the Chargers on Thursday after catching six passes for 63 yards against Tennessee in San Francisco’s preseason opener. The rookie has caught 11-of-13 preseason targets with hands that look like suction cups.

FantasyPros’ Real-Time ADP tool shows that Stribling’s average draft position is now WR40, 102nd overall. His overall ADP has climbed 29 spots over the last seven days.

I’m taking a more conservative approach with Stribling, ranking him WR53. But with 33-year-old WR Mike Evans continuing to battle a nagging quad injury, Stribling’s chances of being fantasy-relevant early in the season are looking better and better.

Messy Backfield in Tennessee

Tony Pollard started at running back for the Titans on Sunday night against the Seahawks, but Tyjae Spears played the second and third series for Tennessee’s offense and has taken more snaps with the starters than Pollard has in each of the Titans’ first two preseason games.

The Titans backfield is looking more and more like a timeshare. Considering that the Titans are expected to have one of the more toothless offenses in the league, neither Pollard nor Spears looks particularly attractive for fantasy, but Pollard looks far less attractive at his current Real-Time ADP (RB30 in half-point PPR) than Spears does at his (RB51)

I have Pollard ranked RB33, Spears RB47.

Raiders’ WR Room Takes Shape

The Raiders kept WR Tre Tucker out of their game against the Texans while giving 14 snaps to rookie Malik Benson, 13 to Jalen Nailor, and five to Jack Bech.

After free agency, early best-ball drafters took a “follow the money” approach and made Nailor the highest-drafted Las Vegas receiver. Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million deal in March that included $23 million guaranteed.

Thursday’s WR deployment suggests that if you’re going to throw a late-round dart at a Raiders receiver, Tucker is the preferred option. The 25-year-old Tucker established career highs in receptions (57), receiving yards (696), and touchdowns (5) last season and could be useful this year in full and half-point PPR leagues.

Nailor is probably best left undrafted in normal-sized leagues (12 teams, 16-18 rounds). Benson and Bech are worth monitoring, but from afar. Second-year WR D’onte Thornton has fallen off the fantasy map. The Raiders’ recent signing of veteran WR Noah Brown could make it harder for the Raiders’ young receivers to get meaningful playing time.

Tracy Slides Down Giants’ Depth Chart

It seems as if RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. has fallen out of favor with the Giants.

In Saturday’s game against the Dolphins, Devin Singletary was at running back for all eight snaps that Jameis Winston and the Giants’ other starters played. Tracy entered the game later.

In addition to battling Singletary for snaps behind starting RB Cam Skattebo, Tracy must also contend with recent signee Najee Harris.

Tracy had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first two seasons with the Giants, with 38 catches as a rookie and 36 catches last year. But the Giants have a new coaching regime led by head coach John Harbaugh, and Tracy entered the league as an older prospect, so he’ll be 27 in November.

With Tracy seemingly No. 4 on the Giants’ RB depth chart, he could be released or traded, and there are surely teams that would be interested in his services. That possibility should at least keep Tracy on the radar for fantasy drafts, but he is now a late-round flyer at best.

Lloyd’s Stock Rising

Oft-injured Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd had an 11-yard TD catch against the Broncos on Friday along with six carries for 17 yards.

Now healthy, Lloyd played 9 of 14 snaps with the Green Bay starters on Friday while Chris Brooks took five snaps with the starters. Lloyd appears to be the clear handcuff to Green Bay’s starting RB, Josh Jacobs, though Brooks may be the preferred option on passing downs.

Usage Nuggets

The Steelers split snaps between their top two RBs almost evenly in their second preseason game, with Rico Dowdle playing 10 snaps with the starters, and Jaylen Warren playing nine snaps with QB Will Howard and the rest of the starters.
Rookie WR Malachi Fields played every snap with the Giants’ starter on Saturday and operated as the X receiver on the Giants’ opening drive. Since Malik Nabers (who didn’t dress for the Giants on Saturday) is primarily a Z receiver, Fields’ usage last weekend suggests that he’s going to be the Giants’ starting X receiver. He’s a worthwhile end-of-draft selection.
The Commanders’ new tight end, Chig Okonkwo, was on the field for all three of starting QB Jayden Daniels‘ snaps Saturday vs. the Lions. Although Washington’s signing of Stefon Diggs took away some of Okonkwo’s fantasy luster, he still looks like a solid backup TE option.
Rookie WR Ja’Kobi Lane played all 19 snaps with the Ravens’ starters Saturday vs. the Vikings. Baltimore held most of its starters out, but it bodes well for Lane that he left the game when other offensive starters left in the first half of Saturday’s game, while fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt and other Ravens receivers played into the second half. Lane appears to be the Ravens’ No. 3 receiver, and he could potentially play in two-receiver sets if Rashod Bateman faces discipline after a recent domestic-violence arrest.
Jaylen Wright played ahead of Ollie Gordon in the Dolphins’ 26-3 loss to the Giants on Saturday and appears to be the top backup to De’Von Achane.
It looks as if it might be premature to recognize second-year RB Jaydon Blue as the top backup to Javonte Williams in Dallas. Blue started ahead of Malik Davis in the first week of the preseason, but Davis started over Blue against the Cardinals on Saturday.
WR Omar Cooper Jr., a late first-round selection by the Jets in this year’s draft, played with the starters in the second week of the preseason after playing with the backups in the first. It’s encouraging progress, but Cooper still looks undraftable in normal-sized redraft leagues.
It’s still hard to tell where popular sleeper Cyrus Allen sits on the Chiefs’ WR depth chart, but it’s worth noting that the fifth-round draft pick drew five targets against the Buccaneers on Saturday and caught three of them, though his receptions netted only seven yards.
Second-year Patriots WR Kyle Williams played Saturday against the Eagles while A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, and Mack Hollins were held out. Williams isn’t fantasy-relevant at the moment and might not make the Patriots’ opening-day roster.