The NFL preseason is now over and it is time for teams to make their decisions on who will make the final roster for the regular season.
Here are some of the standout performances from the final week of the NFL preseason and what it might mean for the players in question.
The Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud
Quarterback – Houston Texans
Week 3 Preseason Grade: A-
This year’s second overall selection only had 4 snaps to play with, but he got his first NFL touchdown and should be very pleased with how he made the most of his short spell on the field. His first pass of the game was a superb 40-yard bomb, delivered perfectly into the bucket of his receiver, who dropped the ball, denying him a more impressive box score. His other incompletion was another great bit of work by the young quarterback, evading the pass rush and throwing on the run to his receiver on the sideline. The two drops were frustrating, but from Stroud’s perspective, all he can do is put the ball where it needs to be.
Thanks to some excellent rushing from Dameon Pierce and a good punt return from fellow rookie, Tank Dell, there wasn’t much else to do in the passing game for Stroud. He looked sharp, showed off his agility, arm strength and got his first touchdown. Not bad for just four passes.
Stroud is entering the 2023 season as the Houston Texans starter, and rightfully so. He has shown enough in his short time on the field to warrant the starting job and Texans fans should be excited about what is to come. He appears to have built nice chemistry with third-year receiver, Nico Collins, and he will benefit from the selection of Tank Dell in this year’s draft, as well as the return of John Metchie, who missed all of his rookie seasons due to leukemia.
With Dameon Pierce alongside him in the backfield, 2023 could be a much more positive year for Houston fans. Whilst Stroud may make the rest of his offensive weapons slightly more appealing fantasy targets, it is unlikely Stroud should be of consideration unless you are in a much deeper league.
Anthony Richardson
Quarterback – Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 Preseason Grade : B-
People who are excited about Anthony Richardson’s rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts got a little taste of what might be to come. The 6 of 17 box score doesn’t do justice to a preseason appearance that showed flashes of athleticism that is rare at the quarterback position.
Richardson led the team in rushing, gaining 38 yards from his 5 attempts at an average of 7.6 yards per carry. The 6 foot 4, 244-pound quarterback looked explosive and agile on the ground and will present a new kind of challenge for NFL defenses. Whilst his 6 completions are nothing to be excited about, he wasn’t helped by some drops from his receivers. He was wayward with his passes at times and threw into traffic, but some nice passes showed there is something to work with. Richardson is a project, and these aspects of his game should improve over time. What he has in the bank already is a cannon for an arm and some unbelievable speed for a player of his size.
Richardson entered the league with lofty comparisons to Josh Allen. The good news for Richardson is that the Colts have already named him as a starter and his new head coach, Shane Steichen, is fresh off a year where he helped Jalen Hurts to a near MVP season. Expect volatility in the passing game, but we can trust Steichen to utilize Richardson’s best physical assets. It may take a few weeks to get settled, but Richardson is a fascinating prospect in fantasy and one that could pay huge dividends in the second half of the season.
Aidan O’Connell
Quarterback – Las Vegas Raiders
Week 3 Preseason Grade: B+
Aidan O’Connell has become somewhat of an offseason star. His 17 of 26 for 178 passing yards against the Dallas Cowboys was a continuation of an offseason in which the rookie quarterback has looked settled and competent. He looked more like a veteran than a rookie, rarely looking troubled as he found a range of receivers, showing off his accuracy and also his ability to pass on the run.
Over all three games, O’Connell has completed 43 of 62 passes for 482 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has shown a clear ability to protect the ball and be accurate with his passes. He finds himself behind Brian Hoyer on the depth chart, but he has a great chance of superseding him as the Raiders’ backup.
Sitting behind Jimmy Garoppolo means that you are never too far away from the field. Garoppolo has only completed one full season in his career, and if O’Connell can secure the backup job, the chances of him getting some game time this year are very high.
The Running Backs
Tank Bigsby
Running Back – Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 3 Preseason Grade: B-
Tank Bigsby’s final preseason game was a true mixed bag. The rookie running back looked powerful and decisive when running, but committed the cardinal sin of fumbling near the goal line. This, of course, is a major no-no for running backs and a surefire way to lose some playing time.
Thankfully for Bigsby, he may have a slightly longer leash than most rookie running backs. His partner in the Jaguars’ backfield, Travis Etienne, was tied for second most fumbles from running backs in 2022 with 5. In 2022, Etienne also had one of the lowest touchdown rates in the red zone, and the selection of Tank Bigsby looks to be with that statistic in mind. Bigbsy will need to hold onto the ball, but if he does, he could be getting some valuable goal-line touches in an offense that looks set to explode in 2023.
Aside from the fumble, Bigsby looked patient, explosive and strong on his 6 rushing attempts for 37 yards. This comes at an average of 6.2 yards per carry, rounding off his preseason stats at an average of 5.7 yards per carry. He also received 36% of snaps with the starters in week 3, indicating that there will be a regular role for him in this offense. Bigbsy is certainly worth a late-round draft pick in fantasy this year. He will be one of the best handcuff running backs in the league and may even have some stand-alone value as well.
Evan Hull
Running Back – Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 Preseason Grade: B
When Even Hull was drafted to the Indianapolis Colts, all he could hope for was the occasional touch in relief of starting running back, Jonathan Taylor. The latest twist in the Taylor saga has involved the team permitting him to seek a trade and Evan Hull’s route to meaningful snaps could be becoming clearer.
He helped himself in the final week of the preseason, producing a solid 25 yards on 6 carries. Hull’s 4.2 yards per carry more than doubled Deon Jacksons’ yards per carry of 2. The sample size is small, but with Jackson being better known for his work in the receiving game, it is a stat line that should not be unexpected.
If Taylor truly does leave the Colts, he leaves behind him a vast chasm of opportunity, and Hull would be in with a great chance of earning a role. He bolstered his chances further with some elite pass protection reps that garnered some attention on social media. Pass protection is a skill not often found in rookie running backs, often resulting in coaches reluctantly having to pull them off the field for important plays. The fifth-round rookie has proven his ability in this aspect of the game, and it will only help him in his quest for time on the field.
The Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
Marvin Mims
Wide Receiver – Denver Broncos
Week 3 Preseason Draft Grade: A
Marvin Mims had a stellar performance in the preseason finale, and it comes at the perfect time, with the Broncos’ receiver room already decimated by injury. The Denver Broncos looked like a completely different team to the 2022 version of themselves, dominating the Los Angeles Rams in a 41-0 drubbing.
Mims played his part in the win, contributing in a few different ways. His standout play was a 50-yard reception in which he defied pass interference and an underthrown ball to make an impressive catch. He caught his only other target as well, showcasing his good hands to reel in a wayward pass before taking a big hit from a defender.
With Tim Patrick already out for the season and Jerry Jeudy carted off with a hamstring injury last week, Mims could find himself with a significant role to play. After a performance like this, the Broncos’ staff will be looking to get Mims involved. He is worth targeting in fantasy this year.
Rashee Rice
Wide Receiver – Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3 Preseason Draft Grade: A
After a fantastic week 2, Rashee Rice had a preseason finale to forget. He had 3 agonizing drops in the first half, including two 3rd-down drive killers. One on 3rd and 1 and the second being a deep pass in which Rice had no receivers around him and would have run in for an easy touchdown. It is important not to overreact to preseason rookie drops, but the nature of these 3 drops were as bad as it gets for a receiver.
To make matters worse for Rice, his fellow rookie receivers enjoyed strong outings. Justyn Ross was trusted with the red zone target near the goal line and his size and physicality were clear as he towered over the cornerback to collect the ball for 6 points. This was a good show of faith from the Chiefs and they were rewarded. Perhaps it was telling, but not surprising, that they did not look Rice’s way so close to the goal line.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette was the other rookie receiver to have a very promising day. He recorded a perfect 4 receptions from 4 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, with much of this yardage while Rice was still on the field. Smith-Marsette showcased his speed and silky smooth route running to create separation all over the field, and his 100% catch rate in the game will help his cause.
After being selected in the second round, it is way too soon to be pressing the panic button on Rashee Rice, but he will be feeling the pressure with the strong performances around him. His drops are cause for concern, but let’s not forget that this time two years ago, it was Jamar Chase struggling with drops. He ended up just fine!
