RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Off rip, I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in any NFL Week 1 preseason game in my lifetime. Maybe in any preseason game ever. But that won’t stop me from overanalyzing the early fantasy football returns from Thursday’s games.
Jeremiyah Love handled 14 touches in his debut, De’Zhaun Stribling caught seven passes against starters, and Arizona lost a rookie guard to a knee injury
Six games kicked off the preseason on Thursday, and most teams sat their starters. Here are Thursday’s preseason takeaways that matter to fantasy football managers.
More NFL preseason Week 1 betting guides : Friday games | Saturday games
Jeremiyah Love takes the Cardinals backfield in preseason debut
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) erased any doubt about who will be Arizona’s starting back during their first preseason game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Love started ahead of Tyler Allgeier. That alone was news, because Allgeier had been listed first and had taken most of the early first-team work in camp. Love then carried 11 times for 58 yards and added three catches.
The snap count told the rest. Love played 24 offensive snaps to Allgeier’s six before his night ended. Head coach Mike LaFleur has talked all summer about keeping his backs fresh. He did not do that here.
Love also flashed. He spun out of contact on a third-and-1 run. He hurdled a defender on another. Draft him as a weekly starter.
The ankle he tweaked is minor. LaFleur said Love could have returned if the game had mattered.
Chase Bisontis’ knee injury hurts the Cardinals offensive line
Second-round guard Chase Bisontis went down in the third quarter after a Raiders defender rolled into his left knee. He was helped off, then carted to the locker room. LaFleur called the injury “ not good .”
Isaiah Adams was already ahead of Bisontis in that right guard competition. So the starting lineup may not change much. But Arizona has now lost an offensive line draft pick to a preseason injury in four straight years. Depth up front is thin, and Love needs blocking.
Kirk Cousins keeps the Raiders job over Fernando Mendoza
Jun 9, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (15) and Kirk Cousins (8) throw the ball as assistant head coach Mike McCoy (left) watches during minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Cousins played one drive. He went 5-of-6 for 50 yards and capped a 10-play march with a 13-yard touchdown to tight end Michael Mayer. Nothing was forced.
Mendoza followed and finished 10-of-16 for 97 yards. He threw a 6-yard touchdown to Jack Bech on third down. He also struggled under pressure, going 2-of-6 with 11 yards when the pocket broke down.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said afterward that the starting spot is Cousins’ “ job to lose .” Take him at his word. Mendoza is a stash and nothing more in redraft for now.
The Raiders’ receiver order seems clear. Jalen Nailor opened at X, Tre Tucker played Z, and Bech moved inside to the slot. Brock Bowers took one snap and left. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. ripped off a 53-yard run, which locks him in as the No. 2 back behind Ashton Jeanty.
Germie Bernard pushes for the Steelers’ third receiver job
Bernard caught four passes for 51 yards on five targets. Roman Wilson caught one for seven. Bernard also took more than twice as many slot snaps as Wilson, which matters because D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. both play outside.
Slow down before you call it settled. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent training camp praising how far Wilson has come, while noting Bernard still has playbook work to do. Neither receiver played with Rodgers on Thursday. Both caught passes from Mason Rudolph against backups.
Whoever wins is the third option behind two established starters. That is a bench player in most leagues.
Rookie Kaden Wetjen turned a Drew Allar throw into a 74-yard touchdown. Kaleb Johnson did not take an offensive snap until the third quarter, behind Travis Homer and Lew Nichols. He looks like a cut candidate.
MarShawn Lloyd starts for the Packers with Josh Jacobs out
Green Bay Packers MarShawn Lloyd (32) participates in drills during fifth day of training camp on July 28, 2025, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Lloyd took every snap on the first drive with the starters. He then played every snap on the second drive with the backups. Chris Brooks sat out with a hamstring issue.
Jacobs has not practiced since Aug. 6 because of a groin injury. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Jacobs would miss at least a week . There is a second layer here. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the league is still weighing discipline for Jacobs stemming from a May arrest. So Lloyd could open the season as the lead back.
The catch is Lloyd’s health record. He has appeared in one regular-season game across two years. Draft him late and hope.
Matthew Golden played both 12-personnel snaps with the starters while Jayden Reed came off the field. That caps Reed’s snap ceiling a bit and helps Golden. Rookie kicker Trey Smack made field goals of 37, 58 and 38 yards.
Colbie Young and the Bengals’ third receiver competition
Young caught two passes for 28 yards, mostly with Joe Flacco. He also got a snap with the first-team offense.
Do not overreact to that snap. Head coach Zac Taylor said afterward that the snap came partly to give Tee Higgins a breather, and that the play did not go the way Cincinnati wanted. Taylor did add that Young is “ proving to be dependable .”
Andrei Iosivas caught both of his targets for 20 yards. He has played roughly 75% of snaps in each of the last two seasons. One rookie snap does not undo that. Young is a dynasty stash, not a WR3 in redraft yet.
The backfield looked the same as last year. Chase Brown handled early downs and Samaje Perine worked third downs.
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