Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne did a nice job during the preseason. He showed he has breakaway speed to make a big play at any moment. Despite that, Etienne is unlikely to have a significant role to begin the season. Chuba Hubbard is going to be the lead back to begin the season. The Panthers brought in Rico Dowdle as a viable second option, so he'll likely be the second string. That means, Etienne probably isn't going to see much action right away. According to the team's official website, Etienne is penciled in as the third string back. However, the 21-year-old could wrestle away the second string job from Dowdle with more consistent play. For now, Etienne is a dynasty stash and someone that is unlikely to make an impact right away.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough lost the quarterback battle to Spencer Rattler heading into Week 1, but the team's uncertain footing could lead to a chance later this season. The rookie had a strong final year at Louisville, and the team making a move due to Rattler struggling is well within the realm of possibility in 2025. The better question for a manager is whether they want to use a fantasy roster spot on any Saints quarterback. With a projected Vegas win total of 4.5, the team is firmly in the mix to secure the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft, which would mean a long year is ahead.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith made the 53-man roster in Kansas City, and could have a pathway to the field during his first season with the team. The rookie cleared the first hurdle by sticking around through training camp, which is no guarantee as a seventh-round pick. But with Isiah Pacheco less than a year removed from a broken leg, Smith's competition for time is veterans Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell. As a former wide receiver, the rookie has a skill set the Chiefs like, having featured similarly skilled Jerk McKinnon in prior years. Smith has some lottery ticket appeal playing in Andy Reid's offense.

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Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson showed some flashes of receiving ability during the preseason, but his blocking remains a work in progress as Los Angeles approaches Week 1. Though that might not be top-of-mind from a fantasy perspective, it will impact how much the rookie sees the field and ultimately how much he gets targeted. Tyler Higbee is still L.A.'s top tight end, but the Rams clearly saw the promise in Ferguson by using a second-round pick to acquire him. As something of a project, Ferguson has more value in dynasty formats, but his receiving ability could present deep sleeper appeal in redraft leagues, too.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe is expected to see the field, albeit sporadically, as a rookie, with coach Mike Macdonald this week saying the club will have a package of plays designed specifically for him. The rookie, as expected, remained raw throughout the preseason, according to a report from Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. From a fantasy perspective, Milroe's only real value is in dynasty formats, as his usage likely won't be high enough to roster in redraft leagues with Seattle projected to start free agent signee Sam Darnold.

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Dynasty | The Panthers have re-signed wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. Dynasty Analysis: This move makes sense after they traded Adam Thielen back to Minnesota and have lost the services of Jalen Coker for a while due to injury. Renfrow is attempting to make a comeback after sitting out last season due to an unspecified illness. He should be a good receiver for Carolina but this may be a better fit in reality than fantasy. We'll need to see something from Renfrow before recommending him on dynasty rosters.

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract during the offseason. The signal-caller has had his share of ups and downs throughout his career thus far. However, Jets general manager Darren Mougey appears to have confidence in the 2021 No. 11 overall pick. "I do believe Justin can be one of those guys," said Mougey during a recent interview. "I've seen progress during this camp and look forward to seeing the progress throughout the season as they all come together." Fields spent his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears before suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. In 50 regular-season contests, he's thrown for 7,780 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 31 picks while completing only 61.1% of his attempts. Although his accuracy hasn't been the best, he's at least made up for it by finding the end zone 19 times on the run. With that said, Fields should be considered a starting fantasy option in two-QB formats. On the other hand, he has a way to go before earning a routine spot in 12-team fantasy lineups, especially since it may take him time to get acclimated to his new squad.

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Rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson has made the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' initial 53-man roster after an impressive preseason. A seventh-round draft pick, Johnson earned his spot over Trey Palmer, who had flashed in his two seasons with the team but has since landed in New Orleans. With Jalen McMillan (neck) on Injured Reserve and Chris Godwin (ankle) expected to miss the first month of the 2025 campaign, Johnson could earn opportunities immediately. Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka should be quarterback Baker Mayfield's top weapons, but the Buccaneers will need more pass-catchers to step up if they hope to repeat the success they found through the air last season. Johnson's utilization in the early weeks is worth keeping an eye on in all fantasy formats.

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The Tennessee Titans signed wide receiver Xavier Restrepo to their practice squad after the rookie failed to make the team's initial 53-man roster. Restrepo, who signed with Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in April, appeared in three preseason contests and logged three receptions for 26 yards on six targets. He could eventually reunite on the field with his college quarterback, Cameron Ward, but the 23-year-old still needs to prove he's NFL-ready. It's worth noting that the Titans lack established receiving options outside of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, but rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike did make the roster heading into Week 1. For now, Restrepo should be viewed strictly as a deep dynasty stash.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III (ankle, foot) returned to practice earlier this week after missing some time due to an injury he suffered in the team's second preseason game. The Eastern Washington product told reporters he is "absolutely healthy" on Wednesday, a day after he officially made the Patriots' 53-man roster. Veterans Stefon Diggs (knee) and DeMario Douglas are expected to lead New England's receiver corps, while Chism will compete with fellow rookie Kyle Williams (head/undisclosed), Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins for snaps. With Kendrick Bourne recently released, Chism could see early opportunities, making his usage worth monitoring across all fantasy formats.

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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard (hand) told the Pat McAfee Show that he is taking an important step in his recovery from a broken bone in his right hand. "I'm back to throwing this week," Howard said on Friday. "So it's feeling good, going in the right direction." Howard suffered the injury to his throwing hand on Aug. 5, knocking him out for most of training camp and the entire preseason. The Steelers placed Howard on Injured Reserve on Thursday, meaning the sixth-round pick from Ohio State is guaranteed to miss at least the first four weeks of the season. Even if Howard returns in 2025, it's doubtful that the 23-year-old will see much action as a rookie (if any). The Steelers are entering the season with Aaron Rodgers as their starter and an experienced backup in Mason Rudolph, leaving Howard in a developmental role.

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The Seattle Seahawks signed rookie running back Damien Martinez to their practice squad earlier this week. Martinez joined the Seahawks as a seventh-round pick from Miami in this year's draft, but he was unable to earn a spot on their season-opening 53-man roster. The 6-foot, 217-pounder spent his first two seasons in college at Oregon State before transferring last year. He racked up back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and totaled 19 touchdowns from 2023-24. In his first preseason with the Seahawks, Martinez saw a significant amount of action. The 21-year-old carried the ball a team-high 24 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Seahawks in receptions (six) and added another 43 yards through the air. While he'll try to work his way up to the roster, the Seahawks will enter the season with Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, and George Holani as their top three RBs.

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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has "gained a lot of trust from the coaching staff just in terms of how he worked, and we feel good about it," assistant general manager Glenn Cook said. After setting a college football record with 63 starts over six seasons divided among Central Florida, Oklahoma, and Oregon, the third-round pick impressed the Browns' coaches enough to beat out fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders and now-Las Vegas Raider Kenny Pickett for the backup QB job. The new role doesn't faze Gabriel, who told Zac Jackson of The Athletic: "It's not daunting. I have ultimate confidence in myself and who I am." Gabriel looked decent in two preseason games, going 25-for-37 for 272 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him starting at some point in 2025. The only real roadblock is 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco, a stopgap who has played in nine or fewer games in seven straight seasons.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has consistently targeted wide receiver DK Metcalf near the goal line in training camp. If that continues during the regular season, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound Metcalf could be in line for his first season of 10-plus touchdowns since 2021, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic argues. Metcalf, acquired in the offseason from the Seattle Seahawks, has averaged 73 catches, 1,054 yards, and eight scores per season since entering the NFL in 2019. While that's impressive production, Metcalf could improve on it as the leader of a Pittsburgh receiving corps that lacks proven options behind him. After back-to-back 66-catch seasons, Metcalf is going into 2025 as RotoBaller's 30th-ranked receiver.

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According to Grant Cohn of SI, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings may have already "played in his final game" with the team. The wideout is looking to be traded or receive an extension. However, none of that has happened. There's also a scenario where Jennings could sit out this season, meaning "he'll make lots of money to do nothing." If that happens, he would be healthy next offseason and potentially command north of $20 million per year. All of this is speculation on Cohn's part, but, so far, there doesn't appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel in this situation. Jennings is still battling the calf injury, so his status for Week 1 is up in the air. If he's not out there, Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle are the favorites to get more attention from Brock Purdy. Jennings finished last season by catching 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns, all the highest marks of his career.

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Jon Machota of The Athletic believes Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin could score "at least" eight touchdowns in 2025. He was used "in a variety of ways" during training camp, including "as a running back" and a "big-play option down the field in the passing game." As a result, Machota feels the wideout "is in position to have his most impactful season to date." Turpin is coming off his most productive year in the National Football League. He appeared in all 17 regular-season contests, amassing 31 catches for 420 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens as the primary receiving options. However, if one of them goes down with an injury, the door may be open for Turpin to see an increase in scoring chances. While that may not be beneficial for fantasy managers to begin the 2025 campaign, he's worth stashing in deeper formats.

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Dan Wiederer of The Athletic believes Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift could surpass 1,500 yards from scrimmage this season. While that mark may not be realistic, there are more than a few reasons to believe Swift might be in line for his best year to date. Ben Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and new Bears head coach, was instrumental in the success of Jamaal Williams, David Montgomery, and Jahmyr Gibbs. With Johnson "devoted" to the run and the Bears lacking proven depth in the backfield, the door is open for Swift to thrive. The 26-year-old has bounced around the National Football League since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In 73 regular-season contests with the Lions, Eagles, and Bears, he's accumulated 3,688 yards and 29 touchdowns off 846 carries, adding eight more scores as a pass-catcher. Quarterback Caleb Williams will certainly get his opportunities to run in 2025. However, Swift should remain atop the depth chart as long as he's productive. If not, rookie Kyle Monangai could be the favorite to take over in the backfield.

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Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike will begin the season as the team's punt returner, according to Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi. Dike was an experienced return man in college at Florida and has reportedly looked good in practice. The rookie will have a tough time earning a heavy amount of snaps on offense early on, but he can be impactful on special teams. He earned two snaps with the starters in the team's last preseason game in the place of Van Jefferson. The fourth-rounder likely projects to be the primary backup to Tyler Lockett in the slot, and could emerge if he is productive with his touches. He isn't draftable in redraft leagues at this moment.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane has caught the eye of many in training camp and preseason, including head coach Dan Quinn. Quinn has been encouraged by the rookie's continued ascent as both a receiver and returner. Lane has elite athletic traits with a 9.68 Relative Athletic Score and is dynamic with the ball in his hands. The Virginia Tech product has 4.34 speed with a 40-inch vertical, and the opportunity to run a decent amount of routes in a projected top offense. The coaching staff has been using him more frequently on the outside as opposed to the slot, most notably in the team's second preseason game against the Bengals. Two of his three receptions in the game were from the outside, and he showed nuance as a route runner, leveraging his speed to create separation in the intermediate range of the field. Lane is worth keeping on the watch list early on and as the season progresses in redraft leagues.

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Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been developing a strong connection with fellow rookie Cam Ward, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Ayomanor has consistently impressed coaches during camp, and he said, "don't be surprised" if the fourth-rounder is the number two receiver. Veteran Calvin Ridley is entrenched as the team's number one, but Ayomanor has a promising prospect profile and has been flashing throughout training camp and preseason. He totaled five catches for 72 yards on nine targets in the preseason, catching multiple passes from Ward. The Stanford product faces little competition for a steady number of routes, with only veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson plus rookie Chimere Dike in the mix. The target competition is thin as well, with Ridley demanding a decent share along with Chig Okonkwo, but there is an opportunity to emerge. He's a great dart throw with one of the last picks in drafts.

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