With the first full week of the NFL preseason officially wrapped, it’s time to dive into the key fantasy football takeaways we can use to better inform our 2026 season.
Be sure to check out how this updated information affects our Depth Charts, Rankings, and Projections as we continue to make updates throughout the next few weeks heading into Week 1.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
LINEBACKER
The Cardinals’ LB2 battle is one of real interest for IDP managers as Mack Wilson is the lone locked-in starter at the position.
Wilson played the entire first drive (10 defensive snaps) alongside Jack Gibbens, who now appears to be the favorite for that LB2 role.
Gibbens played just 70% of the defensive snaps on that first drive, indicating that the LB2 role in this defense will once again be more of a deep-league option.
Cody Simon came on for the second drive alongside Gibbens, who stayed in the game once Mack Wilson’s night was done.
Gibbens should be drafted ahead of Simon with this development.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Baron Browning didn’t play in this game, as he’s “day-to-day” with an injury.
Josh Sweat also didn’t appear in this one, so Zaven Collins started and played the first drive of the game (70%).
Collins remains a potential sleeper candidate for IDP if he can lock down that starting spot and continue to improve as a pass rusher, as he did last season.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Budda Baker didn’t play in this game.
Andrew Wingard and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson both started in this one, though it was Wingard who got the starter’s “rest” treatment first, playing just the first drive before his night was done.
Taylor-Demerson remained in the game and is clearly behind Wingard on the depth chart.
Wingard appears to be the favorite to replace the departed Jalen Thompson, while Taylor-Demerson will just have to wait a while longer before his IDP potential can be realized.
Wingard can be had for free in drafts right now.
ATLANTA FALCONS
LINEBACKER
Divine Deablo continues to miss time with injury, so he didn’t play in this game.
Rookie fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels got the start in Deablo’s place and wore the green dot.
This was great intel for IDP managers in case Deablo misses more time or goes down during the season, as Daniels should be his immediate replacement in a full-time role.
Considering the team’s trust in him, it will be interesting to see whether the team also prefers him as a starter next to Deablo once he’s healthy, but we won’t know that for sure until Deablo is back in the lineup.
Christian Harris is the supposed LB2 in Atlanta at the moment, but his stock took a pretty big hit as he rotated heavily with rookie Harold Perkins Jr. next to Daniels throughout the first three drives of the game.
Harris and Perkins both remained in the game once Daniels’ night was done.
Based on this, I’d be avoiding Harris in most IDP formats, and likely prefer Daniels for the full-time role upside in those deeper leagues.
DEFENSIVE LINE
With Jalon Walker done for the year and James Pearce Jr. suspended for the first eight games of the season, the Falcons EDGE group has room for a volume-heavy IDP option that we can utilize as depth in non-shallow formats.
Samson Ebukam and Cameron Thomas got the first nods to start this game, with Ebukam getting the starter’s “rest” treatment first.
Azeez Ojulari did rotate in on that first drive, though he played later into the game and appears to be behind Ebukam and Thomas at the moment.
Ebukam would be the preferred IDP option at this point for IDP managers looking for the next man up in Atlanta.
DEFENSIVE BACK
None of Atlanta’s starting secondary played in this game.
Billy Bowman Jr. opened training camp on the PUP list, though there’s still some hope that he’ll be ready for Week 1.
Bowman is expected to be the team’s starting nickel defender, though if he doesn’t make it back in time for Week 1, Darnay Holmes got the first looks in that role in nickel, and could be a waiver wire target in deep CB-required formats in the meantime.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
LINEBACKERS
Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, and Trenton Simpson did not play in this game.
Jay Higgins got the start and the green dot, playing alongside Dominic DeLuca.
Higgins appeared in the first 15 snaps of this game, though he picked up an injury in the second quarter and did not return.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The large majority of expected starters along the Ravens’ defensive line did not play in this game, including Trey Hendrickson.
The lone exception was second-year player Mike Green, who seemed to rotate drives into the second quarter of this game.
Rookie second-round pick from this year, Zion Young, also started this game alongside Green, and he, too, began to rotate drives in the first half.
Neither player was able to generate much, though Green had just three pass-rush attempts in this game compared to Young’s 16.
DEFENSIVE BACK
None of the expected starting corners or safeties for the Ravens appeared in this game, including Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey.
The Ravens starting cornerbacks in this one were all from the 2025 draft class: T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, and Bilhal Kone.
I just thought that was kind of a fun fact.
BUFFALO BILLS
LINEBACKER
Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams got the start in this game.
Williams and rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr have been battling for the LB2 role next to Bernard, and for now, Williams appears to have the leg up on the competition for now.
It’s still undecided, however, as Elarms-Orr played the second drive next to Bernard as the team rotated the two options through the first three drives.
The starters all played three full drives, which included Williams getting work next to Bernard on the third drive.
Williams stayed in for one more drive after Bernard was done for the day, playing alongside Keonta Jenkins on the fourth drive of the game before his day was done.
Unfortunately, Elarms-Orr came back in and played until the end of the third quarter, so Williams checks another box as the potential starter (for now).
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Bills played all of their defensive line starters, including Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, and even Ed Oliver.
It was encouraging to see Oliver get out there for a preseason game after a torn ACL ended his strong start to the 2025 season.
Oliver looks ready to go for Week 1 and should be a fringe weekly starting option in DT-required formats.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Geno Stone and Damar Hamlin got the start at safety.
Cole Bishop did not play in this game, as he appears not to be 100% healthy either.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson did not play in this game as he continues to work his way back from a calf strain sustained early in training camp.
Hamlin’s work as a starting safety came only because both Bishop and Gardner-Johnson were held out of this one.
Stone also looks like an odd man out once Bishop and Gardner-Johnson are healthy, as he played with the backups in the latter stages of the first half.
Dee Alford got the first snaps in the slot for the Bills’ nickel defense, though it will be interesting to monitor whether or not Gardner-Johnson is able to take that role along with his safety snaps.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
LINEBACKER
Devin Lloyd (green dot) and Claudin Cherelus started this game at linebacker.
Cherelus and Trevin Wallace have been in a battle for the team’s LB2 role next to Lloyd, though it appears that Cherelus is currently the front-runner to start.
Cherelus played all but one of the defensive snaps alongside Lloyd during the first two drives of the game, coming out on third-and-long.
Lloyd’s day was done after that third-and-long play, when he was replaced by Wallace.
Wallace looks to be firmly behind Cherelus at this point as he didn’t get on the field until Lloyd’s day was done.
Cherelus’ role is more than likely going to be a part-time one, making him an option in deep formats only.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Pat Jones II (illness) did not play in this game.
Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen started in this one, which is a nice boost to Umanmielen’s potential to win that ED2 spot if Jones is going to miss more time.
Umanmielen generated pressure on Josh Allen on that first drive, just missed wrapping him up and taking him down himself, though Phillips cleaned it up for a sack.
Umanmielen finished with a very solid 79.1 PFF pass-rush grade and three total pressures.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Tre’Von Moehrig and Nick Scott were the starting safeties, further solidifying what we saw from the Hall of Fame game, where Lathan Ransom is clearly viewed as a backup right now.
Scott should be the preferred IDP option in redraft formats over Ransom at this point.
Chau Smith-Wade appears to be the starting slot defender, with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson playing on the outside.
CHICAGO BEARS
LINEBACKER
T.J. Edwards did not play in this game.
D’Marco Jackson got the start with the green dot, alongside Devin Bush.
Bush is expected to be the locked-in starter alongside Edwards this season, though Jackson now at least appears to be the clear third IDP option from this group.
Jack Sanborn didn’t play the first drive of the game, entering the game on the second drive, along with Jackson and Bush, though not in an every-down role.
Sanborn looks to be the clear fourth option from this linebacker corps at the moment.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Montez Sweat didn’t play in this game.
The Bears are looking for a clear ED2 to start next to Sweat this season, and Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo look like the two best contenders for that spot.
They both started at EDGE, with Booker playing just eight snaps while Odeyingbo played slightly longer (12 snaps).
Neither player recorded a pressure in this game.
The Bears also remain in trade rumors for another starting EDGE, which makes it slightly difficult to get overly invested in any of the non-Montez Sweat options.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Rookie first-round pick Dillon Thieneman started this game along with Cam Lewis.
Lewis appears to be the second starting option at safety now that Coby Bryant is likely done for the season.
Lewis will be more of a deep-league option while Thieneman should be the more enticing target in most IDP formats.
With Kyler Gordon also currently sidelined due to injury, rookie fourth-round pick out of Texas, Malik Muhammad, got the start in the slot.
Muhammad could have value in CB-required formats if Gordon continues to miss time (as is the norm for him), especially in Dennis Allen’s slot-friendly defense for IDP.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
LINEBACKER
Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. got the start in this game, playing all nine defensive snaps.
Last season, Knight came off the field in certain situations, which could still happen this season.
Carter continues to wear the green dot, and Knight’s every-down role this week doesn’t necessarily mean that’ll continue across a full regular season game.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy got the start at EDGE, with Murphy being the lone starter to generate a pressure.
Mafe is the safest IDP option to target from this Bengals’ EDGE group, and it appears that Murphy remains the second-best bet for now.
Rookie Cashius Howell got work once the starters came out and earned a respectable 75.8 PFF pass-rush grade and one pressure.
Shemar Stewart didn’t play in this game.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Bryan Cook didn’t play in this game.
Jordan Battle and Kyle Dugger started and played together on the first two drives.
Dugger stayed on for one more drive once Battle came out of the game.
Cook should be a clear starter here at safety with Battle set for the other spot.
The only question will be whether the coaching staff mixes in Dugger at times to limit Battle and some of the issues that plagued him last season.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
LINEBACKER
Carson Schwesinger didn’t play in this game.
Quincy Williams started alongside Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Winston Reid.
Reid rotated off the field from that group while Williams and Mascarenas-Arnold stayed on.
Williams’ day was done after the first drive while Reid and Mascarenas-Arnold stayed on beyond that.
Rookie Justin Jefferson appears to be buried on the depth chart at the moment, but that could change if one (or both) of Reid or Mascarenas-Arnold don’t make the team.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jared Verse and Alex Wright played just three defensive snaps before their day was done.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham started and was able to deliver a QB hit on the first third down of the game to force an incompletion.
Graham was a workhorse in Year 1, though that didn’t translate to IDP.
He’ll look to turn that playing time into production this season and could be a value in DT-required formats.
The Browns are expected to sign and reunite with free EDGE Za’Darius Smith, which likely hurts Alex Wright’s sleeper potential, as he was set for a volume-heavy role this season, though that’s now in jeopardy.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman both started in this game.
They played only the first drive, with Hickman getting the more ideal usage for IDP closer to the line of scrimmage, though it’s an extremely small sample size (three snaps).
Rookie second-round pick Emmanuel McNeil-Warren came into the game on the second drive, playing 36 total snaps on the day with 36% coming in the box.
DALLAS COWBOYS
LINEBACKER
DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, and Jaishawn Barham were all held out of this game.
It seems these three will be the Cowboys’ starters come opening night, barring a big addition to the roster (Bobby Wagner, for instance).
Shemar James, Curtis Robinson, and Marist Liufau served as the direct replacements for the starting three.
Liufau played almost exclusively on the edge, which we can likely assume will be the case for Barham once he’s in the lineup as well.
This was something that Barham was no stranger to during his final year at Michigan, playing mostly as an EDGE (81%).
We don’t necessarily love this usage for our linebackers in IDP, so Barham will likely be a very deep-league-only option.
DEFENSIVE LINE
News came Sunday that the Cowboys signed free agent Von Miller to add to their pass-rush rotation.
With Rashan Gary likely the lone clear starter heading into Week 1, this addition muddies the water even further for the likes of Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, and LT Overton.
Miller is well past his prime, but he’s bound to get enough work to limit the rest’s ceiling.
The rookies, Lawrence and Overton, got the start in this game while Ezeiruaku did not play.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson did not play in this game.
Rookie first-round pick Caleb Downs did play in the first drive of this game, lining up almost exclusively as a deep safety.
It’s worth noting that Downs is expected to work more in the slot, but likely because Hooker and Thompson didn’t play, his usage was more a necessity than a plan.
It seems the only plan for Downs this week was to give him a taste of the action, as he only appeared for the first seven snaps of the game, which didn’t even make up the entire first defensive drive.
The Cowboys clearly had him on a pitch count to just give him a small taste of action, without being too risky.
DENVER BRONCOS
LINEBACKER
Alex Singleton wore the green dot and played an every-down role through the first three drives of this game before his night was done.
Justin Strnad started alongside Singleton, though he came off the field on the third-and-long plays in the first two drives, which indicates that his usage from last season isn’t likely to change.
Strnad’s inefficiency as a tackler combined with a part-time role should keep his value limited to very deep leagues only.
There was talk of Jonah Elliss training at inside linebacker and getting work there this season, though that didn’t happen in this game.
Elliss appeared with the backups and played 20 defensive snaps, all of which were at EDGE, not even dropping into coverage on any of those passing downs.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper both started in this game, with Cooper getting a little extra work.
Cooper could face suspension this season due to multiple arrests earlier this year.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Ja’Quan McMillian appears locked in as the team’s starting nickel defender, while 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron no longer appears to be a threat to that role.
Barron came on with the backups and played almost exclusively at outside corner.
McMillian should be the CB2 for IDP in Denver, behind Riley Moss.
Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones started at safety, playing all three of the first defensive drives.
Jones stayed on for one more drive after Hufanga’s night was done.
DETROIT LIONS
LINEBACKER
Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez all sat this one out.
Devin White started this game with the rest of the backups, including Joe Bachie.
As long as Barnes and Rodriguez are healthy, White mostly feels like depth for this Lions linebacker corps that saw long-time starter Alex Anzalone depart in free agency.
After Campbell, Barnes appears to be the safest option for IDP.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Lions really didn’t show much on the defensive line, with Derrick Moore, D.J. Wonnum, and Payton Turner all out for this game, and the best bets for the ED2 spot next to Aidan Hutchinson.
DEFENSIVE BACK
With Brian Branch unlikely to start the season as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles, and with Kerby Joseph also still recovering from injury, Chuck Clark and Thomas Harper were the starting safeties.
Clark got the starter’s “rest” treatment first in this game while Harper stayed on and played the rest of the first half.
Clark would be worthy of an add in deeper IDP formats as the Branch replacement for now.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
LINEBACKER
Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper played one drive as the starters, totaling three defensive snaps.
Franklin wore the green dot.
All we’re really looking for in this situation is whether or not Cooper comes off the field in certain looks, which would push him out of LB1 contention for IDP.
So far, so good, though.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Lukas Van Ness started in this one along with Barryn Sorrell.
Rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton didn’t suit up for this game, though he’s been discussed as a potential starter for Week 1 with Micah Parsons set to miss the first month or so of the season.
Dennis-Sutton was highlighted as a rookie sleeper for us back in May, and should get an early opportunity to showcase that ability alongside Van Ness early in 2026.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Javon Bullard didn’t suit up for this game, though he’s likely locked in as the team’s starting nickel defender.
Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney played the three “starters” snaps on the first drive before their nights were done, so nothing new there.
Keisean Nixon and rookie Brandon Cisse appear to be the favorites to start at outside corner, though that may be a position the coaching staff wants to take a longer look at, as both players played the entire second drive as well.
HOUSTON TEXANS
LINEBACKERS
Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o both sat this game out, as they’re locked into the starting spots.
LB3 in Houston still appears up for grabs with E.J. Speed nursing an injury and rookie Wade Woodaz knocking on the door.
Woodaz is a fourth-round pick out of Clemson and started this game alongside Marte Mapu and Jake Hummel.
Woodaz didn’t perform particularly well in the PFF grades, finishing with just a 39.0 overall grade and 38.0 coverage grade.
It’s a very limited sample on 21 total snaps, and perhaps the silver lining here for Woodaz is that he got the starters' “rest” treatment ahead of both Hummel and Mapu, who stayed in the game for several more plays.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and Jadeveon Clowney did not appear in this game.
The Texans’ highly-drafted rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald got work as a starter, playing 22 snaps in the first half, though nothing notable in the score sheet.
DEFENSIVE BACK
No starters at DB for the Texans in this one, though fifth-round rookie Kamari Ramsey started and had himself a nice showing.
Ramsey played 27 defensive snaps, recorded an interception, and was one of the highest-graded players from this past weekend, according to PFF, with a 94.8 overall grade.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
LINEBACKER
Akeem Davis-Gaither and CJ Allen did not play in this game.
Davis-Gaither does not appear to be injured, so his being held out of this one suggests confidence in his starting role ahead of rookie Bryce Boettcher, who has been impressing in camp.
Boettcher did start in this game alongside Austin Ajiake, playing well over 30 defensive snaps each.
Boettcher can always overtake Davis-Gaither for the LB2 role in this defense at any point, though he should only be considered a rookie stash for now, while Davis-Gaither holds some deep sleeper value late in drafts.
DEFENSIVE LINE
None of the Colts’ expected starters along the defensive line played in this game, including Laiatu Latu, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Arden Key.
Last year’s second-round pick JT Tuimolau got the start in this one, which would indicate he’s still behind Key on the depth chart.
Tuimolau had 26 pass-rush opportunities in this game and failed to register a pressure.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Rookie A.J. Haulcy started this game alongside Jonathan Owens. Cam Bynum didn’t play.
Haulcy played the entire first quarter, while Owens went one drive more into the second quarter.
Haulcy’s usage wasn’t nearly as encouraging as we'd hoped, as he played 61% of his snaps from a deep alignment, which we’ll hope isn't his role come Week 1.
We won’t necessarily know for sure until Bynum is also in the lineup, but if Lou Anaroumo was going to use Haulcy more as his Nick Cross replacement, then it would at least be nice to see some favorable usage to indicate so.
When Haulcy did play in the box, he was often being used in man coverage, which is also slightly less ideal, so this first week is somewhat of a red flag that we’ll have to keep an eye on.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
LINEBACKER
Foyesade Oluokun didn’t play in this game.
Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs got the start, along with Yasir Abdullah.
After the second defensive drive of the game, in which Miller and Combs played 100% of the snaps together, they began to rotate drives.
Combs got the first drive with Miller replaced by Jahlani Tavai.
Miller played the next drive into the second quarter with Tavai as his partner.
This rotation continued for almost the entire first half, with the exception being that Combs’ last defensive snap came with about 4:58 remaining in the second quarter, while Miller played two more drives to close out that first half.
This LB2 job very much seems to be an ongoing competition, though it is noteworthy that Combs got the starter’s “rest” treatment first in this one.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Arik Armstead, and Davon Hamilton didn’t play in this game.
Ruke Orhorhoro got the start and looked decent in his opportunities, registering a sack to go along with three total pressures.
It’s just the preseason, but the interior of this Jaguars defensive line could use some support, and if Orhorhoro can continue to impress on his new team, he may push for starting snaps and be relevant in deeper DT-required formats.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Paul AtreidesTravis Hunter didn’t play in this game.None of the expected starters in the defensive secondary were active for this one, leaving little to pay attention to in this one.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
LINEBACKER
Nick Bolton played in this game, though his running mate, Drue Tranquill, did not.
Bolton only played the first drive before his night was done, which lasted all of three defensive snaps.
Jeffery Bassa started in place of Tranquill, which seems to give him the edge as Leo Chenal’s “next man up” replacement in case Tranquill were to miss any more time.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Chris Jones played the first defensive snap of this game, and that was it for him.
George Karlaftis played all three snaps on that first defensive drive before his night was done as well.
The more interesting question for Kansas City’s defensive line is who the other starting EDGE will be, along with Karlaftis.
If this game was any indication, it appears that Felix Anudike-Uzomah is the front-runner for that spot.
Anudike-Uzomah missed all of last season due to injury, so it’s promising to see that the former first-rounder is back contending for a starting spot ahead of this year’s second-round pick R Mason Thomas, and last year’s third-round pick, Ashton Gillotte, who didn’t play in this one.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Kader Kohou, L’Jarius Sneed, and Chamarri Conner didn’t play in this game.
Those three are some of the more interesting names in Kansas City’s secondary, so it would have been nice to see some usage there from them, but instead it was Alohi Gilman and Jaden Hicks at safety, and Christian Roland-Wallace in the slot.
Gilman got the starter’s “rest” treatment first as he’s expected to start alongside Conner at safety.
Hicks and Roland-Wallace are likely only waiver options for IDP in case of injury at this point and not worth rostering until needed.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
LINEBACKER
Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean started this game, playing every snap of the first drive.
Dean wore the green dot, as is expected for this season.
It’s an encouraging sign that both players played every-down roles, though with Dean wearing the dot, if a linebacker were to come off the field in certain packages, that would be Walker.
I’ll likely move Dean ahead of Walker for that small risk alone as the two were already pretty close.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Maxx Crosby didn’t play in this game.
Kwity Paye is expected to start along with Crosby come Week 1, and he played every snap of that first drive with the rest of the starters.
This included Malcolm Koonce, who should be the next man up if anything were to happen to Crosby and/or Paye.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Isaiah Pola-Mao versus rookie second-round pick Treydan Stukes is a potential battle worth monitoring, as Stukes did get some run with the first team in camp at times.
However, Pola-Mao got the start along with Jeremy Chinn, playing the entire first drive before his night was done.
Stukes played more of a slot-defender role, not with the first-team defense, which would indicate that he’s behind Taron Johnson for now.
There’s still some sorting to do with this secondary, but for now, Stukes is just a taxi squad stash while Pola-Mao is a deep-league safety option, and Taron Johnson should have value in CB-required formats again.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
LINEBACKER
Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman did not play in this game.
Troy Dye and Del’Shawn Phillips started, playing the entire first drive together before their night was done.
Junior Colson entered the game on the second defensive drive alongside Marlowe Wax…yeah, you can probably see where this is going.
Colson has not had a great start to his NFL career, which has included missing a ton of time due to injury, but even with a healthy offseason and a weak linebacker depth chart, he still appears to be buried, with his former Michigan head coach doing him no favors.
Not to overreact to one preseason game, but Colson might be cooked at this point barring a miracle turnaround.
DEFENSIVE LINE
With Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack sitting this one out, we got to see first-round EDGE Akheem Mesidor get the start.
Mesidor played nine total defensive snaps through the first two drives, and while he didn’t record a pressure, he was able to generate a solid 74.6 pass-rush grade on his five pass-rush snaps.
That likely came from a nice bull-rush win against the right tackle before the quarterback got the ball out, which nullified the pressure.
DEFENSIVE BACK
The starting outside corners and safeties for the Chargers didn’t play in this game, including Derwin James and Elijah Molden.
It’s relatively safe to assume that the Chargers’ defensive back depth chart remains pretty much the same as last season.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
LINEBACKER
I’ll be honest, I don’t know why I even bother including the Rams in this breakdown, as they don’t ever seem to play their starters in the preseason.
This was the case again, as Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Grant Stuard, and Shaun Dolac sat this one out.
There’s apparently some noise that Dolac got some first-team reps in place of Speights at camp, though for now, we’ll have to treat Speights as the front-runner until we see/hear official news otherwise.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Obviously, Myles Garrett and company didn’t play in this game.
The Rams brought in Aaron Donald for a second workout on Sunday, and the GOAT’s return is starting to look more and more likely.
If he’s still available on your waivers in DT-required leagues…hell, even in DL formats, make some room to stash him and hope that we get at least something resembling his past self.
DEFENSIVE BACK
There were truly no noteworthy players in this game from the Rams’ secondary.
I wouldn’t expect to see them until Week 1, along with the rest of the starters.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
LINEBACKER
Jordyn Brooks was not active for this game.
Tyrel Dodson wore the green dot and started alongside Willie Gay Jr., who were the starters at off-ball linebacker, playing every snap of the first drive with Trey Moore and Kyle Louis mixing in on base looks.
There was an intentional rotation with the dot as Jacob Rodriguez replaced Dodson on the second drive alongside Gay, with Moore and Louis continuing to work as the “SAM” linebacker in base.
This rotation continued for the five drives in the first half, with Dodson getting three drives and Rodriguez getting two.
Moore and Louis played into the second half.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Chop Robinson started in this game along with Josh Uche at EDGE.
If you need something to get excited about with Robinson and don’t care about small sample sizes, then know that PFF gave him an 87.2 pass-rush grade (4 total pass-rush snaps, one of which resulted in a pressure).
DEFENSIVE BACK
Rookie first-round pick Chris Johnson is the favorite to play Miami’s slot defender role this season.
Johnson played an every-down role through the first three drives of this game, getting work in the slot (50%) and staying on the field in non-nickel situations, playing outside and in the box.
This is the ideal usage we’re looking for from our IDP cornerbacks, and Johnson is going to see a boost in my rankings as a result.
Dante Trader Jr. didn’t play this game as the team’s lone locked-in starting safety.
Zayne Anderson and rookie Michael Taaffe got the start with Anderson leaving the game first for the starter’s “rest” treatment.
Taaffe played later drives with Lonnie Johnson Jr. while Anderson was out of the game.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
LINEBACKER
Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson started the game and played only the first drive.
Cashman and Wilson played every-down roles with the starters while Ivan Pace Jr. rotated in base personnel on that first drive.
Pace and rookie Jake Golday were the next off-ball linebackers up after Cashman and Wilson were done.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner started along with Jalen Redmond on the interior.
Van Ginkel played just three defensive snaps before his day was over. I’m not sure if he wasn’t feeling great, but wasn’t moving well, and his day at least appeared to end prematurely considering the rest of the starters finished that first drive.
Turner registered a sack to end the first defensive drive of the game.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson got the start at safety.
They played one drive with the starters before their days were done.
Jamal Adams entered on the second drive of the game, though he suffered an apparently serious right knee injury that saw him carted off the field.
Adams was looking like the potential third safety in Brian Flores’ defense, with decent IDP usage to boot, but he is now done for the year, unfortunately.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
LINEBACKER
The Patriots sat all of their expected starters in this game, including expected LB2 Christian Elliss, who is currently dealing with an injury and missed some time in practice as well.
DEFENSIVE LINE
With all the expected starters out for this game, rookie second-round pick Gabe Jacas got the start, playing 25 total defensive snaps.
15 of Jacas’ snaps were spent rushing the passer, though he was unable to generate a pressure in this one.
DEFENSIVE BACK
With Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson out of this game, Dell Pettus started alongside Mike Brown.
This is a relatively thin safety group for a potential Super Bowl contender, and they could use some added depth there.
However, in the event of injury to one of the starters, Pettus or Brown make the most sense as the next man up.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
LINEBACKER
Kaden Elliss, Pete Werner, and Danny Stutsman didn’t suit up for this game.
Jaylan Ford was the green dot among the backups, playing alongside Isaiah Stalbird.
These are not names to be aware of barring significant injuries to all the starters.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Cameron Jordan all sat this game out.
Undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, Michael Heldman, got decent playing time in the first half (though not a starter), and was able to register two sacks to go along with four pressures and an 88.3 PFF pass-rush grade.
Heldman finished his college career with a strong season in 2025, earning a 92.9 pass-rush grade to go along with 12 sacks.
His plays popped this week against backups, so it’s nothing to get overly excited about, but I wanted to write about someone from this team, so there you have it.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Jonas Sanker didn’t play, which is unfortunate as we’re looking to monitor his usage as the new “star” defender in Brandon Staley’s defense.
Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon didn’t play either, so we won’t know exactly what Sanker’s usage will look like (aside from mostly slot) until all three are active together.
NEW YORK GIANTS
LINEBACKER
Tremaine Edmunds didn’t play in this game.
Rookie top-five pick Arvell Reese got the start next to Micah McFadden, who wore the green dot.
Reese played 100% of the defensive snaps with McFadden through the first two drives, all at off-ball linebacker with no work on the EDGE.
Reese only played the first two drives while McFadden remained in the game for the rest of the second half alongside Jack Kelly.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux played in this game; Brian Burns did not.
Thibodeaux’s day was done after the first drive of the game.
Carter played two drives before his day was done.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Jevon Holland did not play in this game.
Tyler Nubin started along with Ar’Darius Washington at safety.
Nubin played much later into the game after Washington’s day was done, which would suggest that his job isn’t necessarily as safe as we’ve come to assume.
I’m not ready to swap Nubin for Washington in my ranks just yet, but this is at least enough to move Nubin down for now.
NEW YORK JETS
LINEBACKER
Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood started this game, playing 100% of the snaps through the first two drives.
Davis wore the green dot, which would only hurt Sherwood’s value if the team decides they’re going to use more one-linebacker looks this year.
I wouldn’t expect Aaron Glenn to show many of those looks with his starters in the preseason, but it’ll still be worth monitoring going forward.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Rookie second-overall pick David Bailey and Will McDonald were the starters at EDGE through the first two drives, playing every snap.
Bailey helped generate one pressure while McDonald came away with a sack in their limited playing time this week.
Bailey would still be my preferred option of the two for IDP this season, though both players are likely to be more ED3 types for redraft this season.
Bailey more so due to it being his first year in the league and still developing, while McDonald is a lot more boom-bust for IDP with a limited tackle floor.
DEFENSIVE BACK
As expected, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Andre Cisco were the starting safeties for the Jets.
Malachi Moore and Dane Belton played with the backups, which included Cisco for a stint.
Cisco played with Belton for a drive before his night ended and was replaced by Moore.
For now, it seems like Moore is fourth on the depth chart and Belton would be the next man up in case of injury to a starter.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LINEBACKER
Zack Baun didn’t play in this game.
Jihaad Campbell got the start in this one next to Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for the first two drives of the game, playing 100% of snaps.
Once Campbell left the game, Trotter stayed in with Smael Mondon Jr. replacing Campbell.
We know Campbell is in for a full-time starting role this season, so nothing really changes here; it’s just a matter of how much he’ll be used as a blitzer in Vic Fangio’s defense that could swing his IDP value in either direction.
Campbell had no blitz attempts in this game, playing a more typical off-ball linebacker role, which is typically better for tackle efficiency.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and Jalyx Hunt all sat this one out.
That’s essentially all of the Eagles’ IDP-relevant defensive linemen, leaving Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa as the starters in this one.
Both players have had moments of IDP relevancy in the past, though the Eagles’ depth chart is unlikely to allow them to crack any IDP lineups this season.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Cooper DeJean didn’t play in this game, which was the case for the rest of the Eagles’ starting secondary.
We’re ideally looking to see which of Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba will cede snaps so DeJean can get more looks at safety, as is expected.
It’s likely Epps that will draw the short straw if we have to bet, but it would still be good to get some clarity there before Week 1.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
LINEBACKER
Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson got the start and played all 12 defensive snaps through the first two defensive drives of the game.
This is encouraging for Wilson’s potential to see an increased role in Year 3, with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham taking over the defense.
I’m not going to get too excited just yet, however, as the Steelers have pulled the rug out from under us before, and we shouldn’t expect teams to show us their true intentions and rotations during the preseason.
Still, I’ll take encouraging usage over concerning usage any day of the week.
DEFENSIVE LINE
T.J. Watt didn’t play in this game.
Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig started on the edge, though there wasn’t anything noteworthy from this duo on their 10 defensive snaps.
DEFENSIVE BACK
DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, and Jalen Ramsey didn’t play in this one.
I’d personally like to see if we get any clear-cut usage in the box or around the line of scrimmage toward one of Elliott or Brisker’s favor, though I think it’ll be close between the two all season.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
LINEBACKER
Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw sat out for this game.
Rookie Jaden Dugger and Garrett Wallow started the game in the team’s nickel defense with Nick Martin rotating on in base personnel.
Martin was getting reported as the team’s base-down linebacker, and that could still be possible even with this usage with the backups.
Martin could still be an NFL starter, though for IDP, it’ll likely be very limited snaps and irrelevant for most formats.
Tatum Bethune worked as Fred Warner’s direct backup last season, though he appears to have fallen down the depth chart, playing behind the likes of Dugger, Wallow, and Martin in this game and into the second half.
Bethune is a droppable piece for IDP managers in deeper leagues who have been holding out hope for his role to continue into 2026.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are both nursing injuries, so it’s no surprise they didn’t suit up for this game.
Rookie Romello Height was banged up early in training camp but was able to start this game alongside veteran Ogbo Okoronkwo.
Height didn’t do much on his 18 total snaps, which included 13 pass-rush snaps.
Okoronkwo was able to pick up a sack, though that came in the third quarter.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Malik Mustapha continues to nurse an injury that’s kept him out of camp and this game.
Mustapha has IDP sleeper potential, but if he’s not healthy soon, he could lose his job to second-year player Marques Sigle.
Sigle started this game alongside Ashtyn Davis.
Ji’Ayir Brown is the other expected starter, though he didn’t play in this game either.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
LINEBACKER
Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas did not play in this game.
Tyrice Knight and Patrick O’Connell got the start, playing the first 26 defensive snaps of the game together.
Knight and O’Connell are the clear backups right now in case anything were to happen to Jones or Thomas.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Leonard Williams, Uchenna Nwosu, Byron Murphy, Derick Hall, and DeMarcus Lawrence all sat this game out.
Without those five, it’s clear that Seattle’s defensive line depth is pretty sorely lacking, as Mike Morris and Jared Ivey were the starters in this game on the edge while Rylie Mills and Brandon Pili played inside.
Seattle will need their starters to stay healthy to defend their crown this year.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Newly-paid Devon Witherspoon didn’t play in this game. Neither did Nick Emmanwori or Julian Love.
Rookie second-round pick Bud Clark got the start and played 45 defensive snaps, playing more than three-quarters of his snaps as a deep safety (76%).
Clark didn’t really do much of note in this game — I actually don’t believe he even registered a tackle — though he should be in the running as a direct backup at safety in case something happens to Emmanwori or Love.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
LINEBACKER
Alex Anzalone, Christian Rozeboom, and SirVocea Dennis all sat out this game.
Rookie second-round pick Josiah Trotter got the start alongside Nick Jackson, with Trotter wearing the green dot.
Both players played every snap of the first two defensive drives, though Jackson stayed in for a few more drives.
It seems that the choice for LB2 right now is between Rozeboom and Dennis, but it’s difficult to believe that Trotter doesn’t take over that spot sooner rather than later.
Trotter finished with an 82.4 PFF grade, for what it’s worth — the highest mark among the linebackers in Tampa this week.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Rookie first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. didn’t play in this game.
Bain and Yaya Diaby, who also didn’t play, are locked into the starting spots at EDGE.
Anthony Nelson and David Walker appear to be next in line behind them, as they started this game ahead of the rest of the backups.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Jacob Parrish didn’t play in this game, which is unfortunate as we look to parse out whether he’ll still be playing in the slot along with his new outside corner duties.
It wouldn’t be unusual for that to be Parrish’s role, but Keionte Scott was drafted in the fourth round this year and has been getting plenty of work in the slot himself.
Scott played and started in this game, lining up for 26 of his 28 total snaps in the slot.
TENNESSEE TITANS
LINEBACKER
Cody Barton and Cedric Gray were the clear starters in this game, playing every snap of the first three defensive drives together before ending their night.
This was encouraging data to get for Gray, in particular, who did not rotate off the field for either James Williams or Anthony Hill.
Not that many teams would show us those looks in the preseason, but it’s still a good sign either way.
Where most of my encouragement came from Gray’s potential usage going forward was that James Williams did enter the game on the third defensive drive, not at the cost of Gray’s playing time, but rather as a third linebacker on the field.
Williams was listed behind Mohamoud Diabate as the team’s LB3, though Diabate did not play in this game, dealing with an injury.
I am beginning to feel better about moving Gray up my rankings, and more usage like this, staying on the field for every snap, will only continue to push him up my ranks into LB1 territory.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jermaine Johnson and rookie first-round pick Keldrick Faulk got the start in this game.
This was a positive sign for Faulk, who was previously listed behind Jacob Martin on the team’s first unofficial depth chart.
Martin didn’t appear in this game as he is “day-to-day” with an injury.
Faulk stayed in the game after Johnson departed for the day with the rest of the starters, like Jeffery Simmons.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Gus Bradley’s strong safety is the one to watch for this preseason, with my personal hopes weighted heavily in Kevin Winston Jr. over Amani Hooker.
With both players starting in this game, we got a potential taste of what’s to come, and I don’t necessarily like what I see for Winston’s ultimate IDP potential this year.
Winston and Hooker both played 26 defensive snaps, with Winston lining up in the box on just 38% of his snaps compared to Hooker’s 58% in the box.
It’s early, it’s preseason, and the sample size is small, but it’s the only real evidence we have right now that Hooker might be a better IDP option than originally expected, and the opposite could be the case for Winston.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
LINEBACKER
Frankie Luvu didn’t play in this game. He’s familiar with Dan Quinn’s defense and got the rest treatment along with several other defensive starters (Odafe Oweh, Dorance Armstrong, Nick Cross, etc.)
Sonny Styles started alongside Leo Chenal, playing every snap of the first defensive drive.
Styles wore the green dot and played two snaps on the edge in goal-line looks. Chenal played one snap on the edge.
Without Luvu in the lineup, it’s difficult to tell exactly how this LB corps will be deployed, though it at least seems like Luvu’s role is safe and he is in contention to wear the dot.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Most of the starters didn’t play in this game.
Jer’Zhan Newton did play and suffered a pec injury that will require surgery and end his season.
Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne are the expected starters on the interior of Washington’s defensive line.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Nick Cross and Jeremy Reaves didn’t play in this game
Will Harris and Quan Martin were the starters, with the rest of the backups, suggesting that Reaves is expected to start alongside Cross come Week 1.
Jesus Christ this is good stuff. I want to spread the word, but also don't tell my leaguemates about this.
Very thorough Jon, great work as always. It is everything I wanted to know but was afraid to ask 😉