In a blink of an eye, we’re already at the final NFL preseason games. With the preseason wrapping up, I wanted to increase the number of rookies to monitor to eight, with more preseason reps and practice reports giving more of an indication of teams’ plans for some of their players. While most of these players likely won’t have much, if any, impact this season, they could be stashes and insurance plans for managers with starters ahead of them. So, let’s get to these rookies and get ready for the regular season!

1. Drake Maye

(QB - New England Patriots)

Vs Washington Commanders on 8/25 at 8 PM EST

Drake Maye is the only name on this list who could be a starter in week one and could be a starter for the majority of the season. While I have firmly believed that the New England Patriots will go with Jacoby Brissett to start the season and turn to Drake Maye later in the season, week two made me start to question this take and may make the Patriots question that approach as well.

While Brissett led the team to the red zone in the team’s second drive, it was thanks to the short field provided to them from the punt return and the ground game that led the team to the red zone. While eight yards from the end zone, Brissett made a critical mistake and threw an interception that was nearly a pick-six.

Outside of that single red zone throw, Jacoby Brissett seemed late in his reads, had questionable ball placement, and didn’t seem overly confident out there behind the shaky New England Patriots offensive line. Despite the offensive line play, Drake Maye showed good pocket awareness that rivaled some of his best moments in the pocket in college and included some darts.

If Maye continues to have these flashes and Brissett continues to struggle, it may be harder and harder for the team to justify sitting Maye. The new staff will have a long leash and should have patience to ensure the offensive line is capable enough of protecting their franchise quarterback. However, I think the team won’t be afraid to turn to Maye sooner rather than later at this rate.

2. Carson Steele

(RB - Kansas City Chiefs)

Vs Chicago Bears on 8/22 at 8:20 PM EST

After months of some hype surrounding Deneric Price and Louis Rees-Zammit, it seems Carson Steele may have actually been the back who established himself behind Isiah Pacheco. In the last preseason game, Steele was the first back who came in after Pacheco and even played a fair number of snaps with the starting offense.

Even as someone who had Steele on his summer watch list prior to last season, I’m a bit surprised with this revelation as Steele’s contact balance and athleticism weren’t overly impressive with him making the move from Ball State to UCLA. However, Carson Steele has had a solid training camp, and his well-roundedness and bigger body are clearly appealing for the Kansas City Chiefs if Pacheco were to miss time.

Now, while many people have been frustrated with Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the past, he’s a decent player who can still help the team, especially with his hands and familiarity with the offense. So, if Isiah Pacheco were to miss time, I would expect Edwards-Helaire and Carson Steele to split touches. However, with Edwards-Helaire’s small stature and Steele’s bigger build, Steele could be a big benefactor thanks to goal-line opportunities if he is ever needed.

3. Sione Vaki

(RB - Detroit Lions)

Vs Pittsburgh Steelers on 8/24 at 1 PM EST

While I watched Carson Steele last summer and for this draft cycle, I have to admit I didn’t watch much of Sione Vaki except at safety. The Detroit Lions turned some heads with the team drafting Vaki and specifically announcing his selection as a running back, but the vision is starting to become more clear. He runs with good pad level, smooth movement, and has really good hands to make him a solid receiving threat. He still needs to work on his vision and nuance in using blocks, but there is some potential here.

That being said, I wouldn’t expect anything from Sione Vaki this season. Vaki is, of course, behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery and also seems to be behind Craig Reynolds, who is also a quality back. With Reynolds set to be a free agent next season and Montgomery eligible to be a cut candidate if the team decided to go this route, there could be an opportunity for Vaki to be involved in the offense next season. However, he will be a long-term hold until a path is cleared for him to play or he takes massive steps forward with more experience at running back.

4. Michael Wiley

(RB - Washington Commanders)

Vs New England Patriots on 8/25 at 8 PM EST

Likely on nobody’s or very few people’s radar, I’ll be interested in seeing if Michael Wiley can continue to stack solid performances. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wiley doesn’t make the initial roster, as he’s still playing behind Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols. However, I don’t think his path to possible relevance is as far as other practice squad players. 

We know that Jeremy McNichols is a decent player but not a great player, and their skill sets overlap, so it’s not impossible that Michael Wiley could pass McNichols on the depth chart eventually or even get a roster spot over him. While McNichols and Wiley would contribute most as receiving options, that role will still be dominated by Austin Ekeler.

However, Ekeler is getting up there in age at 29 years old and has already dealt with injuries in the past. If Ekeler does get injured, it wouldn’t shock me if Wiley suddenly became the primary receiving back and could give some instant value this year for someone who was likely obtained for free.

5. Dillon Johnson

(RB - Carolina Panthers)

Vs Buffalo Bills on 8/24 at 1 PM EST

After being a surprise cut from the Tennessee Titans over the summer, Dillon Johnson may have found new life with the Carolina Panthers. Last weekend, Johnson was given some opportunities in the first half and the entire second half to prove himself. As he did at Washington, he did a good following his blocks, getting skinny through holes, and running with good contact balance.

While that may be exciting, I still have a hard time seeing Dillon Johnson make the roster after joining the team late and him playing behind Mike Boone, who may also not even make the roster. That being said, if Dillon Johnson continues to be given ample opportunity to showcase his skills, he could either get a chance with another team with more opportunity or get a chance to be called up from the practice squad later in the season. So, keep an eye on Johnson in case he ends up going to a running back-needy team that could use a bruiser. 

6. Jordan Whittington

(WR - Los Angeles Rams)

Vs Houston Texans on 8/24 at 1 PM EST

Jordan Whittington was probably a surprise snub from this list last week, but that had to do with wanting to focus on players I felt could have a significant impact this coming season, and I have some legitimate concerns about how Whittington won. While his week one performance was solid and would have rivaled some of his best games in college, Whittington still is overly reliant on his twitchiness to win, which can work in the preseason but doesn’t typically work in the regular season unless you are a great athlete.

Unfortunately for Whittington, I don’t see him as a great athlete based on what he showed in college or the NFL so far. Whittington also just looks really out of control with his route running at times and just doesn’t seem to have clean cuts that will also help him get consistent separation against starter-level players.

I think the other thing people will need to do with Jordan Whittington, which admittedly isn’t a fun idea, is to watch all of his preseason snaps and analyze how he wins. His week one performance showed him winning in a variety of different ways, but in week one and especially week two, he often won with short routes against off-coverage.

Now, credit to him for finishing those catches, but those wins are expected with a high rate of off-coverage in the preseason and the quarterbacks often playing in the preseason, Stetson Bennett included, with limited arm strength who are more willing to win underneath to try to extend drives than drive the ball downfield.

On top of that, Whittington seems like he will likely be limited to the slot with his athleticism and difficulties getting clean releases at the line of scrimmage. That may not be an issue for most teams, but with Cooper Kupp dominating the slot snaps for the Los Angeles Rams, Whittington likely won’t be much more than an insurance plan for Kupp to start his career.

The other issue with Whittington likely being limited to the slot is that I’ve seen a lot of people say that Whittington will pass Demarcus Robinson for snaps, and I just don’t see this being the case. I’m not a big believer in Robinson’s talent, but he is undoubtedly an outside receiver who can handle press better than Whittington right now and earned the team’s trust last year.

Now, I don’t want this to come off as a hit piece on Jordan Whittington. His great hands, yards-after-catch ability, and ability to read openings against zone coverage are always on display, which will be a big asset in getting him playing time.

I just want to be realistic with expectations for Whittington before the hype train gets out of control. If you have Cooper Kupp, I think Whittington is a great target for you. However, I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment if you are targeting Whittington with the expectation of him being a big-time sleeper.

7. Brenden Rice

(WR -  Los Angeles Chargers)

Vs Dallas Cowboys on 8/24 at 4 PM EST

Going into training camp, a lot of people had their eyes on Brenden Rice, as he had a fair number of fans in the pre-draft process. I feel a lot of his fans have gotten a bit quiet, but I think they have reason for optimism. After getting some early snaps in week one of the preseason, Rice again got early work with the Los Angeles Chargers offense, including fellow receivers Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey, including some snaps before DJ Chark and Quentin Johnston. 

While the WR3 for the Chargers offense may not be as valuable as it was last year with the change to Jim Harbaugh as head coach and Greg Roman as offensive coordinator, it just takes one injury to have some possible fantasy upside. Also, getting to play as a starter early in your career despite being a seventh-round draft pick is a great achievement and one that could lead to a surprising NFL career. For a player who likely won’t be taken in many, if any, rookie drafts and likely is on waivers now, he’s a great stash option to see how he develops throughout the season.

8. Jha’Quan Jackson

(WR - Tennessee Titans)

Vs New Orleans Saints on 8/25 at 2 PM EST

Another name for deep leagues or for deep taxi squads, Jha’Quan Jackson, has been steadily making a good impression on the coaching staff of the Tennessee Titans. After good practice reports and a modest week one, Jackson stacked another good preseason performance with his best outing as a receiver with four receptions for 57 yards.

In my 2024 draft rankings, I wanted to like Jackson more, but he had some really rough drops and limited athleticism that caused him to fall in my rankings. This summer, though, his hands have reportedly been extremely consistent, and his good performances have gotten him praise from head coach Brian Callahan. 

That being said, I’d be surprised if Jha’Quan Jackson will see the field as a receiver this season, as he is firmly behind Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, and Treylon Burks. However, thanks to Jackson’s ability to return kicks and Kyle Philips dealing with another injury, this time a hamstring injury that could sideline him for the week, he seems like he’s in position to make the roster.

With Ridley and Boyd both turning 30 years old this year, Hopkins already on the wrong side of 30, and Burks still needing to prove himself, there could be an opportunity for Jackson to make an impact this year and potentially earn a role in the future.