Just like that, we’re already at the final NFL preseason games. As usual, I created a list of six storylines that may have some truth to them now that we are two preseason games into the season. With the preseason, we want to ensure we aren’t overreacting to things, but these stories are worth following for fantasy purposes. So, let’s get to it and get ready for the regular season!

1. Jayden Daniels Ahead of Schedule?

We’ve gotten to see two preseason games of Jayden Daniels in the Washington Commanders offense, and the early showings are encouraging. After concerns about Daniels’ ability to throw with anticipation in the NFL, he has shown great anticipation and timing with his receivers despite just arriving on the team.

Now, I think a fair criticism so far for Daniels is that he is facing vanilla defenses and a focus on quick concepts that typically beat these vanilla looks. However, Daniels is showing more good than bad, and that should be encouraging for any rookie.

With Jayden Daniels announced as the team’s starter, he should be in store for a good fantasy season. If Daniels’ anticipation and chemistry with his receivers are there on day one, he could hit the ground running, literally with his speed, in Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive scheme that helped Kyler Murray to strong fantasy finishes.

I feel I’ve seen more praise for Daniels lately, which is making it harder to get him late in drafts. However, he is likely going to be one of the best values at the quarterback position if he keeps this up.

2. New Thunder and Lightning Backfield Under Sean Payton?

After months of slander toward Javonte Williams, Williams seems to be playing like himself prior to his ACL injury. The other thing that has become apparent is that Williams seems to have a new running, or in this case receiving mate, in Jaleel McLaughlin. While Williams and McLaughlin are not as talented as Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, it seems Sean Payton has a plan to use a rotation with both backs, similar to how he used Ingram and Kamara.

While the Denver Broncos offense has looked good this preseason, I think we need to take note of what I mentioned above with Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. The Broncos are currently carving up vanilla defenses with an offensive scheme that is best suited to beat simple looks, and we saw the Broncos offense look a lot different last preseason compared to last regular season.

So, while Bo Nix has energized the Denver Broncos offense, I have concerns about how well the offense will perform on a consistent basis. With shared responsibilities in the backfield, it may become hard to trust either Javonte Williams or Jaleel McLaughlin on a regular basis.

3. Clear Leader in the Backfield in New York?

Where there doesn’t seem to be much of a plan for a committee is in the New York Giants backfield. In the last preseason game, Devin Singletary played 29 out of 33 snaps with Daniel Jones. Now, while Tyrone Tracey’s eventual return will likely decrease this usage, the early possible usage gives great value for a pack going around pick 90 or later in most drafts.

While I don’t think Devin Singletary will be capable of finishing as an RB1 most weeks and will likely have a fair number of weeks finishing less than an RB when the offense struggles, the value is undeniable, given his potential volume. At the stage of the draft Singletary is going at, managers are mostly looking at potential committee backs or rookies with the hopes they take command of the backfield. Meanwhile, Singletary gives you back that will lead the team in touches in week one and should be a worthwhile flex play and bye-week option at worst.

4. Already a New WR1 in New York?

Keeping things in New York, the team seems to also have a clear lead receiver in Malik Nabers. Despite coming back from an ankle injury earlier in the week, Nabers led the team in snaps played and targets with Daniel Jones. In those opportunities, Nabers’s ball skills, athleticism, and hands were on display, showing that he has the makings of a target machine.

Just as I mentioned earlier with Devin Singletary, the New York Giants offense will definitely have its struggles some weeks. However, I think Malik Nabers will always be a focal point of the offense since the talent difference between him and Darius Slayton, the team’s second-best receiver, is just so steep. As long as Nabers stays healthy and Daniel Jones can get the ball in his vicinity, Nabers seems primed to give Marvin Harrison Jr. a run for the most productive rookie receiver from this class.

5. Time to Panic about Jahan Dotson?

The doom and gloom for Jahan Dotson seems to keep getting worse and worse. Many believers were hoping Dotson would turn it around in week two of the preseason but were disappointed when he only managed to haul in a single reception for three yards. Despite this, I’m not willing to give up hope on Dotson just yet. Though the production hasn’t been there in the preseason, Dotson is still playing the second most snaps with Jayden Daniels out of the receivers and has gotten every single snap from the slot during his time out there.

So, while I understand not seeing production is frustrating, I think we all need to remember that this is preseason and the preseason producers aren’t always the regular season producers. Call it copium, but I still view Dotson as a talented route runner and receiver who is capable of helping any passing offense and is a good pairing for Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

If Dotson still isn’t getting targets early in the regular season, I will start to panic. However, right now, I’m willing to trust what I’ve seen with my eyes and his snap count with the starters.

6. New Leader in the Tight End Room for the Chicago Bears?

One of the strangest developments that I originally thought was just a coincidence in week one of the preseason but seems to be turning into a trend is Gerald Everett potentially leading the tight end room for the Chicago Bears. Throughout the first two preseason games, Gerald Everett has been getting more snaps than Cole Kmet, leading him 29 to 19, and he has a higher route participation at 61% versus 39%.

Now, it’s just the preseason and this could be part of the team getting Everett more reps with the starters since he’s new to the team and hasn’t been with the team for the past few years. However, this continuing for two straight weeks gives plenty of reason to be concerned.

While not many people will be leaning on Cole Kmet as their starter, he is still being taken over other tight ends who are clear starters for their teams like Hunter Henry, Noah Fant, and Cade Otton. So, if you are targeting Kmet with the goal of him being a big contributor to your team, you probably weren’t going off of good information. However, if you were really bullish about targeting a tight end for the Chicago Bears, it seems Gerald Everett is the tight end to target.