Browns fall 34-10 to Detroit as their defense again showed steel while the offense stalled. Cleveland’s run defense lingered on the field, but Quinshon Judkins delivered a gritty 82-yard, one-TD effort to keep the ground game relevant. Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond flashed big-play ability on the opening drive, while QB Joe Flacco was pressured into two interceptions and a fumble. Detroit’s Devin Bush and Aidan Hutchinson anchored the win with sharp discipline and relentless edge pressure.

Fantasy takeaway: Judkins is the clear volume back in Cleveland, with Jeudy and Bond offering sporadic big-play upside as Browns receivers. Detroit’s defense remains a strong streamer option against weak offenses, while Browns’ offense likely needs protection improvements to unlock the pass game and protect Flacco from further sacks and turnovers.

Jaxson Dart’s preseason burst puts the Giants at an accelerated pivot point, flashing pocket toughness and four big-time throws against minimal turnover risk. Donovan Edwards stormed into rookie RB chatter for the Jets, leading early backfield intrigue with explosive runs and missed-tackle force. Bears’ Jahdae Walker and Lions’ Jackson Meeks showed versatile rookie pop, while Colts’ Tyler Warren demonstrated tight-end versatility with elite receiving grades. Chargers’ Eric Rogers and RJ Mickens flashed game-changing playmaking, and Eagles’ Andrew Mukuba supplied a safety ceiling that could push Week 1 debates. A tier of first-year players is reshaping late-draft and waiver decisions for fantasy rosters and DFS lineups.

Across the league, these rookies combine high-end tape with clear path opportunities: Dart wiring in as an early starter candidate for NYG, Edwards entering Jets’ backfield depth, and Warren offering a two-way TE weapon. Rogers and Mickens threaten to elevate the Chargers’ secondary depth, while Mukuba’s 95.7 grade signals a real safety competition in Philadelphia. For fantasy managers, the August data points toward potential late-round steals and immediate-stream options in Week 1 if roles hold.

Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason showcased a fresh wave of rookies proving their fantasy upside via elite PFF grades. Andrew Mukuba dominated the safety grade leaderboard with a 95.7 overall mark after a 75-yard pick-six and a fumble recovery, plus a 94.2 coverage grade. Jackson Meeks flashed out wide for Detroit, snagging seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown while operating as a zone-coverage mismatch. A handful of other first-year standouts joined them in the top 10, including Josh Priebe, Makari Paige, and Efton Chism III, who posted strong multielement performances in pass protection, run-blocking, and target efficiency. The list spans positions from guard to linebacker to receiver, all logging at least 25 snaps to qualify, underscoring how quickly rookies are earning roles and how PFF grades can translate into real fantasy value.

These Week 2 performances helped to sharpen a clearer picture of true rookie potential for 2025 fantasy drafts. Mukuba’s ball skills and instant impact in Cleveland pale beside Meeks’s consistent target volume and big-play ability for Detroit. The others—Priebe, Paige, Chism III, Clark, Wease, Harris, Campbell and Mascarenas-Arnold—demonstrated a mix of immediate contributions and development curves that fantasy managers should monitor. With the Commanders-Bengals game still on the slate for grading release, the rookie landscape remains dynamic, and these graded showings give a concrete basis for rostering or fading in early fantasy lineups.

Cleveland’s preseason opener highlighted a potential influx of disruptive pieces on defense. Rookie Carson Schwesinger flashed in limited action, posting 4 tackles and 2 assists over 13 snaps, with 3 run stops on five run-defense plays and a game-high run-defense grade per PFF. The Browns’ defensive line depth shone: Julian Okwara logged 2 sacks and 2 TFL, Alex Wright contributed a sack, and Adin Huntington added a sack and a TFL while racking up multiple special-teams stops. Mason Graham also saw 13 snaps with steady, if quiet, deployment. Carolina’s squad showed resilience, with Nathaniel Watson and Winston Reid racking tackles for the Panthers, and Chigozie Anusiem and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold among the defenders who hit solidly. The Browns allowed 1 TD, held Carolina to 25% on third down, logged 4 sacks and 251 yards allowed, underscoring a promising, depth-laden performance that could tilt roster decisions in the coming weeks. Fantasy takeaway centers on Schwesinger’s burst and the Browns’ edge rotation—Okwara and Wright in particular—plus the potential headline-grabbers at corner and depth linebackers vying for roles as the season nears.