Nic Scourton’s rookie season hit a setback as he suffered a collapsed lung after a joint practice with Houston. Taken to Memorial Hermann in Houston, the Texas A&M edge rusher is listed week-to-week as Panthers staff weigh next steps. The club stressed the situation is fluid and they’ll prioritize safety before any return to practice. The episode comes on the heels of Scourton’s strong camp showing, including a sack against Shedeur Sanders in a prior preseason game, underscoring the potential Carolina hoped to deploy from the edge.

The Panthers’ coaching staff remains cautious, emphasizing smart, not rushed, decisions as they monitor Scourton’s progress and timeline. This development adds a layer of uncertainty to Carolina’s pass-rush depth ahead of the regular season, and fantasy managers should stay tuned for updates on the timeline and lineup implications as the Panthers adjust their rotation in the meantime. It also serves as a reminder of camp heat risk and the importance of prudent medical evaluation in NFL practice sessions.

Dillon Gabriel, selected 94th overall by the Browns, has yet to play a regular-season snap but is already at the center of a high-stakes QB dialogue in Cleveland. A cryptic preseason comment sparked chatter about his NFL readiness and rivalries with fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders, though Gabriel later clarified the target wasn’t Sanders. Cleveland immediately signaled a measured path by naming Joe Flacco as Week 1 starter against Cincinnati, placing a veteran barrier before the rookie’s first real NFL opportunities.

Sanders adds another layer to the Browns’ quarterback conversation, with debates over nepotism and opportunity shaping the narrative around this rookie class. For fantasy bettors and dynasty managers, the immediate takeaway is restraint: Gabriel’s upside hinges on Flacco’s play and the team’s willingness to deploy him in mop-up or late-season scenarios. The opening-week dynamic against Cincinnati will set the tone for how Cleveland manages its signal-callers and how fantasy value emerges from the QB room.

Cleveland anticipates Joe Flacco’s first prominent action of the preseason as the Browns wind down exhibition play, aiming to lock in the starter role he earned over a quartet of challengers—Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley. Flacco plans to take some snaps in the Aug. 23 finale against the Rams, using the appearance as a mental and strategic tune-up before Week 1 vs. Cincinnati. Injuries have kept the others limited in practice and games, with Sanders out due to an oblique issue, Gabriel hampered by a hamstring and Pickett dealing with a hamstring setback. The Browns hope this dress rehearsal helps the offense establish an identity, balance, and rhythm, particularly after Flacco’s prior Browns tenure and near-playoff push in 2023. A Week 2 trip to Baltimore looms, revisiting a franchise he spent 11 seasons with and that once yielded a Super Bowl MVP moment, a subplot that adds intrigue to Cleveland’s early-season trajectory.

Offensive environments drive fantasy production in 2025, and John Johnson weighs 32 through 17 to separate league-winners from busts. The Browns sit last with a murky QB situation and a fragile line, making every Browns pass-catcher risky. New Orleans faces QB uncertainty and a banged-up OL, a theme echoed across several low-ranked offenses where injuries and design drive volatility. Across the middle, several teams offer real upside: Miami’s skill talent remains elite, while Seattle and Green Bay show promise only if OL and backfield usage stabilize. Kansas City stands out for volume at the top end, but fantasy value hinges on the supporting cast staying healthy and efficient, especially Rashee Rice, Mahomes, and Kelce.

The piece emphasizes that upgrading from poor to efficient offenses can unlock a player’s ceiling while reducing weekly variance. It highlights breakout potential when a strong line, multiple weapons, and a productive scheme converge, even amid injuries. It also notes that great players on great offenses repeatedly win fantasy leagues, and identifies targets and traps by team context, not just raw talent. The ranking invites managers to consider offense context first, then player upside, before drafting a single name.