The Titans’ 23-20 preseason win over Atlanta served as a clear view into the depth chart as Tennessee shifted its focus to developing players rather than veterans. Kendall Brooks anchored the Titans’ defense with a sterling 95.7 grade, underscoring a crowded group that could shape IDP and depth roles this season. On offense, Gunnar Helm led the way with a 90.2 grade, followed by standout rookie Ayomanor with an 81.6 and Jaelyn Duncan near the top of the line. The night also exposed decision points at several spots, including the tight end room, where Chig Okonkwo flashed but ended the evening in the bottom five among blockers. The Titans will draw meaningful conclusions from this tape as they approach the regular-season roster decisions.

Overall, the game reinforced the Titans’ plan to evaluate young talent across multiple units. Brooks’ performance added optimism about the defense’s internal competition and potential splash plays, while Helm and Ayomanor provided playoff-lit flashes for the receiving corps—important notes for fantasy managers watching for emerging rotational contributors. The Falcons offered a contrasting showcase of depth as both teams looked ahead to Week 1 prep, but the Titans’ young core appeared ready to push for meaningful snaps when the games count begins.

Nathan Carter, a former Michigan State back, flashed big time speed on a 43 yard burst for Atlanta, turning heads in an NFL roster fight. Kendell Brooks, another Spartans alum now with Tennessee, capped the night with a pick six, underscoring the Spartans pipeline into the league and the fierce battles to secure a roster spot. The night highlighted the pressure and opportunity that camps present for depth players looking to break in and stick.

Both players showed the kind of playmaking that can alter a roster decision. Carter, if he wins a spot, could emerge as a speed element in a Falcons backfield that already features star power, while Brooks' defensive instincts and ball skills could carve him out a niche on the Titans. Spartans alumni continue to push into NFL roles, turning camp moments into talking points for fantasy managers watching rosters closely.

Kendell Brooks, a Michigan State product, sparked preseason chatter with a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Titans-Falcons game. The play underscored his burst and ball skills as he continues his third NFL season, after signing with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and landing on Tennessee’s practice squad. Brooks’ highlight arrives as roster decisions loom and depth at defensive back becomes a bigger story for Tennessee.

Brooks posted 105 tackles, four passes defensed, 3.5 TFL and three forced fumbles across 24 games for the Spartans (2021-22), illustrating why scouts kept him on the radar despite going undrafted. In Tennessee, the competition for rotational snaps at corner and safety remains open, with this play offering a tangible case for his continued development on defense and special teams.

From a fantasy lens, Brooks belongs in deeper IDP formats or dynasty boards where fringe players can emerge with opportunity from injuries or on-field production. The highlight also invites a closer look at Tennessee’s DB room and how special-teams exposure could translate into follows in subsequent games.

The Falcons’ defense will surely study the clip, while the Cardinals’ earlier involvement in Brooks’ path adds a circuitous veteran-to-roster story to monitor as teams pare down rosters ahead of Week 1.