Denver’s depth shone in a 27-7 preseason win, with Jarrett Stidham piloting the unit even as starters rested. Stidham finished two exhibitions with 30 completions on 38 attempts for 376 yards and four touchdowns, threading multiple scoring drives and proving he can run a clean, efficient attack behind a deep roster. Evan Engram connected on a 58-yard heater and a middle-cross, while rookie Pat Bryant added a 29-yard grab, signaling a versatile pass game operating smoothly in game reps.

The run game clicked behind RJ Harvey’s eight-yard score early and a 35-yard burst by Jaleel McLaughlin that set up another score. A late-second-quarter TD to Troy Franklin capped a bold 6-play, 88-yard march, highlighting Denver’s red-zone efficiency. The defense dominated, Cardinals’ drives stalled, and a season-ending knee injury to Nick Gargiulo hurt the mood briefly, though Courtney Jackson’s big gains and Trent Sherfield’s production kept the Broncos’ momentum rolling. Sam Ehlinger started for Arizona in the third as Denver’s defense clamped down, finishing strong to seal the win. Fantasy takeaway: Stidham’s efficiency and Denver’s depth create meaningful late-roundQB and stash options, with Engram and Franklin offering intriguing pairing potential for dynasty or best-ball formats.

The Arizona Cardinals fell 27-7 to Denver in the second preseason game, a telling setback that spotlighted depth issues on a roster built around a handful of stars. Jacoby Brissett moved the offense on a short opening drive and found a groove on his second sequence, projecting a steady-handed floor if Week 1 relies on veteran leadership. Clayton Tune, by contrast, struggled to generate sustained momentum, underscoring questions about the second-string spell behind the top quarterbacks. With starters resting, the gap between Arizona’s top line and its depth showed clearly, leaving the squad hopeful that the final tune-up will yield the weekly playmakers fantasy managers crave once the real games arrive.

From a fantasy lens, Brissett’s timely rhythm suggests a viable fallback option should Kyler Murray miss time, while Tune’s rough night raises doubt about his near-term ceiling in a QB2 role. The Broncos’ efficient attack in a game where Arizona’s defense wasn’t fully tested adds another layer of risk for early-season output, reinforcing the need for unheralded Cardinals to step up. The final preseason game looms as the proving ground for the reserve group and for which players will be trusted Week 1.

Arizona rookie Hayden Conner exited the Cardinals’ Saturday tune-up with a knee injury after just three plays, drawing quick questions about interior-line depth and 53-man roster implications. Conner had been cross-training at center as Jon Gaines, hampered by a thumb issue, has struggled to snap. A serious knee issue could push the Cardinals to lean more on reserve linemen as they decide who travels to Week 1. Cramping issues were noted for a couple players who later returned. The 27-7 loss to Denver highlighted how precarious the O-line could be if Conner is sidelined.

Convincing debate for fantasy managers centers on how Conner’s status could shift snap counts and blocking schemes, especially if Gaines can’t snap consistently. With the Cardinals juggling roster spots, any setback could ripple to run-game efficiency and short-yardage packages early in the season, making depth pieces and practice squad candidates more worth monitoring than usual in late August.

Two Cardinals defenders led the way in a 27-7 preseason loss to Denver, with rookie Will Johnson and offseason addition Akeem Davis-Gaither seeing initial action. Johnson, a second-round pick, and Davis-Gaither combined for tackles and a defensive holding flag, signaling a potential role in sub-packages or depth chart battles as Arizona evaluates its corner and linebacker spots. Denver rested most starters, setting a cautious tone for the sample.

Fantasy managers should monitor how Johnson and Davis-Gaither progress. If Johnson secures nickel or outside corner duties or if Davis-Gaither carves out a base role, both could see upticks in tackle and pass-defense metrics in dynasty or keeper leagues. With Denver's starters sidelined, the Cardinals' midseason potential hinges on how this young duo develops under the new depth chart, making their preseason outings a hint at future fantasy value.