James Pearce’s ascent in Atlanta is shaping up as a fantasy pivot: the Falcons traded back into the first round to land Tennessee edge Pearce, a talent once perceived as a top-10 lock before character concerns surfaced for other teams. Atlanta reportedly never shared those doubts, and Pearce has flashed enough in training camp and preseason to push his way into prominent early role discussions. The team has already decided not to suit him up in the final preseason game, signaling a plan to protect and responsibly introduce him to regular-season action. The behind-the-scenes conviction in Pearce’s fit and the rapid on-field acclimation have fans buzzing about a potential rookie impact on a Falcons defense that could lean on his rush upside from day one.

For fantasy managers, Pearce’s path to steady if uneven early production hinges on opportunity and health. If he earns significant snaps as a rotational edge or interior rusher in sub-packages, he could deliver enough pressures to flirt with streaming value in sack-heavy formats, while deeper leagues may view him as a high-ceiling stash. His eventual floor will depend on how quickly Atlanta leans into his pass-rush prowess versus preserving him for the long haul, but the early indicators are unmistakably bullish: Pearce is a rookie with a legitimate chance to become a cornerstone piece of Atlanta’s defensive identity in 2025.

Updated dynasty running back rankings for August 2025 lean into a deep, blue-chip anchor core for dynasty rosters. Bijan Robinson sits atop the tier, followed by Jahmyr Gibbs, Ashton Jeanty, and a mix of proven stars and high-upside wide-eyed rookies. The list places Breece Hall, RB, and Saquon Barkley, RB, among the reliable leaders, while Chase Brown, Kyren Williams, Kenneth Walker III, James Cook, and Christian McCaffrey populate the next tiers with varied risk and upside. The piece also highlights rookie and second-year backs like Quinshon Judkins, Tank Bigsby, D’Andre Swift, and others as keepers for future-draft value. Updates will roll in as injuries and camp intel shift value across PPR and non-PPR formats, plus rookie fantasy football rankings feed into the dynasty narrative. The article underscores building around a couple of stud RBs and then layering upside with late-rounds and rookies, a strategy favored by veteran fantasy analysts. It also weaves in news blurbs about evolving backfields and training-camp signals that can tilt trades and draft day moves for 2025 and beyond, including trade chatter around Brian Robinson Jr. and the rising opportunities in New York and Dallas. The platform’s app pushes real-time alerts on injuries and depth-chart changes to help managers react quickly during drafts and in-season.

The Dallas Cowboys face a precarious preseason conundrum at quarterback as Joe Milton struggles to gain traction behind a sputtering offense. Milton’s rough showings have the coaching staff weighing a hard choice: keep him in the plan for live reps to accelerate growth or pivot to Will Grier to better evaluate the receiver room before roster cuts. Rumors of a backend option like Jameis Winston add another layer to the calculus, creating a tension between developmental reps and immediate roster implications. If Milton remains the plan, the Cowboys risk hindering receivers in the short term; if they pivot, the WRs could finally receive a fair chance to show their chemistry. A final dress rehearsal against Atlanta looms as the ultimate live test, with the clock ticking on Milton’s chance to prove the project is viable or justify a trade flirtation. The outcome will ripple through the fantasy outlook for Cowboys pass-catchers and the broader risk profile of the offense in 2025.

Fantasy-angle take: Milton’s ability to generate clean, efficient reps matters more than the box score. If Grier or Winston takes the reins, target distribution could shift toward the Cowboys’ wideouts and tight ends, making early-season targets murkier but potentially more volatile in the short term. The key names to watch remain Milton, Prescott’s health contingency, and how the receiving group uses routes, with John Stephens Jr. as a potential breakout if Milton can net confidence on timing. The Ravens’ defense and a Falcons tune-up will test this evolving plan in Week 3 of the preseason, potentially reshaping bold fantasy projections for DAL weapons as cuts approach.

Falcons fans get a high-stakes, close-quarters look at roster battles as Atlanta closes out the preseason. Xavier Watts edges Jordan Fuller and Xavier Watts is the rookie they’ve chased for months, a signal the Falcons see a future at safety. Dee Alford holds the nickel spot, though Billy Bowman and the defense aren’t ready to hand over the job. Younghoe Koo’s health and consistency lock in the kicker role, while Easton Stick is the obvious QB3 option with Amory Jones out of the competition.

Divine Deablo is set to play nearly every down, anchoring the inside linebacker corps as Andersen’s injury leaves the depth chart unsettled. In outside linebacker, Leonard Floyd, Arnold Ebiketie and Bralen Trice form a core, with Jalon Walker and DeAngelo Malone cross-training at inside linebacker as special-teams value. Up front, Orhorhoro and Onyemata start, but reserve rotation is plenty busy. The punt/kick return battle leans toward Jamal Agnew if healthy, with Ray-Ray McCloud as a strong Week 1 contingency. The backfield and receiver depth offer flexible options as Casey Washington and Nate Carter push for meaningful roles.