The NFL preseason wraps with final cuts looming and teams eyeing upgrades at backup quarterback. The piece maps potential trades of veterans like Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Trey Lance and Andy Dalton, highlighting how a smart move could shore up depth behind a starter while shedding salary or stockpiling late picks. The Browns, Vikings, Rams, Cowboys, Panthers and Falcons surface as plausible destinations or targets as rosters trim from 90 to 53.

Winston’s extensive starting experience and the Vikings’ depth concerns mix with offensive familiarity to fuel chatter about a Winston-to-Mi(n)nesota swap. Cousins-to-Rams surfaces as a stopgap, leveraging Sean McVay’s system while Stafford ages. Lance’s trajectory elsewhere, Heinicke’s value on the trade market, and Dalton’s Carolina status add nuance to the week’s cut-day calculus, with teams weighing future flexibility against current needs.

Fantasy managers should watch for teams that prioritize immediate innings-eater depth at QB behind a likely Week 1 starter, as well as veteran backups who could step into a larger role if called upon. The weekend’s roster moves could tilt late-season depth charts, influencing streaming and bench strategies across fantasy formats.

PFF's 2021 NFL re-draft reshuffles the board: Christian Darrisaw lands with Carolina at pick 8, leaving Minnesota to pivot and snap up Kyle Pitts at 14. Pitts still posts 1.22 PFF WAR across four seasons, ranking 10th among tight ends, a reminder that even high expectations aren’t foolproof in a stacked class. The Vikings’ tackle need opens the door for Pitts’ Day 1 fit, and Minnesota’s TE picture shifts as Irv Smith Jr. endures injury trouble and Chris Herndon’s role fades. A Penix-led Panthers era looms in this hypothetical, with Cousins steering the Minnesota offense from Day 1 and Pitts providing a dynamic mismatch throughout.

Atlanta added Ben DiNucci to deepen the quarterback room ahead of Friday’s preseason finale in Dallas, a move prompted by Emory Jones’ concussion and the need for insurance behind Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, who won’t play. Easton Stick is expected to start, with DiNucci serving as a ready-made backup for the 3-0-3 spot. The Falcons also released DJ Chark, reshaping the pass-catching corps as they evaluate the rest of the preseason slate.

DiNucci, a 2020 seventh-rounder, has appeared in three NFL games (one start) and delivered 23-for-43 for 219 yards in his rookie season. He spent rookie camp with Atlanta in May after time with Buffalo in 2024 and split college stints between Pitt and James Madison. Penix Jr. and Cousins are sidelined for the Dallas game, elevating Stick’s chances to lead Atlanta’s offense and keep DiNucci poised for opportunities.

The Chark release tightens Atlanta’s WR mix and nudges targets toward London, Pitts, and emerging rookies. For fantasy managers, this depth move signals caution around FalconsQBs and signals to monitor Friday’s performance for any hints of a Week 1 role or red-zone usage. The Cowboys’ visit looms large as Atlanta scrambles to refine its plan with a thinner depth chart in a still-unsettled QB room.

Chase stands as the safest top pick at wide receiver for fantasy in 2025, driven by a stable Bengals offense and Burrow’s ceiling. He led all WRs in fantasy points and points per game last season, and Cincinnati’s coaching and personnel remain unchanged, reducing regression risk despite the usual year-over-year drop-off for a first overall scorer. Bijan Robinson slices through the RB landscape with remarkable consistency, flashing over 70% of Falcons snaps and 17 carries in nearly every game across the back half of 2024, hinting at sustained value even if some regression is possible.

Jahmyr Gibbs sits among the most intriguing 1-2 RB targets, having finished with elite per-carry metrics in the Lions’ backfield and the prospect of a larger role with offensive tweaks in Detroit. Justin Jefferson continues to be a linchpin for the Vikings, his production bolstered by a high-end receiving grade and strong yards-per-route metrics, though his fantasy finish hinges on development around him. Barkley posted the highest RB fantasy points in 2024 but carries more volatility; Kirk Cousins’ connection with Jefferson compounds the Vikings’ upside as the offense stabilizes into 2025. Nathan Jahnke’s rankings accompany profiles that translate directly to smart draft-day moves for redraft, dynasty, and DFS alike.

Joint Falcons-Titans practice boiled over as players traded shoves after a heated sequence, with Michael Penix Jr. in the center of the fray and ending up on the ground at one point. Ray-Ray McCloud III sparked the scuffle, drawing attention to the Falcons’ skill-position group and the Titans’ defense as both teams pushed to gain an edge in camp.

Penix Jr. remains the Falcons’ unofficial preseason No. 1, a signal that fantasy managers should monitor his command and efficiency as the competition unfolds. The incident happened against a backdrop of Penix’s ongoing battle to secure the starting job, including a nod to his rookie-season stint when he briefly replaced Kirk Cousins. The Falcons’ opener on Sept. 7 against Tampa Bay could become a meaningful showcase if Penix holds the job.

Across the field, WTOC’s on-air typo of Penix’s name added meme-worthy chatter but did little to change the core narrative: Penix is the focal point of Atlanta’s quarterback competition as camp progresses, and McCloud’s involvement could influence Falcons’ Week 1 depth and role dynamics as the offense gears up for a high-leverage matchup.