Week 2 of the NFL preseason offered clarity on early-season backfield plans and slot roles that fantasy managers crave. Arizona rotated veterans, with James Conner as the clear early-down favorite and Trey Benson watching from the sidelines, hinting Benson’s upside only if Conner were to miss time. In Buffalo, Elijah Moore has carved a slot-centric profile, but Khalil Shakir still clamps the primary slot role while Dalton Kincaid and the rookie mix into Col col slots. Carolina’s Rico Dowdle split passing-downs with Chuba Hubbard, hinting at a real third-down role for Dowdle behind Hubbard’s early workload. Across other backfields, rookie and depth-chart shifts signal a handful of dart choices for Best Ball and late-season handcuff streams.

Key takeaways for fantasy: Conner’s job security looks solid unless injury intrudes; Moore’s slot-heavy usage could push targets toward Bills' other receivers if Shakir or Kincaid stay healthy, keeping Moore as a risk/reward Week 1 flier. Dowdle’s growing passing-down role makes him a speculative late-round add in deeper rosters. Jets’ backfield remains a committee question mark with Breece Hall involved but not a slam-dunk workload; Tahj Brooks’ burst makes him a name to monitor for insurance behind Cincinnati’s offense.