Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers is being mixed in with the starting unit at a high rate, but Michael Mayer still handles most early-down work, hinting at a two-TE rotation that could cap Bowers’ target upside. The Texans lean on veterans at receiver, with Nico Collins and Jaylen Higgins (and Hutchinson) penciled in as top 11-personnel options while rookies sit behind. New York’s backfield remains in flux, as Breece Hall plays about 61% of snaps behind a three-man look that includes Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, making a stable early-season floor unlikely. In Jacksonville, Tank Bigsby and Etienne show a near-50/50 split on the field and in routes, with early-down workload leaning toward Bigsby and pass-game work toward Etienne, tilting expectations for both. The Broncos rotate Evan Engram and Trautman, with Engram maintaining a high snap share but limited 11-personnel targets, while the Saints pair Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in a heavy-outside trio, potentially squeezing slot targets and shifting Wilson and Co. into secondary roles. On the Titans, Ayomanor’s usage in motion hints at a regular-season package, while the Seahawks confirm a streamlined wide-receiver setup around Smith-Njigba and Kupp, elevating the odds for Olave, Hutchinson, and Collins to hold big roles depending on scheme and health. Overall fantasy impact centers on two-TE rotations, volatile backfields, and WR depth-chart shuffles that will shape weekly ceilings and safe floors all season.

These takeaways underscore a recurring theme across teams: preseason usage often signals depth-chart intent more than exact weekly roles. Fantasy managers should treat early snap splits as directional rather than definitive, preparing for Week 1 to deviate as teams optimize for blockers, routes, and matchup-based usage. The common thread is clarity: stars may see dampened floors if rotations keep high-upside players limited to specific situations, while anyone with a clearly defined, workload-heavy role becomes more appealing in both redraft and DFS formats as the season approaches.

2025 fantasy football draft outlooks center on a handful of tight ends who should anchor rosters and a few upside bets for late-round value. Kraft in Green Bay projects as a multi‑role option in a system that could lean on two‑TE sets; Engram lands in Denver with a cleaner intermediate target profile; Kincaid is a bounce-back candidate after a knee‑knit 2024. The elite trio—Kittle, Kelce, and Hockenson—remain the benchmark at the position, while McBride and Njoku offer strong mid‑tier appeal in solid offenses. Goedert provides a safe TE1 floor, and the tool’s rankings bracket a crowded but dynamic TE landscape for 2025.

Denver overwhelmed Arizona with a flash-fast first half, piling up 323 yards in the opening frame and striking long on multiple big plays. Evan Engram was a key catalyst for the Broncos, helping drive a 97-yard sequence in 2:02 that included a 58-yard catch-and-run and a 27-yard scoring pass to Tony Franklin, followed by a 70-yard, eight-play march that put the game out of reach. After Arizona tied it at 7, Denver answered with another rapid stretch, aided by a 35-yard run from Jaleel McLaughlin and a string of chunk gains that culminated in a late-second-quarter field goal. The Broncos’ aerial efficiency was evident, with Stidham and Ehlinger pairing for 402 yards on 30-for-39 passing.

Arizona showed fight and learning moments, including a defensive note from Jonathan Gannon on adjustments, rookie Will Johnson’s debut snaps, and a handful of positive plays on defense. Denzel Burke supplied a pass breakup, Owen Pappoe and Patrick Jenkins logged the lone sack, and P.J. Mustipher and Anthony Goodlow added some disruptive plays in the backfield. In specialty, Blake Gillikin boomed punts and Chad Ryland showcased leg strength in warmups, while Emari Demercado and Xavier Weaver provided a few bright returns. The night yielded clear growth for the Cardinals’ young corners and linebackers, even as Denver’s pace and explosiveness left their defense chasing.

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.