Five late-round wide receivers could surge into must-start status in 2025, led by Darnell Mooney with Atlanta, where a high-volume, three-receiver look and Michael Penix Jr. at the helm boost weekly upside. Marvin Mims Jr. ripped off a seven-game burst as Denver’s clear second option, posting strong efficiency and big-play potential. Josh Downs carved out a slot-heavy Colts role in a system that loves 11 personnel, offering a reliable floor when healthy. DeMario Douglas is right in the mix in New England’s WR-needy attack, while Christian Kirk’s Houston move creates a new slot-path floor with red-zone upside despite a shifting offense. Drake London and Bijan Robinson anchor Atlanta’s aerial ground game, with Penix’s deep-throw ability expanding Mooney’s ceiling. In short: several late-round targets now carry a realistic path to weekly starters, driven by officer-friendly offenses, slot usage, and QB development.

Green Bay heads to Lucas Oil Stadium for a second preseason test, aiming to rebound from a 30-10 opener loss to the Jets. The focus centers on four Packers players who need a strong follow-up against Indianapolis to shore up the roster odds and reset momentum for 2025. The group includes Jacob Monk, Mecole Hardman, Malik Heath, and Isaiah Simmons, each facing different roster pressures but all needing clearer demonstrations of value as the Colts challenge a still-developing Green Bay attack.

Monk must show improvement at center/guard to solidify his versatile role behind Jenkins and Rhyan. Hardman must excel as a returner and prove he can contribute as a receiver after limited targets. Heath needs to capitalize with multiple receivers down, while Simmons must elevate his play in run support and coverage to stay in the LB mix. Jordan Love’s game-day consistency and the offense’s overall cohesion loom large as personnel shakeout continues.

The Jets game backdrop and the Colts test frame the Packers’ week-two progression, with the coaching staff emphasizing reliable interior line play, hands-secure receivers, and a linebacking corps that needs clarity. Fans and fantasy players will watch how these bets unfold, especially in a game where roster moves and depth will be decided amid a crowded camp battle.

Rookie RJ Harvey led the Denver backfield in the showcased action, handling all first-team carries on early downs while J.K. Dobbins operated as the primary third-down option. The split hints at a potential feature role for Harvey in Week 1 if the pattern holds, boosting his weekly floor for fantasy managers. Across the league, multiple backfields offered early-down dominance by single backs, with Harvey among the clearest signals of a week-to-week workload that translates to fantasy opportunity.

Travis Hunter took 100% of 11-personnel snaps with the Jaguars’ first-team offense, thriving as both receiver and occasional slot option, while the Jets rotated Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis in a way that could widen Hall’s early-down role. Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerged as a potential Washington Robinson backup, while TreV Henderson’s early usage with the Patriots suggested a path to meaningful third-down snaps and fantasy relevance. Marvin Mims Jr. flashed as a starter in Denver’s WR corps, and Zay Jones, Michael Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. formed a trio of Cardinals receivers with heavy on-field time in 11 and 12 personnel; Wilson and Harrison Jr. look like weekly options, with Jones offering upside when Jones and Dortch split out wide.

Austin Booker exploded in preseason Week 1, terrorizing Miami’s protection with three sacks, seven pressures, and a 92.9 PFF pass-rush grade, a standout performance that kept Chicago close in a 24-24 draw. The Bears’ second-year edge bullied the Dolphins’ front and even forced a fumble on the same sequence that saw him anchor the highlight reel. The box score reads as a defense-first showcase, yet the eye test screamed potential for a deeper rotational role if he builds on this in practice and the regular season.

Miami’s installment flashed in spurts: Quinn Ewers operated as the signal-caller for a drive-heavy sequence, Tua Tagovailoa ran a long but stalled 15-play drive, and Ollie Gordon notched his first NFL touchdown as the Dolphins rotated through their backs. Luther Burden III grabbed two targets, including a third-down conversion on third-and-15, signaling the rookie’s ability to unlock offense. Chicago held Caleb Williams out, while Miami leaned into a mixed bag of rookies and veterans, leaving fantasy managers with early threads to follow as rosters settle and coaching staffs finalize roles. PFF’s graders will finalize their verdicts after a full review, but Booker’s audacious burst has already planted a clear storyline for Week 1 and beyond.

Los Angeles used its backups to turn the Rams’ preseason opener into a confident victory, 31-21, over Dallas on a night when the Cowboys rested their starters too. Stetson Bennett carved out a strong case for a spot on the 53-man roster with precise passes, mobility, and composure, capitalizing on solid protection from an energized line. The Rams’ depth shined everywhere else, especially at running back, where Cody Schrader, Jarquez Hunter, Blake Corum, and Jordan Waters piled up hard runs and a touch, signaling a potential four-back rotation behind Kyren Williams.

Xavier Smith showed why he’s in line for a roster spot, contributing as a receiver and return man, while Josaiah Stewart pressed for a larger role with his pressure and sack presence as a third-edge option behind Verse and Young. TheBig picture: the O-line bought Bennett time, the RB corps looked versatile and dangerous, and the defense showed just enough edge to keep fantasy rosters entertained through the early matchups. Two Rams duds—Shaun Jolly and Mario Williams—indicate who might be fighting for the final spots, but the broader performance arc was overwhelmingly encouraging for the depth chart and fantasy sleepers alike.