DK Metcalf will appear on the big screen in Asteroid, a Doug Liman thriller also featuring Hailee Steinfeld, set to premiere later this year on Google’s Android XR platform and debut at Venice’s immersive showcase. The film follows a disparate group chasing wealth aboard an asteroid, a compelling cross-media moment for the Steelers receiver as he ramps up his acting portfolio.

In NFL business, Pittsburgh landed Metcalf in March for a 2025 second-round pick and secured a five-year, $150 million extension. The deal followed his trade request from Seattle, just before the end of his 2022 three-year, $72 million pact. Metcalf’s 2024 season with Seattle produced 66 catches for 992 yards and five TDs, underscoring his high-ceiling impact as he joins a Pittsburgh offense that will rely on him to stretch defenses while balancing a burgeoning film career.

The Buffalo Bills are choosing health over heat in the final preseason test, keeping Josh Allen on the bench for the Tampa Bay showdown. That decision isn’t a retreat from victory, it’s a plan to maximize the regular season’s impact, especially given Allen’s MVP-winning 2023 form. Buffalo will still roll out starters in other spots, testing depth at safety and wide receiver as it finalizes the Week 1 roster. Cole Bishop will be tested as the likely starter opposite Taylor Rapp, with the safety room competing to lock down continuity for Buffalo’s back end.

The receiver picture remains unsettled behind the top trio of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer, with Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Laviska Shenault, and others vying for the remaining two to three roles. Samuel’s footing has been inconsistent due to injuries, while Shakir’s durability and Palmer’s veteran savvy push the competition toward a two- or three-way rotation. Allen, meanwhile, has already built starter-time chemistry in joint practices with Chicago, reducing preseason reps but preserving the connection expected to drive the offense once the season begins.

Injuries have clouded the position battles, and Buffalo is navigating cutdowns with an eye toward Week 1. Gabe Davis, a former Bills receiver, showed up for a visit as he seeks a new fit, and Tre’Davious White’s practice absence adds another layer of pivots to the defensive unit. The Bills’ approach balances protecting Allen with testing the rest of the unit, aiming to preserve the core while maximizing upside in the regular season. Fantasy managers should watch how the WR depth chart stabilizes and how the safety rotation shapes target distribution and game plans in September.

Lamar Jackson exited Baltimore Ravens practice clutching his wrist, but the team quickly downplayed it as a non-issue, saying he simply had his foot stepped on and would be fine. He did not practice on Thursday, and with Friday off, Baltimore gains an extra rest day ahead of the preseason closer against Washington. The Week 1 regular season primetime tilt vs Josh Allen and the Bills looms as a marquee showcase, a rematch of MVP-caliber duelers that fantasy managers will be watching closely as rosters shake out.

In fantasy terms, Jackson’s status becomes the early-season needle mover. If he’s limited or inactive, the Ravens’ plan could shift toward a run-heavy script and depth-chart shuffles, elevating other players in the offense. Conversely, a healthy Jackson would keep him at the top of fantasy queues, especially with an explosive Bills defense to negotiate in primetime. Bills-side intrigue centers on Allen’s ceiling and the expected high-scoring nature of the opener, making this a pivotal Week 1 betting and fantasy litmus test.

Washington Commanders present the preseason foe in the closing tune-up, a reminder that coaches will use these reps to lock in roles for Week 1. Fantasy players should monitor practice reports and the Ravens’ offensive rhythm heading into a high-stakes start to the season, as one game can set several fantasy trajectories for the Baltimore passing game and the Bills’ dynamic attack.

Josh Allen will miss the Bills’ third preseason game at Tampa Bay, marking the first time in his career he sits out August action. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott framed the decision as prudent health management for an MVP-caliber quarterback entering his eighth season, noting Allen is on schedule and has looked sharp in camp, save for one team period. Allen’s absence is not a concern about readiness, but a calculated step to preserve elite talent for the regular season’s grind.

The move opens reps for Bills backups and other rotation players in a controlled environment, and Buffalo’s roster depth will be evaluated more heavily than in past preseasons. Allen's 2023 MVP year included fewer turnovers (eight) and sacks (14), and this rest plan aligns with a strategy to maintain peak performance over a demanding 17-game slate. The Tampa Bay showdown will cap a preseason that emphasized health and roster evaluation over star-driven theatrics.

From a fantasy angle, Allen’s absence narrows early-weekend drama but reinforces his floor when he’s on the field—the offense remains potent, and the absence could shift early-season reps to supporting cast members who step up when Allen sits during August. Buffalo is signaling confidence in its elite passer while safeguarding him for September, a balance that will influence how managers draft Bills pass catchers and backfield depth into the opening weeks of the season.

Buffalo remains the AFC East’s heavy favorite, and the fantasy implications start with Josh Allen’s ceiling. A 11.5-win line keeps the Bills atop the division and makes Allen a must-play weekly, with red-zone volume and extended plays a weekly edge.

Miami carries the "health first" question mark. If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy and Hill and Waddle stay explosive, the offense can deliver boom weeks, but Buffalo’s track record suggests a high floor for Bills’ fantasy assets as the division’s anchor. Drake Maye offers Patriots fans a glimmer, but his path to division champs is steep, while the Jets lean on Fields to spark a turnaround, a tall task in Year 1.

In short, the AFC East remains Bills-led, but value exists beyond Buffalo if Maye, Hill, Waddle, and Fields connect and teams stay healthy.