Week 2 IDP rankings shift after Week 1’s surprises. Abdul Carter jumps to DL riser status for the Giants, posting a 54% snap share, a half-sack and three tackles, plus 20% rush pressure. A bigger role against Dallas could be in the cards if blockers respect his edge burst.

Xavier Watts becomes a rising value at DB for Atlanta, playing all defensive snaps and tallying 10 Standard IDP points in Week 1, with a matchup that could unlock more ceiling for fantasy squads.

Carson Schwesinger proves rookie-level upside for Cleveland by logging every defensive snap; Robert Spillane’s Week 1 output warns against overreliance in easier Week 2 tests. Together, these stories shape Week 2 starts and waiver-claim priorities for IDP managers.

Week 1’s Patriots-Raiders tilt features a rare cross-team tie-in: nine players once wore both uniforms, shaping Week 1 depth charts and fantasy upside. Jakobi Meyers anchors the Raiders’ passing game while Mack Hollins, Austin Hooper, Thayer Munford Jr., Ben Brown, K’Lavon Chaisson and Robert Spillane bring Patriots familiarity to the field; Antonio Mafi, Adam Butler and Elandon Roberts fill Raiders’ interior or edge roles with veteran experience.

Fantasy takeaway centers on Hollins and Hooper as Week 1 safety valves for New England, Meyers as a high-floor threat for Las Vegas, and Chaisson/Spillane as opportunistic depth pieces. Monitor practice-squad movements and how both teams deploy these crossover veterans in the opener for immediate value and rostering leverage.

Patriots sign Mark Robinson to their practice squad two days after the Steelers cut him, a move that chips away at Pittsburgh’s depth while giving New England a developmental LB on the practice squad. Robinson, a 2022 seventh-rounder, has been a standout on special teams, and his path could open in a rotation if injuries strike.

Robert Spillane also lands with New England on a three-year, $33 million deal, linking another Steeler alum to the Patriots and reshaping the division's veteran LB presence. The Steelers, meanwhile, kept Beanie Bishop Jr. and a handful of other depth pieces, underscoring how practice squads quietly shift the balance for fantasy rosters.

The Patriots turned in one final walk-through before the preseason finale, still in helmets and shoulder pads as competition remained fierce. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams anchored a disruptive interior that flashed the disruptive edge the team hoped to unlock this season. Drake Maye endured pressure from a stout front as pass protection continued to be a concern, with Ben Brown plugged into guard/center spots to stabilize the line. Keion White started hot but drifted to the second unit, while Robert Spillane piled up sacks and Jabrill Peppers added a sack as Terrell Williams leaned on blitzing from safety and corner. The kicking race between Andy Borregales and Parker Romo remained a coin flip, both thriving in a tight battle. Offense touched the ball as well with Henry, Hollins, Diggs, and Dobbs all contributing. A game plan rehearsal looms as New England heads to East Rutherford for the final tune-up.

Pass protection remained a narrative thread. Barmore and Williams consistently found disruption in the backfield, challenging Drake Maye and keeping the offensive line under pressure. Will Campbell and the rest of the line showed flashes, but the unit’s ability to keep Maye clean will be critical for the preseason and beyond. On defense, Spillane’s two-sack day followed a previous interception spree, signaling a potential high-volume role in the regular season. Peppers leveraged blitz opportunities, hinting at a more aggressive use of safeties in coverage and pressure packages. In the kicking duel, Borregales and Romo split the 4-for-4 mark, underscoring how evenly matched the competition remains as the roster edges toward Week 1 considerations.