Cam Ward locks in as Tennessee's starter in 2025, while Jaxon Dart will open behind Russell Wilson with the Giants and may seize control later in the season. Both rookie passers flashed in the preseason, creating intrigue but also risk for fantasy managers mapping 2025 rankings. The piece leans into a data-driven approach for sleepers, busts and top-150 projections across non-, half-, and full-PPR formats.

The draft bible highlighted Bo Nix and RJ Harvey as notable sleepers for Denver, with Engram joining a more versatile cast that could amplify Denver’s fantasy upside. It underlines patience with rookies, but provides actionable paths for speculative rosters and late-round targets through a comprehensive strategy guide from CBS Sports and SportsLine’s fantasy experts.

Jaxson Dart’s preseason burst puts the Giants at an accelerated pivot point, flashing pocket toughness and four big-time throws against minimal turnover risk. Donovan Edwards stormed into rookie RB chatter for the Jets, leading early backfield intrigue with explosive runs and missed-tackle force. Bears’ Jahdae Walker and Lions’ Jackson Meeks showed versatile rookie pop, while Colts’ Tyler Warren demonstrated tight-end versatility with elite receiving grades. Chargers’ Eric Rogers and RJ Mickens flashed game-changing playmaking, and Eagles’ Andrew Mukuba supplied a safety ceiling that could push Week 1 debates. A tier of first-year players is reshaping late-draft and waiver decisions for fantasy rosters and DFS lineups.

Across the league, these rookies combine high-end tape with clear path opportunities: Dart wiring in as an early starter candidate for NYG, Edwards entering Jets’ backfield depth, and Warren offering a two-way TE weapon. Rogers and Mickens threaten to elevate the Chargers’ secondary depth, while Mukuba’s 95.7 grade signals a real safety competition in Philadelphia. For fantasy managers, the August data points toward potential late-round steals and immediate-stream options in Week 1 if roles hold.

Tyler Shough’s New Orleans NFL debut against the Chargers was a mixed bag that mattered for fantasy futures. A third‑down pick‑six opened the night, then he rebounded with quick decisiveness, later delivering a boot‑pass and finishing with a bold late drive that produced a big connection to Mason Tipton. The Saints’ QB room remains unsettled, with three contenders—Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener—rotating next week as Kellen Moore tests Week 1 plans. Tipton’s long TD amplified buzz around a possible breakout path if Shough wins the job, while Rattler and Haener stay in the mix for depth. The preseason clash also provided a practical look at Moore’s aggressive, design‑driven approach, especially around boot concepts and timing routes. For fantasy players, the key takeaway is monitoring how the Saints divide reps and how Tipton’s role could scale if Shough seizes Week 1, with the Chargers serving as a stern test to calibrate expectations for Saints pass‑catchers and overall pace.