Warren opened Pittsburgh’s preseason game in Najee Harris’s conventional role, while Kenneth Gainwell handled third-down duties and Kaleb Johnson watched from the sidelines early. The rotation shifted later, with Johnson entering on the third drive as Warren’s and Gainwell’s roles expanded. For fantasy managers, Warren looks lined up for double-digit carries early in the season and a meaningful passing-game workload, while Gainwell could float as a late-draft, sleeper option in deeper leagues. Johnson’s path to regular early-down work is now more crowded, lowering his immediate fantasy upside.

On the Carolina side, the Panthers rested their top four wideouts and several starters, including Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and Adam Thielen, which creates additional roster intrigue behind CMC-level targets. Brycen Tremayne earned visibility, suggesting he could push for a spot if injuries strike. The rest of the WR group remains unsettled, underscoring a higher chance of surprise moves as teams prune to 53 players. Carolina also sat Bryce Young and Andy Dalton, signaling more opportunities for the non-starters to prove themselves in Week 1 and keep week-to-week fantasy bets dynamic.

The Los Angeles Rams are fine-tuning their roster ahead of the Wild Card clash against the Minnesota Vikings. General Manager Les Snead activated safety John Johnson III from injured reserve to replace rookie running back Blake Corum, who has been placed on IR following a forearm fracture. To bolster their running back corps, the Rams signed Royce Freeman to the practice squad, bringing back a player who contributed during the 2023 season with notable performances.

Freeman's previous tenure with the Rams saw him amass 73 carries for 317 yards and two touchdowns, stepping up in the wake of injuries to Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers. The Rams also released safety Quindell Johnson to accommodate Freeman's addition. Head coach Sean McVay discussed the strategic importance of managing their injured reserve slots and hinted at potential moves following their matchup against Seattle. The activation of Johnson III over Troy Reeder suggests a tactical adjustment in the Rams' defensive setup as they aim for a deep playoff run.