Arizona Cardinals-Broncos preseason showdown looms as starters sit out, paving the way for backups and roster battles to steal the spotlight. The episode breaks down what to watch in a game that features all reserve players, with eyes on who emerges at key spots as coaches judge depth and potential cuts.

Budda Baker cracks NFL Top 100 for the sixth straight year, landing at No. 34, reaffirming his status as a defensive cornerstone despite the calendar turning. The pod also tees up Calais Campbell’s remarks that this season could be his last, adding a layer of uncertainty to the Cardinals’ future along the defensive line.

The duo dives into what they’re watching for in Saturday’s game: backups stepping into expanded roles, positional battles heating up, and which young players might push for a roster spot. It’s a focused, roster-driven narrative that fantasy and daily fantasy players will want to parse as depth charts solidify in Denver and Arizona.

Calais Campbell may be approaching his final NFL season after signing a one-year return to Arizona, and the veteran interior disruptor remains elite at nearly 39. His 85.9 run-defense grade last year highlighted a career of sustained excellence and consistency since 2011. If 2025 is indeed his last ride, the Cardinals’ front will lean on younger pieces to absorb his role, making depth and rotation crucial for fantasy outlooks on the line.

Justin Herbert is set for his first-ever preseason action against the Rams, likely one to two series, as Los Angeles pushes toward a healthy, productive season. His 91.2 PFF grade last year led to a strong fantasy baseline, with deeper targets and big-time throws. The exhibition window will test pass protection and rhythm heading into a season where Herbert’s fantasy ceiling remains sky-high.

Geno Stone returned to Bengals practice after a soft-tissue issue and is on track for the opener. His career path has ups and downs, but he showed enough in 2022-23 to keep him in the mix as Cincinnati builds its secondary depth. For fantasy managers, Stone’s health news nudges safer safety-stream options higher on the list for IDP formats.

Other training-camp headlines shape early-season bets: Josh Allen is 50-50 to play in the Bills’ preseason game, and Bears fans note Shemar Turner’s return. These snippets filter into depth-chart interpretations and fantasy decision-making as rosters firm up and players position themselves for Week 1 opportunities.

Arizona Cardinals 20, Kansas City Chiefs 17. In the preseason opener at State Farm Stadium, the starters went for the Cardinals, with Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat sidelined. Kyler Murray flashed in spells, but a late first-half interception drew some attention as a reminder that execution matters even in August. The win offered a number of positive takeaways as well as some caution flags, particularly around injuries and depth-chart questions as the club heads to Denver.

Several Cardinals flashed positively in each phase, while others pressed their case to push into the late-roster mix. The club also used the game to evaluate backfield and receiver options behind the starters, which should inform the next round of depth-chart decisions ahead of Week 1. The upcoming road trip to the Broncos will be another valuable datapoint as the evaluation process continues.

Injury notes surfaced—some players were dinged but nothing revealed as season-threatening. For fantasy managers, the takeaway centers on the depth pieces who could earn roles when the regular season begins, Murray’s field-rusher dynamics in limited action, and which receivers or backs step up behind the top unit. Track Sunday’s tally in Denver closely for immediate fantasy implications and late-round DFS value.