Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason showcased a fresh wave of rookies proving their fantasy upside via elite PFF grades. Andrew Mukuba dominated the safety grade leaderboard with a 95.7 overall mark after a 75-yard pick-six and a fumble recovery, plus a 94.2 coverage grade. Jackson Meeks flashed out wide for Detroit, snagging seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown while operating as a zone-coverage mismatch. A handful of other first-year standouts joined them in the top 10, including Josh Priebe, Makari Paige, and Efton Chism III, who posted strong multielement performances in pass protection, run-blocking, and target efficiency. The list spans positions from guard to linebacker to receiver, all logging at least 25 snaps to qualify, underscoring how quickly rookies are earning roles and how PFF grades can translate into real fantasy value.

These Week 2 performances helped to sharpen a clearer picture of true rookie potential for 2025 fantasy drafts. Mukuba’s ball skills and instant impact in Cleveland pale beside Meeks’s consistent target volume and big-play ability for Detroit. The others—Priebe, Paige, Chism III, Clark, Wease, Harris, Campbell and Mascarenas-Arnold—demonstrated a mix of immediate contributions and development curves that fantasy managers should monitor. With the Commanders-Bengals game still on the slate for grading release, the rookie landscape remains dynamic, and these graded showings give a concrete basis for rostering or fading in early fantasy lineups.

The Cincinnati Bengals are listening to offers for Trey Hendrickson, setting off a high-stakes pre-season chess match: a trade would bring a young impact player plus picks, but Cincinnati’s price is sky-high. Possible destinations include the Lions, Packers and Colts, each with an obvious edge-rusher need and cap room to chase Hendrickson’s talent this year. Week 2 of the preseason delivered clear fantasy angles: Andrew Mukuba flashed as an Eagles rookie with ball-hawking instincts; TreyVeyon Henderson showed breakaway speed and patience for New England, hinting at a meaningful early role. Meanwhile, quarterback battles remain wide open in Browns, Colts and Saints, with Flacco, Jones and Shough/Jayden Daniels among the names likely to emerge soon. Week 2 also crowned a handful of winners (Mukuba, Henderson) and exposed several clinical misfires (Cowboys backups, Van Jefferson), while the Week 2 rookies offered a taste of bloom for 2025 fantasy rosters.

Two more narratives shaped the heat: the Week 2 QB rankings leaned toward upside over polish, with Jaxson Dart pacing the rookie board in the Giants’ win and the Browns and Saints inching toward starter declarations. The Week 2 wrap also highlighted trades that shifted rosters—John Metchie III to Eagles, Harrison Bryant flipped to Jacksonville, and Saints’ swap for Khalen Saunders—each move carrying implications for fantasy depth charts and fantasy-relevant snap shares. The Week 2 finale then teased a Monday showdown featuring starters back on the field, a spotlight on offensive lines, and a defense ready to test rookies under real pressure.

Week 2 of the NFL preseason delivered a clear signal: Jaxson Dart is emerging as the league’s standout rookie quarterback through two exhibitions, completing 26 of 35 passes for 291 yards with two touchdowns across Giants performances. His poise, accuracy on middle throws, and a slick fake that freed Greg Dulcich for a score hint at a real developmental arc in New York’s QB competition. TreVeyon Henderson flashed burst and patience, hinting at a meaningful early role for New England, while Teddy Bridgewater delivered a couple of red-zone darts that underscored his value as a trusted veteran in Tampa Bay. Philadelphia rookie Andrew Mukuba showed a nose for the football with a pick-six and a fumble recovery, offering a potential secondary option for a rebuilding secondary. On the downside, MarShawn Lloyd’s lingering injury woes and the Cowboys’ backup shakeups stalled fantasy optimism, Joe Milton III struggled for Dallas, Van Jefferson combined a clean route with a missed catch, and Stafford’s unclear return schedule cast a cloud over the Rams’ offensive window. Week 2 left managers with a mix of fresh optimism and cautious notes as rosters thin and roles sharpen.

WEEK 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason delivered a slate of eye-opening performances for fantasy players, with rookie and second-year talents pushing into the spotlight. Caleb Williams stepped into Ben Johnson’s system for the Bears and looked surprisingly poised across two drives, delivering precision and a savvy touch that hints at upside if Chicago leans on the reworked offense. Jaxson Dart guided the Giants to a convincing win, throwing a touchdown and rushing for another while displaying confidence and decision-making that suggest he could be nudging Russell Wilson for more snaps sooner than expected. TreVeyon Henderson flashed his big-play ability with a productive 8-yard score, signaling a sizable workload looming for the Patriots this season. Tyler Loop seized the Ravens’ kicking gig, hitting five field goals and cementing a reliable late-round target for fantasy kickers. Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba showed dynamic rookie facets for Philadelphia, combining pass rush and a 75-yard pick-six for a defense that’s been collecting assets. Stetson Bennett IV posted a 324-yard, three-TD night for the Rams, underscoring a compact, high-variance flavor to late-round quarterback play in deep leagues. Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers offered real depth for Miami’s QB room, while a notable viral moment for Bennett IV and a respective learning curve for other rookies kept the week honest.