New Orleans faces a tough test as Spencer Rattler and a battered offense host San Francisco. With Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau, Trevor Penning, and potentially Taliese Fuaga sidelined, the Saints must push a more efficient passing game and smarter play design to avoid an 0-2 start.

For fantasy managers, focus on Rashid Shaheed, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara as the trio most likely to produce targets and yards if the Saints unlock play-action and get the ball into space. San Francisco’s defense remains elite up front and in coverage, so protection and precision from Kellen Moore and Rattler will be pivotal for any redemption day in week 2.

Mykel Williams, Upton Stout, C.J. West and Marques Sigle headline SF Day 3, with Williams possible Week 1 snaps, Stout slated for nickel, West flashing as a pass-rusher before injury, and Sigle carving into the safety rotation. Ji’Ayir Brown and Jason Pinnock anchor the group as rookies learn the pro game’s tempo, per coach Robert Saleh’s praise of quick study and strong communication. Week 1 opportunities loom as SF leans on depth pieces in a fast, rotational defense.

With 11 picks, SF is banking on Day 3 talent to mix into rotational roles. The mix of rookies and veteran safeties creates a competitive safety room where learning speed matters as much as technique. Fantasy managers should monitor practice reps and depth-chart shifts, since even limited snaps from rookies can yield surprise value in early-season matchups.

Ashton Jeanty’s preseason burst with the Las Vegas Raiders is turning heads and fueling fantasy chatter. A Boise State star who thrived in a big-play role, Jeanty flashed contact balance, vision, and power that belies his Mountain West pedigree. The Raiders drafted him with 2025 in mind, and the early evidence suggests a real NFL ceiling if he wins a meaningful share of carries and occasional red-zone looks. The performance came against prominent competition, underscoring the potential for a versatile rookie heater in Las Vegas’ backfield.

On the first drive, Jeanty delivered a decisive push, shoving a linebacker aside and keeping his balance as tacklers swarmed. The next sequence showed his burst and grit, dragging defenders and finishing with a clean rushing touchdown. Yes, it’s preseason, but the clash with many of San Francisco’s starters and the presence of Robert Saleh on the opposing side amplified the takeaway: Jeanty’s film-grade traits translate to the NFL, and fantasy managers should monitor his role as 2025 approaches.

His loyalty to Boise State and the dramatic leap in production signal a player who isn’t scared of a big stage. If he sustains this level, Jeanty could become a late-round value in dynasty formats and a potential waiver-wire darling in standard leagues as the season unfolds. The Raiders clearly believe in a multi-faceted back with a potential red-zone presence, a profile that could push him into the fantasy spotlight sooner than expected.

The Home Team: NY Jets

streams Aug 21 on Prime Video, offering a six-episode look inside the 2024 Jets season through the lives of six players and their partners. The series doesn’t shy away from the chaos: New York fired Robert Saleh five games into the 2024-25 season as the team finished 5-12, a backdrop the show chronicles while still aiming to humanize a talented group.

Quinnen Williams and Alijah Vera-Tucker are among the featured Jets, giving fans a window into the pressures of elite play and the dynamics of a reshaped offense and defense. For fantasy managers, the doc adds texture about the roster’s arc and leadership, but it doesn’t alter Williams’ proven sack upside or Vera-Tucker’s pivotal OL role as the team rebuilds around performance on the field.