Packers and Seahawks staged a joint practice that ended with high drama, as roughly a dozen skirmishes broke out and Zach Tom was ejected after connecting with Ernest Jones IV and Devon Witherspoon. With Love sidelined by athumb injury, the Packers weathered the chaos while Seattle’s edge showed up in force. The rivalry tone intensified as Love called it one of the bigger fights he’s seen, and Sam Darnold nonchalantly invited himself into the fray. The two teams close the preseason with a Lambeau tilt, Jalen Milroe set to start for Seattle for the full game.

Fantasy takeaway centers on trenches and QB stability: Love’s thumb rehab could funnel offense toward a grind, while Seattle’s Milroe chance adds a volatile upside under center. Watch how the Packers’ O-line stabilizes and which Seahawks defenders ride the energy into Week 1 prep. The episode underlines the stakes of the final dress rehearsal and signals the kinds of notes fantasy managers should monitor—offensive line cohesion, quarterback health, and how leadership shows up in on-field chaos.

In short, the drama matters less for single-game box scores than for longer-term context: it hints at how teams will protect their quarterbacks, how rushing lanes might open up, and where fantasy upside could emerge as the season unfolds.

Green Bay and Seattle opened their two-hour practice in tense fashion, with roughly a dozen skirmishes and at least one ejection as tempers flared on the field. Jordan Love stayed mostly to individual drills and 7-on-7 while rehabbing his left thumb, watching the clash unfold around him. Zach Tom, the Packers’ right tackle, was booted after exchanging blows with Ernest Jones IV and Devon Witherspoon, signaling the high-energy, competitive atmosphere that usually accompanies joint practices.

Across the field, Seattle’s offense and Green Bay’s defense tussled during 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods, with a Packers defender even swinging at Anthony Bradford. Post-practice tensions persisted as players traded words. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald offered a measured take, acknowledging the reality of fights in joint sessions, while Love emphasized staying clear of any scuffles given his thumb status. Sam Darnold offered a lighthearted, playful take on the chaos, underscoring the blend of competition and camaraderie that fuels these workouts and shapes early-season narratives for fantasy planning.

Time will tell which NFL stars and contract-year players leverage pressure into fantasy payoff. Justin Fields’s Jets chapter sets a high-stakes audition for offense identity and fantasy upside with a dual-threat ceiling. Trevor Lawrence’s massive extension anchors the Jaguars’ hopes, but health and consistency remain questions. The landscape also spotlights J.J. McCarthy, Anthony Richardson and Bryce Young as pivotal young signal-callers, while veteran playmakers like James Cook, Christian McCaffrey, George Pickens, Kyle Pitts and Milton Williams must translate opportunity into durable fantasy value after injuries or uneven showings. From starters under siege to contract-year players needing breakouts, the season centers on energy, durability and production translating into fantasy points across multiple offenses.

The piece foregrounds Fields’s New York chapter as a true test of fit and playmaking, Lawrence’s health arc amid a refreshed staff, and Purdy’s continued ascent after a landmark extension that emphasizes system and supporting cast. McCaffrey’s rebound bid comes with age and injury caution, while Cook’s four-year deal adds weight to Buffalo’s offense as Allen’s engine. Pickens and Pitts carry changing target trajectories, and Richardson’s evolving role in Indianapolis frames a host of Week 1 decision points for fantasy managers. The narrative is about turning opportunity into fantasy value while teams decide who will be part of the long-term solution.

Across the league, this season will validate or redefine careers, with Fields, Lawrence, Richardson, Young and Purdy serving as marquee catalysts for fantasy rosters. The integration of running backs Cook and McCaffrey, plus pass-catchers Pickens and Pitts, amplifies question marks around target share, durability and coaching schemes—areas where edge can be carved for savvy fantasy managers as matchups unfold.

Daniel Jones won the Colts’ starting quarterback job, edging out Anthony Richardson in a competition that underscored Indy’s veteran-versus-prospect dynamic. Jones signed this offseason to bring stability to a room that features Richardson, who struggled to finish his sophomore season. Jones will pilot the Week 1 showdown with Miami, signaling a shift toward a steadier, more accurate passing attack for fantasy managers to trust early. Richardson remains a high-ceiling talent, but Jones’ familiarity with pro offenses and a veteran presence could tilt the Colts’ Week 1 game plan toward safer passes and more efficient drives.

Richardson’s 2023 line was underwhelming by any fantasy standard: 11 starts, 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions on a 47.7% completion clip. Jones, by contrast, has started 69 of 70 games, with a career arc that includes over 14,500 yards and 70 TDs on roughly 64% completions. Indy’s decision leans toward immediate stability, which translates into clearer short- to mid-range targets and a potentially more balanced attack. For fantasy, this elevates the Colts as a Week 1 streamer, while Richardson remains an upside play whose value could rise as the offense grows into his strengths.