Derek Stingley Jr. lands at No. 18 on the NFL Top 100, a landmark for a cornerback who finally stayed healthy and delivered. In 2024 he posted 54 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and 18 pass deflections, earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Patrick Surtain II praised his ball skills and technique, while DeMeco Ryans highlighted his awareness and hands. The Texans’ Top 100 cohort also includes Nico Collins, CJ Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., and Joe Mixon, with Danielle Hunter representing Houston’s list. A healthy 2026 ascent is within reach.

Fantasy takeaway: Stingley anchors lockdown coverage with turnover upside, making him a high-floor CB2 with genuine weekly upside in D/ST scoring formats.

Xavien Howard is headed to Indianapolis on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, per his agent and NFL Media. After missing 2024 with a Lisfranc injury, the veteran cornerback draws immediate intrigue for fantasy managers due to his proven ball-hawking pedigree (29 career interceptions) and the Colts’ need for reliable cover in a secondary reshaped by injury. Indianapolis’ current projected starters include Charvarius Ward, Jaylon Jones and Kenny Moore II, but Moore II (knee) and Jones (hamstring) have health question marks, which could open early-season snaps for Howard if he’s up to speed. Week 1 pits the Colts against Howard’s former team, the Dolphins, adding a notable narrative edge. Howard’s track record suggests upside if he returns fully, but the short, one-year deal also signals potential for a quick rotation if health or fit lags. For fantasy players, the move raises the profile of Indianapolis’ defensive backfield as a risk-reward play, with Howard lurking as a potential bargain target in best-ball formats should he seize a starter role and post snap counts near those of a true high-volume corner.

Las Vegas’ defensive-tackle depth is under the microscope as training camp unfolds. Christian Wilkins was released after a protracted foot injury, leaving Adam Butler as the presumed starter and a rotation of bodies behind him. Leki Fotu has been in a walking boot with no clear return timeline. J.J. Pegues, Jonah Laulu, Tonka Hemingway, Zach Carter, and fourth-rounder Tonka Hemingway are all in the mix, with Thomas Booker and Keondre Coburn pushing for roster spots. The Raiders even swapped for Booker in a trade with Philadelphia, sending corner Jakorian Bennett the other way.

Fan polls show a strong push to add a DT before Week 1, and the 53-man cut on August 26 should trigger at least one move. The Seattle preseason game offered a glimpse of a committee rather than a single pillar, signaling a fantasy angle centered on multi-man interior reps rather than a clear-cut starter. Butler provides floor reliability; the rookies offer speculative upside in deeper formats if they climb into significant run defense snaps.

Dallas opened the 2025 preseason with a 31-21 loss to Los Angeles, a hazy showing that left more questions than answers about the Cowboys’ offense and depth. Brian Schottenheimer’s play-calling drew scrutiny as backup Joe Milton III soldiered through a rocky afternoon, while wideouts not named CeeDee Lamb showed rhythm issues that fantasy managers will watch closely in the weeks ahead. The Lamb moment on the sideline—a wild run-in with an official—accentuated the day’s volatility, even as Lamb remained the centerpiece of Dallas’ aerial attack.

Reactions across the national landscape centered on Milton’s development curve, Dak Prescott’s status as QB1, and concerns about cornerback depth and receiver options beyond Lamb. Lamb’s ability to command attention, Milton’s raw accuracy, and the defense’s opportunistic plays—like Israel Mukuamu’s interception—shaped a narrative: Dallas has talent, but its 2025 roster has meaningful warts to fix before Week 1. The takeaway for fantasy enthusiasts is to track Milton’s progression, Lamb’s target stability, and any emerging role players who could ride volume if injuries or inefficiencies surface in August and September.

Still, the closer look underscored a familiar theme: the Cowboys remain a high-ceiling, high-variance unit in early August. Prescott’s leadership anchors the offense, but questions linger about the supporting cast and the defensive backfield. As Dallas tinkers with personnel and Schottenheimer’s vanilla-practice approach evolves, fantasy managers should stay patient but alert to any roster moves or early-season shifts that could tilt depth-chart usage or game-night roles.