Preseason Insights: What You Need to Know This Week

Photo: USA Today Sports

One of the best and most comprehensive features we do each year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Each week this month, our Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray and their team of Footballguys staff report on every key player on every NFL team. It’s over 32 pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you’ll find. That alone is probably worth the Footballguys Premium subscription.

While I encourage you to read every word on every team every week, I also understand that “life goes on.” And one of the more valuable services Footballguys can add is saving you time.

For this article, I had the idea to take the complete August updates and ask our team writers to convert them into 80 proof shots of the Things to know Material. Some teams will have more news than others because that’s how it goes in real life. A lot of it will come from the August updates, some of it will be my views, but hopefully it will all be useful to you. And be sure to subscribe to our Premium subscription to see this kind of stuff all year long. And if this feature is helpful to you, shoot me an email at [email protected] and let me know.

Plus, new for this year. For each team, I’ve included a link to our depth charts and also the Full Camp Report. If you like these bullet points and want more details, check out the Full Camp Report for each team.

Please note: Full camp reports for each team will be available Wednesday morning.

Let’s get started.

Arizona Cardinals | Depth Chart | Full Camp Report from Footballguys

• The team has high hopes for QB Kyler Murray and he has reportedly “improved by leaps and bounds” from last year.
• RB James Conner will do most of the work while rookie Trey Benson continues to acclimate.
• TE Trey McBride is becoming more familiar with the system and is excited to take on the primary role in handling what is expected to be a large workload.
• DL Darius Robinson is coming off a calf injury and may be placed on the injured list to start the season. He could return in Week 5.

Atlanta Falcons | Depth Chart | Full Camp Report from Footballguys

• QB Kirk Cousins’ experience is evident and this is expected to be a productive fantasy offense.
• Running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier split rush opportunities 15-7 in the team’s practice game, with each receiving two targets; this split appears realistic.
• WR Drake London had a great summer and has given every reason to believe that he will become an elite fantasy producer.
• WR Darnell Mooney is locked into an every-down role, showing up late in camp and leading the offense with five targets in the practice game.
• TE Kyle Pitts will have an every-down role, working both inline and split-out, while the team will rotate WR Ray-Ray McCloud and TEs Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley to plan personnel.

Baltimore Ravens | Depth Chart | Full Camp Report from Footballguys

• QB Lamar Jackson was under a lot of pressure during joint training sessions against the Packers defense and suffered too many sacks.
• Running backs Derrick Henry and Justice Hill will handle all ball contact, and Henry is set for another season as a full-time running back.
• WR Zay Flowers ended camp on a high note with several dominant workouts.
• WR Rashod Bateman is healthy and performed well against the Packers.
• TE Mark Andrews hasn’t participated in practice since a car accident nearly two weeks ago, but it doesn’t look like he’ll miss Week 1.

Buffalo Bills | Depth Chart | Full Camp Report from Footballguys

• QB Josh Allen was unable to play in the last two preseason games. He will try to improve the offense after losing the ball in the receiver room.
• RB James Cook is the star back, but expect rookie Ray Davis to take on a role as a relief tackle.
• At WR, they will likely rely heavily on Khalil Shakir as the slot receiver, with Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman also contributing.
• TE Dalton Kincaid has TE1 potential, but could also share snaps with Dawson Knox.
• The unit should remain above average on defense, but there are important question marks at linebacker and safety.

Carolina Panthers | Depth Chart | Full Camp Report from Footballguys

• QB Bryce Young made his first preseason appearance and led an impressive touchdown drive.
• RB Chuba Hubbard will take on the lion’s share of the action while the team waits for Jonathon Brooks to recover.
• WRs Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen are expected to be the team’s best receivers.
• Rookie WR Xavier Legette is still learning the offense after missing some time with a foot injury.

Chicago Bears | Depth Chart | Full Camp Report from Footballguys

• Regardless, the Bears went 4-0 in the preseason and hopefully started a much-needed culture change.
• QB Caleb Williams appears ready to lead the Bears, with QB Tyson Bagent stepping in as an above-average backup.
• WRs DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen are the team’s biggest strengths and are all playing well.
• RB D’Andre Swift is at the top of the pecking order, but expect to see a rotation of backs being used out of the backfield as well.

Photos provided by USA TODAY Sports