Fantasy Football: 3 players to watch this preseason

• The Browns' quarterback battle will be the story of the preseason: Can Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders usurp veteran Joe Flacco on the depth chart? And if so, do they hold fantasy value?

• There is a path for Cam Skattebo to become the Giants' RB1: Tyrone Tracy Jr. was solid but generally inefficient last season, leaving the door open for Skattebo in 2025 — especially if he has a strong preseason.

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WR Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans

The Texans selected wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, giving him a direct route to starting from day one in Houston. Tank Dell is injured and Christian Kirk will likely handle slot duties, so the outside position opposite Nico Collins is wide open heading into the season. 

With Iowa State in 2024, Higgins earned a 90.5 PFF overall grade, the best mark among FBS wide receivers. He tallied 862 receiving yards (third most in the Big 12), 285 yards after the catch, six touchdowns and nine contested catches. 

If Higgins flashes in August, he could go from camp standout to Week 1 fantasy flex option. With a clear path to playing time and elite college production to back it up, he’s the kind of under-the-radar rookie who can swing early-season lineups, especially if he quickly builds chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

One of the most intriguing backfield battles to watch this preseason is playing out in New York, where Tyrone Tracy Jr. and rookie Cam Skattebo are vying for first-team touches.

Tracy handled a decent workload last season but struggled with efficiency. Among running backs with 100-plus carries, he ranked just 34th in PFF rushing grade (69.6) and averaged only 2.8 yards after contact, also 34th — concerning marks for a player hoping to hold off incoming competition.

The Giants selected Skattebo with the 105th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after his dominant showings in college. He led the Big 12 in rushing yards (1,712), yards after contact (1,202), missed tackles forced (103) and PFF rushing grade (94.6) this past season. He was also a legitimate receiving weapon, catching 44 passes for 543 yards on his way to a 79.8 PFF receiving grade.

With Tracy's underwhelming performance and the Giants' running back depth chart unsettled, this preseason will be critical in determining whether Skattebo can emerge as a legitimate fantasy option right out of the gate or is a player to avoid in redraft leagues.

QB Shedeur Sanders & Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

All eyes are on the Browns' quarterback competition heading into the preseason. Kenny Pickett suffered a hamstring injury in practice and is on an unknown return timetable, leaving rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel and veteran Joe Flacco to duke it out. 

For fantasy purposes, we will focus on Sanders and Gabriel, as we know what Flacco is capable of at this point in his career. Sanders earned a 91.4 PFF passing grade across his final two college seasons (second among FBS quarterbacks), and Gabriel tallied an 81.2 mark in 2024 (fifth among Big Ten quarterbacks). 

August will determine who takes home the Browns' QB1 job, and with Pickett, the team's rookies are staring down a significant opportunity.