- Tyler Warren shines in his NFL debut: In the last two seasons, Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers played significant first-team snaps in their first preseason games. This year, Warren played 20 of the Indianapolis Colts‘ first 20 snaps.
- Samaje Perine regains the third-down role: Perine was reunited with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. He took third downs and other clear passing plays with the Bengals‘ first-team offense from Chase Brown.
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2025.
Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Warren makes his Indianapolis Colts debut: Warren was the Colts' top target when he was on the field.
The Colts have utilized a ridiculous rotation at tight end in recent seasons. Last season, Mo Alie-Cox, Andrew Ogletree and Kylen Granson all played between 430-475 offensive snaps, but none of the three exceeded 200 receiving yards on the season. The tight end room will look very different this season after the Colts used the 14th overall pick in the draft on Warren, a well-rounded tight end who should be capable of playing in any situation.
Warren played all 20 snaps on the Colts’ first three drives. This was a clear difference from their tight end usage last season. In the three snaps Indianapolis used two-tight-end sets, Ogletree was also on the field. Warren caught three passes for 40 yards and had a fourth reception called back due to an ineligible man downfield. It’s not surprising he received so many targets considering the Colts' top three wide receivers didn’t play in this game. Once he left the game, Ogletree started playing more frequently, while Will Mallory became the second tight end. Warren played 16 snaps from a traditional tight end alignment in addition to two snaps in the slot and two out wide.
It’s worth noting Mo Alie-Cox was among the Colts veterans who sat out this game, but he is unlikely to be a threat to Warren’s playing time, particularly in passing situations.
While we can’t take much away from his stats in this game, we can be more confident that Warren will see play significantly more snaps than past Colts’ tight ends this season. We can also expect him to align as a traditional tight end more often than most fantasy-relevant tight ends. This isn’t surprising given his strong run blocking. If anything, this game was more positive than negative, but it mostly confirms what we already expected out of Warren this season.
The Colts' backup running back battle intensifies: The Colts rotated between Tyler Goodson and D.J. Giddens at running back throughout the first half.
The Colts have gone through several backup running backs over the years behind Jonathan Taylor, including Nyheim Miller-Hines, Zack Moss, Trey Sermon, Deon Jackson and Jordan Wilkins. None of those players is currently on the roster. The Colts retained Goodson, signed veteran Khalil Herbert from the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency and drafted Giddens in the fifth round in an open competition. Taylor has missed three-to-seven games in each of the last three seasons, so there is a chance whoever wins the backup job will hold fantasy value this season.
With Taylor sitting this game out, Goodson started. Goodson played the first drive and most of the fifth drive, while Giddens played the rest of the first-half snaps. The fact that Giddens is near even with Goodson is a good sign that he could become the primary backup this season. Typically, Day 3 running backs are buried on the depth chart this early in the preseason. It’s also good to see him playing every down rather than focusing on passing situations.
Herbert was listed fourth on the team’s first unofficial depth chart. While we typically can’t take much stock in the unofficial depth charts, Herbert didn’t play a single snap with the offense in the first half, but he started the second half. The fact that the Colts rotated running backs, and Herbert wasn’t part of that rotation, is not a great sign for Herbert’s chances of being the primary backup this season. Typically, we see veterans ahead of rookies at this point in the season, so Giddens playing ahead of Herbert is pretty significant.
Keaton Mitchell was the focal point of the Ravens' offense: Mitchell performed very similarly to his rookie season.
Mitchell was excellent over a six-game stretch in 2023 as a rookie, averaging 8.4 yards per carry over 47 carries. He suffered a gruesome knee injury, including an ACL tear, near the end of 2023 and returned less than 11 months later, but he wasn’t the same player. There has been a constant positive buzz around Mitchell this offseason, as his speed is back.
Mitchell started the game for Baltimore due to Derrick Henry and Justice Hill sitting out. Mitchell played 100% of the first- and second-down snaps on the first two drives, while Rasheen Ali took the third-down role. He ran five times for 53 yards and a touchdown on those drives. Mitchell continued to work in throughout the first half because Baltimore only had three active running backs who had been on the roster for at least a week. He continued to rotate out on third downs. Ali wasn't nearly as effective despite his significant carry total. While the level of talent he’s facing wasn’t as good as an NFL regular-season game, this helped reinforce Mitchell as the clear third running back on the depth chart, as he displayed what he can do when he has space to run.
It will be near-impossible for Mitchell to have fantasy value this season as long as Henry is healthy. Still, if Henry were to suffer an injury, Mitchell could be a must-start, as Hill would likely remain the receiving back while Mitchell receives most of the carries.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen announced earlier in the week that Anthony Richardson would start at quarterback and play a quarter and a half, while Daniel Jones played the rest of the half. Next week, the plan is for the roles to be reversed.
- Richardson was injured on an unblocked sack on the second drive, leading to Jones taking over at quarterback sooner. He appeared to suffer a hand injury.
- The Colts rested a few key starters, including running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, and tight end Mo Alie-Cox.
- Colts backup running back Salvon Ahmed didn’t play after suffering a serious leg injury earlier in the week during practice. He was unlikely to make the roster before the injury.
- The Ravens rested running backs Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Patrick Ricard, wide receivers Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. The Ravens similarly rested their starters and key rotational players throughout the preseason last season, so we shouldn’t expect them to play this preseason.
- Likely is dealing with a foot fracture, and it is questionable if he will be ready for Week 1.
- Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar typically only plays in blocking situations, but he was an every-down tight end in this game.
- Baltimore sixth-round rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester achieved an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. That could help him earn the punt return job in the regular season. Deonte Harty, Tylan Wallace, Steven Sims and Desmond King II all returned punts for Baltimore last season, but none of them had 87 punt return yards total last season.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Philadelphia Eagles
Samaje Perine mixes in with the Bengals' starters: Perine returned to his usual role as the Bengals’ third-down back.
Chase Brown ended last season consistently playing over 80% of Cincinnati's offensive snaps once Zack Moss was injured, and the team didn’t have faith in Khalil Herbert or the other backups. The Bengals surprisingly moved on from Moss last week despite restructuring his contract three months ago. Cincinnati brought in reinforcements this offseason, bringing back Perine, who had served as a passing-down back under this regime from 2020-2022, and sixth-round rookie Tahj Brooks.
Brown started the game and played 12 of 16 snaps with the starters. Perine took the only third down of more than one yard, as well as three other plays in clear passing situations. Brooks did not play with the starters, but he was the clear runner with the second team. Perine continued to play sparingly with the backups on third downs.
This was largely good news for fantasy managers, except those expecting production out of Perine. It was clear Brown wouldn’t play as much this season, and losing snaps on third downs, where he would rarely get targeted, is the ideal case. The other possibility was him losing snaps on early downs, which would lead to more lost touches. This also confirms that Brooks is already Brown's handcuff. Brooks probably won't have fantasy value this season without a Brown injury, but the preseason usage suggests Brooks would be a one-for-one replacement for Brown if he suffers an injury.
Will Shipley was ahead of A.J. Dillon tonight: Shipley played in each of the team’s first 14 snaps tonight.
The Eagles' backup running back spot is up for grabs. Longtime Eagle Kenneth Gainwell left for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. The competition is between 2023 fourth-round pick Shipley, who didn’t play as much on offense as a rookie, and former Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon.
Shipley played the first two drives before being replaced by Dillon, who has reportedly been ahead of Shipley at times during training camp. Dillon is known for being an early down back, and Shipley is known for his receiving, so if Saquon Barkley suffers an injury, this could be a two-man backfield. Throughout Nick Sirianni’s time with the Eagles, he’s rotated running backs by drive during the preseason but not by situation, unlike how he uses running backs in the regular season. We’ve also seen the order of the rotation change from one week of the preseason to the next.
It is too early to take anything away from the running back rotation tonight. If Shipley continues to play ahead of Dillon in future preseason games, we can be more confident that Shipley is ahead of Dillon on the depth chart.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Tight ends Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant and Erick All Jr. did not play for the Cincinnati Bengals. Gesicki is dealing with a minor injury and would have been questionable had this been a regular-season game. Fant has only been on the team for a week and is still learning the playbook. All suffered an ACL tear last season. He’s expected to miss the season, but the Bengals placed him on the physically unable to perform list instead of injured reserve, so it’s not guaranteed he’s out for the year.
- Tee Higgins took a few plays off on each of the two drives. Andrei Iosivas took over in two-receiver sets and Charlie Jones did so in three-receiver sets. There isn’t much to read into because this is the preseason, but it’s worth monitoring.
- Second-year wide receiver Jermaine Burton has received some buzz during training camp, but he didn’t play any first-team snaps, and Jones played well with the second team at wide receiver. That isn’t a great sign that Burton will play many snaps this season, but it is good news for Jones.
- Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson only played on the Eagles' first drive. His night was done before the rest of the Eagles’ starters from this game.
- The Eagles' Grant Calcaterra is currently holding off new challengers for the Eagles' backup tight end job. He played seven of eight snaps in 11 personnel on the first two drives while sharing time with free agent addition Harrison Bryant in two-tight-end sets. Fellow free agent addition Kylen Granson didn’t play his first offensive snap until the third drive.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Seattle Seahawks
Jack Bech is clearly WR4 for now: Dont’e Thornton Jr. started for the Raiders, while Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker only played one drive.
The Raiders seemed to have the least depth at wide receiver last season after they traded Davante Adams. Meyers was the clear star of the group, while Tucker turned into an every-down starter, and playersl ike D.J. Turner and Terrace Marshall Jr. played some of the snaps in three-receiver sets. The Raiders reloaded at the position in the draft with Bech in the second round, Thornton in the fourth and Tommy Mellott in the sixth. It’s possible that whoever wins the second wide receiver job will have value this season.
Immediately after the draft, it seemed like Meyers and Bech would be the top two wide receivers, but early reports suggested Thornton was ahead of him on the depth chart. Thornton is a clear X receiver, while Bech is more of a Z and slot, similar to Meyers.
The Raiders started the game with Thornton as the X receiver, Tucker as the Z, and Meyers in the slot. After the first drive, Bech replaced Tucker as the Z receiver, and Alex Bachman took over in the slot. Thornton was taken out after the third drive, while Bech played the rest of the first half. While Bech has some experience in the slot, he was very consistently playing on the outside. This suggests Thornton’s starting job is secure, so Bech is competing with Tucker for snaps. We have seen several rookie wide receivers fourth or lower on the depth chart in the first preseason game who reach the starting lineup by Week 1, so it’s still possible Bech earns a role in three-receiver sets.
Even if Bech does become a starter, he might not play much in two-receiver sets. The Raiders lived in 11 personnel in this game, but Brock Bowers only played one snap. We don’t know how much 12 personnel the Raiders will run this season with Bowers and Michael Mayer.
The Raiders' backup running back spot is wide open: Ashton Jeanty is the clear Raiders starter, but the backup spot isn’t fully decided.
The Raiders' backfield was ever-changing last season, as Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White and Sincere McCormick all played significant snaps. Las Vegas moved on from the two veterans, added Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the draft and added veteran Raheem Mostert, who has a history with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Jeanty started the game and played the first 10 plays. That was a little longer than most of the Raiders' starters on offense, but it’s not that odd considering he is a rookie. Mostert finished off the second drive, while White took the third drive. McCormick started the fourth drive, while both White and Mostert came back into the game. Any one of the three could win the backup job, the third string job, and it’s possible any one of the three could be off the roster if they only keep three running backs.
When you consider the order of the running backs from oldest to youngest, which is common for the preseason, we probably can’t read much into the order in which these running backs played. It’s also possible that if Jeanty suffers an injury, the Raiders use a committee to replace him, making it so none of the backups can have fantasy value this season.
Seahawks tight end battle becomes more complicated: Eric Saubert was the Seahawks' starting tight end, rotating with Elijah Arroyo.
The Seattle Seahawks utilized a three-man rotation at tight end last season, including Noah Fant, fourth-round rookie A.J. Barner and Pharaoh Brown. Brown left in free agency and Fant was released two weeks ago, while the team drafted Arroyo and signed Saubert for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Saubert played under Kubiak in 2022 with the Denver Broncos.
Barner had the night off, while Saubert and Arroyo rotated by situation. Saubert was an early-down tight end and Arroyo played on passing downs, while the two were often on the field together for two-tight-end sets. Kubiak has experience with both every-down tight ends like Tyler Conklin in 2021 with the Minnesota Vikings and George Kittle in 2023 with the San Francisco 49ers. He also has experience with this kind of rotation that they used in this game. Last season with the New Orleans Saints, Foster Moreau played more on early downs while Juwan Johnson played on passing downs. Similarly, his 2022 Denver Broncos had Saubert and Eric Tomlinson as blockers, and Greg Dulcich as a receiver.
Saubert stopped playing at the end of the first quarter, which isn’t surprising considering his experience. Arroyo was used in some plays out of 21 personnel in the second quarter. It was good to see the Seahawks getting him experience in those situations because his best-case scenario is being an every-down tight end as a rookie rather than just a passing-down specialist.
Anything is possible by the end of the season, but it would not be surprising if this is an ugly three-man rotation to start the season. Barner is clearly at the top of the depth chart at the moment, but it could be similar to Moreau being on the top of the Saints' depth chart last season. It’s also possible that Barner is the every-down tight end. The rookies were relatively low on the depth chart, so there is still time for Arroyo to work his way up.
If anything, this game should be a reminder that it’s not just Barner and Arroyo competing for playing time, and that Saubert, who already has familiarity with Kubiak, could play significant snaps as a blocker this season.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Seahawks rested several players on offense. This included running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and tight end A.J. Barner.
- The Seahawks' rookies are generally further down the depth chart than we would expect in Week 1. This includes Drew Lock playing ahead of Jalen Milroe, George Holani playing ahead of Damien Martinez, Valdes-Scantling resting despite Tory Horton recently playing ahead of him in practice, and Eric Saubert and Barner ahead of Elijah Arroyo.
- The Seahawks used a variety of personnel groupings in the first quarter, calling seven plays out of 11 personnel, five out of 12 personnel, five out of 21 personnel and three out of 22 personnel. The Seahawks ran 11 personnel on 77% of their offensive snaps in the first quarter of games last season, so this is potentially cutting their 11 personnel usage in half this season.
- While the Raiders played their starters, tight end Brock Bowers only played one snap. It was oddly the second play rather than the first, but it’s not unheard of for a player to play just one snap in a preseason game. Geno Smith, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker only played one drive.
Table Notes
- Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
- Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown-away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
- Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.
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