Fernando Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in his NFL preseason debut for the Las Vegas Raiders. The No. 1 overall pick earned a 66.7 PFF overall grade and avoided a turnover-worthy play across 31 snaps against the Arizona Cardinals.

PFF's NFL preseason Week 1 recap breaks down the immediate fantasy football takeaways from Friday's games. The slate features Broncos-Falcons, Buccaneers-Jets and Dolphins-Commanders, with player usage and stats at the center of the analysis.

Some of the players listed below have already signified that the 2026 campaign will be their last, potentially starting the clock for Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2031. Meanwhile, other names are continuing to battle either Father Time or mounting injuries despite their riproaring career production.

The article below breaks down need-to-know information and recommended storylines to track in the coming weeks regarding NFL veterans in 2026, including the status of Bears receiver Luther Burden III.

Nic Bodiford takes a look at four high-profile kickers whose fantasy stocks could surge to the top of the position in 2026, including the Lions' Jake Bates.

Nic Bodiford pinpoints four running backs whose workloads and talents could culminate in the RB1 overall finish, including the Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs.

Nic Bodiford spotlights three tight ends who could secure the top overall fantasy slot in 2026, including Raiders star Brock Bowers.

PFF's 2026 fantasy football quarterback rankings feature the top 64 options for drafts, with Josh Allen holding the No. 1 spot. Drake Maye, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels round out the top five in a deep quarterback pool. Use the rankings and tiers to identify quarterback targets throughout your 2026 fantasy football draft.

The first real week of the 2026 NFL preseason revealed key insights for fantasy purposes, including the Packers utilizing Matthew Golden in 12 personnel and Steelers rookie Germie Bernard flashing after the catch.

PFF data from the 2025 season shows how much NFL defensive tendencies actually change from the preseason to the regular season. The Bears altered their coverage usage more than any team, while the Dolphins showed remarkably little variation between August and the games that counted. Advanced Stats also reveal league-wide trends in Cover 1 usage, safety rotations and blitz rates.

It's easy to fall in love with a rookie who flourishes during the preseason. But as PFF data indicates, the relationship between rookie preseason and regular-season performance is murky at best.

Nic Bodiford looks at three wide receivers who could emerge as the top dog during the 2026 fantasy football season, including the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase.

Nic Bodiford outlines three quarterbacks who could lead the NFL in fantasy points for the 2026 season, including the Chargers' Justin Herbert.

Nathan Jahnke shares his ideal draft strategy for 10-team, single-quarterback, redraft PPR leagues for teams with Picks 8-10 ahead of the 2026 fantasy football season.

Malik Willis, Tyler Shough and Cam Ward stand out as breakout quarterback candidates for 2026 fantasy football drafts. Willis offers significant rushing upside in Miami, while Shough averaged 17.6 PPR points per game from Week 9 on last season. PFF grades and advanced stats also highlight Ward's late-season improvement and upside within Tennessee's revamped offense.

Nathan Jahnke's top 500 for PPR drafts gets you set for all of the 2026 fantasy football action.

Several College Football Playoff contenders face potential trap games during the opening weeks of the 2026 season. Notre Dame meets Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, while Oregon travels to Oklahoma State and Texas hosts UTSA between marquee matchups. PFF grades and advanced metrics highlight five early-season games that could challenge playoff hopefuls.

Nine picks from the 2025 NFL Draft enter Year 2 looking for larger roles after playing fewer than 100 snaps as rookies. Jalen Milroe, Kaleb Johnson and Tai Felton headline a group whose opportunities were limited by injuries, depth charts or early struggles.