Stanley Holditch
There were a ton of games Saturday and Sunday so I won’t cover all of them but I’ll cover all of the rookie QBs and anything else that stood out.
Bears vs Dolphins: Preseason Week 1
The big takeaway for the Bears is that Fields looked absolutely as advertised, even if it did take him most of the second quarter to get going. He created space with his legs, threw accurate passes from both inside and outside the pocket, and showed the potential that the Bears offense could have with him under center.
Damien Williams entered the game early after David Montgomery left immediately after his first carry with a noticeable limp. Williams looked much like he did the last time we saw him with KC, showing good burst and catching passes out of the backfield.
Tua Tagovailoa actually looked pretty good prior to a really bad decision to throw into tight coverage in the end zone, resulting in a drive killing interception. Malcolm Brown actually started in front of Myles Gaskin but did little with his carries. Jaylen Waddle had a good return and flashed his speed but did little in the passing game.
Jacoby Brissett looked more than capable as a backup and could be a good fill-in QB if Tua goes down.
Broncos vs Vikings: Preseason Week 1
Drew Lock looked surprisingly sharp in this game, connecting with KJ Hamler for a beautiful 80-yard touchdown, and Trinity Benson on a short TD for 4 yards later in the first quarter. Lock also connected with Jerry Jeudy on a 33-yard catch and run, giving hope to Jeudy owners if Lock gets the starting nod which looks likely at this point.
Bridgewater should have had a rushing score in addition to his passing score to Benson in the third quarter, but simply did not look as explosive as Lock.
Javonte Williams looked powerful and decisive as a runner, and had a nice TD along the left edge called back on holding. Definitely a value in later rounds.
Minnesota struggled to get anything going under Browning, and Kellen Mond did not look ready for primetime, even against the 2s and 3s.
Saints vs Ravens: Preseason Week 1
Taysom started and was looking good at first. The first interception was not his fault as his receiver quit on a drag route, causing the timing throw to fall into a defenders waiting arms. However he should have been picked off on a subsequent drive, showing his accuracy still remains a work in progress.
Jameis looked hesitant in his decision making when he went in, sharpened up later but also had a pick and didn’t really establish himself even against the 2’s. Neither QB staked their claim to the starting job.
The Ravens offense did not look good, and Dobbins struggled to make anything of the few carries he got. McSorley looked decent, and Devin Duvernay actually had a decent game. With Batemon likely starting on IR, he could provide some value in very deep leagues.
The surprise of the night was a dominant rushing performance for Tony Jones Jr., rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown on just 7 carries, and catching 5 balls for 38 yards. Dynasty leagues should take notice.
Jaguars vs Browns: Preseason Week 1
After a quick fumble and recovery on his first snap in the NFL, Lawrence recovered his composure and unleashed a few zip passes that proved his worth as the first overall pick. The stat line is less impressive than his throws.
Chiefs vs 49ers: Preseason Week 1
Lance was the other big news of the day, showcasing a really powerful arm on an 80-yard touchdown to Trent Sherfield. He also looked ready for the big stage, though he did take a couple of sacks where he waited too long in the pocket and should have thrown the ball away. His receivers didn’t do his stat line any favors with multiple drops.
Trey Sermon looked good…like really good. Nothing too spectacular, just decisive, quick, and powerful. He could easily take over this backfield if Mostert stumbles out of the gate.
Clyde Edwards Helaire looked good for the chiefs, as did Byron Pringle, who caught a 10-yard touchdown early in the game, while Mecole Hardman had 1 target and no catches.
It will be really hard for Shanahan to keep Lance hidden away on the bench for long, and he has to be rethinking his stance after Saturday’s display.
Jets vs Giants: Preseason Week 1
Of the rookie QBs, Wilson was probably the least impressive. He did have nice zip on his completions along with a couple really bad interceptions. He didn’t do anything wrong or disconcerting to Jets fans, just didn’t shine as bright as the other four. He finished 6 of 9 for 63 yards, no TDs, no picks.
