Don't worry, soccer fans: the last week of “meaningless” soccer is over.
With only three games left in the NFL preseason, the next snap of the ball will be crucial in determining the outcome of the regular season.
But it's not entirely accurate to dismiss the preseason as meaningless. Sure, the key starters we're all familiar with will be largely unaffected by these games, but a few players solidified their potential fantasy-relevant roster spots last weekend despite the deeper names.
After all, you want to have these names in mind at the end of your fantasy draft in case these performances carry over into the regular season.
Using 4for4's multi-site average draft position (ADP), which aggregates fantasy draft data from major platforms like CBS, ESPN and Yahoo, let's break down some key takeaways from Week 3 of the preseason.
>> Read more: Winners and losers from preseason Week 3
Bryce Young looks sharp even in solo performances
Future fantasy managers didn't get to see Bryce Young for very long on Saturday, but he made a strong impression against the Buffalo Bills.
Though he didn't play in the Carolina Panthers' first two preseason games, the former Heisman Trophy winner led a 12-play, 85-yard scoring drive in his first (and final) preseason game, and was a solid performer, moving quickly and agilely around the field.
There isn't a lot of information to rely on, so don't jump to any sweeping conclusions about what to expect from Young in Dave Canales' new offensive line.
Still, the former Alabama star has an ADP price of QB28.
Young isn't a player that managers in one-quarterback leagues should be pursuing, but what about managers who participate in a season-long SuperFlex format? That's where he becomes a bit more intriguing.
Remember, Canales served as the Seattle Seahawks' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for several years from 2018-2022 before making a one-year pit stop as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator in 2023. During that time, he oversaw the career resurgences of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield.
Does this guarantee Young will make a big leap this season? Not really. But his performance on Saturday and the anecdotal arguments surrounding Canales' tutelage make for at least a strong sleeper argument.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele (42) runs the ball against Chicago Bears safety Tarvarius Moore (30) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA Today Sports.
Carson Steele might be the real deal
The Kansas City Chiefs rested their main offensive starters in last Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears, but fantasy managers continued to watch an intriguing battle for the position unfold on their screens.
Rookie running back Denerick Prince and fullback Carson Steele got extensive attention on the game's opening five drives, with the latter showing far more energy. The UDFA stole the show in our Week 2 preseason takeaway article, rushing for 50 yards on four carries with this phenomenal highlight:
Ultimately, that run didn't result in a touchdown, but Steele bolstered the drive with a 1-yard gain on the next play.
With an ADP of RB76, Steele is currently a name to consider on the fringe of the radar in a league that will see redrafts from 14 to 16 teams. It's worth noting that teammate Clyde Edwards-Haley is the implicit backup to starter Isaiah Pacheco, taking his inactive status in Week 3 as evidence, but that doesn't completely erase Steele's potential.
Managers should feel free to invest in a player who could be the spark for one of the NFL's most dominant offensive lines at such a low cost, and if that player is still on the waiver list in your dynasty league, feel free to move him.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field. Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports.
The Seahawks' offensive line is making a strong impression.
Five plays, 62 yards, and all in just under two minutes of execution.
Here's a brief but moving look at the Seahawks' first-team offensive line under QB Geno Smith this preseason. The unit quickly beat the Cleveland Browns on their opening drive, which ended with a 21-yard score to WR DK Metcalf.
There's plenty of reason to be excited about the Seahawks' offense in 2024.
First, the Seahawks hired former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to the same position following the offseason retirement of former coach Pete Carroll and the departure of coach Shane Waldron to the Bears.
Grubb led the University of Washington's aerial attack that ranked second in the FBS in passing yards per game (343.7) in 2023, according to Sports Reference, and there's a good chance Smith and company will continue to play in the same way going forward.
This kind of offensive philosophy could be gold standard in the fantasy world, and from what we've seen, the starting offensive line looks poised to capture the Huskies' magic at the pro level.
But if you're worried that this optimism is based solely on playing less than two minutes in a preseason game, fear not: Smith thrives in a higher-volume passing attack and has been one of the league's most underrated passers over the past two seasons.
Among 49 quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts since 2022, Smith ranks fifth in completion percentage (67.4), sixth in passing yards (7,906), 10th in passer rating (96.8) and 14th in completion percentage (47.7%).
Don't forget about veterans when searching for a QB2 in Superflex: Smith has an ADP of QB23 and is valuable in the current draft, but if Smith isn't your preference, pass catchers Jackson Smith-Njiba and Tyler Lockett are WR41 and WR51, respectively, and can be found regularly from the seventh round onwards in drafts.
Even the most expensive Metcalf is an attractive WR21 discount in the fourth round.
Investing in the Seahawks' offense could be a cost-effective and rewarding move in 2024.
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers (22) charges at Los Angeles Rams linebacker Brennan Jackson (44) during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Thomas Shea – USA Today Sports
Akers could be worthy of fantasy attention.
It's too early to get too excited about this one, but now might be a good time to start thinking about Cam Akers again.
The fifth-year runner capped off an impressive summer with seven rushing attempts for 53 yards in Saturday's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Rams, a performance that likely secured him a spot on this season's roster after ranking as low as fifth on the team's preseason depth chart.
Akers has rushed 24 times for 112 yards in three preseason games, with this impressive chunk play against the Rams being the highlight of his attempts.
And this man, at just 25 years old, had already ruptured both Achilles tendons.
Just making the Texans roster would be a surprising return for Akers, but his fantasy potential is even more exciting: His teammate and potential RB2, Damion Pierce, basically didn't accomplish much this preseason (nine yards on eight carries) and didn't do much to inspire confidence last season.
Among 49 running backs with 100-plus carries in 2023, Pierce ranks last in rushing success percentage (37.9) and 41st in rushing yards per game (29.7), per Stathead.
Does this open the door for Akers to become Joe Mixon's primary backup before the season ends? It certainly does, but if you're in a 10- or 12-team redraft league, it's best not to act now.
Keep Akers in mind as a player to watch on the waiver list at the start of the season and follow his journey as it could blossom into a great story in time.
Additional observations from the Week 3 schedule: The Pittsburgh Steelers played quarterback Russell Wilson with the starters for just one drive on Saturday against the Detroit Lions. The veteran connected on two passes to receiver George Pickens before leaving the field and handing the reins to Justin Fields. It's fair to see this as a sign that head coach Mike Tomlin is comfortable with Wilson as his QB1, but there's been no clear announcement on that front. With an ADP of QB31, Wilson is effectively a free in fantasy drafts. Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard played most of the first-team snaps in Saturday's game. Teammate Miles Sanders snuck in a few times but spent time primarily with the reserves after the A's lone drive. While second-round draft pick Jonathan Brooks will eventually lead this backfield after returning from a torn ACL in college, Hubbard (RB41, 12th-round ADP) seems firmly locked in as the Panthers' leadoff runner early on. None of the Los Angeles Chargers' starting offensive line played in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. A surprise addition to that group is rookie RB Kimani Vidal. The former Troy product performed well in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams (11 carries, 49 rushing yards, two receptions), at least implicitly securing him a spot on the roster. It's unclear where he fits in the backfield pecking order compared to veterans Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, but for deeper league managers, his current ADP of RB59 makes him worth exploring. San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason played well against the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday, rushing eight times for 42 yards and one score. The former Georgia Tech running back played well in the preseason and is a strong candidate to back up Christian McCaffrey. Mason should be considered as an attractive handcuff option with an ADP of RB72. This is not fantasy related, but if you like to play wild, prepare yourself. Baltimore Ravens QB Devin Leary nearly made contact with WR Dayton Wade late in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers for what should have been one of the craziest Ricochet touchdowns in recent memory. Watch and enjoy.
CH 'Herms' Herrmann is a fantasy writer for The 33rd Team and brings extensive experience as a fantasy analyst and NFL writer with Draft Sharks, FantasyPros, ClutchPoints and SB Nation. A respected voice in the fantasy football community, Herms' insight and accuracy led to him being named the #1 most accurate DST ranker in FantasyPros' ECR Draft Rankings for the 2023 season. Herms has worked in media since 2020.
