Back to the Preseason Updates Landing Page.
One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
A strong stack of practices leading up to the home game against Buffalo resulted in sharp play in the preseason game last week. And an up-and-down week ahead of a road game in Kansas City set the tone for a mirrored on-field showing. Caleb Williams' final stat line against the Chiefs looks respectable: 11-of-15 for 113 yards and a touchdown in just a small taste of action. But there were a few plays where he missed a read or held onto the ball too long, issues that were common last year. The offense got off to a slow start, sputtering on its first two drives before finding a rhythm. Ben Johnson said the first-quarter offense was "not good enough" and "really sloppy football." Of course, a young quarterback shouldn't be expected to shake every bad habit in a few weeks under a new system. And playing on the road against the Chiefs' starters is no easy task. But Williams has shown growth throughout this year's camp. This is still a work in progress. The silver lining is that the new offense should set up many easy plays for Williams to get the ball to his playmakers. And even in a not-so-great showing, he was pacing for what would have been fantasy-relevant production. Williams also added two rushes for 18 yards in the game, displaying a touch of rushing upside. Tyson Bagent, who quickly secured the backup role early in camp, was gifted with a two-year/$10M extension. Bagent has looked great in the preseason this year. Johnson said of the duo, "One of the best quarterback rooms that I've been around."
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
D'Andre Swift has had a quiet camp. However, this might be a case of "no news is good news." He got his first taste of preseason action and operated as the team's workhorse. Playing on 20 of Caleb Williams' 28 snaps, Swift garnered seven carries and a reception. It's worth noting that Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, and Ian Wheeler did not dress, all tending to injuries. Royce Freeman and Brittain Brown got the preseason work with the second team, but both are long shots to make the team. Swift, Monangai, and Johnson should all make the final roster. Travis Homer should join for his special teams contributions. Although Wheeler has picked up some camp buzz, he is dealing with an injury, potentially closing his window to make the cut. While there's been much discussion this offseason about the RB2 battle, injuries have inhibited us from getting enough information to make an explicit declaration either way. The coaches have spoken favorably about Monangai this offseason, while peculiarly not mentioning Johnson at all.