NFL Preseason Week 1 Takeaways For Fantasy Football: Carnell Tate, De'Zhaun Stribling & More

Below is a summary for each team from Week 1 of the NFL preseason. The primary focus is on player utilization and usage with the starting offense.

Typically, starters are determined by drives played with the starting QB or offensive line. Some instances differ depending on who started, as outlined in each team's position section. You can find definitions for all the table abbreviations at the bottom of this article.

Updates will occur throughout the weekend as data from each game becomes available.

Takeaways From Thursday's Week 1 NFL Preseason Games

Tennessee Titans: Week 1 Preseason Fantasy Takeaways

The Titans played their starters for three drives (16 snaps). They played balanced, passing the ball 56% of plays. The offensive line looked good, but the 49ers rested their starting defense.

Quarterback

• Cam Ward: Ward played three drives, finishing the night with 57 passing yards. He completed 5 of 8 passes (62.5%) with 7.1 yards per attempt (YPA). Ward also scrambled once for two yards. Action: Holding steady as a low-end QB2 for now.

Running Back

• Tony Pollard: Pollard played the first three drives, handling 50% of the attempts for 22 yards—including a five-yard TD—on a 43% snap share against the 49ers backups. Camp reports have listed Pollard as the No. 1 back, which contrasts with this data. But in preseason games, it is not unusual for the staff to give both players playing time behind the starting offensive line. Action: TBD, but Pollard doesn't have much breathing room. He is already a FADE for me in my 2026 RB Strategy.
   
• Tyjae Spears: Spears split first-team reps with Pollard, splitting attempts (50%) and leading the way in the passing game with a 54% route participation and a 9% target share. He accumulated 35 yards on four attempts. There is a chance Spears turns this into more of a 1A/1B committee, but camp reports lean toward Pollard. Action: Spears is an explosive pass-catching back, which keeps him on the fantasy radar as an RB5/6 option in later rounds.
   
• Nicholas Singleton: The rookie RB entered the game with the second-team and currently slots in as the RB3. He played into the third quarter and rotated with Michael Carter, who took the two-minute offense. Action: Singleton could be a player to watch on the waiver wire. He could see more run as the season progresses.

Indianapolis Colts: Week 1 Preseason Takeaways

The Colts rested all of their starters. RT Jalen Travis played one drive.

Quarterback

• Anthony Richardson: Started and played the first half against the Patriots backups, scoring 13.1 fantasy points. Richardson completed 11 of 14 passes for 145 yards (10.4 YPA).

Running Back

• Seth McGowan: McGowan started with Jonathan Taylor resting and DJ Giddens dealing with a hamstring injury. He played 100% of the snaps on the first three drives before resting. Recent camp reports point toward McGowan as the potential handcuff to Taylor. Action: McGowan is a late-round RB option in deep leagues.

New England Patriots: Week 1 Preseason Takeaways

The Patriots rested their starters, but some key backups got playing time.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

• Eli Raridon: Raridon is the TE2 on the Patriots depth chart and got the start, leading the team with a 22% target share on a 100% snap share over the first five drives. The Round 3 NFL Draft pick snared one of his four targets against the Colts' backup defenders. Action: Raridon is a name to remember on the waiver wire and is a late-round dart throw in deep TE-premium formats.
   
• Kayshon Boutte: Boutte played 70% of snaps in the first quarter before calling it a night, which aligns with reports from camp. He appears to be the WR4 behind A.J. Brown,  Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas, who didn't play. Boutte played outside with Efton Chism taking slot reps. Action: FADE in managed leagues.

San Francisco 49ers: Week 1 Preseason Takeaways

The 49ers rested almost all of their starters and many of the backups, like Mac Jones. RBs Kaelon Black and Jordan James didn't play due to injuries.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

• De'Zhaun Stribling: Stribling operated as the WR1 with all other starters resting or dealing with injuries. He played all three drives with the starting QB, Kurtis Rourke, before calling it a night. Stribling dominated Titans starting defenders with a 53% target share, earning eight looks on 15 routes (94% route participation). Stribling worked primarily beneath the coverage with a 7.0 aDOT and notched seven grabs for 76 yards. He played from the slot 60% of snaps. The Round 2 NFL Draft pick played 100% of snaps in 11 personnel but rotated in 12 personnel (56%). Action: Stribling has a shot to climb the 49ers' depth chart to WR2 or WR3 status—he is a target in Round 10+ in drafts.
   

Offensive Line

• Starters Rested: 4 of 5
• Starters Played: LG - Robert Jones

Wide Receiver and Tight End

• Wan'Dale Robinson: Robinson led the team with an 85% route participation rate, playing 100% of snaps in 11 personnel. He notched a team-leading 36% target share, including looks on play action. He finished the night with two receptions and 19 yards on four targets. He played underneath the coverage with a 2.8 aDOT and a 94% slot rate. Action: Robinson remains a borderline WR4 with WR3 upside.
   
• Carnell Tate: Tate played 90% of the pass plays on the first drive but rotated over the next two drives, finishing with a 69% route participation. He has dominated first-team reps in camp. The No. 4 overall NFL Draft pick was second on the team in targets (27%), led the way in air yards (63%) and saw the lone end-zone target. He played 75% of snaps in 11- and 60% in 12-personnel. Action: Tate offers the most upside in the Titans' passing attack as a Round 6 pick despite having zero production in this game.
   
• Calvin Ridley: Ridley only played one, registering an 80% route share before resting. He pulled down one reception for 18 yards on one target. It is worth noting that camp buzz has Elic Ayomanor pushing for reps and could force Ridley aside. Action: Ridley is a FADE in re-draft formats.
   
• Elic Ayomanor: Ayomanor has had a strong camp. He stepped in with the starters on the second and third drives, posting a 100% route participation rate. Action: Nothing for now, but Ayomanor could push Ridley for playing time in 2026.
   
• Gunnar Helm: Helm split reps with Daniel Bellinger, with both players notching a 60%+ snap share. Helm had the edge in routes (62% vs 46%), but Bellinger still saw some work in 11-groupings. Camp reports have Helm as the clear No. 1, especially in 11, so no reason to freak out, but there is a disconnect between Week 1 in the preseason and practice right now. Action: Helm remains a late-round TE option in deeper leagues, but the playing time is something to monitor. 

Offensive Line

• Starters Rested: N/A
• Starters Played: 4 of 5 played all three drives with the starters; RG - Fernando Carmona Jr. (battling for starting spot) played all three drives

Glossary

• Snaps: Percentage of snaps the player played with the starters.
• Rush Att: Percentage of rushing attempts with the starters.
• Routes: Route participation with the starters.
• Targets: Target share with the starters.
• TPRR: Targets per route run with the starters.
• SDD Snaps: Percentage of short-down-and-distance (short yardage) with starters.
• LDD Snaps: Percentage of long-down-and-distance snaps (obvious passing downs) with starters.
• Two-Minute Snaps: Percentage of snaps in the two-minute offense with the starters.
• Catchable: Percentage of targets deemed catchable with the starting QB per PFF.
• aDOT: Average depth of target with the starters.
• Air Yards: Percentage of the team's air yards with the starters.
• 3rd/4th Down Targets: Percentage of targets on 3rd and 4th down with the starters.
• 11P: Percentage of snaps played in 11 personnel (1RB, 3WR, 1TE) with the starters.
• 12P: Percentage of snaps played in 12 personnel (1RB, 2WR, 2TE) with the starters.
• 21P: Percentage of snaps played in 21 personnel (2RB, 2WR, 1TE) with the starters.
• Slot Snaps: Percentage of snaps from the slot