NFL Preseason Week 3 Takeaways For Fantasy Football

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Roman Wilson rested with the starters. This matches camp reports listing Wilson as the lead for the No. 3 role.

Germie Bernard played with the backups for the first half, securing a TD on a quick pass, eluding defenders. Takeaway: The Round 3 NFL pick is not a starter at the moment, but has flashed this preseason. He could challenge Wilson quickly.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills rested their starters and key backups.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Skyler Bell played the entire game, leading the backups with a 27% target share. He caught 7 balls for 49 yards, operating mostly underneath. He aligned mostly out wide but played from the slot 38% and was in motion 26% of the time. Takeaway: The Round 4 pick is currently down the depth chart, but could surface at some point in 2026.

New England Patriots

The Patriots rested their starters and top backups.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Kyle Williams played the first two series, catching 2 of 2 targets for 55 yards and a TD. Williams has had an amazing preseason with 7 receptions for 176 yards and 3 scores. He is firmly behind A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, but could force a committee with the next layer of the depth chart. Takeaway: Williams is a name to remember if the Patriots suffer an injury at WR.  

Cleveland Browns

The Browns rested their starters and key backups. Takeaways: None.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers rested their starters. But several of the top backups played against the Raiders' top defenders for two possessions.

Quarterback

Mac Jones played two drives behind the backup offensive line.

Running Back

Kaelon Black handled 100% of the snaps over the first three drives. The RB the 49ers had No. 2 on their draft board ran for 28 yards on four attempts. He also had an 88% route participation rate and had 1 target. Playing ahead of Jordan James in this game aligns with recent camp reports. Takeaway: Black is TRENDING UP and moves into handcuff territory behind an aging Christian McCaffrey. He is an RB5/6.

James entered the game in the second quarter and played into the third. He was also effective, but against the Raiders' backups rather than their starters. Takeaway: James is likely the RB3 to start the season.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders played many of their starters for two drives against backup defenders for San Francisco.

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins played 20 snaps and dropped back 11 times over the first two drives. He aligned under center on 55% of snaps and used play action on 27% of dropbacks. Cousins finished 8 of 11 for 51 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt (YPA).

Fernando Mendoza played the next five drives and struggled. He finished 7 of 14 for 57 yards. He was under pressure on 35% of dropbacks, with two turning into sacks. The No. 1 overall pick also tossed an INT. He did scramble once for 7 yards and had one designed rush attempt. 

Running Back

Mike Washington Jr. played 80% of the snaps with Cousins and handled 89% of the attempts. The rookie averaged 6.1 yards per attempt with 49 yards on 8 totes. Washington has looked great this preseason, showing off more burst than what we saw in college—matching his amazing combine performance. Early in the season, Washington could handle a larger workload as Ashton Jeanty recovers from an ankle injury. Recent reports suggest Washington could have a larger role than originally expected even when Jeanty is ready. Takeaway: Washington is TRENDING UP and is now a target in Rounds 10-11 of fantasy drafts.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Tre Tucker has an 82% route participation rate this season with Cousins on the field. He leads the team with a 36% target share. He has played more from the slot (39%) than we have seen over his career. He has also been in motion a whopping 44% of the time. Tucker is playing the role many thought Jalen Nailor might get. His talent profile isn't great, but he is getting the easy-button scheme looks. Takeaway: Tucker is a WR6 option in deep leagues.

Nailor has a 12% target share on a small sample with Cousins this preseason. He has aligned wide most plays and is not getting motion treatment. His average route depth is double Tucker (9.2 vs. 5.5). Takeaway: Nailor is headed for playing time, but his role isn't designed for easy targets.

Jack Bech has served as the top slot option among the starters. But we could see plenty of two-TE looks with Bowers and Mayer. Bech has a 47% route participation rate with Cousins.

Brock Bowers played one drive before getting placed in bubble wrap. 

Michael Mayer played 82% of snaps with a 60% route participation rate on the first drive with Bowers still in the game. Mayer might be the best receiving option on the team behind Bowers, which could equal more 12 personnel in 2026. He has a 24% targets per route run rate (TPRR) on snaps with Cousins this preseason. Takeaway: Mayer is a late-round flier in 20-round TE premium leagues like the FFPC.  

Offensive Line

Starters Played: 5 of 5 played one drive. 4 of 5 played two series.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams rested their starters. Their backups faced the Chargers starting unit for two possessions.

Quarterback

Ty Simpson played into the early stages of the fourth quarter. He finished with 119 yards and a TD, going 18 of 23. Over the first two drives against the Chargers starters, he was 4 of 5 for 20 yards.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers played their starters for the first two drives against the Rams' backups.

Quarterback

• Justin Herbert played the first two possessions, hitting the Rams' backup defenders over the top for a 65-yard TD to Quentin Johnston. It looked like a busted coverage, but Herbert chucked it 57.6 yards—the longest pass ever for Mike McDaniel in his time with Miami or San Francisco. Takeaway: Herbert is HOLDING STEADY as a strong QB1 target in 2026.

Running Back

• Omarion Hampton played 100% of the snaps with the starters but didn't touch the ball.
• Kimani Vidal was the RB2 with Keaton Mitchell dealing with an injury.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

• Quentin Johnston saw his first action of the preseason and collected that 65-yard bomb for a TD from Herbert. Johnston projects as one of the top two WRs who should see plenty of playing time in 2026. Under Mike McDaniel, there could be untapped upside. Takeaway: Johnston is HOLDING STEADY as a mid-range WR3 with more head room.
• Ladd McConkey played only six snaps with Herbert this preseason. He played all three snaps where the offense went to 12 personnel. There isn't much to add: he figures to play a lot, and camp reports have him as the move WR in the offense. Takeaway: McConkey is HOLDING STEADY as a WR2 option in fantasy.
• Tre Harris and Brenen Thompson did not play due to minor injuries.
• Charlie Kolar operated as the lead TE once again with a 100% snap share with the starters. He was targeted once. He has played 6 of 7 snaps with Herbert this preseason. He has run a route on 3 of 5 dropbacks by Herbert and has been targeted twice. Kolar's role could fluctuate depending on game script—Oronde Gadsden is the better option in obvious passing situations. But when games are close or when the Chargers are leading, we should expect Kolar to play the most. Takeaway: Kolar is a late-round best ball dart.
• David Njoku was the TE2 again over Gadsden.
• Oronde Gadsden II has seen his role evaporate in a scheme that prefers better blocking TEs. He should still get reps in obvious pass situations, but the goal of the Chargers offense is to remain unpredictable and balanced. Takeaway: Gadsden is TRENDING DOWN and is only a late-round dart throw in deep formats.

Offensive Line

• Starters Played: 4 of 5 played the first two drives.