On the final day of the preseason, when 15 games were played, Ezekiel Elliott still took center stage. Earlier in the day, it was revealed that NFL's director of investigations had recommended no suspension for Elliott after completing her investigation. Hours later, the NFL Players Association filed a temporary restraining order asking the courts to nullify any punishment the appeals arbitration process might assign. Either of these two developments could lead to the removal of Elliott's suspension.
Now for some non-Zeke news from around the league:
- Bills backup quarterback Nathan Peterman continues to impress, completing nine of 11 passes for 81 yards. Peterman entered the offseason as the probable third stringer, but he has elevated himself to the point where he could earn some starts if Tyrod Taylor (concussion) struggles.
- Both Colts backup quarterbacks remained unimpressive. Collectively, Scott Tolzien only managed 4.8 yards per attempt, while Stephen Morris completed just two of five passes. Colts coach Chuck Pagano claims he has not even seen Andrew Luck throw since his surgery last winter, and Luck remains without a timeline for return. The poor play of the Colts backup quarterbacks – who will lead the offense for at least the first week, if not several weeks, of the regular season – will almost certainly hurt the value of T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, and the rest of the Colts' offense.
- Packers rookie running back Jamaal Williams was outplayed by fellow rookie Aaron Jones. Jones out-gained Williams by 17 yards, despite seeing two fewer carries. There is a chance Jones passes Williams and claims the number two role, though that certainly has not happened yet.
- Bills rookie running back Jonathan Williams looked stellar, gaining 53 yards and a touchdown on 10 touches. Williams looks like one of the better fantasy handcuffs right now, as he might be able to fill in effectively if something happened to starter LeSean McCoy.
- C.J. Prosise (groin) returned to action Thursday. He only tallied three carries and one reception for a total of eight yards, but simply making it back onto the field represents important progress. Prosise is probably the Seahawks most talented running back, but he has been constantly hampered by a steady stream of unrelated injuries throughout his short career.
- Dede Westrbook continued his impressive preseason, catching six of nine targets for 115 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars have a talented receiving corps, but the rookie is making it hard for coaches to keep him off the field. His fantasy value is currently limited by the poor quarterback play and the his position on the depth chart, but if either of those change, he could quickly find his way onto the majority of fantasy rosters.