This article is part of our NFL Barometer series.
Although there's still plenty of roster spots and a handful of job battles to be decided in this coming Thursday's preseason finales, the outlook for most fantasy-relevant players heading into the regular season has become increasingly clear. With the next week a prime time for season-long drafts, let's dive into who's improved their prospects and who might be worth ignoring based on recent developments:
Trending Up
Running Back
Tevin Coleman, Falcons: While backfield partner-in-crime Devonta Freeman has been carefully managed this preseason, Coleman has had a notably longer leash. He's made good use of his opportunities, too, averaging 5.4 yards per tote on his way to 81 rushing yards while looking explosive. The 25-year-old saw his rushing touches rise for a third straight season in 2017, and with Freeman a year older, that trend could certainly persist in the coming campaign. Coleman could be hitting his prime and has low tread on his tires overall (361 carries over first three years), and he offers plenty of pass-catching upside as well. Additionally, offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian should have a much better grasp on how to utilize his personnel entering his second season calling the Falcons' plays, which should also work in Coleman's favor.
Adrian Peterson, Redskins: It's difficult to determine what Peterson's role will be heading into the season, but it seems a virtual certainty that he wrapped up a spot on the 53-man with his performance against the Broncos last Friday. Peterson's throwback effort included a
Although there's still plenty of roster spots and a handful of job battles to be decided in this coming Thursday's preseason finales, the outlook for most fantasy-relevant players heading into the regular season has become increasingly clear. With the next week a prime time for season-long drafts, let's dive into who's improved their prospects and who might be worth ignoring based on recent developments:
Trending Up
Running Back
Tevin Coleman, Falcons: While backfield partner-in-crime Devonta Freeman has been carefully managed this preseason, Coleman has had a notably longer leash. He's made good use of his opportunities, too, averaging 5.4 yards per tote on his way to 81 rushing yards while looking explosive. The 25-year-old saw his rushing touches rise for a third straight season in 2017, and with Freeman a year older, that trend could certainly persist in the coming campaign. Coleman could be hitting his prime and has low tread on his tires overall (361 carries over first three years), and he offers plenty of pass-catching upside as well. Additionally, offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian should have a much better grasp on how to utilize his personnel entering his second season calling the Falcons' plays, which should also work in Coleman's favor.
Adrian Peterson, Redskins: It's difficult to determine what Peterson's role will be heading into the season, but it seems a virtual certainty that he wrapped up a spot on the 53-man with his performance against the Broncos last Friday. Peterson's throwback effort included a 15-yard rumble to convert a fourth down and plenty of sharp runs otherwise. Having witnessed Peterson ply his trade for 11 carries and look impressive while doing so, coach Jay Gruden probably saw everything he needed to see to convince him the multi-time Pro Bowler could be a viable option on first and second downs to open the season. The degree of playing time he'll log is another matter altogether with Samaje Perine (ankle) still around, although Rob Kelley appears likely to be the odd man out. Peterson essentially went from fantasy non-factor to a consideration in deeper leagues with one performance.
Jeremy Hill, Patriots: While a plethora of other teammates with more name recognition have been hogging the headlines, Hill has quietly been putting together a rock-solid preseason, totaling 107 rushing yards over a trio of exhibitions. Meanwhile, rookie Sony Michel has been out for multiple weeks after having fluid drained from his knee, while Rex Burkhead is dealing with a slight tear in one of his. Neither injury is expected to be a long-term issue, but it increasingly appears Hill has earned a decent share of the Patriots' early-down work, with a chance for an expanded role if his teammates' injuries are aggravated or linger longer than expected.
Wide Receiver
Keelan Cole / Dede Westbrook, Jaguars: It seems that the preseason frequently claims the knee of at least one noteworthy receiver, and 2018 has been no exception. Marqise Lee was this year's victim, with his now-confirmed season-long absence opening up considerable opportunities for the Jaguars' pair of impressive young wideouts. It bears noting that while Donte Moncrief is also on hand, his role may not change drastically in Lee's absence, and in fact, he's likely to be the subject of frequent double coverage to open the season. Meanwhile, Cole and Westbrook already boasted nice upside prior to Lee's injury, and the corresponding boost in targets each should see against what should often be beatable one-on-one matchups only serves to boost their stock. Both players will undoubtedly benefit, with the only question being who technically gets the call as a starter; moreover, there's even a possibility that Cole and Westbrook line up at the top two wideout spots while Moncrief is deployed as the third option, but that isn't likely to be known until sometime during the practice week leading up to the regular-season opener.
John Ross, Bengals: Ross' dynamic 57-yard touchdown on the Bengals' first play from scrimmage last Sunday against the Bills provided the latest glimpse of the second-year receiver's upside. The speedster seemingly has the No. 2 receiver role locked up if Sunday's "dress rehearsal" starting lineup is any indication, and the single coverage he should often enjoy playing opposite A.J. Green could lead to plenty of big gains as long as his health endures.
Nelson Agholor, Eagles: Alshon Jeffery is now confirmed out for at least the first two games of the season due to his shoulder issues. That absence could automatically extend to six games if he isn't activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list this coming weekend. Irrespective of whether the latter scenario comes to pass, Jeffery could see some playing time limitations even if he is able to return in Week 3 after missing all of OTAs, training camp and preseason, potentially leaving Agholor with plenty of extra volume in the first several weeks.
Tight End
Nick Boyle, Ravens: While Boyle doesn't have the highest of fantasy ceilings, there's no denying the bump in fantasy stock he'll enjoy as a result of rookie Hayden Hurst's projected multi-week absence due to a foot injury. Boyle projects as the starter in interim, and although he offered only modest production last season (28 receptions for 203 yards), he'll be an option in the early going for those in deep season-long formats.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jaguars: As with Cole and Westbrook, ASJ is also slated for an increase in opportunity due to Lee's injury. The mercurial former Buccaneer, a second-round pick in 2014, broke out last season in the Big Apple with a career-best 50 receptions and 357 receiving yards for the Jets, and although he averaged a paltry 4.8 yards per grab, that figure greatly belies his speed down the seam. Seferian-Jenkins should find himself in more of a downfield role in Jacksonville, especially with the Jags now down one prominent outside threat.
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Running Back
Jonathan Stewart, Giants: Stewart's best-case scenario to open the season appears to be a No. 3 running back role, with the possibility of getting booted off the roster somewhat improbable but still in play. The veteran's latest debacle was a three-carry, negative-seven yard performance versus the Jets last Friday in which he also lost a fumble inside Gang Green's 10-yard line. Backfield mate Wayne Gallman hasn't exactly lit things up this preseason, but he's proven solid as a pass catcher and more effective as a runner. The fact Gallman also has nine fewer season's worth of wear and tear on his legs also dampens Stewart's chances of a significant role behind stud rookie Saquon Barkley.
Wide Receiver
Alshon Jeffery, Eagles: As alluded to in Agholor's entry, Jeffery is out until Week 3 at minimum, with the possibility of a longer absence. A torn rotator cuff, which Jeffery underwent surgery for this offseason, is never an easy injury to come back from for a pass catcher, and the older the receiver, the more difficult it can be. Jeffery isn't ancient by any means, but at 28, he's no spring chicken in NFL years either. Without the benefit of any meaningful offseason/training camp/preseason work due to his rehab, he therefore could be in for a lackluster first half of the campaign while he fully gets his wind and playing time back to normal levels.
Torrey Smith, Panthers: Smith hasn't done anything to necessarily hurt his case this preseason, but as has often been the case in recent seasons, he hasn't distinguished himself either. Coupled with the encouraging play of the much younger D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel – along with tight end Greg Olsen's return to full health – it isn't difficult to conceive Smith's playing time and targets taking a hit once the regular season rolls around.
Jermaine Kearse, Jets: Kearse is currently dealing with an abdominal injury of unknown severity, not exactly the most encouraging of news this close to the regular season. Quincy Enunwa appears to be fully recovered from last season's scary neck injury as well, and he's also overcome a thumb issue he suffered earlier in camp. And while it's only a baby step, the talented Terrelle Pryor finally made it into game action last Friday and got into the end zone. While he has plenty left to prove after a washout 2017 in DC, Pryor has the ability to help bump Kearse down the depth chart if his health endures. A combination of all the aforementioned factors therefore have Kearse's outlook on the dim side at the moment.
Tight End
Hayden Hurst, Ravens: Hurst will get a late start to his career after suffering a stress fracture in his foot, making a return before Week 3 of the regular season highly unlikely, and he could well miss more time. Given that any missed practice time has a bigger negative impact on a rookie than on a more experienced player, Hurst appears destined for a slow start once he finally returns to game action.
