As we near the first full week of NFL preseason action, we over at Dynasty Nerds thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the biggest storylines to watch throughout the preseason.
Whether it’s certain camp battles to keep an eye on, which players actually get on the field, or whether some of these young players can live up to the training camp hype we’ve been hearing over the last few weeks, there will be plenty for dynasty managers to watch.
The preseason can give us an early look at depth charts, player usage, and potential breakout candidates before the regular season begins. Here are 10 storylines to keep your eyes on as the preseason unfolds.
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Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Battle
One position group at receiver we should be watching during the preseason is the Miami Dolphins. While Malik Washington is likely the only receiver currently set to start Week 1, there are plenty of veterans and rookies fighting for starting jobs. Miami may not be the most proficient passing offense in 2026, but someone has to emerge in dynasty as a potential bye-week replacement, especially if Washington doesn’t end up being the WR1 in the offense.
The players to watch are Jalen Tolbert, Caleb Douglas, Tutu Atwell, and Chris Bell. The likely Week 1 starters alongside Washington could be Tolbert and Douglas, making them two players to keep your eyes on throughout the preseason. Tolbert has flashed bye-week replacement-level fantasy production before, including a 2024 season with Dallas where he finished with over 600 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns.
Douglas has been one of the hyped rookies throughout Dolphins training camp, so it will be interesting to see what he can do on the field during preseason action. More importantly, pay attention to how much Douglas plays with the first-team offense because that could give us an indication of whether he is ready to earn a starting role in Week 1. Don’t sleep on Chris Bell who seems to be making strides from his ACL injury.
Fernando Mendoza Debut
The first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft gets his own key storyline in our article with Fernando Mendoza. While it looks like Kirk Cousins is going to get a series in the first preseason game, Mendoza should come in shortly after that. I’d be looking to see how many of the starters end up staying on the field with him and how he performs against NFL coverage in his first game action.
We want to see the touch and accuracy Mendoza has when throwing the football and if he can shine as a leader in his first game. With Cousins absent recently due to a fight in practice, Mendoza has been getting more first-team reps. If he can show something on the field in Week 1 of the preseason, perhaps those dynasty managers who drafted him will get production earlier than expected once the regular season unfolds.
Carolina Panthers Backfield
In Carolina, one position battle we should be watching throughout the preseason games has to be between Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks. The former second-round running back has been the talk of Panthers training camp and looks fully recovered after dealing with multiple injuries over the first two years of his NFL career. Brooks has continued to make progress this summer, giving him a legitimate opportunity to earn a significant role in the backfield.
While Hubbard somewhat lost his job last year, he is still the veteran presence who has performed when given the workload in the Panthers backfield. It will be important to watch who is playing the most with the first-team offense and where and when each running back is getting his opportunities. I especially want to see Brooks on the field and how he looks in game action since he hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2024. If Brooks looks explosive and comfortable again, this could turn into one of the more important backfield battles for dynasty managers to monitor throughout the preseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars Backfield
The Jaguars also have a heated battle in their backfield, as they have a three-headed monster to deal with. Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez, and LeQuint Allen all have the potential to play a role in the Jaguars backfield in 2026. Early reports from camp have Tuten looking fantastic, but he is mostly getting his work between the 20s. New addition Rodriguez is back from his injury and seems to have the red-zone role in practice, while Allen appears to have a strong presence as the third-down and passing-down back in the offense.
It’s important to see how much of what we’ve heard from practice translates onto the NFL field in a real game. Especially, how much they play during the preseason could tell us a lot about how Jacksonville views this backfield. For fantasy, we want to see if Tuten can separate himself enough from Rodriguez and Allen to be trusted as a strong RB2 heading into the 2026 season.
Cleveland Browns Quarterback Battle
As the Browns head into their preseason games, the battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is finally going to give us some clarity. Throughout training camp, both quarterbacks have seen work with the first-team offense. It seems Watson has the “leg up” in the competition right now, but preseason action could quickly change that or strengthen his case. Reports indicate that both quarterbacks will get an opportunity to start one of Cleveland’s first two preseason games before the Browns eventually make a decision for Week 1.
While neither quarterback is likely to be a top-tier fantasy option that managers start every week, the winner could change how this Browns offense operates. Watson would likely favor the receivers more with an explosive, downfield approach in the passing game, while Sanders could rely more on quick throws and timing, leading to more underneath opportunities for a popular target like Harold Fannin Jr. For dynasty managers, this preseason battle is worth watching because whoever wins the job could have a major impact on the fantasy value of Cleveland’s pass catchers.
Anthony Richardson
A forgotten face in the dynasty world has to be former fourth-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson. While it may not have a major fantasy impact in 2026, it will be interesting to see if there is anything left in him. With Daniel Jones likely not playing much in these preseason games, Richardson and Riley Leonard are battling for the backup job behind Jones.
Richardson, who has not started a full game since the 2024 season, has been a bust up to this point in his career. While he has flashed mobile upside and elite arm strength, he has never been able to put everything together. While it’s just the preseason, perhaps we can see some growth in his game that helps him win the backup job or even play well enough that the Colts could trade him to a QB-needy team. Jones is also just an injury away from Richardson potentially finding himself back in a starting role.
This may not be major news for 2026, but as a dynasty manager who may still have Richardson on the roster, it’s something worth watching to see if there is any value left in him.
Vikings Offense Under Kyler Murray
Now that Kyler Murray has been named the Vikings’ starting quarterback for Week 1 of the regular season, this is something dynasty managers should keep their eyes on. The Vikings’ offense could have a major impact in dynasty this upcoming season, and it will be interesting to see who Murray targets often. Hopefully, it’s Justin Jefferson, but can Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson get their opportunities as well?
While we likely won’t see this offense for a full game during the preseason, even a quarter or two could be very telling. We’ve seen how dangerous Minnesota’s offense can be when they have strong quarterback play, and Murray now gets the opportunity to lead an offense loaded with talented weapons. Seeing how comfortable he looks in the offense and which pass catchers he develops chemistry with will be something to watch closely throughout the preseason.
Detroit Lions Backfield
For dynasty owners who may have viewed Isiah Pacheco as a sneaky backup running back to own, the latest news isn’t great. Pacheco is dealing with an MCL sprain and will miss time during the preseason. He could be ready for Week 1, but it’s still hard to completely trust him after another injury setback.
While Jahmyr Gibbs is the only Lions running back who matters for most fantasy owners, you have to assume someone else is going to see work in this offense. The preseason could give us a better idea of who that player will be, or it could tell us that Detroit needs to bring in another running back.
Sione Vaki could have been that guy, but he recently suffered a broken nose. In deeper dynasty leagues, keep your eyes on Jacob Saylors and Raheem Blackshear as just-in-case options.
This could also become an interesting landing spot if Detroit decides to add another running back. A player like Trey Benson or James Conner would immediately become interesting, while lower-tier options like Jerome Ford or Devin Singletary could also make sense if their current teams are willing to move them. For now, this Lions backup battle is something dynasty managers should be watching closely throughout the preseason.
Year 2 Quarterback Growth
The Year 2 quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Cam Ward are two interesting young players worth watching during the preseason. Both are learning new offenses and have new weapons to build chemistry with as they head into their second seasons.
Dart likely won’t have his fully healthy starting lineup during the preseason, but it would be nice to see him flash in these games. There have been some ups and downs throughout training camp, so seeing him look comfortable in the new offense could ease some concerns for dynasty managers. We want to see Dart make good decisions, protect himself better as a runner, and show that he can take another step forward in Year 2.
Ward could also be on the rise after showing improvement toward the end of his rookie season. He has received some positive reviews throughout the offseason and now gets to work with a new offense and new weapons around him. The preseason should give us our first look at whether those additions can help Ward take his game to the next level and potentially increase his dynasty value heading into 2026.
Rookies to Watch
Overall, we want to watch our 2026 rookie picks on the field during the preseason to see how their games can translate to the NFL and which players may struggle to make that transition. While everyone wants to see the top players from the 2026 NFL Draft class, there are plenty of later-round rookies who could make some noise for dynasty managers.
These preseason games will give those players an opportunity to show what they can do against NFL competition and potentially earn a bigger role heading into the regular season. Here are some of the later-round rookies that I’ll be keeping a close eye on throughout the preseason.
- Ja’Kobi Lane
- Nick Singleton
- Mike Washington
- Ted Hurst
- Cyrus Allen
- Zachariah Branch
- Eli Raridon
- Carson Beck
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