Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Time: 1 PM EST
While Mike McCarthy may have given up play-calling, it was clear in Green Bay's preseason opener that the team wanted to focus on increasing the tempo of the offense. Green Bay ran 33 plays in the first quarter against the New England Patriots, letting the starters play the entire quarter.
In the second week of the preseason we should see the starters out for just as long, giving us another look at a more high-paced Packers' offense. More plays leads to more opportunities for all involved in the offense, including tight end Richard Rodgers, who has surpassed Andrew Quarless on the depth chart.
Rodgers was a standout in last year's camp and came on late during the regular season, while being widely recognized for having some of the best hands on the team. Standing at 6'4", Rodgers could become a weapon in the red zone in addition to his ability to get open over the middle. Sunday's game will provide another glimpse at seeing what his role might be this season.
As for the Steelers, the focus should be on the battle for the starting receiver spot opposite of Antonio Brown. Martavis Bryant is the more talented receiver, offering more as as deep-threat and red-zone target, but it appears Ben Roethlisberger wants Wheaton to start. Fantasy owners are much better off if Bryant wins the job, though Wheaton could offer WR4 potential.
St. Louis Rams @ Tennessee Titans
Time: 8 PM EST
From a fantasy perspective, the only thing to really monitor is how Tre Mason< Tavon Austin. The preseason provides Mason and Austin a chance to sign, while projected starters Todd Gurley and Brian Quick are out.
Gurley is recovering from a torn ACL in college and is expected to miss the early weeks of the regular season. Mason will see a major share of the carries until Gurley returns and these games will be a decent indicator for how worthy of a late-round pickup or DFS play Mason is. Austin, the eighth-overall selection in 2013, has been slow to make an impact in the Rams' offense. Perhaps the Rams show more of a plan for him this year, but it remains unlikely he becomes an impact player.
In Tennessee, it's all about the rookie showcase with Marcus Mariota, David Cobb and Dorial Green-Beckham. After an interception-less start to training camp, Mariota completed seven-of-eight passes for 94 yards, but threw an interception and was strip-sacked for another turnover. While Bishop Sankey is still the expected starter, Cobb looked good in his preseason debut, carrying the ball 11 times for 53 yards.
Mariota should receive a little more work with the starting offense as the Titans' prepare him as their starter for the upcoming season. He will be tested by a tough St. Louis' pass rush, allowing fans and potential fantasy owners to see what he can do with his legs and how he reacts to pressure. After Cobb's strong game, he will receive even more work on Sunday and have the opportunity to close the gap between he and Sankey.
With another positive performance and more trust from the coaching staff, Cobb's role should increase and he will be a very worth bench RB in fantasy leagues. Green-Beckham should see more snaps on Sunday as well, though it's clear Tennessee is taking it slower with the wide receiver, after more than a year away from football.
Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers
?Time: 8 PM EST
Fantasy owners will have their eyes locked on the Cowboys' running back situation. Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden are going to go back-and-forth working with the first-team offense. McFadden is returning from a hamstring injury and is a player owner Jerry Jones absolutely adores. Randle can be the home-run hitter of this offense, ripping off big runs behind open lanes created by the monstrous offensive line.
After Randle aggravated his oblique injury on Friday, he will likely miss Sunday's game. Which provides an opportunity for McFadden to distance himself from Randle, making the case for why he should be more of the workhorse in the running game. Of course it could also be argued that McFadden first needs to prove he can stay healthy for the course of a season.
Meanwhile, the 49ers have their own running back situation to monitor. While Carlos Hyde has the makings of a featured back, San Francisco signed Reggie Bush to have a significant role in this offense. The preseason will allow us a glimpse into what type of juice the 30-year-old Bush has left and exactly what his role will be. Though Hyde carries much more fantasy upside both this season and obviously long-term.
In deep leagues, Quinton Patton is also worth watching with his opportunity to become the 49ers' No.3 receiver. The job was opened up after Jerome Simpson was suspended for the first six games of the season. Patton, a 2013 fourth-round pick, could become a nice slot option and pick up some receptions.