New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens (7:30 p.m. ET)
In the first preseason game for both teams, the major takeaways aren't going to be the starters on either side of the ball. That's magnified when we attempt to look at an exhibition game through a fantasy lens.
Breshad Perriman has not practiced for the Ravens since camp opened. Considering Baltimore was expecting the rookie receiver to potentially start opposite Steve Smith, that's most definitely not a good sign. Though, it does open up opportunities for Marlon Brown and Kamar Aiken to display what they have as potential starters. That's a given with Smith unlikely to play a huge role in the preseason. While neither Brown nor Aiken represent any value in standard leagues, they are two receivers to keep an eye on in daily leagues.
The other thing to look at here is the backup running back position behind Justin Forsett. Will rookie Javorius Allen unseat Lorenzo Taliaferro in that role?
From a Saints perspective, it's mainly going to be about how tight end Josh Hill performs as the presumptive replacement for Jimmy Graham. Hill, whose current ADP has him as the 16th tight end off the board, boasts much more fantasy upside than veteran Benjamin Watson, who is the more established of the two from a blocking standpoint.
Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots (7:30 p.m. ET)
Any pass catcher that gains the trust of Aaron Rodgers in the Packers offense immediately becomes a fantasy stud. That's where 2014 second-round pick Davante Adams comes into play. After putting up 38 receptions for 446 yards as a rookie, the Fresno State product has been uber impressive in his second training camp.
Entering this season, Adams is entrenched in as the team's No. 3 receiver behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. I am really intrigued to see how he performs in what promises to be substantial preseason action. With an ADP currently in the 12th round, Adams could be a huge steal at the back end of the draft.
Another Packers pass catcher to check in on is fellow second-year tight end Richard Rodgers, who could end up as the team's starter. Rodgers represents much more upside as a receiver than the other tight ends on the roster. It will be interesting to see if he starts to build a relationship with the better known player with the same namesake.
In New England, it's all going to be about Jimmy Garoppolo. Even if he's not going to be a draftable commodity in standard leagues, we want to see the second-year quarterback perform well in order to make a determination about his daily value, especially if Tom Brady's suspension is upheld.
New York Jets at Detroit Lions (7:30 p.m. ET)
There really isn't much to see from a Jets perspective in this one. Unless you have Bryce Petty in a dynasty league or are intent on riding one of the many running backs vying for touches, the preseason isn't going to amount to a hill of beans when it comes to fantasy takeaways with the Jets. Heck, the 2015 season is leaning that way.
Instead, the focus here has to be on Detroit Lions rookie running back Ameer Abdullah, who has been more than impressive over the summer. With Joique Bell still sidelined after off-season knee and Achilles surgery and Theo Riddick failing to impress, Abdullah could actually find himself in a position to be the three-down back when camp breaks. With an ADP currently in the eighth round, I want to see how the first-year player from Nebraska performs against opposing No. 1 defenses. If he's impressive, Abdullah could very well end up being an under-the-radar RB2 option.
Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears (8:00 p.m. ET)
With both Kevin White and DeVante Parker still sidelined due to off-season injuries, two of the most-heralded rookie receivers won't be able to show off their stuff in this one. There's also a decent chance both will miss the entire preseason.
Instead of dwelling on that, the focus here should be on how newly-extended Ryan Tannehill looks in limited action for the Dolphins. He has a whole plethora of weapons—some of which will see action on Thursday. It will be nice to see how he performs with these new targets, even if it's for only a series or two. Tannehill's current ADP has him as the 13th quarterback off the board—a mark he should far surpass with extended progression in Year 4.
On the other end of the spectrum, Jay Cutler is returning to the Bears after an embarrassment of a season. He's doing so under new offensive coordinator Adam Gase in an entirely new scheme. Also an under-the-radar fantasy option (20th QB overall), Cutler could jump up the board with a few impressive preseason performances.
Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns (8:00 p.m. ET)
While the primary focus on this game will be on Johnny Manziel and Robert Griffin III, neither represent any sort of fantasy value. Instead, the key thing to take out of this game will be how second-year Browns running back Isaiah Crowell performs. With Terrance West struggling to show much of anything and Duke Johnson still sidelined, Crowell has—pretty much by default—been handed the starting running back duties. Even then, the Browns have made a point of calling him out for a less-than-impressive camp. If anyone is going to step up and prove himself worthy from a fantasy perspective, it has to be Crowell. At this point, the other two are after thoughts right now.
Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers (10:00 p.m. ET)
Joseph Randle and Melvin Gordon, two running backs that boast a ton of fantasy upside. And in reality, two running backs that need to show their worth during the preseason to justify their current ADP rankings. Randle currently finds himself as a mid fifth-round pick, while Gordon is going towards the end of the third round. Both have their issues.
Gordon's lack of pass protection could be his fantasy demise. Unless he cleans that up, the rookie from Wisconsin can't be relied on as a three-down back—meaning he won't be a RB1 option. Meanwhile, Randle simply needs to show he can carry the load in Dallas. Both should see some action Thursday night.