4 STUDS

     1. Trey Lance

Even with five interceptions in preseason Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Trey Lance still finished the preseason leading the NFL in both passing and rushing yards with 662 yards passing and 168 yards rushing. Trey Lance showcased that he’s a lot more comfortable in a Cowboys uniform. He can effectively run through his progressions and find the open receiver, particularly in the flat. Even though this may seem like simple quarterback fundamentals, it shows that the stress of being in a rocky quarterback situation isn’t there anymore.  I also love his mobility, something everyone was excited about coming out of the draft, and that part of his game has improved remarkably.  While Lance didn’t have the best career with the 49ers, it’s clear that the Cowboys believe in him enough to be the backup to Dak Prescott, and he could be part of the reason the Cowboys brass is not as worried about the Dak Prescott contract as strongly as we think. Lance definitely has the talent to be a starter in this league, and the Cowboys see that as well. Dak will still be the future starter, but I would not be surprised to see a team take the chance to have him as a long-term option in the next few years. 

             2. Tanner McKee   (Written By Brandon Furtado)

He may be the third quarterback on the depth chart, but Tanner McKee is number two in the hearts of Philadelphians. For the second straight preseason, McKee’s performance has impressed more than the experienced signal caller in front of him. In 2023, he outplayed Marcus Mariota with a much sharper command over the offense. He had more passing yards and a better QBR than both Mariota and fellow backup Ian Book. This year was more of the same as he fared much better in passing yards, average yards per pass, and average passing yards per game than Kenny Pickett.

After each game these last two seasons, the noise on social media grew louder. A simple look on any X or Instagram feed shows how many fans have been enamored by McKee’s play. The city of Brotherly Love will let a player know when he earns their respect, and McKee has it. If Pickett receives any playing time this season, it will be hard to ignore the chants for the current third-stringer. The 24-year-old is the youngest of all the quarterbacks on this roster, but he has a legitimate case to be the long-term backup right behind Jalen Hurts for years to come.

3. Hendon Hooker

Hendon Hooker spent last year on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in college at Tennessee. We finally got an opportunity to get our first look at him in an NFL uniform this preseason. He was impressed as he got a spot on the stud list this week. Hooker loves to throw the ball in tight windows, and most of the time, it’s to his benefit. His arm strength is much better than I thought coming out of college. He also will not shy away from contact, as one of the best highlights of the preseason was laying down the boom on the run against the Giants. We love the physicality, especially after suffering such a problematic injury. The Lions look at him as their future starter at quarterback, but as of now they will love having him as a backup option if injury troubles arrive for Jared Goff this season. He is clearly a Dan Campbell-type quarterback. Hooker will be one to watch in dynasty leagues over the coming years. 

4. Frank Gore Jr.

Frank Gore Jr. was really effective between the tackles this preseason but also showed incredible bounds to get to the outside. His combination of speed and shiftiness is clearly at an NFL level. Disappointingly, he is the one player on this list who got cut during the final hours of roster cut-down day. That said, he will almost certainly be on the Bills practice squad or on another active roster at some point this season. He definitely shows a lot of promise to become an integral part of a running-back tandem in future years. 

Final Preseason Message

This week, we don’t have any Duds. There’s not really much we can glean from third stringers, necessarily, but I didn’t want to leave you with nothing in this section. I  believe it’s important to talk about the golden rule of fantasy football, which is to be adaptable.  ADAPT!!   It’s a common misconception that the team that wins your fantasy league drafted the best, got the waiver wire darling that changed the entire league, or traded his way to the top. No, the person who wins a fantasy league is the one who adapts and changes constantly. It begins with following the trends of NFL players, not just week to week but month to month, year to year, and who they are as players from a production standpoint. They also understand how every offense and defense plays in the NFL, not just their favorite team. It’s also why I’m a big NFL Red Zone fan when it comes to fantasy, watching every team,  and not just focusing on your favorite team. It’s super enjoyable. Trust me, if you never tried it, you will fall in love immediately. Being adaptable also means seeing how your league-mates perform, how their roster is constructed, and their strengths and weaknesses, similar to how an NFL coach prepares for game day or how an NFL GM looks for trades. Focusing on these pieces can be as simple as five minutes a day. It’s nothing special; it’s just fundamental. 

For New Fantasy Players

 WELCOME!! We are glad to have you. This is a joyful community filled with so many wonderful people. The rules above apply here as well, but I would also recommend not asking so many questions on draft day or week to week—just EXPLORE!!  Explore what fantasy football has to offer, explore the NFL community, and trust me, just because you’re new doesn’t mean you can’t win your league; it happens more often than you think. Finally, I cannot tell you how many people I know who have fallen in love with the NFL, just like the rest of us, by playing fantasy.