Fantasy football week 2 preview

A clear-eyed look at Friday's preseason games and who stands to gain or lose fantasy value as teams shape their rosters.

Preseason Week 2 reshapes fantasy football outlook

Fridays second week of preseason offered a clearer peek at several depth-chart battles. For the Titans, Elic Ayomanor stood out as a potential Week 1 contributor, lining up as the Z receiver and moving at a high rate. He was in motion on five of his ten plays with the starters, more than the other top wideouts. Cam Ward left after three drives; Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett rested, opening opportunities for Ayomanor and a tighter rotation in the Titans wide receiver group. Dike joined as the slot receiver while Ridley moved back to the X role when healthy; the shift hints at potential usage in real games if the starters are limited.

Casey Washington did not play this week after appearing in the Falcons first preseason game. He has stood out in camp and could be a sneaky add in deeper leagues if Mooney misses time due to a shoulder injury, though the top four receivers rested in this game. The Falcons also leaned on George Dorsey and other depth pieces, underscoring how fragile the Week 1 receiver picture can be across fantasy rosters.

On the Chiefs side, Patrick Pacheco started the drive sequence, with Kareem Hunt unavailable due to an undisclosed injury. Isiah Steele pressed into a lead role behind Pacheco, while Elijah Smith lined up as a receiver at times. The club appears to be weighing who can function as a reliable third-down option, with Mitchell and Smith still fighting for a roster spot. Rashee Rice remains a variable risk given reports of a potential suspension, while Rasdecessor Worthy saw limited action and could shape the Chiefs’ ceiling if Rice is sidelined. In Seattle, Smith-Njigba played every snap in the early personnel groups, sharing the slot with Cooper Kupp in mixed sets. The Seahawks used a fluid 11 personnel scheme, keeping the rest of the WR room in flux and limiting fantasy upside for most wideouts outside the top two. The tight end rotation also looks unsettled, with Barner, Saubert, and Arroyo rotating and no clear third-down option emerging yet.

The week 2 preseason snapshots underscore a simple truth for fantasy managers: depth charts are still in flux and multiple players could carve weekly roles in different packages. Ayomanor’s motion-heavy usage might translate into an early-season niche in Tennessee, but it hinges on how the Titans rotate Ridley, Dike, and the rest of the unit. Washington’s apparent secure fade-in for the Falcons suggests a potential Week 1 target share if injuries thin the position, but with Mooney on the mend and veterans resting, this is a room that could swing quickly. The Chiefs' backfield logistics remain unsettled outside of Pacheco, with Hunt and a small group of backups fighting for the second and third-down duties. Rice’s looming suspension adds a cloud over a ceiling that would otherwise lean toward multiple Chiefs receivers taking weekly looks. Seattle’s offense offers volatility as well; Smith-Njigba’s consistency will be a source of stability, but the slot role remains a grant for rotation and occasional pop from a broader cast. In every case, fantasy managers should treat preseason notes as signals, not fixed gospel, and be prepared for rosters to shift into September.

Overall, expect August to keep delivering new information. The teams are testing players, and the players are learning how to fit into multiple offensive packages. Those who adapt quickly will be the ones who climb the depth chart first, and that is where fantasy value often follows.

Highlights

Roster decisions will keep shifting until final cuts.