By: Nate Leer
Week 2 of the preseason is when we usually start to get good looks at starting players for teams. Getting to see these players for longer stretches of the game helps us get a feel for how they may perform in the regular season.
Here are 7 players that impressed me from week 2 of the NFL preseason:
- Tyrod Taylor – Buffalo QB – 134 PASS YDS, 1 TD – Tyrod looked good throwing and running…and knowing when to do each. This guy is a good example of how a raw player can develop if they have a chance to sit behind a veteran and learn from good coaches. Obviously, Tyrod’s time in Baltimore helped make more than just a running QB. Coming off of last year’s breakout season, Tyrod already looked poised to be a good low-end starter or excellent back-up. The rash of injuries and suspensions to the Bills D makes it likely that they will have to throw the ball a lot. This creates an excellent scenario for a decent QB to put up big yardage numbers. Those yards are even more valuable if that player gets them with his feet as Tyrod is capable of doing.
- Eddie Lacy – Green Bay RB – 45 YDS, 5 YPC, 1 TD – While Lacy still looks overweight, the burst seems to be better than last year. That, plus an improved O-line and the return of a legit deep threat in Jordy Nelson, makes Lacy’s performance worth noting. He could have a big bounce-back year and be an excellent value for his owners.
- Marvin Jones – Detroit WR – 4 REC, 65 YDS – While Jones may still be a bit overrated going into drafts because people think he will automatically get the lion’s share (pun intended) of Megatron’s production, he is showing signs that he could have a breakout year. He looked impressive in week 2 and the stable of good, not great WRs in Detroit could give the kind of balance to the offense that allows Jones to get a lot of open looks. Detroit could be passing a ton and Matt Stafford can put the ball anywhere his WRs need it from virtually anywhere on the field. That could help Jones be more of a downfield threat than he was in the past.
- Tajae Sharpe – Tennessee WR – 6 REC, 68 YDS – The word this summer from Titans camp was that Sharpe looks like a veteran player. That polished skillset was on display last weekend. He looks the best combination of talent and skills in the Titans WR corps. With an emerging young QB and a strong ground game, Sharpe may be in position to quickly become the #1 WR in Tennessee and could put up respectable numbers this season.
- Alfred Morris – Dallas RB – 85 YDS, 6.5 YPC, 1 TD plus 1 REC, 15 YDS – As I mentioned in Kras’s 6 Questions this week, Morris has looked so good this preseason that he may have a surprisingly large role in the Cowboys RB rotation. I could seem them even starting the veteran to keep Ezekiel Elliott fresh and save mileage long-term. Morris looked quick and strong again this week and was very effective behind the Dallas’s monster O-line.
- Christine Michael – Seattle RB – 55 YDS, 5.5 YPC plus 1 REC, 9 YDS – I mentioned Michael in last week’s list of players who impressed in week 1 as one of the “others” who impressed. Michael followed up week 1 with another strong performance and has cleared himself from the rest of the Seattle RBs with Thomas Rawls still out. There is a legit shot that Michael, not Rawls, becomes the man in Seattle.
- Dak Prescott – Dallas QB – 198 YDS, 2 TDS, 80% COMPLETIONS – Prescott was another “other” guy last week. With no NFL experience and a mid-round draft slot last spring, it seemed likely that he would come back down to Earth in a hurry. However, his performance in week 2 confirmed that he is a QB prospect o watch. I liked Prescott in college and through the post-college, pre-draft season as well. Now he is showing big in preseason games and poised to be the top back-up to the most fragile QB in the NFL. With his wheels and arm, Prescott could be a fantasy factor if he gets a chance. He has been virtually flawless in the preseason besides a pick that got called back for a penalty.
Other players who showed well: Terrelle Pryor – Cleveland WR, James White – New England RB, EVERYONE in the Carolina passing game – Newton & Benjamin & Ginn & Funchess.
Check out where these players who are having great preseasons fall on the Fantasy Sports Lists Top-200.
