Fantasy football:
Player rankings, sizzlers/fizzlers.
These players have seen their fantasy values increase or decrease based on their performances this preseason:
Sizzlers
RB Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins: While he’s not the same Adrian Peterson who’s won three rushing titles and an MVP award, he makes for an interesting platoon mate in a backfield that is not stoked with a lot of depth.
RB Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: While all eyes were on 2018 second-round draft selection Ronald Jones II this offseason, Barber, an undrafted free agent, distanced himself from all his competitors and reinforced his status as the Bucs’ starter.
RB Alfred Morris, San Francisco 49ers: With the loss of starter Jerick McKinnon for the season, newly signed Morris will share the running duties with Matt Breida. Morris is better suited as the primary running back and had a productive preseason.
TE Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers: After starting tight end Hunter Henry tore his ACL early in the preseason, it was only natural that Gates would come out of retirement to return to the Chargers for a 16th season. Gates is 38 years old and certainly isn’t as shifty as he once was but he can still be a short-yardage end-zone threat.
RB Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts: While Marlon Mack is penciled in as the starter, Wilkins has been the one who has looked impressive in camp and will get first crack at the job if Mack (hamstring) is unable to go Week 1.
Fizzlers
QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles: After showing off his talent in a breakout 2017 season, Wentz was highly drafted most of this summer. But here we are in Week 1 and we are already pumping the brakes as Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles starts and Wentz continues to recuperate his knee.
RB D’Onta Foreman, Houston Texans: Foreman was a roster stash for many over the summer as a high-risk/high-reward player. In Week 1 we’ve received our answer: He was more risk than reward as the Texans have placed him on the PUP list, making him ineligible to return until Week 7.
WR Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles: Rehabbing from shoulder surgery, there was hope Jeffery would be ready for the regular season. However, the Eagles have pushed his timetable back “at least” two weeks. Jeffery did pass his latest physical and it seems like his needle is pointing up but setbacks have been known to happen.
WR Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns: The enigmatic Gordon continues to frustrate fantasy owners. He was being drafted on his upside promise, but his downside is just as steep and a lot of pieces still need to fall into place for him to succeed.
WR Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks: It is never a good sign when a player already has a knee injury that will never be 100% healthy this season. Baldwin will play through it but fantasy owners can’t be excited about a player who has to “tough it out” before the season has even begun.