Preseason Week 3 Fantasy Football News: Usage And Utilization Takeaways For Every Team
Dwain McFarland provides utilization and usage data and takeaways for every team on a game-by-game basis for Week 3 of the NFL preseason.
Below is a summary for each team from Week 3 of the NFL preseason. The primary focus is on player utilization and usage with the starting offense.
Typically, starters are determined by drives played with the starting QB. Some instances differ depending on who started, as outlined in each team's position section. You can find definitions for all the table abbreviations at the bottom of this article.
Updates will occur throughout the weekend as data from each game becomes available.
Code: Dwain for 20% off your FantasyLife+ subscription, just in time for your weekend drafts!
Editor's note: Big shoutout to Dukie B for applying pressure to get this piece out. Pressure makes diamonds!
Preseason Week 3: Thursday Games
Pittsburgh Steelers
TLDR: Arthur Smith can be maddening AF when it comes to player rotations, and we have several potential platoon situations shaping up in Pittsburgh for 2025.
Quarterback
- Aaron Rodgers did not play.
- Mason Rudolph started and completed six of eight passes for 36 yards.
Running Back
- Jaylen Warren started the game and played for two series. On those drives, Warren handled 64% of the snaps, 40% of the attempts, and notched a 57% route participation. He was also targeted twice, finishing with four touches (one fumble) on his seven plays. Kenneth Gainwell rotated in on the first two drives. In the regular season, we often don't see the second or third back until the third series, which is when Kaleb Johnson entered the game, with Rudolph and the starting O-line. If we look at the data from that lens, Warren finished the night with a 47% snap share, 29% rush share, and a 44% route participation. The fourth-year veteran is the No. 1 back in Pittsburgh to start the year and has the skillset to thrive across all downs—which makes him an okay bet based on consensus average draft position (ADP) of 92. Still, it's hard to know if this is more of a two-way rotation or a three-way committee. Arthur Smith could keep us guessing all year, and Johnson could seize this backfield over time.
- Kenneth Gainwell started the last two preseason games with Warren resting. In Week 3, he didn't start but rotated with Warren over the first two possessions.
- Two-drive lens: 36% snaps, 40% attempts, 29% routes
- Three-drive lens: 27% snaps, 29% attempts, 22% routes
- For Gainwell to reach fantasy relevance, we likely need an injury to a teammate or a flop from Johnson. One thing is clear: Smith has a plan for Gainwell, and we could see a three-way committee.
- Kaleb Johnson entered the contest on the third series with the starters. He was boxed out over the first two drives by Warren and Gainwell. He played three possessions, finishing the night with 24 yards on five attempts. In these small three-drive samples, it's hard to know whether Johnson is part of a three-way rotation or more of a backup to start the season. He has played well in the last two games and has the size and running style that could make him the preferred option as the season progresses.
Wide Receiver and Tight End
- DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, and Jonnu Smith (knee) did not play.
- Roman Wilson started and remained in the game until the third quarter, beyond the scope of the starters. Despite the absence of Metcalf and Austin, he rotated over the first three drives with the starters, collecting a 78% route participation. On one hand, this could have just been coaches trying to get a look at guys before roster cutdowns. On the other hand, we would rather see Wilson closer to a 90% mark and leaving the game with the starters. The Round 3 pick from 2024 remains my favorite WR to target late from the Steelers as a bet on young talent, but we could see a weird rotation under Arthur Smith—the king of bizarre personnel shit, y'all!
- Pat Freiermuth notched a 67% route participation over the first three drives without Smith playing. Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward rotated into the lineup.
Offensive Line
- Starters Rested: Isaac Seumalo (RG).
- Starters Played: Four of five starters played three drives with Rudolph.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers rested all of their starters and many of the second-string backups.
Running Back
- Trevor Etienne started and played the first two drives. He finished the night with 26 yards on three carries. He had a 28-yarder on a sweet cut-back. Rico Dowdle is the No. 2 right now, but should Chuba Hubbard miss time, Etienne offers the most upside. The Round 4 NFL Draft pick is a name to remember on the waiver wire.
Wide Receiver and Tight End
- Jalen Coker started. He is currently the WR4 on the team, but could challenge for reps as the season progresses.
New England Patriots
The Patriots rested the majority of their starters, giving players on the roster bubble a chance to perform.
New York Giants
The majority of key starters for the Giants rested.
Quarterback
- Jaxson Dart started the game and played four drives. He went six of 12 for 81 yards and a touchdown. He also added a 23-yard scramble. His final stats for the preseason:
- 16 of 28 (57%) for 228 yards (8.1 YPA) with two touchdown passes
- Three scrambles for 43 yards and one designed rush for four yards
Dart is going to push Wilson for the starting role this year, and he has the dual-threat ability to make him a top-12 option. He is a late-round stash in 20-round drafts if you wait at quarterback and aren't thrilled about your upside.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary (groin) did not play.
- Cam Skattebo saw his first action of the preseason, playing the first two drives. He finished the night with three attempts for 12 yards. Skattebo's hamstring injury could have him playing behind Singletary, but this is uncertain because Singletary missed the game with a groin injury. So, the RB2 role remains up for grabs.
Glossary
- Snaps: Percentage of snaps the player played with the starters.
- Rush Att: Percentage of rushing attempts with the starters.
- Routes: Route participation with the starters.
- Targets: Target share with the starters.
- TPRR: Targets per route run with the starters.
- SDD Snaps: Percentage of short-down-and-distance (short yardage) with starters.
- LDD Snaps: Percentage of long-down-and-distance snaps (obvious passing downs) with starters.
- Two-Minute Snaps: Percentage of snaps in the two-minute offense with the starters.
- Catchable: Percentage of targets deemed catchable with the starting QB per PFF.
- aDOT: Average depth of target with the starters.
- Air Yards: Percentage of the team's air yards with the starters.
- 3rd/4th Down Targets: Percentage of targets on 3rd and 4th down with the starters.
- 11P: Percentage of snaps played in 11 personnel (1RB, 3WR, 1TE) with the starters.
- 12P: Percentage of snaps played in 12 personnel (1RB, 2WR, 2TE) with the starters.
- 21P: Percentage of snaps played in 21 personnel (2RB, 2WR, 1TE) with the starters.
- Slot Snaps: Percentage of snaps from the slot.
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