Week 1 is finally here. No more guessing, no more what-ifs, no more pretending preseason box scores mean more than they do. Now it counts. This is where all the hype gets exposed or becomes real production. Every roster move, every practice squad stash, all the talk is over. Thursday is when the truth finally hits the field. This is the fun part: watching who shows up when the lights are on and who disappears the second it matters.
Buyers
I’m keeping it simple. These five are the kind of buys you make before everyone else wakes up.
Brashard Smith looks like one of those Chiefs rookies who doesn’t need volume to matter. He’s a seventh-round pick with real juice (4.39 at the combine) and Andy Reid already has him bouncing between roles, carries, catches, and returns. The preseason box doesn’t scream at you (six carries for 11 yards), but the usage does, including kickoff work. He ripped a 26-yard return against Seattle, and that’s how rookies force their way onto the field in Kansas City. If you want the profile, speed, versatility, and a staff that knows how to deploy it. That plays.
Jalen Royals didn’t put up eye-popping preseason receiving numbers, and that’s fine. What I care about is that the Chiefs drafted him in the 4th round, they put the ball in his hands on special teams, and he handled it. Three catches for 14 yards is whatever; the bigger tell is being trusted on kicks. A 49-yard return vs. Seattle and more work against Arizona. That’s how you earn snaps in September in this offense, and with Patrick Mahomes throwing it; snaps can turn into points quickly.
Isaiah Bond is the classic “don’t overthink it”, add him. Cleveland gave him a fully guaranteed three-year deal after his pending charges were cleared, and they still wasted no time putting him on the field in the preseason finale just days later. The Browns’ WR room has roles available behind the top guys, and Bond’s speed/slot game fits what they need. The stat line won’t pop from one game, but the commitment and the quick usage are the tells. This is it if you’re looking for a rookie stash who can climb fast.
Ollie Gordon II ran like a pro right away for Miami. Twenty-six carries, 126 yards, and a touchdown across the preseason. He looked comfortable in the Dolphins’ zone concepts with steady vision and clean footwork. You don’t need a scouting report when the tape shows a back getting downhill and moving piles in August. The workload is already there, and the efficiency follows. That’s a buy for me.
Dylan Sampson didn’t get much preseason run, four carries for nine yards and a 14-yard reception, but context matters. The Browns’ backfield is fluid, and he was a touchdown machine at Tennessee (1,491 yards and 22 TDs last year). If you’re looking for a cheap rookie with a real path to touches while the depth chart settles, Sampson checks every box. He’s the type you tuck now and thank yourself later.
Sellers
These five? Move them before your league mates realize the runway isn’t there.
Ricky White III landed on Seattle’s practice squad after a quiet August. One catch for six yards in preseason. He’s behind established guys and special-teams aces, and when your August looks like that, the climb is long. If there’s any name value heat left from draft weekend, use it and pivot.
Damien Martinez is in the same bucket. Also on the Seahawks’ practice squad and also light in the box score. Seven carries for 24 yards in the finale, plus two short grabs. The organization told you what you need to know, Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet and George Holani are the runners they want up on Sundays. That’s a tough room to crack.
Xavier Restrepo is easy to like long-term, but short-term value isn’t there. He cleared waivers, signed to the Titans’ practice squad, and finished preseason with three catches for 26 yards. Tennessee will be shuffling guys in and out all season, but banking on a practice squad wideout for immediate help is wishful. If someone in your league is chasing the college production or camp buzz, let them.
Quinshon Judkins is the name that scares people into holding, and I get it, Round 2 talent. But here’s what’s real right now, he didn’t sign in time to practice or play in the preseason, and as of today, he’s still working through the final steps to join the team. Could he help later? Sure. Is there early-season clarity? Not yet. If you can move the name for a player with locked-in Week 1 work, do it. You can always circle back if the situation settles.
Junior Bergen flashed as a returner in August but didn’t stick on the 53. He signed back to the 49ers’ practice squad after posting just one catch for one yard, with most of his impact coming on special teams. Six kick returns for 128 yards and four punt returns for 38, with a muff in there. Useful for the real team, not great for fantasy until injuries open a lane. If there’s interest, sell the story and cash out.
Closing
That’s where we’re at heading into kickoff. We’ve got our buyers and sellers lined up, but the truth is Week 1 is about to shake the whole board. Some names will validate everything we’ve been saying, and others are going to surprise us, good and bad. That’s the beauty of the first full slate. Enjoy the ride, keep your eyes open, and next week we’ll be back here breaking down who made the leap, who fell flat, and who you need to move on before the rest of your league catches up.
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