Welcome to the grinder of the preseason. We are now 2 weeks through the 2016 NFL Preseason where teams are starting to figure out starting spots and who will fill the 53 roster spots. With cuts looming who took advantage of the moment? Who stood out on the offensive side of the ball in week 2?
The Broncos Quarterbacks:
No quarterback battle is more interesting than the one the Broncos have. Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian have been battling for presumably the starting position. Neither one separated themselves and probably did more harm than good when both saw the field. Sanchez went 10-17 with 2 fumbles, while Siemian 10-14 with an interception. The best of the bunch was first round pick Paxton Lynch who went 15-26 with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Realistically it may be time to consider giving Lynch some first team snaps even though he is very raw coming out of Memphis.
The Jets Quarterbacks:
The Jets also have a quarterback battle but all be it a lot less interesting. New York is seriously considering keeping 4 quarterbacks, something that hasn’t been done since 2013. Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to be the starter despite a lackluster preseason. Rookie 2nd round pick Christian Hackenberg hasn’t even played yet and we aren’t really sure why. Realistically that leaves Geno Smith and Bryce Petty battling for the final roster spot if the Jets decide to keep 3 quarterbacks. Petty had a strong showing this week throwing for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns in limited action. Geno Smith on the other hand wasn’t very good going 4-9. Teams typically don’t give up third round picks after only one season which means Geno could be on his way out the door fairly soon.
Other Quarterbacks Worth Noting:
Robert Griffin III put on a show in week two against the Atlanta Falcons. In two series RG3 went 6-8, 96 yards, and two touchdowns. An encouraging sign to say the least. Rookie 4th round pick Dak Prescott put on a show again for the 2nd consecutive week. Prescott had a perfect passer rating and scored 4 touchdowns with two being on the ground. I discussed Prescott in greater detail a week ago. Jared Goff struggled again and looks completely lost at times. He holds onto the ball far to long and lost two fumbles accordingly. Case Keenam will get the starting nod week one.
Derrick Henry Shines Again:
Henry’s stat line wasn’t anything overwhelming (5 carries, 31 yards) but he looked like a dominant force for the upcoming season. The Titans are the one team who is going to run the ball consistently game in and game out. Henry is among my top 10 fantasy running backs for this season and looks like he will surpass DeMarco Murray in a short period of time.
The Patriots Have A Dilemma:
The Patriots received some bad news yesterday that Dion Lewis will need surgery to clean up his knee and will start the season on P.U.P. list which means he will be out for at least 6 weeks and probably more. Lewis’ value was in the receiving game out of the value, a spot where James White could now have the opportunity to shine. With LeGarrette Blount remaining the goal line guy, White should get extended work. Brandon Bolden also remains a factor who can do a little of everything. Starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer was placed on I.R. as well meaning there is a big hole along the offensive line. The most logical replacement is Marcus Cannon who has done a nice job for them in the past. The good news for them is that rookie guard Joe Thuney has looked phenomenal thus far and has locked up a starting guard spot. Finally the Patriots need to make a decision regarding their third tight end spot. Clay Harbor was signed on to be the blocking tight end for the offense but that means releasing A.J. Derby could prove costly. I wrote about Derby during his Arkansas days and couldn’t seem to understand why he was never drafted. Well he seemed to prove me right this preseason for the 2nd consecutive week. Derby caught 6 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. The Pats almost have to keep this guy and the odd man out could be fullback James Develin.
Tajae Sharpe Looks Like A Star:
Tajae Sharpe was another favorite of mine during the draft process. Being related to Sterling and Shannon Sharpe has to help right? We now know why it was so easy for the Titans to give up on Dorial Green-Beckham. A 6 catch, 68 yard day has planted Sharpe right into the starting mix for the Titans. Justin Hunter, Harry Douglas, and Rishard Matthews are some of the other options at wide out for the Titans.
