5 Things We Learned in NFL Preseason Week 3

We have completed the 2022 NFL preseason, and now we have a much clearer picture of what each team will look like. However, there are some bigger names on the roster bubble this year, and we could see some fantasy situations change come Tuesday.

This week we saw a few trends emerge that will likely carry over into the regular season. Here’s a list of five things we learned from Week 3 of the preseason.

Justin Fields and the Bears Could not be Stopped! 

Many people entered this preseason hoping for a second-year leap from Justin Fields. Well, I think it may have arrived. Facing a solid Browns defense, Fields went 14-of-16 for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns – while also adding 11 yards on the ground. More impressively, this body of work came in less than two quarters of play. The Bears finally got Fields on the move with more designed rollouts and bootlegs, and this helped Fields tremendously. Even though it was just the preseason, we can look at this game and say with confidence that Fields looks more comfortable and more prepared in 2022. 

We should start to consider Fields as an upper-tier fantasy asset at the quarterback position this year. We saw last year that he could do damage with his legs, but now with what looks like a much-improved passing attack, the sky’s the limit for Fields. I’m sure it will be a bit of a rollercoaster, but Fields could easily finish as a top-15 fantasy quarterback. 

The Dolphins Looked GOOD! 

It is only the preseason, and we have to hold back some hype, but the Dolphins looked very crisp and efficient in the first few drives this week. After a flu bug forced the Dolphins to miss a joint practice this week, Mike McDaniel trotted his starters out against the Eagles’ second-team defense. They took their opening drive 75 yards in only five plays and only took two minutes and five seconds off the clock, capped off by a five-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to backup tight end River Cracraft. However, the first play of the game stole the show, as Tagovailoa connected on a 51-yard bomb to Tyreek Hill. Tagovailoa went on to finish 6-of-7 for 121 yards and a touchdown on the first three drives, resulting in 17 points.

There is still room for improvement, but the Dolphins starters looked very crisp. Perhaps we shouldn’t have been so down on Tyreek Hill and these Dolphins playmakers this offseason. And we didn’t even see Jaylen Waddle in this game, who will bring yet another fold to the passing game. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but the Dolphins may produce a few top-tier fantasy assets this season. 

Is the Ravens Run Game Struggling? 

Facing one of the better defenses in the league, the Ravens run game struggled yet again, only managing 21 yards on the ground. Their top rusher was rookie Tyler Badie with 12 yards on 2.4 yards per attempt. Normally we could chalk this up to just some preseason woes. However, last week against the Cardinals, the Ravens also struggled mightily, as Badie again led the team with only 34 yards and averaged 2.8 yards per attempt. This was the second game in a row that they failed to eclipse 75 yards rushing as a team. They only eclipsed 100 yards rushing once this preseason, which was Week 1 when they rushed for 120 yards against the Titans. This is not a good look for the team that has finished top three in season-long rushing yards every year since 2018. 

Their lead back, JK Dobbins, will be returning from an ACL injury he suffered last August, so it’s important that the offensive line and blocking scheme is squared away. If I had to bet, it’s likely they figure it out come Week 1 of the regular season, but this is something to monitor as we begin our fantasy seasons. 

Is Kenny Pickett Making a Push for the Starting Job?

In one of the more prominent quarterback battles of camp, the Steelers have been watching both Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett battle it out for the starting role. This week, we saw Trubisky get the start, and he went 15-of-19 for 160 yards and a touchdown. This was with a significant number of the starters in the lineup, including Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris. He then gave way to Pickett, who went 10-of-14 for 90 yards with mostly backups. He looked in command and was very comfortable in the pocket, leading to precise and accurate throws, one of which was a 30-yard pass that he placed perfectly on the back shoulder of the receiver. However, it was against the Lions’ second- and third-team defense.

Ultimately, this was an impressive performance in one quarter of play for the rookie, adding to an impressive preseason where he posted a line of 29-of-36 for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’s made a strong case for the team to start him Week 1. 

The Falcons’ Backfield is Getting Murkier By the Day

This week, the Falcons sat both Cordarrelle Patterson and Damien Williams, which likely means they have secured their spots on the roster. However, rookie Tyler Allgeier and Qadree Ollison seem to be battling out for the third and fourth spots. Allgeier only saw nine touches (eight carries and one reception) this week and produced 28 yards and two touchdowns. Even in this limited role, he was called upon in critical areas of the field and came through for the Falcons. Qadree Ollison also only saw nine carries and one reception in the game, while producing 42 yards and a touchdown. He looked impressive in this limited role, making a strong case to see an increased role this year. 

It’s starting to feel like this backfield may just turn into a murky mess for a significant amount of the season. No one has pushed for the lead role outside Patterson, who came into the season as a lock to see significant touches after a breakout season last year at 30 years old. This backfield likely becomes a headache all season, as we try to guess who goes off week after week, unless someone separates themselves sooner than later.