Preseason Week 2: Risers & Fallers

Week 2 of the NFL’s preseason is in the books, which gave us a closer look at more teams’ starting units, while many rookies bolstered their claims for big-time roles during the regular season.

Once again, Preme Football have complied a list of risers and fallers from the weekend’s action, starting positively with those who strengthened their value.

49ers’ young wide receivers

Although the signing of Mike Evans and return Deebo Samuel added a genuine WR1 to the San Francisco offense as well as some veteran presence, the team lost both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne in the offseason. Compiled with Ricky Pearsall being out for the season with a significant knee injury and Brandon Aiyuk’s well-documented off-field troubles, a position behind the veteran duo as the WR3 is well and truly up for grabs. Jordan Watkins and De’Zhaun Stribling have both accumulated 100+ yards across the team’s first 2 weeks of preseason and could be the answer not only long-term but for this season as well. Watkins, who enters his 2^nd year, hardly featured in his rookie season, while Stribling was taken with the 33^rd pick of the 2026 draft. Giving this pair an opportunity to develop behind 2 seasoned veterans whilst still offering genuine contributions to a team with playoff aspirations will be something heavily considered by Kyle Shanahan leading into the year.

Jackson Meeks

Initially picked up as a wide receiver, Detroit’s newfound tight end made 4 strong catches in the team’s win over Washington on Saturday, with Dan Campbell heaping praise post-game. “I told him the other day, I said, ‘You just continue to get better.’ He continues to grow. This tight end thing is still kind of new to him, (he has) the athleticism. He’s strong, and he’s willing, and he’s smart.”. Meeks’ highlight was a 4^th down conversion in the 4^th quarter for 6 yards, extending the drive that ultimately ended the game. Although Detroit enters the season with one of the league’s best tight ends in Sam LaPorta taking a heavy workload, opportunities may arise for the talented youngster throughout the season. Dan Campbell is clearly willing to be persistent as Meeks continues his development, and he’s liking what he’s seeing so far.

Jimmy Horn Jr.

Showing flashes of potential throughout his rookie season, Horn Jr. will be looking to elevate his game to a new level in year 2, and his preseason production so far has indicated that he’s heading in the right direction. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with electrifying speed, adding a different dimension to the Panthers’ playbook with plays out of the backfield that can break the game open. With a valuable year of NFL experience now behind him, Horn Jr. might not necessarily become a 1000-yard receiver any time soon, but his contribution on designed touches and ability to make big plays will be a valuable role in taking the pressure off Tetairoa McMillan. Don’t be surprised to see his explosiveness lighting up your screens this season.

Trey Smack

For years now, since the departure of Mason Crosby, the Green Bay Packers have been crying out for a reliable, long-term kicker with a combination of range and accuracy – and they may have finally found their guy. The failed tenures of Anders Carlson, Brayden Narveson, and most recently, Brandon McManus, led Green Bay to trade up and select Smack in the 6^th round of the 2026 draft, and he has started his professional career perfectly. Across 2 preseason games, Smack is 7-for-7 on field goals (3 from 50+ yards) and 3-for-3 on extra points. Coming out of Florida, he holds the school record for most made field goals from 50+ and has performed under pressure in several crucial SEC games. Smack does not need to immediately become the next Crosby, but the Packers desperately need a solution to stop the revolving door of kickers that the last few years have presented.

Jack Strand

Strand made it hard for the Atlanta Falcons front office to resist handing him a roster spot with his performance against the Colts on Saturday. In just over a half of action, the dual-threat, undrafted free agent quarterback finished with 234 total yards and 2 total touchdowns, outperforming Cooper Rush, who looms as his competitor for Atlanta’s QB3 position. Strand showed off genuine arm talent with a few downfield throws, also running one in himself for a 16-yard touchdown. With uncertainty looming over the long-term prospects of the Falcons’ quarterback room, the 22-year-old Strand has surely earnt his spot. Though Michael Penix Jr., who has returned to full health following a torn ACL, and Tua Tagovailoa will begin the season above Strand in the depth chart, he may genuinely get a chance to see regular season NFL gametime as soon as this year.

David Bailey

Entering your rookie season as the 2^nd overall selection makes it difficult for a preseason game to make your stocks rise any further, but Bailey’s first 2 weeks have confirmed what we already knew and then some. In just 20 total defensive snaps, the Jets’ pass rusher has generated 3 pressures and a sack. Aaron Glenn has wisely kept Bailey’s workload to a minimum thus far, which makes his production even more impressive from a statistical point of view. While the Jets’ overall improvement this year might not be significant, the combination of Bailey and Will McDonald IV on either edge will provide genuine excitement for their fans and be a force to be reckoned with for any of their opponents. Undoubtedly one of the front runners for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

There were plenty of huge performances over the weekend and you can take your pick as to who you thought was the best of them. On the other hand, a few players struggled big time and now have major question marks hanging over their potential outlook in 2026. Let’s analyse them.

JJ McCarthy

Having lost the starting job to Kyler Murray, the spotlight was on McCarthy to wrestle back some momentum and at least prove he would be ready to assume starting duties if the opportunity was to arise. The third-year quarterback’s numbers, 2 weeks into preseason, sit at 9/17 for 115 passing yards, with Minnesota scoring 0 points at the end of drives led by McCarthy in both games. While McCarthy will retain his position as the QB2 for Kevin O’Connell and may even start games late in the year if Murray can’t deliver, doubt is starting to linger over his long-term future with the Vikings. McCarthy ultimately showed flashes of potential during his first full season but struggled to form a consistent connection with Justin Jefferson and will need to show genuine development this season to assure Vikings fans that he is their long-term answer.

The Miami Dolphins

It’s hard to know what to write here. The 17-week 2026 regular season is going to feel like 17 years for Dolphins fans. Whilst it is ‘only preseason’ the signs of the team’s decision to clean house and rebuild have been there all offseason. Other than De’Von Achane, who did not feature over the weekend, the team’s offense has been almost entirely replenished, and it has showed. Scoring just 10 points in 2 preseason games so far, as well as having possession of the ball for only 35% of game time across the games, it’s hard to even guarantee the Dolphins a win when assessing their regular season schedule. Malik Willis may provide some highlight reel plays but is unlikely to be in Miami long-term. Admittedly, the Dolphins have done the right thing in accepting the rebuild, which will pay dividends in due course. But it is going to be a very tough few years supporting this team.

Spencer Rattler

Unfortunately for Rattler, things have continually gone downhill since he was benched for Tyler Shough, who has rightfully locked down the starting quarterback job, in week 9 of last season. Rattler ended his second preseason outing with 14-for-23 completion, 141 passing yards and a 100-yard pick-six, as well as being significantly outperformed by Zach Wilson, his competitor for the backup position, in week 1. Somewhat similarly to the aforementioned JJ McCarthy, there’s now genuine doubt on whether Rattler remains with New Orleans long-term. It’s hard to imagine there will be any major suitors if he seeks a move elsewhere.

The Tennessee Titans host the Seattle Seahawks at 8pm ET to conclude the penultimate week of preseason.

For good or bad reasons, which performance caught your eye from the NFL’s second weekend of preseason action?