The Flex: Engram Finally Escaped the Tight End Timeshare
The Snap
Evan Engram just gave us the cleanest role-change signal from Friday night. He played 12 of 14 snaps with Denver's starters after logging 15 of 25 last week. Adam Trautman handled most of the backup work once Engram left. That is not the old rotation. That is separation. [1]
The context matters. Engram averaged 42.1% of Denver's offensive snaps last season and never topped 55.6% in a game. His old every-down profile is not ancient history either, he averaged 78.6% with Jacksonville in 2023. One preseason game does not restore that role, but 12 of 14 is the first piece of evidence that new coordinator Davis Webb may actually use him like a receiver instead of hiding him in a committee. [1]
Do not chase him into the middle rounds. Do put him at the top of the post-draft watch list. If this usage survives Week 1, Engram goes from waiver decoration to a real weekly answer fast.
The Calendar Says
This is Preseason Week 2, the best usage tape August gives us. The regular season opens in 19 days, on Thursday, September 10, and Saturday, August 22 brings a 10-game slate before the week closes Sunday night. [2][3] Trust who starts, who stays with the ones, and who gets the veteran hook. Save the fourth-quarter box-score fan fiction for somebody else's draft room.
Around the League
Jonathon Brooks
Brooks played all but two snaps with Carolina's starters. He also split the two third-and-medium situations with Trevor Etienne after ceding the obvious passing situation last week. Chuba Hubbard is not expected back before Week 1 at the earliest, and Brooks is not merely borrowing early-down work anymore. The three-down ceiling is creeping into view. [1]
Omar Cooper Jr.
The first-round rookie jumped Isaiah Williams and opened in the slot with the Jets' starters after working only with the second team last week. He also grabbed an outside snap in 12 personnel and returned later for more boundary work. Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell remain the top two, but Cooper just changed the pecking order that matters behind them. [1]
MarShawn Lloyd
Lloyd started for Green Bay and beat Chris Brooks nine snaps to five on the opening 14-play drive. Through three drives, the count was 16 to seven, with Brooks leaning toward third downs. Josh Jacobs owns the backfield. Lloyd now owns the clearest early-down contingency lane, which is exactly what the last bench spot is supposed to buy. [1]
Jaylen Waddle
Waddle and Courtland Sutton played every snap on Denver's first drive, then both were done. Pat Bryant joined them in three-wide sets. The Broncos traded a first-round pick for Waddle, and Friday confirmed the obvious part without giving us fake August volume to overanalyze. He is the top receiver here. Sutton is second. Everybody else is fighting over leftovers. [1]
Stock Watch
Climbing
Evan Engram: The jump from 15 of 25 starter snaps last week to 12 of 14 Friday is role evidence, not camp poetry. He is not draft-day mandatory yet. He is one regular-season repeat away from becoming annoying on waivers. [1]
Jonathon Brooks: All but two first-team snaps, plus work in medium-yardage passing situations. His price has reportedly climbed, but the role is climbing faster than the box score can advertise it. [1]
MarShawn Lloyd: A 16-to-seven snap edge through three drives makes him the early-down No. 2. He is not stealing Jacobs' job. He is becoming the right insurance policy. [1]
Slipping
Germie Bernard: Four catches for 51 yards last week looked nice. Friday, he went catchless while Roman Wilson took the primary slot work. If Bernard and Wilson split 11-personnel snaps behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., neither belongs on a redraft bench. [1]
Pat Freiermuth: Pittsburgh again paired him with Darnell Washington, using Washington more on early downs and Freiermuth more in passing situations. Routes can save a tight end. A persistent two-man split can also bury one. The middle-round price needs to disappear. [1]
Mason Taylor: With Kenyon Sadiq out, Taylor started, but he kept playing after Braelon Allen, Wilson, and Mitchell left with the starters. That is not protected-player treatment. The path exists, the role security does not. [1]
The Sleeper Shelf
Evan Engram, TE, Broncos, ADP not verified, NEW: 12 of 14 starter snaps after 15 of 25 last week. The committee may finally be cracking. [1]
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers, ADP not re-verified, RISING: Led Chris Brooks 16 snaps to seven through three drives and owns the primary early-down backup lane. [1]
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers, ADP not re-verified, RISING: Played all but two first-team snaps and split the two third-and-medium situations. Featured usage is no longer wishcasting. [1]
De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, 49ers, ADP not re-verified, RISING: Two straight weeks of early involvement keep the breakout case alive. No fresh price, no fake market update.
Mike Washington Jr., RB, Raiders, ADP not verified, HOLD: The contingent-value case behind Ashton Jeanty remains intact. Friday added no new evidence, so the shelf does not invent movement.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans, ADP not re-verified, HOLD: The standalone-work thesis remains live. Sunday night is the next usage check.
The Flex Call
Draft MarShawn Lloyd with the final non-kicker bench pick.
He led Chris Brooks nine snaps to five on Green Bay's opening drive and 16 to seven through three drives. Brooks leaned third down, Lloyd leaned early down. Jacobs is the starter, full stop, but Lloyd now has the cleaner path to real volume if that backfield opens. [1]
Injury Desk
PFF reported Xavier Legette missed Friday after getting rolled up during Wednesday's practice, with optimism he could have played. Parker Washington is expected back next week, while LeQuint Allen is out for the rest of camp. Savion Williams left after two snaps, but no injury had been reported when PFF published. No diagnosis means no diagnosis. [1]
Sources
1. PFF, 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 fantasy takeaways from Friday