NFL Analysis
8/12/24
7 min read
2024 NFL Preseason Week 1 Winners, Losers: Fields, Richardson Off to Poor Start
Week 1 of the NFL preseason is in the books, and it was a fantastic week of action.
There were a lot more winners than losers, and most teams stayed relatively healthy. But who are the biggest winners of the week? And which players left some to be desired? Let’s take a look at the players who outplayed or underperformed expectations this week:
Preseason Week 1 Winners, Losers
Winner: Eric Gray, RB, Giants 
It’s a new era for the New York Giants now that Saquon Barkley is off to Philadelphia. The expectation is that Devin Singletary will be New York's lead back, but there are plenty of opportunities behind him for someone to earn snaps and touches. One player who dramatically improved his stock this weekend was Eric Gray, a fifth-round pick by the Giants during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Gray appeared in 13 games last season but managed to see just 23 touches from scrimmage. In Year 2, it’s clear that he is slimmer and quicker. Gray only had eight touches on Thursday against the Lions, but he looked incredibly dynamic. He racked up 98 yards on those touches, including a 48-yard touchdown run through the middle of Detroit’s defense.
It’s important to remember that this is just the preseason and not to overreact to any one play or performance. However, Gray does have a chance to earn a big role in New York this season and could be a player worth monitoring in your fantasy leagues.
Loser: Justin Fields, QB, Steelers 
It’s probably not fair to put Justin Fields on this list, but he certainly didn’t capitalize on his opportunity in Week 1 of the preseason. Fields completed five-of-six passes for 67 yards, but he had two muffed snaps and took two third-down sacks, which ended drives.
Fields led the Pittsburgh Steelers on three drives but could not surpass the Texans' 40-yard line. While he looked “fine,” he certainly didn’t wow enough to warrant snaps over Russell Wilson right now. This was a big opportunity for Fields to create momentum going into Week 2 of the preseason, but that didn’t really happen.
Winner: Nate Wiggins, CB, Ravens 
Cornerback is among the few positions in the NFL where rookie success doesn’t happen frequently. The learning curve is steep, and most corners just can’t get quite used to the speed of the NFL. But that certainly wasn’t the case for Nate Wiggins this weekend.
Wiggins played 43 snaps against the Eagles, recording three pass deflections and allowing just two very short completions. It’s clear that his athleticism is already translating to the NFL, and he has all the traits to be a dominant outside cornerback.
He did have a bit of a health scare, leaving the game late with a shoulder injury. However, he is expected to be fully healthy for Week 1 and should be on the field plenty this season.
Loser: Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts 
It’s hard to criticize Anthony Richardson too much, as this was his first game back after a major shoulder injury. Richardson played just four games last season before being placed on the injured reserve list. However, his accuracy was a major issue this weekend, and it’s fair to wonder if that will be the case all season long.
On the first drive, he nearly threw an interception on third and long. The defensive back flat-out dropped the ball, and it wasn’t a good read at all. On the next series, Richardson threw a pass behind Kylen Granson, forcing him to slow down and stopping him from gaining a first down. Richardson played just two drives, and the Colts gained only one first down.
It’s way too early to panic, but it was not a great performance by the second-year quarterback from Florida. The accuracy concerns are still there, and it’s obvious that he still has a long way to go as an overall passer.
Winner: Tank Dell, WR, Texans 
It was a bit surprising to see Tank Dell play in the first preseason game, considering he is coming off a major foot injury and a bullet wound from an offseason incident. But Dell took the field with the first-team offense (and first-team punt return unit) and intimately made an impact.
Dell had a 22-yard punt return that gave the Texans fantastic field position on their second drive. Three plays later, he scored a 34-yard touchdown on a strike from C.J. Stroud.
Dell isn't likely to play in the rest of the preseason, but he looks back and better than ever. If he can stay healthy during the 2024 season, Houston should be nearly impossible to stop on offense.
Loser: Marshawn Lloyd, RB, Packers 
The most important part of the preseason is to stay healthy. The phrase that coaches use often is that teams can't win Super Bowls in August, but they can lose them (due to injuries). Unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers are now dealing with an injury to third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd, who was expected to compete with A.J. Dillon for the No. 2 RB job.
Lloyd saw just one carry in Week 1 of the preseason before leaving the game with a hamstring injury. It's uncertain how long he will be out, but it is doubtful that he will play again in the preseason. Injuries in training camp and in the preseason can be detrimental for rookies, and unfortunately, that could be the case for Lloyd.
Winner: Ben Sinnott, TE, Commanders 
The 2024 draft class was not deep with talent at the tight end position. Brock Bowers was a top-15 pick, and there was not another drafted until pick No. 52. That player was Ben Sinnott, a hybrid tight end/H-back from Kansas State with modest production.
However, his elite athleticism and upside are the reasons why he snuck into the back-end of Round 2.
Sinnott was productive in his NFL debut, catching three passes for 57 yards. However, he is on this list because of how he got his production against the Jets. He made plays after the catch and in the middle of the field. In many ways, he looks like Sam LaPorta, another hybrid player coming out of Iowa.
No one expects Sinnott to have that type of production in Year 1, but it wouldn't be surprising if he won the starting job in Washington and became a reliable weapon over the middle. So far, so good for Sinnott and the Commanders.
Loser: Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals 
The 2024 running back class was one of the worst in recent memory, but one of the prospects in the class that did stand out was Trey Benson from Florida State.
Despite a major knee injury early in his collegiate career, Benson bounced back and had two productive seasons with the Seminoles. The Cardinals drafted Benson early in the third round with the hopes he could succeed James Conner.
In his first NFL performance, it was clear that Benson was still pretty green. His vision isn’t quite up to the level of a starting running back, and the game is moving fast for him. He just didn't look confident at all, and it was a very underwhelming performance altogether.
Benson received eight carries against the Saints but only totaled 21 yards, and his longest run was just seven yards.
Conner is the clear-cut starter in Arizona, and that likely won’t change anytime soon. Benson will need some time to adjust to the speed and quickness of the NFL, which means we might not see him on the field early during his rookie season.
