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Nebraska deployed a deep defensive rotation, holding North Dakota to 205 total yards and 99 rushing yards as 36 Huskers logged snaps; key playmakers like Owen Chambliss and Jahsear Whittington anchored the effort, with multiple linemen and backs posting strong PFF grades and the unit showing depth ahead of Big Ten play.
The piece explains why Jaxson Dart received a middling 68.5 PFF grade in the Cowboys game: PFF grades based on the quality of the plays (process) and the presence of big explosive plays, not just the final stat line. The author compares his own dropback-by-dropback grading to PFF’s, shows that Dart had many positive throws and few negative ones, and notes that PFF’s emphasis on big plays can suppress a QB’s grade even when numbers look solid. It also references other metrics like Pro Football Sports Network’s Impact Grade, which can yield different conclusions. The takeaway is that different grading systems measure different things, but the bottom line remains: Dart’s night wasn’t as flawed as a single score might suggest and the offense might prioritize explosive plays in the future.
Puka Nacua leads PFF’s Week 1 wide receiver rankings after posting 3.74 yards per route run in the Rams’ opener, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba second thanks to a 45.8% target share; Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown round out the top five. The rankings fuse preseason projections with early-season performance and will evolve as more games are played.
Nebraska’s trio of Jamal Rule, Mekhi Nelson, and Isaiah Mozee has powered the Huskers’ early ground game, led by Rule’s 210 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 23 carries (plus strong receiving), with Nelson adding a receiving-threat complement and Mozee stepping up in Week 2. North Dakota counters with Charles Langama and Matt Lawson, who have combined for 409 rushing yards and five TDs, with Langama averaging 8.8 yards per carry and delivering big plays (including a 120-yard burst). The Week 3 matchup in Lincoln will test which rushing attack sustains its early-season success, as Nebraska faces a more explosive FCS backfield than Bowling Green/Ohio faced so far.
PFF’s Week 1 grades are live, led by Zay Flowers with the top overall grade in the first 15 games and featuring standout performances from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ladd McConkey, Dalton Kincaid, and Justin Jefferson. The piece breaks down a notable performance from each of the 15 completed games (minimum 10 snaps), highlighting stars like Fred Warner, T.J. Watt, D’Andre Swift, Vernon Broughton, Dylan Parham, Mike Gesicki, Antonio Williams and Abdul Carter. Full statistical recaps are available via PFF Premium Stats and Pro, with subscriptions promoted in the article.
PFF’s Week 1 Team of the Week spotlights Trevor Lawrence as QB, Zay Flowers as Offensive Player of the Week (league-best 94.0 PFF grade and 13.64 yards per route run), and T.J. Watt as Defensive Player of the Week (two sacks, two hurries despite heavy double teams). Rookie of the Week goes to Antonio Williams, who made four catches and a TD in limited snaps. The Carolina Panthers earn Offensive Line of the Week, while the full Week 1 Team of the Week spans offense, defense, and special teams across a slate of players and positions.
Pro Football Focus assigns mixed grades to the Giants’ 28-20 win over the Cowboys: quarterback Jaxson Dart went 23-of-29 for 230 yards and 3 TDs (65.8 overall) but carried two turnover-worthy plays and limited deep shots, thriving when kept clean (19-of-22). The O-line was sack-free but uneven, with Likely pacing receivers at an 82.8 grade and 2 TDs on 8 targets, while Nabers and Singletary contributed and OBJ saw snaps but was not targeted. On defense, Abdul Carter led with a 90.3, and Holland (73.2) plus Edmunds (71.7) impressed in coverage; run defense struggled (54.3) with Harris at 35.7 and several coverage players producing subpar grades. Overall, a win but notable flaws highlighted by PFF.
Nebraska totaled 546 yards and a 56-7 win over Bowling Green, with 33 players recording offensive snaps. QB Anthony Colandrea went 20-of-24 for 222 yards and four touchdowns, adding 33 rushing yards, while Jacory Barney Jr. (8 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDs) and Kwazi Gilmer (6 receptions, 39 yards, 2 TDs) led the receiving corps. All six backs logged carries, the o-line anchored by Justin Evans allowed minimal pressure, and the Huskers went 4-for-4 in the red zone, underscoring depth and efficiency through two games.
PFF’s Week 1 betting analysis centers on two angles: Cooper Rush facing Pittsburgh’s elite disruption pressure could make Rush unders and Falcons sacks props over, with low-scoring, text-driven same-game bets anchored by the Steelers’ pass rush; meanwhile, Houston’s C.J. Stroud is poised to exploit a rebuilt Bills secondary, making Stroud alternate props and Texans passing-game bets attractive, including correlated plays around Houston winning through the air.
Detroit Lions beat the Washington Commanders 17-13 in the 2026 preseason, leaning on a stifling defensive performance that limited Washington to 35 rushing yards and nine first downs on 45 plays, while piling up 26 defensive stops. Rookie and depth players stood out: Tate Ratledge flashed with a perfect 100.0 pass-blocking efficiency and strong run-blocking; Jackson Meeks continued his breakout at tight end with 2.75 yards per route run on two targets, leading to five receptions for 50 yards; Jacob Saylors led the backfield with 14 carries for 87 yards (5.3 ypc) and added 28 receiving yards. On offense, Joshua Dobbs struggled under pressure (0-4 on five pressured attempts, 20.9 PFF pass grade under duress) whereas Luke Altmyer showed better efficiency. Notable contributors and depth players helped carry the win even though starters like Hutchinson, McNeill, and Campbell did not play.
In a rain-soaked preseason win over the Dolphins, the Giants’ depth impressed according to Pro Football Focus, highlighted by J.C. Davis’s 89.3 overall grade at left tackle and a string of solid run/pass-block numbers along the offensive line, notable performances from Dalen Cambre and Eric Gray, and a dominant defensive showing led by Dru Phillips (96.3) and Deonte Banks (85.3). The defense produced several top grades across the secondary, while Odell Beckham Jr. had a costly drop and roster battles intensified as final cuts loom.
The Steelers were shut out 17-0 by the Jets in the second preseason game, with PFF grades showing a mixed bag: Isaiah Winstead led the offense with an 81.2 grade and 78.3 receiving, Kaleb Johnson chipped in 39 rushing yards and solid run blocking, but Will Howard struggled (41.9 grade) with two interceptions. Defensively, DeShon Elliott (93.6) and Carson Bruener (91.4) anchored the unit with standout performances, complemented by Elandon Roberts and Rayshawn Jenkins. Special teams saw Malik Harrison post the top grade, while several players and penalties underscored room for improvement. Overall, strong defense and some positive offensive flashes contrasted with QB struggles and execution issues.
Week 1 of the 2026 preseason showcased a mix of standout and limited debuts among first-rounders: Ty Simpson excelled with 190 yards and two TDs on 25 attempts (78.1 PFF), Arvell Reese posted the top first-round grade (88.2) on 12 snaps, and several offensive linemen shuffled positions (Mauigoa at right guard, Proctor at left guard, Rutledge at center). Akheem Mesidor delivered an 80.9 grade on nine snaps, Rueben Bain Jr. was held out, and seven first-rounders did not play; Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon were sidelined by injuries. The week offered a snapshot of how the 2026 rookie class may be deployed, with a mix of standout performances and reps still being earned.
Kamari Ramsey (Texans) topped Week 1 preseason rookie grades with a 94.8 PFF score, including an interception and a pass breakup in 14 coverage snaps. Matthew Hibner (Ravens) led the offense at 92.6, catching five passes for 61 yards on 12 routes. Carson Beck (Cardinals) led quarterbacks with a 91.7 grade after a strong Hall of Fame Game showing. The list also highlights undrafted standouts Jacob Roberts and Jacob Thomas for Minnesota, Ayden Garnes (Bucs), and other notable rookies across positions as the league begins Week 1-style evaluation, with a 15-snap minimum for qualification and weekly updates planned.
After Week 1 of the NFL preseason, Pro Football Focus unveiled its first Rookie Team of the Week headlined by Kamari Ramsey (Texans) with a 94.8 grade and a red-zone interception, while Steelers QB Drew Allar led rookie signal-callers at 80.5 with 153 passing yards, two touchdowns and a rushing score. The selections span multiple positions and feature a mix of top picks and standout undrafted players, underscoring the uneven, small-sample nature of preseason snaps (minimum 15 plays) while highlighting the early impact some rookies are already making.