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Fantasy: Takeaways from Thursday's preseason games

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2016 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

Every game night during the preseason, theScore's Justin Boone will provide his fantasy observations from around the league.

Running with Attitude

After a game between the Dolphins and Falcons where very few players looked ready for Week 1, it was refreshing to see the Seahawks and Cowboys take the field in midseason form.

Everyone's favorite new running back, Ezekiel Elliott, delivered on the hype in his first action by rushing for 48 yards on seven carries behind the Cowboys' dominant offensive line. The fourth overall pick got a taste of everything, being split out wide, upending a defender in pass protection, and even standing up to Kam Chancellor after a late hit.

Elliott showed he has the talent and attitude to be the focal point of the Dallas attack, which will be necessary if Tony Romo's as fragile as he seemed Thursday night. The veteran quarterback was forced from the game with back tightness after being taken down awkwardly by Cliff Avril. Since it was preseason, the team obviously elected to keep Romo on the sidelines as a precaution.

Romo's injury will likely overshadow Elliott's performance, but the rookie definitely looks ready to be a fantasy star and should be a first-round pick in upcoming drafts.

Fostering Hope

Despite looking a step slower, Arian Foster outplayed Jay Ajayi in Thursday's game against the Falcons.

Unlike the Cowboys' offensive line, Miami's blockers were unable to create space for Foster and Ajayi, who struggled to run the ball. Ajayi ran seven times for 11 yards and was often caught behind the line of scrimmage. Foster rushed five times for 10 yards, but found the end zone.

Both players had more success in the receiving game: Foster turned his two receptions into 20 yards, while Ajayi managed 12 yards through the air.

It's worth noting that Ajayi once again got the start, but Foster showed veteran savvy, making smart cuts and generally carrying himself like the more skilled back. Foster's ADP should continue to rise after this outing, but it still appears this will be some form of hot-hand timeshare.

Instant Impressions

  • With Romo being tended to on the sidelines, Dak Prescott entered the game far earlier than expected and had another quality showing, this time against a menacing Seahawks defense. Prescott completed 17-of-23 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, adding another 12 yards on the ground. Romo's injury apparently isn't serious, but it still feels like we're going to see Prescott in the regular season at some point.
  • Russell Wilson might make us rethink our plans to wait on quarterback in fantasy drafts. Wilson racked up 192 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys, spreading the ball around to all his receivers. He remains one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL and only injury could keep him out of the top five fantasy QBs.
  • Kenny Stills is making a pretty strong case to be selected in fantasy drafts. Stills continues to play ahead of DeVante Parker in two-receiver sets and his play has justified it to this point. It’s preseason, so we always need to temper our excitement, but Stills looks like he’ll be a fantasy factor, especially with tight end Jordan Cameron providing very little production. ​

Notable Performances

Christine Michael, RB, Seahawks
7 carries, 58 yards
The "awakening" continues. This is still Thomas Rawls' backfield, but he must be losing sleep after every Michael performance. Rookie C.J. Prosise also saw time as the passing-down back, a role he's expected to fill in the regular season.

Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons
5 carries, 8 yards; 2 receptions, 10 yards
Freeman split carries with Tevin Coleman, which is a worry heading into 2016. Unfortunately, neither Falcons back did anything with their touches, as Coleman totaled six yards on his three carries. Freeman will remain the lead back, but Coleman is a legitimate threat to siphon touches.

Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks
3 receptions, 41 yards, TD
This is just more proof that Lockett is poised for a breakout season. There are many Pro Bowls in Lockett's future, starting with this season.

Paul Richardson, WR, Seahawks
2 receptions, 19 yards, TD
Richardson may have played his way into the Seahawks' receiver rotation behind Lockett, Doug Baldwin, and Jermaine Kearse. Richardson isn't a fantasy option at the moment, but he could quickly become one if injuries strike.

Injury Ward

Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
Luckily Romo seems to have avoided any type of serious injury, which is a surprise given the way he grabbed at his back on the ground like he'd been taken down with a spear.

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
Jones left the game early with an ankle injury, and was seen limping around the sidelines a bit after getting tangled up with a defender on a pass interference call early in the second quarter. Like Romo, he was held out as a precaution.

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