The NFL says moving the touchback on kickoffs to the 35 is 'not likely' this season

The NFL's new dynamic kickoff is achieving its goals in the preseason of raising the rate of return and the threat of big plays after years of increasing touchbacks.

Whether that will carry over to the regular season, when coaches might be more concerned with avoiding risk than testing out the new rule, remains an open question.

The average starting position through the second full weekend of exhibition games is the 28.3-yard line, according to the NFL, up 4.4 yards from this point last season.

That has already sparked some talk that teams might just opt to kick it deep through the end zone once the regular season starts, trading the starting spot after touchbacks at the 30 for lessening the risk of giving up a long return.