Welcome to another FanDuel NFL Lineups column, the Preseason Week 1 Friday Night edition. We’re a Daily Fantasy Football column focused on top picks and best value for your weekly FanDuel NFL lineups. We arm you with information for a big FanDuel NFL payday each week.
After an action-packed Thursday night of preseason week one football, the NFL is back again with three games scheduled for Friday. With a limited schedule, we have fewer options for our lineups, but for preseason slates that makes it easier to focus on the top point-getters of the night.
Last night, we had a few surprises like Jimmy Garoppolo starting for the Patriots and playing the majority of the game for 17.7 FanDuel NFL points. But we also did well with some of our suggestions, Mack Hollins scoring a touchdown with 64 receiving yards and totaling 14.4 points, the Denver defense also scoring a touchdown with a turnover scoring 11 points, and Dalvin Cook totaling 6.3 points even though he started the game. We’ll try to replicate those good picks tonight.
Here’s a look at the scheduled games for the Preseason Week 1 Friday slate:
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants (7pm EDT)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (7:30pm EDT)
San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Cheifs (9pm EDT)
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With all players having a similar salary, we need to drop the value part of our picks for FanDuel NFL preseason. We are focused mostly on who has the most time on the field, but also may have the greatest opportunity for yards and touchdowns. We’ll review each game, narrow down who will see the most time on the field, and highlight our top picks. We’ll also check an initial list of lineup picks for this slate.
FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 1 Friday – Quarterbacks
Steelers vs. Giants
Steelers fans likely want to see Big Ben’s backup Landry Jones ($6,000) on the field again, but an abdominal injury will sideline him for the game, sitting next to Roethlisberger, who also has an injury (ankle). So that leaves a large part of the game up to the rookie from Tennessee, Joshua Dobbs ($6,000).
Dobbs has enormous athlete talent and a great arm, and will see most of the time under center, before the Steelers flip the ball to Bart Houston ($6,000). Dobbs is a top candidate to start at QB for your FanDuel NFL lineups tonight.
Last season, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo gave Manning the night off during the first preseason game, and there’s little reason to believe he’ll trot the aging QB out on the field tonight. Geno Smith ($6,000) is staying in New York, but this time should be backing up Manning and is likely starting the game.
But we shouldn’t expect Smith to play more than a quarter or two, and most of the time will likely be handed to Josh Johnson ($6,000) and Webb Davis ($6,000). Davis is the more exciting option for FanDuel NFL, but neither has a lot of upside with the Giants unlikely to have their top weapons on the field.
Buccaneers vs. Bengals
Jameis Winston ($6,000) is one of the few starting quarterbacks we could see on the field Friday night. The Bucs are very high on the third year signal caller during camp, and Koetter likely wants to see the progress on the live-action field. Ryan Fitzpatrick ($6,000) should also get some time, but likely not much as he’s a proven veteran of the game.
So the Bucs will mostly give the ball to Ryan Griffin ($6,000) and Sefo Liufau ($6,000) for the balk of the snaps. However, given the crowded depth chart at quarterback and the fact that each QB may play, I’m fading the Bucs for the FanDuel NFL play tonight.
For the Bengals, we could see Andy Dalton ($6,000) to start the game, targeting some new talent. But most of the snaps will go to AJ McCarron ($6,000) and Jeff Driskel ($6,000), each sharing a large number of snaps tonight.
49ers vs. Chiefs
Andy Reid has already laid out the path for the Chiefs quarterbacks tonight. Alex Smith ($6,000) gets the first quarter, followed by Tyler Bray ($6,000) in the second quarter. But while Smith is the starter on the depth chart now, Patrick Mahomes II ($6,000) is the hot name in camp and was taken 10th overall in the NFL draft this spring.
I was high on Pat Mahomes in college, and I’m excited to see him tonight in the NFL for the first time. Mahomes could see the entire second half, and is a great option for tonight’s FanDuel NFL slate, even if he’s not starting until the third quarter.
The 49ers quarterback position is in turmoil, but Brian Hoyer ($6,000) is the clear favorite. Hoyer is better than most think, and should look good starting the game for the niners. Shanahan will likely train through all four quarterbacks on Friday, making Matt Barkley ($6,000), C.J. Beathard ($6,000), and Nick Mullens ($6,000) unattractive options tonight.
FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 1 Friday – Running Backs
Steelers vs. Giants
I doubt we’ll see much from Bell for the Steelers tonight. Pittsburgh plans to sit most of its starters. But former Pitt Panther James Conner ($6,000) is who most Steeler fans will want to see anyway. Conner is a rookie already second on the depth chart for the Steelers and should see the ball early and often tonight. But keep an eye on the injury list for the Steelers, Conner has missed some practice time with a shoulder injury.
The Giants are still looking for their lead back, but Paul Perkins ($6,000) is in the driver’s seat. We could see Perkins a little tonight, but I’m more interested to see what Wayne Gallman ($6,000) has to offer the Giants tonight. Wayne is second on a two-back depth chart and should get plenty of time on the field.
Buccaneers vs. Bengals
Doug Martin ($6,000) may be the Bucs lead back and could see some time with Charles Sims ($6,000) on the field tonight. But Tampa is likely to give most of the carries to Jeremy McNichols ($6,000), a fellow Boise State Bronco, like Martin. McNichols had a tremendous collegiate career and should be one of the best running back options tonight.
With Hill and Giovani each likely getting little or no carries, Joe Mixon ($6,000) is an attractive option for the Bengals on Friday night. Mixon is a tremendous talent and while he’s now third on the depth chart, he could challenge for the top two spots early in the season. With Peerman now at 31 years old, that means Jarveon Williams ($6,000), Tra Carson ($6,000), and Stanley Williams getting the bulk of the carries after Mixon takes the rest of the game off.
49ers vs. Chiefs
There’s been a lot of chatter about Carlos Hyde ($6,000) not fitting into the new 49ers program, but I’ll believe that when I see it. The talented back is the lead bell cow on the team, and the niners seem set on playing their starters for the first quarter.
Hyde could have some decent production. But most of the production will come from a crowded back field of Tim Hightower ($6,000), William Joseph ($6,000), Kapri Bibbs ($6,000), Matt Breida ($6,000), and Raheem Mosert ($6,000). With too many hands touching the ball, I’m fading the 9ers backs tonight, but Mosert is the most attractive.
Spencer Ware ($6,000) and Charcandrick West ($6,000) may be the lead backs for the Chiefs on the depth chart, but Kareem Hunt ($6,000) has enormous talent and the Chiefs are excited about his potential. While the Chiefs have a progressive depth chart plan for tonight’s game, Hunt should see the bulk of the carries and be the most productive.
FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 1 Friday – Wide Receivers
During preseason games, the NFL teams often spread the ball around a very wide group of receivers. So it’s hard to know who will see the most targets, and the receiving results are often difficult to peg. But after reviewing camp notes, we are able to find the receivers most likely to see the highest target totals, and who could take advantage of vulnerable backfield.
Steelers vs. Giants
With Bryant’s status unknown and Brown sitting tonight, the Steelers will start the night off with a heavy dose of targets to Darrius Heyward-Bay ($6,000), Cobi Hamilton ($6,000), and Justin Hunter ($6,000). But my favorite wide out for the Steelers tonight is JuJu Smith-Schuster ($6,000). The former Trojan has a lot of upside and should see plenty of time from the slot tonight.
With Beckham and Marshall expecting to sit tonight, and Shephard unlikely to play Roger Lewis ($6,000) is a big target for the Giants tonight. Some other Giants getting the bulk of targets should be Darius Powe ($6,000), Tavarres King ($6,000), and Kevin Norwood ($6,000). But I don’t love the Giants passing attack for Friday.
Buccaneers vs. Bengals
Adam Humphries ($6,000) and Chris Goodwin ($6,000) will see the most targets from Winston to start the game for the Bucs, and Goodwin could be in the game for most of the first half. Bernard Reedy ($6,000) and Josh Huff ($6,000) are two more we could hear called a lot during this game for Tampa Bay.
While the Bengals now stacked at wide out, tonight’s passing game could be fun to watch. But Ross is out with an injury and it’s unlikely we’ll see much of Green. Still, Brandon LaFell ($6,000) is a strong target early and Tyler Boyd ($6,000) is an investment the Bengals will want to target often in the preseason.
49ers vs. Chiefs
With Smith starting the first quarter, Chris Conley ($6,000) and Tyreek Hill ($6,000) are strong early targets to consider tonight. The Chiefs should also throw to De’Anthony Thomas ($6,000) and Albert Wilson ($6,000) often in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Pierre Garcon ($6,000) follows Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco and could be a big early target, but should sit most of the game. But the 49ers are a train-wreck of a program now and while I think Shanahan has the tools to turn this team around, they’re facing a tough and deep defensive unit tonight and we’ll fade their wide receivers.
FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 1 Friday – Tight End / Kicker / Defense
The tight end position is intriguing tonight, with two of the top rookie running backs taking the field in O.J. Howard ($6,000) and Evan Engram ($6,000). While Engram should get a lot of looks, I’m more confident with Tampa Bay’s passing game, and wouldn’t be surprised if Winston looked Howard’s way for his first career touchdown tonight.
Kicking is a craps-shoot, so I’m going with the reliable, and unchallenged, Chris Bowsell ($6,000) for the Steelers tonight.
At defense, I’ve been target historically bad offenses so far this preseason, and it’s working. While we respect Kyle Shanahan’s ability to turn the offense around in San Francisco, it’s not going to happen in one game, and the Chiefs defense is loaded. So we’re going with the Chiefs D in arrowhead tonight.
So after reviewing all the options, we put together our favorite lineup for the night. Here’s a look at our Final FanDuel NFL Preseason Week 1 Friday Lineup:
QB – Dobbs (PIT)
RB – Hunt (KC)
RB – Conner (PIT) or Gallman (NYG)
WR – Smith-Schuster (PIT)
WR – Boyd (CIN)
WR – Hill (KC)
TE – Howard (TB)
K – Bowell (PIT)
D – Kansas City Chiefs
Again, we have $6,000 left over, but there’s no way to avoid it. Still, we have FanDuel to thank for finding a way to make the first week of preseason a more enjoyable event!
Next: Dolphins Fantasy Breakout, Bust, or Sleeper
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