NFL DFS Lineup Advice – Preseason Week 1
By Ben McDaniel
The only thing more difficult than trying to predict the weather might be trying to predict which players will help you win NFL DFS competitions during the NFL preseason. That being said, I have combined information from various scouting reports and beat writers to compile a list of players who I believe are the best bets to deliver the goods during the first week of preseason games on Thursday, August 9th. Be sure to keep up with team news and check the status of all players before kickoff! Follow me @BenMcD_Sports for more fantasy insight! Thank you for reading my DraftKings NFL Lineup Advice – Preseason Week 1
NFL DFS – QUARTERBACKS
Baker Mayfield CLE QB – $5,500
Coach Hue Jackson recently was on the record reiterating that Tyrod Taylor is his starting QB. If the Browns want to get a good look at their franchise savior, they’ll need to do it in the preseason. If you need more concrete evidence of Mayfield’s potential for Thursday night, check out this article from ProFootballTalk.com where you’ll find the following quote.
"“According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jackson said the No. 1 overall draft pick will play “quite a bit.” That makes the Thursday night game between the Browns and Giants must-see TV.“"
Baker Mayfield has a flair for the dramatic, and I expect him to really make a statement with whatever playing time he receives against the Giants on Thursday night. Be advised though, he will be one of the more chalkier players due to his very recognizable name.
Luke Falk TEN QB – $5,500
With Mariota not expected to see much time, QB snaps will be divvied up between Blaine Gabbert and Luke Falk. The Titans, along with the rest of the NFL, know exactly who Gabbert is, so I expect them to take a closer look to see what they have in Falk. The rookie QB out of Washington St. knows how to sling the ball. Falk finished with 30+ touchdowns in each of his last 3 seasons in college. There have been a few reports of the rookie QB struggling in practice leading up to this game, but I see that as a good thing as it will help to keep his ownership on the low side. I’m counting on Falk to be able to put up some decent numbers against the Green Bay 3rd and 4th stringers. Definitely more of a GPP play than cash though.
Lamar Jackson BAL QB – $5,500
I tried to think of a different QB I could put here. I really did. Lamar Jackson has been one of the most talked about athletes in sports over the last week and the intrigue will continue as Baltimore squares off against the Rams on Thursday night. While Jackson had a shaky debut in the HOF game, he will continue to get plenty of snaps as the Ravens try to evaluate the rookie QB.
Evan Washburn of cbssports.com just wrote this piece where he discusses the fact that the Ravens are trying to determine whether Jackson is far enough along in his development to be a reliable backup. The way I see it, they’re going to need to give him plenty of snaps to be able to get a good read on the situation. The great thing about Jackson is that his mobility provides a high floor due to the rushing yards he’s likely to accrue. Because he’ll be so chalky, he’s more of a cash play, but if he hits his ceiling, you might need him in order to take down a GPP.
Running Backs
Joe Williams/Raheem Mostert SF RB $5,500
Just one year ago, Joe Williams was one of the hottest names among rookie running backs. The 49ers had just traded up in the 4th round to select the RB who seemed like a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan’s system. Fast forward to now and Williams is listed on the depth chart next to Raheem Mostert as the RB3 behind McKinnon and Breida. After a lost season due to injury, Williams needs to prove he was worth the investment. A decisive runner with good hands, he has the talent to be able to make the most of his opportunity in preseason week 1.
Raheem Mostert is the type of player that could make for a great GPP option due to his lack of name value. Reports such as this one by ESPN writer, Nick Wagoner are encouraging signs that Mostert might have earned a few extra touches on Thursday night with his impressive performance in practice.
Perhaps best individual performer of day was RB Raheem Mostert. Mostert has good shot at roster spot based on special teams acumen but he got some work with first-team offense and fared well. His best play came on a diving catch toward the sideline from Garoppolo vs. Witherspoon.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 6, 2018
As long as he gets the work, I could definitely see him being part of a lineup that brings down a GPP. Might be a little risky for cash though. A simple twitter search closer to game time could reveal if SF has tipped their hand concerning RB touches for their preseason week 1 matchup with Dallas.
Bo Scarbrough Dal RB – $5,500
Let’s stay with the San Francisco – Dallas game. Call this one a hunch. When Dallas drafted him in the 7th round last April I thought he could be the steal of the draft. The rookie from Alabama struggled with durability issues in college but is healthy now. Work will be hard to come by with Ezekiel Elliot in front of him, but that won’t be a problem Thursday night. I expect Dallas to give the big man a chance to punch one in if they get near the goal line.
Jordan Wilkins IND RB -$5,500
As I previously shared in my list of Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers – QB and RB, Jordan Wilkins has earned first team reps in practice and is in the mix for receiving carries in the regular season. First though, the Colts will need to take a look at their rookie RB in the preseason to see how he performs when the lights come on. The name of the game in DFS is opportunity, and Wilkins should have plenty this preseason beginning Thursday night vs. Seattle.
Wide Receivers
Leonte Carroo MIA WR – $5,500
In the video found in this article shared by the Orlando Sentinel, Carroo talks about how excited he is to get the preseason underway. The third year WR has long tantalized fans with his potential and he will have to show that on the field to be guaranteed a roster spot. Look for a motivated Carroo to deliver at home against the Tampa secondary on Thursday night.
T.Y. Hilton IND WR – $5,500
Check out this quote by Colts Head Coach, Frank Reich that was shared in an article by Josh Albert of ProFootballTalk.com
"“Reich said he expects Luck to play with the starting offense for about a quarter against Seattle.“"
Is one quarter enough to make Andrew Luck a must play? Probably not. Does an entire quarter of Luck throwing to Hilton against a secondary full of backups make Hilton a must play? Absolutely! As we get closer to kickoff, I’ll be checking to make sure Hilton is still expected to play the first quarter. He is one of my favorite players to use this week.
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Tim White BAL WR – $5,500
In last week’s Hall of Fame game, Tim White finished with an unimpressive 2 catches for 20 yards. But if you’ve played DFS before, you know nothing can help you pull ahead or catch up like a high scoring stack. White provides you with the opportunity to double up points two different ways. The first is by pairing him with RG3 or Lamar Jackson and hoping they connect. The second, perhaps more savvy way is to stack him with the Ravens DST. White handled return duties for the Ravens last week and if he takes one to the house Thursday night, you could leave the competition in the dust.
Tight Ends
Jordan Akins HOU TE – $5,500
The release of the first Texans depth chart listed Ryan Griffin as the starting TE, but it’s Akins that I’m more excited about. The Texans drafted him in the 3rd round and reports are that’s he’s been a pleasant surprise during Training Camp. He’s known much more for his skills as a receiver rather than a blocker, which could set him up nicely for a big debut against the Chiefs.
Temarrick Hemingway LAR TE – $5,500
Hemingway missed all of last season due to injury and will likely enter this year as the third TE on the depth chart. However, Rams TE, Gerald Everett recently suffered a shoulder strain that will likely sideline him for week 1 of the preseason. I would check his status before kickoff, but if he is out, the extra snaps could mean big things for Hemingway. If you want to roll the dice on the Rams starters, Tyler Higbee could also be a solid option.
Defense/Special Teams
Ravens DST
Patriots DST
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