NFL DFS Player Pool: Preseason Week 2 (Saturday, 8/18)

NFL DFS Player Pool: Preseason Week 2

Welcome back for another day of DFS preseason coverage. Hopefully you made some money yesterday and were able to build your bankroll as we inch closer to the start of the regular season. Looking back at yesterday, I wish I would have played more cash game formats given the Chiefs high ownership. Although their starters played the entire first half, overall they were very underwhelming. Thankfully, we got bailed out with a Patrick Mahomes 69 yard bomb to Tyreek Hill for a TD in the final minute of the 1st half.

We have 7 preseason games on deck for today with the main slate beginning at 7PM tonight. That being said, lets dig in once again and identify the players that should be in your player pool for today.

NFL DFS Player Pool: Preseason Week 2

Quarterbacks 

Chad Kelly: Chad Kelly will be a popular play tonight after his performance last weekend. Kelly is fighting for the backup QB job in Denver and has already moved ahead of Paxton Lynch on the depth chart after his play last week. Last week vs. the Vikings Kelly went 14-21 for 177 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT while also rushing for 38 yards on 3 carries. Fire Kelly up in both cash and GPPs tonight.

Russel Wilson: If you don’t follow Evan Silva, you should. Evan is one of the sharpest minds in the industry and a must follow for any NFL/Fantasy fan. As Evan astutely pointed out on the One Week Season Podcast, historically Russel Wilson has played a good amount in Seattle’s 2nd preseason games over the last 5 years. In the 2nd preseason game of 2017, Wilson has 18 passing attempts and 2 rushing attempts which is the volume you are looking for in the preseason. If we can get that kind of volume from Wilson tonight, I think Russ can be looked at as a safe cash game play with GPP upside.

Cooper Rush: Cooper Rush was very impressive last week for the Cowboys going 15-23 for 145 yards and 1 TD. He should once again be called upon to get the majority of snaps which firmly puts him on our radar with his expected volume. Despite playing well last week, Rush may be lower owned than he should be given the other QBs on the slate.

Mitch Trubisky: This play isnt for the feint of heart and is strictly a GPP play. Trubisky has barely played this preseason and in his limited action hasn’t looked great. Given that this is the Bears 3rd preseason game I am anticipating on Trubisky playing at least the 1st quarter if not more. Nagy should want to get his young signal caller as many reps as possible before the season. Not to mention Allen Robinson will also be making his debut so he’ll have A-Rob, Miller and White at his disposal.

QB Player Pool: Chad Kelly (Den), Russell Wilson (SEA), Cooper Rush (DAL), Mitch Trubisky (CHI), Connor Cook (OAK), and Ryan Griffin (TB)

NFL DFS Player Pool: Preseason Week 2

Running Backs

Ryan Nall–  Looking to build on last weeks performance where he rushed for 97 yards on 9 attempts. He has played over 77 snaps for the Bears in their first 2 preseason games. Thats the type of volume and usage you have to target in preseason which puts Nall squarely in play for cash/GPP formats this week.

Detrez Newsome & Justin Jackson: This will be a situation to monitor today and hopefully we’ll get some clarity on. Gordon and Eckler are locked in as the top 2 RBs for the Chargers with Newsome and Jackson fighting it out for the 3rd spot. Jackson was the Chargers 7th round pick this year and was expected to win the 3rd RB spot but has been hampered by injuries thus far but is expected to play this week. Newsome played 33 snaps last week which resulted in 4 carries for 3 rushing yards, 1 TD while catching 4 passes for 38 yards.

CJ Prosise and JD McKissic: The Seahwaks have already lost 1st RD pick Raashad Penny for the rest of the preseason and may also be without Mike Davis who is dealing with a sore toe that caused miss some practice time. That will be a situation to monitor as Davis playing muddies the waters a little bit. Chris Carson may play the 1st quarter but the majority of the snaps should go to Prosise and McKissic who are both fighting for a roster spot. Prosise is expected to play and as John Boyle reported, he should see a lot of volume.

Ronald Jones: This one is more of a gut feeling as Ronald Jones was extremely underwhelming last week despite scoring a TD. He rushed for a measly 9 yards on 8  attempts and dropped a pass on his lone rep with the starting unit. Jones has little experience with catching passes out of the backfield and has struggled with pass blocking throughout camp. Despite being drafted in the 2nd round, Dirk Koetter has already been on record stating that Payton Barber will open the season as their starter. Jones needs as many reps as he can get so hopefully the Bucs also realize that and try to get him going this week.

John Kelly: One of my favorite late round draft targets this year in season long leagues, Kelly burst onto the scene last week to the tune of 77 rushing yards on 13 attempts while hauling in 2 catches for 14 receiving yards. Justin Davis who also had a good game last week will miss tonight’s matchup as he recovers from a hamstring strain. With Davis out and Gurley not expected to play much Malcom Brown and John Kelly should see a majority of the snaps. Kelly is the far superrior athlete and more explosive player and he’ll be the one I’ll be targeting today. Only a matter of time before he passes Brown as the No.2 RB on the depth chart.

RB Player Pool: Ryan Nall (CHI), Detrez Newsome (LAC), CJ Prosise and JD McKissic (SEA), Ronald Jones (TB), John Kelly (LAR), Royce Freeman (DEN) and Bo Scarabough (DAL) 

NFL DFS Player Pool: Preseason Week 2

Wide Receiver

Artavius Scott , Geremey Davis & Mike Williams: Pick your poison here with these 3 Chargers receivers who are all vying for the 3rd WR spot in LA. Davis was the most impressive of the trio last week getting 4 catches for 88 yards and 1 TD. Scott wasn’t too shabby himself catching 5 passes for 44 yards. Williams who was LA’s 1st Rd. pick last year was underwhelming with 2 catches for 18 yards on 5 targets. Despite underwhelming last week, I still lean Williams here as he offers the most upside and I think the Chargers will try to get him involved and going this week.

Tanner Gentry: Gentry is a lock and load WR play this week. Gentry has over 17 targets and played over 40 snaps in each of the Bears 2 preseason games thus far. Gentry saw a team high 11 targets last week to the tune of 6 catches and 54 yards.

John Ross: Ross and Malone both lead the Bengals with 5 targets last week. Despite playing over 30 snaps, Ross was only able to haul in 1 reception for 20 yards. With Josh Malone expected to miss this week due to a hamstring injury, Ross could get more run with the 1’s and 2’s. I would expect the Bengals to get their 2017 1st round pick going and wouldn’t be shocked if he led the team in targets again this week.

Dante Pettis: Pettis has been the talk of camp and even received some kind words from DeAndre Hopkins after their joint practices. It is only a matter of time until he surfaces on everyone’s radar and I think it may be this week. Despite getting 4 targets last week, Pettis was only able to haul in 1 catch for 53 yards showing off his big play ability. I expect Pettis and his team Victor Bolden Jr. (3 catches 54 yards last week) to be heavily involved tonight.

Courtland Sutton– One of my favorite WR’s to come out of this past draft, Sutton killed my lineups last week. Due to recency bias, I expect Sutton’s ownership to drop drastically after sinking so many lineups last week. Thankfully, he should get more time playing with Chad Kelly this week and not the inept Paxton Lynch. I think Sutton makes for a great GPP play today.

Wide Receiver Player Pool: Artavius Scott , Geremey Davis & Mike Williams (LAC), Tanner Gentry (CHI), John Ross (CIN), Dante Pettis (SF), Courtland Sutton (DEN), and Michael Gallup (DAL)

NFL DFS Player Pool: Preseason Week 2

Tight Ends

Tight-End is a wasteland today. As I am writing this I am having trouble identifying which TE’s to target. My final decision  will be dependent on injury news that comes out closer to lock as a lot of TEs are banged up.

Adam Shaheen: Shaheen was solid last week hauling in 3 passes for 54 yards. Shaheen will be the Bears inline TE this year when Burton is in the Slot, as Shaheen is the far superior blocker but he’s not to shabby in the receiving department either.

Matt Lacose & Jake Butt: The Broncos tight ends are very banged up which should only open more playing time for Lacose & Butt. Lacose actually led the Broncos with 40 receiving yards last week on 3 catches. Butt failed to get a target despite starting and playing the opening 2 series.

Jordan Atkins: Atkins will certainly be a popular play after scoring 2 TDs last week. But I feel like this is a classic case of point chasing but we have to list him as a play at the moment given the lack of clarity at the position.

Rico Gathers: It wouldn’t be a preseason article without mentioning the King of the Preseason, Rico Gathers. Gathers killed a lot of lineups last week and certainly comes with a lot of risk this week but he is a great GPP play due to his high risk high reward status. One would expect the Cowboys to use their best TE and get him involved but the Cowboys seem determined not to, it’s only a matter of time before Jason Garrett is fired…

Tight End Player Pool: Adam Shaheen (CHI), Matt Lacose & Jake Butt (DEN), Jordan Atkins (HOU) & Rico Gathers (DAL)

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for more DFS from the MLB, EPL, PGA, and of course, the NFL Preaseason!