NFL Preseason Week 3: DFS Picks for Friday, August 23rd
Welcome to the 2019-2020 NFL season! Specifically, welcome to another cycle of NFL DFS as we enter the third week of the NFL Preseason and are exactly two weeks away from the real deal. Be sure to follow me @AlexMcKinnonDFS for daily & weekly DFS guidelines and up to the minute news and notes.
NFL Preseason Week 3: DFS Picks for Friday, August 23rd
The first two weeks of the season have been completely unpredictable from a DFS standpoint with a limited appearance from starters across the league and countless unsolved position battles. Thankfully, we receive a dose of normalcy in the third week of the preseason which is well known as a ‘dress-rehearsal’ for the starters. It also serves as the best gauge point for coaches to make roster decisions in a situation where the inexperienced and unproven players are able to face serviceable competition. Let’s take a look at the storylines and players with the best DFS potential from the slate on Friday.
Browns @ Buccaneers
Cleveland Browns: Much like a majority of the NFL teams this week, the Browns are expected to play their starters including Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and Baker Mayfield…
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield said he’s looking forward to playing Friday, said he’d like to play at least a half but said it’s not his call
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) August 21, 2019
No matter the situation, Baker seems to treat every game like a regular-season game so the first unit could be an exciting watch tonight vs. Tampa. With Odell Beckham Jr. and other receivers likely to sit out on Friday night, newly signed Braxton Miller will be one of the many unproven wideouts with plenty to prove this week and next. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt should both get some good run tonight, giving the Browns and their fans a good look at what they can expect come week 9 (when Hunt’s suspension ends).
I would be cautiously optimistic with the DFS potential of the Browns starters on Friday night but with a short slate (2 games), you have to take a leap in hopes of the prime options playing near a full half.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs have a handful of injuries to their starters including Mike Evans and Ronald Jones but Bruce Arians plans on giving most of the starters a good look on Friday night…
Bruce Arians says only the players who have been out for a while are ruled out for Friday, and the rest of the recently sidelined will be a game-time decision. Said how much starters play will hinge on how things go. If it goes well, not much at all ...
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 21, 2019
With Ronald Jones likely out, Dare Ogunbowale will receive first team reps and veteran Andre Ellington could also be heavily utilized on Friday as he fights for a roster spot following a 5 touch game in week 2. Behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Breshad Perriman there is still competition for the final few spots. Justin Watson is the assumed WR4 but still has a lot to prove with week 3 as a great opportunity for him to lock in his role.
With very few viable options in the Bills vs. Lions match up, I would stack up on Browns and Buccaneers. With Baker’s tenacity and the likelihood that the starters will get at least a quarter or more, you can feel safe locking in Baker Mayfield, David Njoku and others including Rashad Higgins.
Players to use in DFS: Baker Mayfield (QB-CLE), Kareem Hunt (RB-CLE), Nick Chubb (RB-CLE), Rashad Higgins (WR-CLE), Braxton Miller (WR-CLE), David Njoku (TE-CLE), Dare Ogunbowale (RB-TB), Justin Watson (WR-TB), Chris Godwin (WR-TB)
Bills @ Lions
Buffalo Bills: According to head coach Sean McDermott, the Bills starters will play more than the did last week in which they played a full quarter. This means Josh Allen and newcomer Cole Beasley would be a very attractive stack on a short slate. The acquisition of Beasley is a perfect fit for Josh Allen who lacked a safety blanket in a stupendous rookie campaign. With Tyler Kroft unlikely to be available for the beginning of the season, Dawson Knox building chemistry with Allen between now and Week 1 is critical for the Bills offense. Knox is returning from a hamstring injury and the amount of playing time he gets on Friday is up in the air.
The other incredibly exciting story and viewing experience for the Bills have been former rugby player, Christian Wade, who continues to make huge plays and will make it hard for the Bills coaching staff to not find a role for Wade…
It's @ChristianWade3's world, we're just living in it. 🤩#GoBills | #BUFvsCAR pic.twitter.com/WhEzNSCKNp
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 17, 2019
Detroit Lions: With no visible backup plan for Matthew Stafford in the wings, it would be unlikely that we see Stafford for more then a series or two (if any). Last season, Stafford made an appearance in the 3rd quarter but at that time the Lions at least had Matt Cassel to fall back on. Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay, and Danny Amendola stat out in week two but it would be a surprise if we didn’t see them play a few quarters as a tune-up.
Two guys who have something to prove and will be heavily utilized are WR Brandon Powell and RB Zach Zenner. After the season-ending injury to expected WR4 Jermaine Kearse, Powell has an opportunity to lock in a roster spot as WR4 or WR5 and is also a talented return man. With the Lions expected to be cautious with Kerryon Johnson and CJ Anderson, Zach Zenner will get a lot of use this week. Zenner is the solidified RB3 but has some competition behind him with rookie Ty Johnson biting at his heels.
Players use in DFS: Josh Allen (QB-BUF), Christian Wade (RB-BUF), Cole Beasley (WR-BUF), Zach Zenner (RB-DET), Brandon Powell (WR-DET)
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