We have made it to the final week of the preseason. After slogging through months without meaningful NFL football, winter is finally coming.
The final week of the preseason will feature the largest disparity in how coaches choose to approach things. Some teams look at this as the final dress rehearsal before the regular season and will choose to get their starters extended playing time. Others will bench the starters altogether to get one final look at the guys battling for the final few roster spots.
Saturday features the most extensive day of action in Week 3, with a six-game main slate starting at 1 p.m. ET. It seems as though most teams will lean on their backups, with the Panthers and Steelers standing out as exceptions. It’s also unclear how the Packers will approach their final preseason contest, but after a joint practice on Thursday, don’t be surprised if the starters get the night off.
If you’re new to preseason DFS, there are a few key trends to keep in mind:
1. Defenses & Kickers are Your Friends
In general, scoring in the preseason is lower than it is during the regular season. There are worse quarterbacks getting most of the snaps, which can also lead to more turnovers.
Defense is also the only position that is guaranteed to be on the field for the entire game. It doesn’t matter if the first-, second-, or third-string defenders are out there, they all rack up fantasy points for the defensive unit.
That results in a massive boon for the value of fantasy defenses. Fantasy defenses average just under eight points per game during the preseason, which is nearly two full points more than every other position (per Establish the Run).
We can only play one kicker and defense in the traditional format, but loading up multiple during showdown slates is definitely viable.
2. Target Playing Time Over Talent
This is probably true for regular-season DFS as well, but it’s imperative in the preseason. Finding out how teams plan to distribute their snaps to each position group is the biggest challenge of the preseason. If you can identify which quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers are going to see the most opportunities, you’re halfway towards building a winning lineup.
That’s particularly true early in the preseason. Most teams are going to lean very heavily on the bottom of their depth charts in the Hall of Fame Game and Week 1. Some select starters may see a drive or two, but this is the time when coaches and GMs figure out the bottom of their 53-man roster. Getting to the regular season with their starters healthy is typically more important than shaking off any rust accumulated during the offseason.
If you can find a quarterback who is set to play big snaps, they are an extremely difficult fade in the preseason. They become the best plays on the slate, while running backs typically have more value than receivers.
3. Tight Ends Don’t Matter
Unless you’re forced to roster a tight end, don’t do it. The position is an absolute dumpster fire during the preseason. You’ll typically see a bunch of players fighting for one spot on the field, and that spot isn’t even particularly valuable. There are exceptions, but on average, tight end is the lowest-scoring position in preseason DFS by a country mile.
We do have to roster a tight end in the traditional format, but by no means should you consider using one in the flex spot.
With the general strategy out of the way, let’s dive into some specific thoughts for Thursday’s slate.
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NFL DFS Quarterback Picks
Easton Stick
There is only one QB on the slate who is basically guaranteed to see a full four quarters of action – Stick. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has stated that Luis Perez will be available as the team’s backup, but he’s only expected to play if something happens to stick. With Justin Herbert getting the night off and Max Duggan recently cut, Stick is going to be on the field for the duration.
Stick has been with the Chargers since 2019 after being selected in the fifth round. He’s always appealing in DFS when looking at an expanded workload because of his ability to run: he blazed a 4.62 40-yard dash. With a full game to work with, he could easily eclipse 50 yards on the ground.
Stick’s production as a passer has left a lot to be desired, but he averaged more than 126 passing yards per game in three preseason contests last year. It may not be pretty, but he should return value one way or another.
Other Options
- Trey Lance – Ironically, Lance looks a lot like Stick on this slate. He also attended North Dakota State University, and the two players have a lot of parallels. They’re both plus athletes who have yet to display much with their arms, which is a lot bigger issue when you’re drafted third overall. Lance has played at least 85% of the snaps in each of the first two preseason contests, and he should see a similar workload in the finale.
- Stetson Bennett – Bennett is the third quarterback who could play the entire game on Saturday. He’s taken every preseason snap for the Rams so far, despite Dresser Winn being healthy and active. Bennett doesn’t have the same rushing upside as Stick and Lance, and he’s thrown five picks in his first two outings. However, he leads all preseason passers with 437 yards.
- Ben DiNucci – The original Tommy DeVito should see the majority of the snaps for the Bills. Josh Allen and Mitch Trubisky are out, while Anthony Brown was only signed on Monday. The coaching staff has stated that Brown will play a bit, but it will likely be in mop-up duty.
- Jack Plummer – It’s unclear if Andy Dalton will play in the final preseason contest, but if he does, it will likely be for just a series or two. It could leave more than a full half for Plummer, who has played extensively this preseason. His production hasn’t been great, averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt, so he’s in a tier below the other QBs mentioned.
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NFL DFS Running Back Picks
Boston Scott
Preseason DFS players should send Sean McVay a thank-you card. Not only is Bennett the leading passer in the preseason, but his team also has the leading rusher and No. 4 receiver through the first two weeks.
Scott has racked up 123 rushing yards through the first two weeks, and while he’s reportedly dealing with an injury, McVay has indicated that he’ll be busy once again in Week 3. While Scott is a career backup, he’s at least a bonafide NFL player. That’s a lot more than can be said of most of the usual preseason workhorses. He’s averaged 4.3 yards per attempt for his career, and there’s no reason to believe McVay would be lying about his workload. Fire him up with confidence.
Other Options
- Emanuel Wilson – He’s been one of the most featured backs in football during the preseason, racking up 26 carries through the first two weeks. He’s translated that into more than 100 yards and a touchdown, and there’s no reason to expect much to change in Week 3.
- Ray Davis – Davis was the Bills’ fourth-round pick in 2024, and he’s been active during the preseason. He’s played on 38% and 23% of the team’s snaps the first two weeks, and he’s responded with 13 carries for 60 yards. He’s also caught three passes, so he’s capable of contributing in multiple ways.
- Owen Wright – He’s played at least 32% of the snaps in back-to-back games, and he’s totaled 15 carries and four targets. He hasn’t been overly productive with his touches, but he did manage to find the end zone once.
- Will Shipley & Tyrion Davis-Price – These two have split the Eagles’ backfield opportunities pretty evenly, with both players garnering at least 32 snaps and 10 carries.
NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Jordan Whittington
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We’ve highlighted Whittington two weeks in a row in this piece, and we’re going back to the well in Week 3. McVay loves leaning on his rookies in the preseason, and Whittington has seen a monster role in his first two outings. He has 17 targets through the first two weeks, and he’s responded with 11 catches for 126 yards. The only thing Whittington hasn’t done yet is find the end zone.
A sixth-round rookie out of Texas, there was some concern that Whittington had become too valuable for the Rams to continue to see extensive preseason action. Those concerns were quieted after playing on 65% of the snaps in Week 2. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua entrenched at the top of the depth chart, expect another heavy dose of Whittington in the preseason finale.
Other Options
- Isaiah Williams – Williams is the rare receiver with at least 10 targets, catches, and more than 100 yards in the preseason. If not for Whittington, he’d be in contention for the top receiver slot.
- Trishton Jackson – His workload might not be quite as dominant as Whittington, but Jackson been arguably the top pass-catcher this preseason. He’s caught eight passes for 139 yards, and he’s also found the paint twice. The Vikings have a bunch of injuries at the bottom of their depth chart, so Jackson could be busy yet again.
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette – Smith-Marsette continues to solidify his status as a preseason GOAT. He’s played on at least 56% of the team’s snaps in back-to-back games, and he leads the Panthers’ receiving corps in routes, targets, and receptions.
- Dayton Wade – Wade has caught six balls for just under 100 yards and a touchdown, and he leads the Ravens’ receivers in snaps during the preseason.
- Xavier Hutchinson – He doesn’t have the same eye-popping production as some of the other receivers on this slate, but he’s been super consistent. He’s played on at least 46% of the snaps in back-to-back weeks and has racked up eight catches for 80 yards.
NFL DFS Tight End Picks
E.J. Jenkins
The Eagles’ TE depth chart is in rough shape at the moment. Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, and Albert Okwuegbunam have all missed time of late, while C.J. Uzomah was released on Wednesday.
That leaves Jenkins as one of the only healthy bodies. He’s already been busy during the preseason, racking up 56% and 40% of the snaps in their first two contests. He’s managed to turn those opportunities into six catches for 51 yards, which is pretty good for a preseason tight end.
He’s the clear-cut top option at the position on Saturday.
Other Options
- Darnell Washington – Washington is a mountain of a man, and he’s played at least 31% of the snaps in back-to-back weeks. That’s yet to result in any actual production, but his size makes him a legit option around the goal line.
- Joel Wilson – If the Packers rest their starters, it could open up a sizable workload for Wilson at tight end. They have just six bodies at the position, and Tyler Davis has not practiced of late. Wilson has secured five targets during the preseason, which he’s converted into four grabs for 34 yards.
- Cade Stover – Like his teammate Hutchinson, Stover has been a reliable target for the Texans during the preseason. He’s played on 44% and 30% of the team’s snaps in his past two games, and a similar workload seems reasonable for Saturday.
