We are on to Week 2 of the NFL preseason. Remember, there are only three weeks in the preseason this year, so this is the second-to-last tune-up before the start of the regular season.
We’ve had smaller slates each of the past two days, but the main event is on Saturday. That includes an eight-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
It will be interesting to see how most teams choose to approach their game this week. The second-to-last preseason game used to be the “dress rehearsal” for the starters, meaning they would play upwards of three quarters. However, with one fewer preseason game to evaluate the players at the bottom of the roster, it remains to be seen if that’s still the case.
Let’s dive into Saturday’s slate to try and identify some DFS value.
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Quarterback
The battle for the Colts backup quarterback job is one of the most interesting position battles during the preseason. Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger have both had strong performances during training camp, and both players were impressive in their preseason debuts. Eason was extremely efficient as a passer, racking up 183 passing yards on 21 attempts, while Ehlinger provided a nice combination of rushing and passing production.
Eason started the last preseason game, but Ehlinger is going to get that opportunity on Saturday. He’ll play the first half with Eason getting the second. That means Ehlinger will get the benefit of playing with the starting pass-catchers, while Eason will benefit from facing the weaker defensive players. Both players are strong options, but I’d give Ehlinger a slight edge because of his willingness to run.
Other Options
Feleipe Franks and A.J. McCarron split the playing time 50-50 in the Falcons’ first preseason game. Matt Ryan might get a series or two this week, but expect Franks and McCarron to be busy again. Franks is the preferred target given his rushing ability. He was dreadful as a passer vs. the Titans, completing just 2-9 passes for 16 yards, but he made up for it with 76 rushing yards. He has elite speed for the quarterback position, so he’s a safe bet to do some damage with his legs.
The Ravens only have three active quarterbacks on their roster currently, and Kenji Bahar was just signed on Monday. Lamar Jackson probably won’t see much action in this contest either, which leaves Tyler Huntley to play upwards of three quarters. He’s another QB who can pile up fantasy points with his legs, evidenced by his seven carries for 43 yards and a touchdown last week.
The Raiders played just one quarterback last week, which is almost unheard of for a preseason game. That quarterback was Nathan Peterman, who racked up 39 passing attempts for 246 yards. Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota could see some action this week, but Peterman should still see the lion’s share of the snaps.
Davis Mills saw the vast majority of playing time at quarterback for the Texans last week, which makes sense considering their current quarterback situation. They drafted him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, which makes him the heir apparent at the position in Houston. Getting him as many snaps as possible during the preseason should continue to be a priority.
Running Back
Nobody at running back was busier than A.J. Rose Jr. last week. He saw 25 carries for the Vikings, and he also led the team with a very pedestrian 18 receiving yards. The Vikings clearly have no qualms about running him into the ground during the preseason, and they’re going to be pretty thin at running back once again on Saturday. Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison were both inactive last week, and it would be surprising if either player was a big factor vs. the Colts. Kene Nwangwu has already been ruled out for Saturday, while C.J. Ham and Jake Bargas are both listed as fullbacks.
That leaves just Rose and Ameer Abdullah to handle most of the rushing responsibilities. Rose is an undrafted rookie while Abdullah is a vet with an extensive injury history, so I would expect Rose to comfortably lead that split once again.
Other Options
Ke’Shawn Vaughn was expected to get a ton of work during the preseason, and he led the Buccaneers’ RBs in snaps in their first preseason game. It seems unlikely that Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, or Giovani Bernard will take on a much larger workload this week, so expect another health snap count for Vaughn. He’s an interesting prospect given his combination of athleticism and college production, which is why the Bucs drafted him in the third round last year.
Trey Ragas racked up 40 snaps in Week 1 for the Raiders, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t see another sizable workload this week. Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, and Jalen Richard don’t need much time during the preseason, and there isn’t much to worry about below Ragas on the Raiders’ depth chart either.
Rico Dowdle has carried the largest workload at running back for the Cowboys during the preseason. He’s racked up 20 touches through two games, and he easily led the group with 32 snaps last week. Ezekiel Elliott is not expected to play at all during the preseason, while Tony Pollard has logged just 11 total snaps through two weeks.
The Panthers are another team that could be thin at RB on Saturday. Christian McCaffrey did not play in their first game, and he probably won’t play again in Week 2. Rodney Smith and Reggie Bonnafon were also held out of the lineup last week, and both players have missed practice recently. Chuba Hubbard led the team with 28 snaps in Week 1, and the fourth-round rookie out of Oklahoma State should be busy again on Saturday.
Ty’Son Williams was signed as an undrafted rookie out of BYU in 2020, and he stands out as an NFL-caliber athlete. The Ravens are also thin at the position, especially after Justice Hill went down with an injury last week. Williams played 36 snaps last week, and he could theoretically increase that mark if Hill doesn’t suit up.
Wide Receiver
Terrace Marshall Jr. is going to be a factor for the Panthers as a rookie. He’s the leading candidate to replace Curtis Samuel on offense, and he performed well enough at the combine for the Panthers to draft him in the second round. He failed to make a huge impact early in his collegiate career, but that will happen when you’re playing alongside guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. With both players gone last season, Marshall racked up 731 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games.
His skillset was on full display in Week 1 of the preseason. He finished with five targets on just 21 snaps, and he turned those targets into three catches for 88 yards. He might not play deep into this contest given his growing importance to the Panthers’ offense but expect him to be productive when he’s on the field.
Other Options
The Dolphins’ wide receiver corps is dinged up at the moment. Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant all did not practice on Wednesday, and Lynn Bowden Jr. has already been ruled out. If all of those veteran players are held out, it would leave the team without much depth at the position.
Bowden led the Dolphins’ wide receivers in snaps last week, but Robert Foster wasn’t far behind. If Foster’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he had a mini breakout with the Bills as a rookie in 2018. He racked up 541 yards and three touchdowns, and he possesses elite NFL speed. He would be an interesting option if the Dolphins are as thin as expected, especially since this is his first year with the team.
The Ravens have a trio of viable wideouts in Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace and James Proche II. All three players saw at least 37 snaps last week, which is a big number for a preseason wide receiver. The team could be without Rashod Bateman, Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins again this week, so all three players could be looking at similar workloads.
Mike Strachan has been one of the stars of training camp for the Colts, and he continued to generate buzz with his first preseason contest. The big-bodied wideout racked up three catches for 57 yards, and his five targets ranked second on the team. Dezmon Patton led the team with six targets, and both players have appeal given the Colts’ quarterback battle.
The Texans’ roster is an absolute disaster, and the wide receiver position is no exception. However, Nico Collins is an intriguing prospect. He was drafted in the third round out of Michigan, and he tested very well athletically. He racked up 32 snaps last week, making him an intriguing option.
Keelan Doss gained some notoriety with the Raiders on Hard Knocks, and he finished with six catches for 55 yards in their first preseason contest. He also led the team with 44 snaps and has proven he can produce in the preseason.
Racey McMath was a disappointment last week, finishing with zero catches on two targets. However, he did lead the Titans’ receiving corps in snaps, and I remain intrigued by his athleticism. He’s another rookie out of LSU – which is quickly becoming Receiver U – and he ranks in at least the 83rd percentile in 40-yard dash time and Speed Score per PlayerProfiler.
Tight End
As usual, tight end is the weakest position on the slate. Most teams have five or six players at the position at this point in the preseason, and they are often asked to spend as much time blocking as running routes.
With that in mind, Josh Oliver stands out as a major outlier. He saw 51 snaps in the Ravens’ first preseason game and finished with six targets. He ultimately caught four passes for 22 yards, which is more than enough to make him relevant again this week.
Other Options
The Cowboys have been a bit thin at tight end to start the preseason, which has allowed Jeremy Sprinkle to take on a sizable role. He’s run at least 10 routes in each of their first two games, and he should be looking at a similar workload on Saturday.
The Colts are another team with some injuries at tight end. Mo Alie-Cox, Jack Doyle, and Noah Togiai didn’t play in Week 1, which allowed Farrod Green to play 34 snaps. He also ran 18 pass routes, so he has some upside.
