After watching Tom Brady throw the ball 26 times on Thursday night, we get a five-game slate today starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. Starters played 1-2 series last week, but this week we should see them for about a quarter (maybe more), second-stringers for about two quarters and third-stringers and all the rest for the remainder. In many cases, we can rely on the usage from Week 1 to give us a sense of the current depth charts and ways in which players are likely to be used now.
If you haven’t played preseason daily fantasy before, check out my five DFS guidelines for dominating the NFL preseason as well as the “Daily Fantasy Flex” episode in which I break down the secrets of the preseason schedule.
For more guidance, see our industry-leading Models, which contain preseason player projections for subscribers. If you’re a redraft player, check out our FREE standard and point-per-reception rankings as well in-house oddsmaker Sean Koerner’s season-long player projections.
Be sure to keep an eye out for late-breaking news on player availability before lineups lock.
Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs): It is being reported that Mahomes will play a full half tonight, which should give him one of the highest snap counts at the position. A talented player, Mahomes had a huge preseason last year (390 yards and four touchdowns passing, 44 yards rushing) as well as a strong Week 17 outing against the Broncos in Denver (284 yards passing). Mahomes has one of the position’s highest median projections in our Models thanks to his running upside (744 yards and 22 touchdowns rushing in his two final college seasons).
Josh Rosen (Cardinals): Rosen struggled last week (6-of-13 passing for 41 yards), but he was undermined by poor surrounding play. He had the most snaps among Cardinals quarterbacks, and that’s likely to be the case this week. Rosen is expected to see action with the first-team this week, and with veteran Sam Bradford slated to open the season as the starter the Cardinals could give extended preseason playing time to the No. 10 overall pick so he can gain NFL experience.
Baker Mayfield (Browns): The reigning Heisman Trophy winner did not disappoint in his NFL debut. The No. 1 overall pick threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, including a well-placed 54-yarder to fourth-round rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway. It looks like he will get a full half of action against a suspect Bills defense (27th in Football Outsiders’ Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average last year).
Running Backs
Nick Chubb (Browns): Last week Chubb managed only 11 yards on the ground, but he also easily led the team with 15 carries. A talented second-rounder, Chubb has the potential for a big day if he sees that kind of usage again, especially with his goal-line prowess (48 total touchdowns in 47 games at Georgia).
Kerryon Johnson (Lions): In his debut against the Raiders last week, Johnson played a team-high 40 snaps and looked every bit like a preseason fantasy superstar with his 67 yards on seven carries and four targets. The second-round SEC Offensive Player of the Year is slated for a timeshare and thus lower on the depth chart, which should enable him to continue to see ample snaps in the preseason. Within our Models, he has top-three ceiling, median and floor projections among all running backs.
Wayne Gallman (Giants): No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is expected not to play and veteran Jonathan Stewart is unlikely to see many snaps, which creates a big opportunity for Gallman. While he might not excite you, just last year the Giants drafted him with a fourth-round pick, and he has three-down potential with his 111 carries and 34 receptions in 2017.
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Wide Receivers
Christian Kirk (Cardinals): The explosive second-rounder out of Texas A&M was one stumble away from taking his first NFL touch to the house on a punt return last week. The rookie has been impressive in camp and is receiving reps with the first team. A reception machine in college (six catches per game), Kirk has the versatility to play across the formation and the big-play ability to turn any touch into a score (33 all-purpose touchdowns in 39 college games). He led all Cardinals wide receivers with 16 snaps last week and will probably do the same again tonight. Also, Kirk offers double-dip potential as a return man if you stack him with the Cardinals defense.
Corey Coleman (Bills): It is not often you see a first-round pick disposed of for a future seventh-rounder, especially after only two seasons — and now Coleman gets to face the team that just traded him: #RevengeGame. Coleman failed to impress in Cleveland (like many others before him), but in college he was a Biletnikoff Award-winning playmaker with elite speed (4.37-second 40 time). With strong-armed quarterback Josh Allen throwing him the ball, Coleman has a chance to leverage his explosiveness into a long touchdown.
Tre’Quan Smith (Saints): In the Saints opener, Smith played a team-high 46 snaps and had a productive game (four receptions for 48 yards). A third-round rookie with good size (6-feet-2, 203 pounds) and athleticism (4.49-second 40 time, 6.97-second three-cone), Smith in his final season of college had 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns receiving, posting a 142.9 passer rating when targeted (Pro Football Focus) that was first among all draft-eligible receivers. Fighting to open the season as the No. 3 receiver, Smith should be given plenty of opportunities yet again to solidify his standing with the team.
Rashard Higgins (Browns): While Mayfield and Callaway distinguished themselves last week and received lots of publicity, Higgins quietly had himself a strong game with a 4-66-0 receiving line on five targets and 32 snaps. Josh Gordon is still not with the team, and Callaway (ribs) has been limited in practice this week and is questionable to play. Although the team is openly courting Dez Bryant, Higgins has a shot at earning the No. 3 job and will likely get extended preseason action.
Tight Ends
David Njoku (Browns): Tight end is always thin in the preseason, but Njoku gives me hope. Last week he caught two touchdowns, one from Tyrod Taylor (a 36-yarder on which he just ran by the linebacker covering him) and one from Mayfield (an end-zone jump ball in double coverage). A first-round selection who played his entire rookie season at the young age of 21, Njoku led the Browns last year with four receiving touchdowns. He has massive breakout potential this year.
Thomas Duarte (Dolphins): Duarte led all Dolphins skill-position players with 45 snaps last week (team-high 26 pass snaps), and he should see a lot of action again this week. A wide receiver in college, Duarte led UCLA in his final season with 10 touchdowns receiving and has the potential in the preseason to outrun coverage linebackers as a move tight end.
Defenses
Browns: Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey recently called Josh Allen a trash quarterback, and he might be right. Allen has potential, but right now he’s a raw and inaccurate rookie playing with backups. And Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman has a history of turning the ball over. With those two passers slated to play much of the game, the Browns defense should thrive.
Cardinals: Saints quarterback Drew Brees hasn’t played in Week 2 of the preseason for the last two years. Assuming he doesn’t play tonight, the Saints will likely play Tom Savage and Taysom Hill for most of the game with maybe even a little J.T. Barrett near the end. The Cardinals should have plenty of opportunities for turnovers and sacks.
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Pictured above: Patrick Mahomes
