Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: Preseason DFS Targets for 8/11
With the cancellation of last Sunday night’s Hall of Fame Game, Thursday night marks the official opening of Week 1 of the NFL preseason. If you are reading this, you’re likely familiar with NFL daily fantasy from the regular season, but the preseason is a completely different animal. Being in tune with depth charts, injuries, and preseason coaching philosophy is essential. While Cam Newton, Julio Jones, Jordan Reed, etc. are top-notch plays each and every week of the regular season, that’s simply not the case in Week 1 of the preseason. Starters typically only play one series, maybe two, before grabbing a Gatorade and a ball cap and calling it a night. Heck, some starters don’t even play in the exhibition opener. While it’s possible a starting quarterback will lead two touchdown drives, it’s not the smart play to use a Kirk Cousins or Blake Bortles this week. Snaps equal opportunity, and the backups will be the ones playing te bulk of those snaps. The second- and third-team offenses usually get the most run. Here at Rotoworld, we know depth charts from top to bottom like the back of our hands. That gives us a monster edge right out of the gate. And since we are on Twitter, following beat reporters and reading practice reports on a daily basis from morning to night, we also have a firm grasp — for the most part — of even the smallest injuries. Knowledge is power in this game. It’s a six-game slate Thursday night. Below, I list every player I’ll be considering for Preseason DFS lineups.
Editor’s Note: For updated rankings, projections, player profiles, positional tiers, mock drafts, sleepers and busts, exclusive columns and plenty more, check out our Draft Guide!
Bucs at Eagles, 6 PM ET
Bucs TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins — Immature at times throughout his first two-plus years in the league, Seferian-Jenkins is a player in need of a strong training camp and preseason. The 23-year-old was kicked out of practice during the spring. And coach Dirk Koetter has since been trying to send ASJ a message by working him with the backups at training camp and routinely praising second-year UDFA Cameron Brate through the media. Brate has been the No. 1 all summer. ASJ could get a ton of run with Mike Glennon and the second-team offense Thursday night and would probably be Glennon’s go-to target. The Bucs want to see Seferian-Jenkins work his tail off and play well.
Bucs QB Mike Glennon — Speaking of Glennon, he’s one of the better quarterback options on the board. Entering his fourth season — and the final year of his rookie contract — Glennon has a good grasp of the NFL and gets to go up against the Eagles’ second unit. He’ll likely play 2-3 quarters. Philadelphia’s starting defense doesn’t look very good on the back end, so it’s hard to imagine its second-teamers playing well. The Bucs could give Glennon some extra burn if they’re trying to showcase him for a trade. By all accounts, Tampa Bay really likes No. 3 QB Ryan Griffin.
Eagles RB Kenjon Barner — Ryan Mathews (ankle) just came off the PUP list last Friday. Even if he plays, he won’t be in there long. Darren Sproles is a 33-year-old with nothing to prove. He might play a series. Rookie Wendell Smallwood (quad) has been ruled out. That leaves Barner and a pair of undrafted rookies, Byron Marshall and Cedric O’Neal, at running back. Barner averaged 4.0 YPC and caught four balls for 72 yards last preseason. He can run it and catch it and doesn’t have to compete with many running backs for snaps. With DraftKings being PPR scoring, it’s a smart idea to look for backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Barner may also return kicks.
Eagles RB Byron Marshall — Marshall is super interesting as an UDFA out of Oregon. He’s a RB-turned-WR who is back at RB, so he obviously has some pass-catching skills. His pass-protection has also been a plus this summer, according to Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski. That’s the quickest way to playing time in this league; if he can block, the coaches can trust him to play on third downs. Marshall probably won’t carry the ball much, but he could be the recipient of some Carson Wentz dump-offs. Marshall is 5’9/201 and runs a 4.56. He scored 27 TDs in college.
Eagles TE Trey Burton — On Wednesday, Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski nominated Burton as “perhaps the biggest standout” at Eagles camp. Kempski was also singing Burton’s praises last week, saying he was “balling, every single day” at practice. Criminally underused by ex-coach Chip Kelly, the QB-turned-WR-turned-TE is expected to be a big part of the offense in 2016 with the Eagles possibly looking to use more two- and three-tight end sets. He’s still the No. 3 tight end in Philly, so he should get plenty of run as the No. 1 with the second-team offense. An athletic 6’3/235 in the Jordan Reed–Aaron Hernandez mold, Burton is a difficult matchup for defenses. With not much to write home about at receiver, Burton could be Chase Daniel’s go-to man Thursday.
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Redskins at Falcons, 6 PM ET
Redskins QB Colt McCoy — McCoy was a preseason darling last year, completing 41-of-57 passes (71.9 percent) for 416 yards (7.3 YPA) and a 4:0 TD:INT ratio. The Redskins still have just three quarterbacks on their roster, and starter Kirk Cousins won’t play much more than a series or two. That’ll leave the rest of the first half and much of the third quarter to McCoy and the second-team offense. Rookie Nate Sudfeld will get the fourth quarter. McCoy is a veteran and has the ability to pick apart backup defenses made up of first- and second-year players just trying to crack a roster.
Redskins RB Keith Marshall — Marshall was taken in the seventh round of April’s draft, but is a size-speed freak at 5’11/222 after blazing a 4.31 forty at the Combine. He was Todd Gurley’s backfield counterpart at Georgia before tearing his ACL in 2013. Marshall tumbled down the depth chart after his injury but has landed in a great spot with the Redskins and is “firmly entrenched” as a top-three back. Expect Marshall to carry the rock with McCoy and the No. 2 offense. Matt Jones will work with the ones, and Chris Thompson is nothing more than a pedestrian satellite back. Marshall is dripping with upside.
Redskins WR Rashad Ross — A preseason All-Pro last year, Ross led all receivers in catches (25), yards (266), and touchdowns (four). He was second to Jaguars WR Bryan Walters (134) in yards after catch at 127. Ross is a featherweight at 6’/167, but ran a 4.36 forty at his Pro Day in 2013. Ross and Ryan Grant figure to see the most playing time with McCoy and the No. 2 offense.
