NFL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel: Preseason Week 3 (Saturday, 8/23/25)

The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings, FanDuel -- NFL preseason Week 3 on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Doug's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers picks.

We did it, team, we made it through the three-week slog that is the NFL preseason. Tonight’s four-game slate won’t be nearly as juicy as last night, where we saw multiple starting quarterbacks play into the second quarter. Outside of Miami and possibly Las Vegas for a series or two, we won’t see any team playing any starters in these games. 

The big play for this slate could end up being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are playing a Buffalo Bills team that has shockingly allowed more than 30 points in both of their preseason games this summer, and who won’t be playing their defensive starters in this game. The majority of these teams will be trying to just get through the week with no injuries, meaning third- and fourth-stringers will lead us to glory in our tournament lineups. 

Here you will be provided daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Saturday four-game main slate of Week 3 of the NFL preseason on 8/23/25. These NFL DFS lineup picks can vary from high-end players and elite options to backup and contrarian players on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Thanks for reading, and good luck, RotoBallers!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Preseason NFL DFS - Quarterbacks

Clayton Tune (ARI vs. LV) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

Please make no mistake, Tune isn’t a good quarterback, but he’s projected to play about three quarters of this game, and volume is king in the preseason. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that playing time this weekend will be about the same as Week 2, meaning Tune should see the field starting in the second quarter and then finishing out the game. 

He threw 20 passes last weekend, completing 12 of them. A similar workload against the Raiders would make him one of the higher-volume passers on this slate. If he can find the end zone, he would be a worthwhile play for your tournament lineup.  

“It’s still trending, but similar to last week.”

Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon on whether the starters will play. JG followed up with guys that are playing are “playing for roster spots.” @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/31q2QEUnol

— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) August 21, 2025

Kyle Trask (TB vs. BUF) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

After relieving Teddy Bridgewater last weekend, Trask is expected to start this week’s game against Buffalo. He will likely only see about two quarters of action, but that should be enough for him to put up a decent score.

Trask should have one of the better complements of pass-catchers on the slate, with guys like Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett, and rookie Tez Johnson all projected to get a significant amount of playing time. 

The other thing playing into Trask’s favor is that he will be facing a Bills team that has allowed over 30 points in each of their first two preseason games. Giants quarterbacks combined for 317 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, and the Bears followed that up with two touchdowns and over 350 passing yards in a 38-0 drubbing last weekend. 

Trask and Bridgewater are actively competing for the backup job, so the Buccaneers are likely going to throw a ton in this game. Given that, along with how poorly the Bills have played, I’m going to be heavy on the Tampa Bay offense on this slate. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Mike White (BUF), Cam Miller (LV), Quinn Ewers (MIA), DJ Uiagalelei (LAC)

Preseason NFL DFS - Running Backs

Raheim Sanders (LAC at SF) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

Sanders is one of the only healthy running backs left on the Chargers, with Najee Harris, Jaret Patterson, and Kimani Vidal all banged up. L.A. won’t be playing its starters, so that means Omarion Hampton won’t play in this game, either. That leaves two veterans, Hassan Haskins and Nyheim Hines, as the only other backs available for this game, along with the rookie out of South Carolina. 

Sanders missed the Hall of Fame Game, so this game will be his chance to showcase his skills to the team’s coaching staff. He’s a long-ball threat who can score from anywhere on the field, but more importantly, he should see the kind of volume that’s rare for a running back in the preseason. He’s a lock in cash games and should be on your short list of tournament options at the position. 

RB Raheim "Rocket" Sanders on what he brings: "I feel like I got the skill to block, pass pro, the catch, and just being a downhill running back as well."

Says he looked up to Leonard Fournette the most growing up. He watched Tavon Austin + Fournette's highlights before games. pic.twitter.com/19W40PpIqz

— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) August 21, 2025

Josh Williams (TB vs. BUF) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

Like many teams on this slate, the Buccaneers won’t be playing their starters, which means Bucky Irving and Rachaad White won’t see the field in this game. Sean Tucker is also a known quantity, so it’s unlikely that he will get much run in this game, either. That leaves Williams, the undrafted rookie, to carry the load after making his preseason debut last weekend. 

He carried the ball five times in that game and should see significantly more work in this game, so the team can determine whether he or veteran Owen Wright will snag the fourth running back job on the team. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Aaron Shampklin (MIA), Jeff Wilson Jr. (SF), Michael Carter (ARI), Dylan Laube (LV)

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Preseason NFL DFS - Wide Receivers

Skyy Moore (SF vs. LAC) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

The 49ers probably want to wrap their entire roster in bubble wrap given their plethora of injuries, but they’re going to have to play this game regardless.

Moore was just traded to the team, but like we saw with John Metchie III and the Eagles last night, that doesn’t mean he won’t find his way on the field for this game. Moore showed what he’s capable of last weekend when he busted a punt return for a touchdown, but San Francisco will also need to give him time at wide receiver to learn the system. 

The team has spread the ball around a lot this preseason, but Robbie Chosen was able to get five catches this weekend, so it’s not out of the question for someone like Moore to be peppered with targets to get him acclimated to the offense.

If you’re playing cash games, you’ll want Chosen as your 49ers exposure, but for a tournament dart, it’s Moore who has the potential upside to carry you to the top.  

Trey Palmer (TB vs. BUF) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

Palmer hasn’t played yet this preseason after nursing an injury, so this will be his only shot to get into game action before the season begins. Palmer was believed to be on the chopping block, but with Jalen McMillan now slated to miss half the season, it opens up another receiver spot to make the team.

He will be competing with rookie Tez Johnson and veteran Rakim Jarrett for that spot, but Palmer is the one who has seen regular-season success. 

The Bills have played poorly enough this preseason for all three receivers to have strong games, but Palmer is the one who has the most to prove, given how little he’s participated in training camp. I don’t view Palmer as a standalone play, but he’s a great addition to a Tampa stack with Trask and one of the other pass-catchers, running back Josh Williams, or tight end Devin Culp.  

Out here at #Bucs practice

Trey Palmer and the other WRs are going to have to step up with J Mac & Godwin out #GoBucs #NFL #WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/t46mgRwVIS

— Jay Recher (@jayRecher) August 20, 2025

Theo Wease Jr. (MIA vs. JAX) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

Wease was hyped up early in training camp and then laid a total egg in the first preseason game, catching just one pass for five yards. Wease then came back strong last weekend, catching six of nine targets for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s unreasonable to expect him to match that level of production, but Wease is still fighting for a job and should continue to receive a high volume of targets. 

Beat reporters have stated that he has developed a connection with rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, who should see about half of the snaps in this game. Ewers is fighting for the backup quarterback job, and that means he’ll look to someone who makes him look good. That bodes well for Wease, who should be part of any Dolphins stack and is a strong cash game option. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Alex Bachman (LV), Tez Johnson (TB), Luke Grimm (LAC), Erik Ezukanma (MIA)

Preseason NFL DFS - Tight Ends

Travis Vokolek (ARI vs. LV) (DK: $5500 I FD: $6000)

This is a bad slate for tight end, with no prominent player looking to hog targets. That brings me to Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek, who caught three passes last weekend against Denver.

His three targets were second on the team behind running back Michael Carter, and with head coach Jonathan Gannon saying that playing time will mimic last weekend, Vokolek will likely be on the field a lot again in this game. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Hunter Long (JAX), Devin Culp (TB), Zach Davidson (BUF)

Thanks for checking this out, and good luck!

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