NFL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel: Preseason Hall of Fame Game (7/31/25)

The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings, FanDuel -- NFL preseason Hall of Fame game on July 31, 2025. Doug's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers picks.

The long, lonely journey is over. We have finally reached the start of the 2025 NFL season. Tonight marks the first of 49 preseason games over the next four weeks, leading up to the beginning of the regular season on Thursday, September 4, and I plan to be here with you every step of the way. 

The preseason is a unique time of the year for DFS because we will likely see very few “name” players, and today’s game is no exception. With the Lions and Chargers having four preseason games instead of the usual three, they have even less incentive to play anyone of value in this game. That’s not to say that we won’t see anyone we’ve heard of, but the vast majority of players who will make an impact in this game may not ever see a snap in a regular season game…and that’s what makes this so much fun!

Here you will be provided daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Thursday Hall of Fame Showdown slate on 7/31/25. 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 Captain Picks

Detroit Lions D/ST (DK: $11.4K | FD: $12K) and Los Angeles Chargers D/ST (DK: $11.4K | FD: $12K)

Rostering one of these defenses is very dull, but the simple fact of the matter is that those units are the only “players” that we can assure will be available all game, and there’s value to that. The biggest issue I have with using these defenses is that they will likely be among the most widely rostered “players,” and you won’t be able to separate from the field in a tournament if you roster them and they perform well. 

Using a defense is more of a cash lineup strategy, and I’d limit my exposure to just one defensive unit in any tournament lineup. If I had to choose between the two, I’d prefer the Lions because they will face Chargers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei for about a half, and he is the least polished of the four quarterbacks we will see in this game. 

Trey Lance (LAC - QB) (DK: $11.4K | FD: $12K)

In the regular season, it’s rarely advisable to use a quarterback in your captain spot. Still, with the rotation of receivers and running backs in the preseason, they are often the players who can give you the most volume. Trey Lance is a dual-threat quarterback who excelled (for fantasy) last year in the preseason, and we already know that he’s expected to get at least one half of playing time (with a high probability of getting a drive or two in the second half). 

He also provides you with the easiest path for stacking with Oronde Gadsden II and Keandre Lambert-Smith, being the two most desirable pass catchers for the Chargers. Lance will carry a ton of ownership, but that’s not going to deter me from using him in tournaments, as a big game can crush your lineup if you fade him. There are other places where you can differentiate yourself from the rest of the field. 

Jim Harbaugh really might fix Trey Lance. pic.twitter.com/DgHKuVIjNW

— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) July 27, 2025

Hendon Hooker (QB - DET) (DK: $11.4K | FD: $12K)

Lions coach Dan Campbell has been pass-heavy in the first preseason game, giving his starter 28, 28, and 24 attempts over the past three seasons. Hendon Hooker is the presumed backup to Jared Goff, so if history holds, then he should be in line for a ton of work. Kyle Allen is the other quarterback on the roster, but he’s more of a known quantity, and the Lions don’t have nearly as much draft capital locked up in him. 

They need to know what they have in Hooker, so it’s likely that he’ll get a lot of work in this game. Hooker is also a running quarterback, having carried the ball 19 times in three preseason games last year. He should carry less ownership than Lance, but he’s got just as much upside and could be a great pivot off of Lance as your captain.

Preseason NFL DFS Flex Picks

KeAndre Lambert-Smith (LAC - WR) (DK: $7.6K | FD: $8K)

Welcome to the most rostered player in this game outside of Lance and maybe the two defensive units. KeAndre Lambert-Smith is making plays every day in Chargers camp and is the talk of the fantasy world right now. He’s developing a great rapport with quarterback Lance, and the kid is not lacking for confidence.

Just the other day, he said, “When the ball is in the air, I feel like it’s mine.” He should get a lot of looks early and often, with Lance getting the starting nod in this game, giving him one of the highest ceilings of any skill position player you can roster. 

Oronde Gadsden II (LAC - TE) (DK: $7.6K | FD: $8K)

The retirement of Mike Williams left a hole in the Chargers' wide receiver room, a hole that the arrival of fifth-round tight end Gadsden from Syracuse could fill. Gadsden is listed as a tight end, but he could be used similarly to how the Saints used Marques Colston way back in the day. 

Gadsden is known for his downfield ability, and as a big-bodied pass catcher, he could immediately fill in as a red zone threat for Los Angeles. Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin are veterans and unlikely to play in this game, leaving a lot of work for the rookie to come in and make an impact immediately. 

Dominic Lovett (DET - WR) (DK: $7.6K | FD: $8K) and Jackson Meeks (DET - WR) (DK: $7.6K | FD: $8K)

Isaac TeSlaa is getting a lot of the preseason hype from fantasy analysts, but Dominic Lovett is also making a considerable impression at Lions camp. Amon-Ra St. Brown has compared Lovett to himself, and that’s high praise coming from a guy considered one of the best receivers in the game. 

Jackson Meeks is a big receiver out of Syracuse who has specialized in making contested catches during camp. He’s impressed the coaching staff with his ability to go up and get the ball, but what might keep him on the field more is his run-blocking ability. That skill won’t help in fantasy, but it will mean that he could be on the field for more play-action passes, and that will help in fantasy. 

TeSlaa will get playing time, but with four preseason games instead of three, the Lions may be tempted to limit those players with high draft capital. Lovett was a seventh-round pick, and Meeks was undrafted, and given the buzz they’ve generated, they should get a long look in this game. TeSlaa should be in some of your lineups, but he will carry a significantly higher ownership percentage than Lovett or Meeks, with no guarantee of more playing time or production. 

Lions’ sleeper pick Dominic Lovett emerges as surprise star in training camp spotlight

Dominic Lovett Shines as Unexpected Star in Lions’ Training Camp The Detroit Lions have found a hidden gem in their seventh-round draft pick, Dominic Lovett, who is mhttps://t.co/1Osvnyep6d

— M Sports (@MSports_all) July 26, 2025

Jake Bates (DET - K) (DK: $7.6K | FD: $8K) and Cameron Dicker (LAC - K) (DK: $7.6K | FD: N/A)

The Lions and Chargers didn’t bring in competition for either of their kickers, so Jake Bates and Cameron Dicker should be considered safe plays for this game. Their upside may not be as high as a skill position player, but we also know what their job is and how they’ll be used. That plays well in cash games, although I wouldn’t use more than one kicker in a tournament lineup given their lack of upside and expected high roster percentage. 

ALSO CONSIDER: DJ Uiagalelei (LAC - QB), Jabari Small (DET - RB), Kye Robichaux (DET - RB), Isaac TeSlaa (DET - WR), Kimani Vidal (LAC - RB), Raheim Sanders (LAC - RB)

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Thanks for checking this out, and good luck!

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