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Week 1 of the NFL Preseason is here. We are that much closer to the actual season, people. Some massive DFS contests are available for this slate, including a $15 contest featuring $50,000 to first place on DraftKings.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel give us opportunities to play DFS during the preseason. Both sites will have a uniform price for the players during the preseason slates. You will play a 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 1Flex, and 1 Defense on each site. The main difference between the two sites is in scoring. DraftKings utilizes full PPR scoring, while FanDuel utilizes half PPR scoring.
In this article, I will provide you with with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for Week 1 of the NFL preseason on 8/10/23. This Texans-Patriots matchup holds the higher total at 37 implied points, while the Vikings-Seahawks contest is set at 35 implied points. These NFL DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Thanks for reading, and good luck RotoBallers!
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Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Quarterbacks
Jaren Hall, Minnesota Vikings
Finding success in Preseason NFL DFS is all about selecting players who will receive the most snaps and, in turn, the most opportunities to produce. The Vikings know what they have in Kirk Cousins, and the embattled QB is unlikely to see any snaps in tonight's preseason opener. Veteran Nick Mullens is locked into the backup role, and the Vikings aren't going to want to leave him in for longer than they need to.
That leaves Jaren Hall, a fifth-round rookie out of BYU, left to play at least an entire half. Hall posted solid stats as a starter in his last two years at Brigham Young, compiling a 31/6 TD/INT rate in his final season while rushing for over 300 yards in two consecutive years. He projects to see the most playing time of the QBs in action tonight, so we're rolling with the rookie in lineups.
Honorable Mentions: Holton Ahlers (SEA)
Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Wide Receivers
Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thorton, New England Patriots
Picking preseason receivers is tricky because teams have upwards of 13 players in camp at the position. This is why it's critical to identify teams with specific players battling for WR3 or WR4 roles, and I believe the two teams that fit that bill the closest tonight are the Patriots and the Vikings.
Douglas reportedly has had an excellent camp thus far, and both he and Boutte are vying to overtake Thorton on the depth chart. All three will get their chances to shine, with Douglas being my favorite target in DFS.
Honorable Mentions: Brandon Powell (MIN), Jalen Reagor (MIN), Thayer Thomas (MIN), Tank Dell (HOU), Matt Landers (SEA), Jake Bobo (SEA)
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Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Running Backs
DeWayne McBride, Minnesota Vikings
In the post-Cook era, Alexander Mattison is firmly entrenched as the RB1 on the Vikings. If we learned anything from head coach Kevin O'Connell's first preseason last year, he doesn't mess around with keeping his starters in the game. Mattison won't play much tonight, if at all. Backup Kene Nwangwu is dealing with an injury, and as a key special teams player last year, I don't see the Vikings risking further damage in a meaningless game.
C.J. Ham is a fullback, and he's another starter who won't see much run tonight. That leaves Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, and Abram Smith as the remaining backs on the roster (Smith isn't listed on DraftKings). Chandler and McBride are battling it out in camp for the RB2 job behind Mattison, so those are the backs to hone in on against the Seahawks. My pick is McBride, who carved up college football to the tune of a nation-leading 7.4 yards per carry last season. He has an uphill battle against Chandler, but he'll get his chance to prove his worth under the lights at Lumen Field.
Kevin Harris, J.J. Taylor, New England Patriots
Reports out of camp say that Pierre Strong has looked great thus far and has solidified himself as the RB2 behind Rhamondre Stevenson in the Patriots backfield. With Stevenson likely not playing and Strong emerging as the RB2 favorite, most snaps and opportunities tonight will need to go to either Kevin Harris or J.J. Taylor.
I think taking shots on both backs makes sense - even in the same lineup - but if I had to choose one I prefer, it's the more traditional-style back in Kevin Harris.
Honorable Mentions: Ty Chandler (MIN), Xazavian Vallday (HOU), SaRodorick Thompson Jr. (SEA)
Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Tight End
Colby Parkinson, Seattle Seahawks
As with the other positions, finding tight ends who project to play the most snaps is the most crucial price of preseason DFS success. The best strategy for tonight is to diversify your exposure at this position because we genuinely don't know how this will shake out.
My selection is Parkinson. He's a big, athletic tight end with some NFL experience, and he should work as the primary tight end tonight, with Noah Fant and Will Dissly unlikely to play.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Sokol (NE), Nick Muse (MIN)
Thanks for checking this out, and good luck!
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