DFS Football: Saturday Preseason Week 1 Picks

DFS Football: Saturday Preseason Week 1 Picks

This article will cover Saturday's slate of three games, and our main goal will be to identify players who will a) see quite a bit of playing time and b) have a chance to excel. There are two important things to remember before finalizing your lineup:

1. Players are frequently deactivated, and often for no reason, 90 minutes before kickoff. This article will be written many hours before the inactive list comes out. It is recommended that you check the latest news page on RotoWire an hour before kickoff to make sure you players are active.

2. All salaries are the same for players during preseason.

QUARTERBACK

Jeff Driskel (Bengals vs. Chiefs) - According to some reports, Ryan Finley is the second-string QB, but in any case, Jeff Driskel looks as if he'll get quite a bit of playing time since he could be playing for his job. The best thing about using him in DFS is that he loves to take off and run, which is what we want from our QBs in fantasy.

Nathan Peterman (Raiders vs. Rams) - Sure, Peterman isn't very good, but a third-string QB with some starting experience is a great advantage in the early preseason games.

RUNNING BACK

Darwin Thompson (Chiefs vs. Bengals) - It works out perfectly that Thompson is fourth on the Chiefs' depth chart; he should play quite a bit as he tries to improve his standing. It'll benefit him to go against backups with his 91st percentile explosiveness and

This article will cover Saturday's slate of three games, and our main goal will be to identify players who will a) see quite a bit of playing time and b) have a chance to excel. There are two important things to remember before finalizing your lineup:

1. Players are frequently deactivated, and often for no reason, 90 minutes before kickoff. This article will be written many hours before the inactive list comes out. It is recommended that you check the latest news page on RotoWire an hour before kickoff to make sure you players are active.

2. All salaries are the same for players during preseason.

QUARTERBACK

Jeff Driskel (Bengals vs. Chiefs) - According to some reports, Ryan Finley is the second-string QB, but in any case, Jeff Driskel looks as if he'll get quite a bit of playing time since he could be playing for his job. The best thing about using him in DFS is that he loves to take off and run, which is what we want from our QBs in fantasy.

Nathan Peterman (Raiders vs. Rams) - Sure, Peterman isn't very good, but a third-string QB with some starting experience is a great advantage in the early preseason games.

RUNNING BACK

Darwin Thompson (Chiefs vs. Bengals) - It works out perfectly that Thompson is fourth on the Chiefs' depth chart; he should play quite a bit as he tries to improve his standing. It'll benefit him to go against backups with his 91st percentile explosiveness and 69th percentile agility.

Mike Weber (Cowboys vs. 49ers) - He's fifth on the depth chart at RB, so he should see plenty of second-half snaps. Once he gets in the game, his 82nd percentile speed could give him a chance to break off a big play or two.

Raheem Mostert (49ers vs. Cowboys) - With fifth-stringer Jeff Wilson dealing with an injury, Mostert, who's fourth on the depth chart, could have a huge game, even if he gets five-to-seven touches. As he showed us last year, his elite speed and well-above average ability make him an explosive runner.

WIDE RECEIVER

Marcell Ateman (Raiders vs. Rams) - Ateman's 12 catches for 169 yards last preseason was quite impressive — no WR had more than 16 receptions. As the sixth WR on Oakland's depth chart, he should be on the field against the deep reserves, and his 71st percentile speed could help him produce a big play.

Stanley Morgan (Bengals vs. Chiefs) - The No. 9 WR on the Bengals' depth chart, Morgan could play most of the second half. He should have the opportunity to show off is 85th percentile agility and 83rd percentile explosiveness. He's the type of player who can take advantage of backup defenders.

Jon'Vea Johnson (Cowboys vs. 49ers) - For a player who's battling for a roster spot, he's seen first-team reps during some of the Cowboys' practices, so he's clearly caught the eye of the coaching staff. He'll be one of those players whose athletic profile will blow away the backup defenders he'll face. Johnson has 89th percentile agility and ran an 81st percentile 40-yard dash, so a big play from him wouldn't surprise.

Byron Pringle (Chiefs vs. Bengals) - During training camp, Pringle has flashed his 80th percentile speed and made some big plays, and as the sixth WR on the depth chart, he'll have a chance for a strong performance against the deepest backups.

TIGHT END

Luke Willson (Raiders vs. Rams) - After playing for both the Seahawks and the Lions, Willson finds himself as the fourth-string TE on the Raiders, so he should play most of the second half. Even though he's never stood out as an NFL starter, he has elite speed and explosiveness to go with above average agility, making him a great play this week.

Blake Bell (Chiefs vs. Bengals) - Bell has seen time as a receiving TE with the 49ers, but now he's the third-stringer with the Chiefs, so he should be busy in the preseason opener, where he can flash his above average speed with elite agility.

DEFENSE

Raiders (vs. Rams) - On this small slate, the one team we didn't find value in the offensive players was the Rams, so that makes our default choice the Raiders defense.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Coventry
Coventry was a finalist for the FSWA football writer of the year in 2022. He started playing fantasy football in 1994 and won a national contest in 1996. He also nabbed five top-50 finishes in national contests from 2008 to 2012 before turning his attention to DFS. He's been an industry analyst since 2007, though he joined RotoWire in 2016. A published author, Coventry wrote a book about relationships, "The Secret of Life", in 2013.
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