Saturday marks the busiest day from Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason, with 10 games on the schedule, the last four of which form the featured DFS slate starting at 7 p.m. EDT. The four featured matchups are Bears-Bengals, Eagles-Patriots, Chiefs-Buccaneers and Cowboys-Cardinals.
Saturday's featured DraftKings contest is the $60K Preseason Special, with $18 entries and a $20K top prize, while FanDuel's $5K Saturday NFL Preseason Rush contest has $9 entries and $1K to first place.
Below, we'll break down preseason DFS strategy and recommended targets from Saturday's featured four-game NFL slate.
Strategy
Both DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineups consist of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one flex (RB/WR/TE) and one DST unit. DraftKings uses PPR scoring with bonuses for 100-yard receiving or rushing performances and 300-yard passing games, while FanDuel has 0.5 PPR scoring. All players have the same salary cap hit in preseason DFS contests, so this format is all about finding the highest-scoring fantasy players rather than balancing production against cost.
Teams typically rest key starters for the vast majority or entirety of preseason games, so the strategy for preseason DFS contests centers on targeting younger players or fringe roster prospects who are likely to see extensive playing time and make the most of it.
Our RotoWire NFL Optimizer can help you pinpoint top DFS targets, in addition to the players highlighted below.
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Quarterback
Gardner Minshew, ARI vs. DAL: Minshew will start Saturday with Jacoby Brissett resting, while Carson Beck (ribs) most likely won't suit up for Arizona, leaving Kedon Slovis as the team's only alternative at QB. The Cardinals are looking to extend their regular-season dominance of the Cowboys (8-1 Arizona in their last nine meetings) to preseason play, and Minshew could contribute significantly to that goal on the heels of a strong performance in Arizona's previous preseason game, during which he completed 14 of 16 passes for 101 yards and two TDs. He's one of the better backup QBs in the NFL, with 47 regular-season starts, including at least one in each of his last seven NFL seasons.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Milton, DAL at ARI; Tommy DeVito, NE vs. PHI; Cole Payton, PHI at NE
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Running Back
Emmett Johnson, KC at TB: Johnson racked up 69 scrimmage yards on 15 touches in his first taste of NFL action last week. The rookie fifth-round pick is jostling for position on the depth chart with Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith behind Kenneth Walker. With Walker expected to handle heavy workloads during the regular season, the Chiefs will likely feel comfortable continuing to give Johnson heavy preseason workloads to evaluate the rookie's readiness to contribute.
Lan Larison, NE vs. PHI: Larison is part of an open competition for the third spot on New England's RB depth chart, along with Jam Miller, Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty. Larison was completely bottled up on the ground in New England's preseason opener, with just one yard on seven carries, but he led the team with six catches on eight targets while finishing second with 38 receiving yards. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels loves to utilize running backs in the passing game, and Larison seems to be auditioning to become the next James White or Danny Woodhead, so Larison could see another heavy dose of targets here.
Honorable Mentions: Israel Abanikanda, DAL at ARI; Corey Kiner, ARI vs. DAL; Salvon Ahmed, CHI at CIN
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Wide Receiver
Camden Brown, DAL at ARI: Brown has impressed in camp for the Cowboys, and the undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern carried that strong play into the preseason opener, during which he caught all three of his targets for 62 yards and two TDs. He was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from each of Joe Milton and Sam Howell, earning the trust of both QBs competing for the backup job in Dallas. Brown still has a long way to go to get into contention for a roster spot, so he can't afford to rest on his laurels.
Jalen Brooks, ARI vs. DAL: The Cardinals have played an extra preseason game thanks to participating in the Hall of Fame Game, and Brooks was the team's leading receiver in both. He had three catches for 99 yards against the Panthers, then caught all six of his targets for 52 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. The 2023 seventh-round pick of the Cowboys will be motivated to show his former team that they cut ties too early as he continues to push for a roster spot in Arizona. Brooks has plenty of standalone value Saturday even if you don't stack him with Minshew.
Darius Cooper, PHI at NE: Cooper accomplished in Philly last year what Brown is trying to do in Dallas, namely making the team as an undrafted rookie. Following a nine-catch rookie regular season, Cooper finds himself battling for a roster spot in the Eagles' remade WR room. Injuries to DeVonta Smith (hamstring), Makai Lemon (hamstring), Elijah Moore (neck) and Britain Covey (hamstring) should open the door for Cooper to see a hefty snap share Saturday after he led the team in targets (five) and receiving yards (21) during Philadelphia's preseason opener.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Williams, NE vs. PHI; Cyrus Allen, KC at TB; Garrett Greene, TB vs. KC
Tight End
Jack Endries, CIN vs. CHI: The Bengals already had a murky pecking order at TE, and the potential emergence of Endries could further muddy the water. The rookie seventh-round pick out of Texas made a strong first impression, catching a 17-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco while getting a chance with the second-team offense during his three-catch performance in the preseason opener. Prior to recording 346 receiving yards at Texas in 2025, Endries had 1,030 receiving yards across two years at California, so he showcased some receiving chops in college.
Honorable Mentions: Eli Stowers, PHI at NE; Eli Raridon, NE vs. PHI; Devin Culp, TB vs. KC
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. KC: The Buccaneers are the biggest favorites in the featured DFS slate at -5.5 per DraftKings, which isn't surprising considering the Chiefs haven't won a preseason game since 2023. Patrick Mahomes (knee) isn't ready to see game action, while the QB trio of Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun failed to lead a touchdown drive in Kansas City's preseason opener against the Rams. KC's offense is unlikely to be much better in this game.
Honorable Mentions: Chicago Bears at CIN; New England Patriots vs. PHI; Arizona Cardinals vs. DAL
