Friday marks the busiest night from Week 3 of the NFL preseason, with 10 games on the docket. Nine fall into the DFS main slate, which starts at 7 p.m. EDT. Those nine games are Falcons vs. Dolphins, Texans vs. Panthers, Buccaneers vs. Jaguars, Giants vs. Jets, Bengals vs. Eagles, Cardinals vs. Packers, Seahawks vs. Chiefs, Saints vs. Cowboys and Vikings vs. Broncos.
Friday's featured DraftKings contest is the $40K Preseason Special, with $15 entries and a $10K top prize, while FanDuel's $6K Friday NFL Preseason Rush contest has $9 entries and $1K to first place.
Below, we'll break down preseason DFS strategy and recommended targets from Friday's nine-game NFL main 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
Jalen Milroe, SEA at KC: Milroe is expected to play the entire game Friday for the Seahawks. The reigning champs have a clear pecking order at QB, with the 2025 third-round pick a distant third on the depth chart behind veterans Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. Milroe remains raw as a passer, but he delivered elite rushing production during his time at Alabama, scoring 12 TDs with his legs in 2023 and 20 in 2024. He'll face a Chiefs team that hasn't won a preseason game since 2023.
Honorable Mentions: Jack Strand, ATL at MIA; Cade Klubnik, NYJ vs. NYG; Jalon Daniels, TB at JAC
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Running Back
Cash Jones, ATL at MIA: Jones has a chance to make the Falcons' roster as a gadget player on offense after averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 10.1 yards per catch on 52 rushing attempts and 57 receptions during his college career at Georgia. The undrafted rookie bolstered his chances of making the team with a strong performance in Atlanta's second preseason game against the Colts by turning seven carries and four catches into 103 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Jones is likely to get a handful of touches in this game as the Falcons sort out their competition for the third spot on the RB depth chart between Jones, Tyler Goodson and Nathan Carter. The Dolphins are expected to be among the NFL's worst teams in the regular season, and they have looked like bottom-feeders this preseason as well, getting outscored 46-10 in their first two preseason games.
Phil Mafah, DAL vs. NO: Mafah entered the preseason with a chance to earn the second spot on Dallas' RB depth chart, but both Jaydon Blue and Malik Davis seem to have pulled ahead in that competition, while Mafah got banged up in Dallas' preseason opener against the Seahawks. Mafah handled only one carry in the second preseason game against the Cardinals, though he made the most of it by scoring a 15-yard TD. Now that he's another week removed from his chest injury, the 2025 seventh-round pick could see extensive action Friday.
Honorable Mentions: Noah Whittington, HOU at CAR; Will Shipley, PHI vs. CIN; Eric Gray, NYG at NYJ
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Wide Receiver
John Metchie, CAR vs. HOU: Metchie has had a productive preseason, with 10 catches for 124 yards and a TD on 14 targets through three preseason games. The 2022 second-round pick of the Texans may be on the roster bubble in Carolina, so he could strengthen his case for making his new team by delivering a strong performance against his former one.
Trebor Pena, JAC vs. TB: Pena led the ACC with 84 catches at Syracuse in 2024, which he turned into 941 yards and nine TDs. He regressed to a 49-552-2 line at Penn State in 2025 and went undrafted, but the rookie WR has been a preseason standout, leading the Jaguars in receiving yards in each of their first two preseason games. Pena caught three of four targets for 58 yards in the preseason opener, then secured all four of his targets for 72 yards and a TD in the second preseason game. He remains a long shot to make the team, but a spot on the practice squad could be within reach if Pena puts forth another productive performance.
Colbie Young, CIN at PHI: Young has caught five of 12 targets for 76 yards and a TD through two preseason games. The Bengals have been throwing the rookie fourth-round pick's way frequently, and that's unlikely to change in the preseason finale considering Young is expected to open the regular season in a depth role behind Ja'Marr Chase (knee), Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas. Cincinnati has better QB depth than most teams, with veterans Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson, as well as Sean Clifford, available to suit up if Joe Burrow and other starters rest Friday.
Honorable Mentions: Dean Patterson, TB at JAC; Camden Brown, DAL vs. NO; Montorie Foster, SEA at KC
Tight End
Jelani Woods, NYJ vs. NYG: Woods opened the scoring in the Jets' second preseason game against the Steelers with a 13-yard touchdown catch. The 6-foot-7 TE is a big target in the red zone, and he showed promise as a pass catcher when he led all Colts TEs with 312 receiving yards as a rookie in the 2022 regular season before being beset by injuries. Woods has a decent chance to make the Jets' roster, especially with rookie first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq's (abdomen) availability for the start of the season uncertain, and another splashy offensive play or two Friday could go a long way in helping Woods secure his spot on the team.
Honorable Mentions: Marlin Klein, HOU at CAR; Tanner Koziol, JAC vs. TB; Jake Briningstool, KC vs. SEA
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at JAC: Tampa Bay's defense has had a strong preseason, generating three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 6.0 sacks while allowing no more than 16 points in each game en route to a 2-0 record. This unit has a nice opportunity to finish the preseason on a high note against a Jaguars offense that's set to deploy some combination of Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar under center. Jacksonville's implied total of 16 points at DraftKings Sportsbook (+2.5; over/under 34.5) is tied with the Seahawks for the lowest in Friday's DFS main slate.
Honorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks at KC; Atlanta Falcons at MIA; New York Giants at NYJ
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