Well, I learned a valuable lesson on Thursday. Preseason football is hard to predict. I had a few good calls (Terrance West, Michael Thomas) and a few bad ones (Carson Wentz, Austin Seferian-Jenkins). All in all, it wasn’t too bad. I cashed all my double ups, but just missed my triple ups and GPPs. Today’s article is going to be quick hitting and to the point, as I’m short on time, so let’s jump right in…
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff (LA) vs DALÂ
It’s hard to predict how much he will play in Week 1 of the preseason, but rumor has it Case Keenum may begin the season as the starter. Rams fans had better hope that Goff shows well in the preseason if they want to have anything to root for this year. I’m expecting at least a quarter from him, let’s hope he plays better than Carson Wentz did in his first game.
Trevone Boykin (SEA)/Jake Heaps (SEA) @ KC
I’m putting both Seahawks QBs here because I think both of them will play a ton. Boykin is the favorite to win the backup job to Russell Wilson, but Heaps has had a strong camp and could push him for that spot. Both of them are potentially showcasing for other teams. Update Looks like Boykin will get the majority of the snaps, leaving Heaps to play a little in the fourth quarter per CBSSports.com and Seth Yates…
.@PatJamesDFS Correct. We may not see Heaps until the 4Q. Sounds like another Nassib must-play. In a good way though https://t.co/0vYQczeVgA
— Seth Yates (@SethayatesDFS) August 13, 2016
Nick Foles (KC) vs SEA
Kansas City has a bunch of QBs behind Alex Smith that could get a lot of snaps this preseason, but I’m going to bet the new guy gets to carry the load this week. The Chiefs signed him for a reason — to kick the tires and see if he can be a capable backup — but what’s the point to kicking tires if you aren’t going to test drive the car?
Running Backs
Josh Ferguson (IND) @ BUF
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I’m on record claiming Ferguson as my deep sleeper pick at RB. He is currently listed fourth on the depth chart, but I’m expecting him to climb that ladder quickly — starting tonight. Frank Gore most likely won’t play a snap in this game, leaving the other three backs to carry the rock, and it is my belief that Ferguson will get the majority of the work.
Bishop Sankey (TEN) vs SD
Remember when this guy was a second round fantasy pick as a rookie? Now he may be on the bubble to being cut just a few short years later. The rookie Derrick Henry will probably get the start, as I don’t expect DeMarco Murray to play in this one, but Sankey will get mop-up duty in the second half and could find his way into the end zone.
Alex Collins (SEA) vs KC
The process of elimination brought me to this pick. There is no way they are playing Thomas Rawls fresh off the PUP list. Rookie C.J. Prosise is battling a hamstring injury and probably won’t play, and another RB, Zac Brooks, is also battling an injury to his hammy. The rest of the RBs on this roster, outside of Christian Michael, probably won’t even be on the team once those other guys are completely healthy. That leaves Alex Collins, who is the favorite for the 3rd role in this offense, and the guy most likely to get a lot of snaps.
Wide Receivers
Tyrell Williams (SD) @ TEN
I was talking about this guy before Stevie Johnson went down with a season-ending injury, now nothing stands in his way from a No. 3 WR role in this offense except himself. He needs a strong preseason to hold off Dontrelle Inman and I believe he does just that — starting today.
Brice Butler (DAL) @ LA
Butler has been running with the first team in camp and has shown well. He could eventually beat out incumbent starter Terrance Williams for the No. 2 spot next to Dez Bryant, but for today he is the receiver to own in Dallas for DFS.
Tajae Sharpe (TEN) vs SD
Sharpe has already made some headlines when he was named the starter over Dorial Green-Beckham, who looks more and more like a receiver that will just never turn that corner. The Titans have a plethora of average receivers and an old guy named Andre Johnson. Rishard Matthews is the favorite to lead the team in targets during the regular season, but if Sharpe shows well, he could move up to the third receiver on the depth chart. As a rookie, he is bound to get some snaps, let’s just hope the Titans have finally drafted a decent WR.
Tight Ends
Rico Gather (DAL) @ LA
The tight end position is such a hard position to predict in the preseason, so I’m just going to take two high-upside candidates for today, starting with a guy that hasn’t played football since middle school. Yeah, you heard that right. The Cowboys took a chance on him because of his size, athleticism, and his resume as a First Team All-Big 12 selection. We will know very soon if this project is going to work or not.
Tyler Higbee (LA) vs DAL
The rookie TE has drawn praise thus far in camp. He was compared to Travis Kelce and dubbed “Little Baby Gronk” by his teammates. I’m not sure why a grown man would let his teammates call him “Little Baby” anything, but I guess that’s the life of a rookie. He has some good upside, and because he is a rookie, he should see a healthy amount of snaps.
Defense
LA Rams vs DAL
There is zero chance Tony Romo sees more than a series. The same goes for Jason Witten and Dez Bryant, and with Ezekiel Elliot still dealing with a hamstring injury I don’t expect to see him either, making the Rams defense the most attractive defense on this slate.
KC Chiefs vs SEA
Russell Wilson probably won’t play much — if at all. Thomas Rawls and Doug Baldwin aren’t expected to see much time either, so the Chiefs’ fairly deep defense should have no trouble with the backups to backups from Seattle.
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