DFS NFL DraftKings/FanDuel Lineup Advice 8/8/19
Welcome to preseason Week 1. The best time of year…okay, that’s a little exaggerated, but still fun. Hopefully, you read last week’s advice column, because if you did you’re very happy coming into this week. An 11-game regular season slate can be daunting. An 11-game preseason slate is downright insanity. Nearly every single player on the slate that is healthy is a viable option.
Every. Single. Player.
Couple things before we get to the advice. If you haven’t done so already, sign up for our FREE Week 1 Draftkings Charity contest. It’s free to join, donations optional and DraftKings has supplied us with some great prizes to give away. You literally have nothing to lose. You’re encouraged to donate to our GofundMe page and all the money raised goes directly to FantasyCares.net — a charity that buys toys for underprivileged kids during the holidays. To play in this contest you HAVE to register here: GoingFor2.com/charity.
Please note: I found out today that if you click that link on Twitter, their browser does not display the signup form. There is a little hyperlink that says “Go to Full Page to view and submit the form.
Also, normally I tell you to follow me on Twitter before kickoff because I will be Tweeting out relevant news from the beat reporters, unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I’ll be camping on the beach for the next 4 days and will not have service.
However, my trusted friend and Co-host with me on the DFS version of the Armchair Fantasy Show, Tim Strobel, has agreed to cover my Twitter account right before the games. He will take questions and ReTweet the beat reporters for you. So, you can still follow me @GeoffLambert77.
Keep in mind, things change quickly, don’t take any of my calls as gospel, some of these players may end up not even seeing the field.
Quarterbacks
Tyree Jackson (BUF)
I’m a little on the fence with Jackson. The reports from camp have not been very good, he is inaccurate and slow to react to the defense. On the other hand, he is a running QB that could resort to running more if starts to struggle in the passing game. I will likely have some exposure to him, but only in GPPs.
Josh Rosen (MIA)
The Dolphins have a QB competition as they head into their first game of the preseason. Ryan Fitzpatrick was thought to have the early lead for the starting job, but the latest has Rosen closing the gap. This QB battle will come down to preseason games and the Dolphins would be wise to give Rosen a good majority of the snaps in this one.
Kyler Murray (ARI)
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Murray will likely be the highest owned QB on the slate, and he might be a trap, but I will have some exposure to him as he is a running QB that could rack up points with his legs. Looking to last year as precedent, No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield and No. 3 pick Sam Darnold both played 65 percent of the snaps. If Murray is going to play that much, he needs to be owned.
Joe Webb III (HOU)
Webb is a preseason MVP and I will likely have some exposure to him every week except Week 3. Last year in Week 1 of the preseason, Webb played 65 percent of the snaps for the Texans, he was second on the team in passing yards and first in rushing yards. Webb is such a good athlete that the Texans were using him on punt block drills.
Joe Webb III working on blocks. One of the few red jerseys in the league doing this. #Texans pic.twitter.com/pFjkbJSAJu
— patrick (@PatDStat) August 1, 2019
Daniel Jones (NYG)
Jones was not a popular choice among fans when the Giants selected him at No. 6 overall, but so far in camp he has looked pretty good. I would have to check to see if the Giants give any indication as to how many snaps he might get, but I would assume he gets the start and plays most of the first half.
This throw from Daniel Jones to Alonzo Russell: Perfection. Great catch, too. #Giants pic.twitter.com/q9UoA0rIzk
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) July 27, 2019
Dwayne Haskins (WAS)
Haskins, Colt McCoy and Case Keenum are in a three-way battle for the starting job and all will likely play in this game. Normally, that would be a situation I would avoid in preseason DFS, but with the chemistry I’ve heard Haskins has with WR McLaurin, if I’m going to play McLaurin, I want to stack him with Haskins. That is the only way I’ll play Haskins. In a GPP stack with McLaurin.
Running Backs
Devin Singletary (BUF)
I highly doubt we see either of the dinosaurs (Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy) in this backfield in Week 1 of the preseason. As a rookie, I would expect Singletary to start this game. I’m a little concerned he won’t play that much, however, as all the RBs behind him are fighting for a roster spot — his spot is all-but-guaranteed. With that said, I think the Bills’ first-team comes out and plays well enough to get an early TD, and I think Singeltary is the most likely candidate to score it.
Jeremy McNichols (TEN)
Derrick Henry is not going to play, Dion Lewis isn’t likely to play, David Fluellen is a fullback — that leaves three RBs to spit the load, picking the right one will be key. The three we have to choose from include; Combine darling Alex Barnes, Jeremy McNichols and Dalyn Dawkins. All three have some mixed reviews from camp, as you would expect from fourth-string players. I have my money on McNichols who has received the most 1st-team reps of the three with Henry sidelined with a foot injury.
Jeremy McNichols was the star RB for the #Titans tonight with Henry sidelined and Dion Lewis only seeing limited snaps.
McNichols had 7 carries for 24 yards, and added 2 receptions for 22 yards and a score to end the night. #Titans #TitansCamp
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) August 4, 2019
Browns Backfield
I’m just going to list the entire backfield for now until/if we get some clarity. Nick Chubb isn’t likely to play more than a series, if at all. Duke Johnson is still out with an injury. Kareem Hunt is the wildcard here. Hunt is eligible to play in the preseason even with his eight-game suspension, but the question is, will he play? I don’t see a reason why they would play him considering he will have to sit out nine-weeks during the season. Why waste valuable evaluation time for a guy that can’t play until Week 10.
If Hunt is out, then things get interesting. There isn’t much behind those three as Trayone Gray is on the PUP and A.J. Ouellette was just signed last week, leaving D’Ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hillard as the two backs to share the majority of the load. My money is on Hillard but I will be paying close attention to this backfield as we get closer to Thursday.
Dexter Williams/Tra Carson (GB)
This pick comes down to being the last man standing. Starting RB Aaron Jones is hurt, backup RB Jamaal Williams is hurt, recently signed RB Corey Grant is healthy but is coming off a Lisfranc injury. That leaves Williams and Tra Carson to soak up a good majority of the snaps. I will likely have exposure to both players.
Tra Carson getting first-team reps at RB. Dexter Williams, who had been getting first-team reps, getting second-team reps in this period.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 5, 2019
Khalfani Muhammad (DEN)
I made a good call on him last week in the HOF game and nothing has happened that makes him any less of a good play this week.
Karan Higdon Jr./Damerea Crockett (HOU)
I added Higdon to this list after I heard the D’Onta Foreman news. Incumbent starter Lamar Miller won’t see the field and of the players behind Miller currently, Higdon is the only one I like. I’ve heard some scuttlebutt about Damerea Crockett as well, so it is a situation worth monitoring.
Samaje Perine (WAS)
Perine is having a good camp so far, and with the guys he has in front of him, may be the best back on the field for the Redskins. Old man Adrian Peterson won’t play, I doubt they play Derrius Guice coming off the ACL, rookie Bryce Love isn’t fully recovered from his ACL injury and Chris Thompson might get hurt coming out of the tunnel.
But this is a little more than “last man standing”. Head coach Jay Gruden has gone out of his way to shine a positive light on Perine.
@GWallaceWTOP asked about Adrian Peterson working with Derrius Guice and Chris Thompson. Jay Gruden immediately answered “don’t forget about Samaje Perine.”
Gruden says there are going to be tough decisions to be made in that room. pic.twitter.com/yoHYqTLMPJ
— Sherree Burruss (@SherreeBurruss) August 1, 2019
Detrez Newsome (LAC)
Newsome has received some 1st-team reps with Melvin Gordon out. A lot of people will be on the Justin Jackson/Austin Eckler train, but I’m going to play the lesser know guy that will likely get into the game by the second half — if not sooner.
A couple other notes:
-Justin Jackson looked sharp today
-Sean Culkin had a strong day as the TE2
-Detrez Newsome got some significant snaps with the starters— Garrett Sisti (@GarrettSisti) July 30, 2019
Wide Receivers
Terry McLaurin (WAS)
McLaurin’s chemistry with QB Dwayne Haskins makes him an interesting choice for this slate. He was a big play WR in college on limited targets, but word out of camp is that he and Haskins always seem to be on the same page. The fact that they played together in college should help them both in their rookie seasons.
Terry McLaurin vs. Josh Norman
McLaurin with a good release off the line, stacks Norman and breaks to post. Great route. #Redskins pic.twitter.com/q6JSlACT1D
— Paul Conner (@P_ConnerJr) July 30, 2019
Miles Boykin (BAL)
I’m on record saying the Boykin, not Hollywood Brown, will have the better rookie season of the two Ravens WRs. Boykins college production suffered at Notre Dame from poor quarterbacking, which he will still get some of that with Lamar Jackson as his QB, but Boykin’s combination of speed and size make him an excellent candidate to score a TD. The only thing I’m worried about is if the Ravens already view him as a starter and limit his workload accordingly.
Very rarely do the film, analytics, and eyes-on-site stars align and highlight a singular player that’s inevitably going to break out the moment he graces the field in Week 1.
That player is obviously Miles Boykin ’19.
— John Daigle (@notJDaigle) July 28, 2019
Pats WRs
I’m putting the Patriots entire wide receiver corps here, not because I think you should play them, but to warn you not to play them. Last year in Week 1 of the preseason, 14 different players caught a pass and only two of them had more than two catches. The two that did, WR Devin Lucien (6rec) and TE Ryan Izzo (3), didn’t even make the team.
Allen Hurns/Preston Williams (MIA)
The Dolphins have a plethora of WRs, but a few of them won’t see the field, including Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant and Ricardo Lewis. Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker are the likely starters and should get limited playing time. That still leaves six more WRs on the roster, but Hurns and Williams have the most buzz coming out of camp. Hurns obviously was recently signed after the Cowboys cut him and Williams is an undrafted rookie that, by all accounts, has been the second-best WR in camp — next to preseason MVP DeVante Parker.
Xavien Howard with a bold evaluation of Dolphins WR Preston Williams: “He’s special, man. He’s going to be a No.1 receiver one day.”
Why? “I’ve watched receivers for a long time. He’s special.”
Preston Williams flashed a wide smile when he was told what X said. pic.twitter.com/LnGjoJpRrN
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 3, 2019
Russell Gage (ATL)
Gage continues to impress in camp. He didn’t have a huge game in last week’s HOF game, but he did have four targets, tied for the second-most on the team. Also, if you watched the game, one of the QBs missed him on what could have been a long TD.
Great catch youngster!!! https://t.co/asf8vkTHIC
— russell (@RussellGageSr) August 4, 2019
Hakeem Butler (ARI)
I know all my dynasty guys remember Mr. Butler. We all had him ranked in the Top 5 at WR coming into the draft. Someone even had him as high as No. 2 behind N’Keal Harry (yours truly) and then he fell in the NFL draft — along with his fantasy value. The fact still remains, he is a 6-foot-6 WR with 4.48 speed and one of the best catch radiuses in the class. Now comes the negative…he is not having a good camp and the Cardinals just signed Michael Crabtree. Normally that would be enough for me to stay away from him, but I think he is their best red-zone threat and the Cardinals could use him as such in this game, if for nothing more then to see how he handles it. Butler may have one catch for 2 yards and one TD type of day, but in preseason DFS, that’s all you need.
Juwann Winfree (DEN)
Winfree is riding high after his game-winning TD catch last week and single-handedly turning my bad call into a good call from last week’s advice column. I’ll go back to well with him once again.
My view of the Juwann Winfree TD catch!! Nice concentration by the rookie pic.twitter.com/mrp3EjFhiQ
— Nick Griffith (@NickGriffithTV) August 2, 2019
KeeSean Johnson (ARI)
Johnson is another WR from Arizona that I’m looking at, but, unlike Butler, Johnson is having a great camp. In fact, some beat reporters think he has already locked down the No. 3 WR spot behind Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald. If you plan to play Kyler Murray, this would be the guy I stack him with.
“In what seems to be becoming a trend, Murray has found some great synergy with fellow rookie KeeSean Johnson.” https://t.co/suhEWwVhgb
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) July 29, 2019
Tight Ends
Mo Alie-Cox (IND)
I said in my last articles that tight ends are only good in preseason DFS if they catch a TD. Well, Alie-cox is a good bet to catch one as long as gets enough playing time. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 267 pounds and he is extremely athletic at that size — he played basketball in college. Last season, playing behind both Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle, Alie-Cox only caught seven passes…but two of them were for touchdowns.
Luck to Mo Alie-Cox. He’s 2-4 at the start of this drill. #Colts pic.twitter.com/sQZ1C7hhI1
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 28, 2019
Tommy Sweeney (BUF)
Sweeney gets the “last man standing” tag this week as the Bills have major injury concerns at the TE position. Tyler Kroft is still recovering from a broken foot and Dawson Knox and Jason Croom are dealing with hamstrings. Lee Smith is also on the roster, but he is primarily a blocker. That leaves Sweeney as the only pass-catching option for the Bills at TE.
Anthony Firkser (TEN)
Delaine Walker isn’t ready to play yet and I doubt he would have anyway. Jonnu Smith is also out. That leaves Firkser as an interesting option at TE, and the word out of camp is that he is back up QB Ryan Tannehill’s favorite target…
Something that is very clear: Ryan Tannehill likes throwing to Anthony Firkser.
— Luke Worsham (@luke_worsham) July 31, 2019
Defenses
Detroit Lions vs NE
Defenses are the hardest thing to pick in preseason. You can’t really research it. The only trend I’ve seen over the last three preseasons that I’ve played DFS is to try to pick a defense going up against a good team with very little question marks headed into camp. Why? Because they will likely give their younger guys more playing time which could lead to turnovers and mistakes.
The Lions playing the Patriots is the perfect example. There is no way they risk playing any of their incumbent starters and even their high draft capital rookies like WR N’Keal Harry is too valuable to risk in a preseason game. Not to mention, HC Bill Belichick could care less about preseason games.
Miami Dolphins vs ATL
The Falcons are another one of those teams with very little up for grabs at the top of the depth chart. Not to mention, their third-string QB Kurt Benkert, is injured and won’t play. I can’t see the Falcons risking an injury to 38-year-old Matt Schaub either. Enter Matt Simms who was signed off the street a few days ago.
This is a perfect example of why you can’t just use the player pool on DraftKings to decide who to play. Schaub will likely be fairly high owned because, in the DraftKings player pool, they only list Matt Ryan, Schaub and Benkert. Everyone will assume Schaub has to play most of the game. If they don’t check the depth chart they won’t even know about Matt Simms.
With that said, Simms was just signed off the street and the Dolphins defense becomes a great play if they get to see him behind center for most of the game.
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