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Are you ready for some football? Excuse the cheesy opening line, but how awesome is it that we are back to building NFL lineups again? Tonight is the first of four straight nights of Week 1 preseason action. Both games tonight start at 7:00 pm EST, as the Panthers head to New England and the Lions face off against the Giants at Met Life Stadium.
We shouldn’t expect regular-season starters to play any significant snaps, with most unlikely to suit up at all. Even with a lack of well-known players, there are still guys taking the field who should be worth monitoring. We will be hunting for snaps, targets, and carries just like we do on a normal NFL weekend, and if we can lock in some correlation, then all the better.
Here you will be provided daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Thursday night two-game slate of Week 1 of the NFL preseason on 8/08/24. These NFL DFS lineup picks can vary from high-end players and elite options to backup and contrarian players on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Thanks for reading, and good luck RotoBallers!
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Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Quarterbacks
Jack Plummer, CAR at New England
Neither Bryce Young nor Andy Dalton will play in this game. That leaves just two quarterbacks on the active roster: Jack Plummer and Jake Luton, who signed with Carolina only four days ago. It is expected that Plummer will take the majority of snaps in this game, and he could very well lead the slate in pass attempts.
New Carolina coach Dave Canales is known for his work with quarterbacks, and the team should be pass-first this year. Last season the Buccaneers, for whom Canales was the offensive coordinator, threw 36 times for over 250 yards in the first preseason game. With Plummer looking to play most of this game, he could throw 25 or more passes, giving him the volume you’d want to anchor your roster.
Hendon Hooker, DET at NYG
Hendon Hooker sat out the entirety of the 2023 season as he recovered from a season-ending injury he sustained in his final year at Tennessee. He is competing with Nate Sudfeld for the backup quarterback job in Detroit. Jared Goff won’t play in this game, so it’ll be Sudfeld and Hooker taking all the snaps for the Lions against New York.
These two teams played in Week 1 of preseason last year, and with both teams having the same coaching staff, we can use that game as a model for tonight. In that game, Sudfeld threw 28 passes, while third-string quarterback Adrian Martinez mopped up with seven attempts. That may lead people to use Sufeld in this game, but last year there wasn’t a competition for the backup job.
With there being a competition this year, it’s not unreasonable to think that Hooker will see as much, if not more, playing time than Sudfeld, a known quantity at this point. Hooker is a far more dynamic player, while Sudfeld should provide more consistent effort. With the big money at the top of tournament payouts, I’m going with the ceiling player all things being equal.
Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson says Hendon Hooker's "talent is coming to life."🔥
pic.twitter.com/jLoZSalkti
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) August 1, 2024
ALSO CONSIDER: Tommy Devito (NYG), Joe Milton (NE)
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Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Running Backs
Terrell Jennings, NE vs. CAR
The top two running backs are locked in for New England, with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson secure in their roles. Kevin Harris or JaMycal Hasty will be the likely third-string running back, but the team already knows what they have in both, as they each have a couple of years of NFL experience.
The unknown quantity, and thus the player the team will want to see at game speed, is Terrell Jennings. He’s an undrafted rookie who played at Florida A&M. His claim to fame is that he’s a bruiser who can break tackles and grind out yards after contact. Only one runner in this year’s draft class had more yards after contact per attempt than Jennings, making him a big threat near the goal line. He should get plenty of playing time to show what he can do, as the staff will want to see if he’s worth a stash on the practice squad.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG vs. DET
The Giants have a trio of running backs who could be the backup to Devin Singletary. The Giants ran the ball 22 times against the Lions last year in the first week of the preseason, but nobody touched the ball more than six times. That could happen again this year, but there wasn’t a competition last year, as Matt Breida was the clear backup to Saquon Barkley. With no clear backup this year, the three leading candidates (Tyrone Tracy Jr., Dante Miller, and Eric Gray) could each get a decent amount of work in this game to see if anyone stands out.
The current favorite at camp is Tracy Jr., a rookie out of Purdue. The thing that could set Tracy apart, is that he’s a converted wide receiver, making him a bigger threat in the passing game than either Gray or Miller (who may be best suited as a return man given his 4.29 speed). Giants running backs caught five passes in last year’s first preseason game, which should play in Tracy’s favor.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jermar Jefferson (DET), Dante Miller (NYG)
Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Wide Receivers
Daurice Fountain, DET at NYG
Daurice Fountain gives us our first stacking opportunity on the slate, pairing him up with Hooker. Fountain has accumulated 32 targets over the last five preseasons, making him one of the more productive preseason players on today’s slate. He’s been a star at camp this summer, even getting work with the first-string offense. The Lions had three receivers who caught three or more passes in their first preseason game, so they’ve shown a willingness to spread the ball to all of their playmakers.
Because of his lack of regular season success over his six years in the league, it’s unlikely that he will be considered a “starter” in this game for resting purposes. He still has much to prove and a strong first game will go a long way in securing him a spot on the roster. You can also look to Antoine Green and Isaiah Williams for stacking opportunities with Hooker or Sudfeld.
Jonathan Mingo, CAR at NE
Jonathan Mingo entered 2023 with a lot of hype, but it turned into a lot of nothing in the regular season. The Panthers added Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette to their receiving corps this offseason, making a strong preseason all the more important for Mingo. He has looked great in camp, and the team has him listed as a starter.
Carolina should have seven healthy wide receivers for tonight’s game, with Mingo the most talented. He may not see as many snaps as some players whose spots on the team are less secure, but he should be the primary target for Plummer when he is on the field.
Javon Baker, NE vs CAR
Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk have been turning heads at Patriots camp. Polk was a second-round pick, and his spot, as well as the spots of K.J. Osborn and Demario Douglas, appear secure. Baker should see the field plenty this season, but he’s competing with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Reagor for playing time.
Baker is the most talented receiver of the quartet and is the only one who was drafted by the current coaching regime. The team has a vested interest in Baker’s success and should get him on the field for plenty of reps in tonight’s game.
Javon Baker aka 7-Eleven is literally always open ⏰ pic.twitter.com/kfeIhHZWJB
— Boston Cream 🍩 (@itsbostoncream) August 7, 2024
ALSO CONSIDER: Antoine Green (DET), Isaiah Williams (DET)
Preseason NFL DFS Picks – Tight End
Ja'Tavion Sanders, CAR at NE
The top two tight ends on the Panthers, Tommy Tremble, and Ian Thomas are both banged up and won’t play in tonight’s game. That leaves only three healthy tight ends on the roster, with Ja'Tavion Sanders being the most talented of the bunch. He’s looked athletic and capable in the passing game during camp.
A rookie’s best friend is a big tight end, so it’s reasonable to expect Jack Plummer to look for Sanders as a check-down option if he’s feeling any heat from the defense. Sanders could also find his way to the end zone as a big option inside the five-yard line.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jaheim Bell (NE), James Mitchell (DET)
Thanks for checking this out, and good luck!
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