If you’re competing in an NFL DFS tournament for Saturday’s early slate, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether competing in fantasy football tournaments or 50/50 contests, it’s always challenging to anticipate preseason usage. We’ve run through dozens of potential scripts — including realistic snap counts — for tonight’s games, and here is our recommended DFS lineup.
Top FanDuel NFL DFS picks for Saturday football
Today we’re playing a “Full Roster” tournament on FanDuel that includes one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one Flex, and one D/ST. Because this is the preseason, and because even sites like FanDuel had no idea who would play when they set pricing, they gave every player a $6,000 price tag.
Matt Barkley, QB, Buffalo Bills
While Case Keenum should win the No. 2 job (or at least, was expected to before last week), Matt Barkley is pushing for that coveted spot on the depth chart.
[bet-promo id=”174860″ ]Both should see plenty of action against the Denver Broncos. But my money’s on Barkley to win today’s battle, thanks in part to competing in the second half against (presumably) Denver’s defensive backups.
Raheem Blackshear, RB, Buffalo Bills
Sticking with Buffalo, Raheem Blackshear looked fantastic last week. Can he do it again? Well, he caught an astounding 123 passes at Virginia Tech and five more in his first NFL preseason action. That bodes well for DFS bettors, especially if most of the team’s starters remain on the sidelines for the majority of the game.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
What good is a DFS lineup if it leaves out Isiah Pacheco? One of the trendiest rookie names in NFL fantasy and betting circles, Pacheco has a shot at earning a Week 1 role. I believe he’s on the verge of being post-hype. Nevertheless, he should get enough run to net 6+ DFS points, and with few other RBs on the “reliable” spectrum today, Pacheco is worth a shot.
Tom Kennedy, WR, Detroit Lions
The Lions might continue to play things conservatively with their injured and injury-prone roster. DJ Chark is back from a season-ending injury. Rookie Jameson Williams remains in limbo. T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift have had trouble staying healthy over the years. So we shouldn’t be surprised if Tom Kennedy once again leads this offense in a game that could hurt — more than help — their slim postseason chances.
Kendall Hinton, WR, Denver Broncos
One of Denver’s most interesting depth battles concerns who will replace Tim Patrick as the WR3. KJ Hamler has a great chance, though Kendall Hinton is making his case. Today’s contest should bring the team closer to a resolution. I like Hinton’s odds.
Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills
I also like Khalil Shakir’s odds of being one of the Bills’ top four WRs by season’s end. The rookie crushed it last weekend, and he should be his team’s No. 1 or No. 2 receiver for much of today’s game.
Jelani Woods, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Admittedly, I pegged Jelani Woods as the Colts’ new starting TE when the team drafted him. Instead, he’s fighting for a backup role behind Mo Alie-Cox. Still, I believe in Woods’ talent and trust that he’ll break through by year’s end. For today, he should serve as a primary receiver, while Indy gets a closer look at their high-upside rookie.
Justin Watson, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
If the Buccaneers weren’t so overloaded at receiver, they might have re-signed Justin Watson this past offseason. Instead, the speedy former fifth-rounder will serve as a deep backup in Kansas City’s overloaded corps. If things break right, Watson could land the No. 5 WR job, and another strong preseason effort might mean the difference.
Buffalo Bills, D/ST
Although it’s still August, Buffalo is probably the safest bet among all defenses playing today. Sure, we might not see much from their vaunted front line or secondary, but they should be able to pressure opposing QBs Josh Johnson and Brett Rypien into making mistakes.