Tag Archives: NFL Preseason

6 Reasons to Watch Thursday Night’s NFL Preseason Finale

Sports News & Picks, , , , , , ,

Thursday night brings two exciting things: pro football in the form of NFL preseason games and a clear sign that the 2016 NFL regular season is upon us.

With a fully loaded 15-game schedule, we have 30 of 32 NFL teams on tonight’s docket, meaning we get to see a ton of young talent compete for a roster spot. A ton of star players will naturally be sitting tonight out to rest up for week one of the regular season, but some are expected to suit up and others could see ample playing time in the final week of preseason play.

Let’s go over which players and situations we should be focusing on the most as we tackle the top six reasons to tune into tonight’s NFL preseason finale:

Betting and DFS

The first thing we think of when preseason football hits center stage is how can we make some money off of it? Tonight we can do that easily two different ways, by either betting on individual NFL preseason games or creating a roster over at DraftKings in their preseason daily fantasy football leagues.

Neither of these are easy, as the spreads and Money Lines are understandably weak with such little information and strategy involved in these games. Take away most of the star players from the majority of these games, and we’re truly left in the dark. There are a few things that could help you out, however. For instance, if you look closer at tonight’s Jets vs. Eagles contest, New York figures to give raw rookie quarterback Christian Hackenberg a good amount of field time. Due to his erratic play, the Eagles could make for a fun DFS defense and Philly in general may have the betting edge, as well.

If you can sniff out small advantages like that, you can possibly help distance some of the betting and DFS opportunities. In that same breath, preseason NFL DFS and betting are both very volatile – even more than regular season. We wish you luck, but we don’t condone heavy betting with such little concrete information to aid you.

All Eyes on Paxton Lynch

The second biggest reason to watch the NFL preseason slate on Thursday night is Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch. The former Memphis product has had his ups and downs all summer, but with Trevor Siemian officially the 2016 starts under center, the team is going into Thursday with the full intention of giving Lynch the entire game.

Lynch will not only be fun to watch, but depending on how he performs, could also be one of the top daily fantasy football options on the night. The fact that he’s a borderline lock to see all four quarters of action makes him more reliable than most of the other quarterback options.

A Whole Lotta Tom Brady

With Jimmy Garoppolo set to start the New England Patriots’ first four games of 2016 thanks to a Tom Brady suspension, it looks like we’ll see a lot of ol’ Tom Terrific tonight. Brady doesn’t need to rest up much considering he’ll be doing a lot of sitting over the next month, so the Pats will want to get some good work in for him. He’s going to end up being rusty come week five, but at least we get to see him for a bit tonight.

Colin Kaepernick’s Next Move

What about Colin Kaepernick isn’t interesting right now? From the start of his game when we can see if he does or doesn’t sit during the National Anthem, to his actual play on the field, everyone will be watching this dude.

If you can find an online betting site that is giving odds for whether or not he sits/stands tonight, that could be an added element to checking his game out, too.

Alex Collins Gets His Chance

One of the better young running backs vying for work in the preseason, Seattle Seahawks rookie rusher Alex Collins figures to see ample work on the field tonight. Collins has thus far been disappointing, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll suggested he’d give Collins plenty of chances to prove himself on Thursday night.

Collins has the skill-set and college production to be viewed as a future feature back in Seattle, so Seahawks fans will both want to pay attention to how he does, and also hope he performs well. Given Thomas Rawls ankle injury last year and the erratic play of backup Christine Michael, it might not be crazy to think Collins could see a big role at some point in 2016.

Cuts, Baby, Cuts

The biggest aspect of preseason isn’t really who wins or loses or star players putting up big numbers. Instead, it’s the rookies and lesser known talents that are trying their hardest just to survive in the league. There are guys who flat out don’t belong and are playing probably their last down ever. There are players who probably shouldn’t make it but over achieve like crazy and you find yourself rooting for them. And there are also pedigree guys like Oakland receiver Max McCaffrey (his pops is Ed McCaffrey) that you want to watch to see if they can follow in their father’s footsteps.

Whatever the player, team or situation, it all boils down to week four. The guys that don’t know for sure if they’ll be playing in the NFL a week from now have that final 53 in mind and they’ll be playing their hearts out. Add some preseason NFL betting, preseason daily fantasy football and these other situations we’ve touched on, and Thursday night should be one heck of a ride.

Daily Fantasy Football Preseason Targets For Thursday Night

Sports News & Picks, , , , , , , ,

The second week of the 2016 NFL preseason is alive and well on Thursday night, which means now is a good time to figure out who you’re going to use in tonight’s daily fantasy football games over at DraftKings.

Unlike the first week of preseason play, week to should open the door a bit more for the starters, as we’ll see some stars that have so far been absent or limited, and we may see some big names lasting beyond the first quarter and maybe even up until half-time. Keep in mind that is never set in stone, and we still need to stay on top of last second inactives on Twitter and the like.

Also, extra playing time from some regular players doesn’t totally discount the backup options that could have some appeal. You can play the starters at your own risk, but we’ll show you our favorite plays for the night:

QB: Jimmy Garoppolo (Patriots), Brett Hundley (Packers) and A.J. McCarron (Bengals)

We’re looking mostly at backups that should get a good amount of time tonight, but if you want starters who could impress with a little more time on the field, consider Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford. Derek Carr could also be in play if he’s active tonight against the Packers.

This trio makes more sense, however, as they’ve had ample preseason success and they figure to see the field for a good chunk of time. Jimmy G still needs to get ready to start the first four games of the season, so you can safely bet the Pats will play him a quarter or two again tonight. The same goes for McCarron, assuming the aforementioned Dalton doesn’t play too much.

The big play here could be Hundley, who figures to make his 2016 preseason debut. He was a preseason star last year, as he can run the ball and his big arm allows for huge plays down the field.

RB: Daryl Richardson (Steelers), John Crockett (Packers), Zach Zenner (Lions), Duke Johnson (Browns) DeAndre Washington (Raiders), Alex Collins (Seahawks) and Tyler Gaffney (Patriots)

There are even more running backs to consider, as this is without a doubt the most volatile position with so many random guys hitting the field during the preseason.

That being said, Gaffney scored in his debut, D-Rich played well and Duke Johnson may have the most upside in this entire group. Crockett and Zenner were both very good and should once again see strong playing time. Crockett is trying to secure a roster spot in Green Bay, while Zenner is still trying to lock up the third running back role in Detroit.

Alex Collins and DeAndre Washington are two other big name rookies to consider, as they were disappointing in their debuts, but could have big roles as they fight to earn some playing time in year one.

WR: Terrelle Pryor (Browns), Jared Abbrederis (Packers), Sammie Coates (Steelers), Tyler Boyd (Bengals) and Laquon Treadwell (Vikings)

Corey Coleman remains out yet again for the Browns tonight, which should push Pryor into a big role for the second straight game. He is going to be hit or miss, but he and RG3 connected twice in week one and he makes for as good a play as anyone.

Abbrederis was decent in his preseason debut, and he could be in for a bigger role tonight with Green Bay’s main starters (specifically Jordy Nelson) likely out. Jeff Janis (hand) is also done for the preseason, so Abbrederis could get some more chances to secure a roster spot.

Treadwell and Boyd both looked solid enough in their preseason debuts and both will look to improve even more if they hit the field tonight. Boyd had one big play in his first preseason game, and with Brandon LaFell out for a while, he could get a shot at working his way into a starting role.

Coates needs to be considered despite a terrible week one effort, where he did catch three passes but also fumbled the ball twice. If he ends up redeeming himself, however, you’re going to wish you used him.

TE: Martellus Bennett (Patriots), Trey Burton (Eagles) and Jesse James (Steelers)

Tight end is extremely hit or miss during the preseason, so take our favorite three plays with a huge grain of salt. None of these guys have done anything yet this month, but all three have reportedly looked good in camp and could be fighting for bigger roles.

Burton is the one that probably is more just worried about a roster spot, but he’s been great in camp and was also a stat-stuffer last preseason. After doing nothing in week one, the Eagles could try to get him going tonight.

You probably will have better luck with Bennett and James, as Bennett likely will play more tonight with Rob Gronkowski sitting out and James should get every chance to win Pittsburgh’s starting tight end gig. LaDarius Green’s career may be over, so the Steelers need to find a starter somewhere.

A strong effort tonight by James could cement his role with the team.

DEF: Patriots, Steelers, Falcons and Seahawks

Defense is a total toss-up in DFS preseason games, as we never know how the first unit will perform or how long it will be out on the field.

Atlanta really isn’t a scary unit, but RG3 did throw a pick in his preseason debut, so perhaps they can sack him and force a turnover early. The Steelers and Pats are easy tries, as they’ve both made some big plays in preseason so far, while the Legion of Boom certainly carry monster upside at home tonight.

Jeff Janis and Friday’s Top Daily Fantasy Football Preseason Targets

Sports News & Picks, , , , , , , , , ,

Half the battle when trying to figure out which NFL players to use for DraftKings’ daily fantasy football preseason games is simply figuring out who is or isn’t playing. That can be difficult, as anyone who is remotely injured won’t play in a meaningless game and any starters are subject to either being sat or played for a short amount of time.

The decision-making does start to get a little easier when you hear about specific guys behind held out, other players needing to prove themselves for a role or roster spot and a lack of depth at a position pointing to someone getting a good amount of reps.

On Thursday night, we got some crazy production out of some odd places. It’s preseason daily fantasy football, so that’s to be expected and we can probably bank on the unthinkable again on Friday. We can’t predict any of that, though. Instead, all we can do is go with what we’re told by teams and the media, and hope for the best. With that, let’s take a look at Friday’s NFL preseason slate and see which players might make for interesting DFS options at DraftKings:

QB: Ryan Nassib (Giants), Joe Callahan (Packers), Landry Jones (Steelers), A.J. McCarron (Bengals), Cody Kessler (Browns) and Connor Cook (Raiders)

Two of last year’s best preseason quarterbacks hit the field on Friday, with Ryan Nassib and Landry Jones both likely to see about a half of football. Both passers were solid in August last year, finishing inside the top-5 for passing yardage in preseason play. Neither is actually technically a good player, but the playing time should be there.

Nassib specifically should play a good deal, as the Giants are expected to hold starter Eli Manning out. That does put Nassib against Miami’s first team defense, but he should play a good deal and could make for a solid DFS play. The same goes for Jones, but these guys really only get the initial edge based on what they did a year ago.

There might actually be more attractive options. Green Bay third stringer Joe Callahan, while as unproven and raw as a quarterback can get, could play an entire half or much more, should Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundley both sit out. That was the expectation going into last week’s Hall of Fame game, but then that game got cancelled. Callahan was a stat-stuffer at Wesley College, so with some interesting talent around him and a beatable Browns defense across from him, he might be the most fun to be had in daily fantasy football tonight.

He could also be a total disaster. That’s why we need to also consider other rookies like Kessler and Cook, both of which are easily more polished and may play just as long.

It’s McCarron that excites us the most, though. He has experience as a starter now and with Andy Dalton playing little to no time tonight, he could be in for a good chunk of playing time.

RB: Zach Zenner (Lions), Paul Perkins (Giants), John Crockett (Packers), Duke Johnson (Browns) and DeAndre Washington (Raiders)

Zenner stands out without a doubt, as he was a monster DFS preseason asset last year and made the Lions’ 2015 roster because of it.

He’s in heavy contention for a solid role again in 2016, but surely needs another strong August run to stave off Stevan Ridley. You could also add Ridley to the mix here, but he seems a little washed up. I’ll be using Zenner confidently tonight.

Rookis Paul Perkins and DeAndre Washington are going to be fun tries tonight, simply because they’re very talented and should see the field a good chunk of the night. Neither are safe options based on their inexperience, but they can make some noise tonight and will be worth using.

Duke Johnson is probably not running with Cleveland’s first team, but either way he isn’t a safe bet to see a ton of action in Cleveland’s first preseason game. That being said, he’s really explosive and versatile, so forever long he’s playing, he’s a threat to spring some big plays. Even if it’s a quarter, he could be worth rostering.

Crockett is my dark horse, as the Packers aren’t likely to play their top rushers much and they seem to be high on him. He still needs to prove he is deserving of a roster spot, though, and he gets to attempt to do that against a bad Browns run defense. I like his chances to get around 10 touches and maybe find the end-zone.

WR: Jeff Janis (Packers), Jared Abbrederis (Packers), J.J. Nelson (Cardinals), Sammie Coates (Steelers), Sterling Shepard (Giants), Laquon Treadwell (Vikings), Tyler Boyd (Bengals), Terrelle Pryor (Browns), Corey Coleman (Browns) and Max McCaffrey (Raiders)

Wide receiver is all over the place, but I don’t see how you can make a team without Janis, who burst onto the scene the last two preseason and was huge in Green Bay’s playoff loss last year. He still has work to do, but he should get ample playing time and is so explosive that he only needs one touch to pay off.

Teammate Abbrederis should also play a ton and although he doesn’t have the same big play upside, he’s been impressive in camp and could see a lot of balls come his way.

I’m also looking at some interesting backups in good offenses, with Coates and Nelson taking the cake. Both guys can spring big plays and will need some time to prove themselves tonight. Tyler Boyd, Sterling Shepard, Laquon Treadwell and Corey Coleman are all uber-hyped rookies that have the talent to kill it tonight, as well.

Pryor seems like a gimmick to this point, but maybe he’ll really start turning heads tonight.

One other guy I’m interested in is Oakland’s Max McCaffrey. He was a solid receiver at Duke and has blazing speed. The difficult part will be trusting his playing time, as he’s reportedly gotten inconsistent opportunities in camp. Still, I’m interested in his speed and he could potentially see the field a good amount to close out the night.

TE: Jesse James (Steelers), MarQueis Gray (Dolphins), MyCole Pruitt (Vikings), Ryan Hewitt (Bengals), Justin Perillo (Packers) and Troy Niklas (Cardinals)

Tight end is one of the worst positions to try to predict during preseason games. James could be a good try with LaDarius Green possibly set to retire, though. The Steelers may need him to be their starter in 2016, so getting him a lot of extra work would probably be a good idea.

Ryan Hewitt and Justin Perillo doesn’t promote a ton of upside (or confidence), but Jared Cook, Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft are all banged up. Based on sheer playing time, these guys are in the mix. I’m not overly into Troy Niklas just because Arizona doesn’t properly utilize the tight end position, but he’s actually quite talented and has been drawing “rave reviews” this summer. He should see the field a good amount and isn’t a terrible try at a weak DFS position.

Gray and Pruitt are no more stable than the other guys we touched on, but they both have found some success during past preseason games. With both guys being backups and playing for a roster spot, it wouldn’t at all be shocking to see either (or both) deliver solid performances, possibly out of pure desperation.

DEF: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals

Defense is a total toss-up most weeks even during the regular season, but in preseason play, forget about it. We love the Jaguars yesterday, only to see the first and second team Jets’ units to fare pretty well. Not seeing Christian Hackenberg hit the field also hurt our upside with that particular unit.

Tonight we should just play the initial matchup odds, here, and all of these defenses have some potential. Cincinnati and Arizona are simply good defense in general, so maybe they can get some sacks or turnovers early and put you in a good spot. The Steelers can also do that, plus they’ll be facing a mostly drab Lions offense once the starters leave the field.

Cleveland is the dark horse here, as they’re facing mostly Joe Callahan. Callahan does have weapons and some upside, but he’s also super inexperience and could struggle mightily. You’ll need to pick a side here, but if you get the right one you should be rather pleased.

Got your own daily fantasy football preseason targets to share with us? Tell us all about them in the comments below!

10 Reasons You Need to Watch Thursday’s NFL Preseason Games

Sports News & Picks, , , , , , , , ,

We took a close look at Thursday’s NFL preseason slate earlier this week, largely to assist any of our readers that planned on conducting any NFL betting or playing in any daily fantasy football preseason leagues. With tonight’s action upon us, we thought we’d now simply ignite the excitement in every pro football fan by pointing out the numerous reasons to simply watch the games – regardless of personal attachment or bias.

Yes, watching meaningless NFL games can still be fun even if you’re not betting on them or playing fantasy football. And we can prove it! Well, at least in our opinion we’ve got some interesting things that should garner your attention during Thursday’s slate.

Whether you just like football, your favorite team is playing or you’re studying for your upcoming fantasy league draft, there’s plenty to draw you in tonight. Let’s take a look at the top-10 reasons for you to tune into Thursday’s NFL preseason action:

Jimmy G Starts

Easily the top story-line going into Thursday’s NFL preseason games is Jimmy Garoppolo preparing to start the first four games of the 2016 season for the New England Patriots. Tom Brady won’t play in this game, either, so we’ll get a huge dose of Garoppolo, as the Pats try to figure out what they’ve got under center in real game situations.

Garoppolo’s playing time could actually go either way, as  a strong start could have the Patriots get him out on a high note. That being said, he’s likely to play about a quarter, and possibly even the entire first half. Garoppolo has a brutal week one matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, so he’ll need all the practice he can get to be ready. Unfortunately, he’ll be without his top two weapons tonight, as both Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman will sit this one out.

Carson Wentz Debut

Wentz’s NFL debut probably ranks second on the list of must-see elements for Thursday’s preseason slate. Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel will play the first and second quarters to start the night, but all eyes will be on the #2 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft when Wentz plays the entire second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It’s true that Wentz will be working against scrub defenders for his first NFL snaps, but that could actually tell us a lot about his development. If he balls out, fans will be screaming for him to climb up the depth chart, but if he struggles the Eagles could be validated for bringing him along slowly. Overall, the hope is Wentz comes out and moves the offense and maybe even entertains with an exciting run or deep pass.

Paxton Lynch Debut

Wentz isn’t the only rookie quarterback under the bright lights tonight, as Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch will also be playing a ton. Mark Sanchez figures to start the game against the Chicago Bears, but it will be all Lynch after the break, as the rook is slated to take the field for the entire second half.

It’s tough to know what Denver has in Lynch just yet, but we should get a pretty good idea of what he brings to the table as he faces Chicago’s spare defenders for the final two quarters tonight.

Quarterback Battles

Quarterback battles in general could be worth watching throughout the preseason, and that could be the case for teams that aren’t even actively holding a competition. Denver seems to be, so all eyes will be on Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian tonight, while a good performance by Paxton Lynch could even potentially get his name thrown in the hat.

The Eagles aren’t expected to be entertaining a quarterback competition either, but the play of Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and the aforementioned Wentz could certainly change that tonight, depending on what goes down.

Elsewhere, the Jets still need to figure out which quarterback they’re cutting loose ahead of the 2016 NFL season. With Ryan Fitzpatrick locked in as the team’s starter, it’s an open competition between Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg.

Mike Glennon Showcase

While some guys are playing for a specific role or to make a final roster, Mike Glennon may be playing to get traded. Mike Glennon has constantly been a hot name in trade rumors pretty much ever since he was drafted and the Bucs have no plans of starting him ever with Jameis Winston in town.

The team is also said to be high on third string passer Ryan Griffin, so if Glennon plays well and can drum up trade interest, he could quickly find himself on the move.

Return of KB

Kelvin Benjamin was dangerous as a rookie and was looking to break out in 2015, but ended up having his second NFL season derailed by a torn ACL. He returns this week and although we shouldn’t see much of him, Panthers fans will get excited to see their star wide receiver back in uniform.

ASJ Maturation?

Austin Seferian-Jenkins was once a highly touted tight end prospect and certainly flashed upside in 2015, but has quickly fallen out of Tampa Bay’s good graces due to a poor attitude and shaky work ethic. The early word has been the Bucs favor Cameron Brate’s dedication and consistency, and they may be trying to light a fire under the talented third-year tight end.

It’s anyone’s guess if it will work, but ASJ has the size and athleticism to be special. It will be interesting to see how much the Bucs play him tonight and if he responds with a strong performance.

Kevin White’s Debut

Kevin White joins a growing list of highly anticipated NFL debuts, and he’s truly one of the better ones to look out for. A first round draft choice a year ago, White missed his entire rookie season due to a leg injury and will finally hit the field for the Bears tonight.

White probably won’t play much, but he’s supremely explosive and it will be interesting to see if he can put up a big play or two before exiting tonight.

Dante Fowler Hits the Field

Fowler is another big name that will make his pro debut, as he also missed his entire rookie season last year due to injury. Jacksonville can’t wait to see what the explosive Fowler can bring to their defense on the edge, and seeing how he fares in his debut could go a long way in deciding where he fits in their system.

We probably can’t expect to see Fowler stay in the game too long, but if he registers a sack or a big play, you can bet Jaguars fans will go nuts.

Football is Back!

Oh, you needed more? Sorry, the generic (yet best) reason of pro football being back on TV caps out top-10 list, and why shouldn’t it? These games mean nothing and we can’t expect to see much of the biggest names, but we do get to see hard-hitting football and hopefully some exciting plays.

While the NFL preseason doesn’t touch the regular season, Thursday symbolizes the unofficial start of the new season. We’ll see star players, guys fighting for a specific role and others merely battling to make the final roster. It’s an exciting time of the sports year and we wouldn’t miss it for anything.

Enjoy the games tonight and if you’re betting or playing preseason DFS, good luck!

Week 1 NFL Preseason: Daily Fantasy Football and Betting Advice For Thursday’s Games

Sports News & Picks, , , , , , ,

The 2016 NFL preseason was supposed to start this past Sunday night, where the Green Bay Packers were slated to face off with the Indianapolis Colts in this year’s Hall of Fame game.

Delayed Preseason

Bad field conditions had other plans, however, and the game was subsequently cancelled.

Football is Back

That pushed on the wait for pro football’s return, but we finally get some real, live NFL action this Thursday night when 12 teams take the field for six entertaining games.

Well, hopefully entertaining. These are still preseason football games we’re talking about, and we’re probably not going to see much (if any) of the star players for the 12 respective franchises.

Still, that’s six games we can scout and potentially even bet on, which could make our Thursday a lot more interesting. Should you plan to watch, bet on or take your hand at DFS fantasy football, we’ve got your full week one NFL preseason guide when it comes to Thursday night’s action. Let’s break it down by game and see what you should consider for NFL betting and daily fantasy football purposes:

Buccaneers @ Eagles

The highlight of this game without a doubt will be rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, who is scheduled to play the entire second half on Thursday night. That makes Wentz a fun DFS play on paper, especially since he’ll be taking on Tampa Bay backups for his first NFL action.

The Bucs look like the poor bet here when it comes to preseason NFL betting, and Vegas agrees, as they come in with a +3 line per Bovada. They’re on the road and Philly (-3) is stacked with competent quarterback play, with Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and Wentz all seeing action. We’d take the Eagles here and try Wentz with maybe Josh Huff and/or Nelson Agholor in daily fantasy football preseason leagues.

Just make sure any and all guys you use in preseason DFS games are active, and keep in mind that not everyone will play normal snaps in an exhibition game.

Redskins @ Falcons

This game offers the same line, with the Redskins hitting the road as the underdog (+3) against the Falcons (-3). This one is a total toss up, as both teams are balanced enough to put up some points early, but neither have an obvious edge in the depth department.

It will be interesting to see how long the starters stay out, but it’s tough to imagine guys like Jordan Reed, DeSean Jackson and Julio Jones playing much. We’ll have to give ATL the mild edge here, simply because they’re at home and maybe partially because Ric Flair got them going recently in practice:

For daily fantasy football purposes, keep your eye on Rashad Ross, who is Washington’s primary return specialist, but also destroyed opposing defenses as a wide receiver last preseason.

Panthers @ Ravens

Since it’s the first preseason game of the year, we can’t expect to see much out of the starters from either side. Cam Newton is a historically slow starter, too, so even if he stayed out there a bit, I’m not sure I’d be enamored with him against a healthier Baltimore defense.

It may be about the backups in this one, and Baltimore may have the depth edge under center and in the offensive backfield. The Ravens are also playing in front of their home crowd, so we like them as the -1.5 favorite.

Due to Baltimore’s deep running back stable, you could pick and choose one to use out of their lineup. Terrance West has had a great camp and could be worth a look.

Jaguars @ Jets

This could be a nightmare game for the Jets, who probably won’t push Ryan Fitzpatrick out with the starters for too long. If that’s the case, we may see way more of Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg that we ever wished to. They haven’t exactly torn it up and camp and Hackeberg has been specifically brutal, so you’ll want to avoid Jets passers entirely in this one.

Matt Forte has also been banged up, so New York will be operating well under 100% offensively in this one. This all could give the Jaguars (+3 underdogs) a shot at pulling off the mild preseason upset (is there such a thing?), while their defense could be the one to target in daily fantasy football games due to the matchup.

Saints @ Patriots

This may be the best preseason game on Thursday night, as we may see Drew Brees and we’ll definitely get a decent dose of Jimmy Garappolo. The rest of the Pats’ top offensive players are either going to sit or be limited, while #1 receiver Julian Edelman just got hurt again in practice.

Needless to say, as attractive of a DFS flier as Jimmy G figured to be for Thursday night, he may be a tough sell. Still, New England could offer some DFS upside on the ground, where Brandon Bolden could see a solid amount of touches. Aaron Dobson is also still trying to carve out a spot with New England, so he’s another guy to consider.

New England plays host and comes in as the -3 favorite, but with injuries and possibly inactives, we like the Saints as an upset pick in week one.

Broncos @ Bears

The last game of the night pits the Broncos against the Bears in a true pick’em at Bovada. That figures, since we know very little about a Super Bowl champ that has a shaky quarterback situation and a Bears team that keeps getting rid of star offensive talent with each passing year.

A lot of questions should begin to be answered on both sides, as Chicago looks for a new starting running back, a new starting tight end and hopes second-year receiver Kevin White can rise up and snag a big role. That could put Bears tight ends, White and any of their running backs in play against Denver in daily fantasy football leagues.

The real interest for DFS purposes is on the Broncos’ side, however. Paxton Lynch is locked into the entire second half, which gives us certain playing time.

If he can connect with guys like Cody Latimer and Jordan Taylor – two able bodied receivers – he could be a fun DFS play. We’re also interested in Denver tight end Virgil Green and running backs Devontae Booker, Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs.

Overall, Denver has the more interesting talent and the deeper roster (other than quarterback) so we’ll take them on Thursday.

Got a different take when it comes to preseason daily fantasy football or Thursday’s preseason bets? Tell us all about it in the comments below!