Example Daily Plug from NFL PS 2022, Saturday W1
BELOW IS OUR NFL PS DAILY PLUG FROM W1 OF 2022. THIS PAGE WILL NOT BE UPDATED - IT IS MEANT TO DISPLAY ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT COMES WITH AN NFL PS DAILY PLUG.
Below is all of the information we've gathered from team insiders on expected playing time, highlights from camp, and noted connections/opportunities from early practices to give you the top NFL Preseason DFS picks for FanDuel & DraftKings. These NFL Preseason DFS Playing Time Notes are a livg document and will be updated throughout the day until the final kickoff on Sunday night!
Quick Links:
Snaps, Targets, & Opportunities for every team dating back to the beginning of last preseason
NFL Preseason DFS Lineup Builder
NOTE: If you win more than $500 OR have a return on investment of 5X or greater, tweet a screenshot to us @OccupyFantasy on Twitter. Each month, we will draw a random screenshot to win a $100 GPP entry. Get a bonus entry in the drawing if you use the Occupy logo on your DFS profile
Top Plays - NFL Preseason DFS Picks
BETTING ODDS
Favorites:
Denver, -5
LA Chargers, -3
Houston, -2.5
Pittsburgh, -1.5
Miami, -1
Highest Team Totals:
Pittsburgh Steelers, 19.5
Denver Broncos, 19.25
Houston Texans, 19
Seattle Seahawks, 18
LA Chargers, 17.5
TOP PLAYS - 5 GAME SLATE
QB: HOU Jeff Driskel (FD), MIA Skylar Thompson
LAR Bryce Perkins, DEN Josh Johnson, NO Ian Book, DAL Cooper Rush, PIT Mason Rudolph, DAL Ben DiNucci, LAC Easton Stick, LAC Chase Daniel, TB Kyle Trask, LAR Luis Perez, SEA Drew Lock
RB: PIT Jaylen Warren, PIT Master Teague, DAL Malik Davis, DAL Aaron Shampklin, TB Rachaad White, HOU Dameon Pierce
SEA Kenneth Walker, LAC Isaiah Spiller, LAR Jake Funk, PIT Anthony McFarland Jr, NO Abram Smith, TB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
WR: LAR Lance McCutcheon, PIT George Pickens, DAL Jalen Tolbert, LAR Tutu Atwell, NO Chris Olave, DEN Montrell Washington
SEA Penny Hart, SEA Aaron Fuller, MIA Erik Ezukanma, MIA Braylon Sanders, MIA River Cracraft, MIA Trent Sherfield, LAR JJ Koski, LAR Landen Akers, LAR Austin Trammell, DAL Dennis Houston, PIT Miles Boykin, PIT Calvin Austin III, HOU Johnny Johnson III, NO Kirk Merritt, NO Dai’Jean Dixon
TE: HOU Jeff Driskel (DK - please lock him, stop reading TE names)
LAC Hunter Kampmoyer, LAC Erik Krommenhoek, MIA Tanner Conner, MIA Hunter Long
DST: Denver, LA Chargers, Miami, Houston
Tampa Bay, LA Rams, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Dallas, Seattle
Note: Players listed in order of preference. Players in italics are high-risk options.
Favorite Overall Plays
HOU QB Jeff Driskel (DraftKings lock button TE), PIT RB Jaylen Warren, DAL RB Malik Davis, LAR Lance McCutcheon
Stack Options
SEA
Smith: Metcalf / Lockett / Fant / Dissly
Lock: Thompson / Johnson / Parkinson
Eason: Young / Alexander / Melton / Mabry / Brewer
PIT
Trubisky: Johnson / Pickens / Freiermuth
Rudolph: Boykin / Miller / White / Heyward
Pickett: Olszewski / Sims / Miller / Sternberger
MIA
Bridgewater: Sherfield /Sanu / Williams
Thompson: Ezukanma / Conner / Sanders / Bowden
TB
Gabbert: T. Johnson / S. Miller / Otton
Trask: Darden / Grayson Jr. / Smith
Griffin: Brown / Sterns / Geiger
NO
Dalton: Olave / Callaway / Smith / Trautman
Book: White / Merritt / Dixon / Harty / Vannett / Juw. Johnson
Costello: Winston / Shaheed / Baker / Holtz / Herndon / Krull
HOU
Mills: Cooks / Collins/Dorsett
Driskel: Conley / Wedington / Moore / Camp / Johnson
DAL
Rush: Tolbert / N. Brown / Fehoko / Houston
DiNucci: Drummond / B. Smith / Turpin / Robinson / T.J. Vasher / Fryfogle
DEN
Johnson: Quinn / Williams / Hinton / Fulgham
Rypien: Virgil / Washington / Quinn / Davis / Johnson
LAR
Perkins: McCutcheon / Koski / Akers / Hopkins
Perez: Jackson / Trammell / Pinkney
LAC
Daniel: Moore / Carter / Bandy / Reed / Kampmoyer
Stick: Bandy / Reed / Ffrench / Bradford / Krommenhoek / Surratt
LAR-LAC Single Game Low-Risk:
CPT/MVP: Chargers DST, Rams DST
FLEX: LAC QB Chase Daniel, LAC QB Easton Stick, LAC QB Bryce Perkins, LAC QB Luis Perez, LAR K Matt Gay
LAR-LAC Single Game High-Risk:
CPT/MVP: LAR WR Lance McCutcheon, LAR WR JJ Koski, LAR WR Landen Akers
FLEX: LAR WR Austin Trammell, LAR Jake Funk, LAC RB Isaiah Spiller, LAC WR Jalen Guyton, LAR RB Trey Ragas
Note: Players listed in order of preference. If a player is listed at CPT/MVP, they are also a top play in the FLEX spot. If a player is listed as a low-risk top play, he can also be played in high-risk contests; be sure to follow the lineup construction advice below.
Slate Notes
Low-risk lineup strategy
We actually feel more confident in our top WR plays tonight than our top RB plays. However, it’s still a volatile position, so look to flex higher-floor RBs in your low-risk lineups. Don’t play any high-risk plays in your low-risk lineup, just play the top plays above, ideally trying to stack a WR with your QB. There are later games tonight, so put the latest playing player in your FLEX spot for maximum lineup flexibility (in all contest types).
High-risk lineup strategy
Play a minimum of two and a maximum of five high-risk plays in your high-risk lineups tonight. Stack one pass-catcher with your QB, and FLEX a WR or RB (RB is more preferred on FD). Look to differentiate especially at WR/TE.
Mass-multi entry strategy
Use our Lineup Builder. Watch our NFL Preseason DFS tutorial video!
Stacking is turned OFF by default in the NFL Preseason builder (since game stacks aren’t as correlated as the regular season), so to pair a QB with a pass-catcher, create a custom rule for each QB/CPT -- when player X is in lineup, min 1 players A, B, C. eg. “When Thompson is in the lineup, use min 1 of Ezukanma / Conner/ Sanders / Bowden.”
There are a ton of QBs playing tonight, but we have confirmed playing time of at least half for a handful -- there’s no need to look further than our top low and high risk plays, so keep a tight QB player pool.
Bankroll & Contest Recommendations
Bankroll allocation: 4-5%. An eight game slate with edges galore, get equal allocation to low-risk and high-risk contests on the classic slate. Be sure to save some dollars for in-game showdowns, where available.
Low-risk contest selection:
Focus on single entry double ups. Only play H2Hs if you can find no badge users - the only people likely posting H2H contests for this game are those grinding it as hard as we are.
High-risk contest selection:
This will forever be the case, as mentioned in our Ultimate Guide: play 100-player leagues on FanDuel -- they offer the best return for your high-risk investment. If you’re not 20- or 150-maxing, find Single Entry and 3-Max GPPs on both sites. If you play 3-Max, be sure to enter 3 lineups. The smaller GPPs (think 100 to 500 players) offer the best risk/reward ratio.
Don’t forget about even smaller leagues, too (think 5 to 20 players) -- you can use your low-risk lineup in those, especially if the entrants do not have experience badges.
Satellite targets
FanDuel: Target the Sunday Million, Thursday Million and Monday Million Week 1 contests if available.
DraftKings: $10 Kickoff Thursday Millionaire, $100 Fantasy Football Millionaire, $5 Fantasy Football Millionaire. There are also contests for tickets into the DK Best Ball Millionaire.
Playing the 2H/4Q slates on DraftKings? They’re likely to be filled with casual opponents. Just play guys from our top plays in the order listed (using the same high/low risk strategy above) as long as they haven’t entered the game yet. In all honesty, 4Q > 2H > full game in terms of potential profitability. Because the prize pools aren’t large for the 2H and 4Q slates, there likely won’t be any pros playing.
For more information on Contest Selection, read our Ultimate Guide.
PLAYING TIME NOTES & EXPECTATIONS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Unofficial depth chart here.
QB: 3 QBs on roster: Geno Smith, Drew Lock, Jacob Eason
Smith will start, he has taken all the reps with the 1st team in practices.
PSW1 2021, starter (now Smith) played roughly 1Q, QB2 (now Lock) played Q2+Q3, and final QB (now Eason) played Q4.
RB: 6 on roster: Penny, Walker III, Homer, Dallas, J. Johnson, D. Thompson.
Rashaad Penny is expected to be OUT, per beat.
Carroll is very impressed with Walker III and his pass protection skills.
Starting RB played 36% snaps in PSW1 2021, likely Walker who Carroll says “will get some good run in this game.”
WR: 13 on roster.
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are clear starters.
Freddie Swain, Dee Eskridge and Marquise Goodwin are expected to be OUT, per beat.
2021 PSW1, 2nd team WRs played nearly 2Q (would align with Drew Lock’s playing time at QB). Should be Aaron Fuller + Penny Hart.
Cody Thompson made “highlight reel” catch in team scrimmage.
Dareke Young & Bo Melton were also mentioned as players to watch.
TE: 5 on roster.
SEA was depleted at TE in PSW1 2021, so hard to decipher any trends. All five TEs should see action.
K: Jason Myers only kicker.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Unofficial depth chart here.
QB: 4 on roster: Trubisky, Rudolph, Pickett, Oladokun.
Expect Trubisky 1Q, Rudolph 2Q, Pickett 1Q for playing time, per Tomlin.
RB: 6 on roster, but only three healthy RBs as of their most recent practice - McFarland, Warren, Teague.
Najee Harris only getting individual work, OUT. Benny Snell, Mataeo Durant not practicing, OUT. FB Derek Watt not practicing, OUT.
Master Teague & Jaylen Warren “highly conditioned, taking as many reps as they can handle” per beat.
Jaylen Warren “turning heads” at camp. “Real shot” to be RB2 this season.
WR: 12 on roster.
PSW0 (HOF Game) last year, WR3/4s led in snaps: McCloud (51%), A. Johnson (46%), J. Washington (44%).
Signed Christian Blake this week (waived J. McKinley) likely out in PSW1.
Chase Claypool not practicing, likely OUT. Diontae Johnson limited, likely OUT.
Trubisky working with D. Johnson, G. Pickens with rotating cast at slot (Austin, Miller, Sims). Skeptical Johnson plays tonight.
Miles Boykin “has come on strong” in the last two weeks.
Expect Boykin, White, Miller to run with Rudolph per depth chart.
Expect Olszewski, Miller, Sims, Austin, Snead & Vaughns all to mix in with Pickett unit per depth chart.
TE: 5 on roster.
Zach Gentry not practicing, likely OUT.
Expect Freiermuth with Trubisky unit.
Expect Heyward/Rader with Rudolph unit, and Rader/Sternberger with Pickett unit.
K: Two on roster: Chris Boswell and Cameron Nizialek.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Unofficial depth chart here.
Mike McDaniel came from SF, so potential for previous SF playing time trends to follow.
QB: 3 on roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Teddy Bridgewater, Skylar Thompson
Tua Tagovailoa may sit out this game. Would mean 2 QBs available.
Bridgewater’s reps were limited in final joint practice, which could mean a ton of action for Thompson.
RB: 7 on roster.
Raheem Mostert (knee) questionable.
Mostly veteran RBs aside from Gerrid Doaks and ZaQuandre White.
WR: 11 on roster.
In SF PSW1 (McDaniel OC), WR3/4s led in snaps: Jennings (54%), Cracraft (51%)
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle likely to sit.
Erik Ezukanma has impressed in camp, caught several balls during joint practices. Caught a TD from Thompson in team drills on Thursday.
Braylon Sanders, Trent Sherfield and Mohamed Sanu also had “bright moments” in camp.
Sanders specifically mentioned with Ezukanma as star of camp.
Sherfield, Sanu & River Cracraft are former SF guys McDaniel knows.
TE: 6 on roster.
Adam Shaheen was traded, but voided due to failed physical, so he’s back with Miami.
Hunter Long “should get a lot of playing time” per beat.
Tanner Conner (former college WR) has impressed in recent practices and caught TDs from all of the QBs. Should play across multiple units.
K: Jason Sanders lone kicker.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Unofficial depth chart here.
Todd Bowles is now HC but should keep prior preseason trends intact with most of the coaching staff remaining.
QB: Four on roster: Brady, Gabbert, Trask, Griffin.
Tom Brady is away from the team until 8/20.
Bucs want to see “a lot” of Trask in the preseason.
Estimate: Gabbert 1Q, Trask 2Q, Griffin 1Q.
RB: 5 on roster: Fournette, Vaughn, Bernard, White, Barner.
Would expect Fournette out with starters at QB/WR out, so 4 to play.
PSW1 2021, four RBs played <10% snaps, other two played 44% and 35%.
WR: 14 on roster.
Mike Evans, Russell Gage, Breshad Perriman and Chris Godwin will be OUT with injuries. Strongly suggested Julio Jones will be OUT as well.
Tyler Johnson, Jaelon Darden, Scotty Miller, Deven Thompkins, Cyril Grayson, Jerreth Sterns will be the group that plays against Miami.
Vyncint Smith, Kaylon Geiger, Kam Brown will also mix in the 2H.
Six WRs played 30%+ snaps in PSW1 2021.
TE: 7 on roster.
K: Two: Ryan Succop and Jose Borregales.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Unofficial depth chart here.
QB: Four on roster: Winston, Dalton, Book, Costello.
Jameis Winston (foot injury) unlikely to play.
Expecting “significant action” from Ian Book, per beat.
RB: 6 on roster: Kamara, Ingram, Washington, Jones, Ozigbo, Smith.
Kamara and Ingram are not expected to play.
Tony Jones Jr. and Devine Ozigbo assumed to work as a committee through the first half.
Abram Smith expected to see extended playing time in the second half.
WR: 12 on roster.
Expect Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry out if Winston is out.
Olave, Callaway, Smith and Harty to see most of the playing time in the first half.
Six WRs expected to see time throughout the second half.
TE: 7 on roster.
Taysom Hill (rib injury) unlikely to play.
K: Two: Wil Lutz and John Parker Romo.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Unofficial depth chart here.
QB: 3 on roster: Davis Mills, Kyle Allen, Jeff Driskel
Davis Mills will play “a couple of series” only.
Kyle Allen is OUT for “personal reasons” so Driskel will play nearly all of the game minus 2 series.
RB: 6 on roster (as well as 3 FBs, stay classy Lovie Smith)
BJ Emmons recently signed.
Marlon Mack is the “starter” and likely exits with Mills.
All players and reporters are excited to see rookie RB Dameon Pierce in action.
WR: 11 on roster.
Brandin Cooks is the WR1 and likely exits with Mills.
Chester Rogers hasn’t been practicing recently, likely out.
Johnny Johnson has been playing in the slot and has impressed.
TE: 6 on roster.
Anthony Auclair hasn’t been practicing recently, likely out.
K: Ka’imi Fairbairn only kicker.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Unofficial depth chart here.
Prescott, Elliot, Lamb expected to be out.
Starters played in their scrimmage and are not expected to get meaningful time.
QB: 4 QBs on roster (Prescott, Rush, Grier, DiNucci). Prescott, Grier OUT.
Grier tweaked his groin in practice and is not expected to play.
Starters played in their scrimmage and are not expected to get meaningful time.
2 QBs to play (Rush, DiNucci), expect a half each.
RB: 6 on roster. Elliott, Nall and Dowdle are OUT.
3 RBs available (Pollard, Davis, Shampklin)
Malik Davis has been making the most of his reps.
WR: 13 on roster. Lamb, Gallup and Washington are out.
Vasher, Fehoko, Houston have impressed in camp.
Tolbert had a great camp and is expected to start.
TE: 6 on roster.
Schultz is not expected to play much if at all.
Bunting listed as questionable.
K: 2 on roster (Maher, Hajrullahu)
DENVER BRONCOS
Unofficial depth chart here.
QB: Wilson not expected to play much, if at all.
2 other QBs on roster (Rypien, Johnson)
RB: 5 on roster.
Melvin Gordon has missed two practices due to a foot injury.
5 other RBs (Williams, Boone, McAllister, Borghi, Scott). Crockett is out for the season.
USFL standout RB Stevie Scott III just signed on Thursday, doubt he gets snaps.
WR: 13 total WRs: Cleveland, Patrick, and Hamler are out.
10 available WRs.
Courtland Sutton is nursing a shoulder injury, likely out.
Trey Quinn has been working with Johnson.
Jalen Virgil has been having a great camp.
Montrell Washington was brought in for special teams but has shown upside at WR.
Darrius Shepherd was a key WR for New Jersey in the USFL.
TE: 7 TEs on roster (Okwuegbunam, Tomlinson, Saubert, Parham, Williams).
Dulcich is considered DTD, likely out.
K: 1 kicker, Brandon McManus.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Unofficial depth chart here.
All key starters and veterans are OUT for the Rams.
QB: Stafford and Wolford are out.
2 QBs (Perkins, Perez)
This is a battle for the number 3 spot on the depth chart.
Perkins “knows the system”, 56/91, 451 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT and 22/114 rushing in 3 preseason games last year with Rams.
Perez shined in USFL this spring as a passer, no rushing upside.
Last season, QB3 (Perkins) played 39% of snaps, QB4 (Hodges) played 61% in PSW1. Hodges was let go and Perkins played 100% of snaps in PSW2 and PSW3. They love him.
RB: 7 on depth chart.
Akers, Henderson will be out.
Kyren Williams activated from PUP on 8/8, should play.
Team beat also expects Jake Funk to get “some” playing time.
Last year, 3 RBs played between 27% and 39% of snaps. Expecting 5 this time though.
WR: Kupp, Van Jefferson, Harris, Powell, Robinson expected out. Ben Skowronek is listed as a 1st team WR, wouldn’t expect him to play.
8 WRs expected to play.
Rams typically give back end WRs tons of reps in preseason.
Last year, Koski (86%), Akers (55%) led in snaps as WR3/4s.
Expect Koski, McCutcheon, W. Jackson, Akers, Trammell candidates for that role.
Team beat “has eye on” Lance McCutcheon, who “figures to get a good number of snaps.”
Tutu Atwell has looked improved in camp (almost too good to be in this scrub role?)
TE: Tyler Higbee not expected to play.
5 more on roster (Blanton, Hopkins, Pinkney, Carter, Pettigrew)
Last year, TE3 (Hopkins) played 59% of snaps. He’s TE3 again this year.
K: 1 on the roster, Matt Gay.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Unofficial depth chart here.
QB: 3 on roster: Herbert, Daniel, Stick.
Justin Herbert OUT, will not play. Daniel and Stick will get a full half each.
RB: 6 on roster: Ekeler, Kelley, Rountree III, Spiller, Marks Jr., L. Brown.
WR: 10 on roster.
Top 5 considered “set” by beat: Allen, Williams, Palmer, Guyton, D. Carter.
Michael Bandy and Joe Reed are listed as players to watch.
TE: 6 on roster.
Donald Parham (hamstring) is OUT for the game.
Gerald Everett & Tre’ McKitty expected OUT, as well.
Leaves 3 to split game: Kampmoyer, Krommenhoek and Surratt.
Kampmoyer “leg up” in the battle for TE4. 20/224/4 *total* in 4 years at Oregon.
Krommenhoek 39/335/3 *total* in 5 years at USC across 23 games.
Sage Surratt was a solid receiving TE for Birmingham in the USFL who could be frisky.
K: 2 on roster: Dustin Hopkins and James McCourt.