NFL Preseason Week 1: Picks for DFS & PrizePicks — August 8
The NFL Preseason is finally here, bringing our first real taste of football action for the 2024 season. NFL Preseason Week 1 is our first look at rookies, new coaching schemes, and new-look teams.
Here, we’ll break down tonight’s Panthers vs. Patriots and Lions vs. Giants preseason games, with every player you should keep an eye on for DFS and PrizePicks tonight.
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NFL Preseason Games Schedule: August 8
Two games will start NFL Preseason Week 1 before the weekend. It's our first Thrusday Night Football of the 2024 season, the first game action for a Bill Belichick-less Patriots squad, and the debut for dozens of rookies.
- Carolina Panthers @ New England Patriots — 7 p.m. EST — NFL Network
- Detroit Lions @ New York Giants — 7 p.m. EST
Stay locked in on the latest training camp news to get you ready for NFL preseason DFS.
Panthers vs Patriots: Players to Watch
All eyes on NFL Network tonight as the Patriots take the field without Bill Belichick for the first time since “No Scrubs” by TLC was on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999. It’s been a minute.
Two new coaches will face off in this game, so it’s hard to know what to expect in terms of playing time unless we get official word before the game.
New England Patriots Preseason Picks
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said that everyone that can play in this game, will play. That makes this team hard to gauge for production on Thursday.
QB Jacoby Brissett will start. But more importantly, this is our first look at No. 3 overall pick QB Drake Maye (projection: 65.5 passing yards), as well as Patriots fourth-round QB Joe Milton III (projection: 58.5 passing yards). Maye started camp slowly, but has started to pick things up as camp progresses. Milton has flashed in camp, which is typical for someone with his athleticism.
It would be surprising to see Maye play more than a quarter here as he continues to battle Jacoby Brissett for the starting job, but he’ll be the talk of the night regardless.
It’s hard to get a read on production from this squad without an unofficial depth chart, but if you want some darts based on training camp, look for rookie RB Terrell Jennings, WR Jalen Reagor, WR Kayshon Boutte, and rookie WRs Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker to make the most of their playing time tonight.
Carolina Panthers Preseason Picks
With the Panthers sitting Bryce Young and QB Andy Dalton injured, that leaves two healthy quarterbacks who will split the game: QBs Jack Plummer (projection: 139.5 passing yards) and Jake Luton. Plummer is a rookie from Louisville who is likely to draw the start and play the first half, if not more. Luton has been in the NFL since 2020, with his only game action coming in that season with two touchdowns and six interceptions.
At RB, we should see a heavy dose of RB Raheem Blackshear (projection: 24.5 rushing yards). RB Jonathon Brooks is out, and Panthers likely don’t need to see much out of veterans Chuba Hubbard or Miles Sanders, if they play at all. Blackshear should get plenty of run in the first half.
There aren’t many standouts in the WR room, although the injury to rookie Xavier Legette should lead to more opportunities for others to step up. Look to Ihmir Smith-Marsette (projection: 28.5 receiving yards), WR Mike Strachan (projection: 26.5 receiving yards), and rookie WR Jalen Coker to make some noise and get plenty of playing time tonight. Smith-Marsette was second in receiving yards in the 2023 NFL Preseason with 195 yards.
Lastly, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (projection: 20.5 receiving yards) was a receiving standout at Texas, and he should get plenty of playing time here due to injuries in the TE room. You won’t find a much better athlete playing TE in the NFL, and this is a huge opportunity for the fourth-round pick to shine.
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Lions vs Giants Picks: Players to Watch
Both of these teams are not going to play their starters in this game after the week of practice against each other. Giants QB Daniel Jones and WR Malik Nabers are sitting; on the other side, don’t expect to see Lions QB Jared Goff, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, or WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Detroit Lions Preseason Picks
On the Lions side, that leaves Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker at QB. Hooker is likely to take the bulk of the snaps, as Sudfeld is in his eighth NFL season. Hooker’s projected for 114.5 passing yards on PrizePicks.
It’s unlikely we’ll get much (if any) of the top three Lions backs. That leaves Sione Vaki (projection: 27.5 rushing yards), Zonovan Knight (projection: 25.5 rushing yards), and Jermar Jefferson to take most of the backfield snaps. Jefferson has been stashed on the team’s practice squad and has impressed this camp, while Vaki was a versatile component of the Utah offense just last year. All are probably on the outside looking in for a 53-man roster spot unless they find a special teams role.
As always, it’s tough to pin down WRs in preseason with so many on each team, but keep an eye on versatile second-year WR Antoine Green — projected for 27.5 receiving yards — and veteran WR Daurice Fountain. Fountain is another player who is on the edge for the 53-man roster. Green was a flashy utility player at North Carolina in 2022, and was sixth in receiving yards just last preseason thanks to this 70-yard touchdown.
New York Giants Preseason Picks
At quarterback, there’s only three on the roster here, and QB Daniel Jones is going to sit. So look for Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito to split the game in half. DeVito should be comfortable enough with the Giants scheme to dominate the second half of this game, while Lock is getting his first snaps in a Giants jersey.
At WR, Allen Robinson should be a huge part of the offense in the first half. The 30-year-old veteran is fighting for a roster spot, and will get his chance to prove his value in the first half. Bryce Ford-Wheaton will be another one to watch, as he’s on the cusp of the roster as well after spending 2023 on injured reserve with the Jets.
It’s really hard to judge the Giants RB room, as they look to replace Saquon Barkley’s production. That said, rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. has been the talk of camp and he has a chance to win the RB2 spot behind Devin Singletary. Tracy could eventually work his way into an actual role on this team; I’d imagine the Giants want to give him a lot of snaps in the preseason.
Play NFL Preseason (NFLP) DFS on PrizePicks
Ready to make your preseason picks tonight? Dive into the action and create your NFL preseason lineup on PrizePicks. There’s no better way to watch meaningless football than with a sweat.
Whether you’re backing rookies or banking on veterans fighting for a roster spot, set your lineups on PrizePicks for tonight’s games before locking in on the games.
Not a PrizePicks member yet? Sign up with promo code “Playbook” and get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup!
