NFL Preseason Week 1 Picks for DFS & PrizePicks — August 9, 2024

NFL Preseason Week 1 has officially kicked off, football is here, and all 32 NFL teams will take the field this weekend. The preseason gives us our first look at rookies, how they fit on their new teams, and who’s standing out.

The Friday Preseason DFS slate features three games, including a start from Falcons first-round QB Michael Penix Jr. against Miami. Let’s get into our NFL Week 1 Preseason DFS picks for PrizePicks and what to expect tonight.

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NFL Preseason Games Schedule: August 9

We’ve got three games on the preseason schedule for tonight, Friday, August 9, 2024. All eyes on Michael Penix Jr. drawing the start at QB for the Falcons, as well as Justin Fields’ debut in Pittsburgh.

• Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins — 7 p.m. EST
• Houston Texans @ Pittsburgh Steelers — 7 p.m. EST — NFL Network
• Philadelphia Eagles @ Baltimore Ravens — 7:30 p.m. EST

There are some concerns that Tropical Storm Debby could affect playing conditions in Baltimore, specifically the passing game. Baltimore is under a Coastal Flood Warning until Saturday, so it may be rainy (~50 percent chance of rain through the game).

It shouldn’t be a huge impact, as Debby has been on land all week. But it’s something to note, as pass catchers in preseason DFS are already very volatile because of how deep receiving rooms are.

Quarterbacks Preseason Picks

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

The surprise No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will get his first action here as a starter, as Kirk Cousins will sit out the entire preseason. Penix should get plenty of run here, according to Falcons coach Raheem Morris.

Penix will likely play at least a quarter, and potentially a bit more, but it is unknown. Regardless, when he’s out there, he’s the player to watch tonight. 

Skylar Thompson, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins will have only two quarterbacks tonight: Skylar Thompson and Mike White, with Tua Tagovailoa sitting out. Both are on the PrizePicks NFL Preseason board: Thompson at 90.5 passing yards, and White at 105.5 passing yards. Each will likely handle a half, with White going first — according to the depth chart.

Last year, Thompson averaged 132 yards per game in preseason contests, and clearly looked like the preseason favorite over White. Things could change this year, but look for Thompson to perform well against third-string defensive players in the second half.

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Running Backs Preseason Picks

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

Wright is a speedster rookie from Tennessee, running his 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds. He can hit his PrizePicks projection of 40.5 rush yards with just one run. While we may get a bit of De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert for a drive or two, I’m expecting Jaylen Wright to get most of the first half work, and potentially even play into the second half. 

Behind Wright, Salvon Ahmed and Jeff Wilson Jr. will compete for snaps, but both are NFL veterans that don’t need the preseason snaps. 

Rasheen Ali, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens will sit some starters in this game, including QB Lamar Jackson. This is already a more shallow RB room with Keaton Mitchell out, so it should open up plenty of opportunities for fifth-round RB Rasheen Ali to reach his PrizePicks rush yards projection of 27.5. 

Behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill — both of whom have no reason to play much, if at all — the Ravens only have Ali, undrafted rookie Chris Collier, and 2023 undrafted rookie Owen Wright. There’s no reason not to give Ali a ton of touches here and see what he can do.

Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles

Will Shipley, the Eagles fourth-round pick, has been a highlight of Eagles camp, even competing for the No. 2 RB job. While this RB room is crowded, I’d imagine the Eagles want to see what they have in their rookie; and he surely wants to prove his worth, both in the rush and pass game.

He should get plenty of opportunity to reach his 24.5 rush yards projection on PrizePicks tonight.

It’s a crowded backfield, which makes this a more difficult click in a lineup, but there’s reason to believe that the Eagles want Shipley to get more work than career journeyman Tyrion Davis-Price and second-year RB Lew Nichols.

Wide Receivers Preseason Picks

Xavier Hutchinson, Houston Texans

We have a solid sample size for the Texans from the Hall of Fame Game, where Hutchinson had five catches for 56 yards. Today, the 2023 rookie is projected for only 21.5 receiving yards on PrizePicks. 

Hutchinson was a stud at Iowa State alongside Brock Purdy, breaking the Iowa State single-season receptions record with 83, then again with 107 in his final season. Hutchinson knows how to get open, and he plays in a high-volume role in this offense in the preseason. He’s deep enough on the depth chart to play with the second and third team, so expect him to get plenty of run again here.

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins

If we’re on Skylar Thompson, we’ve got to look at his favorite training camp target: WR Malik Washington, who’s projected for 20.5 receiving yards on PrizePicks. The sixth-round rookie has flashed during training camp, and it currently looks like he’ll make the team’s roster as the sixth receiver. 

He’s been talked up by coach Mike McDaniels, and he should get ample opportunity to make the roster in the preseason. Expect the Dolphins to use him a lot tonight, alongside River Cracraft, who is projected for 22.5 receiving yards.

Devontez Walker, Baltimore Ravens

While there are some weather concerns here, Walker makes the most sense to produce for the Ravens, and he should get plenty of run in the first half. The fourth-round rookie has played a bit with the first-team offense in training camp, showing off his elite speed, and securing his regular season roster spot.

Walker’s projection is 21.5 receiving yards tonight on PrizePicks, and as this team’s deep threat, he’s probably going to need to hit that in one or two catches.

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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.