NFL Preseason Week 3 Picks for DFS & PrizePicks — August 22, 2024
NFL Preseason is back today. Get ready for NFL Preseason Week 3 with our top picks and projections from PrizePicks for Thursday, August 22.
As teams get the final look at players to fine tune their 53-man rosters, these DFS and PrizePicks selections offer key insights into matchups and playing time that help you build your lineup.
Dive in, make your picks on PrizePicks, and stay ahead of the game in the final week of NFL Preseason action.
Projections are as of 3:30 p.m. ET and are subject to change.
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Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals Picks
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
TV: Prime Video
Colts vs. Bengals Playing Time Notes
According to Colts coach Shane Steichen, Colts starters will play about a quarter and a half in this game. On the other side, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said that starters will not play in this game at all. That means a good amount of QB Anthony Richardson and the Colts first-team up against the Bengals second-team, which is why they’re favored by nearly a touchdown here.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson 75.5 Pass Yards — MORE
You know exactly how much Anthony Richardson will play here — 1.5 quarters. The thing is, he gets all of that time against backups for the Bengals, in a game where he needs to get up to speed following last year’s season-ending injury.
Meanwhile, the projection suggests that Richardson will be up against a normal, first-team NFL defense. That’s not the case. This is a pick based on the matchup more than anything.
Bengals QB Logan Woodside 122.5 Pass Yards — MORE
Look, I couldn’t tell you a thing about Logan Woodside besides his name. What I can tell you is he had 25 pass attempts in preseason Week 2 with Jake Browning out, and also passed this projection in Week 1 on just 12 pass attempts.
With Joe Burrow and Browning out again, Woodside should be under center for almost the entire game. With that in mind, this projection seems low.
Bengals WR Shedrick Jackson 29.5 Receiving Yards — LESS
Shedrick Jackson had three targets in Week 1 and Week 2. I don’t see a big reason that should change here, even with the first team and Kendric Pryor sitting out in this game. I doubt those factors lead to a huge spike in volume for Jackson specifically. Sure, he could pop up late in the game and get there. But it seems unlikely, as the Bengals have tons of receivers to mix in.
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Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs Picks
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Bears vs. Chiefs Playing Time Notes
This one’s going to be a whole lot of backups. Bears No. 1 pick Caleb Williams will sit out this game, along with the majority of the Bears’ starters, according to coach Matt Eberflus. The Chiefs will also “probably” rest all of their starters in this game, according to coach Andy Reid.
That leaves some time for the twos, and likely a lot of time for the threes, as the players on the 53-man roster bubble get one last chance to make an impression.
Chiefs WR Cornell Powell 21.5 Receiving Yards — MORE
Powell came through with a huge 64-yard touchdown in preseason Week 2. But that’s not why I’m taking more here. In preseason Week 1, where Patrick Mahomes only played one possession, Powell put up a 3-24 line on four targets (second on the team). Expect him to be on the field a lot here and get plenty of looks after last week’s show-stopping play.
Bears WR Nsimba Webster 36.5 Receiving Yards — LESS
Here are Nsimba Webster’s stats in three preseason games:
- vs Houston: N/A
- vs Buffalo: 1 target, 1 reception, 10 yards
- vs Cincinnati: 2 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards
Although his two targets came in one half against Cincinnati last week, there are just too many mouths to feed in this receiving room. Sure, Tyson Bagent has shown some promise this preseason, but I don’t think Webster will get the volume here to reach this number.
Bears RB Roschon Johnson 22.5 Rush Yards — LESS
The Bears are resting their starters in this game, which signals that they’re inclined to rest any players who may get regular season playing time. Roschon Johnson should be in the mix as the team’s RB3 this season, and he has missed the last two preseason games due to injury. He just returned to practice this week, so I doubt he gets more than a few possessions of play time here. I’m taking the less based on volume.
Build Your NFL Preseason Lineup on PrizePicks
As we get ready for the final week of NFL preseason action, hopefully these picks gave you a glimpse into the players to keep an eye on for DFS.
Ready to build your lineup? Head to PrizePicks and pick more or less on NFL preseason projections to lock in your squad for preseason Week 3. Just pick at least two player projections, or up to six, choose your lineup amount, and get ready for the action.
Good luck in the final week of meaningless football! Next up: games that matter.
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