Here we go — semi-real football with actual, real NFL players suiting up and playing (well, some, at least. And if you’re making NFL DFS picks for the Thursday night preseason NFL slate, we have the news, notes and depth charts for all four teams in action. Let’s get into the big points to target for Lions-Giants and Panthers-Patriots Preseason Week 1 DFS.
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Preseason Week 1 NFL DFS Picks for Lions-Giants & Panthers-Patriots
Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
- Detroit Lions: -180 (-3.5)
- New York Giants: +165 (+3.5)
- Over/Under: 34.5
Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots
- Carolina Panthers +260 (+7)
- New England Patriots: -305 (-6.5)
- Over/Under: 34
Quarterbacks
Carolina Panthers
With Bryce Young and Andy Dalton out, the Panthers are turning to newly signed Jake Luton and Jack Plummer. Plummer is expected to see significant playing time, potentially three quarters or at least a half. He’s not particularly mobile, so stacking him could be a wise choice. He’s a solid option but will likely be popular.
New England Patriots
The Patriots are expected to have all four of their quarterbacks available for tonight’s game, which means each will probably get limited playing time. Given that some might see less than a quarter on the field, it’s best to avoid this situation.
Detroit Lions
Hendon Hooker, who missed last season due to an ACL injury from his final year at Tennessee, is making his return. He offers significant rushing potential, though this will be his first game in over a year and a half. Nate Sudfeld is the other quarterback available and might go unnoticed but could play for a half. The starting role is uncertain but likely to be Sudfeld.
New York Giants
With Daniel Jones absent, the Giants will rely on Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito, and Lock will probably start. Both are expected to get around a half each.
Running Backs
Carolina Panthers
With Jonathon Brooks sidelined and Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders unlikely to play, the Panthers are left with three running back options: Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone and Jaden Shirden. Dillon Johnson is on the roster but not in the player pool. Blackshear is probably the strongest choice, though he’ll also attract the most attention from players.
New England
The Patriots have five running backs on their roster (note: Deshaun Fenwick has been released and should be avoided). The starters may see minimal action — possibly just a series. This leaves JaMycal Hasty, Kevin Harris and Terrell Jennings as the primary options, making it a good area to focus on.
Detroit Lions
With no starters likely to play, Craig Reynolds might start but probably won’t. Four running backs are expected to see action: Sione Vaki is on the roster but not in the player pool. Based on current expectations, Jermar Jefferson, Zonovan Knight and Jake Funk are the top candidates for playing time, in that order.
New York Giants
Tyrone Tracy is an intriguing option as he is vying for the RB2 position. There are four backs to consider, with Eric Gray being the next-best option, followed by Dante Miller, who is quick and has had a strong camp. This position group is thin, making it a prime area to target.
Wide Receivers
Carolina Panthers
The starters will be rested, so it’s important to check if Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. are playing. If not, there will only be six available wide receivers. In order of preference, Deven Thompkins, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and David Moore are the top options for significant playing time.
New England Patriots
With 10 to 12 players potentially seeing action, it’s tough to pinpoint standout options. However, if you’re looking to bet on talent and training camp buzz, rookies Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk are the most promising choices.
Detroit Lions
It’s uncertain whether Kalif Raymond and Daurice Fountain will be in action. Fountain, who has been working with the first team, is expected to play if he suits up. If he does, he could be a great pairing with Sudfeld. Antoine Green is another strong option for this offense. Given the thin wide receiver depth, this team is worth targeting.
New York Giants
With several returning veterans potentially sitting out, the wide receiver position could be a bit thin. Monitor the starting lineup closely. Miles Boykin and Ayir Asante could see some action and will likely be less owned. It’s also probable that Allen Robinson and Isaiah McKenzie won’t play much even if they start.
Tight Ends
Carolina Panthers
With Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan out, rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders is likely to see some playing time. Jordan Matthews and Feleipe Franks are also options to consider.
New England Patriots
With up to six tight ends potentially seeing action, it’s best to avoid this position due to the uncertainty of who will get significant playtime.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have five tight ends available, making it difficult to predict who will see the most action.
New York Giants
Theo Johnson is expected to be a popular choice tonight given his target upside. However, with him listed fourth on the depth chart, he might be a riskier pick for GPPs due to the uncertainty. Chris Manhertz and Tyree Jackson are viable alternatives, especially with Lawrence Cager and Jack Stoll carrying injury tags.
Preseason Week 1 Player Props
Here are some current prop lines we could find from Pick ‘Em sites. These should help give you an idea for what the betting market is expecting heading into NFL DFS contests tonight
Passing Yards
- Jack Plummer: 143.5
- Hendon Hooker: 116.5
- Drake Maye: 63.5 on Underdog, 67.5 on PrizePicks
- Joe Milton: 58.5
Rushing + Receiving Yards
- Raheem Blackshear: 31.5
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette: 27.5
- Sione Vaki: 26.5
- Mike Strachan: 23.5
- Javon Baker: 22.5
- Zonovan Knight: 20.5
- Ja’Lynn Polk: 19.5
- Ja’Tavion Sanders: 19.5
- Jaheim Bell: 17.5
- James Mitchell: 15.5
- Feleipe Franks: 12.5
Stay tuned for our NFL DFS Projections: Our industry-leading data will be ready to go come NFL Week 1, and you can use the best NFL DFS projections on the market to build winning lineups right out the gate!
