NFL DFS Preseason Week 1 Friday Picks: Jarrett Stidham & Sam Ehlinger In Line To Play A Ton

We get a small three-game slate for Preseason NFL DFS on Friday on Draftkings. Contests are a little smaller than Thursday's six-game slate, but we're still getting $25K up top in the main contest. Let's dive into these teams and see what players stand out.

Quarterback Targets On Friday's NFL DFS Preseason Slate On DraftKings

Broncos HC Sean Payton said starters will play about 1-2 drives, but Bo Nix will not play as he's returning from injury. This leaves Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger to each get a half of the game. Both look like great plays here and have the most confirmed playing time of any QBs on the slate.

Next, let's look at the Buccaneers, who have already ruled out Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning. Connor Bazelak is next in line and should start the game. He doesn't give you much with his legs, but is a good passer and looks good here. Jalon Daniels out of Kansas should finish the game. He has the legs to really get there if given the playing time. Playing time for both of these guys is up in the air, but the fact that it's just the two of them is a good sign. Both stand out as playable options.

Running Back Picks For Friday's Week 1 NFL DFS Preseason Slate

For what looks like an overall sloppy situation at RB for each team, the Dolphins stand out the most due to the playing ability of Donovan Edwards. Starters are expected to play a series or two, so if they are pulled quickly, Edwards could be in for a lot of playing time. They are really thin after their starters, so Edwards looks like a great option assuming he stays on the field.

The Commanders have not given direct playing-time reports for the starters, but it would be surprising if they play much. This leaves Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry Jr. to potentially get some good playing time. Allen is the Commanders' sixth-round pick of this year's draft and put up an impressive senior year at Penn State. Henry has been looking really good in camp and has been rumored to be in for a firm opportunity to showcase himself in preseason.

Tampa Bay is a team to keep an eye on. If their starters end up sitting, Josh Williams will be in a prime spot and will look like an excellent play. He would get the majority of the work, with Kadarius Calloway coming in for cleanup. I would expect the starters to play a bit here, but regardless, Williams is firmly in play.

Wide Receiver Targets For Friday's Preseason DFS Slate

Wide receiver is also looking pretty dicey overall, as most of the teams on this slate are playing their starters a few drives, as well as balancing out the rest of their attacks. Most teams Friday have the mindset of trying to get everyone on the field.

However, let's look at the Dolphins first, who are currently projected to have starters play 1-2 drives. Caleb Douglas is a name to keep in mind, as he is not only battling for a starting position, but could very easily see snaps after the starters are pulled. Also looking good is Terrace Marshall Jr., who had a good preseason with the Eagles last year and could be in line for a good amount of work Friday.

The Falcons also look to have a couple of good options. Preseason veterans Dylan Drummond and Chris Blair are back, and should both get good playing time. Blair looks like he's going to make the roster, so his playing time could be cut a little bit to save him, but Drummond should be in for a lot of work at a thin WR room in Atlanta Friday.

Lastly, the Buccaneers have some enticing looks here. Ted Hurst, the Falcons' third-round pick, is earning praise in training camp and could be in for meaningful snaps this preseason. Dean Patterson looks good as well. He has gotten praise from HC Todd Bowles in training camp thus far and has said he's excited to see what he's got this preseason.

Tight End Plays For Tonight's NFL DFS Preseason Slate

As I've previously mentioned on past slates, tight end is usually a very chalky position in preseason DFS. There are generally a few good plays that stand out and will be getting good playing time. Today's slate has some good options on a couple of teams; let's dive into it!

The Commanders have two tight ends that look like decent options. Colson Yankoff has been building a good case to make the roster, according to Ben Standig, and has great pass-catching ability. Lawrence Cager also looks like a solid play. He got a lot of playing time last year for the Commanders in preseason, and that looks to be the case again here.

The Broncos have three playable clicks here at TE. First, Lucas Krull. He is fighting for a roster spot this year in a deep TE room in Denver. He put up good numbers last year in the preseason and is going to have to show out this year to keep his jersey, so we could see some decent production here. Justin Joly and Caleb Lohner are also playable. Both have gotten positive reports from HC Sean Payton, and should both get opportunities to display their talents this preseason.

NFL Preseason DFS Defense (DST) Strategy

Picking a defense in preseason DFS comes down to two things. First, the total of the game. The lower the total, the fewer points will be scored, which keeps your defense's fantasy points higher. Second is who the opposing QBs are. Many teams will play multiple backup QBs for the entirety of the game, with supporting casts whom they are not familiar with. This can lead to a lot of turnover and sack opportunities for the defense.

Good luck on this three-game Friday slate, and be on the lookout for more playing time news from these teams as we get closer to game time! I like a lot of spots to attack already, and I'm sure more will open up as the day goes on.

Published Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM ET