We follow up Thursday's modest two-game slate with four games Friday. The contests will kick off at 7:30pm ET, with the final game beginning at 8:20pm. There aren't many high-profile skill-position players who are likely to play, so it's time to dig even further into the depth charts than we already have this preseason.
Roster Strategy
Both DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineups consist of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and one DST unit. DraftKings uses PPR scoring with bonuses for 100-yard receiving or rushing performances and 300-yard passing games, while FanDuel has 0.5 PPR scoring. All players have the same salary cap hit in preseason DFS contests, so this format is all about finding the highest scoring fantasy players rather than balancing production against cost.
Our RotoWire NFL Optimizer can help you pinpoint top DFS targets, in addition to the rankings highlighted below.
Quarterback
Adrian Martinez 
vs. PHI
Max Brosmer 
at TEN
Easton Stick 
at DAL
Tyson Bagent 
at KC
We'll list out several options because there hasn't been much news in terms of who will play. We don't expect to see many, if any, of the starters for these four teams. A few quick points on each:
- Martinez has been battling Brady Cook for the temporary QB2 position while Tyrod Taylor (knee) is out. Martinez has entered preseason games first and gotten more reps, but it's unclear if the order or amount of playing time between the two will change. If Martinez starts and is expected to play a lot, he's a good option.
- Brosmer is the other more unknown option. Sam Howell hasn't inspired confidence as the backup in Minnesota, but the job is still almost certainly his. He'll likely see some reps Friday, but he led only two drives in Minnesota's second preseason game. That would open up a lot of reps for Brosmer, who drew praise from the coaching staff after Saturday's loss to the Patriots despite a pedestrian stat line.
- Bagent and Stick should be more of the floor options. Stick is becoming a preseason favorite, primarily because he plays a lot. As Bagent's recent contract extension suggests, he's emerging as one of the better backups in the league. He knows how to run the offense and does so effectively in the preseason, but we may see a lot of Austin Reed.
Running Back
Ian Wheeler at KC
The Bears' backfield has endured a lot of injuries this preseason, which has opened the door for Wheeler to handle 26 carries. He's likely to get another heavy workload, which immediately makes him one of the top running back options for Friday night.
Donovan Edwards vs. PHI
Just like the quarterback position, the depth at running back in New York is turning out to be intriguing to close the preseason. Isaiah Davis (ankle) was floated as a short-term IR candidate by Rich Cimini of ESPN on X on Wednesday, suggesting he won't be playing. That appears to leave Edwards and Kene Nwangwu as the next options after Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. Edwards seems to have a bit more big-play pop even if he loses the job battle, so I lean rostering him for Friday's games.
Zavier Scott at TEN
Scott has turned the RB3 spot in Minnesota into a legitimate competition with Ty Chandler, and Scott has been more productive. We should see a lot of him Friday, and he turned in a solid 10.2 PPR points thanks to his receiving work in the second preseason contest.
Nathan Carter at DAL
The Falcons aren't likely to play Bijan Robinson or Tyler Allgeier, and Carlos Washington Jr. (hamstring) has been ruled out. That leaves Carter as the projected workhorse back, a role he also filled successfully last weekend.
Jaydon Blue 
vs. ATL
The reality is that all picks are risky in the preseason, but Blue is particularly so. He has been sidelined for a large portion of the preseason with a heel injury, but he practiced Tuesday, suggesting he'll be ready to dress Friday. Given the mediocrity and uncertainty in the Dallas backfield, Blue would be a logical choice to get a decent amount of work and should be one of the more talented players on the field. We don't know the Cowboys' plans for Blue, or his level of health, which introduces a lot of risk.
Brashard Smith 
vs. CHI
Smith is likely in line to solidify the RB3 job for Kansas City, and he should be on the radar for his pass-catching ability. He isn't likely to get as heavy of a workload as some of the other options, so he is more of a play on DK.
Wide Receiver
John Metchie 
at NYJ
Metchie was acquired by the Eagles on Sunday, so the team is likely to want to get him integrated into its offense as quickly as possible. Friday offers a good chance for that, so he could be in line for a decent number of snaps while perhaps being forced some targets.
Dylan Drummond/Chris Blair at DAL
Preseason DFS varies from the regular season for many obvious reasons, including that stacking typically isn't viable. Atlanta may be the exception, as this duo has put up excellent numbers and is likely to play a ton as the Falcons have rested nearly all of their significant players this preseason.
Brandon Smith vs. PHI
Smith played the most snaps of any Jets' offensive player in Week 2 of the preseason, and he's likely auditioning for a spot on the practice squad. He totaled 48 yards on six targets Saturday, and he should get a lot of looks once again.
Tim Jones/Lucky Jackson/Jeshaun Jones at TEN
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there's suddenly an interesting situation at wide receiver in Minnesota after Tai Felton suffered an arm injury in practice. There is legitimate playing time potentially open in two-receiver sets in Week 1, but at the very least WR3 is wide open. T. Jones was the most productive of this group last week, followed by J. Jones, but Jackson led the group in snaps. It's hard to decipher exactly where the production will fall, but rostering at least one of this group is a good idea.
Elic Ayomanor 
vs. MIN
Ayomanor isn't generating the same hype as some of the rookies because of the offense he's in, but he has shown a playmaking ability this preseason while displaying rapport with Cameron Ward. Ayomanor may not play long, but he can rack up points in a hurry.
Tight End
Gunnar Helm vs. MIN
Helm quickly cleared Josh Whyle on the tight end depth chart in Tennessee, and the Titans look to be invested in getting him involved in the offense during the regular season. Expect him to play quite a bit and get targeted relatively often, making him a standout at one of the toughest positions for preseason DFS.
Robert Tonyan vs. CHI
Tonyan has been the most consistent pass-catcher for the Chiefs in the preseason and is potentially playing himself into a roster spot. He's probably a safer option relative to Helm, with Helm packing more upside and playmaking ability.
Defense/Special Teams
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Watching exactly how quarterback reps are going to be split may change the outlook of defensive units, but the Jets stand out as of Friday morning. Tanner McKee looks unlikely to play for the Eagles, leaving a combination of Kyle McCord and Dorian Thompson-Robinson to play the entire game under center. That should be very good for the Jets' defensive unit.
