The preseason landscape can be difficult to navigate. This is especially true in the final week of preseason. Are the starters going to sit? Will they get their last tune-up so that they’re ready for Week 1? Finding out those details means taking the time to sit down and do your research. Luckily for you, I’ve got all of that covered. I’ve had my ear to the streets, following all of the beat writers closest to their respected team. After analyzing unofficial depth charts and sifting through “coach speak” in press conferences, I’m confident that I know who will see meaningful playing time tonight. Today I’ll be sharing one of my favorite picks from each position as well as naming other players that should be in your roster pool tonight. In preseason slates we want to roster the guys that are going to be on the field the longest, which is how I landed on these four DraftKings picks.
NFL DraftKings Picks: 8/26
QB- Jarrett Stidham
DraftKings Salary: $5,500
Why does Stidham top the DraftKings picks for tonight? In one word, opportunity. Former fellow QB, Nick Mullens was dealt to the Vikings, thinning out the team’s depth chart. Now it’s just Carr, Stidham, and Chase Garbers. Carr hasn’t taken a preseason snap since 2019. There is no need to risk any injury to Carr in the final preseason game, as he has nothing to prove. Chase Garber has only attempted 18 passes across three appearances this preseason. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels likes to keep just two quarterbacks on the active roster. With no real reason to give the future practice squad QB a tune-up, it appears that Jarrett Stidham will play the majority of this game.
Might I also remind you that Stidham is a former Patriot. Who doesn’t salivate at the chance to stick it to their old squad? The revenge game narrative looks good in this one. Stidham will likely be a very popular pick, so while he won’t be contrarian, he makes way too much sense. Plug him in and forget about it.
Other QBS to consider: Bailey Zappe, Drew Lock, Baker Mayfield
RB- Brittain Brown
DraftKings Salary: $5,500
A quick look at the Raiders’ unofficial depth chart and Brittain jumps right out at me. Josh Jacobs is the clear starter, but he has rookie RB Zamir White nipping at his heels. Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah are reportedly jockeying for passing down work. The team released Kenyan Drake earlier this week, which signals that they’re comfortable with White as the backup. I believe that means they’ll be smart/careful with White in this last preseason matchup. Neither Bolden nor Abdullah are threats to take on a large number of carries, which leaves Brown and Austin Walter taking on the bulk.
Between Brown and Walter, Brown has been the busier, more productive back. Although he did not record a catch or carry in the first preseason game, Brown has still outproduced Walter. This preseason Brown has accumulated 23 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. While his counterpart has churned out 84 yards and a score across three games. Brown also had a pair of catches in both of the games he appeared in. Look for Brown to take the lion’s share of work in this matchup, making him a rock-solid DraftKings pick.
Other RBs to consider: Austin Walter, Raheem Blackshear, Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas, Isaiah Spiller, Abram Smith, J.J. Taylor, Kevin Harris
WR- Khalil Shakir
DraftKings Salary: $5,500
Khalil Shakir is having one heck of a preseason. In Week 1 Shakir led his team in receiving yards, posting a 5-92-0 line against the Indianapolis Colts. Seven days later he led his team in that same category, albeit with a more modest stat line, 3-59-0. There is no denying that when Diggs, Davis, and McKenzie come off the field, Shakir has been the go-t0 guy. According to the team’s website, Josh Allen and most starters will not play tonight.
Backup quarterbacks Case Keenum and Matt Barkley have a combined 17 seasons of NFL experience between the two of them, so facing off against third and fourth-string players should not be an issue for either of them. Shakir will be squaring up against a defense that just gave up 50+ yards to three different Patriot WRs (Humphrey-71, Nixon-56, Agholor-52). With most starters sitting tonight, Shakir will most likely start, but will definitely play a ton. Shakir is a DraftKings pick that should be a staple in your lineup tonight.
Other WRs to consider: Michael Bandy, Isaiah Hodgins, Keith Kirkwood, Bo Melton, KaVontae Turpin, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Chris Olave, DJ Turner, Tre Nixon
TE- Sage Surratt
DraftKings Salary: $5,500
Ew. This slate’s TE pool is u-g-l-y. Surratt is probably one of the “safer” DraftKings picks amongst tight ends. Sage has had a pair of receptions each in his first two preseason games. While he didn’t do much with his receptions (29 total yards), the looks are promising. One of those targets occurred in the red zone, where Surratt was marked down at the 1 yard line. So close!
What really sets Surratt apart from the rest of the tight ends on this slate is his ability as a pass catcher. Sage only recently converted to tight end. Before that, he was a wide receiver. After a solid career at Wake Forest, he was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent after not being selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. Surratt was on their practice squad for 2021 before being picked up by the Chargers this offseason. Aside from crossing your fingers and praying that Baker Mayfield connects with Tommy Tremble in the first quarter, or Jesper Horsted goes bananas again (which is improbable), Sage Surratt is your best bet to not put up a goose egg at TE in tonight’s slate.
Other TEs to consider: Jesper Horsted, OJ Howard, Quintin Morris, Stephen Sullivan, Colby Parkinson