Cracking DraftKings

Daily Fantasy Roundup – August 22, 2015

Week 2 of the preseason kicks into high gear tonight after Thursday and Friday’s abbreviated two-game sets. Eight games are on tap for this evening with the first two games kicking off at 7pm. DraftKings has its usual assortment of games posted in the lobby with entry fees to fit any budget. If you haven’t already given it a shot, preseason DFS provides a great opportunity to build some bankroll or accumulate tickets for Week 1 of the regular season. Of course, that comes with a caveat – play within your means. The preseason can be full of landmines (see Ameer Abdullah’s solid 67 yards in Week 1 vs. 7 yards in Week 2) and we are at the mercy of coaches decisions in regards to actual playing time for players on our rosters.

A couple of interesting storylines to follow for this evening’s games:

Peyton Manning is expected to play several series when the Broncos travel to Houston to take on the Texans. Combine that with the news that Demaryius Thomas appears to be getting back up to speed and a Manning-Thomas combo becomes an intriguing pick for tonight in hopes of an early TD connection.

Chargers RB Melvin Gordon is expected to miss tonight’s game against the Cardinals. Big things are expected for rookie the out of Wisconsin even with his struggles in his first preseason action last week. Expect a heavy dose of Brandon Oliver and Donald Brown tonight with some Danny Woodhead mixed in.

After Kelvin Benjamin’s season-ending injury, the Panthers are banking on their existing group of wideouts stepping up to fill the void. Presumed starter Devin Funchess will miss tonight’s game with a hamstring injury, creating a great opportunity for other receivers to make their mark. Two of the names to keep on your radar for tonight are Corey Brown and Jarrett Boykin. Brown is a candidate for a heavy workload this season and tonight is his opportunity to make an impression. Boykin, the former Green Bay Packer, is battling for a roster spot.    

We should get our first look at Sam Bradford as the starting quarterback for the Eagles tonight. One of the most intriguing stories of the offseason has been the extensive roster turnover in Philadelphia. Tonight provides a sneak peak of what the offense will look like with Bradford at the helm. The Eagles were a great source of fantasy points in last Sunday’s 36-10 victory over the Colts, expect more of the same tonight.

Saints WR Brandon Coleman has impressed in camp and was named training camp MVP by Sean Payton. Coleman brings impressive size to the table and appears to be in line for WR3 duties in New Orleans. He was quiet in his first preseason action last week against the Ravens but should be a safe bet for a few more targets tonight against the Patriots.    

Two notes to pass along from Thursday and Friday:

While much of the attention was focused on Robert Griffin III’s injury and manhandling suffered at the hands of the Lions, rookie RB Matt Jones put together another solid effort. Priced at $3,700 for Week 1 of the regular season, Jones is a name to keep in mind this season as he carves out a role with the Redskins.    

Jeremy Maclin and Alex Smith hooked up for a touchdown on Friday night, an encouraging sign for a Chiefs offense that was bereft of wide receiver production last year. Maclin brings a new dynamic to Kansas City and should open up the offense substantially. He’s an interesting target for Week 1’s date with the Texans at a price of $6,900.

One final note, College Football season is right around the corner. DFS for CFB continues to grow in popularity and this season will be the biggest one yet. For those who haven’t tried it out or are perhaps in need of a refresher, we’ve got you covered. Our Devin Knotts has a great overview of what you can expect from Footballguys this season with his College Football DFS Coverage Kickoff.