The 2025 NFL preseason is here and so is DFS! Friday’s slate will feature a trio of matchups as the Detroit Lions visit the Atlanta Falcons, the Cleveland Browns face the Carolina Panthers, and the New England Patriots play host to the Washington Commanders.
As a refresher, all players cost the same to roster in preseason games at FanDuel and with good reason. These early exhibition matchups in particular require a bit more prep for DFS considering who actually takes the field for their respective teams. These are vital moments for coaching staffs to evaluate backups/fringe roster players ahead of the August 26 roster deadline, so don’t expect the likes of Bijan Robinson or Jayden Daniels to suit up on Friday.
So without further ado, let’s fire away with some players to consider for your lineup on Friday.
Quarterback
Shedeur Sanders, Browns
Cleveland’s bizarre quarterback situation has been well documented throughout the offseason and there’s a possibility that the team could carry not one, not two, not three, but four(!) QB’s on the 53-man roster when the regular season kicks off. Insiders like The Athletic’s Zac Jackson have already tagged veteran Joe Flacco as the “strong favorite” to win the starting job, but there’s still plenty of time for the likes of Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders to prove themselves.
With Pickett and Gabriel both dealing with hamstring injuries, Sanders will get the start and presumably play a good chunk of the first half. Cleveland also brought in former Ravens backup Tyler Huntley this week because of the injuries and he’ll most likely take over down the stretch of Friday’s game. Sanders will want to put his best foot forward to prove himself to the coaching staff and I think FanDuel managers could realistically go with him as their QB for this matchup.
Easton Stick, Falcons
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed on Monday that neither Michael Penix Jr. nor Kirk Cousins will suit up against the Lions on Friday, opening the door for third-stringer Easton Stick to get the start.
Stick signed with Atlanta this offseason after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Chargers, where he served as quintessential preseason starting QB while backing up Justin Herbert. Expect him to get significant run in the first half before handing the reins over to rookie backup Emory Jones.
Running Back
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots
Henderson is becoming a trendy fantasy football sleeper and with good reason. The rookie out of Ohio State has been showing off his skills as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and Patriots starter Rhamondre Stevenson gave a warning to opposing linebackers when talking about his new teammate.
While New England may limit his usage in Friday’s preseason game, the impact he could make in that short period could warrant a spot in DFS lineups.
Velus Jones, Saints
Jones signed with New Orleans this offseason after spending most of last season as a practice squad player following his release from the Bears. He made a switch to running back prior to being cut and has continued that with the Saints, where he has been showing off his speed in training camp.
There’s a chance that he can put his NFL career back on track by finding a role within Kellen Moore’s offense and he can make that happen with a strong showing in Friday’s preseason showdown.
Wide Receiver
Isaac TeSlaa, Lions
Detroit will play its second preseason contest after last Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game against the Chargers and that provides another opportunity to get a look at TeSlaa. The 6’4” rookie out of Arkansas made a couple of impressive catches in his debut and even turned some heads as a special teams gunner.
One can imagine head coach Dan Campbell finding creative ways to get him on the field and I’d expect to see more of him against the Falcons on Friday.
Luke McCaffrey, Commanders
Things are a bit awkward in Commanders camp right now with All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin requesting a trade amidst contract extension negotiations. While that situation gets hashed out, it’ll be important for Washington to solidify its receiver depth and the second-year wideout McCaffrey could prove that.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been praising his work all offseason and the younger brother of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey could be a candidate for having a breakout year. I’d expect him to get a handful of looks his way against New England this weekend.
Jimmy Horn, Panthers
Rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan has many excited about the potential of the Panthers offense, but the sixth-rounder Horn has been electric so far. The former Colorado speedster has been putting on a show in Panthers training camp and could end up being a late-round steal. Friday’s matchup against Cleveland could serve as a perfect opportunity to build his case for a 53-man roster spot and I’d nab him for DFS if I had the chance.
Tight End
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers
Another offensive playmaker that has been making waves in Panthers camp is Sanders, who Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer described as possibly being the offensive MVP through camp so far. The former Texas standout is coming off a rookie season where he caught 33 targets for 342 yards and a touchdown and is on track for a starting role with Tommy Tremble on the PUP list. He’s bound to make a big play or two against the Browns, so he’s a prime target for DFS lineups.
Defense
Atlanta Falcons
Choosing a defense for DFS in the preseason is an even trickier proposition than the skill positions considering the personnel groupings. One would imagine the Lions continuing to rotate players on offense while their starters sit, opening the door for the Falcons D to have a strong effort on Friday.
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