The first big slate of the NFL preseason showcases eight games on Saturday night, including the top two picks from April’s draft making their debut — Titans QB Cam Ward and Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter.
Welcome to Saturday’s NFL DFS Picks, as we’ll break down today’s NFL preseason games and give you the best NFL DFS picks for PrizePicks for August 9, including passing yards and receiving yards projections to target today.
Headlining the NFL DFS slate in NFL preseason Week 1, Ward and the Titans head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers at 7:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.
In Jacksonville, Hunter suits up for the first time as the Jaguars host the Steelers at 7:00 p.m. ET at EverBank Stadium.
Elsewhere, QB Patrick Mahomes leads the Chiefs into the desert to square off with the Arizona Cardinals at 8 p.m. ET from State Farm Stadium.
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NFL DFS Picks for Preseason Week 1: Saturday, 8/9
Here are some of the top NFL DFS picks and predictions on PrizePicks today. Use this analysis to help you build a stacked NFL Lineup on PrizePicks for Saturday, August 9. Click each pick to read more.
- Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes — 30.5 Passing Yards
- Jets QB Justin Fields — 35.5 Passing Yards
- Cardinals RB Trey Benson — 20.5 Rushing Yards
- Titans WR Calvin Ridley — 14.5 Receiving Yards
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes — 32.5 Passing Yards
Chiefs vs. Cardinals Prediction — 8 p.m. ET
- Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 27 yards in last season’s preseason opener against Jacksonville.
- The last time Mahomes eclipsed 31 yards in Week 1 of the preseason came in 2022 at Chicago. He posted 60 yards and a touchdown in a 19-14 defeat.
- According to WIBW in Topeka, the Chiefs will play their starters at least one quarter. However, Mahomes likely won’t see more than one series.
- In two of the last three preseason openers, the Cardinals have allowed opposing starting quarterbacks to throw for fewer than 30 yards.
Jets QB Justin Fields — 35.5 Passing Yards
Jets vs. Packers Prediction — 8 p.m. ET
- Jets QB Justin Fields threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception last season with the Steelers.
- Fields makes his Jets’ debut on Saturday against the Packers, as he is expected to play a series or two.
- In last season’s preseason opener for Pittsburgh, he posted 67 yards on 5-of-6 passing against Houston. In three drives that Fields was under center, the Steelers punted each time.
- In all three preseason contests in 2024, Fields eclipsed 40 passing yards each time.
- Since 2021, Green Bay has yielded at least 36 passing yards to opposing starters in three of the past four exhibition openers.
Cardinals RB Trey Benson — 20.5 Rushing Yards
Chiefs vs. Cardinals Prediction –— 8 p.m. ET
- Cardinals RB Trey Benson enters his second season in the league, racking up 291 yards and a touchdown in his rookie campaign.
- In seven of 12 games last season, Benson rushed for fewer than 20 yards. Benson amassed only two rushes of more than 15 yards.
- In two preseason appearances in 2024, the former Florida State standout rushed for 21 and 43 yards. He had his opportunities, averaging 8.5 carries per game.
- Kansas City ranked eighth in rushing yards allowed per game and gave up 4.1 yards per carry, which was tied for sixth in the NFL.
Titans WR Calvin Ridley — 14.5 Receiving Yards
Titans vs. Buccaneers — 7:30 p.m. ET
- The Titans are expected to play their starters for 1-2 series today.
- Despite Tennessee’s shaky quarterback situation last season, Titans WR Calvin Ridley picked up over 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his career.
- Ridley hauled in a team-high 64 receptions and ranked 21st in the league in targets with 120.
- The former Alabama star wideout compiled 61 yards on three catches last preseason. Two of those receptions went for 22 and 33 yards.
- Ridley didn’t face the Buccaneers last season, but torched Tampa Bay two seasons ago as a member of the Jaguars. He put up 90 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.
- Tampa Bay allowed 10.6 yards per catch last season, which ranked 13th in the NFL.
Make NFL DFS on Preseason Games
There’s exciting action on Saturday’s NFL Preseason slate, capped off by six night matchups with plenty of teams in action. With eight NFL games on tap, now is time to build your NFL Lineup on PrizePicks.
Just pick More or Less at least two NFL player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks. Use the players above to build your Lineups around, or use a 6-Pick Lineup to reach up to 2000x payouts.
Check out the Playbook for more NFL DFS picks and analysis all the way through the season.
