The final week of the NFL preseason has arrived, with matchups taking place between Thursday, August 27, and Saturday, August 29. The regular season will be here before you know it, officially kicking off on September 9.
Players will make their final push to earn roster spots over the next few days, with the NFL roster cut deadline on Sunday, August 30. Who could make some noise to solidify roles or a roster spot for Thursday’s four-game schedule?
Let’s look at two games tonight, featuring NFL preseason predictions and picks. The 49ers vs. Raiders kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Rams vs. Chargers at 10:00 p.m. ET. Which projections for NFL preseason predictions stand out on PrizePicks?
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49ers vs. Raiders Prediction on Winner for NFL Preseason – Thursday, August 27
Week 3 of the preseason mostly features starters getting rest with the regular season around the corner. That’s once again the case for the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Niners are expected to be more conservative than usual due to a quick turnaround for Week 1 of the regular season, battling the Rams on Thursday, September 10, in Melbourne, Australia. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he plans to rest starters, deviating from his usual formula to ramp up starters in the final week of the preseason.
San Francisco’s open competition for starting left guard could be the most notable storyline tonight. G Robert Hunt has battled a calf injury, while G Colby Jones, who started in six games last season, and rookie G Carver Willis are competing for the role.
Elsewhere, RB Isaac Guerendo suffered a torn pec early in the offseason, opening the RB2 role behind RB Christian McCaffrey. Tonight should give another look at RB Kaelon Black and RB Jordan James battling for an increased role until Guerendo returns from injury.
Similar to the 49ers, the Raiders have starting spots up for grabs on the offensive line. G Jackson Powers-Johnson and G Caleb Rogers are vying for right guard.
Of course, RB Ashton Jeanty suffered an injury scare on Sunday, seemingly dodging a bullet with an ankle injury. Las Vegas could be influenced by the injury, featuring primarily backups.
We’ve yet to get an official report on QB Fernando Mendoza’s status for Thursday. He logged 31 and 26 snaps in his first two preseason games. Perhaps the Raiders will look to get their No. 1 pick a few more snaps before the preseason concludes.
With the 49ers expected to rest most starters, Las Vegas could have a clear advantage tonight. That’s showing in payouts via PrizePicks Team Picks, as the Raiders are 2.5-point favorites and have a 1.58x payout if they win.
Check out the full list of payouts for the 49ers vs. Raiders on PrizePicks Team Picks, including winner payouts, the spread, and over/under.
Payouts show potential returns on correct Team Picks predictions. A 2x payout returns $200 on a $100 entry. Lower multipliers reflect outcomes users are picking as more likely. Payouts are live as of writing and subject to change.
Lock in your 49ers vs. Raiders prediction on PrizePicks before tonight’s NFL preseason game.
49ers vs. Raiders Picks, Player Stats for NFL Preseason on PrizePicks: 8/27/26
Here is our top 49ers vs. Raiders pick to target on Thursday, August 27. Today’s NFL preseason pick for PrizePicks includes QB Fernando Mendoza.
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza vs. 49ers: 101.5 Pass Yards
- Over 57 snaps in the preseason, Fernando Mendoza took 37 pass snaps.
- That volume led to 16.0 passing attempts and 96.5 passing yards per game.
- His projection could be elevated with QB Kirk Cousins unlikely to suit up in the final preseason contest.
- However, Cousins wasn’t active last week, and Mendoza’s snaps actually dropped from 31 to 26. Plus, the rookie QB still finished under this projection with 96 passing yards when Cousins was not active last week.
- Considering it’s the final week of preseason play, Mendoza could play alongside fewer starters, potentially harming his ability to stack passing yards.
Add Fernando Mendoza to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
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Rams vs. Chargers Prediction on Winner for NFL Preseason – Thursday, August 27
Staying on the West Coast, the Los Angeles Rams vs. the Los Angeles Chargers cap Thursday’s preseason slate with a 10:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
The Rams have not featured starters in the preseason, and that’s not expected to change tonight. This has given the backup QBs center stage, including first-round rookie Ty Simpson, Stetson Bennett IV, and Matthew Cardwell.
According to Nate Atkins of The Athletic, Los Angeles plans on keeping three QBs on the roster. Of course, QB Matthew Stafford is the starter, and Simpson has provided solid preseason play as a first-round rookie. That means the final spot could boil down to Bennett or Cardwell.
Elsewhere, Rams RB Jarquez Hunter comes off a strong preseason performance with 12 carries for 68 rushing yards (5.7 yards per rushing attempt). This is already a deep tailback room with RB Kyren Williams and RB Blake Corum. Will Hunter push for regular-season snaps with another strong outing?
On Tuesday, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh suggested starters would play anywhere from six to nine plays. Last week, QB Justin Herbert took only 3 snaps. In summary, Harbaugh’s plan likely entails featuring starters for one series, whether it’s for 3 plays or up to 10.
Even with starters expected to make only a brief appearance for the Bolts, it’s enough to push the Chargers to 3.5-point favorites vs. the Rams. Here’s a full look at the payouts for the Rams vs. Chargers, per PrizePicks Team Picks.
Lock in your Rams vs. Chargers prediction on PrizePicks before tonight’s NFL preseason game.
Rams vs. Chargers Picks, Player Stats for NFL Preseason on PrizePicks: 8/27/26
Check out our top Rams vs. Chargers pick to target, featuring RB Jarquez Hunter and QB Justin Herbert.
Rams RB Jarquez Hunter vs. Chargers: 34.5 Rush Yards
- Rams RB Kyren Williams and RB Blake Corum have not taken 1 snap in the preseason, leading to 21 and 40 snaps for Jarquez Hunter’s first two preseason appearances.
- That meant plenty of touches, headlined by 10.5 rushing attempts per game.
- Hunter surpassed this projection in both of his games, totaling 51.5 rushing yards per game.
- Most importantly, Los Angeles’ RB3 has displayed strong efficiency, courtesy of 4.9 yards per carry and 3.67 yards after contact per carry during the preseason, per Pro Football Focus.
Add Jarquez Hunter to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
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Chargers QB Justin Herbert vs. Rams: 25.5 Pass Yards
- As seen by last week’s short preseason outing, it’s difficult for a QB to find his rhythm in only a handful of snaps. In fact, Justin Herbert took only 3 snaps, though he turned 2 pass snaps into 2 passing attempts.
- That volume wasn’t nearly enough to reach this projection, as Herbert completed 1 pass for 9 passing yards.
- Frankly, this projection will likely boil down to if Los Angeles has a successful first drive. Herbert is likely in line to play for one drive once again, meaning a quick three-and-out would lead to a deflating passing-yard total.
Add Justin Herbert to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
Make NFL Preseason Picks on PrizePicks
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza and Chargers QB Justin Herbert are making headlines for Thursday’s NFL preseason schedule, as both signal-callers are expected to take snaps. Rams RB Jarquez Hunter looks to follow up a strong preseason performance, perhaps pushing for regular-season touches.
Don’t wait until lock—make your NFL preseason picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.
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