This article is part of our DFS NFL series.
The preseason wraps up Saturday with a six-game slate that begins at 1 p.m. EDT. There were originally seven games scheduled, but Cardinals-Saints was canceled because of Hurricane Ida. This is the last opportunity for teams to get a look at players in game action before final cuts, so expect minimal involvement from starters and plenty of reps for players on the roster bubble. With no variation in pricing between players, the usual lineup building strategies can be thrown out the window in favor of purely targeting whichever players you believe will play the most and perform best.
QUARTERBACKS
Jordan Love, GB at BUF: Love is expected to play at least the first half if he's no longer bothered by the shoulder injury that knocked him out of the preseason opener. The 2020 first-round pick had a respectable 122 yards and a touchdown in one half against Houston before sustaining the injury, and the Texans defenders he faced in that one were higher on the depth chart than the Bills defenders expected to dress for this game. Should Love fail to gain medical clearance, Kurt Benkert — who played all but one drive in the Packers' second preseason game — would become an appealing option due to volume if nothing else.
Tyler Huntley, BAL at WAS: Huntley played the entire game last week, and that's likely to be the case once again since Baltimore probably has no intention of putting Lamar Jackson on the field and Trace McSorley (back) remains out. Kenji Bahar was recently released, so Jackson is the only healthy quarterback on the roster besides Huntley. While Huntley only mustered 187 passing yards and an interception with 23 rushing yards last week against Carolina, he had 34 pass attempts and seven rushing attempts. That type of workload is hard to find under center in preseason.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Fields (CHI at TEN), Bryce Perkins (LAR at DEN), Mitchell Trubisky (BUF vs. GB)
RUNNING BACK
Jake Funk, LAR at DEN: The Rams bolstered their running back depth by trading for Sony Michel this week, but that's more of an indictment on Darrell Henderson's ability to be a workhorse rather than Funk's ability to provide quality depth. Funk (12 carries for 68 yards) has outperformed Xavier Jones (14 carries for 50 yards) through two preseason games, and both should get a chance to stake their claim to the No. 3 spot on the running back depth chart. The rookie seventh-round pick out of Maryland hasn't seen much involvement in the passing game thus far, but that should change, as Los Angeles likely will look to evaluate Funk's ability as a receiver out of the backfield.
Jaret Patterson, WAS vs. BAL: Patterson's having a fantastic preseason, but he remains blocked on the depth chart by workhorse Antonio Gibson and receiving specialist J.D. McKissic. As a result, Patterson's regular-season opportunities are likely to be minimal barring injuries, but the rookie undrafted free agent out of Buffalo should cement his status as Washington's No. 3 running back over Peyton Barber with a third consecutive standout performance. Through two preseason games, Patterson has notched 111 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries to go with six catches for 55 yards on seven targets.
Honorable Mentions: Mekhi Sargent (TEN vs. CHI), Larry Rountree (LAC at SEA), Khalil Herbert (CHI at TEN)
WIDE RECEIVERS
Rodney Adams, CHI at TEN: Adams has been the star of preseason for the Bears. After leading the team in catches (four), targets (six) and receiving yards (57) in the preseason opener, he followed that with a team-high 89 yards and a score last week, highlighted by a 73-yard touchdown thrown by starting quarterback Andy Dalton. Mixing in with the starters in the second preseason game suggests Adams has the inside track on securing a roster spot, but there's probably work left to be done, so Adams should remain a featured option for a third consecutive exhibition contest.
Cyril Grayson, TB at HOU: Despite some shoddy quarterback play — even by preseason standards — Grayson has managed to make a strong impression. He finished second to tight end Tanner Hudson in both catches (four) and receiving yards (57) on a team-high eight targets in last week's 34-3 loss to Tennessee after missing the preseason opener due to an undisclosed injury. Already 27, the former track athlete doesn't have much time left to carve out a prominent role in the NFL, so Grayson will be desperate to prove he belongs on Tampa Bay's practice squad this year, if not on the 53-man roster outright.
Jake Kumerow, BUF vs. GB: Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, Aaron Rodgers advocated for Kumerow to make the Packers' roster, only for the team to ignore the quarterback's pleas. Now, the veteran receiver has an opportunity to secure his spot on the Bills' roster with a strong performance against Green Bay. Kumerow helped his case with a first-quarter touchdown last week, and he's exactly the type of roster-bubble player that gets extended run in preseason finales.
Honorable Mentions: J.J. Koski (LAR at DEN), Cade Johnson (SEA vs. LAC), Trinity Benson (DEN vs. LAR)
TIGHT END
Josh Oliver, BAL at WAS: Oliver was heavily involved in the passing game last week, leading the Ravens in targets (10), catches (seven) and receiving yards (50). Given Baltimore's dearth of alternative pass-catchers due to injuries, expect another steady diet of targets from Huntley for the 2019 third-round pick as he tries to secure a roster spot as the No. 3 tight end behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle (knee).
Honorable Mentions: Jesse James (CHI at TEN), Tanner Hudson (TB at HOU)
DEFENSE
Denver Broncos, DEN vs. LAR: It's tough to draw too many conclusions from two preseason games given the ever-shifting personnel, but it's worth noting that the Broncos are 2-0 while outscoring opponents 63-9, while the Rams are 0-2 and have been outscored 30-22. Los Angeles is expected to ride third-string quarterback Bryce Perkins the entire game, and Perkins is unlikely to find much success against a Denver team that's looked dominant in all phases and at all levels of the depth chart.
Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers (LAC at SEA), Baltimore Ravens (BAL at WAS)
