Finally, football is upon us! Thursday night’s matchup between the Browns and Jets in Canton, Ohio will mark the start of weekly football until the second week of February.
While we can infer who the two QBs are that will receive snaps from both squads, let’s use some advanced statistics and training camp noise to predict some of the successful playmakers in an early August AFC bout.
FanDuel NFL Preseason Rush Lineup
Fanduel's Preseason Rush lineup for Thursday's Hall of Fame game offers an exciting opportunity with five flex positions available, where every player and D/ST is valued at $12,000.
The best part about this preseason game mode provided by Fanduel is the flexibility to edit your lineup right up until the game's kickoff, allowing you to stay updated with injury news and training camp updates as we draw closer to the game.
QB: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Browns)
Having observed Dorian Thompson-Robinson on several occasions during his time at Bishop Gorman in high school and at UCLA in college, it becomes evident why he holds a strong appeal to NFL scouts as a "modern quarterback." His style of play and skill set align with the demands of today's NFL, which is why I expect him to get a huge chunk of 2nd half snaps.
Kellen Mond will also get the nod from Kevin Stefanski on Thursday night. The Texas A&M Aggie threw for 5 total yards as a Minnesota Viking, drafted as a 3rd round pick in 2021.
I believe the Browns and Stefanski will want to see what they have in Thompson in a live game more than Mond, as the current regime drafted him in the 5th round and won’t need to change the playbook for him at all with a similar playstyle to Watson.
In 50 games with the Bruins, DTR ran for 28 Touchdowns, showing he is a potential low-end starting dual-threat QB in the NFL. With rushing upside, I’m going with Dorian as my QB for Thursday.
RB: Israel Abanikanda (Jets)
The Jets got a 3rd round talent in Israel Abanikanda in Day 3 of the NFL draft. The Pittsburgh product broke out in 2022, rushing for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns in 11 games, including 6 TDs in a game against Virginia Tech that certainly raised my question of why he wasn’t drafted within the first few rounds.
The title of RB2 has not been officially earned by Carter, Knight, or Israel yet. While it's expected that Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall will handle the majority of the RB duties for the Jets this season under Saleh's guidance, during this preseason, I anticipate Abanikanda to take the lead in rushing starting with Thursday’s game.
With a chance to secure the RB2 or RB3 role, regardless of whether Cook joins the team, Israel is expected to display his hard-running style both inside and outside the numbers, leading to several touchdowns during the preseason.
With sub-par QBs playing in tonight’s game, some hidden fantasy points coming off of catches in the flats will help boost his performance.
WR: Elijah Moore (Browns)
We have our first revenge game on the horizon. While the stakes may be low, Elijah Moore must feel a sense of being done wrong by the Jets. Ole Miss receivers have been quite prominent in recent years, with standouts like A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf.
Although Moore may not be on the same level as those two just yet, there's a growing buzz from the Browns training camp indicating that Moore will play a pivotal role in opening up Cleveland's offense.
Whether it's lining up outside the numbers, in the slot, or even in the backfield, expect Moore to be heavily involved and receive plenty of touches this offseason as the Browns explore various schemes and formations to maximize his potential impact.
The former 2nd rounder was on pace to become a solid 2nd or 3rd option in the receiving game in New York, before the offense buckled under sub-par QB play.
With videos and rumors surfacing that Cleveland is using Moore in the slot, backfield, and in option runs at times, this is exactly the career rejuvenation he needed. Expect the ball in his hands 5-10 times on Thursday night, making for a productive fantasy performance.
WR: Jason Brownlee (Jets)
A training camp standout, the former Southern Mississippi standout should be on your FanDuel lineup radar heading into Thursday. Brownlee has made some highlight reel catches at camp and could be a downfield threat to score a long TD due to his height and speed.
Brownlee's extensive wingspan, initially showcased at the NFL combine, will likely play a significant role in Hackett's offensive strategy, particularly in potentially throwing a lob to him inside the red zone if he faces one-on-one coverage.
Touchdown potential is a critical aspect of FanDuel lineups during preseason games, and Brownlee seems like the ideal target for the Jets in this regard.
D/ST: Cleveland Browns
Considering the scoring system in FanDuel, where turnovers are worth 2 points and sacks earn a point, adding the Browns defense/special teams unit to your lineup seems like a smart move.
While the Browns' defense was in the middle of the pack last season, their recent draft classes have seen the addition of several starting-caliber cornerbacks and linebackers, such as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Greg Newsome, who are expected to receive playing time.
Against the Jets' second and third-string quarterbacks, who struggle to make plays outside of the pocket and lack accuracy downfield, the Browns defense is likely to capitalize.
I'm predicting a potential 7-11 point performance from the Browns D/ST, which makes them a valuable back-end selection to consider for your FanDuel squad.
