Daily Fantasy: The shrewdest plays in NFL preseason week 4

Week 4 of the preseason is a minefield. We'll try to get you through intact.

The final week of the preseason is always a bit of a…unique version of football.

With NFL teams still rostering 90 players before cutting down to 53 in a few hours, tonight, a lot of players will see action who won’t have a shot at the final roster. But not every player who will see extended run is just a practice squad player, and by digging into the news, we can get a leg up on your  Paddy Power Fantasy rosters.

This is a vital night to track news and updates if and when they become available, but these are some of the players expected to see the biggest workloads tonight.

Cheer Up Bill! Paddy Power Fantasy is here!

Quarterbacks

Tyree Jackson – Jackson is the likely starter for the Buffalo Bills and could be pushing for a full game. Last year, via FantasyData, seven quarterbacks played every snap for a team in Week 4, so it’s in the cards. Jackson has been credited with 17 rush attempts through three games, and that gives him a floor and ceiling over three-plus quarters.

Danny Etling – The Atlanta Falcons’ depth chart is such that Etling stands to play a full game as well. After Matt Ryan, it’s just Matt Schaub and Etling, who is new to the team. Etling had been playing some receiver for the New England Patriots, and that implies athleticism. Last week, he ran 7 times on 32 snaps (48 yards).

Jarrett Stidham – Speaking of Etling, last year, the Pats played him every snap in Week 4, and it stands to reason that Stidham gets that treatment this year. Stidham has averaged 8.2 yards per attempt on 62 passes in the preseason, too.

Others to Consider: Trace McSorely, Nathan Peterman, Tyler Bray, Logan Woodside, Taysom Hill

ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 15: A New York Jets helmet sits on an equipment case during the second half of an NFL preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Running Backs

Elijah McGuire – McGuire is reportedly playing for the final roster spot alongside Trenton Cannon. Both are in play, and each has actually run at least 24 pass routes in the preseason, according to PFF. McGuire, though, has something to prove in this game and Cannon is a special teamer. McGuire, then, is the type of player who should see extra work while playing for the 53-man roster.

Jeff Wilson – Wilson isn’t really a name popping up on the 53-man roster for the San Francisco 49ers, given their running back situation, but he has secured 21 carries over the past two preseason games. He showed last year he can perform in the regular season, and now, he’s doing it against Week 4 talent.

James Butler – Butler saw five targets in Week 1, usually the best comparable week to Week 4, and he has played at least 40 snaps twice, including last week in terrible conditions in Winnipeg. Butler should again see work as someone who isn’t expected to make the roster.

Nick Brosette – Last preseason, the Patriots gave Ralph Webb 42 snaps in Week 4. Brosette played 48 snaps in Week 1 and could be in line for another huge workload as a player who isn’t in the mix to make the final roster on a team that has a plethora of running backs. The workload alone is very enticing.

Others to Consider: Carlos Hyde and Kareem Hunt (be sure to check for a status update on them), Dexter Williams, Devine Ozigbo, Qadree Ollison, Justin Davis

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 08: Quarterback Easton Stick #2 of the Los Angeles Chargers hands off the football to running back Troymaine Pope #35 during the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Chargers 17-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Wide Receivers

Jakobi Meyers – Meyers has run 86 pass routes for the Patriots, roughly twice as many as any teammate in the preseason. He’s on the roster bubble and may not play, but with their sudden depth at receiver, he’s shaping up more as a player who needs to show more than to wait for the regular season. Meyers is a risky play without a firm update, but the volume has been there.

Artavis Scott – Scott is looking to secure a roster spot as well. He leads the Los Angeles Chargers in both air yards and routes run in the preseason. Week 4 is setting up as a big opportunity for Scott to build on his preseason team-leading stats.

Tre McBride and CJ Board – McBride and Board are vying for the final roster spot for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and each has run at least 70 pass routes in the preseason. McBride’s average depth of target (8.6) is a bit deeper than Board’s (7.1). The volume should funnel to them tonight.

Others to Consider: Mack Hollins, Khadarel Hodge, Vyncint Smith, Richie James, Byron Pringle, Terry Godwin, Jazz Ferguson, Ashton Dulin, Travis Fulgham

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – AUGUST 15: Josh Hawkins #48 of the Philadelphia Eagles breaks up a pass intended for Tre McBride #88 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter of a preseason game at TIAA Bank Field on August 15, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Tight Ends

Johnny Mundt – Mundt is tied for second on the Los Angeles Rams in pass routes run and has been targeted 10 times (twice in the red zone). Firmly behind Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee, he should be free to play in this one tonight and build on that workload.

Ross Travis – Travis is 6’7″ with positive athleticism for his size and ran 26 pass routes last week while playing 31 snaps for the Indianapolis Colts. That type of passing game work isn’t common for a lot of preseason tight ends, and with that frame, a touchdown is in the cards.

Others to Consider: Ian Bunting, Garrett Dickerson, Troy Fumagalli

It’s fantasy football but not as we know it – Paddy Power Fantasy

What do you think?