We’re back to discuss our best preseason props today!
Thursday’s encore consists of three games kicking off at 7 p.m. ET. There are plenty of picks on the board for Underdog Fantasy, so let’s dive into the expert analysis.
Editor’s Note: Before betting on NFL preseason player props today, sharpen your skills and check out our NFL betting cheat sheet!
NFL Preseason Player Props Today: Friday, August 8th
Our guy Justin Bales has been on the football grind all summer, and he’s back to share his favorite plays from Friday’s slate. Here’s who’s playing to kick off the weekend:
- Detroit at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
- Cleveland at Carolina, 7 p.m.
- Washington at New England, 7:30 p.m.
Kyle Allen Higher Than 79.5 Passing Yards
This play is relatively simple. Jared Goff isn’t likely to play in the preseason, meaning Hendon Hooker and Allen are going to split snaps. They’re in a position battle for the QB2 job, and both struggled in the Hall of Fame game.
Similar to last week, I expect them to split snaps by the half. I’m not convinced that Allen will draw the start again, but I’m also not sure it matters. If he plays the first half, he’ll likely see slightly more volume. If he plays the second half, he’ll face off against players even lower on the depth chart.
Allen struggled quite a bit in the Hall of Fame game, and he still posted 91 yards on 14 pass attempts against the Los Angeles Chargers. The veteran quarterback has pretty consistently found success in the preseason, and I expect him to play better in Week 1.
Where to play: Kyle Allen higher than 79.5 passing yards | 1.87x at Underdog
Shedeur Sanders Higher Than 123.5 Passing Yards
We don’t have word on exactly what’s going to happen in Cleveland, but we know Sanders has been named the starter.
Joe Flacco isn’t going to play because of his veteran status, while Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are dealing with injuries. Deshaun Watson is also out, leaving the only other quarterback to be Tyler Huntley, who was signed a few days ago.
Preseason is entirely about opportunity, and it looks like Sanders could play the entire game. I’m not sure that’s the most likely scenario, but we can comfortably project that he’ll play at least the entire first half. It’d be shocking if he didn’t play into the second half as well.
This is an opportunity for the Browns to find out what they have in the rookie quarterback. At worst, they can use this as a showcase to trade him.
Logically, does it make more sense for him to play major snaps, or for Cleveland to give a player who couldn’t make the team last season those snaps?
Another small detail is that Sanders isn’t your typical fifth-round draft pick. It’s relatively agreed upon that he didn’t drop due to talent, and it’s just too low of a number for someone who should be locked into major snaps.
Where to play: Shedeur Sanders higher than 123.5 passing yards | 1.87x at Underdog
NFL Preseason Props Strategy
Preseason differs substantially from the regular season, as there are fewer opportunities due to teams testing out multiple players.
Focus on lower variance positions. Prioritize quarterbacks and running backs over wide receivers and tight ends.
Wide receivers are high variance. They need to beat coverage, be the target, and get a catchable throw — a lot of variables with limited snaps.
More important preseason factors to consider:
- Information – Pay attention to coach statements about playing time.
- Opportunity – Players need snaps to produce; no snaps means no stats.
Coachspeak matters in preseason. Unlike the regular season, coach comments on playing time are usually accurate and critical for decision-making.
Good luck!
Featured Image Credit: Imagn
