This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
First, a word of caution to those entering this week's contests. NFL rosters are at 90 players and do not have to be cut to 53 until the conclusion of preseason games. Some coaches will only use players fighting for roster spots while others might simply use players who will soon be cut to avoid injuries to players who will make the roster.
Making things difficult for fantasy managers, news about playing time likely will be sparse. Before finalizing your lineups, be sure to check the latest news on RotoWire, as occasionally, teams will give information about playing time just before kickoff. This happened with Todd Gurley last week after he was endorsed in this column when news was announced shortly before game time that he was being benched.
All of this week's preseason games are Thursday, and as always, Fan Duel will have plenty of different contests to enter. Finally, all players have the same salary, so you'll be able to start any players you choose.
QUARTERBACK
Mitchell Trubisky, CHI vs CLE - Trubisky is expected to play this week, and with the dual-threat ability he's shown, he should play well even if with backups on the OL. He'll also face a number of defenders who'll be cut within a few days, so as long as he gets a significant amount of field time, he looks great.
Blaine Gabbert, ARZ at Den - The last week of the preseason is typically the stomping grounds for the third-string QB, and Gabbert is one of the best in the league to hold that role. He should have little trouble moving the ball against the deepest reserve backups of the Broncos, and he should get plenty of playing time.
RUNNING BACK
Joe Williams, SF vs LAC - No news is likely to surface about how Kyle Shanahan will use his players, but since news has been floating around that Williams might not earn the top backup role, it would seem logical that he'll be used this week to get some work. He sure looked good a couple weeks ago when he lit the Chiefs up for 60 yards on seven carries, and if he's playing against third-string defenders, he could do some serious damage, even if given limited touches.
Stevan Ridley, DEN vs. ARZ - It would be a surprise if Ridley made the Week 1 roster, but that means that he's just the type of player who could see plenty of reps in this meaningless game. In the second preseason game he gained 40 yards on 14 carries. Against deep reserves he could see enough carries to end up with a strong fantasy performance.
WIDE RECEIVER
Tanner Gentry, CHI vs CLE - Well, if we're going with Trubisky, a stack is clearly in order, and Gentry's not on this list solely based on his 45-yard TD reception from Trubisky last week. Bears beat writers have consistently said Gentry's made more plays than any player in camp, and that's including veterans. He's been a great deep threat, and he should get quite a bit of playing time, making him a great option.
Brittan Golden, ARZ at DEN - The Cards have a bunch of WRs on the roster, but Golden is without a clear role for the regular season, so he could play with Blaine Gabbert at QB. A couple weeks ago, Golden caught all three targets for 44 yards and a score, so a productive game isn't out of the question.
TIGHT END
Adam Shaheen, Chi vs Cle - Shaheen hardly played in the third preseason game, which likely means he will play a lot in the last preseason game. Playing against a number of defenders who'll likely be cut within the next week should give him a chance to use his athleticism to his advantage. The assumption is that Mitch Trubisky plays quite a bit, and going with a Chicago stack, including Shaheen has real upside.
Lance Kendricks, GB vs. LAR - The Packers don't have many TEs on the roster, and Martellus Bennett and Richard Rodgers won't play much, if at all. That leaves Kendricks, who could see enough playing time to have value. He has always been a decent red-zone target, and a short TD could be a big deal in an unpredictable week.
DEFENSE
Jacksonville Jaguars at ATL - It hasn't been a banner preseason in Jacksonville, and although the Jaguars might end up sitting every player with a chance of contributing during the regular season, they of course want to end preseason a high note. That's about as much of a reason to start a defense in Week 4 of the preseason as we can provide.
Philadelphia Eagles at NYJ - The only logic here in the battle of both team's deep reserves is that since the Jets' regulars on offense are among the league's worst, the backups have to be substantially worse. Although the Eagles likely will play their weakest defenders, facing this offense gives them a chance to produce.
KICKER
Greg Zuerlein, LAR at GB - We won't likely see much of the offensive regulars, but the players fighting for roster spots could move the ball enough to produce some FG chances.
Phil Dawson, ARZ at DEN - Since we're recommending Blaine Gabbert at QB, we expect the Cards to move the ball, so Dawson could be busy. Also, the game will be played in the Denver altitude, so he could be called upon for longer kicks, potentially expanding his FG range.
