Preseason Top Plays: August 15

Last Updated: 8/15/26 1:00 PM EST

Preseason DFS is a different beast. Unlike the regular season, our main job is to identify players who will get the most playing time. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Our team spends an unhealthy amount of time researching to produce the Depth Chart Notes and Top Plays (below). For showdown slates, please consult Cody Main’s article.

QUARTERBACK

TIER 1

Jalen Milroe, Seattle – HC Mike Macdonald said that established starters like Sam Darnold will not play, but beyond that, we’re expecting Milroe and Drew Lock to rotate series “in some form or fashion” based on Macdonald’s comments that both guys will get experience with different groups. It’s unclear exactly how the playing time will ultimately play out, but if anyone has a longer leash, we think it’ll be the Seahawks’ 2025 third-round investment. He posted 15/87/0 in three preseason appearances last year as a runner and had no issue using his legs in college. 

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Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams – This isn’t as clean a spot for Sean McVay and the Rams as we’ve seen in the past, but Simpson doesn’t have much experience, and the Rams just invested a first-round draft pick in him. He won’t be involved this season, but he could be their QB of the future, so they need to know what they have. We should see a half, with potential for more on Saturday.

Joe Milton III, Dallas – Ah shoot, here we go again… Milton was one of the more frustrating characters of the 2025 preseason, often projected to play most or all of a game only to leave the field on multiple occasions due to injury or (severe) underperformance. He still got there in the box score, racking up 36 DraftKings points on 137 snaps in three games despite somehow completing only 55.4% of his passes. The 12/61/1 rushing line certainly helped. Milton now has serious QB2 competition coming from Sam Howell, so the playing-time expectation isn’t quite what it was last year. But the raw arm talent and rushing ability have him listed just above Howell here.

Sam Howell, Dallas – As mentioned, Howell is hoping to perform well enough in the preseason to overtake Milton as the backup to Dak Prescott. We’re expecting each to play roughly one half. In his career, Howell has completed 66.7% of his preseason passes for 7.2 YPA and a 3:1 TD-to-INT ratio.

Joe Fagnano, Baltimore – Lamar Jackson and the starters won’t play for the Ravens this week, and QB2 hopeful Skylar Thompson was just placed on I.R. two days ago. That leaves just Tyler Huntley, Fagnano, and Austin Reed — signed two days ago — as Baltimore’s QB options. We’re not sure how well Fagnano will play, though he did complete nearly 70% of his passes for 28 TDs and one interception in his seventh (!) and final collegiate season at Connecticut. We’re fairly certain he’ll be playing a lot.

Stetson Bennett, Los Angeles Rams – This is uncharted territory for Rams HC Sean McVay, who has routinely been free to let Bennett spin it in the preseason for as long as he wants. Now he has a first-round pick to bring up to speed AND a 2026 UDFA who could steal some back-end snaps. We think Bennett will get roughly a half here, and he’s developed into a capable preseason passer.

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