Football is back, baby! This is the last weekend without football until the Super Bowl! The NFL Week 1 preseason action kicks off this weekend, and you can get down on some Underdog Fantasy picks with this pick’em entry! Don’t forget to sign up for Underdog Fantasy using the promocode OFFSGPN for up to $1000 deposit bonus and an instant pick’em special!
Underdog Fantasy Picks For NFL Preseason Week 1
Isaac TeSlaa Higher than 26.5 Receiving Yards
The first pick on our list of NFL Preseason Week 1 Underdog Fantasy picks is Isaac TeSlaa. The Lions traded up in the 2025 NFL draft to select TeSlaa. Many thought it was a bit of a reach based on his expected draft position. However, the Lions felt strong about him.
Last week in the Hall of Fame game, they got him involved, and he showed some of why they liked him so much. TeSlaa had two catches on three targets for 46 yards. Both of his catches went for over 20 yards. The Lions will likely continue to work TeSlaa in the preseason this week against Atlanta.
He’s projected in most models to have another 2-3 catches and 30-50 yards. He’s capable of taking quick screens for big plays as well as contested catches. The Falcons’ defense was a point of vulnerability last year. While they made a lot of improvements over the offseason, it may not come together right away.
Additionally, the Lions have already played in a game. Oftentimes, the team that has already gotten rid of those first-game jitters moves the ball more easily. They’ve had time to work out some of the sloppiness and rust that comes with the first game. Isaac TeSlaa higher than 26.5 receiving yards feels like a lock.
Mitchell Turbisky HIGHER than 49.5 Passing Yards
Next on the list of NFL Week 1 preseason Underdog Fantasy Picks is Mitchell Trubisky, higher than 49.5 passing yards. The former first-round pick’s career hasn’t gone exactly how he would have dreamed it. After being drafted by the Chicago Bears and starting for four years, he found his way to the Bills.
Backing up Josh Allen was a decent gig for Trubisky. He then landed on the Steelers as a backup. Due to injuries, Trubisky got playing time with the Steelers in the two years he was with them and threw for a total of 1800 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Steelers cut Trubisky, and he found himself back with the Bills last year. In the first preseason game last year, he threw the ball 18 times for 82 yards. In the second preseason game, Trubisky threw 13 times for 82 yards. With the Steelers in 2023, he had two preseason games where he threw for 54 and 78 yards.
Going back to 2022 with the Steelers, he threw for 63, 60, and 160 yards. Finally, back in 2021 with the Bills, he threw for 221 yards against his former team, the Bears. My point to all these stats is that Trubisky is a bit of a preseason stud.
He’ll figure to see action this weekend against the Giants. I also expect he’ll be playing against the second string for the Giants. Trubisky higher than 49.5 feels like an easy entry on our Underdog Fantasy picks pick’em entry.
NFL preseason action tonight on Underdog Fantasy!
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Jordan Mason Higher Than 14.5 Rushing Yards
This offseason, Jordan Mason signed with a new team, the Minnesota Vikings. He’s hungry to prove himself after running for 789 yards last year with the 49ers. That makes him a great selection for our NFL Week 1 preseason Underdog Fantasy picks.
The 49ers were filled with running backs and had the depth. Still, it was surprising to me that they let Mason walk after his performance last year. He’s averaged 5.2 yards per carry the last two years, after six yards per carry his rookie year.
Mason played in two preseason games last year for the 49ers and ran for 34 yards on six carries and 42 yards on eight carries. In 2023, he played three games, running for 17 yards, 24 yards, and 59 yards. The Vikings’ starting running back is Aaron Jones. However, concerns over his knees have caused them to bring in more depth.
They’ll want to get a look at how Mason is fitting in with the offense on his new team. Even if it’s not an in-depth look, at his normal five yards per carry, he’ll only need about three or four carries to surpass his current projection.
Last year, in the first preseason game, four different running backs on the Vikings went higher than 14.5 rushing yards. Jordan Mason’s number is set too low, and it makes a perfect addition to our NFL Week 1 preseason Underdog Fantasy pick’em entry.
Patrick Mahomes Lower Than 36.5 Passing Yards
Just for a little “behind baseball,” I changed this part of my Underdog Fantasy pick’em entry on the NFL Preseason Week 1 picks multiple times. Initially, I had Woody Marks higher than 23.5 rushing yards. However, aside from the last preseason game last year, in the first three games, Houston didn’t have a single back exceed this mark. That made me too nervous, and I backed off.
I also put Patrick Mahomes higher than 36.5 passing yards. However, I talked myself into the lower. Andy Reid has said the starters will play about a quarter. In preseason games, teams average about one-and-a-half to two possessions in the first quarter as teams start slow and feel each other out a little. It’s preseason. Nobody’s looking to get hurt among the starters.
Last year in the first preseason game, Reid took the same approach. Mahomes went 3/4 for 27 yards and then didn’t play another snap. Do I have concerns that Mahomes comes out pissed off after the Super Bowl loss? Of course! I want to cash some money. However, we’ve seen him come off a Super Bowl loss before. The stat line? 2/2 for 15 yards.
That’s how I think he approaches Week 1. They’re not looking to drop Mahomes back to sit in the pocket a long time while tooling with a new offensive line combination. They’ll get him some reps. However, the throws will be short dink-and-dunk passes to just get some rhythm going. There’s no need to risk injury to your franchise quarterback, and Reid knows it.
Travis Hunter Higher Than 17.5 Receiving Yards
The last pick on the NFL Week 1 preseason Underdog Fantasy picks takes a similar approach to the Isaac TeSlaa projection. I’m betting the Jaguars will want to show they traded up to get this guy for a reason and get him involved. Head coach Liam Coen has confirmed Hunter will play both offense and defense.
There are plenty of doubters, including myself, who think he won’t be able to keep up as a 2-way player at the NFL level. However, he’s a determined young man who his a student of the game. This preseason action will be a great way for him to gain confidence in the NFL. Although I’m not sure he needs confidence. Instead, it’ll be proving to his teammates and fans that he can do it.
Last year, Brian Thomas was a rookie in this offense. They got him involved with 41 yards on a big play. Hunter will likely get a screen pass, a downfield long throw shot, as well as some reps out of the slot. Could there be some growing pains in Liam Coen’s first head coaching? Yes. However, if we look at last year, both rookies on the Bucs, Rakim Jarrett and Jalen McMillan, finished with higher than 17.5 yards.
Finally, for our last piece of information for this play. In their scrimmage, Hunter had three passes for 43 yards. I think there will a similar stat line on Saturday against the Steelers.
A standard entry with these five picks will pay 20x, meaning a $10 play will pay $200. If you opt for the flexed entry, where you only have to hit four to still get paid, all five will pay $100, and four will pay $25.
Bonus: Sam Howell Higher Than 0.5 Passing Touchdowns
While those are my top five picks for the NFL Week 1 preseason Underdog Fantasy pick’em entry, I have one bonus pick. Speaking of players on new teams who are hoping to prove themselves, Sam Howell finds himself with the Vikings. It’s his third team in his fourth year in the NFL. Luckily for him, he’s now paired as a backup with a coach who is known as a quarterback whisperer.
Last year, for the Seahawks, in the preseason Week 1 game, he threw a touchdown against the Chargers. He threw one the next week against the Titans as well. Howell threw a touchdown pass in Week 1 of 2023’s NFL preseason action against the Browns when he was on the Commanders.
The Vikings’ backup quarterback last year was J.J. McCarthy. He’s now their starter with Howell backing him up. As the backup, McCarthy went 11/17 for 188 yards and two touchdowns in his Week 1 preseason game. In Week 2 of last year, Jaren Hall got the start. Then his backup, Nick Mullens, came in and went 11/21 for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Howell should be able to accomplish a similar stat line, completing 10-15 passes for around 100 yards and a touchdown.
Adding this pick to our above entry bumps the standard entry payout to $367.50 off $10.
