Chris Gimino is "somewhat intrigued" by Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, arguing the back will treat the Hall of Fame Game like a personal showcase. Gimino recalled the dynamic runner "we once saw back in the day in college" and thinks Sanders knows this could be one of his few chances to earn a practice-squad spot. That extra motivation, combined with preseason chaos, makes Sanders a viable tournament dart despite long odds to make the final roster.

Murray plans to fade Trey Harris despite his recognizable name from college DFS. He believes Harris will be rostered alongside Hampton by casual players chasing star rookies, yet the Chargers will limit both to a few scripted snaps. The team published a street-clothes list that did NOT include Harris, but Murray still expects a quick hook, making Harris a high-owned receiver with minimal route volume—precisely the archetype he avoids in preseason Showdown formats.

Murray called Raheim “Rocket” Sanders his favorite Chargers running-back play. The coaching staff has already seen plenty from veterans Hassan Haskins, Jaret Patterson and Nyheim Hines, so he expects them to spotlight Sanders to evaluate the former Arkansas bell-cow. Sanders posted a 1,400-yard season in 2022 before injuries derailed 2023, giving him a ceiling if healthy. With soft-tissue issues reportedly behind him, Murray believes Sanders could lead the backfield in carries and break the slate at low salary and middling ownership.

Kyle Murray warned that the new rookie Omarion Hampton will almost certainly open the Hall of Fame Game, but only for a cameo. Murray expects no more than one, maybe two drives, noting last year’s identical "show-him-to-the-crowd" usage with Malik Nabers. Because the Chargers publicly confirmed Hampton will be active, Murray projects field ownership in the 25-30 % range. He views that as dead money in single-game DFS: limited volume plus massive popularity equals an easy leverage fade.

Discussing chalk expectations, Murray is comfortable fading Omarion Hampton even though Chargers coaches confirmed he will be active. With the team already thin after Najee Harris’s minor injury, he anticipates a ‘show him off for the fans’ cameo—think two or three early drives, similar to the Josh Jacobs preseason fake-out years ago. Hampton could touch the ball a couple times and sit, leaving DFS rosters dead if he commands 25-plus percent ownership. Murray is willing to eat the risk of Hampton surprising with extended run because the more likely scenario is single-digit touches and mediocre fantasy output.

Gimino expects Kyle Allen to handle every non-Hooker drive and called him the most polished passer in the contest. With far less inclination to scramble than the other three quarterbacks, Allen projects for the most pass attempts if playing time splits 50-50. Gimino plans to pair Allen with Detroit’s late-game wide-outs in stacked builds, banking on garbage-time PPR volume while the Chargers rotate deep reserves on defense. He warned that Allen’s rushing floor is near zero, so ceiling comes strictly via multiple passing scores.

Murray slotted DJ Uiagalelei (listed as the Chargers’ fourth quarterback for this game) into his second-tier GPP pool. Although DJU’s college résumé is rocky, Murray emphasized his rushing mentality—expect the former five-star prospect to scramble often in an attempt to showcase athleticism. That rushing juice is gold in preseason DFS where passing efficiency is shaky across the board. The flip side: DJU could look ugly through the air, so Murray is capping exposure but wants him in player pools for 20-plus lineups because even one 30-yard run plus a goal-line plunge can break the slate.

Kyle Murray flagged Cameron Dicker as a priority secondary play behind the quarterbacks, defenses and other top options. Dicker finished last season as one of the best fantasy kickers and owns the leg to hit from 55-60 yards, a key edge in a preseason game where the Chargers’ backup offense may stall just inside midfield. Murray noted you should not expect many PATs but long-range field-goal attempts are firmly in play, giving Dicker realistic 8-10 point upside at low salary. He recommended treating Dicker as a tournament pivot who can land in the optimal if the offenses sputter.

Chris Gimino said Hendon Hooker is the obvious captain choice on this one-game preseason slate because of his proven dual-threat production: 19 rushes for 138 yards and a score plus roughly 100 passing yards per game with a 1-to-1 TD/INT line last preseason. Gimino argued those rushing attempts give Hooker the single highest ceiling in the player pool, even higher than either defense. The catch is ownership: he expects Hooker to be ‘extremely popular,’ especially among players building only one to three lineups. In mass-multi-entry he recommends trimming exposure or finding contrarian builds, noting that with only three to five drives on tap Hooker can easily go 0-for-3 and post a zero. Bottom line: jam him in small-entry cash or SE, but get creative if you’re running 20-plus lineups.

Murray pegged Hendon Hooker as the Lions’ offensive answer to Lance. Hooker logged 19 preseason carries for 138 rushing yards and a score last summer while averaging 100 passing yards per outing. The Lions are expected to give him the entire second half, offering enough volume for a 15-20 point ceiling. With most roster constructions jammed with DSTs, Hooker’s rushing floor makes him a strong leverage captain for tournaments hunting a unique build.

Kyle Murray labeled Trey Lance the highest-ceiling play on the slate. The Chargers plan to let Lance run through the second half (and even one third-quarter drive), giving him the most secure snap share among skill players. Last preseason he racked up 662 passing yards, two passing TDs, 168 rushing yards on 21 carries, and two more scores on the ground. Murray expects a similar dual-threat script; one rushing TD plus 150 combined yards would likely eclipse any DST score and make Lance the premier captain in large-field GPPs.

Kyle Murray prefers the Detroit DST as the better captain/utility play. Vegas makes the Lions slight favorites, and Murray flagged Trey Lance’s turnover track record—five interceptions and two fumbles in just three preseason games last year—as a direct path to defensive fantasy points. In a game where one defensive touchdown would likely break the slate, the Lions’ combination of positive game script and a mistake-prone opposing quarterback gives them the inside track over the Chargers’ unit.

Dave Loughran said bettors should grab the Chargers at +115 on the moneyline for the Hall of Fame Game. Loughran expects Trey Lance to start and play into the third quarter before rookie DJ Uiagalelei takes over, giving Los Angeles uncommon preseason quarterback stability. Lance led all QBs with 50 more preseason dropbacks than anyone else last summer, offers rushing upside, and now steps into Greg Roman’s run-heavy system that previously unlocked Colin Kaepernick, Lamar Jackson, and Tyrod Taylor. Loughran also highlighted early-game weapons Marion Hampton and Trey Harris as upgrades from the talent Lance worked with last August. On the Detroit side, Dan Campbell publicly told Henden Hooker and Kyle Allen to "make the right decisions" and punt if necessary, signaling a conservative script. Campbell also ruled out first-round rookies Tylee Williams and Tate Ratlidge and has three additional preseason games to evaluate depth, suggesting the Lions may treat this as a walkthrough. With Detroit laying two points at most books, Loughran views the matchup as a coin-flip and prefers the plus-money moneyline while passing on the 32.5-point total.

Cash Out Sports Picks said the Los Angeles Chargers are the right side against the spread as preseason underdogs in the Hall of Fame Game. He highlighted several preseason edges: Jim Harbaugh owns a 10-6 record ATS in exhibition play and teams with Jesse Minter to field a sharp defense, while Dan Campbell sits at 3-6-1 ATS. Quarterback depth is the biggest advantage: veteran Taylor Heinicke (29 NFL starts), former top-five pick Trey Lance, and dual-threat DJ Uiagalelei form what he called "perhaps the deepest QB room in the league," whereas Detroit will lean on Hendon Hooker (only nine pro pass attempts) and Kyle Allen. Detroit also lost both coordinators this offseason, so Cash Out expects timing issues and a vanilla playbook, especially with starters resting. Because preseason outcomes hinge on backups more than stars, those mismatches make the Chargers plus the points his preferred side wager.

Chris Raybon echoed Koerner’s first-half stance and added that he is comfortable betting the Chargers in first-quarter markets once numbers post. Raybon pointed to the same depth advantages—Trey Lance at QB, rookies Hampton, Harris and Lambert-Smith at wideout, plus veteran TE trio Disly, Gadsden and others rotating early. He also highlighted explosive specialist Darius Davis and a starting-caliber center in Zion Johnson anchoring the line for a few drives. With Detroit unlikely to play meaningful skill talent before halftime, Raybon expects Los Angeles to jump out quickly and sees plenty of value if a pick-em or small plus number appears in 1Q lines.

Sean Koerner said the Chargers are the side to back for the first 30 minutes. Los Angeles will roll out Trey Lance for the entire opening half and let a wave of rookies—WRs Amerian Hampton and Trey Harris plus defensive linemen Jemari Caldwell and Kyle Kinnard—log real snaps. Detroit is sitting almost every projected starter and even most rookies, leaving Hendon Hooker to work behind a backup line that allowed him to be sacked at a high rate in last year’s preseason. Koerner expects Kinnard to collapse the pocket early and sees the Bolts controlling both trenches. Because Hall-of-Fame games tend to be low scoring, he prefers taking Chargers +0.5 in the first-half spread at anything better than –120 rather than the moneyline, which removes the benefit of cashing a tied half.

Polzin believes Kyle Allen’s passing yard prop is too low. Detroit lists Allen as QB3, meaning he should run the entire second half against Chargers practice-squad defenders. Despite playing with backups, Allen will have preseason-savvy receivers such as Tom Kennedy, Lambert Smith and Isaac Tesla. Polzin said the current line ‘should be flipped’ relative to Hendon Hooker’s number and sees value on Allen’s over if books leave it untouched.

Polzin loves exploiting the split on Tom Kennedy’s receiving line: 23.5 yards on UnderDog versus a higher total on PrizePicks. Kennedy has proven to be a preseason standout and Polzin expects him to play roughly half of football, enough to top 23.5. He suggested bettors take the Over at UnderDog and hedge with the Under at PrizePicks to capture the middle if the number stays inflated there.

Polzin flagged Trey Lance’s passing-yard prop as mis-priced on UnderDog. While PrizePicks had already bumped or pulled the market, UnderDog still posted 116.5 yards. Polzin advised taking the over there, reasoning that Lance should see extended Hall-of-Fame-Game snaps and that the line discrepancy provides built-in value for bettors willing to shop around.

Polzin also likes the over on Jabari Small’s rushing yardage, calling the current number ‘small’ relative to his expected workload. With Detroit protecting bigger-name backs and Vaki banged up, Small should split the bulk of preseason snaps with Kai. Even without camp buzz, Polzin thinks Small is the type of back Dan Campbell will lean on in a meaningless exhibition and believes seven or more carries are enough to beat a line in the low-20s.

Polzin called Keandre Lambert Smith his favorite Chargers receiver prop, endorsing the Over 27.5 receiving yards on Underdog (29.5 on PrizePicks). Beat reports liken Lambert Smith’s camp performance to a young Mike Williams—high-pointing deep balls and flashing contested-catch ability. With rookies Trey Harris and Ladd McConkey expected to max out at 10-20 snaps, Lambert Smith should log extended run and has already developed chemistry with Trey Lance. Polzin projects at least two down-field targets worth roughly 40 air yards, giving the camp darling multiple paths to 30+ receiving yards.

Polzin warned that Trey Lance’s passing yard total has been bet up to 119.5 and is now "a little bit too high." He noted Lance’s accuracy issues in previous preseasons and prefers hitching his wagon to the quarterback’s legs rather than his arm. Although Lance will see heavy snaps with only two Chargers QBs active, Polzin doubts the former first-rounder clears 120 yards, urging bettors to take the under while the number remains above 110.

Eric Polzin said bettors should smash the 27.5-yard rushing line on Trey Lance. Lance is locked in for the entire first half plus one third-quarter series, a workload Polzin confirmed from Chargers beat writers. Lance’s dual-threat profile and Los Angeles’ pass-heavy preseason tendencies (third-highest pass percentage and top-five in total attempts last August) create extra scramble chances. With no Justin Herbert and several rookie wideouts on the field, Polzin projects Lance to reach 30-40 rushing yards on volume and one explosive run, making the over his favorite prop of the slate.

Eric Polzin advised jamming in the Chargers DST alongside Trey Lance builds. He expects Dan Campbell to lean heavily on the run, draining clock and limiting Detroit scoring chances. With backups like Hendon Hooker or Kyle Allen forced to throw in long-yardage, Polzin anticipates sacks and turnover opportunities. In a game carrying one of the lowest totals of the preseason, even a modest point-allowed bonus plus a sack or takeaway will outscore most skill-position punts, making Los Angeles' defense a leverage piece against lineups that blindly jam Lions backs.

Eric Polzin called Trey Lance "the top player on the board" and recommended slotting him in the captain/MVP spot. Lance is expected to get the longest quarterback run for Los Angeles as the staff evaluates him for the full-season QB2 job. His willingness to pull the ball and run adds bonus scoring paths that other signal-callers on the slate do not possess. Facing a Lions defense that rarely blitzes in preseason and will be resting starters, Polzin projects Lance for a full half of play, 140-plus combined yards and multiple scoring opportunities, making him worth the hefty salary multiplier.

Eric Polzin said Cameron Dicker is a core DFS play for the Hall of Fame Game because the Chargers have no backup kicker on the roster. PrizePicks hung both Dicker and Jake Bates at 1.5 field-goals made and 1.5 PATs. Even one made field goal plus a PAT delivers 4.5 fantasy points, a massive score in a game projected to be ugly and low-scoring. With Trey Lance expected to move the ball but drives likely stalling in the red zone, Polzin expects Dicker to see every kicking snap and carry one of the safest floors on the slate at a cheap salary.

Eric Polzin noted that the 9to5 lineup builder is spitting out Detroit running backs as top point-per-dollar plays, a view that meshes with Dan Campbell’s preseason tendency to lean heavily on the ground game. While he did not crown a single feature back, Polzin expects a committee that collectively sees the slate’s largest rushing workload. In a matchup sporting a sub-33-point total, he prefers scooping cheap Lions backs for touchdown equity rather than guessing which Charger runner will emerge from their crowded group of Vidal, Patterson, Haskins and company.

Eric Polzin singled out Keandre Lambert Smith as his favorite receiver play to pair with Trey Lance. The rookie is generating steady camp buzz, with Chargers staff comparing his contested-catch style to former Charger Mike Williams. Team social clips show multiple highlight-reel grabs from Lance, and inside the building they already call the rookie "Dre," signaling real chemistry. Polzin expects Lambert Smith to get most of his run in the first half alongside Lance, making him an inexpensive upside stacking partner in a slate light on trustworthy pass-catchers.

Eric Polzin advised making the Chargers DST a core play. Vegas has hung a 31.5–32.5 point total, and although the past three Hall of Fame Games have squeaked over, Polzin still expects a defensive slog where DSTs dominate Showdown optimals – a trend he’s tracked for several seasons. He believes ownership will settle in with Trey Lance first, Chargers DST second, and Lions DST third. Because the field loves pairing rushing QBs with their own defense, Polzin is comfortable rolling out the Chargers unit for correlation and warned listeners not to over-stack the Detroit defense alongside their Lance shares.

Eric Polzin said Trey Lance should anchor most Hall of Fame Game Showdown builds because the Chargers have already confirmed he will play the entire first half and one additional drive after halftime – a workload no other quarterback on the slate can match. Lance’s dual-threat profile raises his floor and ceiling, and Polzin expects him to be "the most-owned player on the slate." The 9to5 lineup builder, which incorporates PrizePicks props, projects Lance for the highest raw fantasy score. Polzin did issue one note of caution: Jim Harbaugh’s preseason Chargers have ranked third in pass attempts, so Lance may be asked to air it out more than run, slightly muting rushing production. For large-field tournaments Polzin suggested a leverage pivot – fading Lance entirely and praying for an early injury or quick hook that would thrust his backup DJ into extended action.

Joe Osborne laid out multiple angles for backing Detroit at –1.5 in the Hall of Fame Game. First, he pointed to Jim Harbaugh’s dreadful history in opening-week preseason contests: Harbaugh-coached teams are 1-4 straight-up in their first exhibition, losing three of those by at least 13 points and averaging just 5.8 points per game across the five-game sample (49ers tenure plus his first Chargers preseason). Osborne argued that even if the sample is small, the pattern suggests Harbaugh treats Game 1 as a pure evaluation, not a must-win. Second, Detroit’s camp has been feisty—two separate fights forced Dan Campbell to halt practice, and several young players were tossed for over-aggression. Osborne believes that juice will spill into Thursday’s matchup. Finally, with new offensive and defensive coordinators on staff, Campbell may push a more regular-season-like script to test installations, giving added incentive to execute. Combining Harbaugh’s laissez-faire approach with the Lions’ apparent edge and coaching urgency, Osborne recommended laying the 1.5 at –110.