Teams rarely play their starters in the first preseason game of the season, especially in the NFL Hall of Fame Game. Football fans may have hoped to see Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, play in the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game of Bears vs. Texans on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET from Canton, Ohio. However, the Bears announced on Tuesday they won't play their starters. Tyson Bagent, who started four games for the Bears last season, will start instead, so should you include Bagent in your 2024 Hall of Fame Game NFL DFS picks?
The Texans have three quarterbacks who have started NFL games on their bench, Davis Mills, Case Keenum and Tim Boyle, so should you expect the Houston offense to perform better due to multiple quarterbacks with NFL regular-season experience when making NFL DFS lineups? Before making any NFL DFS picks for Bears vs. Texans on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, be sure to check out the NFL DFS lineup advice, strategy and player stacks from SportsLine NFL daily Fantasy expert Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is a NFL and DFS expert for SportsLine, who opened the 2022 NFL season by winning DraftKings' NFL Showdown Thursday Kickoff Millionaire contest. He edged out over 355,000 other entrants in the contest and also has multiple five-figure tournament wins on his DFS resume. Kaylor, who has been cashing big all season, has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America, and his background as a former college and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks.
Kaylor hit on epic NFL DFS picks last season like Justin Jefferson (11-159), D'Andre Swift (175-1), DeVonta Smith (4-132-1), T.J. Hockenson (7-66-2), D.J. Moore (8-230-3), David Montgomery (121-3), Ja'Marr Chase (12-141, 11-149-1), Alvin Kamara (12-91, 76), Jordan Addison (7-123-2), Jahmyr Gibbs (152-1, 5-37), Javonte Williams (79, 3-31-1), Dak Prescott (331-4), CeeDee Lamb (12-116-1), DK Metcalf (6-143-3), Aidan O'Connell (248-4), and Puka Nacua (9-164-1). Anyone who has followed his picks is way up.
Now, Kaylor has turned his attention to the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game matchup of Texans vs. Bears and just locked in his top daily Fantasy football picks. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Top 2024 Hall of Fame Game NFL DFS picks for Bears vs. Texans
One of Kaylor's favorite DFS picks for Texans vs. Bears in the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2024, where every player on DraftKings is $11,400 and $12,000 on FanDuel, is Texans quarterback Tim Boyle. The 29-year-old quarterback is fighting for a roster spot and the chance to prove he should be the backup behind C.J. Stroud this season. The Houston backup quarterbacks include Davis Mills, Case Keenum and Boyle, who have all started multiple games over the last two seasons. Boyle will need a strong showing this preseason to climb up the depth chart, or even to make the team in general.
Boyle has put together impressive preseason showings over his career, including completing 9 of 11 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in his final preseason game with the Jets last season. Boyle had two multi-touchdown performances over four preseason games last season and completed 66.1% of his passes over the preseason. With Mills and Keenum both having previous experience with Houston, they may get the earlier parts of the game, but that could provide Boyle the chance to go against the very bottom of the Chicago defensive depth chart, which could bolster his performance for NFL DFS lineups.
Kaylor's NFL DFS strategy also includes rostering Bears running back Ian Wheeler. The undrafted rookie from Howard is playing for his chance to make the final roster, so every opportunity he has on the field is one he must capitalize on. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back didn't have a huge offensive role at Howard last season, but he showed explosiveness when getting the ball. Wheeler averaged 7.3 yards per carry over 11 games and added nine receptions for 13.2 yards per catch.
Wheeler's special team abilities may give him his best chance at making the final roster, but he'll need to display that during the preseason to make the final cut. The Hall of Fame Game is a huge opportunity for him to show off those skill sets. His college stats won't marvel many, but his offensive and special teams tape earned him a shot at making an NFL roster. Kaylor expects the usage and results to be there from Wheeler to roster him in NFL DFS lineups as Chicago won't be playing its starters, leaving more time for playmakers like Wheeler. You can see the rest of Kaylor's NFL DFS picks here.
How to build 2024 Hall of Fame Game NFL DFS lineups
Kaylor is also targeting another undervalued player who could explode for huge numbers on Thursday in the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2024. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is, and the rest of Kaylor's NFL DFS picks, at SportsLine.
So who is Jimmie Kaylor including in his optimal NFL DFS lineups for Bears vs. Texans, and which under-the-radar NFL DFS picks offer huge value? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal NFL DFS picks, rankings, advice, and stacks, all from a DFS expert who already won a single-game millionaire maker tournament, and find out.