The NFL season gets underway -- sort of -- today with the Hall of Fame Game, a matchup between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.

But we likely won't be seeing much in the way of offensive fireworks.

The total for this game is just 33.5 points, per FanDuel Sportsbook, and the Jets are favored by 1.5 points. (You can see all Week 1 preseason NFL betting odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, by the way.)

That means an implied score of 17.5 to 16.0 in the Jets' favor.

With scoring and playing time at a minimum for most, who can we target for tonight's game?

And don't forget that -- to celebrate the launch of FanDuel Research -- you can join a free play contest for tonight's Hall of Fame Game: Hall of Fame Game FanDuel Research Free Play.

NFL Preseason DFS Strategy

On FanDuel, salaries are always important because of the salary cap. For single-game NFL preseason contests, they don't matter. Every player (and defense) holds a $12,000 salary, so any five-player combination will adhere to the $60,000 salary cap.

One thing to note: every position is a flex position, meaning you can start any combination of positions -- so you don't need to balance out a lineup with a quarterback, running backs, receivers, and tight ends.

But you do need to designate an MVP. That MVP will have his FanDuel points multiplied by 1.5.

Hall of Fame Game DFS Plays

Kellen Mond, QB, Cleveland Browns
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, Cleveland Browns

Whenever we can get clarity on playing time in the preseason, we should take note. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski informed us that Kellen Mond will start tonight's game and that Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick, will play the second half, via Zac Jackson of The Athletic.

Quarterbacks need some level of volume to put up fantasy points, but a half of action is enough to consider both Mond and DTR in daily fantasy lineups while they vie for the QB3 slot on the depth chart behind Deshaun Watson and Joshua Dobbs.

Nothing is concrete as of Thursday morning, but indications are that the Jets will start Zach Wilson but play Chris Streveler and Tim Boyle. Splitting work between those three QBs makes it harder to justify them as ideal process plays.

New York Jets D/ST
Cleveland Browns D/ST

Both defenses are very lively in preseason matchups while below-average quarterbacks are handling the majority of snaps.

In the preseason last year, the league-average passing yards per attempt mark was 6.6. That compares to 7.0 in the regular season.

The other factor here is that we're getting a full game from whatever defense/special teams unit we select, and that volume isn't always guaranteed for individual players.

Both kickers are always in play, too.

Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns

Tillman should have multiple paths to snaps. He is flashing talent (the pass below is from Mond), and he was a high-school teammate of Thompson-Robinson's.

Tillman is far enough down the Browns' unofficial depth chart that he should see the field tonight.

Israel Abanikanda, RB, New York Jets

Getting a high-volume running back in preseason is always nice. We can't be sure how much Abanikanda sees; we have to make some assumptions.

Again, it's just unclear how the Jets' usage will shake out. We just know the starters won't play. That likely points to work for Israel Abanikanda and Travis Dye while the team avoids suiting up Michael Carter and probably doesn't lean too much on Zonovan Knight either.

Anthony Schwartz, WR, Cleveland Browns

While the rookies get a lot of spotlight during the preseason, it's not only the first-year players who have something to prove.

Anthony Schwartz, a 2021 third-round pick, has a lot to prove.

Schwartz has accumulated just 33 targets over his two seasons so far (catching 14 of them for 186 yards and a touchdown). Last year in the preseason, he caught 3 of 12 targets for just 28 yards and was credited with 5 drops, per PFF. While that's not a confidence-building profile for your lineups, Schwartz's speed makes him a big-play threat, and his roster status suggests he'll be in action tonight.

Others to Consider

Greg Zuerlein, Cade York, Hassan Hall, John Kelly, Daylen Baldwin, Jason Brownlee

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.