We have done the DFS homework for you, and here are is our breakdown for Week 0 in college football. We are using DraftKings numbers, so you have $50,000 to pick 8 players ($6,250 AVG).
CFB $60K Saturday Return – $20K to 1st place ($15 Entry)
Games:
- Nebraska @ Illinois
- UConn @ Fresno State
- Hawaii @ UCLA
Quarterbacks
Top Plays
Jake Haener, Fresno St, $9,700
Haener is a transfer from Washington who’s a former 4-star recruit. He has the best match-up of the weekend vs UConn, who didn’t play last season.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA $8,500
DTR is a Dual Threat QB and UCLA has a really good match-up vs Hawaii. I actually like DTR in most of my lineups over Haener because he’s $1,200 cheaper, but has just as much potential.
Value Plays
Chevan Cordeiro, Hawaii, $7,500
Cordeiro averaged 25.5 FPPG last season and this Rainbow Warriors offense can be high scoring. His matchup vs UCLA isn’t the best, but it’s not horrible. Expect Hawaii to score a few TDs.
Adrian Martinez, Nebraska, $6,800
This play scares the hell out of me, but for the price you get decent value here with Martinez. Illinois returns a lot of players, but it’s still Illinois. Expect Nebraska to score at least 24 points and Martinez could get you 15-25 fantasy points.
Brandon Peters, Illinois, $6,500
Peters isn’t going to torch you for 400 yards and 5 TDs, but he’s a solid QB who can distribute the ball and get you 175 passing yards and 2 TDs.
Jack Zergiotis, UConn, $5,100
If you want to punt the QB spot this week, you can get a starter here for very cheap. Zergiotis is the starter for UConn and I expect the Huskies to be trailing in this game, forcing him to throw often.
Running Backs
Top Plays
Ronnie Rivers, Fresno St., $7,800
This is the BEST play of the week. $7,800 for a RB who scores with ease, who can catch passes just as well as run for TDs. Rivers averaged 27+ FPPG last season and he could easily get you 30+ points this week.
Calvin Turner Jr, Hawaii, $6,400
Turner Jr was very productive last season, averaging 21.5 FPPG. His match-up isn’t the best, but the volume will be there.
Value Plays
Brittain Brown $5,600 & Zach Charbonnet, UCLA, $5,300
These two UCLA RBs are priced almost evenly, and I expect one to have a big week vs Hawaii. If I had to bet on which one I’d say Brown, but Charbonnet will get plenty of opportunities.
Chase Brown $5,000 & Mike Epstein, Illinois, $4,800
The Illini RBs are cheap this week. Both are good value plays if you have a good hunch on one getting a TD.
Markese Stepp $4,900 & Marvin Scott III, Nebraska, $4,600
Nebraska needs someone to step up at RB. Stepp is expected to be ready to play and he’s got a ton of upside. If I had to play one of these guys I’d take a shot on Stepp, but Scott could get plenty of opportunities as well.
Kevin Mensah, UConn, $4,200
Mensah is the best player on the Huskies’ offense and he’s a workhorse RB. You get great value here for someone who will get plenty of touches.
Receivers
Top Plays
Jalen Cropper, Fresno St., $7,300
Cropper is the best WR play of the week. Fresno State will score a lot of points vs UConn and he’s WR1.
Kyle Philips, UCLA, $7,000
Phillips averaged 13 FPPG last season, but he has an excellent match-up. Expect him to score 15+ points this week.
Best Value Plays
Jared Smart, Hawaii, $6,700
Smart is WR1 for Hawaii. Expect Hawaii to be trailing which will force them to air it out. Smart could benefit greatly from that.
Greg Dulcich, UCLA, $6,000
Dulcich is an excellent TE for UCLA who averaged 16.2 FPPG last season. He will get a lot of Red Zone looks, which makes him a good play this week.
Brian Hightower, Illinois, $5,800
Hightower is a former transfer from Miami who is now WR1 for the Illini. He only averaged 6 FPPG last season and he’s TD dependent, but he should get plenty of looks in the Red Zone.
Isaiah Williams, Illinios, $5,000
Williams is a former Dual Threat QB who has a ton of athleticism and upside. This is one of those plays that could help you win the week if he exceeds expectations, but it could also hurt your team if he doesn’t perform at a new position.
Samori Toure, Nebraska, $4,900
I LOVE this play this week. Toure is a former FCS All-American who transfers in from Montana. He will be the WR1 for Nebraska, and I expect him to make a big impact immediately.
Cameron Ross $4,800 & Matt Drayton, UConn, $4,000
This is simple. UConn will be trailing and will be forced to throw. Ross and Drayton are the top two receivers for the Huskies, and you get great value here for the price.
Daniel Barker $4,200 & Luke Ford, Illinois, $3,100
We know Illinois will get the TEs involved this season with Bret Bielema at HC. Barker is TD dependent but he will have plenty of opportunities in the Red Zone. Ford is a former 4 who is extremely talented, for $3,100 if he can just get you 3-4 catches or 1 TD you could cash easily.
Austin Allen $3,800 & Travis Vokolek, Nebraska, $3,200
Allen is a BIG Red Zone option and Vokolek will get targets and that’s all you can ask for with players at these price levels.
My Lineup
- QB: DTR $8,500
- RB: Ronnie Rivers $7,800
- RB: Brittain Brown $5,600
- WR: Luke Ford $3,100
- WR: Jalen Cropper $7,300
- WR: Samori Toure $4,900
- Flex: Greg Dulcich $6,000
- Super Flex: Adrian Martinez $6,800