We have done the DFS homework for you, and here are is our breakdown for Saturday’s slate of games in college football. This is my preview for the DraftKings $200K Saturday Kickoff contest. A $15 entry gets you in the contest which pays out $50,000 to 1st place. We are using DraftKings numbers, so you have $50,000 to pick 8 players ($6,250 AVG).
Games
- South Carolina at Arkansas
- Missouri at Kansas State
- Wake Forest at Vanderbilt
- Alabama at Texas
- Southern Miss at Miami
- Ohio at Penn State
- Marshall at Notre Dame
- Tennessee at Pittsburgh
- Appalachian State at Texas A&M
- Washington State at Wisconsin
- Colorado at Air Force
- Iowa State at Iowa
- Houston at Texas Tech
- UVA at Illinois
Quarterbacks
Top Plays
- Bryce Young (Alabama) $10,200
- Sam Hartman (Wake Forest) $8,000
- Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) $7,800
Bryce Young is the obvious top play, but his price will keep me away from him. If you play a QB over 10K, you’ll need to go cheap at Receiver/RB. The 8K price on Sam Hartman was set before it was announced he’d return this week, so this is great value vs Vanderbilt, and he’s a top play for me. Hendon Hooker faces off vs Pittsburgh. This game should be competitive, which means he will need a big game, and I expect one from him.
Best Value Plays
- Sean Clifford (Penn St) $7,300
- Clayton Tune (Houston) $6,500
- Tyler Van Dyke (Miami) $6,400
- Brennan Armstrong (Virginia) $6,300
Clifford has a great match-up vs Ohio and should get you 20 points or more. Tune faces off vs Texas Tech, and this could be another back and forth like last week vs UTSA. Anytime I can get TVD and Brennan Armstrong for $6,400 or $6,300, I’m jumping on it. TVD has an excellent match-up vs Southern Miss, and Armstrong faces off vs Illinois. The Illini have a decent defense, so Armstrong will need a big game.
Longshot Plays
- Tyler Buchner (Notre Dame) $6,000
- Mike Wright (Vanderbilt) $5,400
Buchner had a tough match-up last week vs Ohio State, but I see potential in him. This week he goes up vs Marshall, who have a decent defense themselves. However, for this price, I like the play. Mike Wright is an excellent Dual Threat QB who should get you 15-30 points vs Wake Forest.
Running Backs
Top Plays
- Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) $8,700
- Deuce Vaughn (Kansas St) $7,600
- Braelon Allen (Wisconsin) $7,000
These plays will be spectacular this week. Gibbs will go off vs Texas. Deuce Vaughn faces off vs Missouri and should be in line for a 15-25 point game. Allen has great value at 7K, and he goes up against WSU. He could get 100-125 rushing yards and 2 TDs.
Best Value Plays
- Chase Brown (Illinois) $6,400
- Henry Parrish Jr (Miami) $6,300
Chase Brown is a workhorse RB, and the Hoos could be vulnerable defending the run. Expect him to have a big game. Parrish Jr showed last week that he can contribute rushing and catching passes, and I like his match-up vs Southern Miss.
Longshot Plays
- Kaytron Allen (Penn St) $4,400
- Khalan Laborn (Marshall) $4,200
Allen showed last week that he has potential. Even though he’s in a 3-man RB committee, he has a good match-up and PSU should be up big running the ball. Laborn has a bad match-up vs Notre Dame, but he’s going to get 10-15 touches, and for this price he could be good value.
Receivers
Top Plays
- Jermaine Burton (Alabama)$8,100
- Cedric Tillman (Tennessee)$7,300
Burton is the alpha WR for the Crimson Tide. He had two TDs last week and has an excellent match-up this week vs Texas. Tillman is Hendon Hookers’ #1 target and the Vols will need him to step up big vs Pitt.
Best Value Plays
- A.T. Perry (Wake Forest) $6,900
- Dontayvion Wicks (Virginia) $6,300
- Donovan Greene (Wake Forest) $6,200
- Parker Washington (Penn St) $6,100
- Nathaniel Dell (Houston) $6,000
Perry and Greene are outstanding values now that Hartman is back. Wicks and Washington are good contrarian plays in my opinion because a lot of ownership will come in on Dell at 6K. Speaking of Dell, this is a very cheap price for a player of his skillset. I love this play vs Texas Tech.
Longshot Plays
Trey Knox (Arkansas) $4,100
Tyler Harrell (Alabama) $3,900
Michael Mayer (Notre Dame) $3,900
Lavel Davis Jr (Virginia) $3,500
DraftKings always undervalues Tight Ends. Knox had two TDs last week, and he’s a big weapon for KJ Jefferson. Getting him at $4,100 is a huge steal. I absolutely can’t believe I can get Mayer at $3,900. He has a great match-up, and the Irish will want to get Tyler Buchner going in the passing game vs Marshall. Harrell could win you the week at $3,900, if he plays vs Texas. Alabama has a lot of weapons at WR, but at $3,900, all you need is 4 or 5 receptions or a TD. Lavel Davis Jr is a 6’7″ option at WR for Brennan Armstrong, and he had a TD last week. Adding him to your lineup for $3,500 allows you to load up at other positions.
Mock Lineup
QB: Mike Wright $5,400
RB: Chase Brown $6,400
RB: Braelon Allen $7,000
WR/TE: Michael Mayer $3,900
WR/TE: A.T. Perry $6,900
WR/TE: Mitchell Tinsley $5,700
Flex: Jahmyr Gibbs $8,700
SuperFlex: Tyler Buchner $6,000
