Below is our game-by-game previews on which players should be considered on your roster as well as which players you may want to stay away from.
arkansas At Alabama
Kickoff: 12:00 PM EST
Spread: Alabama -16
O/U: 48
Arkansas
Team Expected Points- 16
Arkansas is facing arguably the best defense in the country in Alabama, this is not a game where you want to start a player from Arkansas.
Alabama
Team Expected Points- 32
WR- ArDarius Stewart- $3,900
Analysis
While ArDarius doesn’t have the talent that fellow number one receivers at Alabama had such as Julio Jones or Amari Cooper, he is showing that he is a solid contributor every week with upside as he had eight receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Ole Miss. Arkansas has allowed 272 yards passing so far this season, so ArDarius should see plenty of opportunities to get receptions in this game.
Recommendation:
At $3,900, ArDarius is a great punt play for both cash and GPP games. There is some risk that the game will get out of hand quickly similar to the Georgia game last week, but the game should stay competitive long enough for Stewart to exceed his value threshold.
Boise State AT Colorado State
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: Boise State -15.5
O/U: 59.5
Boise State
Team Expected Points- 37.5
RB- Jeremy McNichols- $7,600
Analysis:
Jeremy McNichols is a guy who is not the greatest running back, but what he provides is the ability to consistently find the end zone. While Colorado State’s defense so far has been solid, Boise State week in and week out has been putting up a surprising number of points. We expect McNichols to find the end zone at least once and he has the potential to get in multiple times.
Recommendation:
McNichols makes for a nice cash game play due to his consistent ability to find the end zone, he is not the greatest GPP play due to the inability to get a high number of yards, so will be harder for him to meet the GPP value.
Colorado State
Team Expected Points- 22
WR- Rashard Higgins- $7,400
Analysis:
Rashard Higgins continues to show why he is one of the top wide receivers in college football. He is a guy who has scored a touchdown in each of his four games played, and has went for over 100 yards in three of those four games. He has not faced a defense that is as strong as Boise State’s this season, so the matchup is going to be a tough one for him, but he has shown the ability in the past to be matchup proof due to having such a high involvement in the offense.
Recommendation:
Higgins is a good GPP play, as the matchup is the most difficult one that Higgins and the Rams have faced this season. While that means his floor is lower than normal, there is also the counter argument that they will be down in this game and will have to throw a significant amount of times in an attempt to keep up with Boise State in this game.
Oklahoma State At West Virginia
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: West Virginia -5.5
O/U: 60.5
Oklahoma State
Team Expected Points- 27.5
WR- Marcell Ateman- $4,100
Analysis:
Marcell Ateman has shown to be a safe consistent player, having scored 8+ points in all of his games so far this season. He does possess upside as he is coming off a game where he scored 25 points against Kansas State. The 6-4 210 pound receiver is a guy who is turning into one of the top receivers on this team.
Recommendation:
Ateman makes for a decent punt play if you’re looking to save money on this slate for both GPP and Cash.
West Virginia
Team Expected Points- 26.5
WR- Jovon Durante- $3,700
Analysis:
Jovon Durante is a guy who is very difficult to figure out, one week he gets all the targets in the game and looks like a clear cut #1 wide receiver, and the next he has two receptions. The one thing he does do however is get into the end zone having scored in three of the four games that West Virginia has had this season. This makes him viable as a fantasy play.
Recommendation:
Durante is a good punt play for both cash games and GPP as all you need is for him to find the end zone to pay off that salary.
East Carolina AT BYU
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: BYU -10
O/U: 59
East Carolina
Team Expected Points- 25
WR- Trevon Brown- $3,900
Analysis:
Trevon Brown is a guy who missed the first three games of the season due to suspension, and he is making up lost time very quickly in the two games that he has been back. He has scored in both games as well as had four receptions in both games. He is going to be a focal point of this East Carolina offense going forward as they look for a consistent wide receiver. The BYU defense is one of the more difficult defenses that East Carolina has faced this season, but Brown is in a good spot to be relied on.
Recommendation:
He is one of our favorite punt plays of the day and should be used in cash and GPP’s to be able to spend up at other positions.
BYU
Team Expected Points 34
RB- Francis Bernard/Algernon Brown- $3,500/$4,900
Analysis:
With the injury to Adam Hine likely being at least a month, it looks like Francis Bernard will be splitting carries with Algernon Brown who also makes for a great play and probably a better cash play than Bernard. Bernard is a guy who saw a majority of the goal line looks, which while he will get less carries he should be able to make up for those lack of carries by finding the end zone.
Recommendation:
Algernon Brown is the safer play and a better cash game play, while Bernard has the upside due to his touchdown potential.
TCU At Kansas State
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: TCU -9
O/U: 62
TCU
Team Expected Points- 36
QB- Trevone Boykin- $9,100
Analysis-
Trevone Boykin is the safest quarterback on this slate, as his floor is so much higher than everyone else. The Heisman hopeful should have another good game, although Kansas State’s defense is the best in the Big 12 which may limit his upside a little bit. He is expensive and it is hard to pay up for an expensive quarterback on the road when there are other premier players on this slate.
Recommendation:
Boykin should be considered for your cash games, although if you’re looking for upside, this isn’t one of those weeks where he will provide you with 50-60 point potential as we saw earlier this year and will see in future weeks.
WR- Kavontae Turpin- $4,600
Analysis:
Kavontae came out of nowhere last week and filled in admirably for Kolby Listenbee by having six receptions for 138 yards and four touchdowns. His price is a little bit low considering his breakout game which with Listenbee looking like he is still going to be limited this week, Turpin should have another decent game. We aren’t predicting that he will have anywhere close to the same game as he did last week, but he has that upside and should still have a solid performance as the team will be in what should be a close game against Kansas State.
Recommendation:
Turpin should be used in all of your GPP lineups, as he possesses the ability to score that other wide receivers in the price range do not have.
Kansas State
Team Expected Points- 26.5
RB- Justin Silmon- $4,500
Analysis:
Justin Silmon has taken on a larger role in this offense as he has become the lead running back for Kansas State. TCU allows 174 yards rushing per game, as teams will typically try to slow them down by going with a rushing attack which we fully expect Kansas State to take this approach. Silmon has 39 carries over the last two games, and while he is not the most talented running back in college football at 5.1 yards per carry, he should see enough volume to be fantasy relevant.
Recommendation:
Silmon is a good play in cash games this week as he will see a high volume in carries which is one of the primary things we are looking for in starting a guy in cash games. There is some risk that TCU will get out to an early lead and force Kansas State to abandon the run, but we do not anticipate this happening.
Florida At Missouri
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: Florida -5.5
O/U: 37.5
Whenever you see a game with an over/under less than 45 in college football, avoid the game and move on to the next one. This game far exceeds this threshold coming in at a total of 37.5.
Miami At Florida State
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: Florida State -7
O/U: 51
Miami
Team Expected Points- 22
Statistically Florida State has one of the top defenses in the country allowing only 11.5 points per game. Brad Kaaya and company are in a tough spot in this game, as even when Miami is in a good spot they do not have too many fantasy relevant players due to their ability to spread the ball out so much and have a two headed running back approach.
Florida State
Team Expected Points- 37
RB- Jonathan Vickers- $4,400
Analysis:
It appears that Dalvin Cook is either going to miss this game, or be extremely limited. Combining this with Mario Pender being already ruled out, this creates a great opportunity for Vickers to receiver a bulk load of the carries this week. This offense has shown that whoever is running the ball is fantasy relevant, and to get a guy who is priced down like Vickers makes for a great play this week.
Recommendation:
Make sure to check the status of Dalvin Cook, but otherwise Vickers makes for one of the top plays on this slate due to his price.
Michigan State At Rutgers
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: Michigan State -13
O/U: 54
Michigan State
Team Expected Points- 33.5
RB- LJ Scott- $5,200
Analysis:
Finally a Michigan State running back is starting to emerge, and it is the guy that we have been calling for the entire time. LJ Scott is the most talented running back on this team, and showed it last week as he had 18 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He is in a great spot this week against Rutgers who allowed 330 yards rushing to Penn State two weeks ago.
Recommendation:
Scott is one of the top running backs on this slate at his price point.
Rutgers
Team Expected Points- 20.5
Michigan State typically has one of the top defenses in the country. Rutgers gets Leonte Carroo back from suspension, and he can be used as a deep GPP play, but he has been suspended for several weeks, and it is difficult to know what role he will have in this offense at $5,900.
San Jose State At UNLV
Kickoff: 9:00 PM EST
Spread: San Jose State -3
O/U: 50.5
San Jose State-
Team Expected Points- 26.5
RB- Tyler Ervin- $8,300
Analysis:
Tyler Ervin is one of the best running backs in the country and he is typically under-owned due to people not knowing who he is. He has scored 26+ fantasy points in each of his games this season, and is in a great spot again against a UNLV team that while their defense is good against the pass, they have struggled against some teams on the ground.
Recommendation:
Put Ervin in your lineup and move on he is the top play on this slate.
UNLV-
Team Expected Points- 24
UNLV has yet to find their rhythm offensively this year, and can be safely avoided on this slate. Devonte Boyd will have a breakout game at some point this season, but until he shows signs of consistency cannot be recommended
Cal At Utah
Kickoff: 10:00 PM EST
Spread: Utah -7.5
O/U: 61
Cal
Team Expected Points- 27
QB- Jared Goff- $8,100
Analysis
Jared Goff is in a tough matchup this week, but his team will need to rely on him in order to stay competitive. Utah has one of the top defenses in the country, and should be able to limit the running game of Cal.
Recommendation:
Goff is a GPP only play this week, as Cal is in the worst spot they will be in all season.
Utah-
Team Expected Points-34
RB- Devontae Booker- $9,000
Analysis:
Devontae Booker like Tyler Ervin is someone that you are going to want to pay up for this week. He is a player who will be relied on to get a heavy volume of carries through the air and on the ground. He has the ability at any point to score multiple touchdowns and with Utah facing their weakest defense that they have played so far this season, we expect him to have a high probability of multiple scores.
Recommendation:
If you can only fit one in, we prefer Ervin, but we are going to try to fit both in our lineups
Colorado At Arizona State
Kickoff: 10:00 PM EST
Spread: Arizona State -16.5
O/U: 56.5
Colorado-
Team Expected Points 20.5
This Colorado offense right now is just not the same that we have seen over the past few seasons. Nelson Spruce has yet to get it going as he has yet to break 100 yards receiving, and is not in a great spot this week either as they’re heavy under dogs on the road. There are better plays this week.
Arizona State
Team Expected Points- 36.5
RB- Demario Richard- $7,400
Analysis:
Richard has proven that he is the center point of this offense, as he has the ability to beat you on the ground and through the air. He has over 100 total yards in every game this season and has two touchdowns in three of his five games this season. He makes for a great play this week against a Colorado team that has a horrible run defense allowing 361 yards rushing last week against Oregon.
Recommendation:
If you can’t afford Booker, Richard offers some great savings that can be used to upgrade elsewhere.
Wyoming at Air Force
Kickoff: 10:15 PM EST
Spread: Air Force -21
O/U: 57.5
Wyoming
Team Expected Points: 18
This is one of those games that probably could have been left off the slate. Wyoming has yet to find a rhythm offensively, and should be avoided in what should be a blowout.
Air Force
Team Expected Points: 39
QB- Karson Roberts- $4,700
Analysis:
Air Force is a triple option team, which means that there is not a lot of fantasy excitement going on with this team. The challenge is that they have had a very difficult schedule so far this season, so we are not exactly sure who the key running back is, and they do not throw the ball enough for any of their wide receivers to be fantasy relevant. There is upside as Roberts will be running the ball in this offense and is in a decent matchup against Wyoming, but it is just hard to trust.
Recommendation:
Roberts should be used as a GPP play only.
Utah State At Fresno State
Kickoff: 10:30 PM EST
Spread: Utah State -11.5
O/U: 48
Utah State
Team Expected Points- 29.5
QB- Kent Myers- $5,800
Analysis:
Kent Myers has shown that he is the type of quarterback who is a much better fantasy quarterback than he is a real life quarterback due to his ability to beat you with his legs. Last game he ran for 191 yards and a touchdown, which easily would have him make value. Fortunately for him, Fresno State has one of the worst run defenses in the country, and he should have a great game this week.
Recommendation:
He is another must start play on this slate for GPP and cash games.
Fresno State
Team Expected Points- 18.5
We had high expectations and hopes for Marteze Waller coming into this season, but so far they just have not materialized as he has yet to find the end zone in this offense that is quickly becoming one of the worst in college football. Avoid this team until further notice.
