FanDuel’s Week 14 Main Slate features 12 games and will kickoff at 3:30 ET.
Key matchups on the slate include potential shootouts in a pair of instate rivalries between Oregon and Oregon State and Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. LSU and Utah are also in great spots to produce some big fantasy numbers.
This slate breakdown will go position-by-position, highlighting the top options and giving an overview of the toughest choices we face this week. The top options are broken down into two categories. Players listed as Core Plays are those who you can play with high confidence in both cash games and tournaments. Players listed as Worth Considering are viable as cost-saving options in your main lineup or high-upside options for tournaments
Quarterback
Positional Overview
Jalen Hurts ($12,000) looks like a great option for cash games and tournaments in a potential shootout against Oklahoma State. Despite the smaller than normal number of games on the slate, we have a higher than usual number of quarterbacks strongly in play for tournaments. Joe Burrow ($10,800), Justin Herbert ($9,200), Sam Howell ($9,700), and Brock Purdy ($10,300) are amongst the top pay-up options. We can also look to save some money with Tyler Huntley ($8,100), Kenny Pickett ($7,800), or Skylar Thompson ($8,400).
Core Plays
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma ($12,000)
We are in Week 14 now and Hurts is still averaging well over 40 fantasy points per game (42.7). He has scored at least 34 FanDuel points in all 10 games against FBS opponents. If you can fit him in, you want him on your roster. In a potential shootout (69-point game total) against rival Oklahoma State, the matchup looks pretty sweet. The Cowboys defense ranks just 47th in SP+ and historically haven’t been able to stop this Oklahoma offense. Over the last five years, Oklahoma has scored 38, 58, 38, 62, and 48 points against Oklahoma State. In cash games, Hurts is a must. He also feels like a stronger GPP play than normal this week. It is a smaller slate with fewer dual-threat quarterbacks possessing the upside to match even an average performance from Hurts.
Tyler Huntley, Oregon ($8,100)
Huntley is quietly having an amazing season. His 11.2 yards per attempt ranks third in the nation, behind only Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa and ahead of the Heisman favorite Joe Burrow. Huntley isn’t a huge rushing threat but does have 15 touchdowns on the ground in 30 games over the past three seasons, bringing some modest upside with his legs. The only thing keeping Huntley from consistently putting up big fantasy numbers has been a lack of passing volume. Utah’s elite defense has allowed the offense to play conservatively. A low amount of passing attempts is a concern this week given that the Utes are favored by 28 against Colorado. Given the bargain basement price, it is a risk worth taking. Huntley also doesn’t need a whole lot of throws to put up solid numbers. He has been even more efficient than his eye-popping season-long numbers over the last four weeks, averaging 12.7 yards per attempt. Against a leaky Colorado secondary that is allowing over 300 passing yards per game, Huntley should be able to hook up with his speedy receivers for some big chunk plays. It is also senior night for Huntley and he will be looking to put on a show in his final game. He probably fits slightly better as a cash-game play than GPP option, given the likely game script. Though if he gets a rushing touchdown or two, he could put up tournament-winning numbers.
Others to Consider
Kenny Pickett, Pitt ($7,800)
I am going to stray from my typical format here to make a tentative recommendation for Kenny Pickett and digress into first person temporarily to explain why I am conflicted on this pick. My numbers point to this being a strong play while my gut feel is that I don’t want to roster Pickett, so let’s talk through it.
First, a quick peak behind the curtains of how I come up with my CFB fantasy plays and recommendations. Each week, I make team-level passing, rushing, and receiving projections for every game. I then go through and allocate that production to specific positions and players by percentage. There is some guess work and estimating at positions other than quarterback, where the allocation is straight forward. I use those projections combined with a formula specific to FanDuel’s college football pricing to come up with an adjusted point per dollar number for each player and go from there. Pickett ranked No. 1 on the entire slate in that metric this week, which caused me to do a bit of a double take. This is a guy who scored 0.9 fantasy points last week against Virginia Tech and is averaging under 16 PPG on the season. He has thrown for zero or one passing touchdown eight times. I started working my way back through the numbers to see why Pickett was popping out as such a good option this week because he wouldn't have been on my list prior to running the numbers.
There are some real reasons for optimisms here. First, this is likely to be a fast-paced game. Boston College is running over 75 plays per game on offense and opponents are also running over 75 plays per game against their defense. BC is giving up 298 passing yards, 2.5 passing touchdowns per game, and over 8.5 yards per attempt despite facing a middling schedule. On the other side, Pitt is throwing the ball 39.4 times per game and has scored almost twice as many passing touchdowns as rushing touchdowns. In a game where they are projected to score over 30 points (way above their season average), it makes sense that Pickett would project for strong passing numbers. With a salary under $8K, it may make sense to pay down for Pickett, opening money to get exposure to top passing offenses like LSU via their high-priced wide receivers. We could easily see a pairing of Pickett and a receiver like Justin Jefferson ($8,900) outscore Joe Burrow ($10,800) and a $5,900 wide receiver at the same combined price.
Running Back
Positional Overview
This slate is loaded with top running back talents. Jonathan Taylor ($10,000), Chubb Hubbard ($10,500), Zach Moss ($10,200), AJ Dillon ($9,500), Claude Edwards-Helaire ($9,900), and Cam Akers ($9,200) have each shown slate breaking upside.
The biggest question from a roster-building perspective will be whether to pay up for a pair of top running backs or try to save some money at RB2. If we want to save some money, there are some strong options. Kennedy Brooks ($7,800), CJ Verdell ($7,700), and Jermar Jefferson ($8,000) do not project as strongly as the top backs but the cap savings is significant when considering how many top receivers there are on the slate.
Core Plays
Zach Moss, Utah ($10,200)
There are a number of elite backs on this slate capable of putting up 30+ fantasy points. Moss probably has the best chance to get there given the matchup. Utah’s implied team total of 39 looks great in comparison to Oklahoma State (29) and Wisconsin (25), potentially providing a tie-breaker for Moss over Chuba Hubbard and Jonathan Taylor. Moss has also been more consistently involved as a pass catcher than the other top backs. He has averaged 3.8 catchers and 63 receiving yards per game over the last five. Over that recent five-game stretch, Moss has scored nine touchdowns and put up at least 28.6 fantasy points every week. Colorado’s defense has improved in recent weeks but still ranks just 103rd overall in FEI. This is a game Utah should control, which should mean Moss gets a heavy workload once the Utes get out to a lead.
Kennedy Brooks, Utah ($7,600)
Oklahoma took a loss four weeks ago to Kansas State in a game in which the running backs barely touched the ball. After the game, Lincoln Riley noted he needed to get the backs more touches. In the three games since, Kennedy Brooks has 63 touches and is averaging 134 yards per game over this stretch. The yardage projection for Brooks this week looks very solid. Oklahoma State has given up big yards on the ground against better running offenses: 352 to Oregon State, 373 to Kansas State, 281 to Baylor, and 301 to TCU. The Sooners will do damage on the ground. The bigger question is whether Brooks will score any touchdowns. He has just three touchdowns on the season and Jalen Hurts has typically been the go-to option down around the goal line. At this price point, you don’t even need the touchdowns because of all the yardage he should rack up. If you get a couple touchdowns on top, Brooks could be one of the top PPD plays on the slate. He put up 165 yards and 3 touchdowns in this game last season, so we know the upside is there.
Others to Consider
Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin ($10,000)
Taylor is always in play and worth rostering in tournaments. He is an elite talent, behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines, in an extremely run-heavy system. The tough matchup probably keeps him from being a cash-game play or core option this week, however. Minnesota is giving up just 3.7 YPC and 124 rushing yards per game. They haven’t given up more than 178 rushing yards in any game this season. On the other hand, the Golden Gophers have yet to face a rushing offense with anywhere near the potency of the Badgers. Wisconsin still projects to rush for over 150 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, Taylor is going to get a massive workload. A trip to the Big 10 championship game is on the line and Wisconsin won’t be holding anything back.
Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State ($10,500)
As with Taylor, Hubbard is always in play for tournaments for the obvious reasons. In 10 games against FBS opponents this season, he is averaging 27.8 carries per game with 1.8 receptions. Hubbard is a big, physical back with sprinter speed, so he always seems to turn at least one of his carries into a long run. Oklahoma State lost starting quarterback Spencer Sanders to an injury and had to rely on Dru Brown last week. While it is a small sample size, it is certainly worth noting that Brown completed seven passes to Hubbard last week. Hubbard’s season-high coming into the game had been two catches. The seven catches last week might not have been a fluke. Hubbard excelled as a pass catcher out of the backfield last season, catching 22 passes for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns despite spending most of the season backing up Justice Hill. If the Cowboys are going to continue to get the ball to Hubbard through the air, his fantasy floor rises even higher. The game script isn’t great for Hubbard this week, which is why he isn’t quite a core play. The Cowboys are 12-point underdogs against a solid Oklahoma run defense that is allowing 4.2 YPC on the season. Regardless of the score, Hubbard should still see 25+ touches. The Oklahoma State offense is entirely reliant upon him now that top wide receiver Tylan Wallace is out. Hubbard got his first career start against Oklahoma last season and put up 154 total yards and 3 touchdowns. He has that type of upside again this season.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU ($9,900)
Edwards-Helaire has arguably been the top back in the nation the last month. Prior to an October 26th matchup against Auburn, he hadn’t been a big fantasy factor, posting just one game over 18 fantasy points and no games with 20 touches. He broke out against Auburn with 187 yards and a touchdown and hasn’t looked back since. He dominated Alabama to the tune of 180 yards and 4 touchdowns and followed that with a strong game against Mississippi (194 total yards and 1 touchdown). He broke the slate again last week racking up 253 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 13 touches. Based upon the last four weeks, one could easily make the case for Edwards-Helaire as the top option on the slate with LSU favored at home by 17 points against Texas A&M. Edwards-Helaire doesn’t have the full season of workhorse usage like Moss, Taylor, and Hubbard, which maybe clouds his projection slightly. On the other hand, he looks like the freshest of the top backs and is peaking at the right time. He makes for another top tournament option this week.
Wide Receiver
Positional Overview
As noted in the quarterback overview, this slate features a deep slate of high-upside passing offenses for tournaments. It gives us a much deeper pool to pull from for tournaments. CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson of LSU, Juwan and Johnny Johnson of Oregon, Denzel Mims of Baylor, Isaiah Hodgins of Oregon State, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome of North Carolina, Jerry Jeudy and Devonta Smith of Alabama…we could go on. You have a bevy of fantastic options for tournaments and the expectation is we will see multiple guys putting up 30+ point fantasy days.
In cash games, the top two LSU receivers probably have the highest floors and plenty of upside too boot. Oregon’s top pass catchers are underpriced in a great matchup and you could justify playing both of them together given the price savings.
Core Plays
Justin Jefferson, LSU ($8,900) and Ja’Marr Chase, LSU ($9,800)
LSU’s 1A and 1B receivers may be the top two receivers on the slate from a pure points projection. LSU is averaging 387 passing yards and 3.5 passing touchdowns per game this season and a huge chunk of that production has come from Jefferson and Chase. LSU is favored by 17 points at home against Texas A&M, which means they shouldn’t run away with the game to the point where they abandon the pass or pull the starters. Joe Burrow standing on the brink of winning the Heisman trophy should mean the play-calling will stay aggressive regardless of the score to prop up his candidacy.
The $900 pricing difference probably isn’t justified, which makes Jefferson the better cash-game play. In games that have stayed relatively competitive this season, Jefferson has caught at least seven passes in each game. He has been the go-to target on key third downs. While he has made a few long catches and shows an uncanny ability to make leaping grabs in contested catch situations. Jefferson is more of the possession receiver, as evidenced by his 13.8 YPC. Chase is the home run hitter. He is averaging 20.0 YPC this season and has showed off elite ability running after the catch. He has been on fire in recent weeks, posting at least 123 yards in each of his last four games. He is also averaging 1.5 touchdowns per game. Chase feels like the more likely option to break the slate with a huge performance, which makes him the top GPP option at the position.
Johnny Johnson III, Oregon ($7,400) and Juwan Johnson, Oregon ($7,700)
Johnson’s season-long numbers are fairly pedestrian (45-692-5) but he has put up a huge chunk of those numbers over the past two weeks. Johnson’s emergence has been aided by a slew of injuries to top Oregon pass catchers. The most recent was an injury to emerging freshman star Mycah Pittman. Johnson has taken his opportunity and run with it. He was peppered with targets late in last week’s matchup and produced a monster 10-207-2 receiving line against Arizona State. The matchup is even juicier this week against Oregon State. Oregon has the highest team total on the slate at 42.3 points and Oregon State’s pass defense has been atrocious. They’re allowing 286 passing yards and 2.5 passing touchdowns per game on the season. The Beavers have been torched by the better passing offenses on their schedule and are fresh off of allowing 606 passing yards and 6 passing touchdowns to Washington State. We are getting Johnson at a price that reflects his season-long production but isn’t reflective of his recent role in the offense. He has a nice floor given the pricing and much more upside than the typical mid-$7K receiver. His cap-saving price allows us to fit in another high-priced stud.
Oregon’s other Johnson, Juwan, is also very much in play on this slate. The Penn State transfer had a monster performance three weeks ago against USC and has been solid over the past month. He is a big-bodied receiver who has had some success in jump ball situations. He has also struggled at times with his hands, however. I’m expecting Juwan Johnson to be slightly higher-owned due to his name recognition. He is probably be the safer option in cash games but I prefer Johnny in GPPs.
Others to Consider
CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma ($9,300)
Oklahoma’s passing offense hasn’t been quite as consistently explosive as LSU’s, which probably should serve as a tie-breaker between Lamb and Jefferson/Chase for cash-game lineups. We know Lamb has as much upside as any player in college football, however. He is a great tournament option this week. Lamb has been special with the ball in his hands, turning short passes into highlight-reel touchdowns on a nearly weekly basis. He has had an up and down season in terms of fantasy production and game-to-game involvement. However, in general, Oklahoma has force fed the ball to Lamb in big games. He put up 40 fantasy points against Texas Tech and Texas, 24 points in the close loss to Kansas State, and 30 points in the nail biter against Iowa State. His poor showing last week against TCU (2-16-1) should keep his ownership lower than it normally is. TCU under Gary Patterson has typically been able to take away the opposing team’s top option with some success, so take last week’s usage for what it is. In a likely shootout against rival Oklahoma State, Lamb’s ceiling is arguably the highest on the slate.
Dazz Newsome, North Carolina ($8,300)
With bigger name receivers in higher-profile games, Newsome and Dyami Brown ($8,500) will likely fly under the radar to some extent. Don’t forget about these two because the North Carolina passing offense has serious upside against instate rival NC State. North Carolina has a healthy team total of 32.5 points, which is especially notable for Newsome and the receivers given that 80% of North Carolina’s offensive touchdowns this season have come through the air, which gives UNC a projection of 3+ passing touchdowns in this spot. On the other side of the ball, North Carolina State has given up 3+ passing touchdowns in four straight games, including last week against Georgia Tech. Newsome leads the Tar Heels in receptions (57) and receiving yards (817) on the season, while Brown leads the way with 10 touchdown receptions. Both are strong GPP options at what should be low ownership, with the lean slightly to Newsome given the small price differential and higher floor.
