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.
Florida International At Indiana
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread:
O/U: 56
Florida International
RB – Alex Gardner- $5,000
Analysis:
Alex Gardner showed last week, that he is a running back that is going to be counted on in the passing game. Catching 5 catches for 74 yards is great for a running back in a 15-14 game last week. What is even more impressive is that his longest reception was only 27 yards. Indiana’s defense is not good as they allowed 48 points to Southern Illinois last week, so Gardner should be in a prime position to improve off of his 75 yards rushing and 74 yards receiving that he had last week.
Recommendation:
At this price, Gardner is one of the best plays of this slate for both GPP and cash games
TE- Jonnu Smith- $4,000
Analysis:
Jonnu Smith is the top option every week on FanDuel
Recommendation:
If you can afford him, pay up for him as he is one of the best values of the day at $4,000.
Indiana
WR: Ricky Jones-$6,400
Analysis:
One of the big questions in this off-season was who was going to be the guy to watch for at the Indiana wide receiver position. That question was quickly answered week one when Ricky Jones had 6 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown in week one. While he is undersized at 5’10 185 pounds he is one of the faster wide receivers on Indiana
Recommendation:
At $6,400 Jones is one of the top wide receiving options, as his upside is great in what should be a good matchup.
RB-Jordan Howard- $8,400
Analysis:
Jordan Howard filled in admirably for the loss of Tevin Coleman and picked up exactly where he left off last year at UAB. Kevin Wilson has shown that he is a running back guru and Howard has done a better job in his college career at finding the end zone than Coleman did.
Recommendation:
At $8,400 if you can afford him, you should try to fit him in, as he is in a great spot to have a big game.
Idaho at USC
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: USC-44.5
O/U: 66.5
Idaho
There are no fantasy relevant players on Idaho in what should be a blowout.
USC
RB- Tre Madden- $7,700
Analysis:
While it is not typically ideal, that in a game that is expected to get out of hand very quickly, Tre Madden showed last week that he still has value in these blowout type games. He had 12 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown in a 55-6 game.
Recommendation: If we are going to pay up for a running back that is $7,700, we are going to want him to get more than just 12 carries, spend up elsewhere.
Oregon at Michigan State
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: Michigan State -5.5
O/U: 67.5
Oregon
QB: Vernon Adams Jr.- $8,400
Analysis:
Vernon Adams showed a running ability that he had previously not shown at Eastern Washington. He ran for 94 yards last week, and should continue this in the game of the week against Michigan State. Vernon Adams will be a key piece as if there is a weakness in Michigan State’s defense it is their secondary.
Recommendation:
While it is a tough matchup, if Oregon is going to stay in this game, they’re going to need Vernon Adams Jr. to win this game. He is recommended in both cash games and GPP’s as he should have a strong performance in primetime.
Michigan State
QB- Connor Cook- $7,900
Analysis:
Oregon allowed 42 points to Eastern Washington last weekend including allowing a quarterback to pass for 293 yards and 3 TD’s. Connor Cook is significantly better than the quarterback at Eastern Washington, and with this game setting up to be a shootout should have a significant role in this offense as he is one of the top quarterbacks in college football.
Recommendation:
Connor Cook is a safe quarterback for cash games, and is not recommended for GPP’s as he will be over-owned due to his NFL pedigree. He does not possess the upside that other quarterbacks on this slate have.
WR- Aaron Burbridge- $6,800
Analysis:
Aaron Burbridge showed that he is going to step into the deep threat role that Tony Lippett played last year. He had 4 catches for 117 yards last week, and the 6’1 210lb receiver has the size and role to have a huge game against Oregon.
Recommendation:
Connor Cook loves to pass the ball around to a number of different receivers, but Burbridge has the ability to step into a major role, and is a strong GPP play this week. He should be under-owned due to his price.
RB- LJ Scott- $5,400
Analysis:
Most of the hype went to Madre London last week as he got the two touchdowns, but if you watched the game, LJ had a major role in this offense, and is the most talented running back on this team. As the game progressed the freshman was out on the field more and more, and ended up with the same number of carries as London. There is some risk here in case London gets the goal line carries.
Recommendation:
With FanDuel only allowing you to start 2 rb’s, he should be considered a GPP punt play only.
Rice at texas
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: Texas -14.5
O/U: 48.5
Rice-
There is no one that is fantasy relevant for Rice.
Texas-
RB- Johnathan Gray- $6,300
Analysis:
If there is one player that Texas is going to have to use to win games this year it is going to be Gray. He is the most prolific talent on the offense and while he only had 8 carries versus Notre Dame due to the way the game went, he had 5 yards per carry which he should easily surpass versus Rice. We fully expect a heavy workload from Gray in this game.
Recommendation:
Gray is one of the top options on FanDuel as his price is one of the best value of the day.
South Alabama at nebraska
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: Nebraska -27
O/U: 54
South Alabama-
There are no relevant players on South Alabama
Nebraska
WR- Jordan Westerkamp- $7,000
Recommendation:
Westerkamp has shown he is the top receiving option in this Nebraska offense. The receiver has shown that he is a receiver who is much more than a possession receiver, and can burn the opposing defense deep.
Analysis:
Westerkamp is a solid start due to his price and his role in his offense.
RB- Terrell Newby- $7,200
Recommendation:
Take your pick on this game, as they’re likely to both receive equal carries with an equal opportunity at a touchdown in this game.
Analysis:
At $7,200 Newby is too expensive to consider on FanDuel in this slate.
RB- Imani Cross- $5,400
Recommendation:
Take your pick on this game, as they’re likely to both receive equal carries with an equal opportunity at a touchdown in this game.
Analysis:
Cross is a great punt play at $5,400.
Temple at cincinnati
Kickoff: 8:00 PM EST
Spread: Cincinnati -6
O/U: 54
Temple-
QB- P.J. Walker- $6,300
Recommendation:
Throw away P.J. Walker’s game against Penn State last weekend. Penn State has one of the best defenses in college football, and Temple had a lead most of the game will full confidence in their defense. P.J. is a quarterback who can beat you with both his arm and his feet, and should have a great day against a Cincinnati offense that historically has been very poor.
Analysis:
P.J. Walker makes for a very good punt play at quarterback in what should be a very competitive game. He plays such a huge part of this offense, and should be a guy who should easily make value.
Cincinnati-
Temple’s defense is one of the best in college football as they proved last week in sacking Christian Hackenberg 10 times. This is not a good matchup for Cincinnati, and should largely be avoided.
LSU at mississippi state
Kickoff: 9:15 PM EST
Spread: LSU -3.5
O/U: 52.5
Mississippi State:
There are no fantasy recommendations for Mississippi State, this game is expected to be very low scoring, and the prices for Mississippi State are not favorable.
LSU:
RB: Leonard Fournette-$6,900
Analysis:
Leonard Fournette is one of the most talented running backs in college football, so he has to be considered every single week. The challenge is that he is facing a very strong defense in Mississippi State in what should be a relatively low scoring game.
Recommendation:
Fournette is a great play at this price, as his price is artificially depressed. He is one of the top options on the slate.
Boise State at BYU
Kickoff: 10:15 PM EST
Spread: Boise State -3
O/U: 57
Boise State
RB- Jeremy McNichols- $6,600
Analysis:
Jeremy McNichols has shown that the unclear situation at running back is incredibly clear. He is the guy that is going to take over Jay Ajayi’s role last year, and while he only had 3.7 yards per carry he is getting enough volume to be a solid consideration every single game. BYU is a tough defense, so it isn’t an ideal matchup, but McNichols will get enough volume to be in fantasy consideration.
Recommendation:
At this price point, McNichols has shown that he can easily make value. He is recommended even though he is in a tough matchups as he should be able to make value due to pure volume of carries.
BYU
In this large slate there are better options than to take any BYU players
UCF at Stanford
Kickoff: 10:30 PM EST
Spread: Stanford -20
O/U: 46.5
UCF
Avoid UCF, this week, as they’re in a tough situation in an incredibly low scoring game and are huge underdogs.
Stanford:
QB- Kevin Hogan- $7,800
Recommendation:
Kevin Hogan is not as bad as what his statistics showed last week. While he is never going to wow you with the stats, what he has shown is that he is consistent over the last few years, and should have a solid game as Stanford looks to get him back on track this week.
Analysis:
Kevin Hogan at this price, is very risky as he is inconsistent but he is in a great matchup and should be considered.
UCLA At UNLV
Kickoff: 10:30
PM EST
Spread: UCLA -32
O/U: 65.5
UCLA-
Josh Rosen- $8,000
Analysis:
He was one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation last year, and in his first game versus Virginia he proved that they hype is real. He had 351 yards passing with 3 touchdowns. He fits the prototypical drop back passer, and should be a great quarterback at UCLA for the next four years.
Recommendation
Rosen is a guy who while it could be a blowout, should be in a good spot to outperform his value.
UNLV
This game should be a blowout and there are no recommended options at UNLV