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- $5,700
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 $5,700, 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.
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- $5,000
Analysis:
Marcell Ateman has shown to be a safe consistent player, having caught at least four passes or a touchdown in every game 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:
At $5,000 Ateman makes for an alright punt play. While FanDuel’s limited roster spots may prevent you from having to go down to him, he is a guy who if you just want someone who is safe and at a good price.
West Virginia
Team Expected Points- 26.5
WR- Jovon Durante- $5,300
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 GPP’s this week, as he has the ability to find the end zone, but has shown an inconsistency in receptions this season making him hard to roster for cash games in case he is unable to get a touchdown this week.
East Carolina AT BYU
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: BYU -10
O/U: 59
East Carolina
Team Expected Points- 25
WR- Trevon Brown- $4,800
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- $4,500/$6,000
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 although his price is not favorable. Bernard has the upside due to his touchdown potential and is a good punt play in GPP’s if you’re looking to spend up elsewhere, he is incredibly risky though so use him cautiously as there are several great running backs on this slate.
TCU At Kansas State
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
Spread: TCU -9
O/U: 62
TCU
Team Expected Points- 36
QB- Trevone Boykin- $10,000
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 is a must start for your cash games, and likely a great start for GPP’s as he is the best quarterback on this slate by a wide margin. This isn’t the best matchup for him that he will have, but compared to the other quarterbacks on this slate, he is the guy you are going to want to own.
WR- Kavontae Turpin- $4,900
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 at $4,900 is way too cheap and should be strongly considered for both cash and GPP. He is one of the top punt options on the day.
WR- Josh Doctson- $8,700
Analysis:
Doctson has turned himself into one of the best wide receivers in college football. He is extremely expensive this week and make it difficult to build a lineup when you combine him with Boykin. Doctson has largely benefited from having ideal matchups this season, and while this matchup is rated as an average matchup, it is a massive downgrade from the matchups he has had the past few weeks (Texas the week before Red River Shootout at home, Texas Tech, SMU).
Recommendation:
If you can fit him in your lineup, start him as he has three touchdown upside that no other wide receiver has. He is going to be difficult to fit in and there are a lot of punt plays at the wide receiver position that allow you to spend elsewhere.
Kansas State
Team Expected Points- 26.5
RB- Justin Silmon- $5,600
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
QB- Everett Golson- $7,400
Analysis:
Everett Golson has not been off to the best of starts so far this season, and the main reason is that Florida State hasn’t needed him to do too much due to Dalvin Cook and a soft schedule so far. With Cook looking like he will be limited and possibly out this game, this is time to unleash Golson to the quarterback that we saw last season.
Recommendation:
With very few elite options at quarterback on this slate, Golson makes for a great play this week in GPP’s, he is not a great cash game play due to his inability to get things done so far this season and this is purely an upside play.
Unfortunately FanDuel did not include Jonathan Vickers onto this slate, as he would be a great running back option this week.
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- $6,200
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, he should be safely used in cash games and GPP.
TE- Josiah Price- $3,300
Analysis:
Prior to the last game against Purdue, which was in a wind storm and neither team threw the ball, Josiah Price had scored a touchdown in every game this season. Fortunately the weather this week should be much better and Michigan State should get back to throwing the ball. There are not a lot of great options on this slate at tight end, and he should be considered as one of the top tight ends of the day with his ability to find the end zone.
Recommendation:
Price is our top tight end on this slate
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 $7,200.
Cal At Utah
Kickoff: 10:00 PM EST
Spread: Utah -7.5
O/U: 61
Cal
Team Expected Points- 27
QB- Jared Goff- $9,400
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 and his price is not favorable. He is a guy who if you’re looking to differentiate yourself from Boykin you have the ability to do this, but it is a pure contrarian move.
Utah-
Team Expected Points-34
RB- Devontae Booker- $9,700
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:
Booker is incredibly expensive, but is the top running back on this slate. If you can afford him by all means feel safe in doing so, however we recommend going with Scott and Richard over him just from a value standpoint.
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- $7,300
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, he is one of the top plays on this slate.
