Week Zero is upon us once again, and a new season of College Football is set to kick off. As we start a year of DFS excitement, we’ll finally begin to answer some of the questions that have plagued us all offseason long. So without any further delay, let’s take a look!
Quarterbacks
High Priced
A top option in the highest-scoring projection of the slate: Jayden Maiava ($9,000) returns to Lincoln Riley’s system as a top-end talent in fantasy circles this year. He’s going to be a popular option on a slate with plenty of value to justify his high price tag.
Ashton Daniels ($8,500) is another option with a tantalizing game script available to put up plenty of points. While he’s not a sexy option (and he has plenty of baggage from previous stops), this matchup against New Mexico State should be a good chance for him to acclimate and gain some confidence.
Caden Creel ($8,000) is the other consideration in this high-end range. While he’s not going to sling the ball a ton, he’s proven to be a competent passer and electric on the ground. That combination is always exciting in DFS, and he may be a tad less owned as he’s not as mainstream a name to consider. North Dakota State may be a debut FBS team this year, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly. They have a program tradition of tough, hard-nosed play that should provide a good defense and an offense that could milk the clock on the ground. Creel’s a high-risk, high-reward pick as a result.
Middle of the Pack
Some of the value on this slate is capped a bit with the ongoing position battle between Jackson Arnold ($7,700) and Alex Orji ($7,500). Head coach Dan Mullen has said that both are locked into playing this week, but neither has secured a starting role. The mobile QB in Dan Mullen’s offense is a fantasy weapon that we’d like to attack with on this opening weekend; however, with this spot being in flux, it’s a hard place to be. Arnold is considered by many to be the better passer, but we’ve heard a fairly strong drumbeat for Orji this Fall. Neither is foolproof, and whichever “wins” the job will likely have a short leash. This is likely an avoid position but an excellent risk to late-swap into if you need a way to make up points late in the slate.
Eastern Michigan opens as favorites against MAC-Newcomers Sacramento State, and Noah Kim ($7,400) is a one-time P4 starter for Michigan State. There’s a path here, but I question how much of a ceiling he has in this offense.
It’s no secret, if you’ve been listening to Ballin’ with my Bestie, that I love Beau Pribula ($7,100). He has claimed the starting job for the Cavaliers and is in a game that will require Virginia to consistently stay aggressive against a formidable North Carolina State opponent. There’s some shootout potential here, and Beau’s dual-threat capability makes him a great option at price.
Bare Minimum
The top reliable value on the slate is likely CJ Bailey ($6,600), who enters his third season as the starting QB for the Wolfpack. His supporting cast took a hit with the departures of Hollywood Smothers, Justin Joly, Terrell Anderson, and Noah Rogers, but they both return and acquire some talent in Jayden “Duke” Scott and WRs Jojo Trader and Victor Snow. Bailey is a do-it-all QB with upside.
Micah Alejado ($6,500) is another experienced starter returning to an offense that reloads at WR. While Hawaii is considered an underdog this week, it would be no surprise to see the Rainbow Warriors take down Stanford and put up some major offensive production in the process.
Marcus Stokes ($6,200) is an intriguing option down at the bottom of the pricing as well. While he has not officially been handed the reigns in this QB competition against Air Noland ($5,700) it does seem that the staff is leaning in favor of giving him the start this week. If he’s tapped for the role, he may have a short leash. However, if it’s not officially announced before lock, he could prove a very low-owned option.
Running Backs
High Priced
Just like with the QB position, USC holds the top option(s) at RB as well. Waymond Jordan ($8,000) has battled back from injury this offseason and is expected to start, but King Miller ($7,700) is priced right behind him for a reason. It sounds as if beat writers are expecting a healthy committee to start off the year, but both should have plenty of opportunity to rack up yardage and score some touchdowns. I wouldn’t roll them both in the same lineup unless you really believe USC isn’t going to throw for TDs this week, but either of them is a decent option to utilize.
Jai’Den Thomas ($7,800) put up five 20+ point outings last season despite only going over 13 carries one time. He’s an explosive weapon that Mullen loves to deploy when looking for a spark, but it’s not a play that is based on extreme volume. Thomas could land you with 30+ points, but there’s a chance Memphis shuts him down and the floor there is very low.
Another position battle to consider in Tallahassee this week. Ousmane Kromah ($7,300) leads Florida State’s backfield according to the off-season buzz, but Quintrevion Wisner ($6,500), who transfers in from Texas, could see some good work, especially in a game the Seminoles should have well in hand. I believe Kromah gets first crack at the job and will have a chance to heat up this year, but this could easily be an extended “show us what you’ve got” opportunity for both guys.
DJ Scott ($6,900) and Jamar Curtis ($6,800) are FCS-to-FBS jumpers who didn’t have to leave their programs to do so. Both have the potential to be real workhorses in theory, but there’s little confirmation on exactly what these offenses want to do that will give us warm and fuzzies rolling them out on Saturday. I felt compelled to mention them because I’m bullish on their upside (particularly Scott’s), but buyer beware.
Middle of the Pack
Micah Ford ($6,300) returns as Stanford’s lead back, and many people expect the Cardinal to return to their former “ground-and-pound” identity (especially in a game where their defensive secondary could be challenged if Hawaii comes out swinging). If they can find success behind their newly rebuilt offensive line, there’s potential for Ford to pay off.
Jayden Scott ($6,100) and Jekail Middlebrook ($6,000) are two spectacular options this week, and we see them face off across from each other on the field. Scott showed flashes last year behind Hollywood Smothers and is expected to be a workhorse this year for the Wolfpack. Likewise, Middlebrook (who transfers in from Middle Tennessee State) has appeared to run away with the RB competition and has been named the RB1 by a considerable margin. I like Scott as one of my favorite options on the day, but NC State could easily pivot and move the ball with Bailey if Virginia finds a way to slow him down.
Bare Minimum
Jaylon Glover ($5,200) is an interesting option behind Thomas in the UNLV backfield. He’s an interesting option if you believe Mullen will find ways to avoid high-volume loads for Thomas like he did last year. He’s not quite cheap enough to play a ton of, but I’d understand a flier here or there (particularly as a late-swap pivot).
The Jacksonville State backfield has traditionally been one to target for fantasy goodness, and the initial depth chart shows Jalen Likely ($4,100) as a surprise RB1 to start the year. He’ll likely be fairly highly owned as this is a good system and a cheap potential workhorse. But know North Dakota State will likely have a stout defense to help defend against the run.
Wide Receivers
High Priced
Duce Robinson ($7,000) is the most expensive option for good reason. He should be a target monster this year, and while Florida State shouldn’t have to pass a ton, there’s reason to expect this staff wants to get Daniels and Robinson in rhythm in this glorified exhibition game. Robinson could pay off his salary in 4 or 5 catches if they end up in the end zone a time or two. Micahi Danzy ($5,400), in a similar vein, could be a good play as he was uber efficient with limited touches last year.
USC’s offseason has seen Tanook Hines ($6,500) progressing through rehab as he attempts to return to the field, but as of Tuesday afternoon he’s been seen practicing with the team. There’s a ton of variability, as he could be eased back in, and there’s little reason to rush him back. However, he’s expected to be the WR1 for USC this season and could go off if given extended run.
As some under-the-radar options on G5 teams this week, both TK King ($5,300) and Deondre Johnson ($5,200) show some real upside for both New Mexico State and Jacksonville State. King is a former track star who has bounced around at Texas Tech and Wyoming but found his spot with the Aggies last year. Johnson likewise flashed last season with 100+ yards on four of his outings last year. Both are worth consideration.
Middle of the Pack
Victor Snow ($4,800) and Da’Shawn Martin ($4,800) are both compelling options as new pieces to their offenses and are going head-to-head in the Virginia/NC State matchup this week. Martin’s injury concerns are worth monitoring this weekend, and a pivot to Jacquon Gibson ($4,400) is a good option if Martin is limited in any capacity.
Nick Devereaux ($4,900) and Harold Mack ($4,600) are interesting if you’re rolling out Noah Kim at QB. I don’t expect Eastern Michigan to throw the ball around, but if Sacramento State can push them offensively, one of these WRs would likely be leaned on to provide some bit plays.
Hawaii WRs are always interesting options in DFS, and Audric Harris ($4,400) is the next in line as the news of Pofele Ashlock’s injury has become a focal point of the Week Zero conversation. They could easily spread the ball around, and there’s no guarantee of a floor, but Harris is likely a top 2 option at worst in the offense while Ashlock’s out.
Bare Minimum
Terrell Anderson ($3,900) is too damn cheap. End of story. Knowing that Hines has been limited through camp and there’s little known for sure around the Trojan WRs, Anderson could be an absolute steal at this price.
Memphis and San Jose State should both be throwing the ball around at a good clip this week, but there’s little known about exactly what their depth charts are going to look like at the receiver position. Taking a flier on Malachi Riley ($4,000) or P4 transfer Anthony Ivey ($3,800) for the Trojans makes sense. For the Tigers, Tychaun Chapman ($4,100) and Alante Brown ($3,500) are both values but risky, with no clear answer at QB.
With the injury to Ashlock, Tama Uiliata ($3,900) is a very compelling option in the slot role.
