Let’s not beat around the bush, we’re here for one reason: College Football DFS is BACK, baby! Let’s look at the Week Zero slate of action on DraftKings.
Quarterbacks
High Priced
The QB position has no lack of exciting options this week, despite only being a three-game slate. Western Kentucky and Hawaii are both traditionally very pass-happy, and we get both of their gunslingers at the top of the pricing this week. Micah Alejado ($9,300) is at the top of the pricing after his explosive performance to conclude last year, where he obliterated a sub-par defense in New Mexico.
Below him, we have Maverick McIvor ($8,500), the new QB for Western Kentucky. He’s no stranger to FBS competition, as he was on the Texas Tech roster from 2019 to 2021. He’s following his OC, Rick Bowie, to WKU from Abilene Christian (where they torched the Red Raiders for 506 yards and three touchdowns through the air during Week One last season). Both of these guys come with high upside — Alejado has some slight rushing potential, but McIvor will need to have a very healthy volume of pass attempts to go through. Luckily, he’s playing for a team that likes to sling it against a defense that loses nearly everyone from 2024.
Middle of the Pack
Jalon Daniels ($7,800) and Hunter Watson ($7,700) are viable options a notch below the gunslingers at the top. Both of these guys are mobile and have the ability to be QB1 at the end of this slate if they capture that ceiling with their rushing production. Daniels appears to be fully healthy for the first time in a while, which could be lightning in a bottle if he’s able to pick up where he left off when last at full health in 2023.
Watson had three 100+ yard rushing games last season, but he’s picking up a new offense from new Head Coach Phil Longo. There’s slight risk here as he’s technically listed with an “OR” on the depth chart with freshman transfer Mabrey Mattauer ($7,000), but I’d be shocked if that were anything more than gamesmanship. I think the Bearkats will have to keep the pedal to the floor against WKU this week, so this game could easily become a shootout. That said, there is a risk at this level baked into the cost.
Bare Minimum
These aren’t traditional bargain bin prices, but on the 3-game slate, they find themselves firmly below the other options. Ben Gulbranson ($6,700) transfers in from Oregon State and has locked up the starting job for Stanford’s QB spot this year. There’s not a ton of expectations in Stanford with the dismissal of Troy Taylor as Head Coach this Spring (and the arrival of interim HC Frank Reich). However, Gulbranson is an experienced veteran who can manage the chaos that a college QB should encounter in the pocket. He only managed 14.25 FPPG on four appearances last year, though, so this feels thin.
E.J. Warner ($6,200) (son of Kurt) finds himself as the starting QB for Fresno State this season, and he is the cheapest starting option this week. A sprinkle of Warner may be okay if you question Kansas’ defensive ability this season, but Fresno loses a ton and brings in a coaching staff that is expected to run more than pass. Buyer beware.
Running Backs
High Priced
Picking up right where we left off with a Fresno staff that should run more than pass, Bryson Donelson ($6,700) is a very talented back that should see a good workload in a matchup where Fresno is 13-point road dogs. There’s upside here if Donelson gets the clear majority of carries, but there’s also the possibility of major disappointment if Kansas can take a quick lead and lock things up right out of the gate. We also don’t know 100% what the backfield split will be with some of the Bulldogs’ other options.
Elijah Green ($5,900) is the other top-end option I’d consider wide exposure to. I will say that the depth chart release has shaken my confidence a bit with the inclusion of Green, but he’s a hand-picked transfer by Longo, with whom he has a previous relationship from their time at North Carolina. Again, I think this depth chart is primarily gamesmanship from Longo, but it’s worth noting he’s not on the two-deep.
On the side of fades, La’Vell Wright ($6,900) won’t be in a ton of my lineups (sub 20% of my 20-lineups). It sounds like he’ll lead the committee alongside George Hart ($5,700), but you need a lot to break right for him to pay off, and I just don’t foresee the usage to make him worth his price tag.
Middle of the Pack
Daniel Hishaw Jr. ($5,300) is one of my favorite plays on the slate. His being priced reasonably is likely due to a lack of clarity on the distribution split between him and Leshon Williams ($4,500). Both are good options at their pricing, and I think they pose good upside if you anticipate Kansas backing their two-touchdown spread. I don’t really like the other options in this range.
Landon Sims ($5,200) is a season-long darling due to TE-eligibility on Fantrax, but this does nothing for us on Draftkings. Alton McCaskill ($4,900) could be worth a sprinkle if you agree the SHSU depth chart is a farce — but beware, as he doesn’t appear on the two-deep and is also the least likely between himself and Green to be a surprise starter.
Micah Ford ($4,700) is the lead back for Stanford — he’s probably worth a few fliers on. Reich’s pro-style offense is likely to try to lean on a foundation of good rushing if they want to leave the Big Island with a “W”.
Bare Minimum
Elijah Gilliam ($4,300) and Rayshon Luke ($4,200) are the other two RBs in the backfield rotation with Donelson at Fresno. I think they could pop a big run at some point if given the opportunity, but again, we’re flying a little blind with what the split will look like. They’re very risky, even when baking in the bargain.
Landan “Coco” Brown ($3,200) is the back that was placed atop the Sam Houston two-deep this week. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but the implication of being Longo’s lead RB is worth at least a moment of consideration.
Wide Receivers
High Priced
This is the fun position this week. Pofele Ashlock ($6,900) is expected to be the WR1 for Hawaii this season. He battled some injuries last season, so it remains to be seen if he can reach his potential. But there’s huge upside here to be grabbed by whichever WR reigns supreme.
K.D. Hutchinson ($6,600) and Matthew Henry ($6,400) are expected to be in contention for the WR1 spot at WKU. Hutchinson has been a peripheral piece to this offense for the last two years while Henry transfers up from the FCS. My money is on Henry to lead this group, but Hutchinson shares the same upside any given week (especially in Week Zero).
Emmanuel Henderson Jr. ($6,100) is a very interesting piece as he transfers up from Alabama. He’s a former RB with some great athleticism and has really impressed in camp. He’s a great option here if you want a stud on an offense that should see lower passing volume than Hawaii and Western Kentucky.
Middle of the Pack
We’re starting to enter less solid footing ranges with these options, but there is still reason to get exposure to them. Nick Cenacle ($5,900) is a dark horse to overtake Ashlock as WR1 in this offense. He’s cheap enough that his ownership should be fairly heavy (even for a three-game slate), but it’s worth leaning into it if he can hit his ceiling of projected outcomes.
Cam Pickett ($5,600) is expected to be the other wideout for Kansas this year in two-wide sets alongside Henderson. Pickett has also gotten great Spring reviews after landing in Kansas after his time at Ball State.
The secondary tier of Western Kentucky WRs is also in play here, with Kelby Williams ($5,700) and Cameron Flowers ($5,000) both hitting in this range. I lean Flowers of the two with a slight savings, but there’s a lack of definition in the pecking order for the Hilltoppers, so exposure to each isn’t an awful idea.
Likewise, Jackson Harris ($5,100) gets a revenge game against his former team and is projected as Hawaii’s WR3. With the volume they use, that’s worthy of rostership. Sam Houston should see Qua’Vez Humphreys ($5,400), Michael Phoenix II ($4,900), and Malik Philips ($4,500) as decent fliers in this range if you don’t have the budget to jump up. Josiah Freeman ($4,800) also fits that bill as the anticipated WR1 for Fresno.
Bare Minimum
Here we’re approaching grasping at straws on these plays, but Moussa Berry ($4,400) is absolutely still in consideration for me. He was mentioned by name as a guy the coaching staff is excited for this year — that said, so were the four guys already mentioned in this article. Damn coachspeak!
Regardless, Sam Roush ($3,800) is the only TE I’d consider this week. There’s a legitimate shot he’s their best receiving option, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s an integral part of their game plan. Brandon White ($3,500) is technically listed as a starter for Hawaii when they are in four-wide sets (which they frequently are). However, I’d expect him to be firmly behind the other three teammates mentioned above. Ezekiel Avit ($3,500) is probably the furthest I’d look for value here — he’s a transfer from Maryland and listed as a starter for Fresno this season.
