What a weekend we have ahead of us! If you’ve made it this far, you’ve likely enjoyed three full slates and will be back for more on Saturday night. This first week of college football is just so good. Let’s see who to play on DraftKings for the Saturday night slate!
Quarterbacks
High Priced
We really have three options to look at in this tier; my favorite is Jalen Milroe ($8,500) against Western Kentucky. I think we see enough of a pushback from the Hilltoppers to keep Alabama starters playing most of the game, and they should rack up the points. Milroe is a dual threat with a good receiving group, an unproven backfield, and a great matchup. It’s hard not to love this pick here.
Dillon Gabriel ($9,200) is a great player but has an FCS matchup that could result in him throwing 15 times and not being used on the group. I suspect the efficiency from every Duck to be there, but at this price, I’m passing on him.
Middle of the Pack
If Alex Orji ($7,300) is named the starter, he’s a prime option on this slate. The matchup at home is nice as a three-touchdown favorite, and he should be leaned on around the goal line. Donovan Edwards is also a great player, but he’s more of a big play threat than a guy who can be relied upon at the goal line. The matchup is probably too tough for me to love.
Riley Leonard ($7,800) at this price. He’s going to be used on the ground, and the receiver group isn’t that bad. My concern is the game is on the road, we don’t know exactly what the offense will look like, and the left side of the offensive line is brand new.
Ethan Garbers ($6,400) has an incredible matchup against Hawaii, but he’s not the most talented quarterback. Because of this matchup, I like him and will have him in tournament formats.
Bare Minimum
Everyone knows I’m always in on Donovan Smith ($5,800), especially at this price. Honestly, I may find myself going heavy at this cheap group with Smith against UNLV in what could be a super fun high scoring affair and Matthew Sluka ($5,300) as the likely quarterback going up against Smith. Both are dual threats in good to great offenses; the upside is there to go with a great floor. Both are going to be taking their talents to the CFL in 2025, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy their presence until then.
Running Backs
High Priced
Not surprisingly, Donovan Edwards ($9,000) is your highest-priced running back on the slate. He’s a big play machine and has the RB1 role in a run-heavy Michigan offense. The game is likely going to end up as a blowout, but I don’t see how Michigan gets there through the passing game. Blake Corum ran for six total touchdowns in three similar early-season games last season. With Jordan James ($8,000) being banged up in the fall, I can’t imagine playing him much in this FCS matchup that has huge blowout written all over it.
The Alabama running backs are definitely in play, but not smash plays, thanks to a likely committee approach and higher pricing. Justice Haynes ($7,700) is the guy I’d want here, but Jam Miller ($7,500) does have a similar upside with likely lower ownership than the assumed RB1B.
Middle of the Pack
TJ Harden ($7,000) may be the best option at the running back position Saturday night thanks to the matchup (Hawaii), likely high usage in a more run-heavy attack, and his fair pricing. Harden really came on strong to end 2023, rushing for 105+ yards in two of his last three, adding three rushing touchdowns and six receptions in those games.
Jai’Den Thomas ($5,900) is going to be worth this price when it’s all said and done on Saturday. This offense is going to be able to move the ball, and while there is likely an RBBC of sorts, he had 12 touchdowns last season. He’s clearly the guy on the ground to get the goal line work, even if Matthew Sluka also poses a threat on the ground.
I don’t love that Fresno State and Malik Sherrod ($5,500) have to face Michigan on the road in week one, but this is the best price you’ll get from him this season. The usage should be there. It’s a matter of how well the offense will travel against a stout defense. I wouldn’t mind a sprinkle here due to usage and talent.
Bare Minimum
Parker Jenkins ($4,900) was criminally underused last year, but with a new coaching staff at Houston, I feel really good about his potential this season. He’s the guy in the backfield to watch out for, and last season, this same staff put the ball in their RB1’s hands 20+ times. I love this price for Jenkins against UNLV.
Kylin James ($4,100) is an interesting cheap option, even if he isn’t the main guy in UNLV’s backfield. He’s a great receiving threat, and I’m curious to see how the UNLV coaching staff, whom we all love, utilizes him.
Wide Receivers
High Priced
You’d be crazy not to throw at least a sprinkle on Tez Johnson ($8,100) and Evan Stewart ($7,600) this weekend. The running back room is a little banged up, and the best part of this offense should be the passing game. The volume won’t be there due to a blowout, but it wouldn’t surprise me if either or both end with 100+ yards and two touchdowns.
If you’re looking for a little more of a floor and a more competitive matchup, then Ricky White III ($7,200) is your guy. He will see at least 30% of the targets in this matchup (and all season long) and has shown that he can produce in a big way in this exact offense.
Middle of the Pack
We haven’t really talked about Kentucky, even though they’re big favorites against Southern Miss. I think Barion Brown ($6,200) is the play here, with Chip Trayanum out in this one. He should see usage in the passing game, run game, and in the return game. He’s a super dynamic player that, I believe, is the WR1 in an excellent matchup.
The absolute best play of the slate is likely to be Germie Bernard ($5,700). He’s somehow not even the highest-priced Alabama receiver, even though it’s pretty evident he’ll be the guy. This Alabama offense is going to be very good through the air, and Bernard should easily lead the team in all receiving categories. You’ll never see him at this price again, so enjoy it while you can.
If you’re playing Conner Weigman and want to stack him, then I think you do that with Noah Thomas ($5,400). I project him to see the most targets for the Aggies, but it’s not a crazy amount (6). This is just a tougher matchup, so you’ll need to force guys like Thomas if you’re looking to target the Aggies passing game.
Bare Minimum
If you’re playing Donovan Smith, consider Joseph Manjack IV ($4,900). He’ll be the WR1 in an offense that should see that role get over 20% of targets weekly. The Hawaii passing game was rough last week, but Pofele Ashlock ($4,700) was still good. He didn’t find the end zone but led the team in targets. He will continue to do that all season long, and this price is just way too low for what could be 10+ targets against UCLA. If you think the Hawaii passing attack will be better this week, then Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala ($3,000) and Dekel Crowdus ($3.400) are super cheap and have a sprinkle.
J. Michael Sturdivant ($4,500) should be the WR1 for Ethan Garbers, a guy I already mentioned I liked against Hawaii this weekend. He’s a great option at a great price for what could easily be a 7-9 target game. We don’t know exactly what this offense will look like, but what if they throw it 32+ times per game? The upside is certainly there for Sturdivant.
