CFB FanDuel DFS Breakdown for Week 9
Shootout Potential (games featuring high implied totals on both sides)
Baylor (32.0) at Cincinnati (35.5)
South Florida (32.0) at Memphis (26.5)
I tried my hand at Baylor-TCU stacks last week to some success, and you can't go wrong heading back to the Big 12 well for some points. USF and Memphis is a showdown that has lost some of its luster following the Tigers' loss last week, but the status of Brendan Lewis' health could be a major driver of the final line for this contest. Lewis would likely have been a target for DFS, but a leg injury leaves me skeptical he'll be at 100 percent in terms of mobility.
Blowout Potential (Spreads 14-plus points)
UCLA (14.0) at Indiana (39.5)
Syracuse (18.5) at Georgia Tech (35.0)
Michigan (31.0) at Michigan State (16.5)
Some more intriguing blowout possibilities than some of the prior weeks, where the underdogs are still expected to score two-plus touchdowns worth of points but are just expected to give up a ton. These are blowout possibilities where you can't go wrong targeting the starters, especially running backs. No weather concerns here either, among the teams listed below.
Other Noteworthy Implied Totals
Tennessee (31.5)
Alabama (29.5)
Oklahoma (29)
Arkansas (29)
Washington (29)
Vanderbilt (28)
College Football DFS Weather (winds 15+ MPH, precip. chance 50-plus percent and hot/cold temps noted)
Ole Miss at Oklahoma - 56 percent throughout, winds around 10 MPH
Auburn at Arkansas - 75 percent rain chance throughout, winds 12-13 MPH
Illinois at Washington - 96-plus percent rain chance throughout, wins 13-15 MPH
Texas A&M at LSU - Rain chance above 50 percent in second half, winds 10 MPH
College Football Injuries for Week 9
QB
Brendon Lewis, Memphis - Day-to-day with a leg injury
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA - Participated in Wednesday's practice, status for Saturday TBD but promising
RB
Justice Haynes, Michigan - Likely a game-time decision, but he's been on the practice field this week
Seth McGowan, Kentucky - Likely a game-time decision due to a shoulder injury
Fluff Bothwell, Mississippi State - Listed questionable for Saturday due to a leg issue
Carson Hansen, Iowa State - Probable to suit up this week following a concussion
Kaden Feagin, Illinois - Returned to practice this week following AC joint sprain, seems more likely than not to play
Ca'Lil Valentine, Illinois - Seems likely back this week following lower body issue
CJ Baxter, Texas - Probable to return from hamstring issue
Sione Moa, BYU - Won't play Saturday
Jaivian Thomas, UCLA - Back in practice ahead of Saturday's tilt
WR
Chas Nimrod, South Florida - Won't play versus Memphis
Justus Ross-Simmons, Syracuse - Deemed probable for Saturday
Deuce Alexander, Ole Miss - Probable to face Oklahoma
Malik Rutherford, Georgia Tech - Deemed questionable for Saturday
Lotzeir Brooks, Alabama - Doubtful to suit up
TE
Dae'Quan Wright, Ole Miss - Listed probable for Saturday
Dan Villari, Syracuse - Probable on injury report
Marlin Klein, Michigan - Status uncertain after missing last week
Hogan Hansen, Michigan - Missed last week despite not being on availability report. Status TBD
College Football DFS Tools
- FanDuel Lineup Optimizer
- Matchups Page (Vegas odds, opponent averages, etc.)
- Advanced Lineups Page
- Stats
- Team Trends
- Targets
- Defense vs. Position
- Team Rankings
Week 9 CFB DFS Plays on FanDuel
Quarterback
Taylen Green, Arkansas ($12,000) vs. Auburn
Green ranks third on the slate in salary behind two other intriguing dual-threat options under center in Byrum Brown ($12,600) and Haynes King ($12,400), who both sport higher implied team totals than Green. Why, then, am I backing Green? Well, Auburn has a top-15 run defense but sports one of the worst secondaries in the country and doesn't generate much pass rush. The Tigers haven't allowed an opposing QB to run for more than 30 yards this season, but Texas A&M hadn't allowed an opposing QB to run for more than 11 yards in a game before Green rushed for 85 yards and two scores last week. Green just has another level of talent from most signal-callers as a runner and can still get it done through the air, throwing for 256 and three scores last week. Weather remains a concern here, so it is worth monitoring the forecast a bit, but Green is a weapon on the ground who can rack up points either way.
John Mateer, Oklahoma ($9,500) vs. Ole Miss
Mateer's star has dimmed as the weeks have worn on to the point that he's the 18th-highest quarterback on the slate. That's despite facing an Ole Miss defense that grades out 66th overall. Mateer didn't do much in either of the past two games. However, there's an explanation for each. Texas is one of the best defenses in the country, and last week was a product of game script, with the Sooners staked to an early lead and the Gamecocks scoring a total of seven points. Neither of those scenarios fits the expectation this week, so I'm expecting Mateer to be unleashed again offensively as the slightly favored Sooners aim to keep pace.
Rickie Collins, Syracuse ($7,500) at Georgia Tech
Collins may not have the ceiling (or floor, for that matter) of the two quarterbacks listed above, but the matchup here is almost too good to pass up. In fact, every FBS quarterback to face the Yellow Jackets so far this season has topped 20 FD points. None have reached the 30-point mark to date, either, but Collins doesn't have to get there to supply value at this price tag; even 20 would do just fine. Justus Ross-Simmons looks slated to return, so Collins should have his full complement of pass-catchers at his disposal, and the game script will likely feature plenty of pass attempts, so I'll toss my hat in the ring at this salary to allow me to spend up elsewhere. Collins can also get it done with his legs, running for a combined 99 yards and a touchdown in the last two games, and Georgia Tech has surrendered 60-plus rushing yards to four different QBs this season.
Others to consider: Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati 
($11,800) vs. Baylor; Fernando Mendoza, Indiana 
($11,000) vs. UCLA
Running Back
The Top Dogs
Greg Desrosiers, Memphis ($10,400) vs. USF
Checking through the options at the top of the board, the one I feel best about for the combination of matchup and workload is Desrosiers. He's tallied at least 17 touches in each of the last three contests, with a mixture of both rushing attempts (44) and receptions (10). On tap is a showdown with a top-tier Bulls squad that can score with the best of them, but the defense still has some holes, including in the rushing attack, where they've yielded 100-plus rushing yards to three different running back rooms. Even if Brendon Lewis gets the green light, he'll presumably be operating at less than 100 percent, and more of the ground game will likely fall to the backs in Desosiers and Sutton Smith. On top of that, the Tigers are underdogs, so there could be more passing involved than usual, and Desrosiers is one of the best receiving options on the team.
LJ Martin, BYU ($9,300) at Iowa State
Martin's matchup doesn't seem particularly fruitful, facing an Iowa State front that has yielded the second-fewest fantasy points per game, but the run defense still grades out as one of the worst in FBS (132nd of 136 teams), and the right team can expose that. Cincinnati did so against the Cyclones in early October, and Colorado had some success last time as well, marking the two highest fantasy totals of the season. Martin is one of the few workhorses left, handling 21-plus carries in each of the last three games, and he should get all of the touches he can handle again here. BYU is a slight underdog here, but it's only a 2.5-point spread, and Martin can also be a factor as a receiver if needed.
Jordan Marshall, Michigan ($9,000) at Michigan State
The health of Justice Haynes remains a big factor here, but the Wolverines are also hefty favorites (-14.5) in this one. As such, I would be surprised if they push Haynes too much, even if he does make his return to action. The combination of Marshall's salary tag and the prospect of Haynes returning may scare some people off, but the Michigan State run defense ranks 72nd nationally, and this is still a team that likes to punch you in the mouth when it can.
Mid-Tier Targets
Jeremiah Cobb, Auburn ($7,400) at Arkansas
While Cobb's fantasy output hasn't displayed it to date, there is nothing impeding him from the workhorse role for the Tigers moving forward. Gone is Damari Alston, who has been kicked off the team, and Durell Robinson remains injured, leaving just Cobb and promising freshman Omar Mabson, who handled just one tote last week. Even if Mabson sees a small increase in workload, the backfield belongs to Cobb, who totaled a season-high 19 times last week versus a Missouri front that grades out top-10 nationally. Arkansas checks in 79th nationally on that front, and there are certainly some questions under center for Auburn, with discussion of a QB competition going on this week before ultimately settling back on Jackson Arnold as the starter. Even so, I'd expect the Tigers to lean on the ground game as long as the game script allows.
Bargain Options
Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech ($6,900) vs. Syracuse
Haynes hasn't pieced together the fantasy season many (myself included) had hoped for and is coming off a season-low eight carries, bottoming out his salary this week. That said, the Yellow Jackets are heavy favorites (-16.5) versus Syracuse, and Haynes is still the lead back in my eyes, despite Malachi Hosley handling more carries for the first time all season last week. Haynes can contribute as both a rusher and a receiver, and the Orange grade out among the worst run defenses in the country. I could see this as a big bounce-back spot for Haynes to get his season back on track.
Aidan Laughery, Illinois ($6,400) at Washington
Laughery is a bit of a swing for the fences play toward the bottom of the running back grouping, but the junior finally appeared healthy last week after missing the majority of each of the last five contests. He played sparingly in Week 2 versus Duke, which is likely when he suffered the injury, and made a brief return versus USC in Week 5 before sitting out again in Week 6. Laughery looked more like his old self against Ohio State in Illinois' last game, handling 12 touches and putting up solid numbers against Ohio State with a team-high eight carries for 50 yards and a touchdown, and he added four catches to that line. Laughery seems like the most explosive back of the bunch in Champaign, so it wouldn't shock me if he reels off the most totes again Saturday, and this matchup is much more enticing from a fantasy standpoint. The weather is expected to be extremely wet here as well, which could be a factor.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Top Dog
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana ($10,000) vs. UCLA
Indiana has an image to maintain as one of the nation's premier teams, and Sarratt is a big part of that image, totaling six receiving touchdowns over the last four games and amassing 27 catches for 415 yards over that span. While UCLA has proven more formidable recently, the coverage unit still grades out 75th nationally, and the Bruins really struggle to generate a pass rush. I see another efficient showing from this passing offense in tow, and Sarratt is the clear leader in this wideout room.
Denzel Boston, Washington ($9,600) vs. Illinois
Illinois really holds its opponents to lower scoring totals because it can control the clock with the ground game, but the Illini still yield 7.1 yards per pass attempt, allowing 240 passing yards and 1.7 passing touchdowns per contest. The Huskies have a number of weapons to turn to to get them to the 29-point implied total, but the secondary unit is the most vulnerable, grading out 118th nationally. I wouldn't be shocked if Boston is peppered with targets in this one and puts up a big game, but don't expect too many downfield shots in a game that's expected to be wet and windy.
Ryan Williams, Alabama ($8,700) at South Carolina
Williams' talent hasn't matched his output of late, but this just seems like a spot the Crimson Tide will find him. The Gamecocks don't seem like an obvious target against the pas, allowing just 186.1 passing yards per contest and only 1.0 passing touchdowns per game, but that's been largely due to blowout contests. The Gamecocks' secondary doesn't grade out that well, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Williams turn a handful of catches into a big game here.
Mid-Tier Targets
O'Mega Blake, Arkansas ($8,500) vs. Auburn
Blake is a great pairing option if you decide to turn to Taylen Green at the quarterback position. His 27.8-percent target share ranks sixth among wideouts on the slate, and only Sarratt (see wideout recommended above) averages more yards per target among the players wiht higher target shares. Blake's salary has been depressed by some slow weeks against Memphis, Notre Dame and Tennessee, but Auburn's pass defense ranks among the worst units in the country, and Blake and Green got back on the same page last week. I expect another big showing from him.
Johntay Cook, Syracuse ($7,200) at Georgia Tech
If you decide to take a chance on Collins, Cook may be your best pairing option for the Orange. His 24.6 percent target share over the past three games leads the Orange by a significant margin, and he's averaging 8.0 yards on those targets. If you're looking for a cheap stack play in a game script that suggests a hefty passing volume, you could do worse.
Bargain Options
Keshaun Singleton, South Florida ($6,900) at Memphis
Most of the suggestions for USF will likely surround explosive weapon Jeremiah Koger, who has turned in four touchdowns, but I'm going to toss Singleton out there as a player to consider as well. The Tigers have allowed 13 pass plays of 25+ yards this season, but 38 plays of 15-plus yards, which fits right in Singleton's wheelhouse
Joe Royer, Cincinnati ($5,800) vs. Baylor
Over the past three contests, opposing tight ends have combined for 17 catches for 144 yards and four touchdowns against the Bears, and Royer is among the premier tight ends in the FBS ranks. I'll take my chances on Royer in this one, especially as a cheap pairing option if you elect to roll with Sorsby under center.
