DFS College Football 101: Week 11 Wednesday Picks

DFS College Football 101: Week 11 Wednesday

Here we go with a tidy two-game Wednesday slate full of MACtion! Both of these matchups are looking at brisk temperatures (35-40 degrees), but the forecast is otherwise clear. The big news of this slate revolves around the doubtful status of Toledo QB Mitchell Guadagni. Backup Eli Peters has been respectable while filling in this season, but he'll be looking at a tough matchup against Northern Illinois. More on that in the analysis below. Meanwhile, here are the odds attached to each Wednesday tilt:

Ohio (-4.5) at Miami Ohio – Total: 61.5

Toledo at Northern Illinois (-3) – Total: 55.5

Looking within that, I'll highlight the best fantasy selections on FanDuel & DraftKings while also touching on some situations to monitor for your DFS squads.

QUARTERBACK

Nathan Rourke – Ohio (FanDuel $10,600 / DraftKings $11,400)

If you have been following these weekday CFB DFS columns throughout the season, then you already know Nathan Rourke is a fantasy hero. The dual-threat QB has been an absolute monster in DFS over the past three weeks, averaging 35 FPPG with eight total passing touchdowns and five rushing scores through that span. There should be enough room to keep him going in this draw at Miami Ohio – who ranks 81st in opponent passer rating on the year … Rourke's salary has risen dramatically on DraftKings, but I'm still looking to him through all formats on both sites without much hesitation. He's just too good to leave off your DFS team.

Also Consider: I'll be looking to stack this OHIO-MIAOH game while squeezing Redhawks' QB Gus Ragland into my Super-Flex spot on both sites. Ragland has been just as impressive as his counterpart, Rourke, in recent weeks with 35 and 38 FP respectively at Army and Buffalo. This Ohio defense can be generous at times, illustrated by their 105th ranking in opponent passer rating. Ragland has some rushing upside as well, notching four touchdowns on the ground in his past three games … Marcus Childers of Northern Illinois is a cheap tournament play in my book, hoping he can find the end zone a few times on the ground … Eli Peters will step in for injured Toledo QB Mitchell Guadagni on Wednesday, but he's a GPP only acquisition in my opinion due to the tough matchup at Northern Illinois.

RUNNING BACK

Kenny Young – Miami Ohio (FanDuel $9,800 / DraftKings $6,000)

If you haven't noticed, this OHIO-MIAOH contest provides the best fantasy environment of these two Wednesday games. Kenny Young could be a big part of that, as he has been on fire while averaging a strong 22 FPPG over his past four. Young has been doing most of his damage through the air lately, which sets up for success against a bad Ohio pass defense. He's also a candidate for double-digit carries and a score on the ground as well. As you may have guessed, Young makes for an excellent RB play on DraftKings where you get a full point per reception. He's a strong lift on FanDuel as well, given the brevity of this two-game slate and the lower-than-usual opportunity cost at running back.

Tre Harbison – Northern Illinois (FanDuel $7,300 / DraftKings $5,800)

Tre Harbison was mentioned as a sneaky GPP play last Thursday, and he paid dividends with 187 total yards and 26.2 fantasy points. He won't fly under the radar after that breakout performance, but I believe he's a solid play through all formats on both sites. Harbison is averaging over 5.0 yards per carry this season, and he proved his worth to the coaching staff last game. Hopefully they'll reward him with expanded carries yet again. Harbison's opponent, Toledo, has the worst run defense of any team playing on Wednesday, as the Rockets currently rank 94th in yards per carry allowed.

Also Consider: I'm not in love with either RB option from Ohio (Ouellette or Irons). Nathan Rourke absorbs so much production in the Bobcats' offense, and it's difficult to predict how the scales will tip between those backs on any given night. Also, Miami Ohio ranks 29th in opponent yards per carry … Another situation holds true for the Toledo running backs. They run a backfield by committee, and all of them may have a tough time finding room against a stout NIU defense … Alonzo Smith of Miami Ohio and Marcus Jones of NIU are a couple of tournament pivots away from teammates Kenny Young and Tre Harbison respectively. Smith and Jones are also involved in their rushing attacks, and you'd get a leg-up on other DFS players if they end up with the scoring opportunities to finish drives.

WIDE RECEIVER

Cody Thompson - Toledo (FanDuel $9,300 / DraftKings $5,500)

This isn't a great matchup on paper for Thompson and the Toledo passing attack. However, he should see plenty of volume, as I'm expecting Northern Illinois to shut down the Rockets' rushing attack. Thompson has been the primary receiving threat for Toledo this season, coming up huge with 21 receptions and six touchdowns over his past four games. He's a red-zone favorite in this offense, tallying nine total scores on the season.

Jack Sorenson – Miami Ohio (FanDuel $7,700 / DraftKings $6,400)

I mentioned earlier how Ohio is susceptible to the pass, ranking 105th in opponent passer rating. Jack Sorenson is one of the top receiving options for Miami Ohio, looking to take advantage of this mouth-watering draw. He has come up with numerous strong fantasy outings this season, and I'm thinking the Redhawks will lean more on their passing game than usual in this one.

Also Consider: Andrew Meyer is a reasonable play through all formats on both sites, as he's the most targeted receiver for Ohio … Diontae Johnson of Toledo is very expensive on FanDuel, but I don't mind the $5900 tag on DraftKings. He fits the same rationale outlined with teammate Cody Thompson above … Cheap value options to round-out lineups include Jauan Wesley, Luke Mayock, and Dominique Robison (DraftKings).