This article is part of our FanDuel College Football series.
This article will break down the Fanduel early slate for Saturday.
CASH GAME TARGETS
QUARTERBACK
Matt Johnson – Bowling Green at Purdue ($8,600)
There are many fine quarterback options on this slate, but for cash game purposes, it'll be hard to pass on Johnson. His price makes him the seventh-most expensive quarterback on the slate, but this is a guy with 1,358 yards (9.2 YPA) and 12 touchdowns in his first three games back from a hip injury that ended his 2014 season. Johnson has fantastic receivers and heads into a game where Bowling Green is projected to score roughly 40 points.
Honorable mention: Trevone Boykin – TCU at Texas Tech ($10,300), Pat Mahomes – Texas Tech vs. TCU ($8,700), Jake Browning – Washington vs. California ($6,800), Thomas Sirk – Duke vs. Georgia Tech ($6,800)
RUNNING BACK
Madre London – Michigan State vs. Central Michigan ($6,800)
Patrick Skov keeps ending up on this list for obvious reasons, so for the sake of changing things up I'll write up London's situation. London has a home matchup against Central Michigan in a game where the Spartans are projected to score roughly 40 points. London's 48 carries are 13 more than the next runner, LJ Scott, and London has a good chance to lay claim to at least one of Michigan State's touchdowns after going 35 carries without a score.
Honorable mention: Patrick Skov – Georgia Tech at Duke ($5,800), Travis Greene – Bowling Green at Purdue ($6,200)
WIDE RECEIVER
Aaron Burbridge, Michigan State vs. Central Michigan ($6,800)
Like Tony Lippett last year, Burbridge has emerged as the clear WR1 to quarterback Connor Cook, who has constantly looked for Burbridge as his first read. Burbridge somehow owns 20 of Michigan State's 50 completed passes, totaling 374 yards and four touchdowns. With over 100 yards or a touchdown in each game so far in 2015, Burbridge is an ideal cash-game target.
Taywan Taylor – Western Kentucky vs. Miami (OH) ($6,100)
Taylor is very tough to pass on at this price. Jared Dangerfield (hamstring) could near full health soon, but even when that happens, Taylor should still own an elevated role in the Western Kentucky offense as the Hilltoppers try to account for the lost production of Leon Allen (knee), who was very active as a pass catcher when healthy. Meanwhile, Miami (OH) just doesn't have the personnel to match WKU.
Honorable mention: Isaiah Ford – Virginia Tech at East Carolina ($6,300), Ryan Burbrink – Bowling Green at Purdue ($5,400)
TIGHT END
Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky vs. Miami (OH) ($3,700)
There are a couple other good tight end candidates on this slate, especially Stephen Anderson (California) and Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech), but I can't find a reason to not pay up for Higbee. He's been Western Kentucky's leading pass catcher so far and offers WR2-type production at a very cheap price.
TOURNAMENT-SPECIFIC TARGETS
QUARTERBACK
Kendall Hinton – Wake Forest vs. Indiana ($7,000)
First of all, players like Trevone Boykin, Matt Johnson and Pat Mahomes are all great tournament quarterbacks this week, too, but this blurb will briefly point out the more obscure Hinton for those looking for a more under-the-radar target. Hinton should be a fairly trendy low-dollar pick after showing dual-threat upside in place of the injured John Wolford (ankle) against Army last week. Hinton finished that game throwing for 159 yards (5.9 YPA) and two interceptions, but showed rushing upside by running for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Hinton is very raw as a passer, but Indiana's pass defense has been atrocious, allowing 392.7 yards (9.4 YPA) per game while allowing 10 touchdowns in three contests.
Honorable mention: Trevone Boykin – TCU at Texas Tech ($10,300), Pat Mahomes – Texas Tech vs. TCU ($8,700), Jake Browning – Washington vs. California ($6,800), Thomas Sirk – Duke vs. Georgia Tech ($6,800)
RUNNING BACK
C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame vs. Massachusetts ($8,400)
There are a number of tempting running back targets on this slate, including Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Jordan Howard, but Prosise probably offers similar fantasy upside with lower ownership numbers. Prosise carried the Notre Dame offense against Georgia Tech last week, bolting for 198 yards and three touchdowns on just 22 carries. Massachusetts' defense likely cannot slow Prosise down, let alone stop him, and the Irish are projected to score over 40 points.
Honorable mention: Leonard Fournette – LSU at Syracuse ($8,700), Jordan Howard – Indiana at Wake Forest ($8,500), Patrick Skov – Georgia Tech at Duke ($5,800)
WIDE RECEIVER
Josh Doctson – TCU at Texas Tech ($8,400)
Doctson is the most expensive receiver on this slate, but he's certainly worth making room for in a tournament lineup at the very least. He's also an extremely good cash game fit from a reliability standpoint, though his price obviously could cut into your strength at other positions. Kolby Listenbee missed some practice time this week with an undisclosed injury, so Doctson could see even more targets than usual in an offense where he already dominates targets. There's obvious triple-digit yardage, multi-touchdown upside here.
Honorable mention: Roger Lewis – Bowling Green at Purdue ($7,600), Taywan Taylor – Western Kentucky vs. Miami (OH) ($6,100), Devin Lauderdale – Texas Tech vs. TCU ($5,800)
FADES
QUARTERBACK
Seth Russell, Baylor vs. Rice ($9,800)
Russell is a player I hyped a lot before this year and still have high hopes for, but a four-turnover game against Lamar raises questions. I fully expect a bounce-back game from Russell, but his disappointing Week 2 showing combined with his high price makes it hard to justify taking him over Johnson or Mahomes outside of a tournament setting.
RUNNING BACK
Jarvion Franklin – Western Michigan at Ohio State ($8,200)
Franklin was held to 23 yards on eight carries against Michigan State in Week 1, and Georgia Southern held him to 58 yards on 17 carries in Week 2. Franklin can stomp MAC competition, but it's hard to see why he would excel against Ohio State this week.
WIDE RECEIVER
KD Cannon – Baylor vs. Rice ($6,800)
The supremely explosive Cannon is a tempting target in almost any lineup, especially tournament scenarios, but it's hard to justify buying him at this price. Cannon doesn't have the most predictable usage in the Baylor offense, so his big games aren't easy to anticipate. The upside is intoxicating, but there are players cheaper than Cannon this week who offer similar appeal. One is his own teammate, Jay Lee, priced at $6,400, as well as Devin Lauderdale at $5,800.
