DFS College Football 101: Week 12 Thursday Picks

DFS College Football 101: Week 12 Thursday

We have three games on tap for this College Football DFS Thursday slate, and there's plenty to be excited about. For starters, there are several mid-major superstars on this slate that profile as some of the best overall DFS plays of the week. The key revolves around finding enough value to combine them in a confident lineup. Don't worry, we'll touch on all of that in a bit. Meanwhile, here are the odds attached to these Wednesday matchups:

Toledo (-13.5) at Kent State – Total: 59.5

Tulane at Houston (-10) – Total: 68

Florida Atlantic at North Texas (-3.5) – Total: 67.5

Looking within that, I'll highlight the best fantasy selections on FanDuel & DraftKings while also outlining lineup construction strategy for both sites.

QUARTERBACK

D'Eriq King – Houston (FanDuel $10,800 / DraftKings $10,500)

Whenever you see Houston in a College Football DFS slate, D'Eriq King is probably a safe bet no matter the cost. That especially holds true in these abbreviated Thursday contests. King has been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in all of college football this season, and it should be full steam ahead tonight. His opponent, Tulane, has looked better recently, but the Green Wave don't have an answer for King's dual-threat ability. The Houston QB should be able to maintain his 40 FPPG average in this one.

Also Consider: The other quarterbacks are site dependent between FanDuel and DraftKings. Woody Barrett is a strong bounce-back candidate with a cheap $6,100 salary on DraftKings. His dual-threat ability against a non-imposing Toledo defense pushes him into Super Flex contention through all formats … On FanDuel, I will be looking in a different direction. Houston backup QB Bryson Smith has been getting more and more involved as a receiver lately, culminating in a breakout 7-117-3 line vs Temple last Saturday. He's an undeniable playmaker who needs to be on the filed, and the Houston coaching staff is begging to realize that. I'm assuming he'll maintain a significant role after last week's explosion. Smith is only $5000 and listed at QB on FanDuel: Super Flex anyone?

RUNNING BACK

Devin Singletary – Florida Atlantic (FanDuel $10,200 / DraftKings $9,000)

You know this is a great slate when you have a chance to roster a top five overall quarterback and running back in the same lineup. Devin Singletary is an absolute beast for Florida Atlantic, racking up 23+ fantasy points in six of his past seven games. This could be one of his toughest matchups of the season, facing a North Texas defense that ranks third in yards per carry allowed. Having said that, the Mean Green haven't faced a running back of Singletary's caliber. They also allowed 17 fantasy points to Old Dominion RB Elijah Davis last Saturday. Florida Atlantic has deployed a run-heavy approach as of late, and Singletary will get his chances to maintain solid numbers.

DeAndre Torrey – North Texas (FanDuel $9,700 / DraftKings $6,300)

Taking both running backs from this game (if the salaries agree) isn't a bad move. Torrey has been on fire with 30+ fantasy points in three of his past four games, and he should be able to find room against a middle-of-the-pack Florida Atlantic run defense. Game flow could benefit Torrey as well, given that North Texas checks in as 3.5 point home favorites. The Sophomore RB isn't a big guy at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, but he soaks up such a high concentration of rushing attempts for the Mean Green. That includes all-important work in the red-zone.

Also Consider: Bryant Koback makes for a reasonable pivot if you don't have enough salary to squeeze Singletary and Torrey in the same lineup. Toledo checks in as two-touchdown favorites at Kent State, which puts game flow in favor of the running game. The Rockets like to deploy a RB-by-committee approach, but Koback has been the preferred option while taking advantage of good matchups lately. He'll get another opportunity against a Kent State defense that ranks 96th in opponent yards per carry … Kerrith Whyte Jr has been putting up nice stat-lines alongside Singletary, but that could come to an end on Thursday. North Texas has a legitimate run defense, and there may not be enough work for Whyte to maintain his recent level of production … Darius Bradwell of Tulane is a tournament diversifier away from Singletary and/or Torrey.

WIDE RECEIVER

Marquez Stevenson - Houston (FanDuel $9,600 / DraftKings $6,500)

Pairing one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in football with a star receiver isn't a bad idea. It makes even more sense when you are limited to a three-game weekday slate. Marquez Stevenson has been the top option for QB D'Eriq King all season, and he's easily the best receiver on this slate. That especially holds true when considering that Houston's next best receiving option, Courtney Lark, is battling an injury. Go ahead and play Stevenson with confidence through all formats on Thursday!

Cody Thompson – Toledo (FanDuel $9,300 / DraftKings $5,900)

Thompson is no stranger to being featured in these weekday CFB DFS articles. He has been on an absolute tear lately with 29 receptions, 363 yards and six touchdowns over his past five games. In other words, the floor/ceiling combination is a welcomed addition to any lineup regardless of the format. He should be able to provide nice fantasy output against a Kent State defense that ranks 106th in opponent passer rating.

Also Consider: Rico Bussey Jr of North Texas rounds out the trio of superstar receivers in this slate. He is significantly more expensive than Stevenson or Thompson on DraftKings, which pushes him into this "also consider" section instead of a featured write-up. On the other hand, a strong case can be made for Bussey over Thompson for a similar price on FanDuel … Looking down the list, Darnell Mooney is a strong fantasy candidate if you need someone a little cheaper than the top three options. Tulane will likely turn to the air while trying to keep pace with Houston, and Mooney could benefit. He has shown excellent chemistry with new starting quarterback Justin McMillan to the tune of an amazing 6-217-2 line last Saturday. The duo also came through earlier this season at Cincinnati … If you are looking for a cheap filler, Houston TE Romello Brooker could be your guy. He doesn't catch many passes, but he gets his money's worth by racking up five receiving touchdowns on the season. It doesn't hurt while playing for a high-scoring offense with an outstanding QB.