DFS College Football 101: Week 12 Wednesday Picks

DFS College Football 101: Week 12 Wednesday

Who is ready for some weekday College Football DFS? If you answered yes to that question, you are in luck! For the first time this season, we have slates on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to build a full roster. We'll start with some MACtion on Wednesday evening, looking at Buffalo at Ohio and Miami (OH) at Northern Illinois. As of Wednesday morning, there isn't much to report from an injury or weather point of view. Both games will be cold, but otherwise look clear in the forecast. Go ahead and monitor the Rotowire CFB Injury Feed to stay on top of any situations as we move closer to kickoff. Meanwhile, here are the odds attached to these Wednesday matchups:

Buffalo at Ohio (-2.5) – Total: 66.5

Miami Ohio at Northern Illinois (-6.5) – Total: 48

Looking within that, I'll highlight the best fantasy selections on FanDuel & DraftKings while also outlining strategy to arranging lineups on both sites.

QUARTERBACK

Nathan Rourke – Ohio (FanDuel $10,200 / DraftKings $10,600)

Ohio has been a mainstay in these weekday columns, and Rourke has been a centerpiece within that. If you frequently read these articles, then you already know the deal with Rourke. He makes up such a large percentage of Ohio's yardage and scoring that it's tough to stay away from him despite the cumbersome salary levels. Even though Rourke had a mediocre performance last week at Miami Ohio, I'm expecting a strong bounce-back outing at home on Wednesday. The Bobcats check in with the highest scoring projection of the night, and Rourke should lead the way with his dual-threat ability.

Also Consider: It's admittedly tempting to take Buffalo QB Tyree Jackson over Rourke for a cheaper salary on both sites. However, Rourke is my preferred option while assuredly carrying the load for Ohio. Jackson is certainly capable of putting up numbers, but he sometimes defers to the running game with Jaret Patterson … Marcus Childers retains strong fantasy upside due to a significant amount of rushing attempts (and red zone carries) within Northern Illinois run-heavy scheme. His salary is moderate on both sites, giving him serious consideration as a Super FLEX option alongside Rourke.

RUNNING BACK

Jaret Patterson – Buffalo (FanDuel $9,300 / DraftKings $7,400)

Patterson is my favorite running back play of the night, as he's seemingly a lock for somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 carries. He also has the best matchup of this slate against a subpar Ohio defense that ranks 72nd in opponent yards per carry. Patterson has thrived in more difficult matchups recently, averaging a steady 117 yards and 1.4 touchdowns per contest over his last five. Consider that his baseline in this confident matchup.

Tre Harbison – Northern Illinois (FanDuel $8,200 / DraftKings $5,900)

If you haven't seen Harbison play yet, you may want to tune into this game on ESPNU tonight. The 5'11" 227 pound sophomore has a nice blend of power, explosiveness and vision. He will certainly be a name to remember in years to come. Harbison has gained the trust of his coaching staff this season, rounding into form with 20+ carries and 139+ yards in each of his past two games. As mentioned earlier, Northern Illinois loves to run the ball, and Harbison should benefit with plenty of volume. He's a steady play through all formats on both sites.

Also Consider: It seems that A.J. Ouellette has temporarily taken the lead over teammate Maleek Irons in the Ohio backfield. Ouelette is worth a look through all formats, while Irons is a tournament pivot you are hoping can capitalize on fewer carries … Kenny Young of Miami Ohio is an interesting option, especially for only $5,700 on DraftKings. His opponent, Northern Illinois, has one of the best run defenses in all of college football. However, Young makes his hay in the short passing game, and the Redhawks could lean on that if their rushing attack is getting stuffed. Those receptions really add up on a full PPR site like DraftKings … Marcus Jones of Northern Illinois is a nice tournament pivot away from aforementioned teammate Tre Harbison. He isn't seeing as much volume as Harbison recently, but Jones is still involved in his offense with scoring upside if things go his way.

WIDE RECEIVER

Anthony Johnson – Buffalo (FanDuel $9,600 / DraftKings $6,600)

Anthony Johnson is the best wide receiver on this slate, and he has the top matchup of any pass catcher to boot. Johnson has been a beast all season, as his 8-238-3 line vs Miami Ohio (on 10/30) served as a clear reminder of his upside. We could see a shootout (66.5 over/under, 2.5 point spread) at Ohio tonight, and the Bobcats rank 101st in opponent passer rating. It seems that the stars have aligned for Johnson to post another strong performance while extending his three-game touchdown streak.

Luke Mayock – Miami Ohio (FanDuel $7,200 / DraftKings $3,800)

As I touched on earlier, Northern Illinois has a very good defense – especially against the run. That could lead Miami Ohio to the air in an effort to steadily move the chains. The Redhawks' wide receivers could see a few more targets, which bodes well for Luke Mayock's fantasy potential. Jack Sorenson leads the team in targets and receptions, but Mayock has been steadily involved in this passing attack as well. Mayock is also significantly less expensive on both sites while hoping to stay hot after notching three touchdowns in his past four outings.

Also Consider: Game flow could push Jack Sorenson into fantasy significance as Miami Ohio's top receiving option. The salary isn't great on either site, but he's worth a look if you can strike a combination that organically fits him in … Papi White is an expensive big-play option that I'm only looking at in tournaments. Andrew Meyer is the steadier cash option from Ohio with more targets to work with in this potentially high-scoring game … I mentioned how Buffalo could shred a subpar Ohio pass defense on Wednesday. Johnson is the main beneficiary of this matchup, but K.J. Osborn and George Rushing are two other pass catchers to watch. Osborn's salary makes him more of a tournament pivot, but Rushing checks in as a value filler if you need salary relief with a promising draw. Rushing is averaging more than four targets per game, so you are hoping he can make good on one of those for a big play … Jauan Wesley caught my eye as a cheap filler for only $3800 on DraftKings. Northern Illinois doesn't pass very often, but Wesley leads the team in targets, receptions and yards.