This article is part of our FantasyAces College Football series.
I had a decent start to the college DFS season in Week 1. Didn't cash-in on the long odds of a freeroll tournament with 10,000 entries, as expected, but I finished respectably high in the the top half.
This week, I will try my hands at a different Fantasy Aces game -- salary pro. In this format, you're awarded for being under the $45,000 salary cap (0.3 pts for every $50 under the cap, up to $5,000) and dinged for going over (-0.4 points for every $50 over). So, this is a sleeper-heavy format, and as a result, my picks this week are for those looking to save a few bucks.
QUARTERBACK
Josh Rosen, UCLA (at UNLV) - $5,700
One of the best places to find CFB bargains is talented freshman who are entrenched in their team's lineup, but not yet in the heart of the fantasy community. That will be a theme in this article. I know Rosen is only one game into his college career, but he looks like the real deal for UCLA. Jameis Winston comparisons are already being thrown around, along with Heisman hype, for the five-star freshman. Rosen completed 21-of-35 passes for 351 yards in his debut and has a chance to better those numbers in a tasty Week 2 matchup vs. UNLV. His price is still low for an elite passer in a two-QB format, and it might be the last time you can start him for under $6k.
Lamar Jordan, New Mexico (vs. Tulsa) - $4,000
Jordan wasn't named the starter for New Mexico until late in the summer, so he hasn't received much hype. The sophomore is a dirt cheap, supremely athletic dual-threat QB, which I love in DFS signal-callers. He was 7-of-7 for 103 yards passing with another 62 yards and a score on the ground before being pulled from a week 1 blowout of Mississippi Valley State. This week, the Lobos will need Jordan for all four quarters in a game featuring Saturday's highest over/under (75.5).
Others to consider:Vernon Adams, Davis Webb, Blake Decker
RUNNING BACK
Rodney Smith, Minnesota (at Colorado State) - $3,500
The 5-foot-11, 202, freshman out-touched and out-played senior running back Roderick Williams in Minnesota's opener. Afterward, coach Jerry Kill said about Smith, "I'd say he needs to play more." At $3,500, you're paying backup prices for the likely lead back in a run-first offense.
Stanley Williams, Kentucky (at South Carolina) - $4,000
Williams led Kentucky in rushing as a true freshman last season and looks poised for a big year as the starter in 2015. Even if you take the 75-yard scamper out of his 135-yard week 1 performance, he still averaged over six YPC, just as he did in 2014. The Wildcats will need his big-play ability this week in South Carolina.
Others to consider:Alvin Kamara
WIDE RECEIVER
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M (vs. Ball State) - $4,550)
Kirk, the second five-star freshman on this list, was electrifying in his debut vs. Arizona State. He is truly a threat to score every time he touches the ball, as witnessed by his punt return TD and a 66-yard screen pass that he took to the house. Kirk's talent in an uptempo offense make for a DFS steal.
Devonte Boyd, UNLV (vs. UCLA) - $3,900
Boyd was a freshman All-American for the Rebels in 2014 and is their No. 1 target in a game where UNLV will most likely be playing catch-up. This is one of the best bargains of the entire slate.
Others to consider:Thomas Duarte, Bryce Treggs
TIGHT END
Chris Clark, UCLA (at UNLV) - $3,550
I'm not usually trying to spend much on a tight end, so definitely looking to save money in a format where the goal is to get significantly under the salary cap. Clark was the No. 1 tight-end recruit in the country, pairing with Josh Rosen in an impressive freshman class. He was held without a catch in week 1, but I think the 6-6 youngster can hook up with Rosen on Saturday, especially in the red zone. I like Tennessee sophomore Ethan Wolf more, but I'm swinging for the fences with this QB-TE stack in what should be a high-scoring matchup (65.5 o/u).
Others to consider:Ethan Wolf, Austin Hooper
FLEX
Royce Freeman, Oregon (at Michigan State) - $6,050
Sorry, but I'm going back out west to another high-volume offense. Freeman is one of my favorite players in college football, and now that Thomas Tyner is hurt, the Ducks' backfield is a one-man show. There was so much volatility with the rest of my lineup, I wanted to pick a safe player and had a ton of money left for the flex spots.
Jhurell Pressley, New Mexico (vs. Tulsa) - $4,750
Not really a stack here, because Lamar Jordan isn't likely to target his running back a ton, but Pressley is my second asset in the highest projected scoring game of the week -- both are Lobos due to the cost of Tulsa's commodities. If Pressley does happen to score on a pass from Jordan, that's just icing. This puts me at exactly $5k under the cap for a maximum 30 bonus points.
