Bench
Nick Fitzgerald, QB-Mississippi State at LSU
In Fitzgerald’s first two starts of the season, both non-conference games, the Bulldogs averaged 43.5 points per game. In the three conference games since, State’s offense has averaged 12 points per game and Fitzgerald has only averaged 186.3 total yards of offense. The senior quarterback is coming off a solid outing at home against Auburn last week, but there is no doubt that Fitzgerald will have a target on his chest Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge.
Karan Higdon, RB-Michigan at Michigan State
Last week, we suggested benching Penn State running back Miles Sanders against Michigan State, and he exploded for 162 yards and a touchdown. However, the Spartans’ defense was locked in on quarterback Trace McSorley, who had his worst game of the season. The Wolverines don’t have a Trace McSorley, which makes running back Karan Higdon and the Michigan running game priority No. 1. Despite Sanders’ 162-yard rushing game last weekend, Sparty still leads the nation in rushing yards allowed per game at 62.3.
Lexington Thomas, RB-UNLV vs Air Force
After rushing for at least 80 yards and a touchdown in each of the first four games of the 2018 season, a stretch which included three 100-yard rushing games, Lexington Thomas’ numbers have plummeted the past two games without Armani Rogers at quarterback. It’s not only the loss of Rogers that makes Thomas a risky start this weekend, but its the defense that he is facing, too. Air Force has the ninth-best run defense in the nation, allowing just over 100 yards per game on the ground (101.2). The Falcons limited San Diego State to 84 yards on the ground last week and can also claim to have held FAU’s Devin Singletary to his lowest rushing total in the past 19 games (57 yards in Week 2).
Aca’Cedric Ware, RB-USC at Utah
Aca’Cedric Ware has led the Trojans in rushing in four of six games this season, topping the 100-yard mark twice. However, his two 100-yard games were against teams that are allowing approximately 200 yards per game on the ground (UNLV-199.0 and Arizona 202.0). Utah has the nation’s second-best run defense, so expect the Utes to bottle up the USC run game and force freshman QB JT Daniels to beat them in the air.
Start
Jett Duffey, QB-Texas Tech vs Kansas
Duffey wasn’t great in last week’s game against TCU, but he was good enough to lead the Red Raiders to a 4th quarter come-from-behind win. His highlights included a 62-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Deion High and a 38-yard touchdown run. This week, Duffey should have a few more highlight opportunities against a Kansas defense allowing over 37 points per game in conference play.
Nathan Rourke, QB-Ohio vs Bowling Green
Rourke may not be an obvious choice for many fantasy owners that have experienced his up-and-down season thus far. The junior quarterback has only accounted for more than two touchdowns in a game one time this season, something he accomplished eight times in 2017. However, Bowling Green has the nation’s worst statistical rushing defense, as the Falcons are allowing 324 yards per game on the ground and have given up 31 rushing touchdowns. This Saturday, expect Rourke to boost his touchdown total and extend the Falcons’ streak of allowing a 100-yard rusher in consecutive weeks to seven.
Darrell Henderson, RB-Memphis at Missouri
On paper, this weekend’s matchup at Missouri may cause some fantasy owners to think twice about starting Darrell Henderson. The real problem is that Henderson has spoiled his fantasy owners by rushing for at least 170 yards five times this season and scoring at least two touchdowns in all but one game. The only two games in which the junior back has not rushed for at least 100 yards, he scored at least two touchdowns. College fantasy football is definitely about playing the matchups, but how can you sit a player that has topped the 20-point mark every week this season and is averaging five points more than the next-best fantasy back this season?
DJ Knox, RB-Purdue vs Ohio State
If the Boilermakers are to pull off an upset at home against Ohio State this weekend, running back DJ Knox will likely play a major role. In seven games this season, the Buckeyes have allowed four 150-yard rushers, the most recent being Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim last week. Knox has at least fifteen carries in four of the last five games, has rushed for at least 150 yards in two of the last five games, and has posted at least 19 fantasy points in three of the last five games. Don’t hesitate to get Knox into a Flex position in Week 8.
Marcus Outlow, RB-Coastal Carolina at UMass
Running back Marcus Outlow currently leads the Chanticleers with 533 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He has two 100-yards rushing games this season and has at least 14 carries and a touchdown in five consecutive games going into this week’s matchup at Massachusetts. Currently, the Minutemen are the third-worst defense in the FBS against the run (271.7 rypg) and only four teams have given up more rushing touchdowns than the 21 they have allowed.