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Bench
Bryce Perkins, QB-Virginia at Notre Dame
Consider: Perkins’ numbers just haven’t quite been the same in the Cavaliers’ offense this season compared to last year. In 2018, Perkins had accounted for at least three touchdowns in three of the first four games and rushed for at least 78 yards in three of those four games. Through the first four games of 2019, he has only accounted for three or more touchdowns one time and is yet to have a 70-yard rushing game. We do feel Virginia’s second half schedule will reward fantasy owners who remain patient with Perkins, but a road trip to South Bend will be a challenge this weekend.
Clayton Tune, QB-Houston at North Texas
Consider: After a surprising announcement that starting quarterback D’Eriq King will not play again this season and take a redshirt, Clayton Tune takes over for the Cougars at quarterback. It’s safe to assume there are a lot of things going on behind closed doors that we do not know about, so it would be wise to pass on Tune this weekend.
Isaiah Bowser, RB-Northwestern at Wisconsin
Consider: Bowser suffered an injury in the opener at Stanford and was rested through an off week and the Wildcats’ Week 3 matchup against UNLV. He returned last week and was held to 39 yards on 13 carries at home against Michigan State. Don’t expect things to get any easier this Saturday when Northwestern visits Wisconsin, as the Badgers are only allowing 27.0 yards per game on the ground.
Stevie Scott, RB-Indiana at Michigan State
Consider: Last week against UConn, Stevie Scott finished three yards shy of having his first 100-yard rushing game of the 2019 season. Unfortunately, Scott’s fantasy owners may have to wait another two weeks for him to reach that mark, as the Hoosiers have an off week after a road matchup this Saturday in East Lansing. The Spartans are only allowing 52.3 yards per game on the ground and have yet to give up a rushing touchdown in the first three quarters of a game this season.
Scottie Phillips, RB-Ole Miss at Alabama
Consider: Phillips has gotten off to a solid start this season, scoring in three of the Rebels’ first four games and topping the 100-yard rushing mark twice. Ole Miss has not played on the road since the opener at Memphis and could be without its starting quarterback, Matt Corral, Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide defense have held opponents to 98.8 rushing yards per game on the ground, but that doesn’t even rank them among the top 25 run defenses in the country. However, Alabama is one of only five schools not to allow a rushing touchdown through the first four weeks of the 2019 season.
Start
DK Billingsley, RB-Troy vs Arkansas State
Consider: Troy lost starting running back BJ Smith to a season-ending knee injury a couple of weeks ago, but seem to have the situation under control. In last week’s 35-7 win at Akron, DK Billingsley carried the ball 22 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. The 5-foot-11 and 207-pound running back has scored in each of the Trojans’ first three games of 2019, and in Week 5 faces a Red Wolves defense allowing over 200 yards per game on the ground.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB-Vanderbilt vs Northern Illinois
Consider: Senior running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn has gotten at least 18 touches in each of the Commodores’ first three games of 2019. He has scored in two of those three games and is fresh off a 130-yard rushing performance against LSU last Saturday. This week, he faces a Northern Illinois defense that is giving up 160.7 yards per game on the ground and have allowed eight rushing touchdowns in three games.
Josh Johnson, UL Monroe vs South Alabama
Consider: Junior running back Josh Johnson has been a fantasy surprise after three games of the 2019 season. He has run for 100-plus yards in two of three games and has scored in each of UL Monroe’s first three games, two of which were road games against Power 5 opponents Florida State and Iowa State. This Saturday, the Warhawks host South Alabama and the Jaguars are giving up over 188 yards per game on the ground and allowing 31.5 points per game.
Jaylen Warren, RB-Utah State vs Colorado State
Consider: Last week, Jaylen Warren proved us wrong after we recommended benching him on the road at San Diego State. The junior running back rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown, and added 40 yards on three receptions, in the Aggies’ 23-17 win. Warren has totaled over 100 yards of offense and scored in each of Utah State’s first three games. This week, he will face a Colorado State defense giving up 239.5 yards per game on the ground, which is eighth-worst in the FBS.
Maurice Ffrench, WR-Pitt vs Deleware
Consider: French is second on the team in receiving yards behind Taysir Mack, but leads the Panthers in receptions (31) and touchdown catches (2). He is only averaging 9.2 yards per catch, but has caught at least six passes in each of Pitt’s first four games. Three of those four games included matchups against Virginia, Penn State, and Central Florida. Expect the passing game to thrive this Saturday against a Delaware team that has given up at least 36 points against two other FCS opponents this season.