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Stanford vs. Hawaii
- Point-Spread: Haw -2
- O/U Total: 53
- Implied Score: Haw 27.5 – Stan 25.5
- Weather: 80 degrees / 19% rain / 22 mph winds
Stanford:
Top Play(s) – RB Micah Ford ($4,700) Ford gets the nod here because of the lack of RB options on the slate, compared to wide receiver where there are plenty. Ford also gets a boost as projected backup Chris Davis is not included on the team’s depth chart. If looking for a reason to go against Ford, when describing the RB situation for Stanford, the team’s beat writer said it’s “still a bit of a mystery how the committee shakes out.” Hawaii has improved defensively each year that Timmy Chang has been at the helm, but are not world-beaters by any stretch, ranking 95th in defensive SP+.
Fade – QB Ben Gulbranson ($6,700) In fairness to Gulbranson, he did beat out a former 4-star recruit to win the starting job over Elijah Brown. But this is a low-upside, low-floor option with Stanford expecting to be a run-first, pro-style offense in 2025.
Bargain Bin – TE Sam Roush ($3,800) The position of most interest for Stanford is probably at tight end, which was a staple in Reich’s offenses during his NFL tenure with names like Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle and Mo AlieCox. Sam Roush is the one known commodity Stanford has in the passing game, totaling 68 receptions on 92 targets over the last two seasons. There’s a legitimate chance Roush leads Stanford in receiving, not only this week, but for the season.
Pivot Play – RB Cole Tabb ($3,500) With Chris Davis off the depth chart, and RB3 Tuna Altahir in a non-contact jersey, Tabb has joined Micah Ford as the running back getting most reps with the starters. Tabb was the third option in the backfield a year ago but got some run late in the season with double-digit rushing attempts in three games played, including 72 yards on 11 carries in Week 10 at NC State.
Best of the Rest – WRs Not much to speak of here, and there isn’t enough confidence in the quarterback position to warrant much exposure to any of the options here. CJ Williams is a former 5-star that is locked into a starting role but is now at his third school in as many years. Bryce Farrell was called out specifically by head coach Frank Reich as a standout but has just 36 receptions in five seasons of playing college football. If there’s a wildcard, it would be 4-star JonAnthony Hall who is expected to be one of the building blocks for a team that is essentially in Year 0 of a rebuild in 2025. He’ll see time on the field Saturday.
Injury Notes – WR Jordan Onovughe ($3,900) Last Stanford report on 8/16 on 247Sports has Onovughe absent from practices.
Hawaii:
Top Play(s) – QB Micah Alejado ($9,300) We know what the Hawaii Run-and-Shoot offense intends to do in 2025 – throw, throw and throw some more. The Warriors ranked in the top three nationally in pass play rate a year ago, and there is optimism that’ll continue behind the arm of second-year QB Micah Alejado. The local product flashed in last year’s season finale, posting 469 passing yards, 52 rushing yards, five touchdowns and 54 fantasy points against New Mexico. There’s just two quarterbacks on the slate that could go nuclear on Saturday, and Alejado is one of those as a dual-threat and top five projected fantasy quarterback for 2025.
Fade – RBs. We don’t know exactly who will start between Landon Sims or Cam Barfield and it won’t matter. Hawaii was 123rd in rush play percentage a year ago, and Alejado will factor into the carry distribution as well.
Bargain Bin – WR Brandon White ($3,500) The former Kentucky transfer will be a popular punt option at wide receiver, as he flashed in multiple highlight reel plays on the team’s official Twitter page (yes, I still call it Twitter). There’s a chance White is WR4 behind the top three, but that’s ok – tight ends are designated blockers and RBs aren’t utilized in the passing game.
Pivot Play – WR Jackson Harris ($5,100) Harris will likely see the least amount of ownership amongst the top four receivers for Hawaii on the slate because of his pricing. But the former Stanford transfer (Revenge game narrative) was the talk of spring camp earlier in the offseason, earning rave reviews from the coaching staff. Like White, Harris also has track-level speed with better height at 6-foot-3.
Best of the Rest – WR Pofele Ashlock ($6,900) and / or WR Nick Cenacle ($5,900) Playing two Hawaii WRs is the rout to go on this slate, and potentially three given the expected passing volume we alluded to above. Ashlock has been lethal against P4 opponents in the past, with multiple 100-yard performances, including one against Stanford back in 2023.
Injury Notes – n/a
Fresno State vs. Kansas
- Point-Spread: KU -12.5
- O/U Total: 50.5
- Implied Score: KU 31.5 – Fres 19
- Weather: 85 degrees / 6% rain / 5 mph winds
Kansas:
Top Play(s) – RB Daniel Hishaw Jr. ($5,300) Hishaw as the top play is a layup simply because of his pricing on DK. Too cheap for a Kansas RB1 against a Mountain West opponent. The primary backup to Devin Neal the last few seasons, Hishaw came into fall camp in the best shape of his playing career from all accounts and should be a lock at finding the end-zone this week with KU’s implied team total of over four touchdowns.
Fade – WR Cam Pickett ($5,600) There’s hasn’t been much upside to investing in Kansas receivers over the years, and the Ball State transfer isn’t even a listed starter, placed on the second line of the depth chart in an OR situation. The price point as the second highest salaried receiver makes Pickett an easy fade at cost. The upshot play as a secondary receiver after Emmanuel Henderson would be WR Levi Wentz ($4,100) who was predicted by at least one Kansas beat writer to be the second-leading wideout in 2025.
Bargain Bin – RB Leshon Williams ($4,500) Not opposed to rostering Williams over Hishaw for leverage against the field. Devin Neal dominated the touch share last year for the Jayhawks, but we’ve seen multiple times in the past under head coach Lance Leipold that he’s willing to distribute carries to several backs. Rather than a “starter / backup”, this is expected a “1A / 1B” situation between Hishaw and Williams this season.
Pivot Play – QB Jalon Daniels ($7,800) Jalon Daniels made it through fall camp unscathed after dealing with back injuries the last few years. He’s the third QB option behind Alejado and Maverick McIvor and reasonably priced at that. Fresno State is returning just four starters on defense from a year ago and loses two starters in the secondary.
Best of the Rest – WR Emmanuel Henderson ($6,100) Praise has been effusive this entire offseason for the Alabama transfer who is considered one of, if not the fastest player on the team. Henderson was a standout back in the spring, and that hype continued into fall camp to where he’s emerged as the Jayhawks’ undisputed WR1.
Injury Notes – n/a
Heisman Members can view the full write-up here (click).
To become an All-American or Heisman member of theCFFsite, click here.
