theCFFsite • DFS
CFB DFS: Week 9 – Saturday Night Slate Preview
Matchup-by-matchup analysis with top plays, fades, pivots, bargain options, injury notes, and Mike’s Core Four.
★ Top Play
↓ Fade
↔ Pivot
$ Bargain Bin
+ Best of the Rest
! Injury Notes
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IMPLIED SCORE
Ohio State 29 – USC 22.5
WEATHER
65 degrees / 84% rain / 5 mph winds
Ohio State
★ Top Play(s) – RB Bo Jackson ($7,900)
It’s difficult not to envision this being an extremely run-heavy approach for the Buckeyes on Saturday with Julian Sayin now out indefinitely. Bo Jackson has already seen increased volume in the last three games with 16, 23 and 18 rushing attempts over his last three games and that should only continue to rise moving forward. Can Ohio State run on USC? The Trojans are a top-half unit in the Big Ten, limiting the last three opponents to under four yards a carry and just 19.4 combined FPPG to opposing backfields. If playing an Ohio State RB, we would not have more than one per lineup.
↓ Fade – QB(s).
The expectation is that we’ll see both Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey on Saturday night in some capacity. We wouldn’t have interest in this situation if the two quarterbacks were $5.5k, let alone $7.5k.
↔ Pivot Play – RB Isaiah West ($4,400)
West didn’t see the field much against Indiana, but impressed when he was, averaging 7.5 yards per carry on six attempts. He’ll assume the RB2 role again with Ja’Kobi Jackson sidelined.
$ Bargain Bin – WR Devin McCuin ($4,200)
McCuin’s salary has finally dropped to a reasonable level relative to his production. The UTSA transfer has multiple receptions in every game but one (Texas) and ranks second on the team in routes run. His playing time is also trending up, reaching a season-high 73% of offensive snaps against Indiana.
+ Best of the Rest – WR Jeremiah Smith ($9,900)
The best receiver in college football has 52 receptions for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns in seven games. USC’s secondary is beatable, allowing 216.4 passing YPG and ranked 95th in pass D success rate, but nearly $10K is a massive investment with Julian Sayin sidelined. Smith can overcome poor quarterback play through sheer talent and volume, but we’re hesitant to pay a premium for that uncertainty.
! Injury Notes –
WR Brandon Innis (Questionable), RB Ja’Kobi Jackson (Out), QB Julian Sayin (Out)
USC
★ Top Play(s) – WR Trent Mosley ($7,800)
If Ohio State has a weakness, it’s defending explosive passes, ranking 81st nationally. Indiana exposed that vulnerability with Charlie Becker’s 150-yard performance, while Nick Marsh nearly hauled in a game-winning touchdown behind the secondary. Mosley is USC’s biggest deep threat, averaging 15.2 yards per catch, and his $7.8K salary should keep ownership low.
↓ Fade – QB Jayden Maiava ($7,600)
At $7.6K, we’re not paying for a pocket passer against arguably the toughest defense on the slate. The Buckeyes are currently allowing 7.8 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, where those QBs are scoring almost 11 points fewer than their seasonal average when facing Ohio State.
↔ Pivot Play – WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt ($5,200) or WR Tanook Hines ($4,800)
Not many WRs have had success against this Buckeye secondary. We still prefer Mosley, but it has been boundary receivers like Charlie Becker and Hudson Clement that have fared best against Ohio State this season. KDW has hit a freshman wall since his fast start to the year but was targeted 11 times against the Badgers last Saturday. We’d limit our lineups to just one USC receiver.
$ Bargain Bin – TE Taniela Topou ($3,400)
Topou’s DFS appeal hinges on Mark Bowman’s availability. The sophomore TE entered last week with just 25 receiving yards on the season but saw eight targets against Wisconsin, finishing with 46 yards and a touchdown.
+ Best of the Rest – RB King Miller ($6,400)
Miller makes the list only because we’re fading the entire USC backfield. He managed just eight yards on 11 carries against Wisconsin, and Ohio State’s run defense is even tougher. Waymond Jordan didn’t play, while the lone bright spot, Shahn Alston, is questionable. Easy fade.
! Injury Notes –
WR Corey Simms (Out), WR Terrell Anderson (Out), TE Mark Bowman (Questionable), RB Shahn Alston (Questionable)
MEMBERS-ONLY ACCESS
theCFFsite’s Heisman Members can view the full article, and Heisman/All-American Members can access the Weekly Player Projections. Become an All-American or Heisman Member for our exclusive members-only content and access to theCFFsite Discord, or access this week’s DFS write-up and Player Projections with a one-week membership pass. See 2026 membership options here.
