BYU vs. Texas Tech
- Point-Spread: TT -12.5
- O/U Total: 50.5
- Implied Score: TT 31.5 – BYU 19
- Weather: Dome
BYU:
Top Play(s) – TE Carsen Ryan ($3,900) We should aim to have at least one BYU pass-catcher per lineup if we think this game plays out similarly to the last time these two teams met where BYU threw the ball a season-high 38 times. The WRs are options as well, but tight ends have found the most success against this Texas Tech defensive scheme this season, averaging over 13 FPPG. There were three instances where a tight end was the leading receiver against Texas Tech this season, and a fourth matchup against Kansas where TE Boden Groen caught 13 passes against the Red Raiders.
Fade – RB LJ Martin ($7,200) or QB Bear Bachmeier ($7,600) Martin and Bachmeier had phenomenal seasons and were two of the best and most consistent fantasy producers in the entire country in 2025. But as the kids would say, this Texas Tech defense is a “wagon.” We do not play RBs or QBs facing this Red Raider defensive group. QBs are averaging just 14 FPPG against Texas Tech this season, while opposing backfields are scoring 39% below their seasonal average against the No. 1 run defense in the country.
Best of the Rest – WRs. Volume should be there for Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston, if we think this game plays out similarly to last, as the duo combined for 22 targets in the first meeting. Would probably limit to just one BYU receiver per lineup, as there’s a world in which this is another blowout. Tech only allows a combined 25 FPPG to opposing WR groups. WR JoJo Phillips ($3,300) functions as the WR3 for the Cougars, playing over 72% of the team’s snaps since returning from injury.
Injury Notes – n/a
Texas Tech:
Top Play(s) – RB Cameron Dickey ($7,800) Dickey had four games this season where he accumulated 20 or more rushing attempts this season, one of which came in the previous matchup with BYU, rushing for 121 yards and a TD. The BYU run defense is third in the Big 12 in yards allowed but rank just 63rd in explosive run plays allowed this season. Dickey’s second longest run of the year (33 yards) came in the previous matchup.
Fade – QB Behren Morton ($6,700) Morton’s second lowest fantasy output of the season came in the previous matchup, scoring just eight points, while being sacked four times resulting in -47 yards rushing. If playing Morton, he’d need to be paired with at least one Tech pass-catcher, and probably two, banking on the Texas Tech passing game winning the day. That seems unlikely, with BYU allowing just 15 FPPG to quarterbacks this season.
Best of the Rest – WR Caleb Douglas ($6,200) What’s been a WR by committee most of the year seems to be seeing some separation in the last month, namely with Douglas with six of his seven TDs this season have come in the last five games. WR Reggie Virgil ($5,500) was questionable coming into last week vs. UCF, but wound up playing 93% of snaps last week, running the most routes of any Texas Tech wideout against the Knights. Just two games ago he had three touchdowns, two rushing, against UCF. Virgil will have significantly less ownership than Douglas. TE Terrance Carter Jr. ($4,300) had just 41 receiving yards in the first matchup with BYU, and the Cougars have done an excellent job this season defending tight ends, allowing just 6.5 FPPG to the position.
Injury Notes – n/a
Miami (Ohio) vs. Western Michigan
- Point-Spread: WMU -2.5
- O/U Total: 43.5
- Implied Score: WMU 23 – MOH 20.5
- Weather: Dome
Miami (OH)
Top Play(s) – WR Kam Perry ($4,800) Perry is the team leads in targets (77), receiving yards (854) with six of the team’s 16 receiving touchdowns, but we should specifically isolate the final two games with Thomas Gotkowski at QB. Perry was targeted 17 times in the two games with Gotkowski throwing the football, with a combined 159 receiving yards and a touchdown against both Buffalo and Ball State. Perry is not an efficient WR with a 44% catch rate and three drops, but he offers the big-play ability the others lack, averaging 25.1 YPC and an aDOT of 19.0.
Bargain Bin – QB Thomas Gotkowski ($6,100) The true freshman quarterback has become a fan favorite for the RedHawks, taking over the starting job from Dequan Finn who quit on his team in November to prepare for the NFL (LOL). While Gotkowski did score 20+ fantasy points in both of his starts, those came against the 10th and 6th ranked scoring defenses in the MAC. Western Michigan is second in the conference in scoring and allowed just 13 FPPG to quarterbacks this season. Gotkowski can run, but we’ll look elsewhere at the QB position.
Pivot Play – WR Cole Weaver ($4,500) Perry will see the higher ownership as he’s found the end zone six times, compared to zero for Weaver this season. Take touchdowns out of the equation, and Weaver’s been as productive, specifically of late with 28 of his 40 receptions this season coming in the last five weeks. With Gotkowski at QB, Weaver has been targeted 15 times in the last two games with 10 receptions.
Best of the Rest – RB Jordan Brunson ($5,300) Brunson has been solid this season since taking over the starting RB1 job, rushing for 668 yards on 143 attempts (4.8 YPC). The issue here is that his best performances this season – at Buffalo / vs. Eastern Michigan – came against the 8th and 13th ranked run defenses in the MAC. WMU is third in the conference in yards allowed, giving up a combined 20 FPPG to opposing backfields. 35% of the rush yards allowed by Western Michigan this season did come in the last three games, though, so this group is trending down. WR Braylon Isom ($3,100) was a listed starter in Week 14 as the team’s WR3, and the freshman closed the year with two receiving touchdowns vs. Ball State.
Injury Notes – n/a
Western Michigan:
Top Play(s) – QB Broc Lowry ($6,500) Strength on strength Saturday with the Western Michigan run game facing the No. 2 run defense in the MAC. WMU wants to keep the ball on the ground, ranked 9th in the country in run play rate at 63.4%, and Lowry is an integral part of that, leading the team in attempts (173), yards (971) and touchdowns (14). Lowry was also one of the most consistent QBs in all of college fantasy, scoring 20+ fantasy points in eight of his last nine starts. Miami (Ohio) is only allowing 17 FPPG to quarterbacks this season, but you can’t beat that salary for a dual threat QB like Lowry.
Pivot Play – RB Jalen Buckley ($6,000) Buckley did not live up to expectations coming into the year in college fantasy but came on in the back half of the year with five rushing touchdowns in his last four games. The game before that final stretch? A 33-yard performance on just nine attempts against this same Miami (Ohio) defense. Lowry is the better play of the two, but we can stack the WMU backfield because of how much the Broncos run the football. Opposing backfields did not fare well against MOH this season, scoring 26% below their seasonal fantasy average.
Best of the Rest – WRs. When a team throws the ball just 36% of the time, there’s usually no need to roster any of the receivers. That said, the 29 pass attempts from Western Michigan in the Week 9 matchup vs. MOH tied the second-highest number for WMU this season, behind only the opener against Michigan State. WR Tailique Williams ($4,600) is the team’s most experienced receiver and had one of his best performances of the year in the previous matchup with 71 yards and a TD on five receptions. Against Eastern Michigan in Week 14, Williams ran just eight routes, but saw five carries in the run game, resulting in 67 yards and a TD.
Injury Notes – n/a
Georgia vs. Alabama
- Point-Spread: UGA -2.5
- O/U Total: 47.5
- Implied Score: UGA 25 – Ala 22.5
- Weather: Dome
Georgia:
Top Play(s) – WR Zachariah Branch ($4,700) Branch became a legitimate alpha receiver for the Dawgs after the first Alabama meeting, finishing the year with 68 receptions on 78 targets and four touchdowns, with an absurd 88% catch rate and just two drops. Branch’s 68 catches this season is nearly triple the number of the next closest UGA pass-catcher. For as involved as Branch is in the UGA offense, he’s severely underpriced at this salary.
Bargain Bin – WR Noah Thomas ($3,800) Thomas did not record a catch in the final vs. Georgia Tech but was still on the field 79% of the time, consistent with his previous five games since taking over for the injured Colbie Young. Just need one from Thomas to pay off his salary, averaging nearly 16 YPC with four receiving touchdowns in his last five games.
Pivot Play – RB Nate Frazier ($5,600) As frustrating as the usage can be for Georgia running backs during the course of the regular season, the UGA staff does tend to lean into their RB1 in high importance matchups. Frazier had 16 carries vs. Georgia Tech last week, 17 vs. Ole Miss and 16 attempts against Texas. The sophomore back has been rolling of late, averaging 7.41 YPC over the last month, and UGA did average well over six yards a carry as a team in the first matchup with Bama. Alabama has been stout against the run but are 111th nationally in explosive plays allowed on the ground. Don’t be surprised to see Frazier or another UGA back break off a long run on Saturday.
Best of the Rest – QB Gunner Stockton ($8,300) Don’t really like either QB in this matchup but prefer Stockton of the two because of his rushing output. Stockton scored just 11 fantasy points in the first meeting and is now facing a defense that allowed just 14 FPPG to quarterbacks during the regular season. We did see running quarterbacks find some level of success on the ground against the Tide this season. Ashton Daniels went for 100+ on 23 carries in the Iron Bowl. John Mateer ran for just 23 yards on 10 carries, but did find the end zone vs. the Tide. And LaNorris Sellers posted his third-highest rushing total of his season against Bama with 67 yards on 18 attempts.
Injury Notes – n/a
Alabama:
Top Play(s) – WR Germie Bernard ($6,700) Bernard is the only trustworthy Alabama pass-catcher week-to-week with 51 receptions on 83 targets and six touchdowns, while also leading the team in receiving yards (700) and routes run. This figures to be a pass-heavy script for Bama on Saturday, so having an Alabama receiver in a lineup makes sense, even if the WR rotation has been frustrating to dissect all year.
Fade – RBs. A lot of focus will be on the health status of Jam Miller and if he’s able to suit up after suffering an injury in the win over Auburn last week. If Jam is out, RB Daniel Hill ($4,700) becomes a possibility and a very attainable one at that at $4.7k. As Admiral Ackbar said once before, “it’s a trap.” Georgia is the No. 2 defense in the SEC, giving up a grand total of 13 combined FPPG to opposing backfields, and have not allowed a rushing touchdown in the last three games. Alabama has been ineffective running the football for much of 2025, ranking 89th in success rate and 78th in line yards. There’s no need to force Hill into our lineups, even if Jam is out.
Bargain Bin – WR Isaiah Horton ($3,800) 23% of Horton’s receptions this season have resulted in a touchdown after snagging three against Auburn last week. If there’s a position that’s found fantasy success against this UGA defense, it is at wide receiver as opposing team’s WRs are now averaging around 34 fantasy points per game as a collective group. Horton saw a season-high nine targets in the first meeting with UGA.
Pivot Play – WR Ryan Williams ($6,300) Tough to believe that the lone 100-yard performance for the former 5-star came all the way back in Week 2 vs. Wisconsin. Since then, Williams’ usage has been a rollercoaster, finding himself losing snaps to other Bama receivers. Similar to Nate Frazier above, Alabama seems to rely on their most talented offensive playmaker in matchups such as this. Williams was targeted eight times in the first meeting with the Dawgs. Against South Carolina in Week 9 when Alabama was trailing, Williams was targeted a season-high 11 times with seven receptions. And then in the loss to Oklahoma, the numbers were minimal, but Williams was on the field 71% of the time.
Best of the Rest – QB Ty Simpson ($8,100) Doubt that I’ll have much, if any, exposure to Simpson on Saturday, facing a UGA defense that has not allowed a team to throw for more than a touchdown in a game since the first week of October. The Dawgs allow just 18 FPPG to quarterbacks this season and limited a top five fantasy QB in Haynes King to his lowest output of the year last week. If you want exposure to the Alabama passing game, the way to go is with the WRs.
Injury Notes – RB Jam Miller (questionable), TE Josh Cuevas (questionable)
Indiana vs. Ohio State
- Point-Spread: OSU -4.5
- O/U Total: 48.5
- Implied Score: OSU 26.5 – IU 22
- Weather: Dome
Indiana:
Top Play(s) – WR Charlie Becker ($3,000) Becker has done enough to warrant a starting job regardless of if EJ Williams plays or not on Saturday with two 100-yard receiving performances in the last three weeks, including the nail-bitter at Penn State. Ohio State’s coverage will undoubtedly shade towards Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. which should open up opportunities for Becker. With Ohio State allowing just 20 combined fantasy points per game to opposing team’s WRs, it makes more sense to spend down for Becker than up to Sarratt / Cooper.
Fade – QB Fernando Mendoza ($8,500) Don’t care if you’re a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, we do not play QBs against this Ohio State defense. During the regular season, the Buckeyes allowed just six fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Pivot Play – RB Roman Hemby ($6,100) I distinctly remember suggesting fading Hemby earlier in the season the last time he faced a Top 20 run defense. What did Hemby do? Rumble for two touchdowns and 23.5 fantasy points in the win on the road at Oregon. Ohio State is better than Oregon at defending the run, but the efficiency at which Indiana orchestrates offensively is unmatched. 1st in overall success rate, 16th in line yards, and 4th in rush success rate.
Best of the Rest – WR Elijah Sarratt ($6,900) or WR Omar Cooper Jr. ($6,800) No more than one Indiana receiver per lineup against the best secondary in the country. We mentioned above that opposing team WRs are averaging just 20 fantasy points per game collectively against the Buckeyes. That number is 41% less than the seasonal average. If choosing one of the two, we lean Sarratt heavily over Cooper as he’s proven more against higher-level competition. 121 yards and a TD on 12 targets vs. Oregon earlier this season. 92 yards and two scores in Week 4 against previously ranked Illinois.
Injury Notes – WR EJ Williams (questionable)
Ohio State:
Top Play(s) – WR Jeremiah Smith ($8,400) or WR Carnell Tate ($7,100) Smith and Tate looked pretty healthy last week vs. Michigan, didn’t they? Call a spade a spade, that was load management as neither player was needed against UCLA, Purdue or Rutgers. Both found the end-zone last week against the Wolverines, though one should have been ruled a touchback if the refs were competent. We’ll go back to our early-season strategy of having one Ohio State wideout in our lineups as the duo still combines for 53% of the receiving production and 19 of the 31 touchdowns.
Fade – RB James Peoples ($4,200) We thought Peoples was turning a corner, scoring double-digit fantasy points in Week’s 12 and 13, and potentially nudging his way back into the RB rotation. Turns out that it was just stat padding in garbage time against bad teams, as Peoples barely played against Michigan and did not record a single carry.
Pivot Play – QB Julian Sayin ($6,800) If Sayin were priced like Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson, he’d be a fade, but for some reason the likely Heisman finalist quarterbacking the best team in the country is in the same salary range as a Western Michigan QB. Indiana is only allowing 12 FPPG to quarterbacks this season, but those rules don’t necessarily apply to Sayin and Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 3rd in offensive success rate, 2nd in points per opportunity, 3rd in passing down success rate, and 1st nationally in overall pass success rate. Efficiency is off the charts and Sayin has both first-round WRs at his disposal.
Best of the Rest – RB Bo Jackson ($6,300) Jackson was elite vs. Michigan, rushing for 117 yards on 22 attempts, converted on all four of his targets in the passing game, and was breaking the ankles of Michigan defenders along the way. I lean towards having exposure with the Ohio State passing game components over Jackson, but it is tough to deny wanting to roster a player who’s had four 100-yard rushing performances in his last five games. The threat of RB CJ Donaldson ($4,800) vulturing touchdowns remains, as he was brought in during goal line packages again vs. the Wolverines. Last Saturday, Donaldson held a 5-4 advantage in red zone attempts.
Injury Notes – n/a
Duke vs. Virginia
- Point-Spread: UVA 4
- O/U Total: 58
- Implied Score: UVA 31 – Duke 27
- Weather: 45 degrees / 7% rain / 1 mph winds
Duke:
Top Play(s) – WR Cooper Barkate ($6,100) This game was a dud the first time around, specifically for the Duke offense that scored just three points in the first three quarters in a 34-17 loss. Barkate was our top play that week, and while he didn’t pan out, the Duke WR1 did find the end-zone against UVA, even if it was in garbage time. Boundary receivers have found the most success against this UVA secondary. Cal’s Trond Grizzell caught eight passes for 80 yards. UNC’s Jordan Shipp had 67 yards on seven receptions. Washington State’s Josh Meredith went for 100+ and a touchdown in his matchup with Virginia. Interesting thing with Meredith is that he played primarily in the slot, but Wazzu kicked him outside 63% of the time against UVA. Even last week against Virginia Tech, despite giving up just 78 passing yards on the day, it was a 6-foot-3 freshman outside receiver that had a 57-yard TD catch.
Bargain Bin – WR Sahmir Hagans ($4,000) or WR Que’Sean Brown ($4,100) We prefer spending up to Barkate over Duke’s secondary options in the passing game, but Hagans and Brown are very inexpensive relative to their production this season, combining for nearly 1,100 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Both see a boost if WR Andrel Anthony is out due to injury. Multiple Duke WRs in a lineup is plausible as the Blue Devils are 23rd nationally in pass rate and 19th in pass att/g.
Pivot Play – QB Darian Mensah ($7,000) Mensah’s worst performance of the season came against UVA, throwing for 193 yards and one touchdown, while sacked four times. The Duke passing game is stackable, but preferred option for me is to play the WRs solo without Mensah, with Virginia giving up just 15 FPPG to quarterbacks this season.
Best of the Rest – RB Nate Sheppard ($6,700) Sheppard is unlikely to have much ownership Saturday as most will see his previous performance against UVA, finishing with just 43 yards on 12 attempts. Virginia was excellent against the run all season, ranked 36th in rush D success rate and 53rd in limiting explosive run plays. That was all with star linebacker Kam Robinson who was second on the team in tackles. He suffered a season-ending injury in the previous matchup. I wouldn’t go overboard on exposure to Sheppard as UVA allowed just 20 combined fantasy points to RBs during the regular season, but not having Robinson in the middle of the defense changes the dynamic.
Injury Notes – WR Andrel Anthony (questionable)
Virginia:
Top Play(s) – RB J’Mari Taylor (8,700) Best running back on the slate, by far, and worth spending up for. Taylor is 1st in the ACC in rushing attempts, first in rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns (14). 20+ attempts in four of the last five games with six rushing touchdowns in that span, including two in the previous matchup with the Blue Devils. 7-of-9 ACC opponents Duke faced this season rushed for at least two touchdowns in their respective matchups. If Taylor fails to gain traction on the ground, he’s also been exceptional in the pass game with at least four receptions in four of his last five games as well.
Fade – RB Harrison Waylee ($4,300) If playing Waylee, you must set those lineups as if Virginia will blowout Duke on Saturday. The former Wyoming and NIU transfer has had 15 or more rushing attempts in three of the last four games. Common theme is that in those three games, UVA won by double-digits. Waylee had just two rushing attempts in the loss to Wake Forest in early November.
Bargain Bin – WR Kameron Courtney ($3,200) Courtney is solely dependent on if Cam Ross is available or not on Saturday, as he’s the fill-in in the slot should Ross sit. Courtney filled in for Ross in the finale vs. Virginia Tech and led the team with six receptions on eight targets.
Pivot Play – QB Chandler Morris ($7,400) J’Mari Taylor will be chalk on this slate, and Morris did throw for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the previous matchup with Duke. The Blue Devils rank 120th in pass D success rate, 118th in explosive pass plays allowed and give up over 23 FPPG to quarterbacks. Opposing teams average 33.3 attempts per game against Duke this season which is 29th most in the country. Morris is a very strong pivot away from Taylor in GPPs.
Best of the Rest – WR Trell Harris ($5,000) First seven games of the season, Harris averaged 4.0 receptions on 5.1 targets per game. Last five weeks, Harris is averaging 5.6 catches on 8.4 targets. Harris’ second-best performance of the season came against Duke in the first meeting with 161 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. WR Jahmal Edrine’s ($3,800) production has fallen off the second half of the year, but he’s just behind Harris in routes run, playing over 80% of the team’s offensive snaps.
Injury Notes – WR Cam Ross (questionable)
Mike’s DK Core Four:
- QB Broc Lowry, Western Michigan
- A Duke WR
- RB Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech
- RB J’Mari Taylor, Virginia
Mike’s FD Core Four:
- QB Broc Lowry, Western Michigan
- WR Trell Harris, Virginia
- RB Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech
- A Duke WR
