theCFFsite • DFS
CFB DFS: Week 1 – Friday Slate
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
$ Bargain Bin+ Best of the Rest! Injury Notes
Miami
WEEK 1
VS
Stanford
SPREAD
Mia -24.5
O/U
48.5
IMPLIED SCORE
Mia 36.5 – Stan 12
WEATHER
72 degrees / 0% rain / 14 mph winds
Miami
★Top Play(s) – WR Malachi Toney ($7,200) and / or WR Cooper Barkate ($6,200)
At least one of Toney and Barkate are a requirement in each lineup, and potentially both in GPPs as they’re the clear top two options in what could be considered an elite passing attack in 2026. If there’s a week to roster Barkate over Toney, this might be the one given his connection with Mensah from their Duke days. That rapport should translate immediately, while Mensah’s connection with Toney could take time to grow over the course of the year.
↓Fade – RB Jordan Lyle ($4,100)
Lyle was arrested in mid-August, and while he’s still been practicing with the team, his legal issues may result in a suspension of some sort this week – even if it isn’t publicly released what that is. Far too risky to even consider as a backup running back in this ACC matchup, given how much depth Miami boasts at the position.
↔Pivot Play – QB Darian Mensah ($8,200)
Our projections have Mensah third among the Big 3 QBs but would mix and match here with Jayden Maiava if entering multiple lineups. At minimum, Mensah should be able to replicate Carson Beck’s production from last season as he’s already proven himself in the ACC, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns for the Blue Devils. Stanford’s secondary was above average vs. Hawaii last week, giving up 272 yards and two scores, but Micah Alejado needed 51 attempts to accomplish that.
$Bargain Bin – WR Daylyn Upshaw ($3,500)
Upshaw appears to have won the WR3 competition in fall camp and will start alongside Barkate and Toney. While we expect the top two to dominate the target share for the Canes, this is a small price to pay for a WR3 spot that was targeted 84 times last season with Keelon Marion as the starter.
+Best of the Rest – RB Mark Fletcher ($7,500)
Fletcher rushed for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, with much of that production coming during the second half of the year and Miami’s College Football Playoff run. There’s comments as recently as last week from offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson suggesting that Fletcher’s high usage from late last year will NOT continue, alluding to a committee with both RB Girard Pringle ($4,000) and RB CharMar Brown ($5,000) heavily involved. Fletcher provides a safe floor, but no need to spend up if the Canes wind up splitting carries.
!Injury Notes – n/a
Stanford
★Top Play(s) – TE Benji Blackburn (3,900)
The only player I “somewhat” trust this week given the uncertainty statuses around some of the Stanford WRs heading into Friday. Blackburn played 100% of the team’s snaps in Week 0 and led the Cardinal with seven targets. Blackburn is a Miami native so potentially some added fuel to the fire in this matchup.
↓Fade – QB Davis Warren ($5,500)
Davis Warren was impressive in Week 0 with 310 yards and a touchdown vs. Hawaii. This Michigan fan, who’s seen plenty of Davis Warren, isn’t convinced he’ll throw for 310 yards in the next two games combined. Remove Warren from your player queue as he’s not in consideration against the Miami defense.
↔Pivot Play – WR Atticus Joseph ($4,000)
The true freshman impressed in his debut, converting on all four of his targets for 52 yards and a touchdown. The issue is that Joseph could be downgraded if Nico Brown is back in the lineup, and the freshman was already fourth among Stanford WRs in snaps played (31%) last Saturday.
$Bargain Bin – WR JonAnthony Hall ($3,200)
Hall was second in targets with five, and both of his receptions went for big plays, finishing with 81 receiving yards. Hall was a former 4-star recruit coming out of high school and had the second highest aDOT on the team in Week 0 at 15.6 yards. A few big plays again would pay off this $3.2k salary.
+Best of the Rest – RB Micah Ford ($6,000)
Ford performed as expected against Hawaii in Week 0, rushing for 99 yards and three touchdowns while handling 67% of the team’s rush share. We need to see how he fares against P4 competition before considering him for a roster spot again, especially this week with Stanford being down two starting linemen and a third being questionable on the injury report.
!Injury Notes –
WR Caden High (Doubtful), WR Nico Brown (Questionable)
UTEP
WEEK 1
VS
Oklahoma
SPREAD
OU -41.5
O/U
51.5
IMPLIED SCORE
OU 46.5 – UTEP 5
WEATHER
94 degrees / 1% rain / 12 mph winds
UTEP
•Team Overview
UTEP has one of several single-digit implied team totals on DFS slates this week – though the Miners are only slightly better than Ball State’s team total of three points on Saturday vs. Ohio State. Remove the QBs and RBs from the player pool, but UTEP does possess some talent at wide receiver. WR Carver Cheeks ($3,400) caught 71 passes a year ago for Northern Colorado, including 54 yards against an FBS opponent in Colorado State. WR Jaden Smith ($3,600) has dealt with the injury bug recently but comes in with 193 career receptions between UTEP and Eastern Kentucky. Those are the top two “available” options on DraftKings. Our WR1 – Kam Thomas – Isn’t even listed as an option in the system. Great job, DK.
Oklahoma
★Top Play(s) – QB John Mateer ($9,000)
There are three viable QB options on the slate, but Mateer stands tall above the rest as our highest projected player in college fantasy football this weekend. Pre-hand injury, Mateer was cooking last year with the Sooners off to a 5-0 start and the offense averaging nearly 34 PPG, including a 38-point fantasy performance against a similarly inferior opponent in last season’s opening game. Expecting OU to let Mateer rip it now that he’s fully healthy.
↓Fade – RB Tory Blaylock ($5,800)
Oklahoma will be a pass-first offense under OC Ben Arbuckle and, as per usual, will have a committee in the backfield. So, if wanting to choose an OU running back in a blow scenario, we’re likely to roster a cheaper option than an expensive one. Blaylock is too pricy at $5.8k and might be RB4 in the rotation.
↔Pivot Play – RB Jonathan Hatton ($4,000)
OU running backs in Arbuckle’s offensive system hold little to no value in college fantasy. So, if wanting to roster one in DFS, we’re going cheap. Hatton does have a questionable tag, but if we get confirmation that the 4-star freshman is playing, he’s a potential option as arguably the most talented back in the OU rotation. Hatton already has a frame ready for big time college football at 235 pounds and is considered one of the fastest players on the team.
$Bargain Bin – WR Elijah Thomas ($3,300)
This might be one of the best bargain bin options on the entire Week 1 DFS slates. And hopefully didn’t just jinx ourselves with saying that. Thomas has been a fall camp standout, including hauling in a game-winning touchdown in one of the OU scrimmages in the middle of August. There was talk that Thomas was challenging for the WR2 designation for the Sooners behind Sategna. The former 4-star looks set to start, or at least contribute heavily, on Friday with Parker Livingstone being questionable. Its unlikely Livingstone suits up with Michigan on the horizon in Week 2.
+Best of the Rest – WR Isaiah Sategna ($6,600) or WR Trell Harris ($5,600)
Sategna returns as a starter in the highly-coveted slot position under Arbuckle that has averaged 133 targets over the last five seasons. He should be a lock for another 100-target campaign. Harris will likely be entrenched in the WR2 role this week with Livingstone out. Mateer should be pair with at least one OU receiver, and potentially two in GPPs.
!Injury Notes –
WR Parker Livingstone (Questionable)
Toledo
WEEK 1
VS
Michigan State
SPREAD
MSU -9.5
O/U
46.5
IMPLIED SCORE
MSU 28 – Tol 18.5
WEATHER
79 degrees / 32% rain / 5 mph winds
Toledo
★Top Play(s) – WR Adjatay Dabbs ($5,300)
New head coach Mike Jacobs brought a handful of players over with him from Mercer via the transfer portal, one of which being Dabbs who was the team’s leading receiver in 2025 with 856 yards and eight touchdowns. Dabbs was a spring standout, hauling in a 29-yard touchdown in the final scrimmage. He’s by far the best option on the Toledo side.
↓Fade – QB John Alan Richter ($6,800)
Richter served as the team’s backup behind Tucker Gleason the last two seasons and does bring some level of experience to the position with 699 passing yards and seven touchdowns in three seasons. The issue is that JAR is a non-runner and will need to throw for at least 200+ and a pair of scores to hit value. Stick with the top three options at QB for this slate and don’t get fancy.
↔Pivot Play – RB CJ Miller ($6,600)
Miller is another Mercer transfer joining the coaching staff and Toledo, and likely to be the focal point of the offense in 2026. At 230 pounds, Miller will fit in physically and brings in loads of experience, having rushed for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Michigan State is 91st in defensive returning production with a new coaching staff, so there could be some early bumps.
$Bargain Bin – WR Anthony Simpson ($3,300)
No Toledo depth chart as of Wednesday, so we’re unlikely to take many risks here with the Rockets’ offense. Simpson may not even start but does have a lot of miles on his resume with 68 career receptions between stops at Arizona, UMass and Michigan over his career. Would need confirmation that Simpson is a starter to even consider this as an option.
+Best of the Rest – WR Rico Bond ($4,900)
Bond is likely the WR2 or WR3 in the offense as one of 52 players joining Toledo this season via the transfer portal. A Lindenwood College transfer, Bond caught 60 passes with six touchdowns in 2025, including a 102-yard performance against Appalachian State.
!Injury Notes – n/a
Michigan State
★Top Play(s) – RB Cam Edwards ($6,200)
The most proven talent resides in the backfield where 1,000-yard rusher Cam Edwards comes over from Connecticut and should be the primary source of offense for MSU in 2026. Tough to know exactly what the MSU offensive scheme looks like under new OC Nick Sheridan, but we know running backs were highlighted during Pat Fitzgerald’s time at Northwestern with the likes of Justin Jackson, Isaiah Bowser and Evan Hull. Expecting similar from Edwards this year.
↓Fade – RB Marvis Parrish ($5,300)
The Western Kentucky transfer is locked into the RB2 role behind Edwards, but the current spread is only 9.5 for this matchup. Not really interested in a backup RB at this price in what should be a competitive game.
↔Pivot Play – QB Alessio Milivojevic ($7,300)
Sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic came out of the spring atop the depth chart after throwing for 986 yards and seven touchdowns in his final four starts last season. As a non-runner with an uninspiring WR room, he’s unlikely to hold much fantasy value, but there’s always potential to pop against a MAC opponent. Milivojevic is the fourth QB option on the slate behind the Big 3.
$Bargain Bin – TE Carson Gulker ($3,000)
Not exactly sure where Gulker fits in on the MSU depth chart, but he’s a very intriguing piece transferring over from Ferris State. Why? Gulker lined up as a wildcat quarterback, running back, and tight end last season, producing 548 receiving yards and 541 rushing yards. Even if he’s not the TE1, there’s multiple ways for him to produce fantasy points.
+Best of the Rest – WRs.
This is a lackluster group of receivers for MSU this year, but they’re relatively cheap and Milivojevic is a strong enough passer to support at least one wideout here. WR Chrishon McCray ($4,800) is the likely top option here after serving as the team’s WR3 in 2025. He had a 75-yard performance against Iowa late last year with Milivojevic throwing him the rock. WR Rodney Bullard ($3,100) and WR Charles Taplin ($3,300) are probably the other starters, but no MSU depth chart to confirm that.
!Injury Notes –
n/a
Fresno State
WEEK 1
VS
USC
SPREAD
USC -21.5
O/U
52.5
IMPLIED SCORE
USC 37 – Fres 15.5
WEATHER
74 degrees / 0% rain / 10 mph winds
Fresno State
★Top Play(s) – WR Josiah Freeman ($4,600)
The veteran receiver is back after recording 642 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He remains the team’s only draftable pass-catcher on a team that is still expected to throw at a relatively low rate.
↓Fade – QB Jayden Mandal ($5,700)
Mandal is not much of an upgrade of last year’s starter EJ Warner, and Fresno State was just 108th in the country in neutral script pass rate. The Bulldogs want to keep the ball on the ground preferably, and don’t have much success (aside from throwing to Freeman) when they do take to the air.
↔Pivot Play – RB Rayshon Luke ($5,400) or RB Bryson Donelson ($4,800)
The Bulldogs will continue to rely on the backfield tandem of Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson this season after rushing for over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns, though neither back finished inside the top 50 in college fantasy with a split workload. Luke is projected as the top back because of his receiving abilities, finishing with an impressive 37 receptions on 39 targets a year ago. San Jose State was able to move the ball some on the ground vs. USC last Saturday.
$Bargain Bin – TE Jake Appleget ($3,100)
Only an option if you have $3,100 left to spare to complete a lineup, and still probably not advised in doing so. But Appleget has experience coming over from Northern Illinois, and the TE1 in this offensive system has caught at least 30 passes in four straight seasons.
+Best of the Rest – WR Ezekiel Avit ($3,700) and WR Jahlil McClain ($3,300)
Listed starters on the team’s depth chart that combined for 41 receptions and one touchdown last season. That’s all we got. One Fresno State WR maximum per lineup.
!Injury Notes – n/a
USC
★Top Play(s) – QB Jayden Maiava ($8,500)
Maiava was efficient in his debut, throwing for 286 with three combined touchdowns, completing 25 of his 29 passes thrown. Mateer is the priority play among the top 3 QB options, but Maiava should find some success against a Fresno secondary that is breaking in two new starting cornerbacks with very little starting experience.
↓Fade – RB Riley Wormley ($4,600)
This matchup should be slightly more competitive than the San Jose State contest and we’re expecting Jordan / Miller to handle the bulk of the workload on Friday. If there’s an RB on the field not named Waymond Jordan or King Miller, it’ll be either Shahn Alston or Deshonne Redeaux first over Wormley.
↔Pivot Play – RB Waymond Jordan ($7,000) over RB King Miller ($7,300)
Folks will look at the box score and see that Miller held a 15-8 advantage over Jordan in carries vs. San Jose State. But if you watched the game, Jordan looked like his early-season self with those eight rushing attempts and was the first running back on the field to start the game. I’ll have more exposure to Jordan over Miller on this slate.
$Bargain Bin – TE Mark Bowman ($4,100)
The prized freshman tight end was showcased more as a blocker than a receiver vs. SJSU, as he was targeted just three times. That said, Bowman was second to only Maiava, playing 76% of the team’s snaps. Bowman is still an option this week despite his low output last Saturday.
+Best of the Rest – The Freshmen WRs.
As was the case last week, this is dependent on the status of Hines and Anderson, and there’s not much in the way of reporting on their injuries as of Wednesday writing this. So will be a game-day decision on rostering the USC wide receivers. WR Trent Mosley ($5,900) is a star in the making and will be an option regardless of Hines and Anderson. WR Tron Baker ($3,000) and WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt ($3,900) combined for eight receptions and a touchdown and were the starters alongside Mosley. WR Zacharyus Williams ($3,300) saw the second most snaps behind Mosley at WR and caught three passes. We’ll be monitoring Hines and Anderson’s status up until kickoff.
!Injury Notes –
WR Tanook Hines (Questionable), WR Terrell Anderson (Questionable)
San Jose State
WEEK 1
VS
Eastern Michigan
SPREAD
EMU -2.5
O/U
56.5
IMPLIED SCORE
EMU 29.5 – SJSU 27
WEATHER
79 degrees / 23% rain / 5 mph winds
San Jose State
★Top Play(s) – WR Jerry McClure ($7,500) and / or WR Carson Clark ($6,300)
What the opener against USC proved to us is that the top two receiving options have been established for the Spartans in McClure and Clark who combined for 12 receptions and a touchdown on 15 targets, while the rest of the team had just seven catches. What is not established as of yet is which of the two is the top dog for 2026. McClure did hold the edge over Clark in both targets and snaps played, but it was the true freshman in Clark who popped off the screen with his diving 42-yard reception. San Jose State’s passing volume should be high enough to support at least one profitable WR, if not two, so I’d lock in either Clark or McClure for the start of your builds.
↓Fade – WR Malachi Riley ($4,600)
Initially thought to be a starter, Riley only played 11% of the team’s offensive snaps vs. USC and did not record a single catch or target. Perhaps that changes this week as Riley was coming off an injury in fall camp, but not worth the risk when some others established themselves in the starting rotation last week.
↔Pivot Play – RB Jabari Bates ($6,900)
The 37 yards on 11 rushing attempts last week vs. USC certainly don’t jump off the page, but we do take notice when he accounts for 48% of the total carries and 69% of the rushing attempts than went to San Jose State running backs. There are not an exorbitant amount of RB plays on the slate, so spending down for Bates makes some sense.
$Bargain Bin – WR Anthony Ivey ($5,200)
McClure and Clark are the preferred choices, but Ivey, who was projected to be the WR1 at points this offense, did lead SJSU receivers in snaps played and was third in targets (4).
+Best of the Rest – QB Luke Weaver ($10,100)
Strong fantasy performance from Weaver in the opener with 234 passing yards, three total touchdowns, while also adding 42 yards on the ground. The game script should play into Weaver’s favor here – San Jose State is a slight underdog, and the Spartans are projected to score nearly four touchdowns with a pass-heavy offensive system.
!Injury Notes – n/a
Eastern Michigan
★Top Play(s) – WR Nick Devereaux ($8,200) or WR Benson Prosper ($6,600)
We’re expecting the passing volume to be high again for EMU in this matchup with some of the Week 0 struggles running the football. Devereaux and Prosper look to be the clear top two at WR, combining for 154 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets in the opener. Salary savings make Prosper intriguing to fit more pieces in your lineups but would expect Devereaux’s ownership % to be lower and we still consider him the team’s WR1.
↓Fade – RB Braydon Bennett ($6,000)
We thought there might be a chance the team’s depth chart was inaccurate and the experienced Bennett would be EMU’s starting running back. That was not the case as he only carried the ball seven times for minimal yardage vs. Sacramento State, playing just 22% of the team’s snaps. If there was any glimmer of hope, it is that he led the team with just two red zone carries.
↔Pivot Play – QB Noah Kim ($9,600)
The Big 3 at quarterback are all possibilities, obviously, but spending down to Noah Kim as your second QB allows you to fill in some better options at the RB and WR positions. Kim was solid in his season debut, throwing for 279 yards and three total touchdowns in the win over Sacramento State. More promising from our vantage point is that Eastern Michigan struggled to run the football against what looks to be one of the worst teams in the FBS this season, averaging just 2.3 YPC as a team. Good news for Kim and the passing game.
$Bargain Bin – TE Joshua Long ($5,900)
If you play college fantasy and drafted Joshua Long, you saw almost everything you wanted to see in Week 0. Long converted on all six of his targets, played 100% of the team’s offensive snaps, and lined up in the slot 48% of the time. He’s going to be a standout performer for EMU this season if Week 0 was any indication.
+Best of the Rest – WR Amareon Blue ($7,200)
Blue led EMU with 12 rushing attempts in the opener for 55 yards, while adding a pair of receptions out of the backfield. San Jose State allowed 154 rushing yards to USC in Week 0 but did hold the Trojans to just 4.1 YPC. We’d side with the Eastern Michigan passing options in this matchup, but Blue does appear to be the team’s clear starter over Braydon Bennett.
!Injury Notes – n/a
LINEUP BUILDERS
Mike’s Core Four
DraftKings
Mike’s DK Core Four
- 1QB John Mateer, Oklahoma
- 2One Miami Wide Receiver
- 3RB Cam Edwards, Michigan State
- 4Jayden Maiava OR Darian Mensah as 2nd QB
FanDuel
Mike’s FD Core Four
- 1QB John Mateer, Oklahoma
- 2RB Cam Edwards, Michigan State
- 3One San Jose State Receiver
- 4One USC running back
