★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.
