Arkansas vs. Memphis
- Point-Spread: Ark – 6.5
- O/U Total: 62.5
- Implied Score: Ark 34.5 – Mem 28
- Weather: 83 degrees / 19% rain / 5 mph winds
Arkansas:
Top Play(s) – QB Taylen Green ($8,400) Last week quelled some concerns about how Taylen Green would fair once he got into SEC play, where he failed last season in college fantasy, averaging just 18 points per game. 39 fantasy points scored vs. Ole Miss and now gets a matchup against a G5 opponent that will be able to keep up with the Razorbacks on the scoreboard. Green is arguably the top play on the slate.
Fade – RB Braylen Russell ($5,400) Funny how things workout in college football. In the offseason we had an RB battle between a 4-star recruit in Russell against a Buffalo and New Mexico State transfer in RB Mike Washington ($6,900). It feels like currently that would heavily favor Russell being the incumbent and former highly touted recruit. Instead, Washington has a stranglehold on the RB1 job, with his YPC average being double the amount of Russell (4.1). Russell would only be in play here in a blowout scenario, which this is not. Memphis has been stout against the run the last two weeks, limiting Georgia State and Troy to under two yards a carry.
Bargain Bin – WR Jalen Brown ($3,100) I thought this Arkansas WR room would be a mess after bringing in a billion transfers in the offseason. It turns out we have a fairly condensed room so far, especially on the boundary where Brown starts opposite WR O’Mega Blake ($6,200). Brown is second behind Blake in most receiving categories and was targeted a team-high eight times vs. Ole Miss last week. Argument could be made he’s the better bang for your buck option among the two.
Pivot Play – WR CJ Brown ($3,900) CJ Brown would be the third option among the Razorback receivers, as we’re seeing more of a split in the slot where Raylen Sharpe is also rotating in. Brown is third in targets (13) and receptions (9). The other Brown (Jalen) and Blake are the priority options among Arkansas pass-catchers.
Best of the Rest – WR O’Mega Blake ($6,200) Blake won’t see the target share that Andrew Armstrong did a year ago, as the Razorbacks have more options in 2025, but Blake is the clear and obvious WR1 with close to 30% of the team’s receiving yardage so far. Memphis’ secondary has allowed 15 receptions the last two weeks to opposing WR1s, though game script did play a factor with the Tigers dominating both Troy and Georgia State.
Injury Notes – n/a
Memphis:
Top Play(s) – RB Sutton Smith ($6,600) Assuming Greg Desrosiers is out again this week, Smith should continue getting the bulk of the work on Saturday, coming off his best performance of the year with 113 yards and a touchdown vs. Troy. The high-level numbers aren’t that bad, but advanced stats paint a different picture, with Arkansas ranked 121st in rush D success rate. Memphis has run the ball far more in 2025.
Fade – WR Marcello Bussey ($3,400) Bussey was fourth among Memphis receivers in playing time vs. Troy last week and has seen his snap counts decrease since Week 1, while Cortez Braham’s playing time has gone the other way.
Bargain Bin – RB Makari Bodiford ($3,000) Remember Brandon Thomas? The guy that rushed for 35 touchdowns in the last four seasons as the team’s backup. Bodiford seems to be filling that role as the team’s running option inside the 20. Bodiford holds an 8-3 advantage in red zone attempts over Sutton Smith.
Pivot Play – QB Brendon Lewis ($7,700) We know the limitations with Lewis as a passer, but we’re expecting heavy utilization this week with his legs, especially given the Tigers will be down one running back in the backfield. The Razorbacks just allowed 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to the Ole Miss QB last weekend. The last two QBs to face Arkansas have each tallied 15 rushing attempts as well.
Best of the Rest – WR Cortez Braham ($3,500) Braham is the top target for the Tigers as he was brought over late in the transfer portal window from Nevada. Who else played at Nevada last year? Starting QB Brendon Lewis. Braham’s playing time has increased with each passing week as he’s further grasped the playbook. WR Jamari Hawkins ($3,200) is the second pass-catching option for Memphis, having converted on all 10 of his targets to start the season. Limit to one Memphis pass-catcher per lineup with Lewis’ limitations as a passer.
Injury Notes – RB Greg Desrosiers Jr. (Questionable), WR CJ Smith (Questionable)
SMU vs. TCU
- Point-Spread: TCU -7
- O/U Total: 64
- Implied Score: TCU 35.5 – SMU 28.5
- Weather: 82 degrees / 16% rain / 5 mph winds
SMU:
Top Play(s) – WR Romello Brinson ($4,100) I know Brinson wasn’t a huge factor in SMU’s Week 3 win over Missouri State, but DraftKings did see what the senior wideout did the first two weeks right? Brinson is tied for the team lead in targets (18) and leads the team by himself in all other receiving categories. Expect Brinson to have one of the highest ownerships on the slate at this cost. The one cause for concern is the return of WR Jordan Hudson ($3,400) who is expected back this week from injury. Do we see the SMU receiver situation of the last couple years where nobody was fantasy relevant in the room?
Fade – RB Derrick McFall ($4,000) McFall was at one point the leader in the clubhouse to be the Mustangs’ RB1. Now, the receiver turned running back is more of a gadget option, being utilized as a runner and receiver on reverses, screens, etc. That kind of role is not enticing at $4k.
Bargain Bin – WR Jalen Cooper ($3,700) or WR Yamir Knight ($3,100) Very interested to see how the dynamic of the WR room changes, if at all, with Hudson back in the lineup. Does Cooper shift inside into the slot? Does it remain status quo? Does Knight build off last week’s performance where he caught a season-high 66 yards on six targets? Will we see a big rotation like we have in the last few seasons with SMU? All SMU receiver options are cheap enough, and there will be enough points scored Saturday that all are options most likely.
Pivot Play – RB TJ Harden ($5,500) The thought from some all offseason was that this would be a committee and SMU would not have Brashard Smith-like option in 2025. Maybe not to that level, but Harden is the clear RB1 in the room with five rushing touchdowns on 34 attempts combined in the last two games. Can’t be the price-point here either.
Best of the Rest – QB Kevin Jennings ($7,900) SMU was off last week against Missouri State, including Jennings who threw for 281 yards and just one touchdown against a below-average defense. This should be a bounce back opportunity against a TCU secondary that was lit up last week by Abilene Christian to the tune of 276 yards and two scores. Small sample size with just two games played but the Horned Frogs are already 112th in pass D success rate. Game stack potential here with cheap salaries and high game total.
Injury Notes – n/a
TCU:
Top Play(s) – QB Josh Hoover ($8,200) Taylen Green and Josh Hoover is likely to be the QB combination I have the most exposure to on Saturday. The junior QB is ninth in the country in yards per game through the air (310 YPG), facing a secondary that is 95th in pass D success rate.
Fade – RB Jeremy Payne ($4,100) Kevorian Barnes did not practice on Tuesday. Your guess is as good as mine as to who would get first cracks at carries should he miss Saturday’s contest with as many as four options vying for the spot. Redshirt freshman Nate Palmer is second on the team in rushing yards, and Trent Battle has two touchdowns to lead the team – both of whom are cheaper than Payne.
Bargain Bin – WR Joseph Manjack ($3,000) Blatant pricing mistake for a player that is a starter on an Air Raid offense that just went for 100+ yards last week. Like Romello Brinson above, Manjack will be one of the highest owned players on the slate. If looking for a reason to potentially fade the crowd with Manjack, he shared the slot with highly touted freshman WR Ed Small ($3,000) who caught two touchdowns while converting on all six of his targets. Small got first-team action during fall practices and could be pushing for more playing time.
Pivot Play – WR Eric McAlister ($6,900) For those that drafted McAlister in college fantasy, it’s been a slow start, but not ready to push the panic button quite yet. If McAlister doesn’t get it done on Saturday, then we can ask those questions. Against North Carolina, coverage was shaded his way to where McAlister wouldn’t be a major factor. And then tough to judge a performance against an FCS school where the Horned Frogs are up multiple touchdowns the majority of the game. McAlister still leads TCU in routes run this season and has been on the field for almost every offensive snap.
Best of the Rest – WR Jordan Dwyer ($5,500) The far-and-away leader on the team in targets (17), receptions (14) and yardage (225). Because of the pricing of TCU receivers and the volume at which TCU throws the ball (52%), stacking multiple wideouts in a lineup is a feasible strategy. Just five TCU receivers saw targets in a blowout situation, which bodes well for a tight rotation in what should be a very competitive matchup.
Injury Notes – RB Kevorian Barnes (questionable)
Texas Tech vs. Utah
- Point-Spread: Utah -3.5
- O/U Total: 56.5
- Implied Score: Utah 30 – TT 26.5
- Weather: 69 degrees / 9% rain / 5 mph winds
Texas Tech:
Top Play(s) – TE Terrance Carter ($3,600) A ranked road matchup at a 10:15 am local start time against the No. 8 scoring defense in the country doesn’t scream fantasy success. Particularly when the production has been so spread out for Tech among the receivers and running backs. Carter gets the nod because he’s cheap, has the second most receiving yards on the team and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (3).
Fade – RB Cameron Dickey ($6,500) Sure, Dickey will probably get 12-15 carries in this game and could hit value with that projected volume. But he still doesn’t pass the eye test for me as a good running back, averaging a yard less per carry than RB J’Koby Williams. Utah is 26th in yards allowed per game on the ground through three weeks and 24th in rush D success rate.
Bargain Bin – WR Reggie Virgil ($4,500) The Miami (Ohio) transfer leads the team in targets (18), second in receptions (11), first in touchdowns (3) and second in routes run among Texas Tech pass-catchers.
Pivot Play – QB Behren Morton ($7,600) Morton is having an exceptional start to the season with 11 touchdowns and just one interception in three games, which is tied for most on the country. Morton is also second in the nation behind only USC’s Jayden Maiava in passer rating. Competition level does need to be considered as Tech has faced three cupcakes to begin the year. That said, anything Utah has done defensively against the pass can also be taken with a grain of salt too, as the Utes have dominated Cal Poly, Nico Iamaleava and Wyoming – also cupcakes.
Best of the Rest – RB J’Koby Williams ($5,800) Williams will split carries with Dickey, but what’s more intriguing with the sophomore back is the receiving usage the last two weeks with 10 receptions on 11 targets. Williams had 116 yards against Oregon State last week. WR Coy Eakin ($5,500) and WR Caleb Douglas ($5,800) are part of the three-man rotation at receiver that doesn’t have a true No. 1 between them. Truthfully a guessing game each week as to which Tech wideout is the preferred option, which diminishes their value.
Injury Notes – n/a
Utah:
Top Play(s) – WR Ryan Davis ($4,600) The New Mexico transfer has emerged as Devon Dampier’s top receiving options in the passing game with over 140 receiving yards and 16 receptions combined over the last two games. It should be of no surprise considering Davis and Dampier’s connection from last year where the slot receiver was second on the team in targets behind Luke Wysong.
Fade – RBs. I don’t see a path to either Wayshawn Parker or Naquari Rogers hitting value here for a multitude of reasons. For starters, they ain’t cheap. The Tech defense is second in the country in yards allowed on the ground and No. 2 in rush D success rate. And most importantly, the coaching staff seems intent on splitting the carries 50-50 so long as both are healthy and producing.
Bargain Bin – TE Hunter Andrews ($3,200) or TE Dallen Bentley ($3,200) The Utes can change offensive coordinators, but tight end usage will always be a thing so long as Kyle Whittingham is around. Andrews looks to be Brant Kuithe 2.0 with his usage in the run game with 12 attempts for 108 yards and a touchdown so far. Meanwhile, Bentley is second on the team in targets (14), catches (11), routes run, and first in touchdowns (2).
Pivot Play – QB Devon Dampier ($8,700) Put Dampier’s passing aside for now. In nine of Dampier’s last 10 games dating back to last year with New Mexico he’s had double-digit rushing attempts. In six of his last eight games to close the 2024 season Dampier had two or more rushing touchdowns. In two of three games in 2025, Dampier has accounted for 80 or more rushing yards. Gut feeling – Utah leans on their star quarterback in this highly-anticipated matchup with major CFP ramifications.
Best of the Rest – WR JJ Buchanan ($3,000) or WR Tobias Merriweather ($4,000) The Utah passing game has essentially been just Ryan Davis and the two tight ends to start the year. Buchanan and Merriweather are the second and third starters, respectively, but have combined for just 131 receiving yards and nine catches in three games.
Injury Notes – n/a
Syracuse vs. Clemson
- Point-Spread: Clem – 16.5
- O/U Total: 55.5
- Implied Score: Clem 36 – Syr 19.5
- Weather: 81 degrees / 3% rain / 4 mph winds
Syracuse:
Top Play(s) – WR Darrell Gill Jr. ($5,100) We’re still unsure that Gill is THE guy for Syracuse at receiver this season, but he’s undoubtedly the big-play threat, averaging over 22 yards per catch with an aDOT of 20.4 yards. Gill exploded against Colgate with 152 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets last week. The Clemson pass defense has been sub-par to begin the year, ranked 101st in success rate.
Fade – RB Will Nixon ($3,500) Nixon served his purpose last week in CFB DFS, filling in for the injured Yasin Willis, rushing for 66 yards and a touchdown. 11.6 fantasy points against toothpaste was not that impressive, and the quotes from HC Fran Brown suggest Willis should be back this week. Against both UConn and Tennessee, Nixon averaged just 3.5 YPC.
Bargain Bin – TE Dan Villari ($3,900) Villari is tied for the team lead in targets (19) with Gill Jr. and leads the Cuse in receptions (16). Villari has not found the end-zone yet this season, but he’ll get chances both as a pass-catcher and potentially as the wildcat QB in the red zone.
Pivot Play – QWB Steve Angeli ($7,200) Clemson’s pass defense has been below average and Angeli is fourth in the country in pass attempts per game (41.7). Probably like Angeli best in a game stack as there’s a chance this is a shootout.
Best of the Rest – WR Justus Ross-Simmons ($4,500) or WR Johntay Cook ($4,300) This duo has combined for four of the nine receiving touchdowns this season and should see target volume with how frequent Syracuse throws the ball as we alluded to above. Our lone concern is how few snaps both Cook and JRS played against Colgate last week. JRS was on the field just 12 percent of the time on offense.
Injury Notes – RB Yasin Willis (questionable)
Clemson:
Top Play(s) – RB Adam Randall ($7,100) The transition to running back has been a positive for Randall this year, averaging five yards a carry with touchdowns in each game so far. Guaranteed volume is why Randall is in the top spot here with 41 rushing attempts on the season. The total carries for the next closest Clemson running back? Three. Syracuse is 104th in yards allowed per game on the ground and 104th in rush D success rate.
Fade – WR TJ Moore ($5,200) The sophomore breakout was expected to be Moore this season, and while there’s plenty of time, that hasn’t come to fruition quite yet. The big plays aren’t there, averaging just 10.3 yards per catch and the rhythm is off with Cade Klubnik, with just seven catches on 16 targets (43% catch rate). You’re only rostering Moore at this point in a game stack until he proves otherwise.
Bargain Bin – WR Tyler Brown ($3,600) Brown’s viability is completely dependent on Antonio Williams’ status this week, which is questionable and won’t be known closer to Friday. Brown did next to nothing against Georgia Tech with seven yards on three targets, but was still on the field a bunch, running the most routes of any Clemson receiver. If Williams plays, Brown’s out of the equation.
Pivot Play – QB Cade Klubnik ($9,700) Someone like a Taylen Green has a higher projection at a cheaper price tag, but Klubnik still projects as our sixth-highest QB for the entire weekend. For better or worse, OC Garrett Riley loves to call QB draws all the time, so the rushing usage is solid, and Syracuse is 115th in pass D success rate, allowing 274 YPG through the air. This could be a get-right spot.
Best of the Rest – WR Bryant Wesco ($6,700) Antonio Williams doesn’t play the same position as Wesco but directly impacts his level of production. So, if Williams is out again Saturday, Wesco is once again a top WR option on the slate. 100+ receiving yards in each of the last two games, with 14 receptions on 15 targets.
Injury Notes – WR Antonio Williams (Questionable)
Maryland vs. Wisconsin
- Point-Spread: Wisc – 7.5
- O/U Total: 43.5
- Implied Score: Wisc 25.5 – MD 18
- Weather: 69 degrees / 34% rain / 7 mph winds
Maryland:
Top Play(s) – WR Shaleak Knotts ($3,400) Knotts has been the team’s top target in 2025, having found the end-zone in every game this season already, and second in both targets (17) and receptions (11). A 12-point projection at just $3.4k is easily one of the top values on the slate.
Fade – RB Nolan Ray ($6,000) This one makes zero sense, coming from someone who believed in Ray in the preseason. The Maryland run game has been very poor through three games, and the Terps haven’t played anyone yet either. For all the faults that this Wisconsin team has, the run defense has been solid, ranking 36th in rush D success rate. Ray will split carries with RB DeJuan Williams ($3,400) who has flat out been better in 2025.
Bargain Bin – TE Dorian Fleming ($4,100) The Georgia State transfer looked like an All-Big Ten candidate through two games but was held without a catch against Towson. To squash any concerns, Fleming was on the field 74% of the time, so likely just a case-by-case example of not being needed against an FCS opponent.
Pivot Play – QB Malik Washington ($6,900) There’s not a lot of incentive to start Washington here, being a true freshman, on the road, in his first B1G matchup with just a 17-point projection. Wisconsin has been leaky on the back end, though, ranked 16th of 18 teams in the B1G in yards allowed through the air, and 96th in pass D success rate.
Best of the Rest – WR Jalil Farooq ($4,200) or WR Octavian Smith Jr. ($3,800) Knotts will be the popular play of the three Maryland starting receivers, and deservedly so based on price and production. But this isn’t Tai Felton from last year. Smith leads the team in routes run, while Farooq’s 20 targets are the most on the team.
Injury Notes – n/a
Wisconsin:
Top Play(s) – TE Lance Mason ($3,000) Yea, it’s that bad offensively when we’re listing a min priced tight end as the Badgers’ top option. What is Wisconsin’s identity offensively? It was thought that Wisconsin would get back to the ground and pound that we’re accustomed to in Madison, but the Badgers are just 15th in the conference already in yards per game on the ground. Mason has been the most relevant fantasy option with 11 of his 13 targets coming in the last two weeks.
Fade – QB Danny O’Neil ($6,300) Wisconsin averages just 196 yards per game through the air, and Maryland is 9th in pass D success rate through three weeks. Low floor / low ceiling = no interest.
Bargain Bin – WR Vinny Anthony ($3,800) Anthony is the team’s WR1 and can score from any area of the field, as proven by his kickoff return for a score against Alabama last Saturday. Team leader in targets (15), receptions (9) and routes run.
Pivot Play – WR Jayden Ballard ($3,300) Ballard doesn’t start but has found the end-zone each of the last two games. Wisconsin is targeting the Ohio State transfer down the field, with an aDOT of 20.4 yards so the low volume (2.5 targets per game) is not as much a factor.
Best of the Rest – RB Dilin Jones ($6,200) Jones has a storyline coming into Saturday’s matchup against Maryland as he was born in the area. On paper, there’s just no reason to roster Jones this week, averaging just 4.6 yards per carry and 10 attempts per game. Maryland has been defending the run adequately but did allow 180 total yards on the ground to NIU in Week 2. Jones will have next to nothing in terms of ownership.
Injury Notes – QB Billy Edwards (Questionable)
Tulane vs. Mississippi
- Point-Spread: Miss -11.5
- O/U Total: 60.5
- Implied Score: Miss 36 – Tul 24.5
- Weather: 88 degrees / 20% rain / 4 mph winds
Tulane:
Top Play(s) – QB Jake Retzlaff ($7,100) A Tulane QB is a top play? If they’re rushing for 100 yards each week, with Retzlaff has done twice already, then you bet. 23 or more fantasy points scored in all three games, including 45 points in the win over Duke. We already saw another dual threat in Taylen Green torch this Ole Miss defense for 40 fantasy points last week.
Fade – RBs. The Rebels have been an atrocity defending the run the season, ranked dead last in the SEC at 194 yards per game allowed on the ground. Granted, the Rebels have already faced two SEC teams in the first three weeks, but Ole Miss also allowed 191 yards in the opener to Georgia State, who is not a good team. Tulane should find some success on the ground Saturday, but with whom? Outside of Retzlaff, this backfield is messy with Maurice Turner’s status unknown, and no clear starter beyond that.
Bargain Bin – WR Omari Hayes ($3,200) After missing most of Week 2 due to injury, Hayes returned vs. Duke last Saturday, catching all four of his targets for 69 yards. The former FAU transfer leads the team in all receiving categories with an 87% catch rate.
Injury Notes – RB Maurice Turner (probable)
Ole Miss:
Top Play(s) – RB Kewan Lacy ($7,700) Down week for Lacy against the Razorbacks with just 44 yards and a touchdown, but we’re more intrigued again by the carry distribution. 17 rushing attempts for Lacy compared to just four for backup Damien Taylor. That’ll play.
Fade – QB Austin Simmons ($8,300) As of Wednesday writing this, the latest report continues to be that Simmons will start on Saturday. If you believe this report or Lane Kiffin, I have some beachfront property I can sell you on. Simmons was forced to come on the field to finish a drive vs. Arkansas where Trinidad Chambliss suffered a hand injury and was literally hobbling around the field. With an LSU matchup on the horizon, I refuse to believe that Ole Miss trots out Simmons against Tulane, nor do I believe that Simmons is even close to healthy after watching him this past weekend.
Bargain Bin – WR Harrison Wallace ($4,100) What are we doing here, DK? 339 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games, and the established WR1 for the Rebels. Even on a night last week where the other Ole Miss receivers got involved, Wallace still managed a team-best 92 yards on 10 targets.
Pivot Play – WR Cayden Lee ($3,900) Maybe we saw Lee turning the corner last week with 75 yards against Arkansas, tripling his production from the first two games combined. The volume still isn’t at the level we expected, averaging just four targets per game, but Lee is too good a player to be a non-factor like he was in Week’s 1 and 2.
Best of the Rest – QB Trinidad Chambliss ($8,500) For comparison’s sake, we’d rather play Taylen Green for $100 less but do like Chambliss quite a bit with a 27-point projection (assuming he does get the start again). Chambliss was outstanding against Arkansas with over 400 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. Might we have a QB controversy on our hands? TE Dae’Quan Wright ($3,700) has been productive when healthy with 60 or more yards in two of three games played this season. WR Deuce Alexander ($3,000) is the FAR better option over WR De’Zhaun Stribling ($6,100), outgaining him in receiving yards in all three games. Stribling held just a slight end in offensive snaps played.
Injury Notes – QB Austin Simmons (Questionable)
Auburn vs. Oklahoma
- Point-Spread: OU -6.5
- O/U Total: 49.5
- Implied Score: OU 27 – Aub 21.5
- Weather: 83 degrees / 23% rain / 8 mph winds
Auburn:
Top Play(s) – QB Jackson Arnold ($7,600) Don’t feel great about this selection and speaks to the fact that there’s not a true top option for Auburn this week in our opinion. This game goes one of two ways, and really no in-between. Arnold sticks it to his old team and coaching staff with a performance to remember, or he’s the quarterback that holds the ball too long, can’t process defensive coverages and shows why Oklahoma went in a different direction. Arnold has scored 22 or more fantasy points in all three games this season, and we’re expecting heavy usage on the ground from him on Saturday.
Fade – RB Damari Alston ($6,500) By now most are familiar with the general rule of hold off on playing someone the first game back from injury. It’s a risk, but we’ve experienced that scenario going sideways more often than not. Oklahoma ranks 5th in the country in rush D success rate coming into this weekend and are we certain Alston regains his top spot in the offense with the way RB Jeremiah Cobb ($5,100) has run over the past two weeks?
Bargain Bin – WR Horatio Fields ($3,500) Fields is only an option if Malcolm Simmons does not play on Saturday and would get boosted further if WR Eric Singleton Jr. ($4,500) is out as well. 10 receptions on 11 targets in two games for Auburn’s WR3.
Pivot Play – WR Cam Coleman ($6,400) This is a scenario that you if you play Coleman, you stack him with Jackson Arnold, whereas Arnold can be played solo with his legs. Coleman has yet to live up to the 5-star hype this season in terms of production, but he’s the best 1-2 players on the field any time he suits up. There’s also a scenario where Arnold throws for fewer than 150 yards against this stout defense – something he’s done twice already this season – hence why we’re only playing Coleman stacked with Arnold.
Injury Notes – RB Durell Robinson (out), WR Malcolm Simmons (questionable), WR Eric Singleton Jr. (questionable)
Oklahoma:
Top Play(s) – TE Jaren Kanak ($3,400) Consistency is about as much as you can ask for when it comes to fantasy tight ends, and Kanak continues to be a safety valve in the middle of the field for John Mateer. 242 yards in three games, with 69 or more yards in each week. All the talk about Oklahoma receivers in the offseason and it’s a tight end that leads the Sooners in receiving yards.
Fade – RB Jaydn Ott ($6,800) You know that GIF of Donald Duck strutting with a wad of cash? That’s me in a few months cashing my Jaydn Ott under props on his rushing totals. Ott did not play against Temple in Week 3 and shouldn’t be part of the top two in Oklahoma’s backfield rotation. Why is his $6.8k still?
Bargain Bin – RB Tory Blaylock ($4,200) Oklahoma spent all that money for Ott, retained a veteran like Jovantae Barnes, had two promising underclassmen already in the fold in Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum…and it’s a true freshman that appears to be OU’s RB1. Blaylock now has quadruple the amount of rushing yards as the next closest Sooner back after rushing for 100+ and two scores against Temple last week. Blaylock also out-carried all other OU running backs in the Week 2 matchup with Michigan. We don’t mind Blaylock at this salary, but keep in mind that Auburn is ranked No. 1 in the country through three games in rush D success rate.
Pivot Play – QB John Mateer ($9,000) Mateer proved in Week 2 that he’s matchup-proof, scoring 30+ fantasy points in the win over Michigan, and has a strong projection this week over 30+ points. Auburn is just 77th in pass D success rate, likely a result of allowing 400+ in Week 1 to Baylor through the air.
Best of the Rest – WR Isaiah Sategna ($3,600) The Arkansas transfer had a mini breakout vs. Temple with 97 yards on nine targets to lead the team. WR Deion Burks ($7,000) had his worst fantasy performance of the year but still maintains a healthy lead in every major receiving category for the Sooners. Both get a boost if Keontez Lewis does not play, as Oklahoma has rarely rotated at the WR position in 2025.
Injury Notes – WR Keontez Lewis (Questionable)
North Carolina vs. Central Florida
- Point-Spread: UCF -6.5
- O/U Total: 48.5
- Implied Score: UCF 27.5 – UNC 21
- Weather: 84 degrees / 54% rain / 12 mph winds
North Carolina:
Top Play(s) – RB Demon June ($4,600) New coaching staff means new pair of eyes on the players they’re inheriting or bringing in during recruiting. Felt like it was just a matter of time that the UNC backfield was turned over to a freshman running back – the Heels brought in four of them in their recruiting class. June got the bulk of the carries vs. Richmond, rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown. After two games played, UCF is 102nd in yards allowed per game on the ground.
Fade – QB Gio Lopez ($6,700) Bill Belichick might want a refund after paying a hefty sum for Gio Lopez in the offseason. The South Alabama transfer is averaging just 114 yards per game through the air, lowest in the ACC, and that’s after facing two cupcakes in recent weeks in Charlotte and Richmond. There’s already talks that we could see Max Johnson at some point if the struggles persist.
Bargain Bin – WR Jordan Shipp ($4,300) Only one playmaker has emerged at receiver for the Heels in sophomore Jordan Shipp who leads the team in targets (14), receptions (10), yards (149), with half of the team’s receiving touchdowns (2).
Best of the Rest – WR Javarius Green ($3,000) Shipp is the only realistic option for North Carolina pass-catchers, but Green is second on the team in targets (10) and routes run. UNC used a bunch of receivers in the Week 3 blowout of Richmond, but Green was on the field 68% of the time in Week 2 vs. Charlotte when he was targeted five times. He’s the clear WR2 behind Shipp.
Injury Notes – n/a
Central Florida:
Top Play(s) – WR Duane Thomas Jr. ($4,000) Thomas has been the most consistent of the starting receivers for UCF this season with 49 and 68 yards, respectively, in his first two games, running the most routes of any Knight wideout.
Fade – QB Tayven Jackson ($8,000) If Jackson were the clear and obvious QB1 for UCF, he still wouldn’t be playable at $8k with a 17-point projection. And Jackson isn’t a clear and obvious QB1, with HC Scott Frost mum about who the starter would be this week between Jackson and Week 1 starter Cam Fancher.
Bargain Bin – TE Dylan Wade ($3,400) Not putting a ton of stock into Wade’s performance in a 60-point win in Week 2 vs. North Carolina A&T. In the competitive Week 1 matchup with Jacksonville State, though, Wade was a major factor with 54 yards on four catches and a touchdown. It’s still early in figuring out the rotations with UCF, but Wade seems to be locked in as the starting TE1.
Pivot Play – RB Jaden Nixon ($4,500) over RB Myles Montgomery ($8,200) I’m on record already taking the under of Myles Montgomery’s rushing prop of 84.5 yards. Despite getting 21 carries in Week 1, Montgomery averaged just 3.8 yards per carry in the win over Jacksonville State. He started again in Week 2, averaging just 4.4 yards per carry against an FCS opponent. Meanwhile, Nixon rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on just four attempts. I would not be playing Montgomery this week, particularly at this pricing.
Best of the Rest – WR DJ Black ($3,600) To be frank, there’s not much difference between Black or Duane Thomas who we mentioned above. Black caught the game winning touchdown over Jacksonville State in the opener, and the second-highest aDOT on the team at 19.6 yards. Limit one UCF pass-catcher per lineup as there’s a chance we see Cam Fancher at quarterback who struggles with the concept of the forward pass.
Injury Notes – n/a
Michigan vs. Nebraska
- Point-Spread: UM -2.5
- O/U Total: 44.5
- Implied Score: UM 23.5 – Neb 21
- Weather: 73 degrees / 24% rain / 7 mph winds
Michigan:
Play(s) – RB Justice Haynes ($7,500) Three-straight 100-yard rushing performances for Haynes to start the year, and Nebraska has surprisingly been bad against the run so far, ranked 134th in rush D success rate. Haynes is clearly the top play, but we do have two concerns: (1) Michigan will be without one of its starting guards from a line that has already been a little shaky to begin the year. (2) In Michigan’s last road game, it was the 75-yard TD from Haynes that saved his day. He rushed for just 50 yards on 18 carries against the Sooners if you take out that run. Good play, but not a smash.
Fade – QB Bryce Underwood ($7,400) Good on the Michigan coaching staff for learning a lesson against Oklahoma to not restrict your 5-star, 13-million-dollar quarterback from making plays with his arm and legs. Underwood’s potential was on display last week with over 300 total yards of offense and three touchdowns vs. Central Michigan. Having the Oklahoma game under his belt should serve Underwood well moving forward, but this is still a ranked matchup on the road against a formidable opponent. We don’t play Michigan QBs in those scenarios.
Bargain Bin – TE Marlin Klein ($3,100) Klein was back in full, for the most part, against Central Michigan after missing the Oklahoma contest with an ankle injury. 56% of the snaps play, which makes sense given the Wolverines won the game by 60 points and was targeted four times.
Pivot Play – WR Semaj Morgan ($3,500) Finally the Wolverine coaching staff has started to use Semaj Morgan as an actual receiver and not some gimmick. Morgan is averaging a career-best 13.4 yards per catch so far in 2025, and Michigan is targeting him down the field more. 17.3 yards per reception with a 7.4 aDOT vs. Central Michigan last week.
Best of the Rest – Remaining Wolverine Pass-Catchers. I would have a max of one Michigan receiver or tight end per lineup, but they’re all ridiculously cheap. TE Hogan Hansen ($3,100) was targeted four times for 43 yards against CMU last Saturday. Michigan also is not rotating much at receiver, so WR Donaven McCulley ($3,300) and WR Channing Goodwin ($3,500) are not coming off the field much in competitive games, which this should be.
Injury Notes – n/a
Nebraska:
Top Play(s) – WR Dane Key ($5,300) The Kentucky transfer has found the end-zone in each of his first three games with the Wildcats. Michigan’s weakness on defense is in the backend with a lot of youth in the secondary.
Fade – Backups. Emmett Johnson will get all the carries for the Cornhuskers, as he’s done for much of the season. Against Cincinnati in the opener, the starting receivers combined for 20 of the 23 targets that went to Nebraska wideouts.
Bargain Bin – WR Nyziah Hunter ($3,300) In Nebraska’s only competitive game this season in the opener against Cincinnati, Hunter was the Cornhuskers’ best receiving option, finishing with 65 yards and a touchdown. There’s no reason Hunter should have this low a salary compared to the other two Nebraska receivers.
Pivot Play – QB Dylan Raiola ($6,100) The Cincinnati game is probably the best comparison for what to expect here. Raiola won’t provide anything on the ground. We’re likely to see 35-40 passing attempts from him because Nebraska will find tough sledding on the ground. Can he throw three touchdowns is the question? Michigan’s secondary is the perceived weakness on defense, ranked 63rd in success rate and did allow 271 passing yards in its last road matchup with Oklahoma.
Best of the Rest – RB Emmett Johnson ($7,400) Surprised to not see Johnson as Nebraska’s top play? Don’t think you can discount Johnson as an option given the volume he’s received in 2025 with over 50% of the team’s rushing attempts this season. Not to mention his high usage in the passing game with 11 receptions on 14 targets. I just question if Johnson can run on the Wolverines with multiple 300+ pounders in the middle of the line. Michigan is allowing just 2.64 YPC for the season.
Injury Notes – n/a
Purdue vs. Notre Dame
- Point-Spread: ND -26.5
- O/U Total: 55.5
- Implied Score: ND 41 – Pur 14.5
- Weather: 73 degrees / 0% rain / 5 mph winds
Purdue:
Top Play(s) – WR Michael Jackson III ($3,900) Jackson has been Purdue’s most steady performer on offense this season with 70+ yards in two of three games played, leading the team with 14 receptions on 17 targets. Notre Dame’s secondary has been a far cry from where the unit was a year ago, ranked 126th in yards allowed through the air.
Fade – RB Devin Mockobee ($5,000) We’ve seen the real Devin Mockobee the last two weeks. Solid role player that could do damage at lower levels of football, as shown by his 126-yard, two touchdown performance against Southern Illinois in Week 2. Mockobee steps up in class against USC last week and averages just 3.8 yards per carry. There’s better options at RB on the slate, and Notre Dame’s run defense has been marginally better.
Bargain Bin – Secondary WR options. Jackson leads the group, but there’s four consistent receivers getting run for the Boilermakers with Nitro Tuggle, EJ Horton Jr. and Arhmad Branch. Tuggle has two of the team’s five receiving touchdowns, while also leading Purdue in routes run. He was on the field 98% of the time vs. USC last week. Horton is second on the team in targets (16), while Branch is averaging 23.9 YPC with an aDOT of 22 yards.
Pivot Play – QB Ryan Browne ($6,000) If we saw Browne perform better against USC at home last week, we’d be more inclined to consider him in this spot with how poorly the Notre Dame secondary has been, ranked 126th in pass D success rate. But to be fair, he did hit value, scoring 22 fantasy points with 305 passing yards and two combined touchdowns. This could just go sideways on the road against a desperate 0-2 Notre Dame squad and could sink your lineup.
Injury Notes – n/a
Notre Dame:
Top Play(s) – RB Jeremiyah Love ($9,000) Must-win game for obvious reasons for the Irish, and with two losses, Notre Dame needs some style points now too. And the best way to do that? Lean on your best player. Purdue allowed 178 rushing yards to USC last week. This feels like a spot to spend up for Love.
Fade – QB CJ Carr ($8,800) Projection and salary don’t mix, and we’re seeing the fantasy impacts of a quarterback that doesn’t run the football, unlike Riley Leonard a year ago. There’s better options all around this salary range at QB.
Bargain Bin – WR Jordan Faison ($4,200) Faison is a clear WR2 for the Irish, ranked second on the team in routes run and second among ND receivers in targets (11). He’s been on the field over 90% of the team’s snaps in each of the first two weeks.
Pivot Play – RB Jadarian Price ($6,700) One or the other. With Price’s salary, there’s not a real opportunity to stack the Notre Dame backfield, so if you pivot away from Love, I’d look to get some Price exposure. That’s more imperative this year than last, because we know for certain that Carr isn’t vulturing any red zone carries away from the Irish running backs the way Leonard did.
Best of the Rest – WR Malachi Fields ($4,800) Did we see the emergence of a true WR1 for the Irish last week vs. A&M. The position was irrelevant to us last year, but Virginia transfer Malachi Fields separated from the pack against the Aggies with 77 yards and five receptions on 11 targets. If not Fields, TE Eli Raridon ($4,800) is the next best (or even best) pass-catching option for the Irish with 80 or more receiving yards in the first two weeks. He’s being utilized as a Michael Mayer-type tight end.
Injury Notes – n/a
NC State vs. Duke
- Point-Spread: Duke -2.5
- O/U Total: 58.5
- Implied Score: Duke 30.5 – NC St 28
- Weather: 82 degrees / 6% rain / 7 mph winds
NC State:
Top Play(s) – QB CJ Bailey ($7,800) The sophomore quarterback has been one of the most consistent fantasy performers in the early season, scoring 21 or more fantasy points in all three games. 70% completion rate with a 5-1 touchdown to interception ratio will get it done. Where Bailey could exploit the Duke defense is with his legs this week. Elon’s QB1 ran for 61 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff went wild on the ground against the Blue Devils for 111 yards and four touchdowns.
Fade – WR Teddy Hoffman ($3,000) Cheating a bit putting a $3k player in the fade section, but maybe someone sees Hoffman’s 93-yard performance in Week 1 and considers playing him. It’s very evident that Hoffman’s Week 1 was an outlier due to Noah Rogers getting injured. With Rogers in the lineup, Hoffman is a non-factor.
Bargain Bin – TE Justin Joly ($4,000) Joly remains the team’s best pass-catching option, leading NC State in every receiving category aside from yards (90) where the TE1 is averaging just 6.9 YPC with an aDOT of only 5.3. Can’t beat this price, though.
Pivot Play – WRs. GPP plays only with the NC State receivers and would max it to just one per lineup – although don’t mind pairing with Joly. Terrell Anderson, Noah Rogers, Wesley Grimes and Keenan Jackson all have nearly identical numbers as there’s not a true difference maker in the group.
Best of the Rest – RB Hollywood Smothers ($9,800) Conflicted on this one. On one hand, Smothers can hit value every week if he’s going to command over 50% of the team’s rushing volume and 70% of NC State’s rushing production. On the other hand, Duke’s run defense has been good, particularly when it comes to limiting RB production, ranking 22nd in rush D success rate. It was QB Jake Retzlaff that did the damage last week against the Duke front seven. Personally, I’d rather spend up for Jeremiyah Love, or go cheaper at the position this week, but it’s hard to argue about the production.
Injury Notes – n/a
Duke:
Top Play(s) – QB Darian Mensah ($7,400) Was hoping Mensah would be in the $6k range, or better yet, the $4.9k range that he was a week ago. Do we think Mensah is the best quarterback in the ACC? Far from it, but he can hit value based on volume alone as the Blue Devils rank No. 1 in the country (66.2%) in pass play percentage. NC State ranked 69th in pass D success rate and are 16th of 17 teams in the ACC in pass yards allowed per game.
Fade – RB Jaquez Moore ($5,700) Duke doesn’t run the football, and when they do, it’s typically been split between multiple running backs. I’m not sure Moore will have the RB1 job for the entirety of the season, especially with the emergence of freshman RB Nate Sheppard ($3,000) who is averaging 8.5 yards per carry for the year. Me thinks the backfield gets turned over to the freshman sooner rather than later.
Bargain Bin – RB Nate Sheppard ($3,000) See above.
Best of the Rest – WR Roulette. We have four Duke WRs all projected in the range of 9-14 fantasy points, so pick your poison. Cooper Barkate leads the group in targets (25), receptions (14) and routes run, but has not found pay dirt yet. Only a matter of time he does with a 19.4 YPC average and highest aDOT on the team. Que’Sean Brown had a bounce back outing against Tulane after a disastrous Illinois performance, with 81 yards on 10 targets. Andrel Anthony and Sahmir Hagans have combined for six of the eight receiving touchdowns. Any of the four are options with the equal distribution of targets and the frequency at which Duke throws the ball.
Injury Notes – n/a
Mike’s DK Core Four:
- QB Taylen Green, Arkansas
- WR Harrison Wallace, Mississippi
- RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- SMU / TCU players
Mike’s FD Core Four:
- WR Eric McAlister, TCU
- RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- RB Adam Randall, Clemson
- QB Taylen Green, Arkansas
