LSU vs Vanderbilt
- Point-Spread: Vandy -2.5
- O/U Total: 49.5
- Implied Score: Vandy 26 – LSU 23.5
- Weather: 77 degrees / 8% rain / 14 mph winds
LSU:
Top Play(s) – WR Kyle Parker ($3,700) Sounds like Aaron Anderson will return from injury on Saturday, but there’s been no need to rush him back to the field either with the way Parker is playing in the slot. The sophomore receiver has caught at least four passes in each of the last three games, scoring twice against SE Louisiana and this past week against South Carolina. This has been a nagging injury for Anderson for a few weeks now, so it would not be surprising to see his reps limited somewhat on Saturday.
Fade – RB Caden Durham ($5,900) Durham always projects well, which gets him slotted in a lot of optimal lineups, but the LSU run game is atrocious, ranking 126th in success rate and 131st in line yards. There’s a better chance than not that Durham does not hit value, which he’s failed to do most of this season (not all his fault).
Bargain Bin – TE Trey’Dez Green ($4,600) Green had the breakout performance we’d been waiting on vs. South Carolina, finishing with 119 yards and a touchdown on a team-high 11 targets. Vanderbilt has not been particularly strong against tight ends this season, allowing 12.3 FPPG to the position.
Pivot Play – QB Garrett Nussmeier ($7,700) We saw some improvements last week from Nussmeier and the LSU passing game, though far from perfect, throwing for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns against South Carolina. Vanderbilt is in the bottom half of the SEC in yards allowed through the air and rank 93rd in explosive plays allowed through the air. We’ve seen in the last two weeks that this secondary has weaknesses, allowing a combined five passing touchdowns to Utah State and Alabama.
Best of the Rest – WR Barion Brown ($4,400) Brown continues to lead all LSU receivers in routes run, targets (36) and receptions (27), but Parker has been the better player of the two recently, and Aaron Anderson possibly returning to the lineup downgrades him further.
Injury Notes – WR Aaron Anderson (probable)
Vanderbilt:
Top Play(s) – QB Diego Pavia ($7,500) Normally this would be a go for Pavia at $7.5k, and to be fair, a 23-point projection as this salary is definitely worth considering. But Pavia has only scored 16 and 15 fantasy points in his two matchups with SEC opponents. And this is the No. 3 scoring defense in the conference with LSU that is giving up just 11.8 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks. Pavia still gets top billing for the Dores because projections will dictate how viable a player is first and foremost, but those are reasons to possibly fade.
Bargain Bin – WRs. They’re all cheap and it’s a tight rotation between Junior Sherrill, Tre Richardson and Richie Hoskins, who account for 54% of the team’s receiving production and eight of the 15 receiving touchdowns. Sherrill has been the best of the bunch recently with three TDs in Week 5 vs. Utah State, followed by six catches on 10 targets vs. Alabama the following week.
Pivot Play – TE Eli Stowers ($4,400) Stowers ranks first on the team in targets (36), catches (36) and third in routes run behind the two starting receivers. LSU has struggled somewhat to defend the position this season, allowing 10.9 FPPG to tight ends. He’ll have lower ownership after being a non-factor against Alabama the last time out.
Best of the Rest – RB Sedrick Alexander ($4,800) If you’ve played CFB DFS for several years, you know there are just certain players that you give you headaches? Put them in your lineup and they score five fantasy points. Fade them and they score 20? That’s Alexander for me, but he has been more consistent in 2025, scoring double-digit fantasy points in five of six games. Much of that is due to his usage in the passing game with four receiving touchdowns. LSU is strong defensively against the run, but what’s also enticing about Alexander at this price is that his only competition in the Vandy backfield is Diego Pavia. If you want a reason to fade Alexander, LSU is 9th nationally at limiting explosive running plays which Alexander needs with his limited volume.
Injury Notes – n/a
Arizona vs. Houston
- Point-Spread: Hou -2.5
- O/U Total: 46.5
- Implied Score: Hou 24.5 – Ariz 22
- Weather: 84 degrees / 13% rain / 8 mph winds
Arizona:
Top Play(s) – WR Kris Hutson ($3,900) Since returning from injury in Week 5, Hutson has now been targeted 30 times in the last three weeks, with a season-best 106 yards and a touchdown in the double overtime loss to BYU. At one point in the year, Arizona was playing 7-8 different wide receiver combinations each week. That rotation has tightened significantly in the last several weeks with Hutson leading the way.
Fade – RB Ismail Mahdi ($4,700) Mahdi will be known this season as the heavily-owned running back in Week 6 that obliterated everyone’s lineup by rushing for 30 yards against a horrid Oklahoma State defense. Two weeks later, it appears that he’s been overtaken by RB Kedrick Reescano ($3,200) who rushed for 90 yards and a score vs. BYU last week, leading the team in rushing attempts.
Bargain Bin – WR Chris Hunter ($3,900) At equal salaries, Hutson is the far better play over Hunter, but we’ve seen the junior receiver catch a touchdown in each of the last two games. Hunter is third in targets (31) and receptions (17) but does lead the team in routes run.
Pivot Play – RB Javin Whatley ($4,900) Whatley popped earlier in the year when Kris Hutson was out of the lineup, but his impacts have declined since the first couple weeks. Whatley has been targeted 14 times over the last two games, though, and will have next to nothing in terms of ownership with Hutson/Hunter being much cheaper.
Best of the Rest – QB Noah Fifita ($7,200) If Arizona succeeds offensively against this Houston defense, it’s more likely to be on the ground versus through the air, so Fifita is closer to a fade than a play. The Cougars are 9th in pass D success rate, 36th in limiting explosive pass plays and giving up just 12.2 FPPG to quarterbacks.
Injury Notes – n/a
Houston:
Top Play(s) – WR Amare Thomas ($4,600) The UAB transfer has posted two 100-yard receiving performances in the last three games with a combined 26 targets in that stretch. Two of the opponents were lowly Oklahoma State and Oregon State, which has to be taken into account, but Thomas also had 70 yards and a score against the best defense in the B12 in Texas Tech as well.
Fade – QB Conner Weigman ($7,300) If you rostered Weigman last week in DFS, you likely came away with some coin as the A&M transfer scored 28.9 fantasy points in the blowout win over Oklahoma State. That’s the third time in four games in which Weigman has surpassed at least 23 fantasy points. Arizona will present a far tougher matchup than any of those teams, ranked No. 3 in the country in pass D success rate and allowing only 15 FPPG to quarterbacks. Half of the opponents Arizona has faced this season have not surpassed 100 yards passing.
Bargain Bin – TE Tanner Koziol ($3,900) Koziol and Amare Thomas’ salaries have essentially flipped now with the recent uptick in production from the UAB transfer. Koziol still has been the most consistent performer for Houston this season, catching at least four passes in every game outside of the Texas Tech matchup (understandable). Arizona limited opposing tight ends to just 3.3 FPPG this season.
Pivot Play – WR Stephon Johnson ($4,200) Major risk if you play Johnson who has converted on just 13 of his 24 targets this season but rarely leaves the field playing over 80% of the team’s offensive snaps. Johnson’s 21.2 YPC average is best on the team for players with more than two receptions, with a 15.5 aDOT. This could come into play as Arizona is just 79th in explosive pass plays allowed, as opponents have 20 pass plays of 15+ yards or more against the Wildcats this season.
Best of the Rest – RB Dean Connors ($7,100) Lean towards no on playing Connors, but he could get a bigger share of the pie in the backfield on Saturday with Stacy Sneed already announced out for the game. Arizona is 4th in the Big 12 in yards allowed on the ground and only giving up 16.3 FPPG to opposing backfields this season. Advanced data paints a slightly different picture, with the Wildcats ranked 59th in success rate and 78th in explosive run plays allowed. Unfortunately, Houston usually isn’t equipped to take advantage of that.
Injury Notes – RB Stacy Sneed (out)
Baylor vs. TCU
- Point-Spread: TCU -3
- O/U Total: 66
- Implied Score: TCU 34.5 – Bay 31.5
- Weather: 80 degrees / 14% rain / 12 mph winds
Baylor:
Top Play(s) – QB Sawyer Robertson ($8,900) Baylor has a plethora of options at receiver and tight end to choose from, so our top spot lands on the triggerman who leads the country in passing, averaging 343 YPG. Conversely, TCU is 14th of 16 teams in yards allowed through the air, ranking 102nd in pass D success rate and 118th in explosive plays given up in the passing game. Hard to see a path to which Robertson doesn’t hit a minimum of 20 fantasy points, unless a healthy Bryson Washington vultures a bunch of touchdowns.
Bargain Bin – WR Kobe Prentice ($3,500) or WR Kole Wilson ($3,700) Things that are unpredictable in life – the weather, traffic jams and which Baylor WR is the one to own each week. Prentice still doesn’t get much playing time, only on the field about 35% of the time despite having a team-best six receiving touchdowns. Wilson’s production has declined since his Week 1 performance but has caught a touchdown in two of the last three games.
Pivot Play – TE Michael Trigg ($5,000) Didn’t think coming into the year that Michael Trigg would be Baylor’s best fantasy option as he is the No. 1 tight end currently in college fantasy football in points scored. Trigg’s production has been sporadic, but when he hits, he hits big, with three performances of 22 fantasy points or more. TCU had all sorts of trouble last week handling Kansas State’s Garrett Oakley, giving up 71 yards and two scores.
Best of the Rest – RB Bryson Washington ($8,300) Would lean towards not rostering Bryson Washington given his price tag with the mid-tier options at RB being very playable on the slate. Granted, Washington was returning from injury, but his attempts have been declining since Week 4. If TCU does something well defensively, it is limiting the run, ranked 18th in success rate. WR Josh Cameron ($5,600) is always an option but want to point out a forgotten WR Ashtyn Hawkins ($4,500) as well. He’ll see less ownership than Prentice or Wilson because of his price tag but has played 94% of the offensive snaps in the last two games.
Injury Notes – n/a
TCU:
Top Play(s) – QB Josh Hoover ($8,300) If forced to choose one QB from this game, Hoover is the choice at a cheaper price tag and better projection. Baylor is marginally better than TCU at defending the pass, but not by much, ranked 11th in the conference in yards allowed through the air. In their last two games, Kansas State and Oklahoma State combined for over 600 total passing yards vs. the Bears. The only game in which Hoover failed to meet expectations was the matchup with Arizona State in which Eric McAlister barely played.
Fade – WR Jordan Dwyer ($4,900) The opening week performance was clearly a mirage for the Idaho transfer, who has been a non-factor since about Week 2, failing to top 50 yards receiving for the last four games. If you’re looking for any reason to roster Dwyer, it would be that he’s consistently on the field, playing over 95% of the team’s offensive snaps.
Bargain Bin – WR Ed Small ($3,500) Joseph Manjack suffered an injury vs. Kansas State leading to an extended look for the freshman receiver who topped 100 receiving yards on 13 targets. Small unlikely gets a starting spot with Manjack expected to start on Saturday but have to figure we see the freshman wideout get a bigger role in the offense moving forward.
Pivot Play – RB Kevorian Barnes ($4,900) Spending down at running back in this mid-tier range for Barnes, Bo Jackson and Rueben Owens makes a ton of sense on this slate. Barnes hasn’t been overly productive the last two weeks but has led the Horned Frogs in carries in both games, facing a Baylor defense that is 101st in rush D success rate.
Best of the Rest – WR Eric McAlister ($6,300) Things were looking bleak for McAlister last week in the first half with just one single target and zero catches. He finished as one of the top WRs on the slate with 156 yards and two scores, most of which coming in garbage time, but we don’t care about when the fantasy points come, as long as they do. Seven touchdowns now for McAlister in the last three games played at full health.
Injury Notes – WR Ed Small (questionable)
Georgia Tech vs. Duke
- Point-Spread: GT -3.5
- O/U Total: 61.5
- Implied Score: GT 32.5 – Duke 29
- Weather: 67 degrees / 0% rain / 7 mph winds
Georgia Tech:
Top Play(s) – QB Haynes King ($8,300) Highest projected QB on the slate that has scored a combined 72 fantasy points over the last two weeks. King has gotten it done on the ground in all five games played this season with three 100-yard performances and has scored at least one TD on the ground each week. Look for this to be the week King finds more success throwing the ball against a lackluster Duke secondary, ranked 104th in PFF coverage grade and allowing 23 FPPG to quarterbacks.
Fade – RB Jamal Haynes ($5,700) Remember what we wrote above about Sedrick Alexander giving us DFS troubles over the years? Haynes fits the bill just the same as one of the most unpredictable and unreliable fantasy options there is in college football. Seeing RB Malachi Hosley ($3,900) rush for 100+ and two touchdowns last week against Virginia Tech further increases our trepidations in playing Haynes. The Duke run defense allows just 22 FPPG to opposing backfields this season, and GT splits carries three ways between Haynes, King and Hosley. And now because we’re fading Haynes, he’ll go off for 100+ and three touchdowns, just watch.
Bargain Bin – WR Isiah Canion ($3,400) Quiet day for Canion against Virginia Tech but wasn’t exactly a game where the receivers were needed much while up big on the Hokies. As mentioned above, this game is better suited for the passing game against this Duke secondary, as collectively, the Blue Devils allow around 44 fantasy points each week to opposing WRs. Canion had previously been on a roll with 44 or more receiving yards in four straight games, averaging over 15 YPC.
Pivot Play – WR Eric Rivers ($4,100) Could be a game to get Rivers going against this Duke secondary that ranks 117th in explosive plays given up in the passing game, with 36 plays of 15+ yards or more allowed in 2025. That bodes well for Rivers over WR Malik Rutherford ($3,700) as he leads the team with a 13.2-yard aDOT.
Injury Notes – n/a
Duke:
Top Play(s) – WR Que’Sean Brown ($3,900) The targets are still spread out enough for Duke that we’re not jamming any one receiver into every lineup, but Brown at this cost is too good a deal to pass up. The redshirt sophomore is coming off his best performance of the season with 104 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in the win over Cal, and the third time this year Brown has had at least six catches in a contest. Brown is second on the team in targets (37), receptions (27) and routes run
Fade – RB Jaquez Moore ($4,300) Moore did average 9.3 YPC against California, but much of which came in garbage time as the opening week starter has now fallen to third on the depth chart.
Bargain Bin – WR Sahmir Hagans ($3,700) Que’Sean Brown will rightly have a higher ownership than Hagans, but the former is still on the field plenty, ranks third in targets (27), receptions (20) and routes run, while also tied for the team lead in touchdowns. RB Anderson Castle ($4,000) is a longer shot play but has moved up to the RB2 line on the depth chart and has now found the end-zone six times in the last three games. Castle’s 13 red zone rushing attempts leads the team.
Pivot Play – RB Nate Sheppard ($6,600) Georgia Tech is dead last in the ACC in yards allowed per game on the ground. The freshman running back has burst onto the scene in the last month, scoring 20 or more fantasy points in three of the last four games, averaging eight yards per rush. My guess is he’ll go overlooked for more popular RB plays in the $4k-$5k range.
Best of the Rest – QB Darian Mensah ($6,900) Mensah has been everything Duke hoped for when they bought him out of the portal, ranking first in the ACC in yards per game (306.3) and second behind only Carson Beck in QB rating. Georgia Tech is better against the pass than the run but still giving up 23.1 FPPG to quarterbacks this season. WR Cooper Barkate ($6,000) leads the Blue Devils in every receiving category and will also likely go overlooked in DFS as players have more exposure to Brown and Hagans.
Injury Notes – n/a
Washington vs. Michigan
- Point-Spread: Mich -6.5
- O/U Total: 50.5
- Implied Score: Mich 28.5 – UW 22
- Weather: 67 degrees / 19% rain / 11 mph winds
Washington:
Top Play(s) – QB Demond Williams Jr. ($7,900) This is a reasonable price to pay for a dual-threat like Williams, who likely will have more on his plate with Jonah Coleman struggling a bit of late. The Wolverines are only allowing 14.9 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks this season, but the two best they’ve faced – John Mateer and Jayden Maiava – both had reasonable amount of success against the Wolverine secondary. If Washington wins this game, Williams will be the reason for it.
Bargain Bin – TE Decker DeGraaf ($3,400) Small uptick in production from DeGraaf the last few weeks with 125 of his 151 receiving yards this season coming in the last three games. Michigan has not been good defending tight ends this season, allowing close to 15 fantasy points per game to the position.
Pivot Play – WR Raiden Vines-Bright ($3,000) We’re fine with playing Denzel Boston or Dezmen Roebuck, but RVB might be the best option at min pricing and will likely go overlooked. That is not to say this doesn’t come without risk, but as we stated last week, Michigan struggles to defend the middle of the field and is likely sending extra resources to defend Denzel Boston. Slot receivers have eaten up this Wolverine defense – Jacory Barney had 120+ yards in his matchup, while Makai Lemon caught nine passes last week against Michigan.
Best of the Rest – RB Jonah Coleman ($7,900) The last four weeks we’re seeing the Jonah Coleman we saw in 2024, about 15 carries and 60 yards per game. The senior back got off to the hot start this season, but is trending downwards the last two games, averaging just 3.1 YPC. Michigan’s defense was horrendous vs. USC last week but have generally been good against the run this season, ranked 6th in the B1G in yards allowed per game and 7th in stuff rate.
Injury Notes – n/a
Michigan:
Top Play(s) – RB Jordan Marshall ($4,200) This all depends on the availability of Justice Haynes who did not play in the second half due to a mid-section injury. Writing this as of Tuesday, Haynes is questionable with Sherrone Moore saying on his weekly radio hit that “there’s a chance he’ll play, feel good, but we’ll see how he progresses through the week.” Marshall shoots up to the top of the list of the entire slate if Haynes were to sit but remains an option regardless at this salary. I’d look at fading Haynes this week at his current cost with the injury concern that could flare up with one big hit. Washington is 29th in success rate on running downs and 11th nationally at limiting explosive run plays.
Fade – RB Justice Haynes ($8,600) I’d look at fading Haynes this week at his current cost if he does suit up, with the injury concern that could flare up with one big hit. Washington is 29th in success rate on running downs and 11th nationally at limiting explosive run plays.
Bargain Bin – WR Andrew Marsh ($3,900) Marsh parlayed his breakout performance against Wisconsin in Week 6 to an even bigger outing against USC on Saturday, catching eight passes on nine targets for 138 yards and a touchdown. Marsh is priced up a bit, but still reasonable for a team that could be without its starting tailback. Marsh did not leave the field against the Trojans, playing 95% of the team’s snaps.
Pivot Play – WR Donaven McCulley ($5,100) McCulley wasn’t as productive against USC as he was the week prior, but still managed to find the end zone, and was targeted seven times for the second straight game. Michigan’s slot receiver and tight ends are non-factors right now in the passing game, so McCulley and Marsh are the only playable Wolverine pass-catchers.
Best of the Rest – QB Bryce Underwood ($6,700) Underwood has failed to score more than 16 fantasy points in the last three games, as Michigan has crawled back into the fetal position with their conservative game plans. Washington’s pass defense is the weakness of the team, ranking 99th in pass play success rate and allowing 20 FPPG to quarterbacks. And if you want another glimmer of hope Underwood can rebound this week – the last time Michigan fan / donor Dave Portnoy took to social media to question the usage of Underwood in the run game, he ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns against Central Michigan. You’d think that’s a non-factor but who knows this day and age with NIL and donor influence.
Injury Notes – RB Justice Haynes (questionable)
Oklahoma vs. South Carolina
- Point-Spread: OU -5.5
- O/U Total: 43.5
- Implied Score: OU 24.5 – SC 19
- Weather: 70 degrees / 0% rain / 4 mph winds
Oklahoma:
Top Play(s) – WR Isaiah Sategna ($3,600) One could argue Sategna is the top play on the slate from a price per projection standpoint. Didn’t hit value last week in the loss to Texas with just 61 yards receiving but was still targeted 10 times, which led the team by a wide margin. South Carolina’s weakness defensively is in the secondary.
Fade – RB Tory Blaylock ($5,300) Blaylock will be firmly out of the equation if Jovantae Barnes ends up playing, after he suffered an injury last week during pregame warmups vs. Texas. South Carolina is strongest against the run this season, ranked 19th in stuff rate, 56th in rush D success rate and 12th in limiting explosive run plays.
Bargain Bin – TE Jaren Kanak ($4,600) Kanak needed to be more involved against Texas last week, finishing with just three catches on seven targets. This week could be an opportunity for a bounce back against a Gamecock defense that just allowed 119 yards on eight catches against LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green.
Pivot Play – QB John Mateer ($8,100) Maybe Oklahoma should have play Michael Hawkins Jr. last week vs. the Longhorns? Four turnovers by Mateer doomed the Sooners but doesn’t sound like the thumb was the reason for his play, as much as it was just poor decision making. South Carolina only allows 12 FPPG to quarterbacks this season and this is one of the lower game totals on the slate, so Mateer is far from a great play. But those numbers are deceiving as the best fantasy QB the Gamecocks have faced all season is probably Beau Pribula. South Carolina ranks 90th in pass D success rate.
Best of the Rest – WR Deion Burks ($4,800) Sategna is the better play, but Burks still rarely comes off the field, tied for the team lead in targets (43), first in receptions (31) and first in routes run. He’s just not a better value than Sategna at cost. WR Javonnie Gibson ($3,100) likely gets the start opposite Burks on the outside with Keontez Lewis doubtful. He was projected by some to be the Sooners’ No. 1 receiver coming into the year.
Injury Notes – RB Jovantae Barnes (questionable), WR Keontez Lewis (doubtful)
South Carolina:
Fade – QB LaNorris Sellers ($6,400) Arguably the biggest bust in college fantasy this season. For context, Sellers is QB101 in CFF, being outperformed by Eastern Michigan’s Noah Kim. Wouldn’t have thought that would be a possibility coming into the year. Oklahoma is the best defense in the country when it comes to limiting quarterback fantasy production, allowing just 6.9 FPPG.
Bargain Bin – RB Matt Fuller ($3,000) Seems like South Carolina will be going with a hot-hand approach in the backfield between Fuller and RB Rahsul Faison ($4,100) after combining for 151 yards and a touchdown last week vs. LSU. Oklahoma is No. 1 in the country in rush D success rate, so we’re unlikely to have much exposure here, if any. Fuller is the preferred option at min pricing, having scored a TD in each of the last two games.
Best of the Rest – WR Vandrevius Jacobs ($3,900) Jacobs was a non-factor against LSU but still led the team in targets (5). Don’t forget he posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving performances in the weeks prior to last.
Injury Notes – n/a
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
- Point-Spread: A&M -7.5
- O/U Total: 61.5
- Implied Score: A&M 34.5 – Ark 27
- Weather: 76 degrees / 52% rain / 13 mph winds
Texas A&M:
Top Play(s) – RB Rueben Owens ($4,400) Would venture a guess that Owens has the highest ownership of any player on the slate. With Le’Veon Moss potentially out for the season now due to injury, Owens steps into the premier RB1 role and has looked good the last two weeks with over 190 rushing yards vs. Mississippi State and Florida. Usually the highly owned option (hello Ismail Mahdi) doesn’t work out in DFS, but this matchup makes too much sense as Arkansas is one of the worst run defenses in the SEC. The Razorbacks are 124th in rush D success rate and giving up around 38 FPPG to opposing backfields.
Bargain Bin – RB Amari Daniels ($3,600) or RB EJ Smith ($3,000) Or RB Jamarion Morrow ($3,000) How many times over the last two years did we roster Le’Veon Moss, but it was Amari Daniels that would cash in for a few touchdowns. I know I have tilted before over this A&M backfield. With Moss out of the equation, the Aggies will rely on Owens, but don’t be surprised to see Daniels get an increased workload as a result too. The Arkansas run defense is bad enough to where multiple RBs could eat. Smith is potentially an option too as he out-carried Daniels last week vs. Florida, while Morrow brings the highest upside of the bunch, and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass against the Gators. The depth chart behind Owens seems to be fluid.
Pivot Play – QB Marcel Reed ($8,500) Arkansas doesn’t do much of anything well defensively, and Reed will likely help pick up some of the offensive slack, both rushing and passing the ball, with Moss out of the lineup. Reed provides a high fantasy floor (and ceiling) with his rushing output, scoring a TD on the ground in each of the last two games. Arkansas is allowing 27 FPPG to opposing QBs this season.
Best of the Rest – WR Mario Craver ($6,800) or WR KC Concepcion ($6,100) Probably sound like a broken record at this point, but Craver / Concepcion are options each and every week, playable separately or as a stack if so desired. The duo combines for 68% of the Aggies’ receiving production with nine of the team’s 13 receiving touchdowns.
Injury Notes – RB Le’Veon Moss (out)
Arkansas:
Top Play(s) – QB Taylen Green ($9,100) Green has been better in 2025, averaging 33.1 FPPG with the biggest difference coming in his performances vs. SEC opponents. After averaging just 18 FPPG last year in-conference, Green has now scored 39.7 and 28.5 fantasy points against two SEC opponents this season. A&M is better than both Ole Miss and Tennessee defensively, allowing just 12 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks. If Green were in the $8k range and not the highest-priced QB on the slate, he’d make a bit more sense.
Bargain Bin – WR Raylen Sharpe ($3,100) You wonder a bit if Sam Pittman and Bobby Petrino had different opinions on Raylen Sharpe, with the senior slot receiver having his best performance of the season with Petrino at the helm, converting on all seven of his targets for 76 yards vs. Tennessee. Sharpe and Petrino are plenty familiar with each other, having spent two years at Missouri State in 2022-23. WR CJ Brown ($3,100) is second on the team in routes run and played over 94% of the offensive snaps last week vs. Tennessee.
Pivot Play – RB Mike Washington ($6,800) The Aggies have been susceptible to a big play or two in the run game this season, ranked 102nd in stuff rate and 119th in explosive run plays allowed. That’s Washington’s specialty, ranked sixth in the SEC in yards per carry (6.55) with seven runs of 20+ yards or more this season.
Best of the Rest – WR O’Mega Blake ($7,000) Blake is part of the Arkansas Big 3, leading the team in every receiving category and more than double the number of targets as the next closest Razorback receiver. It’s just a price point that makes it tough to consider. No receiver has scored more than 20 fantasy points or surpassed 100 receiving yards against the Aggies this season.
Injury Notes – WR Monte Harrison (out), WR Ismael Cisse (out), WR Jalen Brown (out), RB AJ Green (out)
Mississippi vs. Georgia
- Point-Spread: UGA -7
- O/U Total: 54
- Implied Score: UGA 30.5 – Miss 23.5
- Weather: 77 degrees / 1% rain / 6 mph winds
Ole Miss:
Top Play(s) – WR Cayden Lee ($3,400) Lee is the Ole Miss WR trending upwards the most, finding paydirt in each of the last two games. First two games with Austin Simmons starting, Cayden Lee had a combined 21 receiving yards. With Trinidad Chambliss in the lineup…258 yards.
Fade – WR Harrison Wallace ($4,300) Turn around the logic we used above with Cayden Lee and flip it on its head because that’s where Wallace is at with Chambliss at quarterback. Wallace had 247 yards in the first two games with Simmons as the starter, and just 114 yards in the last four games, including a big fat zero last week against Washington State.
Bargain Bin – WR De’Zhaun Stribling ($4,000) Signs of life last week from the Oklahoma State transfer with six receptions on eight targets, both of which were season-highs. WR Deuce Alexander ($3,100) also remains an integral part of the Ole Miss offense, on the field more than Harrison Wallace in each of the last three weeks. Georgia is allowing a combined 41 fantasy points per week to opposing WR groups.
Pivot Play – QB Trinidad Chambliss ($6,800) Chambliss has hit value every week this season, scoring 24 or more fantasy points in all four starts. This will be his toughest task to date for his first career road start against a top 20 scoring defense. A 21.8 projection at this salary is playable, but what happens if Chambliss struggles is the biggest hesitation to starting him. Why is that so important? Austin Simmons is cleared to play finally from his ankle injury. Would Lane Kiffin make the move back to his opening week starter at any point?
Best of the Rest – RB Kewan Lacy ($6,300) Lacy is a volume play as a true workhorse back for the Rebels, particularly in competitive matchups recently against LSU and Washington State, garnering 23 and 24 carries, respectively. UGA’s strength, though, is defending the run, ranked 18th in stuff rate, 13th in rush D success rate and 10th at limiting explosive runs. The Dawgs allow just 12.2 FPPG to opposing backfields.
Injury Notes – n/a
Georgia:
Top Play(s) – WR Colbie Young ($3,900) or WR Zachariah Branch ($4,000) The Dawgs usually aren’t a hotbed for fantasy production in most years, but this season more than others without a single player ranked inside the top 50 at their respective position in CFF. Hence, our top plays are two cheap receivers from a team that NEVER has fantasy-relevant receivers. While neither Young nor Branch are great options, there is a bit of separation from the pack with the duo combining for 49 or the 86 receptions that have gone to UGA receivers and almost half of the team’s receiving touchdowns.
Fade – RB Chauncey Bowens ($6,000) Bowens is expected to play but exited last week’s game due to injury. There’s just not much argument here to playing Bowens with so many better options on the slate at cheaper price points (Owens, Barnes, Jackson, etc). If you want to make the argument in favor of Bowens or any UGA running back, it is the fact that Ole Miss is 115th in rush D success rate and 110th in explosive runs allowed.
Bargain Bin – WR Dillon Bell ($3,200) or WR London Humphreys ($3,200) Humphreys is tied for the team lead in touchdowns (2), while Bell had two rushing touchdowns two weeks ago vs. Kentucky. That’s all I got. Both players are on the field about 45% of the time each week.
Pivot Play – QB Gunner Stockton ($7,400) Stockton does see increased usage in the run game vs. SEC opponents, with four of his rushing touchdowns coming in those four matchups. A 23-point projection at this salary is playable, but Ole Miss’ strength on defense is the secondary, allowing just 16 FPPG this season to quarterbacks.
Injury Notes – n/a
SMU vs. Clemson
- Point-Spread: Clem -8.5
- O/U Total: 55.5
- Implied Score: Clem 32 – SMU 23.5
- Weather: 77 degrees / 0% rain / 7 mph winds
SMU:
Top Play(s) – WR Jordan Hudson ($3,300) This isn’t the SMU situation of the last three years or so when every Mustang receiver was unplayable in fantasy football. SMU primarily uses just three wideouts each week – four if you want to count RJ Maryland as a receiver – with Hudson being an instrumental part of the offense since returning from injury. Six receptions in each of the last two games with a combined 20 targets in three weeks. Hudson was in a non-contact jersey during practice, so something to watch, but is expected to play per the On3 SMU beat writer.
Fade – RB TJ Harden ($5,600) We’ve been burnt too many times recently to even consider Harden in this spot with better options at cheaper salaries. After a hot start to the year, Harden seems to be wearing down already, averaging just 3.9 YPC over the last three weeks, including just 36 yards in the win over Stanford last week. Meanwhile, his counterpart RB Chris Johnson Jr. ($3,700) had an 87-yard touchdown run and is now averaging 8.1 yards per carry on the season. SMU has not been effective or consistent enough running the football this season that you need to consider anyone in the backfield.
Pivot Play – WR Romello Brinson ($5,000) Hudson’s return to the lineup has impacted Brinson’s production, but has remained a constant in the passing game, leading the team in routes run while playing over 85% of the team’s offensive snaps. Brinson has caught at least four passes in every game to date. With SMU’s run game struggling in recent weeks and a potential game script as an 8.5-point underdog, we should see increased volume throwing the ball from the Mustangs.
Best of the Rest – QB Kevin Jennings ($8,700) 20-point projection for this salary doesn’t make much sense. Clemson is allowing just 14.2 FPPG to quarterbacks this season, and the Tigers are going to slow the pace of this game considerably if Cade Klubnik is not available. Spending up for Sawyer Robertson or saving cost to have Haynes King or Josh Hoover at higher projections is a much better strategy.
Injury Notes – n/a
Clemson:
Top Play(s) – RB Adam Randall ($6,700) Looks like 20-25 touches could be in store for Randall on Saturday if Cade Klubnik is unable to play. Similarly to TJ Harden, it feels like Randall is on a downward turn in his first full season as a starting running back, averaging less than four yards a carry against bottom-feeder ACC programs North Carolina and Boston College. SMU is ranked 4th in the conference in yards allowed on the ground. Randall is FAR from a top play on the slate.
Best of the Rest – WRs. To be determined if Cade Klubnik is a go on Saturday or not. The latest report as of Thursday is that it will be a game-time decision, and that would be a “best case scenario.” That sounds more like Klubnik is closer to doubtful than probable, as he’s been limited all week with an ankle injury. The argument in favor of Bryant Wesco, Antonio Williams and TJ Moore, regardless of the QB situation, is that SMU is allowing a combined 55.3 FPPG to opposing WR groups this season which is the highest number on the slate.
Injury Notes – QB Cade Klubnik (questionable)
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
- Point-Spread: OSU -27.5
- O/U Total: 41.5
- Implied Score: OSU 34.5 – Wis 7
- Weather: 67 degrees / 41% rain / 10 mph winds
Ohio State:
Top Play(s) – Ohio State RB. This matchup likely plays out similarly to the past two weeks with the Buckeyes winning by multiple touchdowns, so having one Ohio State back in a lineup makes a ton of sense. Bo Jackson’s impact was minimal on the ground vs. Illinois but hit value with a receiving touchdown. CJ Donaldson continues to function as the team’s short yardage back, rushing for two touchdowns against the Illini. He had a team-high eight red zone carries last week compared to just three for Jackson.
Bargain Bin – TE Max Klare ($3,200) We’re seeing this frequently across college football with transfer starting to gain their footing with their respective teams. That applies to Klare who has nine receptions over the last two weeks, targeted six times against both Minnesota and Illinois.
Pivot Play – WR Jeremiah Smith ($9,000) Smith salvaged his day against Illinois with a fourth quarter receiving touchdown but had a season-low 42 yards in the win. Wisconsin is just 114th in success rate on passing plays but do a relatively good job of limiting explosiveness. I think you’ll see the lowest ownership of the season for Smith being $1.3k more than the next closest receiver.
Best of the Rest – WR Carnell Tate ($5,200) Tate makes a lot of sense here if not spending up to Smith, having scored a touchdown in four of six games this season. Last four weeks: Carnell Tate – 358 receiving yards. Jeremiah Smith – 343 yards. QB Julian Sayin ($8,400) has been extremely efficient in 2025 as a first-year starter, ranked No. 1 in the B1G in QB rating with a 15-3 touchdown to interception ratio. But we’re seeing his fantasy limitations because he’s a complete zero as a runner. Marcel Reed and Haynes King have better projections at comparable salaries.
Injury Notes – n/a
Wisconsin:
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse. Lowest projected team total on the slate. Does Ohio State take it easy on former Buckeye linemen Luke Fickell? Doubtful. No player projected to score more than nine fantasy points for the Badgers. WR Vinny Anthony III ($3,500) is good for a possible explosive play once or twice a game and is cheap, but that’s about it on the Wisconsin side.
Texas Tech vs. Arizona State
- Point-Spread: TT -11.5
- O/U Total: 48.5
- Implied Score: TT 30 – ASU 18.5
- Weather: 76 degrees / 0% rain / 3 mph winds
Texas Tech:
Top Play(s) – RB Cameron Dickey ($7,700) The Texas Tech run game is a machine, regardless of who is lined up behind the quarterback. Last week was Dickey, who rumbled for 263 yards and two scores in the blowout win over Kansas. 20+ carries in each of the last two games for Dickey who might be separating himself from RB J’Koby Williams ($5,200) though it came out after the game that Williams was limited all week in practice due to injury. The matchup is perfect for the Tech running backs. Volume should be there with a less-than-100 percent Behren Morton, and Arizona State is awful defending the run, ranked 109th in rush D success rate. I’d look at both RBs being potential options if we can get some clarity that Williams is 100% healthy.
Bargain Bin – WR Coy Eakin ($4,700) Eakin will not see much ownership after being targeted exactly zero times last week vs. Kansas. Why that was the case, especially after catching 10 passes the week prior, I’m not sure. But I can say that Eakin was still out of the field for his normal allotment of snaps on offense. He’ll have less than 5% ownership in large field GPPs.
Pivot Play – TE Terrance Carter Jr. ($5,300) Carter has found the end-zone in three of the last four games, facing an Arizona State defense that gives up around 11 FPPG to tight ends. Against Utah back in Week 4, Carter caught four of his seven passes that day from backup Will Hammond, including his 24-yard touchdown. That could be notable if Hammond starts over Morton on Saturday.
Best of the Rest – WR Reggie Virgil ($5,500) Using the same argument as Carter above for Virgil here when deciding which Tech WR to own (if any). With Will Hammond playing the majority of the second half against Utah in Week 4, five of Virgil’s seven receptions that day came with the backup QB in the game. Caleb Douglas had just two catches, and Eakin one.
Injury Notes – QB Behren Morton (questionable)
Arizona State:
Top Play(s) – WR Jordyn Tyson ($7,700) Tyson is back in play with Sam Leavitt under center and playable regardless of the opponent. Tyson’s 39% target share is the highest in the nation with 30 more receptions than the next closest pass-catcher and 41 (!) more catches than the next closest Arizona State receiver. Insane.
Fade – Every wide receiver not named Jordyn Tyson – see above.
Bargain Bin – TE Chamon Metayer ($4,000) Tech seemed to give away a lot of the underneath routes last week against Kansas to prevent the big play ability of the Jayhawk receivers. I’d imagine a lot of the coverage on Saturday will be dedicated to stopping Tyson. That could open opportunities for Metayer against a defense that is giving up 13.4 FPPG to tight ends this season, the one “weakness” of this group. Kansas’ Boden Groen was targeted 14 times last week, resulting in 13 receptions.
Pivot Play – RB Raleek Brown ($7,600) Generally we do not want to start a running back against the Tech defense, but Arizona State doesn’t have anyone else outside of Brown to run the football. Kyson Brown has already been declared out, and Kanye Udoh missed practice due to illness. Raleek is also second on the team in targets (25) and receptions (20) so could hit value based on volume alone, despite Tech being one of the stingiest run defenses in the country.
Best of the Rest – QB Sam Leavitt ($8,800) Same arguments for Leavitt as we’ve had for Taylen Green and Kevin Jennings. Doesn’t make much sense to have them in our lineups with cheaper QBs available at higher projections, especially one in Leavitt returning from injury. Texas Tech is allowing just 14.5 FPPG to quarterbacks this season.
Injury Notes – RB Kyson Brown (out), RB Kanye Udoh (questionable)
Mike’s DK Core Four:
- RB Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech
- RB Rueben Owens II, Texas A&M
- WR Isaiah Sategna, Oklahoma
- QB Josh Hoover, TCU
Mike’s FD Core Four:
- RB Tre Wisner, Texas
- RB Rueben Owens II, Texas A&M
- WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
- QB Will Hammond, Texas Tech (If Behren Morton does not play)
