Week 0 DraftKings CFF Main Slate Plays

College football is back! The Week 0 slate feels like Christmas Day every year!

Before I dive into the writeup, I wanted to share about some changes in my Saturday DFS articles this year. In the past, I have primarily written about plays that were specifically for Cash/Single-entry lineups. This year, I will be adding a section for each player where I explain my thoughts on which type of contest I’d insert them: Cash, GPP, or both.

As a reminder, we are going to have plenty of content in-season for you every week in our NFL Premium + CFB Package, including:

· DFS (Articles & Livestream)

· Player Props Articles

· Matchup Reports

· Projections

· Rankings

· and MORE!

Let’s dig in…

Against the Spread Picks

Notre Dame (-21.0) vs Navy

Vanderbilt (-17.5) vs Hawaii

Florida International (+11) vs Louisiana Tech

Total Wagers

Notre Dame vs Navy (Under 50.5)

UTEP vs Jacksonville State (Over 54.0)

Vanderbilt vs Hawaii (Under 55.5)

Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams, USC vs SJSU (DK: $9.9K | FD: $12.8K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 48.5)

Caleb Williams is the reigning Heisman winner so he needs no introduction. He will be the highest-owned QB on the slate, and it won’t be close. He is the cornerstone piece to any roster we build this week. He averaged 33.6 FPG last year, and we have him projected at 34.5 FPG versus San Jose State. With a 30.5-point spread, the only risk with Williams is that he will not hit his projection before getting pulled in a potential blowout spot. However, I’m inserting Williams with confidence this week in most of my lineups.

Hank Bachmeier, Louisiana Tech vs FIU (DK: $5.8K | FD: $9.5K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 34.75)

Hank Bachmeier transfers over from Boise State after an injury-riddled career there. Bachmeier is a talented passer who tends to hold onto the ball too long and take unnecessary hits, leading to several significant injuries. He is a fantastic fit for HC Sonny Cumbie’s Air-Raid offense where he will simply be asked to be a distributor. While Bachmeier has gone late in CFF drafts this year, he will be a hot commodity on this slate at a cheap price point with an advantageous matchup. The FIU DEF ranked 124th in QB FPG (25.2) last year and I do not expect much improvement this year. Bachmeier does not offer much on the ground so you must stack him with at least one, possibly two, pass catchers in this matchup.

Bachmeier is in heavy consideration in Cash and GPP contests with a high floor and decent ceiling as well. We have him projected at 25.2 FPG at only $5.8K, which makes him super valuable in any format.

Kurtis Rourke, Ohio vs San Diego State (DK: $5.5K | FD: $9.0K | O/U: 49.0 | Implied: 23.25)

Kurtis Rourke is coming off a torn ACL in November of last year, but according to all reports, is healthy and a full go to start the season. At $5.5K with a 23.2 FPG projection, he is a guy we really like. What makes him super intriguing is the fact that he will probably have a much lower ownership percentage due to his injury and matchup than Williams or Bachmeier. The San Diego State DEF ranked 90th in QB FPG (26.6) last year. After losing several starters in the front seven, the Aztecs could have difficulty getting pressure on Rourke this week. If Rourke has time in the pocket, I expect him to have success through the air despite playing an experienced secondary.

One of the big choices this week is between the Ohio passing stack and the Louisiana Tech one. I’m leaning toward Rourke and Sam Wiglusz. Regardless of the contest type, Rourke will be my second highest-owned QB behind Williams.

Alternatives:

Diego Pavia, New Mexico State vs Massachusetts (DK: $7.4K | FD: $7.7K | O/U: 45.0 | Implied: 25.75)

Chevan Cordeiro, SJSU vs USC (DK: $6.3K | FD: $8.0K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 18.0)

Grayson James, FIU vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $6.2K | FD: $7.8K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 23.75)

Running Backs

Charvis Thornton, Louisiana Tech vs FIU (DK: $5.4K | FD: $6.4K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 34.75)

Charvis Thornton was the second leading rusher for Louisiana Tech last year with 464 yards and 3 TDs. He averaged almost 6 yards per carry, which was promising to see. However, the main reason we are recommending Thornton is due to the opportunity. The Bulldogs have been decimated with injuries to Marquis Crosby and Tyre Shelton. Thornton is the last man standing in this backfield. The FIU DEF ranked 115th in RB FPG (31.1), and allowed Louisiana Tech to rush for 184 yards on 41 attempts last year. Thornton should be in our lineups in all formats as he will be very highly owned.

Patrick Smith, Vanderbilt vs Hawaii (DK: $5.1K | FD: $8.4K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 36.5)

Patrick Smith won a highly contested position battle in camp to be named RB1 for Vanderbilt. The Hawaii DEF ranked 126th in RB FPG (36.6) last year, and nothing has changed to make me think they will be any better this year. This will be an RBBC to start the year, and Smith will have the first crack to solidify his spot. If you want a cheaper option in this backfield, then you can pivot to Sedrick Alexander, a very talented true freshman who should also get plenty of carries and is only $3.7K on DK. Smith is a really good option in all formats, but Alexander could be special in GPP contests as he will not be owned much at all.

Tylan Hines, Hawaii vs Vanderbilt (DK: $4.7K | FD: $5.9K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 19.0)

Tylan Hines will be the highest-owned running back on this slate. He is an explosive, talented running back and a very good pass catcher out of the backfield. In fact, he is so good as a receiver that he cross-trained as a slot receiver in spring ball. The Vanderbilt DEF ranked 98th in RB FPG (29.2) last year so Hines should be viable whether this game is close or not. Based on his ownership percentage and price point alone, Hines must be in our lineup in all formats.

Alternatives:

Sieh Bangura, Ohio vs San Diego State (DK: $7.2K | FD: $8.7K | O/U: 49.0 | Implied: 23.25)

Marshawn Lloyd, USC vs SJSU (DK: $9.9K | FD: $12.8K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 48.5)

Shomari Lawrence, FIU vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $6.2K | FD: $6.8K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 23.75)

Kenan Christon, San Diego State vs Ohio (DK: $5.6K | FD: $6.3K | O/U: 49.0 | Implied: 25.75)

$4.5K-or-less options:

Sedrick Alexander, Vanderbilt vs Hawaii (DK: $3.7K | FD: $6.5K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 36.5)

Receivers

Dorian Singer, USC vs SJSU (DK: $7.7K | FD: $9.8K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 48.5)

Dorian Singer is one of the top returning wide receivers in the PAC-12 (RIP) and has landed in a prime spot after transferring from Arizona to USC. HC Lincoln Riley loves to distribute the ball in the passing game quite a bit among his top four pass catchers, leaving some uncertainty around Singer’s volume in this offense. However, Singer is the only pass catcher who has zero question marks regarding their role this year. He is the unquestioned WR1, and the one USC WR I’m confident in this week.

Singer is viable in any format and will be a popular stacking option with Williams.

Sam Wiglusz, Ohio vs San Diego State (DK: $7.1K | FD: $7.8K | O/U: 49.0 | Implied: 23.25)

Sam Wiglusz is Rourke’s favorite target, and it’s not close. In 2022, Wiglusz had 98 targets, 73 receptions, and 877 receiving yards with 11 TDs for 16.7 FPG. He also had a 23 percent target share. While those numbers are good, it’s even more impressive that most of his production came before Rourke tore his ACL in early November. We are projecting Wiglusz to produce 14.3 FP, but I think that’s probably closer to his floor than ceiling. The San Diego State DEF ranked 95th in WR FPG (39.9) last year so they are more vulnerable in this game than most think.

I’m certainly stacking Wiglusz and Rourke in GPP contests. While there is some risk in Cash, Wiglusz has earned the benefit of the doubt in my book.

Cyrus Allen, Louisiana Tech vs FIU (DK: $5.7K | FD: $7.4K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 34.75)

Cyrus Allen will be the lesser owned of the two top Louisiana Tech wide receiver options, but I’m here to tell you that should not be the case, and here’s why. Allen is an outside wide receiver. An outside wide receiver has been the top fantasy producer in Cumbie’s offense 8 of the last 9 years. If you can only get one of Cyrus Allen or Smoke Harris, Allen is the choice. The FIU DEF is ranked 119th in WR FPG (45.1) so this is a prime matchup. Allen is a top receiving option in all formats with a projection of 16.5 FP.

Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt vs Hawaii (DK: $5.0K | FD: $8.5K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 36.5)

Will Sheppard was the unquestioned WR1 in the Vanderbilt offense in 2022, with a whopping 36 percent target share. Sheppard was targeted 116 times for 60 receptions and 776 yards for 16.0 FPG. The Hawaii DEF ranked 71st in WR FPG (36.9), so there will be plenty of opportunity for Sheppard to hit value at only $5.0K. I have little doubt that he will be the most owned receiving option on this slate and should be rostered in all contest types.

Alternatives:

Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech vs FIU (DK: $6.6K | FD: $8.7K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 34.75)

Kris Mitchell, FIU vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $5.9K | FD: $5.9K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 23.75)

Quincy Skinner, Vanderbilt vs Hawaii (DK: $5.5K | FD: $6.7K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 36.5)

Zachariah Branch, USC vs SJSU (DK: $4.7K | FD: $4.0K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 48.5)

$4.5K-or-less options:

Nick Nash, SJSU vs USC (DK: $4.5K | FD: $5.6K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 18.0)

Raleek Brown, USC vs SJSU (DK: $4.3K | FD: $5.0K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 48.5)

Joseph Miamen, FIU vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $3.5K | FD: $4.9K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 23.75)

Koali Nishigaya, Hawaii vs Vanderbilt (DK: $3.0K | FD: $5.3K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 19.0)