Week 9 DraftKings CFB Main Slate Plays (Tue.)

Sometimes Tuesday night DFS slates are fun. And even with some lower-tier matchups, there are three strong QBs in play. This is a fun DFS slate.

So today, we’ll look for some strong combination options to build a lineup with the strong QBs.

Let’s dig in…

Against the Spread Picks

Liberty (-5) vs Western Kentucky

Total Wagers

New Mexico State vs Louisiana Tech (Over 52)

Quarterbacks

Diego Pavia, New Mexico State vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $9.3K | FD: $10.7K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 24.75)

Diego Pavia is the most expensive QB on the slate, but with his recent run of success, he’s definitely worth it. Pavia has two straight games with more than 35 fantasy points and has scored more than 20 fantasy points in five straight games. He’s thrown for 1,801 passing yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 525 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Pavia takes on a Louisiana Tech defense that allows an average of 20.6 fantasy points to opposing QBs. They allow 182.1 passing yards and 1.5 passing touchdowns per game. Pavia is becoming an immediate foundation piece every week and he’s a strong play once again this week.

Kaidon Salter, Liberty vs Western Kentucky (DK: $8.7K | FD: $11.0K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 33.25)

Kaidon Salter is averaging 29.1 fantasy points per game and is coming off of a 31.6-point performance against Middle Tennessee. He’s scored more than 30 fantasy points in four games this year.

Salter takes on a Western Kentucky defense that allows 23.1 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. They allow 259.9 passing yards and 1.3 passing touchdowns to opposing offenses. With a positive matchup and weekly potential, Salter is one of the top options this week.

Austin Reed, Western Kentucky vs Liberty (DK: $8.5K | FD: $10.0K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 28.25)

Austin Reed is averaging 24.1 fantasy points per game and has scored more than 20 fantasy points four times this season, including two times in the last three games. Reed has 1,915 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns. While Reed doesn’t provide a huge rushing output, he has three rushing touchdowns on the year.

Reed faces a Liberty defense that allows 19.3 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. They allow 214.3 passing yards and 1.7 passing touchdowns to opposing offenses. Western Kentucky isn’t the auto-play that they have been in years past, this matchup’s potential for a shootout makes Reed a strong option.

Running Backs

Quinton Cooley, Liberty vs Western Kentucky (DK: $6.3K | FD: $9.8K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 33.25)

Quinton Cooley has back-to-back weeks with over 30 fantasy points, and he’s scored an average of 24.9 fantasy points over the last four weeks. Cooley is coming off of a three-touchdown performance against Middle Tennessee State. For the season, he has 726 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Cooley takes on a Western Kentucky defense that has allowed 4.8 yards per attempt and 203.7 rushing yards per game to opposing offenses. They allow 30.9 fantasy points to RBs, including 22.6 fantasy points to RB1s. While Cooley doesn’t produce in the receiving game, his usage in the running game and proven success make him a top play in all lineups.

Star Thomas, New Mexico State vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $5.7K | FD: $6.0K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 24.75)

Star Thomas averages 10.9 fantasy points per game and has scored more than 10 fantasy points in three games this season. He averages 9.5 rush attempts per game and has 321 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Thomas goes against a Louisiana Tech defense that allows 25.9 fantasy points to opposing RBs, including 18.1 fantasy points to opposing RB1s. They allow 198.9 rushing yards and 1.9 rushing touchdowns per game. Thomas has struggled the last two weeks, but has still received similar volume each week. In a positive matchup, Thomas remains a strong play on a shallow slate.

Charvis Thornton, Louisiana Tech vs New Mexico State (DK: $4.5K | FD: $6.5K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 27.25)

With a largely injured depth chart, Charvis Thornton is positioned to see an uptick in volume in a decent matchup. Tyre Shelton was injured against Middle Tennessee State and is listed as questionable for this game. Keith Willis is also expected to be out for the game as well. With an average of 32 rush attempts per game to disperse, Thornton could be in line for heavy volume.

Thornton faces a New Mexico State defense that has allowed 19.4 fantasy points to opposing RBs, including 13.0 fantasy points to RB1s. They allow 128 rushing yards and 1.5 rushing touchdowns per game to their opponents. At just 4.5K, Thornton is a valuable option in GPP lineups.

Alternatives

Monte Watkins, New Mexico State vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $4.9K | FD: $7.0K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 24.75)

$4.5K-or-less options

Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Western Kentucky vs Liberty (DK: $4.0K | FD: $5.4K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 28.25)

Receivers

Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky vs Liberty (DK: $7.5K | FD: $9.5K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 28.25)

Malachi Corley has 590 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season. He’s averaged 23.0 fantasy points per game and has scored at least 10.0 fantasy points in all but one game. He’s scored more than 20 fantasy points three times. Corley has averaged 11.8 targets and 7.2 receptions per game in six games this season.

Corley takes on a Liberty defense that allows 39.5 fantasy points to opposing WRs, including 16.4 fantasy points to WR1s. They allow 214.3 passing yards to 1.3 passing touchdowns to opposing offenses. Corley’s volume is unquestionable, and with a high total game, he’s a great play in both cash and GPP lineups.

Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech vs New Mexico State (DK: $7.0K | FD: $9.2K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 27.25)

Smoke Harris has two straight games with more than 25 fantasy points. He’s averaging 19.1 fantasy points for the year and has more than 15 fantasy points in all but two games, this year. He has 59 receptions, 614 receiving yards, and three touchdowns this season.

Harris faces a New Mexico State defense that allows 39.7 fantasy points to opposing WRs, including 17.8 points to WR1s. They allow 243.6 passing yards and 1.0 passing touchdowns to opposing offenses. With his consistent production and proven upside, Harris is my top WR on the slate for both cash and GPP lineups.

CJ Daniels, Liberty vs Western Kentucky (DK: $5.9K | FD: $8.3K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 33.25)

CJ Daniels has 509 receiving yards and four touchdowns, this season. He averages 15.4 fantasy points per game and is coming off of a 19.1-point performance against Middle Tennessee. He has more than 15 fantasy points in four games. Daniels averages 5.8 targets per game and has at least 6 targets in each of the last three games.

Daniels takes on a Western Kentucky defense that allows 259.9 passing yards and 1.3 passing touchdowns per game. They allow an average of 42.1 fantasy points to opposing WRs, including 18.1 points to WR1s. Daniels is a good option in both cash and GPP lineups.

Treon Sibley, Liberty vs Western Kentucky (DK: $4.8K | FD: $7.2K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 33.25)

Treon Sibley is averaging 12.6 fantasy points per game and has scored more than 15 fantasy points in three of the last four weeks. Sibley is averaging 24.1 yards per reception and has three touchdowns. For the season, he’s second in receptions and receiving yards.

Sibley takes on a Western Kentucky defense that allows 12.1 fantasy points to opposing WR2s. While CJ Daniels is the clear top target on the offense, Sibley is a value play at just 4.8K.

Alternatives

Cyrus Allen, Louisiana Tech vs New Mexico State (DK: $6.1K | FD: $7.4K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 27.25)

Jonathan Brady, New Mexico State vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $5.7K | FD: $6.6K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 24.75)

$4.5K-or-less options

Thomaz Whitford, New Mexico State vs Louisiana Tech (DK: $3.6K | FD: $5.6K | O/U: 52 | Implied: 24.75)

Bentley Hanshaw, Liberty vs Western Kentucky (DK: $3.7K | FD: $6.0K | O/U: 61.5 | Implied: 33.25)