CFB DraftKings Cash & Single Entry: December 4

It’s championship weekend, and the last big slate of the year!

This Saturday slate features some really intriguing matchups and a few potential shootouts. We have some tough choices to make at QB as it’s tough to fit both Dustin Crum and Sam Hartman. Is this the week we finally tout Cade McNamara at QB? Is Kent State RB Marquez Cooper the top RB option on the slate? Why is Camerun Peoples only $4K on DK this week? Who do we choose at WR between Deven Thompkins and Trayvon Rudolph? Is Jaquarri Roberson the lock of the slate at WR?

Let’s dig in…

Against the Spread Picks

Alabama (-2) vs Georgia

Pittsburgh (-3) vs Wake Forest

Kent State (-3.5) vs Northern Illinois

Total Wagers

Alabama vs Georgia (Under 49.5)

Pittsburgh vs Wake Forest (Under 71.0)

Kent State vs Northern Illinois (Under 74.0)

Quarterbacks

Sam Hartman, Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh (DK: $9.5K | FD: $11.5K | O/U: 71.0 | Implied: 34.0)

Sam Hartman is one of the top CFF QBs this year, averaging 308.8 PASS YPG and 28.6 RUSH YPG with 44 total TDs for 32.6 FPG. Hartman is a sneaky Konami Code QB with 10 rushing TDs on the year. The Pittsburgh DEF is ranked 99th in QB FPG (24.9) and 112th in PASS YPG (261.1). They gave up 487 passing yards to Brennan Armstrong and 426 yards to Tyler Van Dyke this year. Hartman is going to have a huge game and is the top QB on the slate.

Dustin Crum, Kent State vs Northern Illinois (DK: $8.3K | FD: $10.7K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 38.75)

Dustin Crum had a rough start to the year facing Iowa and Texas A&M in the first three weeks of the year. Since week 6 though, Crum is averaging 32.3 FPG. Over that span, he has rushed for 72-plus yards in four games along with 8 rushing TDs. When Crum played Northern Illinois in week 10, he threw for 322 yards while running for an additional 72 with 4 total TDs for 43.08 FPs. Crum is a great option at $8.3K at QB on this slate.

Cade McNamara, Michigan vs Iowa (DK: $5.7K | FD: $6.5K | O/U: 43.5 | Implied: 27.0)

Cade McNamara is our cheap option for this lineup. He has hit value three of the last five weeks. I like the matchup for McNamara versus an Iowa DEF ranked 43rd in QB FPG (19.70). In order to hit value on this slate, McNamara needs 17.1 FPs. The Iowa DEF has allowed at least 17.1 FPs in every game since week 4. This Iowa DEF is ranked 7th in RB FPG (12.6) and has only allowed more than 100 yards rushing twice all season. I expect Michigan to have to throw the ball in order to score points versus Iowa, making McNamara a solid cheap play on this slate.

Alternatives:

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh vs Wake Forest (DK: $9.7K | FD: $11.0K | O/U: 71.0 | Implied: 37.0)

Running Backs

Marquez Cooper, Kent State vs Northern Illinois (DK: $6.5K | FD: $8.8K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 38.75)

Marquez Cooper has been hot over the last four weeks, averaging 23.25 carries for 129.25 with 6 TDs for 25.35 FPG. It all started against this Northern Illinois DEF when he ran for a season-high 173 yards and 2 TDs for 32.3 FPs. The Northern Illinois DEF is ranked 115th in RB FPG (30.1), 120th in RUSH YPG (217.42) and 122nd in RUSH YPC (5.72). Cooper is the RB lock of the slate for me.

Alton McCaskill, Houston vs Cincinnati (DK: $6.3K | FD: $7.7K | O/U: 53.0 | Implied: 21.25)

Alton McCaskill was named the AAC Rookie of the Year this week for his stellar play at RB as a true freshman for Houston. He has been incredibly consistent this year, averaging 18.5 FPG and hitting double-digit FPs in all but two games. The Cincinnati DEF is ranked 47th in RB FPG (19.9) and 49th in RUSH YPG (141.75) while they are ranked 2nd in QB FPG (13.5) and 3rd in PASS YPG (161.5). If Houston is going to have success against this tough Cincinnati defense then it will be through McCaskill and the rushing attack. McCaskill has the talent to be successful and hit value in this contest.

Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State vs Louisiana (DK: $4.0K | FD: $6.9K | O/U: 53.0 | Implied: 28.0)

Camerun Peoples is a really odd player to have priced at $4.0K. He is averaging 16.3 FPG on DK. Before the last two games, he had produced double-digit FPs in every game this year. He had very similar production last year as well so he is a known commodity and not typically the type of player we see priced in this range. What changed over the last two weeks? Daetrich Harrington returned from injury and has taken snaps and carries from Nate Noel and Peoples. The last two games have also been blowouts limiting the need for Peoples to play. Louisiana and Appalachian State are evenly matched so I expect Peoples to get more carries and hit value at only $4.0K. He is certainly the safest option in that price range.

Antario Brown, Northern Illinois vs Kent State (DK: $4.2K | FD: $5.4K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 35.25)

Antario Brown is another intriguing option in the same price range as Peoples. Brown has 148 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 8 carries over the last two weeks for an average of 16.4 FPG. He has played in 5 snaps or less in each of the last two games so he is an extremely volatile option. There is no questioning the talent of Brown as a true freshman, but the limited opportunities makes him risky. However, the last time Northern Illinois faced Kent State they executed 96 plays, including 39 rushing attempts. The sheer volume of rushing plays could mean more opportunities for Brown. This Kent State DEF is ranked 128th in RB FPG (35.2) and 104th in RUSH YPG (183.75). Brown has the potential to crush value at $4.2K.

Alternatives:

Tyler Goodson, Iowa vs Michigan (DK: $6.0K | FD: $6.2K | O/U: 43.5 | Implied: 16.5)

Jay Ducker, Northern Illinois vs Kent State (DK: $5.6K | FD: $7.1K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 35.25)

Greg Bell, San Diego State vs Utah State (DK: $5.2K | FD: $7.4K | O/U: 50.0 | Implied: 28.0)

$4.5K-or-less options:

Blake Corum, Michigan vs Iowa (DK: $4.3K | FD: $7.5K | O/U: 43.5 | Implied: 27.0)

Receivers

Deven Thompkins, Utah State vs San Diego State (DK: $7.4K | FD: $9.2K | O/U: 50.0 | Implied: 22.0)

Deven Thompkins ended up as the CFF WR3 in all of college football this year with 87 catches, 1,543 yards and 9 TDs for 26.9 FPG. The San Diego State DEF is much better against the run than the pass. They are ranked 65th in WR FPG (23.3) and 79th in PASS YPG (235.7) versus 2nd in RUSH YPG (78.5). Utah State will be airing it out in this contest and Thompkins will be the top beneficiary. At $7.4K, he is one of the better WR values on the slate.

Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois vs Kent State (DK: $6.9K | FD: $8.7K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 35.25)

Trayvon Rudolph is a dynamic playmaker who has made his mark for Northern Illinois as a second-year freshman. For the year, Rudolph caught 46 balls for 827 yards and 8 TDs for 18.3 FPs. Versus Kent State earlier in the year, Rudolph had 14 receptions for 309 yards and 3 TDs, producing 65.9 FPs. With fellow WR Tyrice Richie doubtful, look for Rudolph to have another big game and crush value at $6.9K.

Jaquarri Roberson, Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh (DK: $6.5K | FD: $8.3K | O/U: 71.0 | Implied: 34.0)

Jaquarri Roberson is also a phenomenal value on this slate at $6.5K. For the year, he caught 62 balls for 1,024 yards and 8 TDs, producing 18.9 FPG. This Pittsburgh DEF is ranked 116th in WR FPG (29.5) and 112th in PASS YPG (261.1). This game has the 2nd highest implied total of the slate at 71 points so Roberson will have plenty of scoring opportunities. Like many other defenses on this slate, Pittsburgh is weak against the pass while being tough against the run. Look for Roberson and the Wake Forest receivers to take full advantage of their opportunity.

Alternative:

AT Perry, Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh (DK: $7.7K | FD: $9.5K | O/U: 71.0 | Implied: 34.0)

Dante Cephas, Kent State vs Northern Illinois (DK: $7.1K | FD: $8.8K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 38.75)

Derek Wright, Utah State vs San Diego State (DK: $6.0K | FD: $6.9K | O/U: 50.0 | Implied: 22.0)

$4.5K-or-less options:

Taylor Morin, Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh (DK: $4.0K | FD: $6.4K | O/U: 71.0 | Implied: 34.0)

Lucas Krull, Pittsburgh vs Wake Forest (DK: $3.9K | FD: $6.4K | O/U: 71.0 | Implied: 37.0)

Ja’Shaun Poke, Kent State vs Northern Illinois (DK: $3.8K | FD: $5.6K | O/U: 74.0 | Implied: 38.75)