Welcome back, college football fans and DFS players alike! How’d you do with your Week 4 DFS CFB lineups? We had a very interesting and exciting slate of football last Saturday with big performances from the Washington State, UCLA, Alabama and LSU offenses stealing the headlines. It’s time now to look towards the Saturday main slate of games kicking off at 12 pm ET. 

Before we get into any specific players and pricing, it’s imperative to understand how DraftKings and FanDuel differentiated their main slates this week. On DK, per usual, there are 11 games that span the early and late afternoon kickoffs and lineup construction is pretty straightforward there. On FD, however, we have an 8-game early slate that includes only the 12 pm ET games - and then a 14-game main slate that includes both 3:30 pm ET and 7 pm ET kickoffs. Your lineups on that site will obviously look very different than on DK because you’ll have to get exposure to some high-powered offenses in action at night - like Ohio State, UCF and Oklahoma State. 

For the reasons above, this playbook for the Saturday main slate will focus mainly on the early games that appear on both DraftKings and FanDuel. We will have a night slate playbook up too that will cover the additional games on FanDuel’s main slate and the DK night slate more in-depth. For now, we’ll break down a few of the top plays at each position for these early Saturday games by taking into account the price differentials, individual matchups, depth charts and point spreads. 

Now, let’s dive into the specific players that are worth rostering in both cash game and tournament lineups for this Week 5 Saturday afternoon main slate!

QUARTERBACKS

Tua Tagovailoa - Alabama ($8,800 DK / $10,600 FD)

At this point, we have to consider Tagovailoa for our QB1 any time Alabama is on the slate. The Heisman candidate has thrown for five touchdowns in back-to-back games and now has 17 passing touchdowns with zero interceptions on the year. Plus, he’s yet to put up less than 30 DK points in any game and that trend shouldn’t stop this week against a weak Ole Miss defense. The Rebels are allowing 272 passing yards per game and Tua could have a field day in this matchup. On DK, we’ll have to choose between him and Jalen Hurts at the high-end of quarterbacks - but take the small salary savings with Tua in a plus-matchup as he could easily rack up over 400 passing yards and four touchdowns before the first-half is over. 

Jamie Newman - Wake Forest ($7,800 DK / $10,300 FD)

Newman isn’t that well-known nationally, but he’s quickly becoming one of the most consistent DFS quarterbacks this season with at least 30 DK points in each of the first four weeks. The junior won the starting job in camp and has not looked back since as he’s racked up 1,278 passing yards (319 per game) with a 12:2 TD:INT ratio thus far. Plus, Newman brings some rushing upside as well as he already has 160 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns this season. The Boston College defense is allowing 255 passing yards per game and that could lead to another 300+ yards and three to four passing TDs from Newman in this matchup. It’ll be tough to pay up for the Wake Forest QB on FD this week because of his increased price tag, but on DK he’s still a bargain in the second-tier of salaries. 

Kellen Mond - Texas A&M ($7,400 DK / $9,500 FD)

Every week we get middle-tier quarterbacks in favorable matchups that put them squarely into our DFS consideration - and that’s just the case for Mond on Saturday. The Texas A&M QB will face an Arkansas defense that’s full of holes and is giving up 234 passing yards and 27 points per game this season - including 402 passing yards and 31 points to San Jose State last week. This is a spot where Mond can definitely take advantage of as he’s thrown for at least 315 yards in back-to-back games, has seven passing TDs in four games and brings a little dual-threat upside as well. 

Jacob Eason - Washington ($6,600 DK / $9,300 FD)

The Huskies aren’t normally known for their dominant passing offenses, yet Eason is starting to change that narrative this season. The junior has thrown for at least three touchdowns and 260 yards in three of four games so far and he’s been very efficient in doing so with a 73% completion rate on the year. Eason now gets a favorable matchup against a USC defense that’s allowing 233 passing yards per game. Washington may have to pass even more this week because starting RB Salvon Ahmed is still questionable to play. When Ahmed sat out last week against BYU, Eason went 24-for-28 with 290 yards and three touchdowns. If we get that type of production from him at this price, that’s solid value. 

Also Consider: 

Jalen Hurts - Oklahoma ($9,200 DK / $11,000 FD)

Spencer Sanders - Oklahoma State ($10,000 FD Only)

Bryce Perkins - Virginia ($6,800 DK / $8,900 FD)

Nick Starkel - Arkansas ($6,000 DK / $7,500 FD)

RUNNING BACKS

Jonathan Taylor - Wisconsin ($9,000 DK / $10,500 FD)

It may be tough to pay up at RB on this slate, but Taylor is a top choice if you do - even at his expensive price tag. The Badgers’ bell-cow back is arguably the best rusher in the whole country and he proved that last week by racking up 203 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries against Michigan in his toughest matchup yet this season. He now has ten total touchdowns and 440 rushing yards through three games as the go-to option in Wisconsin’s offense. Taylor has proven to be mostly matchup-proof, but he still has an attractive matchup this week against a Northwestern defense that’s allowing 150 rushing yards per game. You’ll obviously have to shell out the salary for Taylor any time Wisconsin is on the slate - but it should still pay off as he’s a near-lock to return value this week in a game that the Badgers are favored by 24 and could give their star RB a ton of carries. 

AJ Dillon - Boston College ($8,300 DK / $9,700 FD)

If you’re not paying up for Taylor but still want a high-end RB in your lineups, Dillon is the next best choice. Boston College’s lead back has now rushed for 150 yards in back-to-back games and has seven touchdowns through the first four weeks. Plus, he’s getting a ton of volume as the number one option in this offense, with at least 23 carries in three of four games and 61 total touches over the last two weeks. This matchup with Wake Forest has one of the slate’s highest point totals (70) and should remain close throughout with Wake as 6.5-point favorites - resulting in another high-usage game for Dillon. Wake Forest is allowing 121.5 rushing yards per game which bodes well for Dillon’s rushing upside. 

Darius Anderson - TCU ($6,500 DK / $10,000 FD)

The TCU offense has made a concerted effort to use the run more as they bounce between two starting quarterbacks and Anderson has emerged as the bell-cow back. The senior has rushed for at least 160 yards and two touchdowns in back-to-back weeks with an impressive 9.7 yards per carry. In Week 3, both Anderson and backfield mate Sewo Olonilua were productive on the ground with a similar number of carries - but Anderson took over the workload last weekend as he out-carried his teammate 19 to five. He gets a very favorable matchup this week too, going against a Kansas defense that’s allowed 184.5 rushing yards per game. Anderson’s price differential between sites this week is very notable and it makes him an extreme value on DK with strong consideration for cash games.

Sean McGrew - Washington ($3,700 DK / $6,300 FD)

This play is very contingent on Salvon Ahmed’s health. The Huskies’ starting RB sat out last week with a lower leg injury and is currently “week-to-week” according to head coach Chris Peterson. With Ahmed sitting out last week, we saw McGrew and Richard Newton split the workload in the backfield but it’s McGrew who’s apparently emerged as the better option. On Washington’s depth chart ahead of their matchup against USC, it’s McGrew who’s listed behind Ahmed among the starters. In Ahmed’s absence, McGrew saw more carries than Newton (18 to 16) and racked up more rushing yards (110 to 80). The other thing going in McGrew’s favor is that Newton fumbled twice last week - which should give McGrew a leg up in the backfield if Ahmed is out again. Pay attention to news late in the week and early on Saturday, but if Ahmed is indeed out for a second straight game - McGrew becomes a slam dunk play on both sites and especially on DK as an extreme value. 

Temple RBs (DK ONLY) 

If you’re playing on DraftKings this week, we need to strongly consider this Temple backfield. Although it’s a bit unclear which RB to roster at the moment, one of these backs will surely be productive because the Owls’ opponent, Georgia Tech, is allowing a slate-high 274 rushing yards per game. It’s just a matter of who to play between Jager Gardner ($4,900) and Re’Mahn Davis ($4,200). Both backs saw seven carries each last week but we can’t look too much into those numbers because Temple was playing from behind and passed more often in the second-half. Instead let’s look at their Week 3 win over Maryland when Gardner had 82 rushing yards on 16 carries while Davis put up 92 rushing yards on 15 carries. Pretty much equal production there and we could see both these guys split the workload again on Saturday with each having the opportunity to return value on their cheap price tags. Because of the salary savings, we’re leaning Davis over Gardner because he has a better yards per rush so far (6.8 to Gardner’s 5.4) and his workload has been increasing since the beginning of the season. Still, Gardner has more of a role in the passing game and should also be considered. 

Also Consider:

Cam Akers - Florida State ($10,200 FD Only)

Elijah Collins - Michigan State ($8,600 FD Only)

Jordan Mason - Georgia Tech ($5,400 DK Only)

Wayne Taulapapa - Virginia ($5,200 DK / $8,200 FD)

Isaiah Spiller - Texas A&M ($5,100 DK / $7,600 FD)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Henry Ruggs III - Alabama ($7,600 DK / $9,400 FD)

While Jerry Jeudy is still the No. 1 receiver in ‘Bama’s offense, it’s been Ruggs who has been equally as productive as his teammate in this talented receiving corps. Ruggs has scored four touchdowns over the last three games and has at least 120 receiving yards in back-to-back weeks. Ruggs has also shown us his big-play ability in each of the last three games with long receiving touchdowns of 81 and 74 yards in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively, and a 75-yard rushing score in Week 2. If you’re playing Tua Tagovailoa at QB, you’ll want to pair him with an Alabama wideout and Ruggs’ slightly cheaper price on both sites makes him a bit easier to roster. With that being said, though, Ruggs should be more popular because of his price decrease and recent national recognition - making Jeudy a pretty attractive GPP option with lower ownership.

Sage Surratt - Wake Forest ($7,500 DK / $9,800 FD)

As mentioned above with Jamie Newman, the Wake Forest passing offense has been on fire this season and the receiving production centers on two Demon Deacons. It’s Sage Surratt as the No. 1 receiver and Scotty Washington being a very solid No. 2 target. Both are squarely in play on both sites this week - especially when pairing one with Jamie Newman. Surratt, though, has been a bit more consistent with his volume and production than Washington with at least six catches and a touchdown in all four games this year and 17 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns over the last two weeks. Washington, meanwhile, had two monster games in Weeks 2 and 4 but was held to just two catches in Week 3. There’s a chance both these receivers can be productive this week but Surratt is the surer bet to produce - as evidenced by their differing prices. Boston College is allowing 255.8 passing yards per game and they will likely be picked apart by Newman in this matchup.

Trey Knox - Arkansas ($5,100 DK / $8,000 FD)

Knox has quickly become Arkansas’ top receiver and he proved that last week with eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. Ever since Nick Starkel took over as the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback in Week 2, Knox’s production has also risen dramatically as he’s clearly the QB’s favorite target now. He’s logged at least six catches and 80 receiving yards in each of the past three weeks and has now found the end zone in back-to-back games. Arkansas will likely be playing from behind in this matchup with Texas A&M, which should result in more passing for the Razorbacks’ offense in the second-half and continued targets for Knox. His FD price now reflects his production but he’s still a solid value on DK. 

Cole Kmet - Notre Dame ($5,100 DK / $6,900 FD)

Notre Dame’s junior tight end returned from a broken collarbone last week and was instantly one of Ian Book’s favorite receiving targets. In the loss to Georgia last Saturday, Kmet racked up nine catches for 108 yards (both team-high’s) and a touchdown. It’s definitely encouraging to see Kmet’s high usage right from the get-go and he should continue to see a ton targets from Book as long as he stays healthy. Virginia’s defense, much like Georgia’s, is very tough against the run and forces teams to beat them through the air. The Fighting Irish had to do just that last week and it resulted in a big game from Kmet. His price on both sites makes him a pretty safe cash play as his salary will surely go up in time.

Also Consider: 

Jerry Jeudy - Alabama ($8,100 DK / $10,100 FD)

Scotty Washington - Wake Forest ($6,900 DK / $8,300 FD)

Jhamon Ausbon - Texas A&M ($6,300 DK / $8,800 FD)

Aaron Fuller - Washington ($5,700 DK / $8,800 FD)

Matt Bushman - BYU ($7,100 FD Only)

Example Lineup on DraftKings:

QB: Tua Tagovailoa - Alabama ($8,800)

RB: Darius Anderson - TCU ($6,500)

RB: Wayne Taulapapa - Virginia ($5,200)

WR: Aaron Fuller - Washington ($5,700)

WR: Henry Ruggs III - Alabama ($7,600)

WR: Trey Knox - Arkansas ($5,100)

FLEX: Re’Mahn Davis - Temple ($4,200)

S-FLEX: Jacob Eason - Washington ($6,600)

Example Lineup on FanDuel (Early):

QB: Jalen Hurts - Oklahoma ($11,000)

RB: Isaiah Spiller - Texas A&M ($7,600)

RB: Jonathan Taylor - Wisconsin ($10,500)

WR: Trey Knox - Arkansas ($8,000)

WR: Matt Bushman - BYU ($7,100)

WR: Dalton Rigdon - Texas Tech ($7,900)

S-FLEX: Nick Starkel - Arkansas ($7,500)

Example Lineup on FanDuel (Main):

QB: Tua Tagovailoa - Alabama ($10,600)

RB: AJ Dillon - Boston College ($9,700)

RB: Sean McGrew - Washington ($6,300)

WR: Scotty Washington - Wake Forest ($8,300)

WR: Aaron Fuller - Washington ($8,800)

WR: Cole Kmet - Notre Dame ($6,900)

S-FLEX: Jacob Eason - Washington ($9,300)