Welcome back, college football fans! We’re now into Week 8 in the CFB season and what better way to kick off the new week than with some Friday night DFS action! DraftKings has a 4-game slate starting at 6:30 pm ET while FanDuel has a 3-gamer getting underway at 7 pm ET. Let’s check out how each matchup sets up with the spreads and over/under’s from Westgate Superbook in Vegas. 

  • Marshall at Florida Atlantic (-5.5) -- 59.5 O/U (DK Only)

  • Pittsburgh (-3.5) at Syracuse -- 52.5 O/U

  • Ohio State (-28) at Northwestern -- 49.5 O/U

  • UNLV at Fresno State (-15.5) -- 53 O/U

Now, let’s dive into the specific players that are worth rostering in both cash game and tournament lineups for this Week 8 DFS CFB Friday night slate!

QUARTERBACK

Justin Fields - Ohio State ($8,300 DK / $11,000 FD)

On this short slate, Fields is in a tier of his own at quarterback and you should basically just start your lineups with him in it. Even though Ohio State will likely blow out Northwestern in a low-scoring game overall, Fields will be the main reason why the Buckeyes win easily. The OSU dual-threat will provide plenty of points through the air and on the ground as he’s thrown for at least two touchdowns in every game this year and has rushed for 283 yards with eight rushing scores through the first six games. He won’t provide a ton of passing yards, but he more than makes up for that with his rushing upside and tendency to be involved in the majority of Ohio State’s touchdowns - whether he’s throwing or running. 

Jorge Reyna - Fresno State ($7,100 DK / $8,900 FD)

After starting the year strong with 24 or more DK points through the first three games, Reyna has cooled off a bit recently with below-average DFS games the last two weeks. However, the Fresno State QB gets a favorable matchup this Friday as UNLV is giving up 32.8 points and 425 total yards per game (215 yards through the air). Reyna has thrown for 300 or more yards only once this season, but he has nine passing scores through five games and brings some rushing upside - he ran for 88 yards vs. USC in Week 1 and has one rushing TD on the season. 

Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh ($6,600 DK / $8,800 FD)

You want a QB with the highest passing volume on the slate? Pickett is your guy. The Pitt passer has at least 37 pass attempts in every game this year and is averaging 44.8 attempts per game. While the volume is certainly there, the only issue is that Pickett plays it safe with short completions and rarely looks downfield as he’s only eclipsed 300 passing yards twice in five games. Still, we can expect Pittsburgh to run their offense through him - especially against a Syracuse defense that’s giving up 256.4 passing yards per game this season. Plus, you can easily pair Pickett and one of his top two receivers in Taysir Mack and Maurice Ffrench - who are both PPR monsters right now. 

Also Consider: 

Chris Robison - Florida Atlantic ($7,200 DK Only)

Tommy DeVito - Syracuse ($6,900 DK / $9,200 FD)

Isaiah Green - Marshall ($6,500 DK Only)

RUNNING BACK

J.K. Dobbins - Ohio State ($7,800 DK / $9,800 FD)

Like Justin Fields, Ohio State’s lead running back is in a class of his own at RB on this slate - no matter how expensive he seems. Dobbins is the most expensive RB on both sites by $1,200 - but he’s definitely worth locking into your lineups because of his massive volume in this Buckeye offense - one that can’t be rivaled by any other back on this short slate. The junior has gotten 21 or more carries in four of six games this season - and in the two weeks he didn’t, Dobbins ran for 141 yards and two scores on 17 carries vs. Cincinnati and went 8-for-52 and a score in a 71-point win over Miami (OH) where he wasn’t needed as much. Northwestern is allowing 142.8 rushing yards per game and with Ohio State favored by 28, Dobbins could have a field day if he’s getting 20+ carries yet again.

Ronnie Rivers - Fresno State ($6,400 DK / $8,400 FD)

Fresno State’s senior running back isn’t get the volume we like in our DFS RB’s, but it’s hard to ignore the potential game script for him on Friday. For starters, UNLV is allowing a slate-high 209.7 rushing yards per game - which immediately sets Rivers up for better production on the ground. Plus, Fresno State is favored by 15.5 in this one - meaning they can presumably rely on the running game with the lead in the second half. Rivers has been splitting carries with Josh Hokit lately, but it’s Rivers who should get the nod for carries more often than not because of his starting role on the offense and his more explosive running style than Hokit’s. 

Malcolm Davidson - Florida Atlantic ($5,000 DK Only)

If you’re playing on DraftKings, Davidson looks like the best value play on the slate. Despite barely getting carries earlier in the season, he’s since taken over FAU’s lead back duties over Larry McCammon III in recent weeks. In the Owls’ last two games, Davidson had 13 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5 and then followed up with 149 rushing yards and a score on 21 carries last week. Meanwhile, McCammon (who’s oddly more expensive on DK) has a total of nine carries for 32 yards over the past two contests. Marshall’s defense is giving up nearly 150 rushing yards per game this year and Davidson could see a ton of touches in this matchup - especially in the highest over/under of the slate with FAU favored. 

Todd Sibley Jr. - Pittsburgh ($4,100 DK / $7,200 FD)

This play definitely hinges on the availability of Pitt’s top two backs, but Sibley could be the value play du jour if he’s the starter once again. With A.J. Davis and Vincent Davis both sitting out the past two games, Sibley was the lead back and did not disappoint. The redshirt sophomore ran for 106 yards on 22 carries in Week 5 (his first game as the starter) and then rushed for 60 yards on 12 carries the next game - averaging 4.8 and 5.0 yards per carry in those games, respectively. Both A.J. and Vincent Davis remain questionable for this matchup vs. Syracuse and head coach Pat Narduzzi refused to update their statuses on Monday in his press conference. If both are out again, Sibley becomes very attractive at his price on both sites. 

Chad Magyar - UNLV ($3,800 DK / $6,500 FD)

Like many other backfields on this slate, the UNLV running back situation is in flux heading into Friday - yet, Magyar is starting to get more carries and has actually outperformed starter Charles Williams lately. Magyar didn’t even record a carry for the Rebels over the first five weeks, but he exploded against Vanderbilt last game with 116 rushing yards and a score on 22 carries. In that game, Williams saw 24 carries himself but was much less productive with those touches as he mustered only 69 yards on 2.9 yards per carry. Fresno State’s defense is tough against the pass but is giving up 155 rushing yards per game - which could mean UNLV relies more on the run than usual. At his price tag on both sites, Magyar could be an extreme value if he has another 100+ rushing yards on 20+ touches for a second straight week. 

Also Consider:

Moe Neal - Syracuse ($6,300 DK / $8,600 FD)

Brendan Knox - Marshall ($5,800 DK Only)

Josh Hokit - Fresno State ($5,200 DK / $6,100 FD)

WIDE RECEIVER

Trishton Jackson - Syracuse ($7,500 DK / $9,100 FD)

It’s crazy to think back to when Jackson was only $3,400 on DK in Week 2 and now he’s the most expensive WR on this short slate. Still, he’s been worth the price lately as he’s become the clear #1 wideout for ‘Cuse. In the past five games, Jackson has racked up six receiving scores with at least six receptions four different times and 100+ receiving yards in three of those games. He’s the top target for QB Tommy DeVito and he’s already proven he can put up good stat lines even in games when Syracuse’s offense falters - he had nine catches for 106 yards and a TD last week despite the Orange scoring only 10 points. The floor is really high for Jackson and he should see a ton of targets once again with Syracuse underdogs at home. 

Taysir Mack - Pittsburgh ($6,700 DK / $8,000 FD) & Maurice Ffrench - Pittsburgh ($6,400 DK / $8,500 FD)

As mentioned earlier, we definitely want to pair one of Pitt’s top two receivers in lineups where we’re rostering Kenny Pickett - and both Mack and Ffrench are firmly in play on this slate. Ffrench is more of the short-yardage possession receiver who will give you a high floor in receptions but not much upside in total yardage. He has at least seven catches in each of the last five games with a pair of 10-reception performances - but he’s only eclipsed 100+ receiving yards once this year. Mack, meanwhile, is more of a big-play threat with a pair of games with 124 receiving yards over the last four and two touchdowns in the past two contests. Choosing between the two will likely come down to which site you’re playing on. Ffrench is the better DK play because of his lower price tag and PPR upside. Mack, though, is the cheaper of the two on FD and will make up for his lower floor in receptions with the total yards. 

K.J. Hill - Ohio State ($6,000 DK / $8,300 FD)

It’s been tough to roster the Ohio State receivers on the Saturday main slates this season because the production is pretty evenly spread out and QB Justin Fields and RB J.K. Dobbins score the majority of touchdowns on the ground. However, on this short slate, Hill is firmly in play as the OSU wideout with the highest floor week-to-week and tendency to find the end zone. Hill has scored a touchdown in four of six games this season and racked up at least seven catches two times - including last week when he had eight grabs for 57 yards. No other starting Buckeye receiver has more than five catches in a game so far, which puts Hill as the presumed top target for Fields currently. 

Emoryie Edwards - Fresno State ($5,600 DK / $7,500 FD)

Edwards missed the early part of the season with a foot injury, but he’s been very involved in the Fresno State offense since making his 2019 debut two games ago and looks like the Bulldogs’ top receiver now. In his first game back, Edwards had eight catches for 70 yards and then followed up with four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown last week. He’s been Fresno State’s top pass-catcher and yards leader in both games and seems to be Jorge Reyna’s favorite target in the passing game. The rest of Fresno’s receivers have been inconsistent for much of the season so Edwards has every opportunity to be the main wideout in the offense moving forward. He makes for a very attractive pairing with Reyna in lineups.

Also Consider: 

Jalen Cropper - Fresno State ($5,400 DK / $5,800 FD)

Harrison Bryant - Florida Atlantic ($5,800 DK Only)

Sean Riley - Syracuse ($4,400 DK / $6,800 FD)

Broc Thompson - Marshall ($4,300 DK Only)

 

Example Lineup on DraftKings:

QB: Justin Fields, OSU ($8,300)

RB: J.K. Dobbins, OSU ($7,800)

RB: Malcolm Davidson, FAU ($5,000)

WR: Maurice Ffrench, PITT ($6,400)

WR: Emoryie Edwards, FRES ($5,600)

WR: K.J. Hill, OSU ($6,000)

FLEX: Chad Magyar, UNLV ($3,800)

S-FLEX: Kenny Pickett, PITT ($6,600)

 

Example Lineup on FanDuel: 

QB: Justin Fields, OSU ($11,000)

RB: J.K. Dobbins, OSU ($9,800)

RB: Chad Magyar, UNLV ($6,500)

WR: Trishton Jackson, SYR ($9,100)

WR: Taysir Mack, PITT ($8,000)

WR: Sean Riley, SYR ($6,800)

S-FLEX: Kenny Pickett, PITT ($8,800)