Teams To Target (By Implied Point Totals):

  1. Alabama -- 32.5 Points vs. Michigan (58 O/U)

  2. Auburn -- 30 Points vs. Minnesota (53 O/U)

  3. Wisconsin -- 27.25 Points vs. Oregon (51.5 O/U)

  4. Michigan -- 25.5 Points vs. Alabama (58 O/U)

  5. Oregon -- 24.25 Points vs. Wisconsin (51.5 O/U)

 

QUARTERBACKS

Justin Herbert - Oregon ($7,700 DK / $9,200 FD)

Herbert will be playing in his final game in an Oregon uniform tonight before he heads off to the NFL and likely gets drafted in the first round. He’s one of the best QB prospects in the country and will definitely want to go out on top with a Rose Bowl victory. While the Ducks’ offense has been dedicated to the run game all season, it hasn’t hurt Herbert’s ability to take a game over with his arm - something he may need to do in this matchup against a Wisconsin defense that’s very strong vs. the run. The senior has a very good 32:5 TD:INT ratio in 13 games this season and he will have nearly all of his receivers available today to help him put on one last audition for NFL teams on a national stage. Look for a big performance from him - making it worth the price tag. 

Mac Jones - Alabama ($7,000 DK / $9,800 FD)

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Tua Tagovailoa is out for the year (and potentially longer) and Mac Jones is now the QB for Alabama. Jones has now started three games and played in two others in relief of Tagovailoa and he’s been pretty serviceable running the Crimson Tide offense. In those three starts, Jones has a 10:2 TD:INT ratio with a 77.3% completion rate and 281 passing yards per game. Plus, he’s put up 22 or more DK points in all three of those starts as he’s been benefiting from running point in the talented ‘Bama offense with NFL talent all around him. In this bowl game, Jones will be motivated to prove he should be the starter next season for the Tide and will want to put up a big statistical game. It helps that he’ll have all his regular receivers available to throw to as none of the future NFL-ers are opting to skip ahead of the Draft. 

Also Consider: 

  • Bo Nix - Auburn ($6,800 DK / $8,900 FD)

  • Tanner Morgan - Minnesota ($6,500 DK / $7,600 FD)

  • Shea Patterson - Michigan ($6,400 DK / $8,400 FD)

 

RUNNING BACKS

Jonathan Taylor - Wisconsin ($8,400 DK / $10,800 FD)

Taylor is by far the best running back on this slate and was probably the best college RB in the entire country this past season. He deserves the top price tag today at the position as he’ll get his regular workload in the Wisconsin offense after deciding to play in the Rose Bowl and put off an NFL decision until afterwards. Taylor has been a workhorse all year and there’s no reason for that to change now - even against a tough Oregon rush defense. The junior tailback racked up 1,909 rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns this season and ran for 100 or more yards in 10 of his 13 games, including four games where he had at least 200 rushing yards. On a four-game slate like today’s Taylor should simply be in all your lineups because the odds are that he will provide 25 or more DK points - as he failed to do so only once this season. 

Najee Harris - Alabama ($7,200 DK / $9,700 FD)

Harris has been ‘Bama’s lead back all season and that will continue today as we await his NFL Draft decision. He could be off to the pros after this bowl game, but at least we should get a big workload from him for our DFS lineups beforehand. Ever since Tua Tagovailoa first got hurt this season, Harris has been getting a ton of touches in the Crimson Tide backfield with the offense relying more on him as a rusher and pass-catcher. From Week 7 on, Harris has gotten 20 or more touches in five of seven games and he has four 100-yard rushing performances and 13 touchdowns over that span. Alabama is using him not only as the bell-cow running back, but as a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield to be a safety valve for Mac Jones underneath. He should have a similar role today, barrins injury, and could have a big game against a Michigan defense that has struggled against some of the top backs in the Big Ten this year. 

Georgia RB’s

The biggest injury situation to monitor today lies within the Georgia backfield. D’Andre Swift, the Bulldogs’ usual starter (and future NFL Draft pick), still has an injured shoulder and he’s very questionable to play today. Swift ($4,000 DK / $8,400 FD) only got five touches in the SEC championship game vs. LSU and we really shouldn’t expect a huge workload from him today because there’s no way he wants to hurt his shoulder even more ahead of the NFL Draft - where he should be one of the first backs taken. So with Swift likely sitting this one out and main backup Brian Herrien not playing either, the Georgia backfield will have a bunch of unproven players ready to step up. James Cook ($4,100 DK / $5,600 FD) and Zamir White ($4,000 DK / $5,900 FD) will probably get the first crack at carries and snaps because both have been used all season as the third or fourth options and have actually gotten legit in-game experience in meaningful games. Kenny McIntosh ($4,200 DK / $5,000 FD) could also get touches, but he’s only played in three games this season. For their prices, Cook or White are both solid fliers because they could very much exceed value if they’re getting the bulk of the carries. 

Also Consider:

  • CJ Verdell - Oregon ($6,700 DK / $8,300 FD)

  • JaTarvious Whitlow - Auburn ($6,000 DK / $8,100 FD)

  • Hassan Haskins - Michigan ($5,000 DK / $6,300 FD)

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Tyler Johnson & Rashod Bateman - Minnesota 

If you’ve been playing CFB DFS this season, you know that both Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman are firmly in play whenever Minnesota is on the slate. Both guys will eventually be NFL players and they’ve headlined the Golden Gophers’ offense all season as DFS beasts who can co-exist alongside each other - with both racking up at least 1,100 receiving yards this year. Johnson ($6,600 DK / $8,800 FD) caught a touchdown in six straight games to end the season and had seven or more receptions in each of the final four weeks. Meanwhile, Bateman ($6,200 DK / $8,600 FD) had seven touchdown receptions over the last six games and also had at least six catches in each of the final four weeks. They both see a ton of targets from QB Tanner Morgan and we can bank on them seeing their usual volume today in what could the final collegiate action for both. 

Jaylen Waddle - Alabama ($5,700 DK / $6,800 FD)

Although Waddle has been overshadowed by his fellow Alabama receivers for most of the season, he’s actually found a connection with Mac Jones lately - and it’s one that could carry over into this bowl game. Despite scoring just one touchdown over the first eight games, Waddle exploded for seven touchdowns in the final four games - five as a pass-catcher and two as a returner. The sophomore is proving that he can be the team’s No. 1 playmaker next season after possibly all three of Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith and Henry Ruggs enter the NFL Draft after this bowl. Plus, he’s being targeted by Jones more as the two could end up being Bama’s best QB-WR duo next year as well. All of Alabama’s wideouts are indeed playing today, but still expect Waddle to be heavily involved as a touchdown threat any time he touches the ball. 

Quintez Cephus - Wisconsin ($5,300 DK / $7,200 FD)

While Wisconsin’s offense relies heavily on Jonathan Taylor and the ground game, Cephus has shown he can be effective when they do choose to throw the ball. He’s the top target for QB Jack Coan in the passing game and ended the regular season on a high note. Cephus had 100 or more receiving yards in each of the last two games and in the final five weeks he had three games of five or more receptions and three touchdowns. Wisconsin may opt to throw the ball more in this matchup vs. Oregon as the Ducks’ defense is allowing a slate-high 204 passing yards per game. 

George Pickens - Georgia ($4,900 DK / $6,700 FD)

Much like the Georgia backfield, the Bulldogs’ receiving corps will also be without a couple key names today. Lawrence Cager and Dominick Blaylock are already ruled out and this leaves Pickens as the No. 1 WR on the depth chart for QB Jake Fromm to throw to. Plus, Georgia will likely end up throwing it more often today because of the slew of absences they have at RB and on the offensive line - which should force Fromm to make more plays through the air with quick passes to his wideouts. After Pickens was suspended for the first half of the SEC title game, he responded with four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in the second half. He’s clearly the most talented WR on the active roster right now and if Baylor gets an early lead today, look for Fromm to target Pickens a ton in the second half yet again. 

Also Consider: 

  • Devonta Smith - Alabama ($7,100 DK / $9,100 FD)

  • Denzel Mims - Baylor ($6,200 DK / $8,200 FD)

  • Johnny Johnson III - Oregon ($5,900 DK / $7,800 FD)

  • Ronnie Bell - Michigan ($5,100 DK / $6,500 FD)

  • Tyler Simmons - Georgia ($4,400 DK / $6,000 FD)

 

DraftKings Example Lineup:

QB: Mac Jones - BAMA ($7,000)

RB: Jonathan Taylor - WISC ($8,400)

RB: Najee Harris - BAMA ($7,200)

WR: Rashod Bateman - MINN ($6,200)

WR: George Pickens - UGA ($4,900)

WR: Jaylen Waddle - BAMA ($5,700)

FLEX: James Cook - UGA ($4,100)

S-FLEX: Shea Patterson - MICH ($6,400)

 

FanDuel Example Lineup:

QB: Justin Herbert - ORE ($9,200)

RB: Jonathan Taylor - WIS ($10,800)

RB: JaTarvious Whitlow - AUB ($8,100)

WR: Jaylen Waddle - ALA ($6,800)

WR: Johnny Johnson III - ORE ($7,800)

WR: Quintez Cephus - WIS ($7,200)

S-FLEX: Mac Jones - ALA ($9,800)