We’re back for another slate of CFB DFS with the Week 4 night slate of games! This playbook focuses on the DraftKings contests for the 7-game night slate. Note, though, that FanDuel’s all-day slate includes some of these matchups as well. 

THE SLATE (betting odds via DK Sportsbook as of 9/26): 

  • 7 pm ET -- Alabama (-27.5) @ Missouri -- 56.5 o/u

  • 7:30 pm ET -- Tennessee (-3.5) @ South Carolina -- 42.5 o/u

  • 7:30 pm ET -- Florida State @ Miami FL (-12) -- 53.5 o/u

  • 7:30 pm ET -- Kansas @ Baylor (-17.5) -- 62 o/u

  • 7:30 pm ET -- Vanderbilt @ Texas A&M (-30.5) -- 45.5 o/u

  • 8 pm ET -- NC State @ Virginia Tech (-6.5) -- 56.5 o/u

  • 10:15 pm ET -- Troy @ BYU (-14) -- 61 o/u

QUARTERBACKS

 

Quarterbacks
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
 MIAFSU870026.481020024.92000008
King is the highest-priced player overall on the slate and yet he’ll still be popular in cash games because of his dual-threat ability and previous track record. King was a DFS stud at Houston in recent seasons and he now has Miami as a top-15 team in the nation while headlining a dangerous Hurricanes offense. In Miami’s first game, King put up 24 DK points in large part due to his 82 rushing yards and a rushing score. Then against Louisville last week, he totaled 29 DK points with his 325 passing yards and three passing TDs. He’s shown us both ends of the spectrum through two games and today, we could see a perfect marriage of his dual-threat upside with big statistical passing and rushing numbers. Florida State’s defense was one of the worst in the country in 2019 and Georgia Tech moved the ball pretty easily against them in the opener this year. If we get 35-40 DK points from King this week, you don’t want to be on the outside looking in for cash games or GPP’s.
Charlie BrewerBAYKU79000  
Unfortunately we were stripped of the chance to play Charlie Brewer last week with Baylor’s game cancelled at the last minute - but now we get to roster all the Bears we want. The Baylor offense will be a regular source for DFS production for us this season and Brewer will headline an attack that throws a ton, plays uptempo and has a favorable matchup vs. a Kansas team that lost to Coastal Carolina in their opener. Brewer himself totaled 3,162 passing yards last season with a 21:7 TD:INT ratio - and he also provides some rushing upside after scoring 11 TDs on the ground with five games of 40+ rush yards a year ago. At this price, he’s an expensive second QB to use in your Super-Flex, but that might be the route to go in cash games because of the expected high floor of production in one of the easier matchups of the slate.
Zach WilsonBYUTROY690016.98  
The QB position is admittedly tough to navigate on this night slate with so many uncertain situations across the board. In Zach Wilson, though, we have a proven starter who will be quarterbacking a BYU offense projected to be one of the slate’s highest-scoring units (trailing only Baylor and Alabama). In the Cougars’ opening win over Navy, Wilson only attempted 18 passes in the blowout - but his 72% completion rate, 232 passing yards and two scores on that limited sample size is impressive. If we prorate that out to a full game, we could see Wilson be one of the highest-scoring QBs on this slate. Wilson is a nice Super-Flex option in your lineups as one of the best players in one of the highest totals of the slate.

 

Also Consider:

 

  • Kellen Mond - Texas A&M ($8,500)

  • Mac Jones - Alabama ($8,200)

  • Gunnar Watson - Troy ($5,800)

RUNNING BACKS

 

Running Backs
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Najee HarrisBAMAMIZZ860001000021.8545449
Harris chose to skip this year’s NFL Draft to return for a second season as Alabama’s lead back - and he’ll be one of the best DFS RBs all year starting this week. The Tide will win big over Missouri tonight and Harris will be a main reason why. He’ll be bellcow for the offense this year, especially as Nick Saban tries to figure out if Mac Jones is the real answer at QB. Expect the ‘Bama offense to lean on the run game in this one - much like they did late in the season last year when Jones took over for the injured Tua Tagovailoa. In the final two games of 2019, Harris had stat lines of 27 carries for 146 yards and a TD vs. Auburn and then 24 carries for 136 yards and two scores in the bowl game. Expect him to pick up right where he left off and see a healthy dose of touches in a game where Alabama will be leading the whole way. He’s the best pay-up RB option for cash games.
 MIAFSU830028.6950024.35000038
In GPP’s, taking a shot on Miami’s lead back could help you take down tournaments with others flocking to Najee Harris. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes’ Harris has shown some real upside over the first two games of the year with some monster performances. Cam’Ron has racked up 268 total rushing yards and three rushing scores so far - with 134 rushing yards apiece in each of the first two outings. The only risk is how many touches he’ll see - as he only had 10 total touches last week with the Miami offense going to the air more. This matchup vs. Florida State is a favorable one for Harris, but his upside is capped to an extent because of QB D’Eriq King’s dual-threat ability. Still, he could explode for 134 rushing yards and multiple scores again so GPP’s is the way to go for him.
Tyler AllgeierBYUTROY630028.2  
This BYU backfield is a two-headed monster of Lopini Katoa and Tyler Allgeier - and it’s more optimal to go with the cheaper of the two this week until we see how the workload shakes out. The Cougars blew out Navy in their first game so it’s tough to fully form expectations from the offense until we see them in a close game - which will likely come this week in a high-scoring affair with Troy. In that opener, Katoa scored three times and racked up 80 yards on 10 carries while Allgeier saw 14 carries for 132 yards and two TDs. The two backs are co-starters on the BYU offense and both are GPP-only plays this week because of the uncertainty in true workload when in tighter games. There’s a chance both have big statistical games again - and that’s why we should take the discount in Allgeier with Katoa being $700 more expensive.
Khalil HerbertVTNCST59000  
The Kansas transfer has won the starting job for Virginia Tech and the price makes him a great RB2 for cash games. Herbert was the main backup to Pooka Williams last year, totaling 384 rushing yards on 43 carries for an impressive 8.9 yards per rush. We should expect a little regression on that per-rush average with a larger sample size this year, but he could be in line for a healthy dose of touches tonight. Virginia Tech reportedly has an uncertain QB situation and will likely lean on the run game against a NC State defense that allowed a big game to Wake Forest RB Kenneth Walker in their first game (27 carries, 131 yards, three TD). That type of performance from Herbert at this price point would make him a smash value and a staple in cash-winning lineups.
Ainias SmithTA&MVAND40000  
Although many expected Isaiah Spiller to be the lead back for Texas A&M this year, the offensive depth chart interestingly lists Spiller and Ainias Smith as co-starters in the backfield. Spiller will likely get the first crack at carries, but Smith is expected to be the main pass-catching RB for the Aggies. His cheap price makes him a really good value in all formats if he truly will have a legit role in the first-team offense. His value is even better when you consider A&M are big favorites in tonight’s matchup vs. Vanderbilt - which could lead to Smith seeing more touches in the second half with the game in hand while Spiller heads to the bench. This team has legit national championship aspirations and they’ll want to see what they have in Smith before facing tougher SEC competition.

 

Also Consider:

 

  • Isaiah Spiller - Texas A&M ($7,300)

  • Lopini Katoa - BYU ($7,000)

  • John Lovett - Baylor ($6,100)

  • Zonovan Knight - NC State ($5,800)

  • Raheem Blackshear - Virginia Tech ($5,600)

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Wide Recievers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jaylen WaddleBAMAMIZZ7100090009.109090632
Alabama’s WR corps will look mightily different from last season with Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs gone. Now it’s time for DeVonta Smith ($7600) and Jaylen Waddle to emerge as the top pass-catchers in Tuscaloosa - and it’s not surprising to see both priced in the 7k range. We’re going with the cheaper of the two here in Waddle - but both are viable GPP options on this slate. Waddle, though, had a couple big games late in the year when Mac Jones took over for Tua Tagovailoa in 2019 - including a three-score performance vs. Auburn. Again, both Waddle and Smith are likely GPP-only plays at these expensive price tags because either or both could end up scoring a TD with only two or three catches before heading to the bench in an expected blowout win - or one of them could go crazy and have two or three TDs.
Tyquan ThorntonBAYKU66000  
We mentioned earlier with Charlie Brewer that this Baylor offense is definitely one to target on this slate with the highest expected points total (62) - and the Brewer’s top receiver is Thornton, making it an easy pairing for cash or GPP. This Baylor attack is a pass-happy one with tons of offensive possessions per game, which makes the receivers have higher floors than most on the slate because of the increase in opportunities for receptions and yardage. Thornton, especially, should be Brewer’s #1 target in the passing game as his 45 receptions, 782 yards and five TD are the top returning stats from this Baylor receiving unit of 2019. He makes for an ideal pairing with Brewer in all formats and the duo is actually fairly affordable for what their ceiling could end up being.
Brevin JordanMIAFSU590021.05860017.04999924
If you’re playing QB D’Eriq King, consider pairing him with his top receiver - which is actually Miami’s tight end. Jordan is one of the best pass-catching TEs in the country and he’s already proving to be King’s top target through the air. Last week, Jordan exploded for seven receptions for 120 yards and a TD - his second game in a row scoring. He’s clearly the Hurricanes’ top red zone target and his short-to-intermediate route running fits perfectly with King’s passing style. We’ll eventually see Jordan in the 6-7k salary range for the rest of the year so now is the time to jump on the little value still left.
Gavin HolmesBAYKU49000  
Tyquan Thornton (mentioned above) and R.J. Sneed are the top two returning receivers in Baylor’s offense - and the third WR starter for 2020 is Gavin Holmes, who could be a cheaper way to get exposure to this high-scoring passing attack. Holmes has lost the past two years due to multiple knee injuries, but he’s healthy now and earned a starting role in the Bears’ offense to take over some extra targets up for grabs with Denzel Mims now gone. Baylor coach Dave Aranda recently touted Holmes in his press conference, saying that Holmes’ starting role is due to him making enough plays in practice. It’s notable that Holmes was awarded the No. 6 as single-digit uniforms are usually reserved for the team’s top playmakers. It’s tough to fully trust in cash, but he could easily catch a touchdown and rack up the receptions from the inside receiver spot to pay off in GPP’s.
Khalil McClainTROYBYU480025.5  
While BYU is the more well-known team in this matchup, the Troy offense has some interesting value in what should be a high-scoring game. The 61 total points Vegas is predicting is the second-highest on the slate and BYU is only two-touchdown favorites - so Troy will be scoring their fair share of points with plenty of offensive stats to go around. McClain is the Trojans’ #1 wideout and we’re getting him at less than $5000. In Troy’s first game last week, he led the team with six receptions for 75 yards and two TDs - the 25+ DK points would be a massive bargain at this price tag. Although the BYU defense presents notably tougher competition this week, McClain should still see a healthy amount of targets to return value in cash games. Plus, he could be a GPP winner if he’s putting up 20+ DFS points again.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jalen WydermyerTA&MVAND47000  
The safest route in cash games for rostering cheap receivers is to find the highest reception share on a given offense and decide if the price tag is worth it. In Wydermyer’s case, he could end up being the top pass-catcher for Texas A&M this week and he’s sub-5k - talk about a bargain. The Aggies have a ton of question marks at WR after veteran Jhamon Ausbon opted out, Camron Buckley suffered a season-ending injury and the depth chart doesn’t list any clear starters with tons of ‘OR’ designations. It sets up perfectly for Wydermyer as the tight end in the offense and the safety blanket for QB Kellen Mond - especially since he’s the top returning pass-catcher from last season. He should be safe for cash at this price and expected high reception share in this offense.
Kwamie Lassiter IIKUBAY390019.3  
While Baylor’s offense is a top target on this slate, we should also be looking at the other side of the matchup with Kansas having to play catch-up in a high-scoring, uptempo game. The Jayhawks were without Stephon Robinson Jr. last game and the senior WR is iffy to play this week. In Robinson’s absence, we saw Lassiter become the second receiving target in the offense alongside Andrew Parchment - and he actually led Kansas in receiving yards (63) to go along with his five receptions and a score vs. Coastal Carolina. Those stats at this sub-4k price tag is a steal and it’s realistic to expect 5-6 catches from him if Robinson sits again - especially with Kansas trailing most of the game and having to throw a lot. If Robinson is out, Lassiter is a great cash play with this discounted price tag. Parchment ($4800) would also be a good value as he moves into the #1 WR role for a second straight game.

 

Also Consider:

 

  • DeVonta Smith - Alabama ($7,600)

  • Gunner Romney - BYU ($6,900)

  • Tamorrion Terry - Florida State ($6,700)

  • R.J. Sneed - Baylor ($6,100)

  • Damon Hazelton - Missouri ($5,300)

  • Andrew Parchment - Kansas ($4,800)

 

DK Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
QBCharlie BrewerBAYKU0$7,900
Pivot     
RBNajee HarrisBAMAMIZZ0$8,600
Pivot     
RBKhalil HerbertVTNCST0$5,900
Pivot     
WRTyquan ThorntonBAYKU0$6,600
PivotBrevin JordanMIAFSU21.05$5,900
WRJalen WydermyerTA&MVAND0$4,700
Pivot     
WRKwamie Lassiter IIKUBAY19.3$3,900
Pivot     
FLEXKhalil McClainTROYBYU25.5$4,800
PivotAinias SmithTA&MVAND0$4,000
S-FLEXZach WilsonBYUTROY16.98$6,900
Pivot MIAFSU26.48$8,700
      
DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
QBCharlie BrewerBAYKU0$7,900
Pivot     
RB MIAFSU28.6$8,300
Pivot     
RBTyler AllgeierBYUBYU28.2$6,300
Pivot     
WRJaylen WaddleBAMAMIZZ0$7,100
PivotDamon HazeltonMIZZBAMA0$5,300
WRGavin HolmesBAYKU0$4,900
Pivot     
WRKwamie Lassiter IIKUBAY19.3$3,900
Pivot     
FLEXZonovan KnightNCSTVT20.1$5,800
PivotAndrew ParchmentKUBAY17.4$4,700
S-FLEXGunnar WatsonTROYBYU15.22$5,800
Pivot MIAFSU26.48$8,700