We’re back for another slate of CFB DFS with the Week 5 night slate of games! This playbook focuses on the DraftKings contests for the 6-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 10/3):
7:30 pm ET -- Auburn @ Georgia (-6.5) -- 45 o/u
7:30 pm ET -- Tulsa @ UCF (-21.5) -- 72 o/u
7:30 pm ET -- Arkansas @ Mississippi State (-17) -- 69 o/u
7:30 pm ET -- Oklahoma (-7) @ Iowa State -- 63.5 o/u
7:30 pm ET -- LSU (-21) @ Vanderbilt -- 51 o/u
8 pm ET -- Virginia @ Clemson (-28) -- 55 o/u
Highest Team Totals (per DK Sportsbook Odds)
UCF -- 46.75 points vs. Tulsa
Mississippi State -- 43 points vs. Arkansas
Clemson -- 41.5 points vs. Virginia
LSU -- 36 points @ Vanderbilt
Oklahoma -- 35.25 points @ Iowa State
QUARTERBACKS
| Quarterbacks |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| K.J. Costello | MSST | ARK | 9300 | 41.12 | | |
| Who else took advantage of Costello’s $5900 salary a week ago? Well, DK has now priced him up as the most expensive player on the slate following the Mississippi State QB’s 41 DK points in the opener. Unfortunately, this price increase makes him only a GPP play only until we see either A) a repeat performance of last week or B) some regression which puts him in the 8k range moving forward. Frankly, his 623 passing yards and five TDs against LSU last week was a ceiling-game for Costello and we may only see those numbers once or twice the rest of this year. However, he’s a really good GPP play because we now know what his ceiling is in this Air Raid offense under Mike Leach. Plus, the matchup is a good one against an Arkansas defense that’s among the bottom-tier of the SEC. |
| Spencer Rattler | OU | ISU | 8400 | 29.34 | | |
| Although he threw three interceptions last week, Rattler still finished with 31 DK points thanks to his impressive passing stats otherwise - 387 yards and four TDs with a 73% completion rate. Honestly, Rattler was really good against Kansas State besides the picks - and yet that’s exactly what cost OU the win. Moving forward this year, though, we can still expect Rattler to be throwing it a lot in the Sooners’ up-tempo, spread offense that should put up plenty of points each game. Plus, Rattler and Co. won’t be able to take their foot off the pedal most weeks due to their porous defense that’ll result in plenty of shootouts. One of those games is coming this weekend as Oklahoma is only a 7-point favorite with 60+ points expected between them and Iowa State - whose defense has been pretty forgiving to the pass this season. Rattler is a solid cash game QB on this slate. |
| Dillon Gabriel | UCF | TLSA | 8200 | 36.05 | | |
| If you’re not going with Rattler as your cash QB, then Gabriel is the next best thing and his DFS ceiling is actually probably higher than Rattler’s this week. Gabriel has been a stud this season with 400 passing yards and four TDs thrown in both of the first two games - and there’s a decent chance he does it for a third straight. This UCF offense is one of the highest-scoring in the country with its fast tempo, spread passing game and perfect balance of run and pass. Even with that balance, we’ve seen Gabriel have at least 40 pass attempts in both of the first two outings and that trend will continue with UCF scoring 40-50 points every week. The matchup isn’t a great one (Tulsa’s defense was solid against the pass last year and in its opener) but that hasn’t mattered for Gabriel and this offense over the last couple seasons. He’ll be safe for cash as the headliner on the team projected to score the most on this night slate. |
| Feleipe Franks | ARK | MSST | 5200 | 11.3 | | |
| The cheap-end of QBs tonight isn’t too pretty if you’re looking for a value superflex option. The best among them, though, is Franks at the head of the Arkansas offense. The Razorbacks will almost certainly be playing catch-up for most of this week against Mississippi State and its Air Raid offense that went bonkers last week. So it should lead to plenty of pass attempts from Franks as Arkansas tries to keep pace on the scoreboard. The Florida transfer didn’t have a great first game against a tough Georgia defense, but he should bounce back in a softer matchup. The Miss St defense gave up 345 passing yards to LSU a week ago in that shootout - and that could end up being a trend for their games overall with plenty of offense on both sides and questionable defenses. |
Also Consider:
Trevor Lawrence - Clemson ($8,800) - GPP
Myles Brennan - LSU ($7,400) - Cash
Brennan Armstrong - Virginia ($5,600) - GPP
Ken Seals - Vanderbilt ($5,400) - Cash/GPP
RUNNING BACKS
| Running Backs |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Kylin Hill | MSST | ARK | 8100 | 36.2 | | |
| This Mississippi State offense is definitely one target not only on this night slate but all season because of how fast they play, how many points they score and how often they throw the ball. You’d think that last part would hurt Kylin Hill’s value as a top-tier RB, but he actually did most of his damage as a receiver in last week’s opener. Hill racked up eight catches for 158 yards, highlighted by a 75-yard TD reception. It’s ironic that 2019’s SEC rushing leader was a better pass-catcher than rusher in his first game back on the gridiron - Hill only saw seven carries for 34 yards. This trend will continue in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, but Hill should continue to see enough receiving volume to be a top DFS RB play. When Leach was at Washington State, their starting RBs were prolific pass-catchers out of the backfield and DFS studs because of their consistent reception volume. It’s only one game, but we should expect Hill to be used similarly as the offense’s most talented player. He’s great for cash and GPP this week. |
| Breece Hall | ISU | OU | 7900 | 30.35 | | |
| Volume is key for DFS RB’s and Hall may have the most consistent volume of any back on this slate. In eight games as Iowa State’s lead back last year, Hall averaged 21 carries and 101 rushing yards per game as a true freshman. Over the first two games this season, he’s seen 23 and 19 touches, respectively, with two straight 100-yard rushing performances and four total rushing scores. He’s the workhorse in the Cyclones’ offense and he’ll see plenty of carries once again this week, especially since QB Brock Purdy has looked shaky thus far. Last year vs. Oklahoma, Hall finished with 18 carries for 110 yards and added four receptions for 33 yards. He’s one of the best cash game RBs on this slate and maybe a safer pay-up option than Kylin Hill. |
| Travis Etienne | CLEM | UV | 7300 | 17.9 | | |
| Game-log watchers might look at Etienne’s 8.9 DK points from a week ago and ignore him on this slate. That would be a huge mistake because we need to realize that Clemson’s lead back barely played against The Citadel en route to a 49-0 blowout. Fortunately for us, DraftKings over-reacted here and lowered his salary down from $9200 last week to a very affordable price tag this time around. There’s no reason for Etienne to be this cheap when you consider he’s arguably the best RB in the country and has a ceiling of 30+ DFS points in any given week. He basically did that in Clemson’s opener vs. Wake Forest with 26.9 DK points on 149 all-purpose yards and a TD on 20 touches. Although the Tigers are 28-point favorites vs. UVA, we should see more playing time from the starters than last week and Etienne should see around 20 touches again like he did in the first game. He’s a great cash game and GPP play at this depressed price tag and is arguably a better option than Kylin Hill or Breece Hall overall. |
| Seth McGowan | OU | ISU | 5000 | 17.55 | | |
| The Oklahoma backfield has been all over the place in their first two games, but McGowan seems to have carved out a legit role. In the opener, McGowan was the most productive OU back with his nine carries for 61 yards and a score with a receiving TD thrown in. That performance came with starter T.J. Pledger out. With Pledger back last week, though, McGowan saw the same amount of carries as his backfield mate (13) and was more productive with them - his 73 rushing yards and 5.6 ypc average were notably better than Pledger’s 41 yards and 3.2 ypc. The stats say he’s been the best RB option for the offense and he might very well see the most carries this week in a must-win game for the Sooners. At 5k, he’s a great bargain in the mid-range of this slate if he’s getting 15 or so touches yet again. |
| Bentavious Thompson | UCF | TLSA | 3800 | 8.35 | | |
| It’s no secret how high-scoring this UCF offense is and we definitely want some exposure on this slate with the most projected points. A very affordable way to do that is Thompson, who has a solid role in the backfield despite plenty of talent around him. Greg McRae ($6000) is the lead rushing back and he’s also firmly in play tonight. Otis Anderson, though, will be a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury that limited him to just seven touches last week. That’s a far cry from Anderson’s 21 total touches in the previous game and his absence opened the door for Thompson - who saw 10 carries for 77 yards a week ago for an insane 7.7 ypc average. If Anderson is out or at least limited (which is likely), then Thompson would see a significant rise in touches as the explosive back to counteract McRae’s different style of running in this backfield. He’s a great salary-relief in all formats with how much the UCF offense will score tonight. |
Also Consider:
Zamir White - Georgia ($6,500) - GPP
Greg McRae - UCF ($6,000) - Cash/GPP
T.J. Pledger - Oklahoma ($5,400) - GPP
Billy Kemp IV - Virginia ($4,000) - Cash/GPP
WIDE RECEIVERS
| Wide Recievers |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Terrace Marshall Jr. | LSU | VAND | 7800 | 35.2 | | |
| With Justin Jefferson off to the NFL and Ja’Marr Chase opting out, the door is open for Marshall to be LSU’s top wideout this season and he proved he’s capable of it last week. In the Tigers’ first game with new QB Myles Brennan under center, Marshall was the clear-cut top receiving target as he put up 35.2 DK points with his eight receptions, 122 yards and two scores - numbers that were notably better than the next-best LSU pass-catcher. The Tigers put up 34 points in that outing, but they were playing from behind and throwing more often. The game flow surely favored the passing last week but it could change this week with LSU as big favorites over Vanderbilt. Marshall could still put up a big performance, but it’s not as much of a sure thing to pay up for him in cash games as the most expensive WR of the slate. The upside is there, though, and he’ll be a great GPP play - especially if pairing with Brennan. |
| Marlon Williams | UCF | TLSA | 7700 | 35 | | |
| If you’re playing Dillon Gabriel in cash or GPP tonight, you’ll want to pair him with at least one of his receivers with UCF expected to score a ton. The best possible option is UCF’s #1 receiver in Marlon Williams, who has put up two outstanding statistical performances thus far. In the first two games, Williams has 10 catches, 154 yards and two TD vs. Georgia Tech and then 13 catches for 136 yards vs. ECU. He led the team in receptions both games and also benefited from fellow WR Tre Nixon sitting out last week. Nixon will reportedly be game-time decision tonight, but Williams will still be Gabriel’s top target in the passing game regardless. He’s a great pair to get maximum exposure to this UCF offense and can be used in all formats with proven success last year and now into this season. |
| Osirus Mitchell | MSST | ARK | 7500 | 40.3 | | |
| Mississippi State’s opening week depth chart made it tough to project which receivers would be the guys to play for DFS, but we now have a bit of clarity. Mitchell’s 183 receiving yards and two TDs led the Bulldogs’ WR corps and his seven receptions were tied for second. The Air Raid offense means there will be plenty of receptions, yardage and TDs to go around for these Miss St receivers and Mitchell seems like an early favorite for being a top target for QB KJ Costello. However, the expensive price tag makes Mitchell only a GPP play on this slate until we see him prove it for multiple games. It’s especially tough to pay for him in cash games when you consider there are other cheaper MSU receivers to play - like JaVonta Payton for nearly $2000 less. |
| Seth Williams | AUB | UGA | 6100 | 32.2 | | |
| Auburn has a number of talented receivers, but Seth Williams is the Tigers’ #1 WR and he looks poised for a big season following last week’s opener. His six receptions, 112 yards and two scores led all Auburn pass-catchers and he’ll be QB Bo Nix’s top target every game as a big-bodied receiver who can compete in the red zone with the best SEC corners. Williams led Auburn in receptions (59), receiving yards (830) and receiving TDs (8) a year ago and the Nix-Williams connection will surely be stronger in their second full season playing together. At this price - and the tougher matchup vs. Georgia - Williams is only a GPP option tonight, but he showed us what the upside can be last week as one of the best playmakers for the AUB offense. |
| Marvin Mims | OU | ISU | 5500 | 18.55 | | |
| We didn’t know what to really expect from Mims as a freshman in this high-octane Oklahoma offense - but he’s clearly going to be one of the Sooners’ top playmakers this year. Over the first two games, Mims has eight catches for 111 yards and three TDs - including two scores last week as a top target for QB Spencer Rattler. Through the early part of this season, it seems like Rattler and Mims have a key connection (especially in the red zone) and it’s the freshman who is the safer DFS play in cash games right now than the higher-priced Charleston Rambo. Maybe we need another week of sample size to see if Rambo bounces back, but he was a ghost last week until later in the second half. Meanwhile, Mims had his two TDs before halftime and was definitely one of Rattler’s favorites. |
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Treylon Burks | ARK | MSST | 5300 | 25.5 | | |
| We mentioned above that Arkansas QB Feleipe Franks could be a nice value play with the offense trailing and having to throw the ball more often to play catch-up vs. Miss St. The same goes for the Razorbacks’ receivers with all of them being very affordable as possible one-offs on this slate. Burks was the offense’s top pass-catcher in the opener, with seven receptions for 102 yards and a TD - and his scoring connection with Franks was the only TD scored by Arkansas. That receiving volume is very attractive for his price tag here and we should expect similar production this week - especially in an easier matchup vs. Mississippi State (compared to Georgia last week). If you’re looking for a cash game filler in this price range, Burks is a solid choice as he looks like Franks’ favorite target right now. |
| Jaylon Robinson | UCF | TLSA | 5200 | 29.25 | | |
| If you don’t want to pay all the way up for Marlon Williams, this is a cheaper way to get exposure to the UCF offense at the WR position. With Tre Nixon out last week, Robinson exploded for 39 DK points with his nine receptions, 150 yards and two scores as he took full advantage of being the #2 receiver for QB Dillon Gabriel. Nixon is a game-time decision tonight but there’s a decent chance he’s out and Robinson winds up benefiting for a second straight game. In the season opener, Robinson still had good stats when Nixon played (six catches for 105 yards). With how many plays this UCF offense runs (and how often they score), there will be plenty of production to go around for multiple receivers and Robinson is just another way to have a share of the highest-scoring team and game on the slate. |
| Austin Williams | MSST | ARK | 4400 | 18.7 | | |
| Mississippi State’s Air Raid offense means multiple receivers will be rosterable every week because of how often they spread it around with plenty of pass attempts from QB KJ Costello. One of the cheaper options in this WR corps is Williams, who is the best cash game play from Miss St this week until his price tag increases more. Williams’ seven receptions last week tied for first among Bulldog receivers (with Osirus Mitchell) and he was the short-yardage, quick-completion target for Costello. He didn’t appear to be a big-play threat like some other receivers in this offense, but it’s definitely encouraging to see him be targeted underneath so often with how quick Costello likes to get the ball out. He’s a really attractive cash game play at sub-5k - and is a great way to get exposure to this high-scoring offense without having to pay all the way up for Mitchell. |
Also Consider:
Charleston Rambo - Oklahoma ($6,600) - GPP
George Pickens - Georgia ($6,300) - GPP
JaVonta Payton - Mississippi State ($5,700) - Cash/GPP
Frank Ladson Jr. - Clemson ($5,100) - GPP
Eli Stove - Auburn ($4,700) - Cash/GPP
Amir Abdur-Rahman - Vanderbilt ($4,500) - Cash
Jaray Jenkins - LSU ($4,300) - GPP
Drake Stoops - Oklahoma ($4,000) - GPP
Example Lineups
(Not for plug-and-play, just showing lineups that can be formed with the Playbook)
| DK Cash |
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| QB | Spencer Rattler | OU | ISU | 29.3 | $8,400 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| RB | Breece Hall | ISU | OU | 30.4 | $7,900 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| RB | Travis Etienne | CLEM | UV | 17.9 | $7,300 |
| ????Pivot | Seth McGowan | OU | ISU | 17.6 | $5,000 |
| WR | Amir Abdur-Rahman | VAND | LSU | 18.2 | $4,500 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| WR | Jaylon Robinson | UCF | TLSA | 29.3 | $5,200 |
| ????Pivot | Marlon Williams | UCF | TLSA | 35 | $7,700 |
| WR | Austin Williams | MSST | ARK | 18.7 | $4,400 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| FLEX | Bentavious Thompson | UCF | TLSA | 8.4 | $3,800 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| S-FLEX | Dillon Gabriel | UCF | TLSA | 36.1 | $8,200 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| DK GPP |
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| QB | K.J. Costello | MSST | ARK | 41.1 | $9,300 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| RB | Kylin Hill | MSST | ARK | 36.2 | $8,100 |
| ????Pivot | Travis Etienne | CLEM | UV | 17.9 | $7,300 |
| RB | Bentavious Thompson | UCF | TLSA | 8.4 | $3,800 |
| ????Pivot | Billy Kemp IV | UV | CLEM | 14 | $4,000 |
| WR | Terrace Marshall Jr. | LSU | VAND | 35.2 | $7,800 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| WR | Seth Williams | AUB | UGA | 32.2 | $6,100 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| WR | Austin Williams | MSST | ARK | 18.7 | $4,400 |
| ????Pivot | | | | | |
| FLEX | Treylon Burks | ARK | MSST | 25.5 | $5,300 |
| ????Pivot | JaVonta Payton | MSST | ARK | 21.2 | $5,700 |
| S-FLEX | Feleipe Franks | ARK | MSST | 11.3 | $5,200 |
| ????Pivot | | | | |
