THE SLATE (betting odds via DK Sportsbook as of 12/31): 

  • 12 pm ET -- Georgia (-6.5) vs. Cincinnati -- 50.5 o/u
  • 1 pm ET -- Auburn vs. Northwestern (-3.5) -- 43 o/u
  • 4 pm ET -- Notre Dame vs. Alabama (-19.5) -- 65.5 o/u
  • ?8 pm ET -- Ohio State vs. Clemson (-7.5) -- 67.5 o/u

Highest Team Totals (per DK Sportsbook Odds)

  1. Alabama -- 42.5 points vs. Notre Dame
  2. Clemson -- 37.5 points vs. Ohio State
  3. Ohio State -- 30 points vs. Clemson
  4. Georgia -- 28.5 points vs. Cincinnati

Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Trevor LawrenceCLEMOSU880030.22  
The two CFP semifinals are expected to be high-scoring, but the Clemson-Ohio State matchup is the one more likely to turn into a back-and-forth offensive shootout. Trevor Lawrence would benefit a ton from that type of game script and he’ll be popular in cash games on this short slate simply because of his name brand and dual-threat upside. Lawrence has been phenomenal since returning from a mid-season COVID absence and we can bank on him coming through this week. Plus, he’s been rushing even more this season than previously - highlighted by 131 rushing yards and three rush TDs combined in the last two games.
Mac JonesBAMAND870027.24  
If Lawrence is the top cash QB, then Jones is the top GPP option on this slate as he leads the high-scoring Alabama offense. The matchup vs. Notre Dame might seem tough on paper, but the Tide should have no issues lighting up the scoreboard like they’ve done all season - and how Clemson did in the ACC title game. The only risk with Jones is if this game turns into a blowout - and Vegas thinks it will be an easy win with the Irish as three-touchdown dogs. In that case, Bama could run the ball more in the second half with the game in hand and Jones’ upside could be capped. Still, he has the talent to put up 300+ yards and 4-5 TDs if it’s a close shootout - which is a definite possibility as well.
Justin FieldsOSUCLEM800030.87  
The stud QBs are plentiful on this slate and it might result in Fields going lower-owned than Lawrence and Jones. It’s hard to ignore the dud he put up in the Big Ten title game vs. Northwestern when he finished with less than 10 DK points and no TDs accounted for. Still, we should expect a bounceback for one of the best QBs in the country. He’ll have to be at his best if Ohio State wants to beat Clemson - and Vegas expects it to be a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair. Plus, Fields should benefit from having WR Chris Olave and other Buckeyes’ starting O-linemen back from their COVID absences. He makes for a great Super-Flex QB on a slate where you might have to pay up for two QBs in cash games.
Peyton RamseyNWAUB540014.55  
The Super-Flex QB range is a bit tough to navigate on this slate - and Ramsey stands out as the cheapest starting QB in action. Although he hasn’t been overly impressive this season, Ramsey could easily return value against an Auburn defense that’s been shaky at times. The Northwestern offense is pretty balanced and Ramsey has a few games with 30-40 pass attempts this season. That volume at this cheap price tag would be welcomed for DFS purposes - and it puts Ramsey in play for GPP’s as your QB2.

Also Consider: 

  • Desmond Ridder - Cincinnati ($8,300) - GPP
  • Ian Book - Notre Dame ($6,700) - Cash/GPP

Running Backs

Running Backs
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Najee HarrisBAMAND920033.26  
Remember when Najee Harris had five total TDs and 245 total yards in the SEC title game? Yep, that’s the ceiling for Alabama’s stud back and his DFS floor is actually not too far off. The high-powered Tide offense scores enough for both the pass and run game to be valuable for fantasy purposes - and we’ve seen Harris put up monster numbers on a weekly basis even when QB Mac Jones and WR DeVonta Smith also light it up. The matchup vs. Notre Dame is a tough one, but that really hasn’t mattered for Harris and the Alabama attack. If you can fit him in, Harris is in a tier by himself on this slate for all formats.
Travis EtienneCLEMOSU690026.06  
It’s amazing to think that Etienne has only three 100-yard rushing performances this season - but it’s the reality with Clemson being so dominant and blowing teams out where they don’t need their star RB to have good games to win. Still, Etienne has gotten it done as a receiver out of the backfield this year and that involvement will be key in this semifinal matchup vs. Ohio State. Clemson’s studs - led by Trevor Lawrence and Etienne - will have to be at their best to win this game and we should count on heavy usage from the latter. The TDs aren’t guaranteed for him, though, with Lawrence either rushing or passing for most - so his price tag makes him more a GPP play on this slate.
Trey SermonOSUCLEM660017.27  
Geez. Who saw a record-breaking 331 rushing yards coming from Sermon in the Big Ten title game? Although the former Oklahoma transfer had been stealing carries away from starter Master Teague late in the season, the big performance against a tough Northwestern defense was definitely out of nowhere. We obviously can’t expect a repeat of last game, but it’s encouraging that Ohio State is leaning on Sermon’s fresh legs to give the offense another dimension. He’ll probably split the workload with Teague - and it makes him a GPP option on this short slate with a big salary increase. If OSU wants to beat Clemson, though, they might have to do it with a strong run game - and Sermon is the hot hand right now over Teague.
Cam PorterNWAUB49009.92  
Northwestern’s true freshman has emerged late in the season as the team’s workhorse and he should see a healthy amount of touches in this bowl matchup vs. Auburn. Porter exploded for 142 rushing yards and two TDs on 24 carries in the second-to-last game of the year- and then followed that performance up with 76 total yards and a score on 19 touches in the Big Ten title game. He’s a clear focal point of the offensive gameplan and Northwestern will likely give him plenty of work this week to build for next year already. Porter’s emergence has also led to former starters Isaiah Bowser and Drake Anderson entering the transfer portal - so this backfield is all his right now. The volume and cheap price tag should make him popular in cash games as a clutch salary-saver on the short slate.
Master Teague IIIOSUCLEM410015.9  
It’s crazy what one game can do to the DFS pricing - and this one seems like a big overreaction. Trey Sermon’s breakout in the Big Ten title game has flipped the pair’s DK salaries and now Teague seems like the forgotten man in the Buckeyes’ backfield. However, Teague was dealing with an injury in that last game and he could easily return to a lead role in this semifinal matchup with Clemson. It wasn’t too long ago when Teague was the guy getting 20+ carries and 100+ rushing yards as OSU’s lead runner. He’s way too cheap for a proven RB who could easily score twice and split the workload with Sermon. Lock him into GPP lineups with big upside at an insane price tag.

Also Consider: 

  • Kyren Williams - Notre Dame ($6,200) - GPP
  • Zamir White - Georgia ($5,900) - GPP
  • Jerome Ford - Cincinnati ($4,600) - GPP
  • Shaun Shivers - Auburn ($3,400) - Cash/GPP

Wide Receivers

Wide Receivers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
DeVonta SmithBAMAND900035.02  
The AP Player of the Year and possible Heisman winner is appropriately priced and still might be too cheap. We were perfectly fine rostering him at higher salaries than this and now he might be a near-lock for cash games at a slight discount. As the clear-cut #1 WR in the Tide offense, Smith has a legit DFS floor of 30+ points with the upside to eclipse 45-50. We just saw him go off for 48 DK points in the SEC title game when he racked up 15 catches for 184 yards and two scores. That stat line is not out of the question in this semifinal matchup where he, Mac Jones and Najee Harris will dominate the offensive production for Bama.
Amari RodgersCLEMOSU650019.63  
If there’s one thing that we know about Clemson’s offense it’s that the top playmakers show up on the national stage. The Tigers cruise for most of the season with easy wins and starters not playing full games - but the best players usually have good games when it matters most. We’ve seen it in past Playoff appearances and it rang true in the ACC title game as well. In that matchup, Rodgers went off for eight catches, 121 yards and a TD as Trevor Lawrence’s top target. The Clemson WR corps is centered on Rodgers and Cornell Powell making plays with a high volume of receptions - and we should expect that again in this semifinal. You can easily pair up Lawrence with one of Powell or Rodgers and feel good about it in cash or GPP.
Chris OlaveOSUCLEM640025.76  
Olave was forced to miss the Big Ten title game due to COVID protocols, but all signs point to him returning to action for this semifinal game as he’s back at practice this week. His absence vs. Northwestern was very evident as QB Justin Fields struggled all game without arguably his best receiver. Olave’s return will make the OSU offense miles better and he should step right back into a high-volume, high-upside role. It’s him and Garrett Wilson at the top of Ohio State’s receiving food chain - and Olave is yet again the better DFS play at a cheaper price. With the public likely paying up for either DeVonta Smith or the Clemson WRs, Olave and Wilson are both phenomenal GPP options.
John Metchie IIIBAMAND510014.93  
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: John Metchie is way too cheap. As the clear #2 WR in the Tide offense behind DeVonta Smith, there’s no reason he should be basically 5k on a short slate like this one. Although he hasn’t found the end zone in three straight, the upside for Metchie to score once or twice in any given week makes him a big bargain as long as he’s this cheap. The floor for cash games is also pretty solid with at least four catches and 50+ receiving yards in four straight. There’s a decent chance that Notre Dame gameplans to “try” to shutdown Smith this week - and that would leave Metchie open for a ton of targets. A lot of people will probably stack Jones with Smith and Metchie in cash games - and it’s not a bad idea to load up on the highest-scoring offense on this slate.
Javon McKinleyNDBAMA490014.12  
If Vegas is right, then Alabama will have a big lead over Notre Dame in this semifinal matchup and it’ll force the Irish to throw a lot more than usual while playing from behind. That scenario seems pretty likely - and it makes these underpriced Notre Dame receivers pretty attractive for either GPP or cash. McKinley is the team’s top wideout with his big frame and athletic build being a popular target for QB Ian Book this season. He’s gone off for 100+ yards multiple times this season and that type of performance at sub 5k would be a steal.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Ramaud Chiaokhiao-BowmanNWAUB480013.75  
If you’re playing Northwestern QB Peyton Ramsey in GPP’s - look to pair him up with his top target. Chiaokhiao-Bowman has emerged as a legit PPR monster this season and his eight receptions for 103 yards in the Big Ten title game was evidence that he can get it done in tougher matchups as well. In that outing, Ramsey looked his way often as a short-to-mid range pass-catcher on the boundaries and over the middle. That was his third game of eight receptions in this shortened season. Look for Ramsey to target the senior receiver early and often in this one. He also gets a boost with Kyric McGowan entering the transfer portal.
Eli StoveAUBNW410012.01  
Following the news that Anthony Schwartz has opted out of this bowl game, it bumps up Eli Stove as a top value on this slate. Stove has been a reception machine this season with 40 grabs in eight games - keeping his DFS value pretty safe with the PPR production. There’s a decent chance that Seth Williams doesn’t play a full game either with a potential NFL career in the waiting. Stove could end up being QB Bo Nix’s top target in the short yardage - which is crucial against a tough Northwestern defense where big plays are hard to come by.
Michael MayerNDBAMA35007.8  
As we said with Jacon McKinley, this semifinal matchup might turn into Notre Dame having to throw more often in the second half while playing from behind - and it’ll benefit all of the Irish pass-catchers with more targets than normal. One of QB Ian Book’s top weapons is freshman tight end Michael Mayer - who has received a ton of hype in his first collegiate season and has carved out a legit role in the offense. Mayer is way too cheap for a guy who’s caught five passes in back-to-back games and has a proven role as a short yardage target for Book. Notre Dame could look to feature him more in this game as he’s already one of the best players on the offense.

Also Consider: 

  • Garrett Wilson - Ohio State ($7,200) - GPP
  • George Pickens - Georgia ($6,100) - GPP
  • Cornell Powell - Clemson ($5,800) - Cash/GPP
  • Alec Pierce - Cincinnati ($5,500) - GPP
  • Ben Skowronek - Notre Dame ($4,400) - Cash
  • E.J. Williams - Clemson ($4,300) - GPP
  • Josh Whyle - Cincinnati ($4,000) - GPP

Example Lineups 
(These are examples of what is possible with the Playbook and not intended for plug and play)

DK Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
QBTrevor LawrenceCLEMOSU30.2$8,800
PivotMac JonesBAMAND27.2$8,700
RBCam PorterNWAUB9.9$4,900
Pivot     
RBNajee HarrisBAMAND33.3$9,200
PivotTravis EtienneCLEMOSU26.1$6,900
WRAmari RodgersCLEMOSU19.6$6,500
PivotDeVonta SmithBAMAND35$9,000
WRMichael MayerNDBAMA7.8$3,500
Pivot     
WREli StoveAUBNW12$4,100
Pivot     
FLEXR. Chiaokhiao-BowmanNWAUB13.8$4,800
Pivot     
S-FLEXJustin FieldsOSUCLEM30.9$8,000
Pivot     
      
DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
QBJustin FieldsOSUCLEM30.9$8,000
PivotMac JonesBAMAND27.2$8,700
RBMaster Teague IIIOSUCLEM15.9$4,100
Pivot     
RBTravis EtienneCLEMOSU26.1$6,900
PivotZamir WhiteUGACINCY16.8$5,900
WRDeVonta SmithBAMAND35$9,000
Pivot     
WRJohn Metchie IIIBAMAND14.9$5,100
Pivot     
WRJavon McKinleyNDBAMA14.1$4,900
Pivot     
FLEXChris OlaveOSUCLEM25.8$6,400
PivotTrey SermonOSUCLEM17.3$6,600
S-FLEXPeyton RamseyNWAUB14.5$5,400
Pivot