CFB DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks For 9/5: Week 1 Playbook

The 2026 college football season is finally here! The slate on Saturday, September 5th, features a full slate of games for daily fantasy lineups. Let’s dive into the top CFB DFS Picks as you build lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. In this article, we’ll discuss the best plays at each position with CFB DFS projections. 

As you read over our Week 1 CFB DFS Picks, take advantage of Fantasy Alarm’s College Football DFS Ownership Projections for both DK and FD. Plus, you can use our Weekly Player Projections and CFB DFS Lineup Generator. 

CFB DFS Picks, Daily Fantasy Playbook & Schedule: Saturday, September 5th

Before we discuss top CFB DFS picks this week, let’s take a look at the slate. DraftKings has a 12-game main slate with only afternoon action. Meanwhile, FanDuel’s 14-game slate spans both the afternoon and night. For the write-ups, we’ll focus on top players and value picks for games that overlap both sites. However, check out our specific DraftKings and FanDuel core plays below. Here’s a look at the Week 1 CFB DFS picks. 

CFB DFS Lineups: Top Plays

Byrum Brown, QB, Auburn

DK: $7,800 | FD: $11,600

Brown was a stud dual-threat at South Florida last year. He threw for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns, ran for 1,008 yards and 14 scores, and averaged 36.7 DK points per game. Now he’s at Auburn, following head coach Alex Golesh to the SEC. Expect him to pick up right where he left off. Baylor’s defense struggled last season, especially against the rush. That’s trouble against Brown, who can beat defenses in multiple ways. He’s especially affordable on DraftKings as a top QB play. 

Makhi Hughes, RB, Houston

DK: $7,600 | FD: $8,400

The expensive range of running backs is a bit tough to navigate. There are some very good ceiling options, but many of the top guys could be hurt by blowout unpredictability. If you want to take a chance for tournaments, Makhi Hughes offers plenty of upside. The tailback transfers to Houston after barely touching the ball last year at Oregon. However, we’re banking on the Tulane version of Hughes showing up again. He ran for 2,779 yards over two seasons from 2023-24, and now reunites with his former coach Willie Fritz. The Oregon State run defense had issues last year and could struggle to stop Hughes. 

Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

DK: $7,300 | FD: $8,300

Can I interest you in yet another transfer? Cam Coleman is now at Texas after leaving Auburn, and he should step right into a productive role. The numbers at his old school weren’t eye-popping, especially for a highly-rated prospect. Still, he dealt with subpar quarterbacks throwing to him. Now he has Arch Manning and gets to play in a Texas offense with talent all over. It’s hard to predict how the targets shake out in Week 1, but Coleman and Manning could easily connect for multiple touchdowns right away. 

CFB DFS Lineups: Value Plays

Brad Jackson, QB, Texas State

DK: $6,900 | FD: $8,400

Of course, Arch Manning is the headliner in the QB matchup of Texas State vs. Texas. However, the guy on the other side could also be productive for DFS this week. Brad Jackson threw for 3,224 yards last year and added 744 more on the ground. He also scored 17 rushing TDs. That dual-threat ability is gold for daily fantasy. At the very least, Jackson should be busy throwing it while Texas State inevitably trails throughout this game. His floor can be safe for cash lineups at affordable price points. 

Gi’Bran Payne, RB, Cincinnati 

DK: $4,200 | FD: $8,000

This is more of a value on DraftKings than FanDuel. The Cincinnati backfield doesn’t have a clear starter heading into Week 1. Gi’Bran Payne, though, could emerge as the guy before long. He’s reportedly stood out in camp and could take on a big role in the Bearcats’ offense. The Notre Dame transfer will likely split carries in this opener, but he’s worth a GPP play. Boston College was bad against the run last year, and Cincy could run all over the defense. 

Louis Brown IV, WR, Baylor

DK: $4,800 | FD: $7,400

The Baylor vs. Auburn matchup is one to potentially game stack on this slate. It could turn into a back-and-forth shootout and is one of the only close spreads on the day. So, finding a cheap play or two could be crucial. Louis Brown IV is among those. The transfer wideout was productive at San Diego State and Colorado State before coming to Baylor. He could emerge as a favorite target and the WR1 for new QB DJ Lagway. Getting that for under 5k on DraftKings can be a steal. 

Core CFB DFS Lineup Picks: QBs, RBs & WRs