CFB DFS Playbook & Core Plays: Week 0
Published: Aug 28, 2021
Welcome back college football fans & DFS players!! The CFB season finally kicks off this Saturday with a three-game slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. It may be Week 0 with some lesser-known teams in action - but we’ll take any competitive college football at this point!
If you’re unfamiliar with how these CFB DFS playbooks usually go, we’ll first outline the slate from a betting perspective to determine which games and teams to target overall. Then we’ll dive into the top plays at quarterback, running back and wide receiver positions. Finally, the example lineups at the bottom tell you how to build a winning roster for either cash or GPP contests.
If you have any questions on specific players or lineup builds, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @dan_servodidio and I’ll try to help you cash! Without further ado, let’s dive into the Saturday, August 28th slate!
THE SLATE (Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook):
- 1 pm ET -- Nebraska (-6.5) at Illinois -- 55 O/U
- 2 pm ET -- UConn at Fresno State (-27.5) -- 62.5 O/U
- 3:30 pm ET -- Hawaii at UCLA (-19.5) -- 68 O/U
Highest Team Totals (per DK Sportsbook Odds)
- Fresno State -- 45 points vs. UConn
- UCLA -- 43.75 points vs. Hawaii
- Nebraska -- 30.75 points at Illinois
QUARTERBACKS
Quarterbacks | |||||||
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
Jake Haener | FRES | UCONN | 9700 | 27.44 | 11000 | 25.27 | |
Fresno State is the biggest favorite on this slate as Vegas (and everyone) is expecting them to beat up on UConn. Naturally, we should look to target this offense in any way possible and the logical first step would be Jake Haener at QB. The senior was the starter last season when he totaled 2,021 passing yards, 14 TDs and a 64.7% completion rate across six games. That’s an average of 336 yards and two-plus TDs per game. We should expect Haener and the Fresno State offense to light up the scoreboard early and often against a UConn defense that didn’t play at all last year and will likely struggle out of the gate. The price is steep, but Haener should be perfectly fine in cash or GPP - though he's a better play on FD. The only worry here is that Fresno gets up big and runs the clock out in the second half - limiting the stats for the passing attack. | |||||||
Dorian Thompson-Robinson | UCLA | HAW | 8500 | 29.48 | 12000 | 27.48 | |
Welcome to the chalk QB of the slate. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is one of the better dual-threat guys in the country and the UCLA offense will lean on his playmaking all season. Despite only playing in four full games last year, DTR seemed comfortable running the Chip Kelly offense and should be even better this time around. The senior can just as easily run for 100+ yards and a TD or throw for 300+ yards and a couple scores - or both! The rushing ability is what we love for DFS QBs and DTR provides a solid floor with those yards on the ground. In what should be a high-scoring matchup, expect him to rack up the stats in all areas and hope that Hawaii keeps it close enough for him to keep it going all day. Lock DTR into your cash lineups on this short slate. | |||||||
Chevan Cordeiro | HAW | UCLA | 7500 | 25.54 | 9500 | 25.11 | |
It’ll be tough to fit both Haener and DTR in the same lineup, so using a cheaper QB in the Super-Flex spot is likely a popular cash strategy. Chevan Cordeiro could end up throwing a ton in this game if Hawaii is trailing UCLA in a likely offensive shootout. Last year, he tossed 2,083 yards and 14 TDs over nine games and then also added 483 rushing yards and seven rushing scores on the ground. The dual-threat upside is something we love to see and Cordeiro could realistically end up with more rushing production than DTR across from him. Cordeiro and the Hawaii offense will surely be playing catch-up in this one and that should pad the stats for the passing game. If that’s the case, the Hawaii QB is a massive bargain if he finishes with about the same fantasy points as the two higher-priced guys. | |||||||
Adrian Martinez | NEB | IL | 6800 | 21.36 | 8600 | 19.90 | |
It seems this slate is filled with dual-threat QBs and Adrian Martinez is another who could be a cheap Super-Flex option for those interested. Believe it or not, Martinez actually led Nebraska in rushing yards (521) and rushing TDs (7) last year despite battling an injury. This is nothing new for a guy who now has 1,776 yards and 22 scores on the ground throughout his collegiate career with the Cornhuskers. Since Martinez and Co. are playing a conference opponent right off the bat here, it’ll surely be a tighter game than the others - thus guaranteeing the starters to play more than, say, the Fresno State guys. With his passing and rushing combined, Martinez could easily give you 30-40 DFS points. |
Also Consider:
- Brandon Peters -- Illinois ($6,500 DK / $7,400 FD) -- GPP
Running Backs
Running Backs | |||||||
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
Ronnie Rivers | FRES | UCONN | 7800 | 27.37 | 10500 | 24.12 | |
Fresno’s senior RB is back for a fifth year of eligibility and he should garner a full bell-cow workload of touches once again. Rivers has been the starting tailback for each of the last three seasons and will be leaned on yet again as the headliner in the offense. In 2020, he totaled 772 total yards and nine TDs over six games while averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 21 touches per game. The price tags for Rivers aren’t too bad and he’s worth every penny for cash as the lead RB for the biggest favorite and highest-scoring offense - especially on this three-game slate. The only worry - as with Haener - is if Rivers’ touches get scaled back in a likely blowout win. Still, he could already have 100+ rushing yards and a couple scores before that happens. | |||||||
Calvin Turner Jr. | HAW | UCLA | 6400 | 21.52 | 9200 | 18.17 | |
Hawaii’s top overall playmaker is Calvin Turner, who is listed as a hybrid RB/WR position on the depth chart. Expect Turner to play mostly in the slot and get plenty of sweeps and end-arounds as the Rainbow Warriors try to get it in his hands as often as possible. Last year, he finished with 331 rushing yards and four rushing scores with a 5.5 ypc average. As a receiver, he added 33 receptions for 546 yards and six more TDs. He’s clearly the top playmaker in Hawaii’s offense and should see enough volume to return value. The higher price tag, though, could make him a cheaper GPP play with more people going to Rivers. | |||||||
Brittain Brown | UCLA | HAW | 5600 | 14.53 | 8600 | 13.67 | |
Gone is Demetric Felton, the playmaking hybrid RB who starred for UCLA last year. It’s Brittain Brown’s time to step into the lead back role after he played a second-fiddle to Felton in 2020. Brown ran for 543 yards on 82 carries last year, but averaged a robust 6.6 yards per carry. We got a good glimpse of what Brown can do as the Bruins’ feature back when he started in place of the injured Felton in the final game of last season. Against Stanford, he ran for 219 yards on 29 carries and added two more receptions for 22 yards. That’s some serious workload and it’s similar to the amount of touches Felton was getting as the lead back - he routinely got 25-30 total touches per game. With how fast the UCLA offense plays - and how much they’re expected to score - there’s enough production to go around for both Brown and Thompson-Robinson to have good games. Outside of Rivers, this is the best option in cash. | |||||||
Gabe Ervin Jr. | NEB | IL | 4100 | 0 | 6500 | 0.00 | |
Unfortunately, Nebraska is being coy with its depth chart ahead of this weekend’s conference matchup - so we don’t know who will be the lead RB. Some beat reporters, though, expect freshman Gabe Ervin to be involved more than his price tags indicate. The Huskers also have USC transfer Markese Stepp, who may get the first crack at carries - but he’s dealt with an injury lately and could easily cede touches to Ervin. The newcomer impressed in spring camp and could end up being the bell cow feature back that coach Scott Frost has said he wants in the offense. If Ervin gets double-digit carries for 60-80 yards and a score this weekend - or better - don’t be surprised. He’s a very nice value play on this slate. |
Also Consider:
- Zach Charbonnet -- UCLA ($5,300 DK / $6,600 FD) -- GPP
- Markese Stepp -- Nebraska ($4,900 DK / $7,200 FD) -- GPP
- Jordan Mims -- Fresno State ($4,700 DK / $6,800 FD) -- Cash/GPP
- Dae Dae Hunter -- Hawaii ($4,400 DK / $6,200 FD) -- Cash/GPP
Wide Receivers
Wide Receivers | |||||||
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
Jalen Cropper | FRES | UCONN | 7300 | 21.62 | 9400 | 16.87 | |
We’ve mentioned it already but it’s worth reiterating - the Fresno State players are clearly a spot to target on this short slate as big favorites in a high total matchup. In the passing game, Jalen Cropper is the Bulldogs’ clear-cut top receiver after he led the team in catches (37), receiving yards (520) and receiving TDs (five) across six games last year. He ended the 2020 campaign on a very high note with at least seven receptions and 100+ yards in each of the final three games. Expect Cropper to be a favorite target for QB Jake Haener in this opener after the two developed a rapport last year. He’s viable in all formats and should be a popular pairing with Haener. | |||||||
Kyle Philips | UCLA | HAW | 7000 | 12.86 | 8300 | 10.00 | |
Last year, Kyle Phillips developed a nice rapport with Thompson-Robinson and we should expect that bond to be even stronger this season. Phillips led the Bruins in receptions last year (38) as he operated mostly out of the slot as the target of quick passes from DTR. He should be used similarly this season, which is great in PPR as he totaled six-plus receptions in four of the last five games to end the year. His floor is pretty safe in this role and UCLA will need him to be a bigger playmaker in 2021 with Demetric Felton now gone from the offense. The price tags are hefty, though, and limit his value to tournaments rather than cash on this slate. | |||||||
Greg Dulcich | UCLA | HAW | 6000 | 16.24 | 8600 | 13.53 | |
Despite being a tight end, Greg Dulcich actually led UCLA in receiving yards (517) and receiving TDs (5) last season. Not only was Dulcich a favorite red-zone target for the offense, but he was also a big play threat who’s a very good athlete for his size. He averaged 19.9 yards per catch and equally provides a safe floor with at least four catches in four of seven games last year. He should be a top target for DTR alongside Kyle Phillips now that Felton is off to the NFL. Considering the salary differential, Dulcich is the better cash option than Phillips on both sites. | |||||||
Samori Toure | NEB | IL | 4900 | 0 | 7000 | 0.00 | |
As mentioned, Nebraska isn’t giving much away when it comes to its depth chart. A name that’s gotten some buzz during camp, though, is Samori Toure. He was one of the best receivers in the FCS during his career at Montana before heading over to the Cornhuskers - and now he has a chance to be a playmaker in a Big Ten offense. Toure will reportedly start in the slot, which has been a featured role in Scott Frost’s offenses over the years. Last season, Wan’Dale Robinson was the offense’s leading receiver while manning the slot - and Toure might just step right into that role as the team’s best pass-catcher. For the cheap price tags, he’s definitely worth a close look in all formats. | |||||||
Cameron Ross | UCONN | FRES | 4800 | 0 | 7200 | 11.73 | |
All of UConn’s pass-catchers are cheap and it’s anyone’s guess as to which will emerge as the top target - especially since the Huskies still have a QB battle ongoing. It may take a game or two to see which QB wins the job and which receivers he prefers. For now, all of the UConn wideouts and tight ends are just GPP dart throws - although one of them could pop off because of how much Connecticut will inevitably be passing while trailing against Fresno State. Cameron Ross should provide the best floor/ceiling combination. The senior led the team in receptions (60) and receiving yards (723) when UConn last played games in 2019 - with the next-closest Husky receiver sitting at 27 catches for 368 yards. Ross is worth a shot in tournaments at his price tags. | |||||||
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
Josh Kelly | FRES | UCONN | 4400 | 11.3 | 7100 | 9.47 | |
So we’ve been over the studs on Fresno State to target, but let’s find a cheaper option to still get exposure to the high-scoring offense. Redshirt sophomore Josh Kelly is the other confirmed starter in the Bulldogs’ receiving corps next to Jalen Cropper - while the other spot is an either/or situation between Keric Wheatfall and Ty Jones. As for Kelly, his 22 catches and 330 receiving yards across six games both ranked third on the team last year. In those six contests, though, Kelly did total at least four receptions four different times and had 90+ yards twice. He was definitely one of QB Jake Haener’s favorite targets and should continue that role in 2021. If you’re looking for a cheap way to get some share of the Fresno attack, Kelly is worth a shot. |
Also Consider:
- Jared Smart -- Hawaii ($6,200 DK / $7,500 FD) -- Cash/GPP
- Isaiah Williams -- Illinois ($5,000 DK / $5,500 FD) -- Cash/GPP
- Nick Mardner -- Hawaii ($4,700 DK / $6,500 FD) -- GPP
- Chase Cota -- UCLA ($4,600 DK / $6,200 FD) -- Cash/GPP
- Jay Rose -- UConn ($3,400 DK / $4,900 FD) -- Cash
Core Players
Top Tier | Mid Tier | Value Tier | |
Quarterback | Jake Haener | Dorian Thompson-Robinson | Chevan Cordeiro |
Running Back | Ronnie Rivers | Brittain Brown | Gabe Ervin Jr. |
Wide Receiver | Jalen Cropper | Greg Dulcich | Samori Toure |