Who’s ready for some DFS CFB action on a Friday night?! It’s only a two-game slate, but we have a pair of entertaining matchups in the Pac-12 and ACC on tap. This playbook only focuses on the DraftKings slate in terms of pricing and lineup strategy, but feel free to play on FanDuel with the same players as well. 

If you have any questions on specific players or lineup builds, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @dan_servodidio or on the DFS Alarm CFB Discord before kickoff! Without further ado, let’s dive into the DFS CFB slate for Friday, November 5th! 

THE SLATE (Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook): 

7:30 pm ET -- Virginia Tech (-3) at Boston College -- 47 O/U

10:30 pm ET -- Utah (-9) at Stanford -- 54 O/U

Implied Team Totals (per DK Sportsbook Odds)

Utah -- 30.75 points vs. STAN

Virginia Tech -- 25 points vs. BC

Stanford -- 23.25 points vs. UTAH

Boston College -- 22 points vs. VT

 

QUARTERBACKS

Quarterbacks
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Cameron RisingUTAHSTAN800021.67  
Considering the lack of QB options on this short slate, expect Rising to be the popular choice in cash. Outside of playing on the best offense in action against a subpar Stanford defense, Rising’s dual-threat rushing ability gives him a pretty safe floor. He’s rushed for three TDs over the last four games and has 50+ rush yards three straight. We can bank on 20-25 DFS points as a floor - which is saying a lot in an ugly QB position tonight.
Braxton BurmeisterVTBC640016.45  
If Rising is the clear #1 QB option on this slate, then Burmeister is the de facto #2 with Stanford’s Tanner McKee questionable to play. Expect most people to go with the Rising/Burmeister combo in cash if they’re playing two QBs. Like Rising, Burmeister also has some dual-threat upside to his game which keeps his DFS floor on the safer end. In GPPs, you can go to Burmeister as your QB and fade Rising if you’re feeling froggy.
Dennis GroselBCVT540010.47  
If this were a larger slate, Grosel would be a complete ignore. By default, though, he’s in play for GPP at a cheap price tag and for the chance at 15-20 DFS points. Honestly, Grosel hasn’t been sharp since taking over for the injured Phil Jurkovec - and he even split reps with backup Emmitt Morehead last week. That could be the case again tonight, but there’s still the chance he returns value at low rostership in tournaments.

Also Consider: 

Tanner McKee -- Stanford ($6,700) -- GPP if active

 

RUNNING BACKS

Running Backs
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Tavion ThomasUTAHSTAN820015.44  
Though Thomas was a non-factor in the Utah offense earlier this season, he’s now the bell-cow back and coming off a massive performance vs. UCLA when he had 160 yards, four TDs and 43 DFS points on 24 carries. He’s now totaled 20+ carries in three straight and has eight TDs and two 100-yard performances over the last four games. The price tag may seem high, but Thomas is in a tier of his own at the RB position tonight - especially against a poor Stanford rush defense that’s allowing 206 rush yards per game and 5+ ypc. Lock in cash.
Malachi ThomasVTBC660010.84  
Thomas began this season as a backup to Raheem Blackshear in the VT backfield, but the freshman looks like he’s stolen the lead job away. He has 20+ carries and 100+ rushing yards in back-to-back games coming into tonight and out-performed Blackshear both times. Though Blackshear is still being used (we’ll get to him in a minute), it’s clear that Thomas has earned a bigger role moving forward and that shouldn’t change. He’s more a GPP play on this slate, but Thomas should have no issues on the ground against a shaky BC rush defense.
Austin JonesSTANUTAH610011.51  
If you’re fading one or both Malachi and Tavion Thomas, then Jones is the low-rostered RB play that could help you take down a tournament or two. Though he’s yet to rush for 100+ yards in a game or even score a rushing TD this season, Jones does bring some receiving production that makes up for it a bit. Case in point: he only had 23 rushing yards vs. Washington St in Week 7, but had nearly 25 DFS points because of his nine receptions for 75 yards and a TD. The Stanford offense may be feeding Jones both as a rusher and pass-catcher because of McKee’s questionable status and all the injuries in the Cardinal WR corps.
Pat Garwo IIIBCVT530013.29  
Remember when Garwo smashed for us in Week 4 against the weak Missouri rush defense? Well, he hasn’t eclipsed 100 rushing yards or 12 DFS points in the four games since. That’s more because this BC offense is falling behind nearly every week and passing more - and not as a result of lack of talent or effort on Garwo’s end. He’s still averaging 5.9 ypc and has been efficient with his touches every game. Garwo can easily take advantage of a subpar VT rush defense that’s allowing 212 rush yards per game during conference play. He’s a perfectly fine cash option on this short slate.
Raheem BlackshearVTBC490011.72  
Though Malachi Thomas has started getting more carries in the VT offense, Blackshear is still involved enough to be a solid DFS option. He’s averaged 7.8 and 5.9 ypc over the last two games and recorded double-digit touches in both. Blackshear also has a small pass-catching role out of the backfield while Thomas isn’t used at all as a receiver. At sub-5k, you can definitely play Blackshear in cash or GPP as a good value - and stacking him with Thomas isn’t a bad idea on this small slate.

Also Consider: 

TJ Pledger -- Utah ($4,400) -- GPP

E.J. Smith -- Stanford ($3,900) -- GPP

Micah Bernard -- Utah ($3,700) -- GPP

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Wide Receivers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Tre TurnerVTBC700014.72  
On a normal slate, Turner would be way too expensive to roster at this elevated price tag. However, he’s one of the only top-tier pass-catchers in action and his ceiling is nearly unmatched among WRs tonight. Just check out his 35 DFS points last week! We may see the VT offense be more run-heavy, so Turner’s opportunities at targets or TDs could be capped. Limit exposure to GPP’s with more people rather paying up at RB in cash.
Benjamin YurosekSTANUTAH680011.34  
It’s amazing to see Yurosek’s high price tag now after he was in the 3k range just a few weeks ago. Well, I suppose that’s what a string of big performances and a two-game slate will do. By default, the tight end has been posting solid numbers for three games straight with all the injuries to Stanford’s receiving corps. Even with an uncertain QB situation, we’ll likely see Yurosek be the Cardinal’s top receiver yet again because of all the inexperience around him in the offense. Expect a high floor for cash with his safe amount of targets and receptions.
Zay FlowersBCVT590013.39  
Even though he’s very talented, Flowers is so boom-or-bust for DFS this season because of the inconsistent QB play for Boston College. He smashed last week with his six catches for 116 yards and 20 DFS points, but then had less than 10 DFS points in the two games prior. It’s hard to trust him or the BC passing attack right now, but he could easily find the end zone or rack up 6-8 catches to return value. We just can’t trust that in cash, even on a two-game slate.
Elijah HigginsSTANUTAH560013.99  
First off, we have to check warmups to see which Stanford receivers are actually playing. Higgins has a questionable tag and could be out tonight. If he’s active and John Humphreys and Brycen Tremayne are both out, though, he’s the de facto No. 1 WR in the offense and would see a ton of targets with Stanford likely trailing Utah. If we get word he’s playing, then Higgins makes for a solid cash or GPP option.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Tayvion RobinsonVTBC480012.11  
Though Tre Turner is the headliner in VT’s receiving corps, don’t count out Robinson providing similar production for $2000 less. He’s put up 13+ DFS points in five of the last seven games and has a solid floor with just enough receiving volume. In cash, he’s the much better option than Turner as the two will likely have the same amount of points - barring a long TD by one or the other.
Britain CoveyUTAHSTAN44009.04  
It’s hard to get excited about any of the Utah receivers tonight. If you have to choose one, though, Covey might be the best per-dollar option at sub-5k and a decent enough floor to return value in cash. He has at least three receptions in four straight and is even involved as a ball-carrier on sweeps or quick behind-the-line passes. There’s a chance Utah doesn’t throw much tonight, so going with a cheaper Utes receiver is the best way to go.
Michael WilsonSTANUTAH37000  
Depending on which Stanford receivers are playing tonight, Wilson could end up being the top wideout available. Ironically, Wilson hasn’t played yet this season as he’s battled an injury of his own - but he was a full-go in practice this week and seems like he’ll make his debut tonight. Check warmups to ensure he’s playing, but Wilson is way too cheap for a guy that could end up getting plenty of targets with all the injuries to the Cardinal WR corps.

Also Consider: 

Brant Kuithe -- Utah ($6,500) -- GPP

Dalton Kincaid -- Utah ($4,600) -- GPP

Jaelen Gill -- Boston College ($3,800) -- Cash

Bryce Farrell -- Stanford ($3,100) -- GPP

 

EXAMPLE LINEUPS

DK Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
QBCameron RisingUTAHSTAN21.7$8,000
Pivot     
RBTavion ThomasUTAHSTAN15.4$8,200
Pivot     
RBPat Garwo IIIBCVT13.3$5,300
Pivot     
WRBenjamin YurosekSTANUTAH11.3$6,800
Pivot     
WRTayvion RobinsonVTBC12.1$4,800
PivotBritain CoveyUTAHSTAN9$4,400
WRMichael WilsonSTANUTAH-$3,700
PivotJaelen GillBCVT7.6$3,800
FLEXMalachi ThomasVTBC10.8$6,600
Pivot     
S-FLEXBraxton BurmeisterVTBC16.5$6,400
Pivot     
DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
QBTanner McKeeSTANUTAH19.8$6,700
PivotBraxton BurmeisterVTBC16.5$6,400
RBAustin JonesSTANUTAH11.5$6,100
Pivot     
RBRaheem BlackshearVTBC11.7$4,900
Pivot     
WRTre TurnerVTBC14.7$7,000
Pivot     
WRElijah HigginsSTANUTAH14$5,600
PivotBrant KuitheUTAHSTAN11.5$6,500
WRZay FlowersBCVT13.4$5,900
Pivot     
FLEXTavion ThomasUTAHSTAN15.4$8,200
Pivot     
S-FLEXDennis GroselBCVT10.5$5,400
PivotTayvion RobinsonVTBC12.1$4,800