College Football Week 9: Roster Construction

 

We get a true three-day weekend full of college football action with a solid slate last night and four more games tonight!  How exciting. What will make it even more exciting is winning your contests and cashing in. So, here we are to help you do that.

This is a lineup construction piece to give you some ideas on how I would approach tonight - and we’ll throw in a few example lineups from my partner in crime - Nick Dunning.  We won’t shy away from the fact that college football DFS has been just plain messed up this year. Players are coming you of nowhere, sitting with undisclosed injuries and just plain falling off the face of the earth inexplicably.  So, there are no sure things. Keep that in mind when dedicating some of your bankroll here.

That said, we have our finger on the pulse and will do everything we can to get you in the winner’s circle tonight. Let’s. Go.

According to our model, the top two point producers come from the Utah Utes. QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss. So, why not start with those two.  The UCLA defense has been, well, not good this year and the Utes have a balanced attack.  They also have the highest team projected point total of the evening. We will build around them.  Nick Dunning has Mr. Collin Hill in his DK lineup tonight as the newly minted Rams starting QB gets what could be considered still a bit of an overrated Wyoming defense and we know what this Colorado State offense can do with those receivers (will be mentioned later by name).  Plus, they are at home and with the nerves calmed a bit, that $5,600 price tag seems enticing.

For our two-QB lineups, take a look at Indiana signal caller Peyton Ramsey, who, gets a relatively tough matchup in Minnesota but the DK price point reflects that at just $7,800.  He’s a solid play as the Hoosiers can move the ball on offense.

You could go more expensive with Huntley and Ramsey or Hill.  Or, you can be bold and go with Hill and Ramsey and load up elsewhere...

Next on the list of top plays is Wyoming RB Nico Evans.  Evans resides in one of the worst overall offensive attacks in the country, but don’t be fooled - he is good. They are MUCH better running the football than passing and the Colorado State Rams rush defense is nearly non-existent. We’ll want some Nico as well. Other solid options at RB tonight include Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota’s back at just $5,200 and Miami’s Travis Homer against Boston College.  Speaking of BC, you won’t see me with many shares of all-world RB AJ Dillon tonight as he’s expected back.  His price point is still too high and who knows if he’s really 100%. Even if he is, it will be tough sledding against the Hurricanes’ front seven (or eight). Don’t be too afraid of Colorado State’s Izzy Matthews here in the FLEX spot or one of those two all-important RB slots. He leads the team in rushing and should be the bellcow.  He’s been known to chip in with the passing game as well and with Collin Hill potentially needing to check down a bit, he should add to that 21-catch total to this point.

At wide receiver, you’ll want to take a nice, long look at Colorado State’s top option Preston Williams ($7,600) and Minnesota’s go-to guy in Tyler Johnson ($8,500).  You will want to be all over another Ram WR in Warren Jackson, who has as much upside as anybody, but costs much less at $5,700. If you are looking for a cheap play for tournament lineups, look no further than Johnson’s freshman teammate in Chris Autman-Bell ($3,500).  The Indiana secondary will probably do plenty of double- and triple-covering on Johnson freeing up Bell and Rashod Bateman (another option).  Bell is the GPP option at 18.4 yards per grab and Bateman is the cash play at 31 catches for 9.5 per.  Indiana’s Luke Timian ($3,800) is another nice option as a cheaper play with upside.  Ramsey spreads the ball around a bit, but Timian, when healthy, is a top option. He is just fifth on the team in receptions with 24, but he missed three entire games.  He’s logged 6, 2, 5, 5 and 6 catches in those he has played and even though he hasn’t found the end zone - that’s bound to change soon enough.

Example Lineup #1 (Mine):

QB - Tyler Huntley (UTAH) - $10,000

RB - Nico Evans (WYO) - $8,300

RB - Zack Moss (UTAH) - $7,900

WR - Chris Autman-Bell (MINN) - $3,500

WR - Warren Jackson (CSU) - $5,700

WR - Luke Timian (IU) - $3,800

FLEX - Mohamed Ibrahim (MINN) - $5,200

S-FLEX - Collin Hill (CSU) - $5,600

 

Example Lineup #2 (Mine):

QB - Peyton Ramsey (IU) - $7,800

RB - Nico Evans (WYO) - $8,300

RB - Zack Moss (UTAH) - $7,900

WR - Austin Conway (WYO) - $3,500 -- They can’t be completely shut down through the air (can they?) and he leads with 28 catches on the season. So, at least he is the most likely to chip in at this cheap price.

WR - Britain Covey (UTAH) - $6,400 -- The leading receiver (by far) on this Utes corps with his worst outing recording four catches. He finally caught his first TD last week and I think he’ll make it two in a row.

WR - Theo Howard (UCLA) - $4,800 -- Not sure how UCLA is going to move the ball through the air, but IF they do - it will be to this guy.

FLEX - Travis Homer (MIA) - $5,700

S-FLEX - Collin Hill (CSU) - $5,600

 

Example Lineup #3 (Dunning):

QB - Tyler Huntley (UTAH) - $10,000

RB - Nico Evans (WYO) - $8,300

RB - Mohamed Ibrahim (MINN) - $5,200

WR - J-Shun Harris II (IU) - $4,500

WR - Olabisi Johnson (CSU) - $5,000 - the third-head of the WR monster was the No. 1 but has been battling injuries.

WR - Samson Nacua (UTAH) - $4,000 - another option in the Utah passing game. If they sell out to shut down Covey - he’ll likely come through.

FLEX - Izzy Matthews (CSU) - $6,300

S-FLEX - Malik Rosier (MIA) - $6,500 - not sure you can trust him, but the upside is there.