CFB DFS Playbook & Example Lineups: Week 1 (Saturday Night)

Published: Sep 04, 2021
THE SLATE (Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)
7pm ET—Missouri State at Oklahoma State—No Odds (DRAFTKINGS ONLY)
7pm ET-- Syracuse (-1) at Ohio – 56 O/U
7pm ET—Oregon State at Purdue (-7)—69 O/U
7PM ET—Texas Tech at Houston (-1.5)—64.0
7:30pm ET-- Georgia at Clemson (-3) – 50.5 O/U
7:30pm ET-- Florida Atlantic at Florida (-23.5)—52.5 O/U
8pm ET-- Kent State at Texas A&M (-29.5) -- 67 O/U
8pm ET-- Southern Mississippi at South Alabama (-1) -- 56.5 O/U (FANDUEL ONLY)
8:30pm ET-- LSU (-2.5) at UCLA—65 O/U
Highest Implied Team Totals
Texas A&M- 48 points vs. Kent State
Purdue- 38 points vs. Oregon State
Florida- 38 points vs. Florida Atlantic
LSU- 33.5 points vs. UCLA
Houston- 32.5 points vs. Texas Tech
Texas Tech- 32 points vs. Houston
UCLA- 31 points vs. LSU
Oregon State- 30.5 points vs. Purdue
Quarterback
Emory Jones- Florida Opp- Florida Atlantic ($7.3K DK) ($11.0K FD)
Redshirt junior is set to make his starting debut against Florida Atlantic. Plenty of physical talent has been displayed over his first three seasons as a backup with the Gators, posting 613 yards passing and seven touchdowns (64% completion) plus another 516 yards and six scores on the ground. A former big-time quarterback recruit in the program Jones will add a new element to the offense as he is also one of the teams most dangerous runners- actually fourth on the team in rushing last season and first among eligible quarterbacks in rushing success rate on quarterback runs. Jones time is now and gets a nice matchup to ease his way in as the new Gators leader.
Max Johnson – LSU Opp- @UCLA ($7.4K DK) ($8.5K FD)
Comes down to Jones or Johnson as the top QB on the slate. Johnson ended last season on a huge note when he threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns against Florida while running the ball 15 times for 52 yards and then destroyed Mississippi in the last game of season for 435 yards and three touchdown passes. UCLA allowed 274 yards per game in the air last year and nearly two touchdowns to opposing QBs so Johnson finds himself in a smash spot today.
Clayton Tune- Houston Opp- Texas Tech ($6.8K DK) ($10.0K FD)
This could be the breakout season everyone is expecting in Houston for the third-year quarterback. Tune can finish as one of the five best in the entire Group of Five this fall and was in the Top 20 of all FBS signal callers in clean-pocket passing grade by PFF. The team returns eight offensive starters including five of its top seven receivers from last year’s team where Tune threw for 2,048 yards and 15 touchdowns. With a 32.75 implied and facing a Texas Tech team that was ranked 101 in receiving yards allowed Tune will be a fine GPP play.
Tyler Shough – Texas Tech Opp- Houston ($6.6K DK) ($10.5K FD)
A quarterback with the all-around tools to be possibly next year’s top overall draft pick Slough transferred to Tech from after leading Oregon to the Pac-12 title last season. He passed for 1,703 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 65% completion rate and over nine yards per attempt. He now finds himself in a better spot on a team well-known for its high octane offense under Matt Wells. He will be surrounded by playmakers including last season’s team-leader in receptions, Eric Uzekanma and a veteran offensive line. Slough has a decent floor due to his little bit of running ability and can be played naked in cash games. With a 64.5 total and tight one point spread in this matchup with Houston there should be fantasy goodness from the two signal callers on both sides.
Also Consider
Jack Plummer- Purdue ($7.8K DK/$8.6K FD)
Dorian Thompson Robinson- UCLA ($7.0K DK/$10.8K FD)
DJ Uiagalelei- Clemson ($6.3K DK/$8.1 FD)
Running Back
Isaiah Spiller – Texas A&M Opp- Kent State ($6.1K DK) ($10.2K FD)
As a junior last season Spiller finished third in SEC rushing with 1,036 yards, helping lead A&M to the second-best rushing attack in the conference. He has now amassed 1,982 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry in his career. Spiller could be set up for a legendary week one performance since in just four games against subpar opponents last season, Kent State allowed 424 yards per game, 80th in the country and 21 touchdowns. Their rushing defense was horrible as they ranked 123rd in the country out of 127 teams with 255 yards allowed per game
Brittain Brown- UCLA Opp LSU ($4.7K DK) ($7.4K FD)
A near misprice on both DK and FD, Brown got the majority of the carries with 13 and finished the day with 78 yards and one touchdown in their 44-10 opening week win over Hawaii. Brown and teammate Zach Charbonnet looked explosive and broke tackles showing that the Bruins running game may even end up stronger than last years version. LSU allowed 169 yards per game rushing last season to go along with a 4.9 YPA making Brown another cash value play in Week 1.
Zander Horvath – Purdue Opp- Oregon State ($6.6K DK) ($8.8K FD)
Horvath is the undisputed RB1 for Purdue which is always good news for DFS players. He is big (6’3”/230 lb.) and can both run (team leading 442 yards and two scores) and catch (Big 10 leading 30 receptions). He averaged five catches per contest and 73.7 yards on the ground per game. Top pass catcher Rondale Moore is gone this season and the three games that Moore was out in 2020 Horvath averaged nearly 1.5 more catches. Oregon State allowed 216.7 yards per game on the ground and their 5.5 YPA is second highest on the slate only behind Kent State.
SaRodrick Thompson- Texas Tech Opp- @Houston ($5.0K DK) ($8.0K FD)
Two-time Tech rushing leader had 610 yards and eight scores last season has been known to carry the entire Tech team on the back of his 6’0”, 210-pound frame. We need to pay attention to warm up tomorrow because he underwent surgery in April for a shoulder injury suffered in spring practice. Houston allowed 167.5 yards on the ground last season and a 4.3 YPA. If Thompson can’t go his back up Xavier White becomes a solid value due to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and a $3.5K DK price tag.
Also Consider
Zamir White- Georgia ($5.7K DK/$7.6K FD)
Lynn-J Dixon- Clemson ($4.8K DK/$7.0K FD)
Sean Tucker – Syracuse ($4.9K DK/$7.8K)
Mulbah Car- Houston ($3.1K DK/$6.9K FD)
Wide Receiver
David Bell- Purdue Opp- Oregon State ($7.6K DK) ($9.8K FD)
No longer overshadowed by Rondale Moore, Bell is a stud and the top receiver on the slate. He’s got the size and the deep speed to go one on one with anyone in the nation and in six games last year caught 53 passes for 625 yards and eight scores. In the three games with Moore sidelined last year Bell averaged 10.3 receptions, 107 receiving yards and 1.3 touchdowns on 15.6 targets.
Kayshon Boutte- LSU Opp- @ UCLA ($8.3K DK) ($8.5K FD)
Over the last two games of the season Boutte went ballistic in 2020. Against Florida he had five receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown and against Mississippi State he grabbed 14 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns on 21 targets. The Bruins defense looked solid in their opener against Hawaii, but the Warriors don’t even have close to the talent of Boutte and the rest of the LSU receiving corps.
Taj Harris – Syracuse Opp-@ Ohio ($5.9K DK) ($8.2K FD)
The clear-cut #1 receiver Harris is looking to build off a career year last season. A dynamic after the catch receiver that can make plays down the field, the 6’2” senior led the Orangemen in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns last year and should do the same in 2021. Reports are that Syracuse quarterback Tommy Devito is “light years ahead” of last years and if those are correct look for a huge game from Harris
Jaray Jenkins- LSU Opp- @UCLA ($3.4K DK) ($6.6K FD)
One of two returning receivers (along with Kayshon Boutte) Jenkins is the top value at the position after hauling down 23 catches for 397 yards last season and is still only $3.4K on DraftKings. He is ready to take over the WR2 role after being a top receiver behind Terrance Marshall and stud Boutte. He has ability to “get off his brakes” and make space from the defense in what should open up many passing lanes between Jenkins and quarterback Max Johnson. UCLA gave up 274.1 passing yards per game last year and this game could become high scoring with an over under of 64.5. Note: We also need to pay attention to pre-game for any depth chart news. Possibility that $3K Jontre Kirklin has played his way to the WR2 spot but there will be fantasy goodness coming from some receivers in this game.
Also Consider
Erik Ezukanma – Texas Tech ($7.0K DK/$8.4K FD)
Ainias Smith- Texas A&M ($7.3K DK/$8.9K FD)
Justyn Ross – Clemson ($6.3K DK/$7.5K FD
Greg Dulcich – UCLA ($5.7K DK/$7.4K FD)
Jason Brownlee Southern Miss ($7.7K FD Only)
KeSean Carter- Houston ($3.8K/$6.0K)
DK Example Lineup
Cash
QB- Emory Jones
RB- SaRodrick Thompson
PIVOT- Zander Horvath
RB- Isiah Spiller
WR- Jaray Jenkins
PIVOT- Greg Dulcich
WR- Kayshon Boutte
WR- David Bell
Flex- Brittain Brown
Super Flex- Max Johnson
PIVOT- Clayton Tune
GPP
QB- Jack Plummer
PIVOT- Tyler Slough
RB- Brittain Brown
PIVOT- Zander Horvath
RB- Isaiah Spiller
WR- KeSean Carter
PIVOT- Taj Harris
WR- David Bell
PIVOT- Janray Jenkins
WR- Kayshon Boutte
Flex- Jaray Jenkins
SuperFlex- Max Johnson
FanDuel Example Lineup
Cash
QB- Emory Jones
PIVOT- Jake Plummer
RB- Brittain Brown
RB- Isiah Spiller
WR- Jaray Jenkins
PIVOT- Kayshon Boutte
WR- David bell
WR- KeSean Carter
S-Flex- Max Johnson