CFB DraftKings Cash & Single Entry: October 22

I’m excited to kick off another big CFB DFS weekend!

This Friday night is filled with solid RB options and high-upside WRs, but very limited options at QB. Seth Henigan is really expensive for a true freshman QB, but can we afford to trust QBs like Chase Cunningham and Steven Krajewski? David Bailey seems to be a lock, but who do we choose between Brandon Thomas and Isaiah Bowser? Deven Thompkins and Calvin Austin III are two of the most productive WRs in college football, but we can’t afford both this week. Which one should we pick?

Let’s dig in…

Against the Spread Picks

Memphis (-1) vs UCF

Utah State (+3.5) vs Colorado State

Total Wagers

Middle Tennessee vs Connecticut (Under 56)

Memphis vs UCF (Under 63.5)

Quarterbacks

Chase Cunningham, Middle Tennessee vs Connecticut (DK: $7.1K | FD: $9.8K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 35.75)

Chase Cunningham looked phenomenal in his first full game as QB1 for Middle Tennessee versus Charlotte scoring 46.66 FPs. Since then, he has not scored more than 17 FPs in a game. His success is dictated by his matchups. Luckily, he faces a Connecticut DEF ranked 115th in QB FPG (28.2) and 72nd in PASS YPG (229.3). I like Cunningham as the best QB value on this slate at $7.1K.

Steven Krajewski, Connecticut vs Middle Tennessee (DK: $5.9K | FD: $6.2K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 20.25)

Steven Krajewski has started in three games for Connecticut since taking over for the injured Tyler Phommachanh. In two of those games, he has scored 24-plus FPs. Granted, those two games were against Yale and Vanderbilt. Like Chase Cunningham, this is purely a matchup play as the Middle Tennessee DEF is ranked 120th in QB FPG (30.2) and 100th in PASS YPG (250.7). They are also allowing opposing teams to score 31.3 PPG and have not held any FBS opponents below 27 points in a game. Needless to say, this is a bad Middle Tennessee DEF and we only need Krajewski to score 17.7 FPs to hit value. I think that’s totally possible and gives us flexibility with the rest of our lineup.

Alternatives:

Seth Henigan, Memphis vs UCF, (DK: $9.0K | FD: $11.0K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 32.5)

Running Backs

Brandon Thomas, Memphis vs UCF (DK: $6.8K | FD: $8.5K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 32.5)

Memphis Freshman RB Brandon Thomas has been phenomenal in his first year as a starting RB, averaging 91 RUSH YPG and a TD per game for 17.0 FPG. He is facing a UCF DEF that is giving up 176.7 YPG on the ground and was absolutely torched by Cincinnati RB Jerome Ford last week. The UCF DEF is ranked 111th in RB FPG (28.7) and 95th in RUSH YPG (176.67). Over the last three weeks, they are allowing opposing RBs to run for 197.7 YPG. I like this matchup a lot for Thomas.

Isaiah Bowser, UCF vs Memphis (DK: $6.5K | FD: $8.2K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 31.5)

Isaiah Bowser is another option for us on this slate as he recently returned from a knee injury. When asked about the health of Bowser, UCF HC Gus Malzahn said he was probably 80 percent, but improving. Last week, he saw 13 carries in a blowout loss to Cincinnati. I’d hope we see an increase this week, but workload might be a legitimate concern. Memphis is ranked 83rd in RB FPG (24.6) and 68th in RUSH YPG (148.86). However, they allowed the RBs from UTSA and Tulsa to run for 200-plus yards on them. Bowser comes with some risk, but he could pay off in a big way versus Memphis.

David Bailey, Colorado State vs Utah State (DK: $6.0K | FD: $9.2K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 31.0)

David Bailey has been excellent since reuniting with his Boston College HC Steve Addazio at Colorado State, scoring at least 17.6 FPs in every game he was able to finish. Bailey is my favorite play on the slate. He is averaging 21.5 touches, 80 yards and 1.5 TD per game through four games. He is facing a Utah State DEF that is ranked 86th versus RB FPG (24.9) and 119th in RUSH YPG (206.5). He is a great value at $6.0K.

Alternatives:

Chaton Mobley, Middle Tennessee vs Connecticut (DK: $4.9K | FD: $9.0K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 35.75)

Calvin Tyler, Utah State vs Colorado State (DK: $5.0K | FD: $7.1K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 27.5)

$4.5K-or-less options:

Jalen John, Arizona vs Washington (DK: $3.6K | FD: $5.5K | O/U: 46.5 | Implied: 17.5)

Receivers

Deven Thompkins, Utah State vs Colorado State (DK: $8.7K | FD: $10.5K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 27.5)

Deven Thompkins is having a massive breakout year averaging 30.5 FPG on 8.3 receptions and 136.5 YPG. This isn’t surprising when you consider he is the WR1 in Utah State HC Blake Anderson’s offense. Over the last three years, his WR1 averaged 85 receptions, 1,256 yards and 12 TDs. This game will be played at a very fast pace as each team averages over 78 plays per game. Thompkins averages 12 targets per game and I expect him to eclipse that number this game with the amount of possessions Utah State will have.

It seems nearly impossible to fit both Deven Thompkins and Calvin Austin III in the same lineup. I decided to go with Thompkins, because it’s easier to construct a better lineup at Thompkins’ price point. Both should hit value on this slate though.

Ryan O’Keefe, UCF vs Memphis (DK: $6.1K | FD: $8.2K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 31.5)

Ryan O’Keefe has been the top WR for UCF since Jaylon Robinson was injured in week 3. Over the last two games, he is averaging 10.5 targets, 8.5 receptions, and 66.5 yards for 17.7 FPG. He is facing a Memphis DEF that is ranked 130th in WR FPG (37.8) and 116th in PASS YPG (277.3). This is after facing a Navy team that threw for 43 yards last game. It seems like O’Keefe is set to have a huge game this week.

Keelan Marion, Connecticut vs Middle Tennessee (DK: $5.2K | FD: $5.8K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 20.25)

Keelan Marion has been productive since taking over as the WR1 for Connecticut in week 5, averaging 18.5 FPG. He has a fantastic matchup versus a Middle Tennessee DEF ranked 124th in WR FPG (32.1) and 100th in PASS YPG (250.7). Marion is a great option to stack with Krajewski on this slate and is one of the better values at only $5.2K.

Eddie Lewis, Memphis vs UCF (DK: $4.2K | FD: $6.2K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 32.5)

Eddie Lewis is a player for Memphis that I’ve been tracking since the offseason as the potential WR2 to replace Tahj Washington, who transferred to USC. After garnering 8 targets in week 6, he led the team in targets, receptions and TDs in week 7. It’s hard to say if he has actually surpassed Javon Ivory as the WR2 for Memphis, but I know that Lewis is a solid playmaker that can make things happen with the ball in his hands, evidenced by his long catch-and-run last week versus Navy. I like his potential down the stretch as teams will try to do everything they can to stop Calvin Austin III, starting with UCF this week. He is a great cheap option at $4.2K.

Alternatives:

Calvin Austin III, Memphis vs UCF (DK: $9.2K | FD: $11.5K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 32.5)

Jimmy Marshall, Middle Tennessee vs Connecticut (DK: $5.4K | FD: $8.3K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 35.75)

Jarrin Pierce, Middle Tennessee vs Connecticut (DK: $5.8K | FD: $8.0K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 35.75)

$4.5K-or-less options:

Brandon Niemenski, Connecticut vs Middle Tennessee (DK: $3.5K | FD: $4.5K | O/U: 56.0 | Implied: 20.25)

Derek Wright, Utah State vs Colorado State (DK: $4.3K | FD: $6.3K | O/U: 58.5 | Implied: 27.5)