Welcome back once again! The Thursday/Friday slate is back and DraftKings is offering the 4-game slate with over $85K in guaranteed prizes. We have one game Thursday night, followed by 3 more on Friday night. So let’s get started!
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Miami (FL) (-6.5) @ Cincinnati — O/U: 69
The Hurricanes (3-0) travel to Cincinnati to take on a Bearcat team which was unable to knock off Memphis last weekend. Set at the highest total on the slate, this game will be highly-targeted. Both defenses give up points in bunches; don’t let Miami’s #11 ranked total defense fool you. They’ve allowed 20 points to FAU and 33 last weekend to Nebraska.
Miami (FL)
QB: Sophomore Brad Kaaya ($8,200) has seen his production increase all three weeks (13.42, 14.88, 24.26) and should see another increase this week. This is in part to his passing attempts increasing each game (27, 32, 42). Quarterbacks vs. Cincinnati have averaged 37.5 passing attempts her game. Kaaya will be in for a big game, so don’t miss out!
RB: Two backs share the load for the ‘Canes, Sophomore Joseph Yearby ($8,800) and Freshman Mark Walton ($5,200). Yearby leads the way with 41 carries for 311 yards, a whopping 7.6 yards per carry. Yearby averaged 17.5 carries per game before toting the ball 6 times in the blowout vs. Bethune-Cookman. Walton sits at 34 carries, but for just 150 yards. He does have 4 rushing TD’s (one more than Yearby) but 3 of those came in one game, vs. FAU. Both backs are involved in the receiving game, combining for 11 receptions, with Yearby taking in a touchdown and 110 yards. Yearby is expensive and will be very difficult to own but he’s worth every penny. Walton seems like a great alternative looking at the stat sheet and is extremely talented, but Yearby is the #1 back in the offense.
WR: Rashawn Scott ($6,800) and Herb Waters ($4,900) lead the way for the Canes’ combining for 29 receptions and 467 yards. However, each will take a hit in terms as fantasy production as fellow sophomore, and best friend of QB Brad Kaaya, returns after being injured early in Week 1. Braxton Berrios ($4,100) caught 21 passes for 232 yards and 3 TD’s in his freshman campaign and is poised to make a big return. The four-star recruit is very similar to a Julian Edelman type and is my favorite sleeper on the slate.
Cincinnati
QB: Hayden Moore ($7,200) will get the start for the injured Gunner Kiel and should be the highest-owned QB on the slate. His last start vs. Memphis, he put up 53 passing attempts, and while I don’t expect that many this time, 40-45 is not out of the question. He’s a lock in my lineups and should be in yours as well.
RB: The Bearcat running game is too crowded, but if you want to go with a back, Tion Green ($4,400) is my favorite over Hosey Williams ($5,000). Not only is he $600 cheaper, but he has 2 more TD’s than Williams and has carried the ball 5 more times. Green is also a bit more involved in the passing game, catching 7 passes compared to Williams’ one.
WR: INJURIES: Chris Moore ($5,300) — 15/315/2 and Johnny Holton ($4,000) — 10/192/2 are both questionable tonight. Moore leads the team in yardage and YPC (21) but is still fourth on the team in receptions. Holton has not caught more than 3 passes per game and is more beneficial to DFS if he is OUT rather than IN. Other options to consider: Shaq Washington ($6,300) — 26/286/2 is too underwhelming for me considering his price. I think he’s too expensive, but don’t get me wrong, he’ll still be heavily involved (and probably most targeted) in the offense. Max Morrison ($4,700) exploded last game, catching 9 passes (1 less than his first 3 games combined) for 162 yards and 2 TD’s. I still think he’s a risky option, averaging just over 3 receptions per game prior to last week. Mekale McKay ($4,400) is always an intriguing option, but is potentially the riskiest of them all. In the three games he’s played, he’s had no more than 2 catches per game. It’s a disappointing start for the senior who showed his true potential last season, catching 44 passes for 725 yards and a team-leading 8 TD’s. Finally, there’s Alex Chisum ($3,800) who’s somewhat intriguing. He’s averaged 4.5 receptions per game and has 2 TD’s on the season. He’s a decent value play who becomes a great value play if Moore AND/OR Holton sit this one out. Check @DFSREPORT closer to game time for injury updates.
Memphis (-8.5) @ USF — O/U: 62
Memphis heads to USF as the nation’s 6th best in total offense. USF will look to prove themselves at the current 19th best defense in FBS.
Memphis
QB: I’ll be really interested to see Paxton Lynch’s ($9,100) ownership this week. He’s averaged 31.13 FPPG over his last three, and 33.41 over the previous two. I’m having a hard time justifying paying up for him, but he’s clearly a top 2 option on the slate. You have to save money somewhere and I’ll be fading Lynch to do just that. With that said, it could easily burn me and I wouldn’t fault any of you for inserting him into your lineups.
RB: NO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER. There are some options to consider, but you’d be doing so at your own risk. Neither (including “WR” Sam Craft) has averaged more than 15.5 FPPG.
WR: Again, consider options here at your own risk. Lynch does a great job at spreading the ball around.
USF
QB: Quinton Flowers ($6,600) is my favorite value play at QB due to his rushing ability and a high over/under due to Memphis’ inability to play defense. Flowers struggles with passing the ball (185 yards over his past two games combined) but does have two rushing TD’s on the year, averaging 4.1 YPC.
RB: When Flowers is not running the ball, it’ll be Marlon Mack ($6,900) who has carried the ball 53 times, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Memphis is 41st against the run this season.
WR: NO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
Temple (-22.5) @ Charlotte — O/U: 43
On a larger slate, you wouldn’t dare touch this game or the next one. The two games’ over/unders combined don’t even equal some of the games we’ll see this Saturday. However, we must not discriminate, especially with just a four-game slate.
Temple
QB: PJ Walker ($7,300) doesn’t run the ball anymore 🙁 Also, he’s $1,000 higher than he was last week. Don’t ask me why, just avoid him.
RB: Jahad Thomas ($9,600) is the Temple offense. He’s carried the ball 80 times in 3 games, racking up 394 yards and 4 TD’s. He’s also contributed in the passing game (7 receptions for 84 yards) and is a MUST PLAY, even at his price.
WR: NO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
Charlotte
QB: NO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
RB: NO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER as Temple’s rushing defense ranks 8th in FBS.
WR: Austin Duke ($5,600) is a potential option as he put up 22.5 and 34.6 FPS in the first two weeks, respectively. Since then however, he’s put up 2.3 and 5.2. There’s tremendous risk here but if you want to stand out, Charlotte will have to throw the ball quite a bit to try and keep up.
Connecticut @ BYU (-17.5) — O/U: 44
Another less than ideal game looms, but there are at least a couple more fantasy options than the previous game.
Connecticut
QB: Bryant Shirreffs ($5,600) has one of the coolest names in college football, but averages just over 15 FPPG. The transfer from NC State offers very little upside in a game with such a low total.
RB: BYU enters this one ranking 96th vs. the run but may be able to improve that vs. a weak Husky running game. Starter Ron Johnson ($4,100) leads the team in carries but has averaged a miserable 2.4 yards per carry. Arkeel Newsome ($4,900) has fared much better, averaging 4.8 YPC on 32 carries, finding the end zone one time. Newsome has been very active in the passing game as well, catching 11 passes for for 104 yards and another TD. He’s clearly the better bet than Johnson and the only Husky I’d consider on the slate.
WR: NO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
BYU
The only option I’m looking at in this one, is RB Adam Hine ($5,400). He doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he’s the #1 guy in the backfield, carrying the ball 54 times for 312 yards and 2 TD’s. He should be in for a solid game with BYU expected to be up early.
Thanks so much for reading. Be on the lookout for a Saturday article coming soon!
Tyler
