This is the late-season lull before everyone gears up for the playoff push. Several notable programs are absent from the Week 12 schedule or have scheduled games against inferior opponents, preferring to use one final week to get back to neutral before the final games of the season. Nevertheless, there’s a plethora of intriguing fantasy options, with some under-appreciated and under-utilized talents ready to make a name for themselves.
We’ve got you covered for DFS purposes, highlighting our preferred players from Saturday’s main slate.
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Let’s dive into this week’s slate!
CFB DFS Quarterback Picks
Kevin Jennings (SMU Mustangs): $7,700 DraftKings
Week 12 is Kevin Jennings’ time to shine. The sophomore quarterback has led the SMU Mustangs to a sterling 8-1 record, including a perfect 5-0 in ACC play, and the 14th spot in the latest Top 25 rankings. Despite that success, he consistently has one of the lowest salaries while producing some of the best metrics. It’s time to give Jennings his due on Saturday’s main slate.
The Texas native has thrown for at least 254 yards in five straight games. Across that sample, Jennings has a respectable 9-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio while producing an average of 25.17 fantasy points per game. Included in that total are his top-end rushing metrics. He’s found paydirt on three occasions this season while accumulating 181 rushing yards over his last five games.
All of those benchmarks should be on the rise against the lowly Boston College Eagles. BC has one of the worst defenses in the country, giving up an average of 402.4 yards and 25.9 points per game. More concerningly, those averages are on the rise. Over their past three outings, the Eagles have been trounced for an average of 474.7 yards and 34.7 points.
Last week was one of their better outings, and the Eagles still gave up 31 points and 392 passing yards to Kyle McCord. Jennings is in an ideal spot to sustain his current form and reach his fantasy ceiling. We’re recommending him as one of the top quarterback options on the main slate.
Garrett Greene (West Virginia Mountaineers): $7,400 DraftKings
There are a few big-name quarterbacks available on the main slate, but there’s no better value than Garrett Greene. He leads his West Virginia Mountaineers into a crucial Big 12 showdown against the Baylor Bears, who have one of the leakiest defenses in the country.
Greene is at his best when he can use his arms and legs to gain yards. Thankfully, the Bears will be happy to oblige. After opening the year against a few underwhelming opponents, Baylor has given up at least 28 points in six straight games. Over that stretch, opponents are averaging 35.3 points per game against the Bears. Only the lowly Oklahoma State Cowboys have fallen below 34 points, and only the BYU Cougars accumulated fewer than 432 yards. On average, those six opponents have churned out 445.5 yards of total offense against Baylor.
Greene has missed the past two weeks with an upper-body injury but has practiced all week and will be ready to go on Saturday. He should have no problem picking up where he left off. He was averaging 193.4 passing yards and 67.3 rushing yards per game while facing four Top 25-ranked defenses. Baylor isn’t in the same ballpark as some of those previous opponents, ensuring Greene’s return to the gridiron will be a successful one.
CFB DFS Running Back Picks
Makhi Hughes (Tulane Green Wave): $7,600 DraftKings
We said it earlier in the year, but anytime you have the opportunity to draft Makhi Hughes on the main slate, you take it. The Tulane Green Wave running back has cemented his position as one of the top rushers in the country, and he’ll have plenty of chances to shine against the Navy Midshipmen.
Hughes has been unstoppable this season and is Tulane’s scoring beacon in the red zone. The sophomore has run for at least 115 yards in five straight games and has surpassed the century mark in seven of 10 contests this season. Moreover, Hughes has one of the heaviest workloads in the country, averaging 21.2 carries per game, while also serving as a reliable pass-catching back. In total, he’s accumulated 1,334 yards from scrimmage this season and found the end zone 15 times.
Outside of a humbling defeat to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Navy hasn’t really been tested this year. They’ve only faced two teams with a winning record, which is skewing their season-long metrics. But over the last few weeks, we’ve seen what the Midshipmen are made of. They lost to the 3-7 Rice Owls, giving up 105 rushing yards, all of which were accounted for by Dean Connors. Likewise, Notre Dame accumulated 265 rushing yards against Navy, with Jeremiyah Love recording 102 of those on 12 carries.
Hughes should be the latest running back to shine against the Midshipmen. According to our median and ceiling projections, Hughes has the loftiest fantasy potential on the main slate. We’re expecting him to reach his fantasy pinnacle in Week 12.
Isaac Brown (Louisville Cardinals): $6,700 DraftKings
Already with two conference losses, the Louisville Cardinals face long odds in trying to make it back to the ACC Championship Game. Still, a pivotal road win against the Clemson Tigers back in Week 10 could be the lifeline that salvages their championship ambitions. Of course, that’s assuming the Cardinals take care of business the rest of the way, starting with Saturday’s tilt against the Stanford Cardinal.
While the betting odds are not in their favor with respect to their ACC Championship aspirations, the Cardinals are installed as massive -20.5 favorites versus Stanford. Expected to play with the lead throughout, DFS punters should expect a heavy and reliable dose of Isaac Brown in the ground game.
Brown is the undisputed leader in Louisville’s backfield. In his first collegiate season, the freshman has tallied 800 rushing yards on 106 carries for a hefty average of 7.5 yards per carry. Further, he’s found his footing in the latter stages of the campaign. Brown is coming off a monstrous 151-yard effort against Clemson, which was the third time in five games in which he surpassed 117 rushing yards. More impressively, he’s recorded six touchdowns over that stretch.
Last week, Stanford allowed the North Carolina State Wolfpack to churn out 281 rushing yards, with two players recording at least 100 rushing yards. Additionally, both Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers crossed the plane twice in that contest.
Brown will be featured regularly against the Cardinal, and we expect him to break off big runs throughout. Not only is Brown a top bargain, but he also has one of the highest ceilings on the main slate.
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CFB DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Travis Hunter (Colorado Buffaloes): $9,700 DraftKings
With so much value at the running back and quarterback positions, we can afford to splurge at wide receiver. Not surprisingly, you’ll find Travis Hunter atop the salary chart, but he has the fantasy ceiling to match against the reeling Utah Utes.
Arguably the top receiver in this year’s NFL Draft class, Hunter has lived up to his billing as a Heisman candidate and the best wide receiver in the country. So far this season, he’s hauled in 69 of 88 targets for 856 yards and nine touchdowns. His 78.4% catch rate and 12.4 yards per reception validate that he’s ready to make the jump to the professional level, but he’s not done tormenting college opponents just yet.
Utah started the year with big plans. Then another injury to Cam Rising followed by a 1-5 record in Big 12 play shelved any inclination of competing in 2024. They haven’t mailed it in on defense by any means, but a five-game losing streak reveals everything we need to know about where this program is headed. Last week, they blew a 21-10 second-half lead, getting outscored 12-0 over the final two quarters. Wideout Chase Roberts put the BYU Cougars on his back, hauling in six of eight targets for 91 yards in the win.
Roberts’ performance in Week 11 represents the low bar for what to expect from Hunter on Saturday. Thanks largely to Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes have emerged as an offensive powerhouse. With 252 receiving yards and three touchdowns over his last two games, Hunter is poised to maintain his current form against the Utes.
Ja’Corey Brooks (Louisville Cardinals): $7,700 DraftKings
Our usual stacking technique involves pairing a top receiver with his quarterback, but we’re taking a different approach in Week 12. Instead, we’re pairing Ja’Corey Brooks with the aforementioned Isaac Brown, with both players expected to play crucial roles in Louisville’s ACC battle against Stanford.
While Brooks has been an elite receiver all season, he’s coming off his worst performance of the season. The senior was limited to just 42 yards on four receptions against Clemson, setting him up for an ideal bounce-back performance against the Cardinal. Brooks leads the team with a 23.1% target share this season and has seen 42 targets over the last five games. Across that sample, he’s recorded 473 receiving yards, with four touchdowns and three 100-yard games.
As bad as Stanford has been against the run, the Cardinal have been worse against the pass. Opponents are averaging 276.1 passing yards per game, ranking Stanford as the 12th-worst unit in the country. Surely, that standing will take a hit after another standout performance from Brooks this weekend.
Over the past few weeks, Brooks and Brown have been one of the deadliest fantasy combinations. Both players have had game-changing performances, a trend that should continue into Week 13. Rostering both gives DFS bettors an unsuspecting advantage on Saturday.
Trebor Pena (Syracuse Orange): $6,000 DraftKings
In the spirit of staying on theme, we’re highlighting one more relatively unknown fantasy contributor with our final selection. The Syracuse Orange feature a handful of regulars in their passing attack. Among those stands Trebor Pena, who has been Kyle McCord’s safety blanket throughout the season.
Pena leads the Orange with 60 receptions and 80 targets, while falling just 14 yards short of the team lead with 639 receiving yards. Moreover, he has been one of the most reliable and consistent pass-catchers since the start of the season. Pena has recorded fewer than six receptions just twice this season and has yet to fall below four catches or 47 receiving yards in a game. Assuredly, the junior will maintain those streaks against a beatable California Golden Bears pass defense.
Curiously, Cal has been at its worst at home. The Golden Bears give up an average of 269.3 passing yards per game in their friendly confines, dropping their season-long average to 228.3. That benchmark is trending in the wrong direction, with Cal’s last three opponents averaging 249.3 passing yards per game.
Syracuse relies on its passing attack more than just about every other team in the country. Only the San Jose State Spartans and Rice Owls have a higher percentage of passing plays, with the Orange checking in at 63.5%. McCord will have free rein to throw the ball as he pleases, and we expect Pena to be heavily involved in that game plan.
Don’t be scared off by the Orange playing on the road. If anything, it amplifies their outlook against a shaky pass defense. We expect Pena to take full advantage, en route to a slate-leading performance.
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