We’re not ready to call it quits on the college football season just yet. With one final game to conclude the season, we’re digging through our projections to build one final optimal DFS roster. The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies feature some of the top offensive players from across the country. There are avenues for players from every position to shine tonight, and we intend to highlight the best of the best.
DFS projections for the College Football National Championship are live in our Player Models.
Don’t forget to check out our Lineup Builder if you like to hand build your lineups or our Lineup Optimizer for those of you that like to enter multiple lineups into tournaments.
Now, let’s get to it!
CFB DFS Stud Picks
Blake Corum (Michigan Wolverines, Running Back – $10,600)
Blake Corum has been essential to the Michigan Wolverines’ success this season. The senior straddles a wide line, ranking as one of the highest-volume rushers while also factoring into the passing game. Still, his redeeming quality is his goal-line touches, making him a boom candidate in the natty.
Corum scores more than any other player in the country. The Wolverines leading rusher has accumulated 25 rushing touchdowns already this season, adding one more receiving score in the semifinal. One of the more impressive feats of the season is Corum’s scoring streak. He’s found paydirt in every game this season, including 13 over his last six games.
The Wolverines prioritize Corum in the red zone, and for good reason. He’s been one of the most sure-handed rushers near the goal line, leading FBS running backs in scoring. Predictably, that correlates with a surge in fantasy points this season, making him one of our flagship plays on tonight’s slate.
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington Huskies, Quarterback – $11,000)
Michael Penix Jr. has been an inspiration his entire academic career, but the Heisman Trophy runner-up is finally starting to get the respect he deserves. More importantly, the Huskies captain has led his team to the biggest stage, needing one more dominant performance to clinch the National Championship. We expect him to be up to the challenge in Houston.
The senior pivot has put the Huskies on his back en route to the championship game. Penix has thrown for 749 yards over the past two must-win games, completing 72.7% of his passes for three scores. Those efforts have elevated his quarterback rating up to 85.7, the sixth-best among FBS QBs.
Granted, Penix Jr. and the Huskies face a daunting task of poking holes in a stout Wolverines defense. However, he has delivered jaw-dropping performances every step of the way this year. Washington’s scoring runs through their quarterback, and even though we’re projecting a dip in his productivity, Penix Jr. should still end the night as one of the top-scoring fantasy producers.
Rome Odunze (Washington Huskies, Wide Receiver – $9,800)
We’re taking a correlated approach with our final stud, handcuffing Rome Odunze to his signal-caller. Odunze has been relentless this season, establishing himself as one of the top pass-catchers in the nation. He’ll face a stiff test against Michigan, but Washington’s offensive production depends on him.
He leads the team in every receiving category. His 1,553 yards are over 400 more than the next closest receiver, while his 87 catches and 24.5% target share put him in another stratosphere relative to his teammates. Further, we’ve seen the junior eclipse 100 receiving yards in five straight games. Although he hasn’t scored over the last two, Odunze still has six touchdowns over his last five games.
As Odunze goes, so do the Huskies. His knack for breaking off yards in big chunks will be a redeeming quality against the Wolverines, and he’ll have one of the heaviest workloads of the night. Finding the end zone would be the touch needed to elevate him into stud territory, and we’re betting he reaches that ceiling on Monday night.
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CFB DFS Midrange Picks
Jalen McMillan (Washington Huskies, Wide Receiver – $7,200)
Of course, Washington hasn’t hitched all of its championship aspirations to just one receiver. Jalen McMillan returned from a knee injury the final week of the regular season, working his way back into game shape for the Pac-12 Championship game. His timing couldn’t be better, as he adds a new dimension to the Huskies offensive attack.
McMillan got his sea legs underneath him against the Washington State Cougars, but that was all he needed to get caught up. The junior was at his best versus the Oregon Ducks the next week, hauling in nine of his 13 targets for 131 yards, all of which were game-highs. His numbers did take a bit of a hit against the Texas Longhorns last week, but he should be poised for a bounce-back effort at NRG Stadium.
With a trio of receivers at his disposal, we expect Penix Jr. will be able to distribute the ball around depending on coverage. Undoubtedly, Odunze will usually be at the top of the progression charts, but since returning, McMillan has established himself as a primary threat. McMillan comes in at a much more palatable salary, but he could easily match Odunze’s energy and production.
Roman Wilson (Michigan Wolverines, Wide Receiver – $9,000)
Michigan’s game planning is premised on effective running, but that doesn’t diminish the receiving corps contributions. The Wolverines have a group of talented pass-catchers that have solidified this program as the No. 1 team in the country. Roman Wilson leads that receivers group and should be a primary factor in Michigan’s aerial assault against the Huskies.
There are several metrics working in Wilson’s favor. The Wolverines wide receiver leads the team in catches and receiving yards while falling just short of the target share lead. Arguably, the most impressive stat working in Wilson’s favor is his team-leading 16.3 yards per reception, highlighting his big play ability and Michigan’s dependence on him to stretch the field.
Like Corum, Wilson’s fantasy appeal is elevated by his penchant for scoring. The senior’s 12 touchdowns have accounted for 50.0% of the team’s 24 passing scores this season, with two of those scores coming over his last three games. Wilson is a solid complementary piece and should end the night as the top receiving option for the Wolverines.
CFB DFS Values and Punt Plays
Colston Loveland (Michigan Wolverines, Tight End – $6,400)
Finding role players/secondary fantasy options is the key to setting your roster apart. We’re highlighting one of the best underrated options of the slate with our first value pick, shining a light on Colston Loveland.
The Wolverines’ tight end has been one of the preferred pass-catchers on offense. Loveland’s 61 targets fall just two short of the team lead, while his 585 receiving yards rank second, and his 42 receptions put him third. We’ve also seen J.J. McCarthy make him a priority in crunch time, with Loveland being targeted 16 times over the past three contests.
Washington’s biggest deficiency is its pass defense, and they’ve been ineffective at corralling tight ends. In last week’s Sugar Bowl, Longhorns tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders grabbed six of nine targets for 75 yards, leading his team in each category. We’re anticipating a similar showing from Loveland in this one, facilitating one of his best showings of the season.
Cornelius Johnson (Michigan Wolverines, Wide Receiver – $3,800)
A true x-factor, Cornelius Johnson isn’t as bad as his $5,700 salary implies. The Wolverines’ wide receiver has taken on a tertiary role over the latter part of the campaign but remains a top threat in the passing game. We saw him bust out in the Big Ten Championship Game, and he could take on a similar role versus Washington.
Johnson was the primary receiving option early in the year, giving way to Wilson and Loveland as the season progressed. Still, we saw him shine brightly against the Iowa Hawkeyes, leading the team in receptions, targets, and receiving yards. Most impressively, the senior soaked all nine of his targets, resulting in an eight-game high 64 yards.
Washington is prone to losing receivers in coverage, and Cornelius has the ability to fly under the radar. He has the opportunity to be a sneaky good receiving option, with the Huskies prioritizing Wilson and Loveland in coverage. Adding him to your roster affords additional salary considerations for higher-profile players, and Johnson could deliver another top-tier effort.
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