Championship weekend! Playoff destinies will be made and crushed by the end of Saturday night. Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and Florida State control their own fates, and with no overlap within conferences, all could win out and punch their respective tickets to the national semifinal.
But it’s never that easy. According to the betting odds, the Huskies are the most likely to falter this weekend, as they head into their Pac-12 Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks as -10 favorites. Of course, that game is excluded from Saturday’s main slate as the Pac-12 contest is scheduled for Friday night. Still, there is a bevy of other top fantasy options to consider before the action kicks off on Saturday morning.
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
Carson Beck (Georgia Bulldogs): $8,600 DraftKings
There’s probably no scenario that would exclude the Georgia Bulldogs from the College Football Playoff. The two-time defending National Champions are 12-0 to start the season, leading the nation in many statistical categories on both sides of the ball. First-year starter Carson Beck has marched his team to a perfect regular season record and can punctuate his junior campaign with a signature win against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Beck has been exceptional this season. The Florida native has systematically picked apart his opponents, flying under the radar in Heisman Trophy discussions. So far this season, Beck has a 72.4% completion percentage, yielding 3,495 yards and 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions. Altogether, his 168.2 quarterback rating is sixth-best in the country, and the Bulldogs haven’t missed a beat with Beck under center.
In seasons past, Alabama has earned a reputation for being a big bad defensive program, but some of that shine has worn off this year. The Auburn Tigers pushed the Crimson Tide to the brink last week, putting up 24 points on 337 yards, becoming the third team in five weeks to reach that benchmark (LSU 478, Tennessee 404). Further, six of the last seven teams they’ve faced have dropped at least 20 on Bama.
Beck has nonchalantly taken care of business for the Bulldogs, and Alabama doesn’t have the defensive structure to hog-tie Georgia’s quarterback. Beck has thrown for 298 yards or more in two of his last three, with six touchdown passes over that stretch. Those trends should stretch into the playoffs.
Jalen Milroe (Alabama Crimson Tide): $9,000 DraftKings
If there’s one quarterback who can sit back and trade blows with Beck on Saturday, it’s Jalen Milroe. The Alabama quarterback has been a catalyst on offense for the Crimson Tide, operating as one of the top dual-threat signal-callers in the FBS. The Crimson Tide will need Milroe to be at his best in the SEC title game, and thankfully, our projections support that he will be.
Milroe rates just behind Beck in median and ceiling projections, both of which are very attainable benchmarks. The sophomore has multiple TD passes in three straight, accumulating eight total over that stretch. However, his fantasy contributions aren’t limited to what he can accomplish with his arm. Milroe has also exceeded the century mark in rushing yards in two of his last four outings, accounting for a combined 297 over the four-game sample.
Predictably, those performances have resulted in some pre-eminent fantasy scores. Milroe is averaging 36.27 fantasy points per game across that span, exceeding the 41.0-point mark on two occasions. The only time he didn’t reach that level was in Week 11 against the Chattanooga Mocs, in which he was yanked early.
Saturday’s battle between Georgia and Alabama is a clash of titans. Both quarterbacks are expected to deliver elite efforts, and you wouldn’t be wrong for drafting either one. We give the edge to Beck over Milroe, but only by the slightest of margins.
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CFB DFS Running Back Picks
Kimani Vidal (Troy Trojans): $7,000 DraftKings
Fundamentally, I am a value-first person, which is why I’m so happy we have a slate featuring Troy Trojans running back Kimani Vidal. Vidal has been the spearhead of the Troy Trojans’ attack, serving as an every-down back and making the most of his time on the field. He’ll face limited resistance toting the ball against a penetrable Appalachian State Mountaineers squad.
Vidal is an absolute unit coming out of the backfield. The junior is up to 1,349 rushing yards on 254 carries, putting him among the top seven in both categories. His recent sample also points toward ongoing success. Vidal has found paydirt in three of his last four contests, totaling 355 rushing yards and 72.4 fantasy points. If that’s not enough, Vidal also plays a supporting role in the passing game, sitting fifth on the team in receiving yards and receptions.
All of those numbers should ratchet higher after Saturday’s Sun Belt championship bout. The Mountaineers have one of the least effective rush defenses in the nation, giving up an average of 173.2 rushing yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry.
Vidal will be a prominent feature in the Trojans’ game-planning versus Appalachian State. He’s proven to be a workhorse for head coach Jon Sumrall and can expose the Mountaineers’ biggest weakness. There are bigger names ahead of him, but Vidal could end the day as the top-performing running back.
Ashton Jeanty (Boise State Broncos): $8,000 DraftKings
We’re taking a stance on another lesser-known fantasy contributor. After a slow start on all fronts, Ashton Jeanty has revived the Boise State Broncos offensive attack, saving some of his best games for the latter part of the year. There’s no better time than now for Jeanty and the Broncos, as we expect him to make the most of it.
Jeanty does everything right, and he does it to the highest level. He’s top three among Mountain West running backs in rushing yards and touchdowns, currently sitting at 1,113 and 13, respectively. But Jeanty sets himself apart with his passing metrics. The sophomore has compiled 537 receiving yards on 37 catches, putting him in the top 16 among all pass catchers in the conference. For perspective, the next closest running back has less than half that amount with 264.
Moreover, Jeanty has amplified his production more recently. He had 225 yards from scrimmage last time out against the Air Force Falcons, with 107 yards coming on the ground and 118 via the pass, adding two scores. That was the second time since Week 10 that Jeaty surpassed 200 yards from scrimmage, with multiple touchdowns.
Like many Broncos running backs before him, Jeanty is an elite athlete and a game-changing running back. Boise State will deploy him however they need to, and we can expect Jeanty to respond with another outstanding performance. His salary has crept up, but Jeanty is worth the investment.
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CFB DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Ricky White (UNLV Rebels): $6,700 DraftKings
We’re staying on the MWC theme with our first wide receiver pick, highlighting Ricky White as the best available pass-catcher available on the slate. The UNLV Rebels have asserted themselves as a powerhouse this season, and they enter the weekend with one of the highest totals on the board.
UNLV’s success is predicated on the pass, a strength they’ve leaned into over the past few weeks. The Rebels average 246.6 passing yards per game this season, jumping to 270.7 over their previous three contests. A lot of that yardage runs through White. The junior is responsible for 1,3000 receiving yards on 75 catches this season, representing a beastly 34.4% target share.
Try as they may, the Broncos have been unable to contain opposing teams’ passing attacks. Boise State is giving up the 15th-most passing yards per game against FBS opponents, with an inviting 265.1 benchmark.
White has recorded at least 111 receiving yards in five straight games, averaging 148.2 across that stretch. Moreover, he’s hit double-digit targets in all but one of those games while crossing the plane five times. White comes with a less-than-expected salary, representing not only one of the top ceilings but also one of the best values. We’re expecting White to be a primary contributor on most winning rosters.
Xavier Worthy (Texas Longhorns): $6,200 DraftKings
The Texas Longhorns are clinging to faint playoff hopes, needing everything to go just right for them to potentially sneak in as a fourth seed. As such, we’re expecting them to put their best foot forward, and that will include a heavy dosage of Xavier Worthy.
Worthy has been the primary target in Quinn Ewers’ progressions, leading the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. The junior has been targeted at least ten times on six occasions this season, with three of those coming over his past five outings.
Furthering Worthy’s cause is an Oklahoma State Cowboys squad that has abandoned their defensive responsibility in the secondary. OK State gives up an average of 249.6 passing yards per game, ranking 103rd among FBS programs. Worse, three of their last four opponents have thrown for at least 263 yards, with a rolling average of 275.8.
As -15 favorites, the Longhorns are expected to stampede over the Cowboys. Factoring in Worthy’s expected offerings against an inferior pass defense, we would tend to agree. The Longhorns receiver has one of the best ceilings on the board, and he’ll be doing his part to bolster Texas’ playoff resume.
Jabre Barber (Troy Trojans): $4,400 DraftKings
Stepping to the line of scrimmage for our last pick of Championship Weekend, we’re calling an audible. Although we would usually defer to a stacking option, such as Brock Bowers or Isaiah Bond, we’re taking a stance on another one of the top values available.
Stacking is an essential strategy for long-term success, but there’s something that needs to be said about what Jabre Barber brings to the field. The Trojans wideout has been the preferred receiving option all season, reserving his best fantasy performances for the end of the campaign.
Three of Barber’s five touchdowns this season have come over his last six games. Predictably, this correlates with increased usage in the Trojans’ passing game. The junior has posted a noteworthy 79.1% catch rate over that sample while averaging 18.62 fantasy points per game. That effort has helped Troy secure victory in all six contests, also covering the spread in all but one of those games.
The last two opponents the Mountaineers have faced have each recorded at least 277 passing yards. Thankfully, for Troy’s sake, they have the players to extend that trend and add to Appalachian State’s defensive misery. Barber is a low-key x-factor that could set your roster apart. We like him to reach his ceiling on Saturday.
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