We may be at the halfway point of the college football season, but we’re keeping a glass-half-full mentality as we gear up for the second half of the campaign. There are a ton of exciting races across every division, and the CFP has yet to release their inaugural rankings for the 2023 season. The best part is we’ll get more clarity on where the dust will settle in all the races after another exciting week of action.
We’ve got you covered for DFS purposes, highlighting our preferred players from Saturday’s main slate.
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Or if cash games are more your speed, you can build your lineups alongside our projections with our Lineup Builder. From there, you can hand-build your lineup or lock in a few guys and let the builder optimize the rest based on our projections.
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Let’s dive into this week’s slate!
CFB DFS Quarterback Picks
Bo Nix (Oregon Ducks): $9,800 DraftKings
Ater suffering a Week 7 loss to the Washington Huskies, there is no margin for error for the Oregon Ducks. Oregon needs to run the table and get a little help, and even then, there’s no guarantee this team is included in the national semifinals. What that does mean, is we can expect Bo Nix to be at his best for the remainder of the campaign, as the Ducks paddle like hell to stay relevant.
The Ducks continue their season with a Week 8 clash against the Washington State Cougars. It’s a team-friendly spot for Oregon as they host a Cougars squad that is in the midst of playing three of four on the road, dropping their last two games. Further, Nix does his best work at Autzen Stadium, assuring he delivers a week-best performance.
Nix’s metrics are out of this world, but they get even better at home. The senior has a 79.2% completion rating, averaging 8.7 yards per pass attempt and with a 17-1 touchdown to interception ratio. In his friendly confines, Nix’s benchmarks improve to 82.8%, 9.3, and 9-1, resulting in a sterling 192.8 passer rating.
Nix’s fantasy ceiling in Week 8 is superb. He’ll have an opportunity to torch one of the weakest passing defenses in the country, bouncing back from last week’s heartbreaking defeat. We suspect he’s at his best, delivering one of the fantasy efforts of Week 8.
Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma Sooners): $9,300 DraftKings
The Oklahoma Sooners are quietly putting together a playoff-worthy resume. The Sooners are 6-0 to start the season, knocking off the then-third-ranked Texas Longhorns on the road in Week 6. With a week to rest and recover, Oklahoma is back in action on Saturday, hosting the UCF Knights as -17.5 chalk.
The passing game has been a fundamental part of the Sooners’ success, and as usual, Dillon Gabriel has been a catalyst up front. The senior pivot ranks third among FBS quarterbacks with a 91.1 quarterback rating, amplifying his production over his recent sample.
Over his past four outings, Gabriel has thrown for at least 285 yards each time out. More impressively, he’s averaging 348.5 passing yards per game over that stretch, with ten touchdowns and two interceptions. And that’s without even considering the damage he does with his legs. Over the same stretch, Gabriel has totaled 173 rushing yards and four scores, recording a touchdown in three straight outings.
A week off ensures that Gabriel and the Sooners are prepared for this Big 12 matchup. We’re expecting him to pick up where he left off, potentially setting the high mark for quarterbacks in Week 8.
CFB DFS Running Back Picks
Jonathan Brooks (Texas Longhorns): $7,400 DraftKings
One loss isn’t going to de-rail the Texas Longhorns’ playoff aspirations, but like the Ducks, they can’t afford to slip up before the end of the year. Jonathan Brooks has been a stabilizing force on offense and should maintain his top-end production against the Houston Cougars.
Texas feeds Brooks the ball more than just about every other program. The Texas native ranks top ten in carries and yards, toting the ball 108 times for 726 yards. Moreover, Brooks’ most bountiful performances have come over the past month, with the underclassman rushing for 617 yards over his past four outings. Included in that sample are five of his six touchdowns on the season.
The cherry on top this week is the Knights’ pathetic run defense. UCF sits fourth-last among 133 teams in rushing yards allowed per game against FBS opponents. Opponents are bulldozing them to the tune of 220.2 yards per game.
Brooks is peaking at an opportune time, taking on an overmatched Knights side on Saturday. The Longhorns running back leads our median and ceiling projections and should have no problems reaching those lofty heights against a leaky Knights defense.
Emmanuel Michel (Air Force Falcons): $5,800 DraftKings
There is no better grudge match than a servicemen showdown. Obviously, the Army-Navy battle at the end of the year earns the most hoopla, but don’t look past the mayhem that will ensue in Week 8’s contest between the Air Force Falcons and Navy Midshipmen.
The Falcons run the ball more than any other program in the nation. They rank first in rushing yards per game (326.2), rushing attempts per game (60.2), and rushing play percentage (91.5%). Although they have a stable of rushers to choose from, Emmanuel Michel has emerged as the lead back in a potent ground game.
The Falcons fullback leads the team in carries and yards, totaling 113 and 497, respectively. The most enticing factor pointing us toward Michel on Saturday is his improved metrics over the last few weeks. Michel is averaging 25.2 carries and 107.3 yards per game over his previous four contests. Additionally, he has multiple TDs in all but one of those games, totaling eight across the sample.
Ironically, the rushing attack is synonymous with the Air Force, and Michel is their four-star General. He should lead the team again on Saturday, becoming one of the best value plays on the board.
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CFB DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Troy Franklin (Oregon Ducks): $8,200 DraftKings
Finding a way to roster both Nix and Troy Franklin could be the secret to DFS tournament success on Saturday. Franklin is Nix’s go-to option in the aerial result, and his workload seemingly has no bounds. Oregon will lean into its passing attack against Washington State, meaning Franklin could set the bar even higher this weekend.
Almost 40.0% of Nix’s passing yards on the year have come via Franklin. The junior wideout has 689 receiving yards this season, accounting for 38.3% of Nix’s 1,796 passing yards. Predictably, this also correlates with a solid target share, as 23.2% of the Ducks’ passes have gone Franklin’s way.
As is the case with our other preferred options this week, Franklin’s workload is trending upward and showing no signs of reversing course. The California native has been targeted 28 times over the past three games, turning those looks into 23 receptions, 397 yards, and five scores.
Inevitably, Franklin will factor into the Ducks’ game plan, making him one of the top pass-catchers available on the main slate. There are few barriers between him and his fantasy ceiling. Franklin is the perfect complement to Nix but is worth including on any roster.
Andrew Armstrong (Arkansas Razorbacks): $6,000 DraftKings
A five-game losing skid has tempered any bowl game expectations for the Arkansas Razorbacks this year. Still, a few seniors are looking to go out with a bang over the latter part of the season. Among those is Andrew Armstrong, who is aspiring for consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Unlike some of our other recommendations, there’s a contrarian angle that comes with rostering Armstrong. The senior wideout is coming off one of the worst games of his season. Granted, some of that was expected as the Alabama Crimson Tide still boast an imposing defense; however, Armstrong will have a much easier time going off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday.
Mississippi State sits 123rd in the FBS in passing yards allowed, giving up 291.2 per game. The Western Michigan Broncos torched them for 297 passing yards last week, which was the fourth time in five weeks that an opponent has thrown for at least 288 yards against them.
Last week’s contest notwithstanding, Armstrong has been targeted at least six times in all but one outing this year. That’s helped him set the team-high mark in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns. A home contest against one of the most porous secondaries in the country should help him get back on track. Armstrong rates near the top of our median projections and should have no problem reaching his ceiling versus the Bulldogs.
DeMeer Blankumsee (Memphis Tigers): $4,700 DraftKings
The Memphis Tigers have a trio of top fantasy-producing skilled players, orchestrated by Seth Henigan under center. Roc Taylor and Blake Watson have been primary contributors, but DeMeer Blankumsee has taken on a more robust role over the last few weeks. That could climb even higher with Watson potentially missing Saturday’s matchup against the UAB Blazers.
Even with Watson in the lineup, Blankumsee has been a primary contributor. The wideout has been targeted 30 times over his previous three appearances, hauling in 17 catches for 227 yards and two scores. We got a glimpse of just how effective Blankumsee could be with last week’s six-catch, 108-yard performance.
Including last week’s contest, in which he only played the first half, Watson has accounted for 27 targets in the passing game. His potential absence has a two-fold impact on Blankumsee’s usage. First, those extra passes have to go somewhere, and Blankumsee has established himself as a premier option. Second, the Tigers will likely lean into their passing game, letting Henigan loose rather than turning to a backup running back.
This is a perfect opportunity to roster Blankumsee. His already top-end usage is set to increase in Week 8, and he comes at a bargain price. Blankumsee is a potential x-factor that could set teams apart in tournament play, but he’s worth rostering in any format.
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