Slate Breaker: FD CFB DFS Week 2 (Sat)

 Quarterbacks

Play of the Day: Drake Maye, North Carolina (vs Appalachian State)

Maye was a bit of a disappointment last week. He turned over the ball a couple of times and did not run a lot. He is too good of a QB to put up stats like that and he is in a nice bounceback spot against Appalachian State. This same matchup was one of the games of the year last season, it was an absolute barn burner with UNC coming away with a 63-61 win. Drake Maye was lights out in that game, passing for 352 and 4 while adding 76 and 1 on the ground, good enough for a 40+ point game. There is some worry that this will not nearly be as competitive a game as last year with App St's backup QB playing but their backup was in a QB battle with the starter that went down to the wire so they should not experience too much of a drop off in offensive play with the new signal caller. Maye should be the top priced QB on the slate with this kind of matchup, so the fact he is $1,200 cheaper than Bo Nix makes him a good value even at the high $11,200 price.

Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma (vs SMU)

Gabriel absolutely showed out in just a half of football last week, passing for 308 yards and 2 passing TDs and 1 rushing. The opponent was easy for Gabriel but him and this offense looked like one of the top in the country. This SMU defense is weaker against the run than the pass so Oklahoma may ride that run game more than they did a week ago, but this offense should put up a lot of points regardless with Gabriel being the motor for this offense. I am worried about the lack of a true top receiver on this team but Gabriel is a good enough QB to not force the ball and take what the offense gives him.

John Rhys Plumlee, Central Florida (@ Boise State)

Boise State did just get ripped apart by Michael Penix but Plumlee is not nearly the passer that Penix is so do not expect him to come anywhere close to that kind of yardage. What Plumlee lacks as a passer he makes up for as a runner. Plumlee is one of the best rushing QBs in all of the FBS so even against a disciplined defense like Boise State, he still should be able to capitalize on the slightest amount of daylight allowing him to rack up a respectable rushing baseline. One concern with Plumlee is the team's precautious approach with Plumlee's running, this mostly manifests in the team using a lot of wildcat on the goal line taking a lot of easy and valuable rushing TDs away from Plumlee. Plumlee's ceiling may be a little impacted by his lack of goal line running but the rushing yards and a weak Boise State secondary should make Plumlee a safe play.

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame (@ North Carolina State)

NC St presents a relatively tough matchup for Hartman, but I just like Hartman in this offense. This is the offense's first real test, but Hartman has looked in complete control every time Notre Dame has taken the ball. The offensive line is keeping him clean so he is not the skittish player he was a year ago. NC St is vulnerable against the run so they could choose to just ride the running backs, but Hartman has been showing an ability to produce at the goal line meaning he should score multiple times one of which will hopefully be on the ground giving him the potential for a big day. This offense may stumble a little bit, but Hartman will have a chance to keep his foot on the pedal for the entire game which should lead to his top scoring performance of the season. 

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (vs Nebraska)

You have to ride the guy who just passed for 510 and 4 right? I am all in on Sanders this year after week one, but he will definitely take a step back this week. This is a weak Nebraska offense so there is basically no potential for a shootout like last week so I would temper expectations of Sanders a bit this week. He will come nowhere close to 500 yards but I like his chances to pass for 300 and a couple scores which would be well worth his relatively low $9,700.

Jalen Milroe, Alabama (vs Texas)

I need to eat a bit of crow on this one. I was wrong about Milroe. I thought he was going to be a one dimensional rushing quarterback but he looked good in both the pass and run last week making this look like a complete offense. Texas is definitely a harder matchup for Milroe this week, but I think Milroe and Alabama will be looking to make a statement to show that Alabama is still a team that should be feared. Milroe will for sure have a nice rushing line so any success passing the ball will just be a cherry on top.

Running Backs

Play of the Day: Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (@ Washington St)

With the transition to the air raid offense, I was a bit worried that Wisconsin would lose its identity as Running Back U. These worries were quickly put to rest though as the running backs were the obvious emphasis of this offense. Both Allen and Chez Mellusi were heavily involved both rushing for over 100 and scoring 3 TDs between them. To add even more intrigue to this play, Braelon Allen can catch the ball. He led the team in both catches and targets with 7 making it clear that Allen is the centerpiece of this much improved offense.

Quinshon Judkins, Mississippi (@ Tulane)

Judkins is the most talented back on this slate by a long shot. He will be relied on early and often in what should turn into a grueling game between two talented teams. Tulane is very good against the run so this will be a challenge for Judkins, but in his first year he was a lock for 25+ carries 100+ yards and at least 1 score every game regardless of opponent. The talent shines when the team needs him, get Judkins in your lineups.

Audric Estime, Notre Dame (@ North Carolina State)

Notre Dame has been the most improved offense of this young season and Audric Estime is a big reason why. Estime has been electric with the ball in his hand, averaging 7.3 ypc while being an asset as a pass catcher. The only thing that has really hurt Estime so far are the blowouts that this Notre Dame team has played in leading to him only really playing a half of play in each. NC St will present a challenge for Notre Dame which will only mean good things for Estime as he will be relied on for the whole game. Then you factor in that NC St has a history of struggling against the run and Estime becomes a must play.

Oklahoma RBs (vs SMU)

SMU presents a cake matchup for the Sooners on the ground. The only issue with these backs will be choosing the right guy, Oklahoma seems like they are going to use a committee approach with three guys getting heavy usage. I like Jovantae Barnes since he is the lowest price while getting the most work a week ago. One of either Barnes, Marcus Major, or Tawee Walker will have a good day and who knows maybe two of them will.

Henry Parrish Jr., Miami (vs Texas A&M)

This is mostly about the matchup for me. Texas A&M was bad against the run a year ago ranking in the bottom 10 in the country. I am a bit dissuaded since Miami was using a really big committee in their game against Miami (Ohio) a week ago, but if you feel like you need a piece of this backfield against this Aggie run defense then Parrish seems like the guy who will have the most chances.

Sy'Veon Wilkerson, Colorado (vs Nebraska)

It was Dylan Edwards who stole the show in this Buffs backfield last week, but Wilkerson looked good too. Edwards's big day came on the back of an exploit the Buffs found in the TCU defense that left Edwards to be open all day, but I do not expect that same exploit to still be open nor the game script to favor Edwards. In what should be more of a grind it out game against a Nebraska defense that looked improved from last year, I expect Wilkerson who had 45 yards and a score in limited action against TCU to get much more work this week. The chance you get the Colorado lead back at $6,200 makes him well worth the risk.

Wide Receivers

Play of the Day: Kobe Paysour, North Carolina (vs Appalachian State)

There were some questions about this UNC receiver group but after Tez Walker has been deemed ineligible and Paysour thrived in the WR1 role a week ago, it looks like Paysour has cemented himself as Josh Downs's replacement as the top receiver on this depth chart. This will be a good week for Paysour to prove this billing as he gets a weak App St team that he roasted for a 8/92/1 line last year. Get this man in your lineups.

Colorado Receivers (vs Nebraska) 

I loved this Colorado offense a week ago. Like I highlighted with Sanders, some regression is in store this week but these guys should still be productive regardless. Travis Hunter does concern me a bit since this should not be a tight game so I doubt he will be playing every snap again and it is more likely his usage gets eased on offense than on defense so he is not a lock. But the experienced Horn and Weaver should be good for around 10 targets each so if they can capitalize they should push 100 yards once again. 

Devaughn Vele, Utah (@ Baylor)

This guy is just too cheap for the role he plays in this offense. The QB play does concern me a bit but there is a chance Cam Rising returns and if that happens Vele instantly becomes the play of the day. With the lack of competition Florida brought a week ago, Utah was not very reliant on the pass. With Utah taking on a tougher Baylor team on the road, expect the Utes to pass it more and Vele to have a bigger stat line even with the young QBs in.

Andrel Anthony, Oklahoma (vs SMU)

While it is true that the Sooners do not have a true bonafide WR1 on this roster, if someone looks primed to step up and become that kind of a player for this team it is this guy. He is an obvious starter for this team and Dillon Gabriel was looking his way early and often with Anthony catching Gabriel's first two passes of the game. Anthony only really played the first quarter of their first game due to the blowout nature; but in what should be a real game for Oklahoma, expect Anthony to be one of the leading receivers for this team. At $6,200, Anthony was involved enough to be worth that price but if he ends up being the top receiver for this team he will be a slate breaking value at this price.

Kris Hutson, Oregon (@ Texas Tech)

There is a lot of risk here since Hutson is not healthy, but if he plays. he is in a smash spot at $5,000 and he has been practicing so it is looking promising. Hutson was productive as the team's WR3 a year ago but now he is expected to step up into that WR2 role which could make him a big time fantasy asset with Bo Nix throwing him the ball. Hutson was used mostly as a deep threat a year ago but now that Hutson is more involved in the offense expect him to make catches all over the field and end up a solid fantasy receiver. If news does break that Hutson will miss another game, use his teammate TE Patrick Herbert as a respectable pivot.

Xavier Worthy, Texas (@ Alabama)

Worthy looks like the guy on this Texas offense. He was open on just about every play resulting in 7 catches for 90 a week ago and Ewers missed him a couple times so he should have had an even bigger day. Alabama does present a scary matchup for Worthy but he seems matchup proof at this point as he was one of the few productive players in this same matchup a year ago catching 5 balls for 97 yards. 

Xzavier Henderson, Cincinnati (@ Pitt)

The Florida transfer seems to have settled into his new home just fine. The Bearcats made it obvious from the get go that Henderson was their guy. He led the team in targets, catches and yards resulting in a monster 7/149/1 line. Pittsburgh does match up as a much tougher opponent than Easter Kentucky, but just look at that usage, Henderson is going to put up points regardless of opponent if he keeps getting featured in this offense.

Dream Team

QB: Drake Maye, UNC (vs App St)

RB1: Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (@ WSU)

RB2: Audric Estime, Notre Dame (@ NCST)

WR1: Kobe Paysour, UNC (vs App St)

WR2: Devaughn Vele, Utah (@ Baylor)

WR3: Andrel Anthony, Oklahoma (vs SMU)

Flex: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (vs Nebraska)

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