Slate Breaker: FD CFB DFS Week 3 (Sat)

Quarterbacks

Play of the Day: Michael Penix Jr., Washington (@ Michigan State)

I know it is pretty obvious to call the top priced player on the slate a play of the day, but this guy is just unreal right now. He has passed for 400+ in back to back games while combining for 8 passing TDs. And things are only going to get better in Week 3. Penix gets his juiciest matchup of the season, taking on Michigan State who has been one of the worst pass defenses in the FBS over the past couple years so Penix will be able to pass for as many yards as his coach allows. This same matchup a year ago was Penix's best game of the year passing for 397 and 4 TDs so expect this game to once again be Penix's best of the season and for a player of this caliber, that is a big deal.

Jayden Daniels, LSU (@ Miss St)

This is all about the rushing yards for me. Everyone should know how good of a runner Daniels is at this point, but it is how bad Miss St is against the run and the QB run especially that makes this a very attractive play. Miss St fails to maintain proper pass rush integrity which should allow Daniels to slip away on multiple occasions providing a very juicy baseline for Daniels to build off of. In this same matchup a year ago, Daniels was in full control passing for 210 while rushing for 93 and scoring a TD in the air and on the ground. I like all aspects of the LSU running game in this one but especially Daniels.

Will Howard, Kansas State (@ Missouri)

Will Howard is an absolute TD machine. In his 9 games as a starter over the past 2 seasons, Howard has passed for 20 TDs and has rushed for another 6. He and this offense continue to look great and with Deuce Vaughn no longer in the picture, Howard's usage has skyrocketed this year as this team has become pass first and Howard is the team's top rushing option on the goal line. Missouri should not offer this Kansas State offense too much resistance so expect big yards and multiple scores from Howard.

Drake Maye, North Carolina (vs Minnesota)

Maye has not looked like the 2022 Drake Maye but he has not been horrible. He still has produced around 20 FD points in both of his games this year. Now he is $9,5000??? Yes, Minnesota is a tougher opponent and he will not go absolutely bananas this week, but $9,500 for a player of Maye's caliber is wild. I would not recommend him if you want a safe play, but Maye looks like a great tournament play this week.

KJ Jefferson, Arkansas (vs BYU)

The Arkansas offense has looked a bit rusty to start the season, but a game against BYU should iron out all of those kinks. Jefferson is a solid passer but an even better runner. BYU has struggled pursuing the QB to start the season applying little to no pressure against lesser FCS teams so Jefferson and this Arkansas O line should be able to man handle this BYU front. Even if Jefferson is unable to find space on the ground, he has already shown the ability to dice this defense up through the air passing for 367 and 5 TDs against them a year ago. With a $9,200 price tag, it is hard to see a realistic outcome where Jefferson is not worth that price. This is a get right game for Jefferson and the Razorbacks so come aboard before the train leaves the station.

Running Backs

Play of the Day: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss (vs Georgia Tech)

Judkins is the best runner on this slate. Georgia Tech is the worst run defense on this slate. Need I say more? Just look at last year's game between these two, Ole Miss dominated Georgia Tech to the tune of 42-0. And it was the running game that was the driving force of the team with Judkins and Zach Evans combining for 232 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs. Zach Evans is gone so Judkins is going to run wild on this Georgia Tech defense. 

Emani Bailey, TCU (@ Houston)

Emani has taken over this backfield. He dominated the RB work over Trey Sanders in Week 2 with 19 carries compared to Sanders' 5 after having a slight edge in Week 1. The top TCU running back has been a great fantasy role for years now and with Bailey locked into that role you can expect healthy production from him on a weekly basis. Houston has a better run defense but they should still be no match for this TCU O line and Bailey so I am firing him up with confidence.

Tennessee RBs @ Florida

Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright have been running wild to start the season. Wright has been the most explosive of the two rushing for 100+ in both games to start the season but Small's has also been effective with 162 rushing yards on just 26 carries while also catching passes out of the backfield. These guys are great backs but the committee approach this team is using really hurts their ceiling. Add in Dylan Sampson who does not seem to have any stand alone value but he kills Wright and Small's high end production by vulturing goal line work. Even with these guys in a committee, their prices make them a value play especially with Jaylen Wright at just $6,100.

Logan Diggs, LSU (@ Miss St)

This one makes me a little nervous, but Diggs looked like the clear top back a week ago. The problem is that LSU was playing Grambling St a week ago so was he heavily used because he is actually the team's top back or because it was an easy win and they wanted him to knock all the rust off after missing Week 1. Diggs was playing deep into the third quarter of that game so I am worried it was more of the latter, but at $6,000 he is worth the risk. Mississippi State is a stronger run defense though so this is by no means a safe play, but the upside is there.

Jo'Quavious Marks, Mississippi St (vs LSU)

I am still not completely sold on Marks. He has been the catalyst of this offense through the first two weeks resulting in big time fantasy production with an average of 28.05 FD points, but that was against Southeastern Louisiana and Arizona. LSU is a different beast but with Dillon Johnson in Washington, Marks' usage is secured and he is a great pass catcher so at the very least he is a floor play and if he continues his otherworldly production, he will be well worth his $8,900 price tag.

Wide Receivers

Play of the Day: Rome Odunze & Jalen McMillan, Washington (@ Michigan State)

Both these guys are smash plays this week against a weak Michigan St secondary but with both guys priced 10K+ it is nearly impossible to put them both in your lineup. Rome Odunze is the clearly the better receiver as he is nearly uncoverable and can make insane contested catches, but McMillan is more of the gadget guy so he will get more of the drawn up plays and if those plays that are specialized for him happen near the endzone he could end up with multiple scores. Ultimately, you cannot go wrong with either of these guys.

Brock Bowers, Georgia (vs South Carolina)

Bowers is the best tight end in the country on the best team in the country and he is just $6,600? Yes, yes, yes. This is my favorite value on this entire slate as he is just too good of a player to be this cheap and his redzone utilization is insane. Bowers gets a goal line carry just about every other game and after a disappointing week last time out, look for Georgia to get Bowers involved early and often.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State (@ Illinois)

The pairing of KLS with new QB Drew Allar has been a match made in heaven. KLS was open all day in the team's season opener against West Virginia totaling 123 yards and 2 scores. He was less involved in their Week 2 game because it quickly turned into a blowout but he still ended with a respectable 6 catches for 74 yards in limited action. KLS can take the top off of any defense and Allar has a great deep ball so I like the odds of the two connecting on at least one deep shot which would instantly make KLS a worthy play.

Tre Harris, Ole Miss (vs Georgia Tech)

It is not looking like Harris will play this week, but on the off chance he does, get him in your lineup. This guy is the entirety of the Ole Miss passing attack, his usage is absolutely insane scoring 5 TDs in 5 quarters of football, so look for any updates on his injury before this game kicks off.

Luther Burden III, Missouri (vs Kansas State)

What a difference real Quarterback play can make. After only getting targets close to the line of scrimmage a year ago, Burden is actually able to work his way down the field with the team trusting Brady Cook to throw the ball down the field. The change in offensive philosophy has immediately paid off for Burden with back to back solid games to start the season. Burden is a great route runner and always seems to find his way to the weak spot in zone coverage so expect a big season for Burden that continues this week against KSU.

Isaiah Williams, Illinois (vs Penn St)

Williams has a very tough matchup this week against the PSU secondary, but he is just too cheap. Williams is the lifeblood of this offense so even if this offense gets shut down, Williams will still get his opportunities. At $6,100, Williams is a nice floor play this week.

Corey Crooms Jr., Minnesota (@ UNC)

Crooms has been one of the leading receivers for this Gopher team, but with matchups against Nebraska and Eastern Michigan that role has not led to much fantasy production. This week should be a different story though, the Gophs take on Drake Maye and the Tar Heels so they will need to pass and score points. Crooms is a slot receiver so he should make for a great safety blanket for QB Kaliakmanis. UNC has allowed their opponent's top receiver to have career days in back to back weeks now, so hopefully it is Crooms turn to go off this week.

Dream Team

QB: Michael Penix Jr., Washington (@ Michigan State)

RB1: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss (vs Georgia Tech)

RB2: Logan Diggs, LSU (@ Miss St)

WR1: Rome Odunze, Washington (@ Michigan State)

WR2: Brock Bowers, Georgia (vs South Carolina)

WR3: Corey Crooms Jr., Minnesota (@ UNC)

Flex: KJ Jefferson, Arkansas (vs BYU)

**DISCLAIMER: Remember, sports and fantasy are supposed to be fun. Please play responsibly.**