College football Week 0 is finally here and DraftKings and FanDuel each released a three-game slate. Unlike NFL DFS, college football removed the DST position and uses a Super Flex. This allows a second quarterback to enter lineups. On most occasions, this is the proper approach to CFB DFS. As far as this three-game slate goes, pricing is pretty soft. While multiple studs can be jammed into lineups, this piece will break down all of the relevant players on the NCAAF Week 0 slate using Stokastic’s CFB DFS projections and ownership projections.
CFB Week 0 DFS Picks & Projections
Quarterback
D.J. Uiagalelei ($9,000) — Florida State is a 10-point favorite over Georgia Tech in a game with a 55 total. Transferring in from Oregon State, Uiagalelei completed 57.1% of his passes for 8.4 yards per attempt, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year while rushing for 219 yards (3.2 yards per carry). Even with his elevated price tag, Uiagalelei doesn’t top our quarterback projections. Still, Georgia Tech’s primary weakness is the secondary, and with few salary restrictions, it is not hard to fit Uiagalelei. He should be one of the most owned quarterbacks on the slate.
Preston Stone ($8,900) — Given the team is a 24.5-point favorite in a game with a 56 total, normally the starting SMU quarterback would project well. However, coaching indicated that both Stone and Kevin Jennings ($7,500) will play in this game. How much remains to be seen. Even at 80% of the snaps, Stone comes in sixth among price-adjusted quarterbacks. With a lifeless Nevada on the other side, Jennings could see even more than his projected 20%. Because both quarterbacks are talented, they are in the GPP conversation.
Haynes King ($7,100) — Despite being a double-digit underdog, King grades out as the No. 3 quarterback on this slate. Last year, King completed 61.6% of his passes for 7.7 yards per attempt, 27 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 737 yards (6.1 yards per carry), giving him an elite floor/ceiling combination. He also is the easiest to stack with his top two receiving options on this slate.
Tommy Mellott ($7,000) — Currently graded out as the top price-adjusted quarterback, Mellott benefits from Montana State being an 11-point favorite over New Mexico in a game with a 54.5 total. Mellott finished as the team’s second-leading rusher last year with 689 yards on 85 attempts (8.1 yards per carry). Montana State only passed the ball 33.2% of the time, so his ability to run means a lot here. Last year, Sean Chambers started at quarterback, so this will be Mellott’s first run as full-time starter. He proved a capable passer with a 62.4% completion percentage for 9.1 yards per attempt and 10 touchdowns. With the solid rushing floor, Mellott offers strong salary savings.
Brendon Lewis ($6,200) — One of the lowest-graded quarterbacks on the slate, Lewis returns for his fifth college season. Last year, he completed a weak 55.5% of his passes for 5.6 yards per attempt. He did rush for 495 yards (4.1 yards per carry), which provides a decent floor. However, his lack of passing leaves little ceiling. Nevada is also a 24.5-point underdog to SMU.
Devon Dampier ($6,100) — Despite being an 11-point underdog, Dampier still ranks near the top of price-adjusted values due to his rushing ability. The wide-open slate may not require the salary savings of Dampier, but his rushing ability still looks enticing. Last year, he rushed for 328 yards (5.6 yards per carry) despite backing up Dylan Hopkins. He also played serviceable from a passing perspective with a 62.5% completion percentage for 8.2 yards per attempt. This should also be a run-heavy offense, but Dampier’s involvement helps his fantasy viability.
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Running Back
Roydell Williams ($7,100) — DraftKings priced Williams below pass-catching specialist Lawrance Toafili ($7,700). Sportsbooks expect Williams to operate as the early-down back, with rushing props hovering just north on 70 yards. Last year, he rushed for 560 yards on 111 carries (5.0 yards per carry). With that said, Toafili and Indiana transfer Jaylin Lucas ($5,100) will still be involved. Toafili rushed 69 times for 463 yards (6.7 yards per carry) while catching 21 passes. Lucas should play more of a change-of-pace role, but all three will see the field. Still, Williams is the safest option with Toafili and Lucas operating more as GPP plays.
Jaylan Knighton ($6,600) — Unsurprisingly, SMU listed three running backs as co-starters between Knighton, L.J. Johnson ($5,500) and Brashard Smith ($3,600). Knighton led the team with 745 yards on 136 attempts and 13 catches. Johnson racked up 576 yards on 108 attempts and seven catches. Smith comes over from Miami after playing receiver, but he should slide into the role vacated by an injured Camar Wheaton. There is even a chance we see 4-star freshman Derrick McFall given SMU’s projected margin of victory. He isn’t in the DraftKings player pool. Regardless, taking a shot at one of these backs looks like a solid move given SMU’s enormous implied team total.
Jamal Haynes ($6,300) — The clearest feature back on the slate, Haynes rushed for 1,059 yards and caught 20 passes last year in the lead back role. Georgia Tech still has Trey Cooley ($5,300) behind him for change-of-pace work, but Haynes has the highest volume projection on the slate. He should be the highest-owned running back given his affordable price tag.
Andrew Henry ($5,700) — New Mexico listed three co-starters at running back between Henry, Eli Sanders ($4,700) and NaQuari Rogers ($3,000). Henry rushed for 350 yards (6.7 yards per carry) last year, but he only caught five passes. Sanders comes in from Iowa State and Rogers from Campbell. Sanders looks like the most talented overall player, but there is little separating these three at this point in camp. My preference is to pay down at this position, but throwing darts at all three could make sense in GPPs. None project all that well.
Sean Dollars ($5,600) — Nevada listed Dollars as the clear starting running back with Savion Red ($3,300) and Caleb Ramseur ($3,000) behind them. Transfers Ky Woods ($3,000) and Deston Hawkins ($3,000) were left off the depth chart. Pat Garwo ($4,200) was missing too, but he has been injured. As the lead back last year, Dollars rushed for 527 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and caught 18 passes. His volume could drop with a more talented back in Red behind him. As massive underdogs, none of these running backs project particularly well.
Scottre Humphrey ($4,600) — Montana State’s top running back Julius Davis will miss this game with injury. It listed Humphrey as the starter with Adam Jones ($4,400) as the backup. This is especially interesting, because Jared White ($3,000) and Elijah Elliott ($3,300) both played more last year. Ultimately, this should be a committee, but Humphrey’s 8.0 yards per carry deserves a long look at a cheap price. Jones would be the typical GPP pivot.
Wide Receiver
Malik Benson ($7,000) — Florida State lost its top three pass catchers in Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson and Jaheim Bell. To fill the void, it added Benson from Alabama and Jalen Brown ($4,800) from LSU. The pair were listed as starters, alongside Ja’Khi Douglas ($5,600). Benson underachieved at Alabama with 13 catches for 162 yards, while Brown has no experience whatsoever. Still, taking the unproven upside with an elite recruit like Brown may prove prudent in GPPs. Expect some rotation with receivers like Deuce Spann ($3,800), Darion Williamson ($4,100), Kentron Poitier ($4,300) and Hykeem Williams ($4,400) occasionally seeing the field. While tight ends are largely forgettable in CFB DFS, Kyle Morlock ($4,300) has some intrigue. He played a bit last year and caught 19 passes for 255 yards. There should not be such a wide gap between Benson and the other pass catchers, but any of Benson, Brown, Douglas or Morlock are playable.
Jake Bailey ($6,300) — SMU routinely used six wide receivers, and most of them are back. Bailey led the team with 528 yards on 42 catches, but Jordan Hudson ($6,000) proved the most efficient on a per route basis. He had 30 catches for 425 yards. Tight end R.J. Maryland ($5,400) plays the most with less competition at tight end. He finished second on the team with 518 yards on 34 catches. Aside from these three, Moochie Dixon ($4,400), Romello Brinson ($4,100), Keyshawn Smith ($5,100) and Roderick Daniels ($3,800) all finished between 370 and 441 receiving yards in 2023, with route rates ranging from 40% to 60%. They are all toss-ups but could spike in any game. Bailey, Hudson and Maryland are the safest pass catchers in this room.
Eric Singleton ($5,300) — Georgia Tech returns its top two pass catchers in Singleton and Malik Rutherford ($5,200). Singleton caught 48 passes for 714 yards, while Rutherford notched 26 receptions for 502 yards. They are two of the top pass catchers on the slate and strong price-adjusted plays. Georgia Tech lost Dominick Blaylock, but Christian Leary ($4,600) caught 25 passes for 309 yards in rotation last year. He should be the WR3 with Chase Lane ($4,700) operating in rotation this year. Tight end still looks like a nasty timeshare, so focusing on Singleton and Rutherford while throwing darts at Leary makes the most sense.
Caleb Medford ($5,000) — Medford led the team with 30 catches for 551 yards last year, but interestingly, it listed him as a co-starter Nic Trujillo ($3,000). Shawn Miller ($3,000) and Ryan Davis ($4,000) are co-starters, leaving Luke Wysong ($4,700) as the only starting receiver without the “or” designation. While this passing attack doesn’t inspire much confidence, this at least puts Wysong and Medford into the GPP conversation. The rest are pure dart throws.
Ty McCullouch ($4,900) — Colorado State transfer McCullough led the team with 25 catches for 473 yards last year. The Bobcats listed him as a starter, along with Washington transfer Lonyatta Alexander Jr. ($4,200) and Taco Dowler ($3,500). Jacob Trimble ($3,600) and Aidan Garrigan ($3,00) were listed as backups despite playing larger roles last year. In 2023, Alexander was not eligible and Dowler caught just five passes. This team runs 12 personnel or uses a fullback often, meaning attention should be focused on McCullough and Alexander for CFB DFS. Rohan Jones ($4,100) has an eye-popping price tag, but the team listed him as a fullback.
Cortez Braham Jr. ($4,700) — Nevada lost every main contributor at wide receiver from last year. It listed Braham Jr., Marcus Bellon ($4,500) and Jaden Smith ($4,600) as its staters. Braham failed to latch on to West Virginia in 2023 after previously playing at the junior college level. Bellon came from UTEP, where he ranked sixth in receiving with 10 catches for 97 yards last year. Smith comes from Tarleton State. There is nothing proven in this room, and the passing attack does not project to be prolific for CFB DFS. These three are pure darts.
