Week 2
Top Tier
QB: Trevor Lawrence (CLEM): FD only 10,200
Trevor Lawrence is the best player in college football, and it’s not even close. Clemson will be kicking their season off this week against a depleted Wake Forest team. Wake Forest lost Jamie Newman last year to graduation, and also lost their top receiver in Sage Surratt who opted out. Lawrence, even in a game that should end in a blowout, should put up very good numbers. With it being the first game of the season, maybe this game stays a little closer than projected which would help increase the ceiling of Lawrence, but if it does end in a blowout, expect Lawrence to be a big reason why.
Also Consider: Sam Howell (UNC), Sam Ehlinger (TEX), M. Cunningham (LOU)
RB: Javian Hawkins (LOU): FD only 9000
Hawkins was one of my favorite RB to play last year due to the explosiveness of the Louisville offense. Louisville will be facing Western Kentucky this weekend, who was average at stopping opposing teams run games last year. I think that the threat of Cunningham helps open things up for Hawkins. We have seen that Hawkins can break one at any time, and I expect him to do just that this week. He comes in at a very reasonable price this week, making him one of my favorite RB targets on FD.
Also consider: T. Etienne (CLEM), Breece Hall (ISU)
WR: Dazz Newsome (UNC): FD: 9000 DK: 7900
Dazz is my favorite WR on the slate, and he comes from my favorite game on the slate. UNC is coming into this season with high expectations after a very solid season last year. Newsome is one of the guys that is expected to accomplish great things this year. Syracuse does not offer much of a challenge to UNC’s passing attack and with this game having the highest total on the slate I could see Newsome leading all receivers on the slate in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns. Just over the last two games last year Newsome had 18 receptions for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. I like his price much more on FD than on DK, but he is a great play on both sites.
Also consider: T. Atwell (Lou), D. Brown (UNC), S. James (WVU)
Mid Tier
QB: Skylar Thompson (KSU): FD 9000 DK 6400
I talked about Thompson in my game theory article already, but he is a great play this week. I lean more towards playing him on Draftkings where he is priced really low compared to Fanduel where his price is closer to where it should be. Thompson is a duel threat QB who had 11 rushing touchdowns and 12 passing touchdowns last year. He will be facing a weak Arkansas State defense that allowed over 200 rush yards last week. Thompson should have a big game this week, and I want to get on him now before his price goes up. I see Skylar as a cash play on draftkings and more of a GPP play on Fanduel.
RB: Sandon McCoy (ARMY): FD 8700 DK6300
Sandon McCoy had a really good game last week, rushing for 3 touchdowns and adding in 50 yards on 15 carries. This week he will be going up against a Louisiana Monroe team that allowed over 250 rush yards per game last year. I am not expecting them to be much improved this year vs. the run, and facing an ARMY team that does nothing but run, this could get ugly quick. I expect a very solid floor from McCoy and we saw last week, that when ARMY is inside the 5 yard line, they go to McCoy often. With the amount of carries he will recieve and the goal line touches he gets in this offense, he has a very solid floor for his price and if he adds in another 3 touchdowns this week, he has a chance to outscore the likes of Etienne, Hall and Hawkins.
WR: Amari Rodgers (CLEM): FD only 8500
Out goes one stud wide receiver in Tee Higgins, in steps another stud wide receiver Amari Rogers. Rogers showed flashes of being a game changer last year, but often was overshadowed by Higgins. Rogers can take the top off of a defense with his elite speed. I think he is priced just a little to low on Fanduel, and makes for an interesting stack with Trevor Lawrence. You could also just play Rogers alone as well. I expect his targets to increase this year, as they will look to him to be the play maker for this Clemson WR group.
Value Plays
Quarter Backs
T. Pigrome (WKU) FD only; C. Brice (Duke); K. Howard (TUL) FD only
Running Backs
J. Mason (GT); L. Webb (FSU); T. Mathis Jr. (WVU); T. Robinson (Army)
Wide Receivers
M. Jones (TUL) FD only; C. Kolar (ISU); D. Green (ArkSt.); N. Gray (Duke); X. Hutchinson (ISU); J. Whittington (Tex) FD only
