CFB DFS DraftKings Main Slate Breakdown: Week 10

by Jordan Vanek (vanekjordan) Last Updated 2024-11-02 14:33:09 Premium Content Part of the product CFB Premium

Using his experience as a former scout and staff member at Central Florida under Josh Heupel, Jordan Vanek takes an in-depth look at the upcoming CFB DFS main slate on DraftKings. Formerly of The 33rd Team and 4for4 Fantasy Football, Jordan will do a deep dive into the best stacks, running backs, and wide receivers before giving his overall thoughts on some slate strategy.

Week 10 brings us the best slate we’ve seen in recent weeks, packed with exciting matchups and ownership projections that set the stage for building unique, high-performing lineups. There are a few key injuries to monitor closely, including Tre Harris, Devin McCuin, and Andrew Armstrong, so stay tuned to our updates in the RotoGrinders Discord. And our CFB DFS projections will constantly be updated in our CFB DFS optimizer, LineupHQ.

Several game stacks look primed for high-output passing offenses, and a few of these aren’t drawing much attention. The MEM/UTSA game, with its high total, is the centerpiece of this slate, and I’m going to be invested in multiple pieces from that game. Additionally, Cam Ward and the Hurricanes’ passing offense are poised for a strong bounce-back, though his price tag seems to be deterring DFS players.

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CFB DFS DraftKings Picks: Top Stacks, Running Backs, & Wide Receivers for Week 10

UCF fired their defensive coordinator this week, so they’re the one team on this graph that I’d suggest we don’t read too much into for now. Apart from UCF, these matchups should generally reflect how these teams perform against standard offenses. For triple-option teams, expect single-high matchups with their opponents; however, since these teams rarely throw, it doesn’t impact the data significantly.

Now, let’s dive into the coverage data.

Single High vs. Two High

Single-high coverage is a defensive scheme where one safety plays deep in the middle of the field, tasked with defending against deep passes and providing over-the-top support. This setup often leaves cornerbacks isolated in one-on-one matchups with wide receivers, creating potential for big plays if the receivers can win those matchups. Teams like Arizona, Illinois, and Memphis frequently employ single-high coverage for its versatility in both pass and run support.

With UCF’s defensive coordinator change, it’ll be interesting to see if they offer Arizona single-high looks against Tetairoa McMillan. If so, McMillan has the potential to replicate the explosive performances he delivered against West Virginia and New Mexico. The main factor keeping teams from sticking with two-high coverage against Arizona is the presence of Quali Conley, a powerful force in the run game who could exploit this matchup against UCF.

In contrast, two-high coverage positions two safeties deep, each responsible for one half of the field. This alignment strengthens protection against deep passes but can leave the defense more exposed to runs, short passes underneath, or intermediate routes along the sidelines—particularly against a Cover 2 setup, where defenders stay closer to the flats. Teams like UTSA, Florida, Georgia, and Oregon often rely on two-high coverage to minimize explosive passing plays.

I anticipate Georgia sticking with this scheme against Florida, especially given DJ Lagway’s deep-ball capability. Georgia has struggled to deliver consistent defensive performances throughout games, and mobile quarterbacks have historically exploited vulnerabilities in Kirby Smart’s and Nick Saban’s defensive philosophies. If Florida can fully leverage Lagway’s dual-threat abilities, Georgia may face another challenge in containing the dynamic Florida offense.

Man vs. Zone

Man coverage assigns each defender to a specific offensive player for the duration of the play, demanding tight, physical coverage and excellent tracking skills. Teams that frequently rely on man coverage include Oregon, Penn State, and Illinois. I’m particularly interested to see how Penn State approaches this scheme against Ohio State. Do they trust their man coverage concepts against one of the country’s best wide receiver duos? While Ohio State poses a major threat in the WR room, Penn State’s edge in the trenches could create pressure on Will Howard, potentially leading to turnovers and stifling the Buckeyes’ offensive rhythm.

In contrast, zone coverage requires defenders to cover designated areas of the field rather than specific players, although one-on-one matchups may arise when opponents enter their zones. Each defender’s primary responsibility is determined by the defensive call, emphasizing coverage of space rather than man-to-man assignments. Teams that rely heavily on zone schemes—like Army, Michigan, Indiana, Air Force, and UTSA—are unlikely to deviate from their established identities this late in the season, maintaining a consistent approach to disrupt opposing offenses.

Stacks

Bryson Daily ($9,200, QB, Army)

Kanye Udoh ($5,500, RB, Army)

Air Force has struggled against the run recently, allowing over 200 rushing yards in 4 of their last 5 games—including one against Navy, another triple-option team. Now, they face Army’s formidable rushing attack, which averages 359 yards per game. Leading the charge is Daily, who has surpassed 100 rushing yards in each of the last 6 games and scored an impressive 17 rushing touchdowns over the past 5 games. Daily can be played as a standalone option, but pairing him with Udoh could be strategic. Udoh has also excelled on the ground, hitting 100 rushing yards in 4 of the last 5 games (with 4 touchdowns), and he comes at a price point that makes him a valuable addition alongside Daily.

Udoh is an appealing one-off play due to the ownership that Daily is expected to draw. In short, Army’s ground game is poised to dominate against Air Force, making both players solid choices to capture this game’s rushing production.