CFB DFS: Week 14 GPP Targets
Here we are folks: the last week of us having a full college football slate to analyze. Of course, we still have a solid bowl season ahead, but that is no comparison to the usual non-stop action of Saturday morning.
With that being said, I’ve assembled some players that are worth looking at in large field tournaments this weekend. Some of these guys are good enough to use in cash too, but most of the players discussed are strictly GPP options. Let’s get cranked up on this last Saturday!
Quarterbacks
| Player | DK/FD Prices | Team | Matchup | Team Total | Defense Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deshaun Watson | $8,600/$10,900 | CLEM | UNC | 36 | 41 |
| Marquise Williams | $8,300/$8,600 | UNC | CLEM | 31 | 4 |
| Greg Ward Jr. | $7,900/$9,400 | HOU | TEMP | 32 | 25 |
| Connor Cook | $6,300/$7,700 | MSU | IOWA | 28 | 50 |
| Tyrone Swoopes | $5,800/$7,500 | UT | BU | 24 | 81 |
This group of QBs is an odd mix. We are used to 15-20 game slates and now we are being handed a nine-game canvas with some dud matchups.
Deshaun Watson is the clear #1 QB for me, both in GPPs and cash. I wouldn’t doubt if he runs for over 100 yards… by halftime. Seriously, this is a chance at an undefeated record, a conference title and a trip to the Final Four in the playoffs. If you lose? None of it. You can bet that Watson will take it upon himself to dominate this offense and reach that goal. In the same game, I have Marquise Williams here because, frankly, his team is projected with a high total of 31 Vegas points. Clemson has a solid all around defense, but North Carolina will score in this game. They will have to in order to keep up with Clemson.
Greg Ward will be extremely low owned this weekend due to price tag and the other options in his salary neighborhood. However, he looked healthy last week and that means a 100-yard rushing threat for Ward. I see Connor Cook as a guy who saves you salary and at the same time has a legit shot at 270+ yards passing and 2+ touchdowns. The Spartan offense is good, when healthy, and this is a championship game. I doubt they get shut down, even though Iowa ranks high in overall defense. Tyrone Swoopes is a guy that is going to open up a ton of cap space on DraftKings and give you a shot at some decent fantasy points, if things break correctly for him. He is not a cash game guy, but fine for GPPs.
Running Backs
| Player | DK/FD Prices | Team | Matchup | Team Total | Defense Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donnel Pumphrey | $8,100/$9,100 | SDSU | AF | 29 | 34 |
| Elijah Hood | $6,900/$8,400 | UNC | CLEM | 31 | 19 |
| Shock Linwood | $5,800/$6,500 | BU | UT | 45 | 65 |
| Justin Davis | $5,100/$5,200 | USC | STAN | 28 | 41 |
| Charles Jones | $3,800/$4,700 | KSU | WV | 26 | 44 |
Two-pump chump (EMac’s favorite) is back again for an encore against an Air Force team that SHOULD be overmatched by his speed. Donnel Pumphrey is a stud and should be treated as such on Saturday. I mentioned that North Carolina is going to score, even against a highly ranked Clemson defense. I am playing teams that feature the QB on one of them and Hood on another. One of these two guys is liable to have a huge day. Shock Linwood makes for a great GPP play because no one will be on him. He was injured two weeks ago and barely played a little in the first quarter last week. If, and that means checking injury status Saturday, he is healthy this week, he could have a big day against a weak Texas defense for a decent salary and low ownership.
The matchup looks terrible for Justin Davis on paper, but Stanford isn’t as tough as the numbers say. Good run teams have pounded them and Davis got 21 carries last week for the Trojans. Charles Jones is in here because there isn’t another $3800 or less player that offers two-touchdown upside.
Wide Receivers
| Player | DK/FD Prices | Team | Matchup | Team Total | Defense Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Burbridge | $6,500/$6,700 | MSU | IOWA | 28 | 50 |
| Calvin Ridley | $5,500/$4,900 | ALA | UF | 28 | 10 |
| Casey Martin | $5,400/$5,100 | USMS | WKU | 33 | 98 |
| Deon Cain | $4,900/$5,200 | CLEM | UNC | 36 | 41 |
| Robby Anderson | $4,500/$5,000 | TEMP | HOU | 25 | 82 |
I listed Connor Cook earlier, and if Cook goes off, you can assume that Aaron Burbridge has a piece of it. I expect the Spartans to be able to move the ball on this defense and rely on the passing game. Calvin Ridley is the player in this Alabama offense that stands the best chance at a big game. I think the defense will focus on taking away the running game and Ridley will be left with some one on one coverage that he can exploit. On weeks like this, you need to take some risks, and I think Ridley is a good GPP reach.
Casey Martin is the #2 WR on an offense that projects to score a good amount points Saturday morning. Many times in games like this, the defense takes away the first WR and the second guy blows up. Martin is solid. Deon Cain seems to have supplanted Artavis Scott for lead WR on this Clemson team. Truth is, I think they are both threats in this game and it wouldn’t surprise me if either one of them go crazy. After all, I like Deshaun Watson, so it stands to reason he throws for a couple TDs, at the very least.
Robby Anderson is a bit of a stretch and a GPP-only option. He has found company in recent weeks in the Temple WR corps with other guys coming in and vulturing him. However, I am fine with taking a chance on him and hoping Houston gets out to a big lead and forces comeback ball for Temple.