CFB Weekly Picks: Bowl Week 1
The first week of bowl games brings us a small five-game set, but after not having CFB for a couple of weeks, even this small game set is nice to see. Small game sets make for interesting theories on how to construct your roster. I usually like to get two or three of the safest plays in my cash games, even if it makes me take total punt plays at multiple positions. In my tournament lineups, I always like to save salary at QB and take the best WR and RB available. I also think you can learn a little this week if you have never been a CFB fan before and you are just getting into this sport because of DFS. I love to target senior players in these games, as many times the coaches will give them a few extra touches to let them end their football careers in style.
Enjoy this weekend of bowl games, but remember that this weekend is just a warmup for what next week is going to bring us. I recommend trying to win yourself a ticket or two into the big tournaments that the sites are having next weekend. We are going to have the biggest CFB tournaments ever seen next weekend, and you are going to want some entries into those tournaments. I hope these picks can help you win a ticket.
Quarterback
Cody Fajardo (Nevada) – While I think Fajardo is overpriced this weekend, he is so far and away the best QB in this game set. He is a great option in your cash games and a decent play in your tournament lineups. Fajardo is the only QB you can plug into your lineup this week and know you will get at least 20+ points. Fajardo has over 30 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games and is one of the best dual threat QBs in all of CFB. Play Fajardo with confidence knowing you are already at least ten points ahead of all your competition that doesn’t choose to play him.
Travis Wilson (Utah) – Wilson is my favorite QB to target this weekend. I think Wilson might be the second best QB regardless of price this week, but is the eighth most expensive out of the ten starting QBs. Wilson had faced a really tough stretch of good defensive teams until last game when he got to face Colorado – he lit them up for 300 yards and three TDs. I feel Utah is going to be able to move the ball up and down the field against Colorado St and Wilson has one of the better matchups this weekend.
Other Options: Zach Terrell (Western Michigan), Kent Myers (Utah St)
Running Back
Jarvion Franklin (Western Michigan) – Franklin is the top overall play this weekend for me and he will probably be in every one of my lineups. I usually don’t like to put any one player in all my lineups in CFB, but this guy is so far ahead of the next player at the RB position and his salary isn’t that much higher, so I am having a hard time leaving him off any lineup. He was nursing a little injury recently, but had 34 touches last game, so he is completely healthy now. Franklin has 1500 yards rushing and 25 TDs this year and is a complete workhorse. Fade him at your own risk.
Devontae Booker (Utah) – Booker has really impressed me the last month of the season, proving he is complete all around running back. He has 26 receptions in his last four games, which is more than most RBs have on the whole season, so he will help you score points in many different ways. Since he was given the starting RB job nine games ago, he has yet to have under 25 touches in any game. I love playing RBs where you know the offense is going to run through that player no matter what, and Booker is that guy. Booker has a great floor this week against a team I think Utah should be able to move the ball at will against.
Other Options: Don Jackson (Nevada), Elijah McGuire (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Wide Receiver
Kaelin Clay (Utah) – I have now listed a QB, RB, and WR from the same team, and that team isn’t exactly a high powered offense either. With this small game slate, you have to find value to play with your studs, and I love the value of Clay at WR and Wilson at QB. Clay has had two huge games since Dres Anderson went down for the season and I see him having another one against Colorado St. I will probably be playing Clay in most if not all my lineups this weekend, but if you play Wilson at QB, you almost have to pair him with Clay. That is a cheap QB/WR combo that allows you to roster almost anybody else you want.
Corey Davis (Western Michigan) – I really love Rashard Higgins this week, but the matchup isn’t that good and the salary is just to much for me. The next best option is Davis. Davis has scored a TD in 11 of 12 games this year and he had seven catches for 125 yards in the game he didn’t score. He is as consistent as they come and is a great choice in your cash games and a decent play in GPPs as well. He is easily the second best option at WR after the very expensive Rashard Higgins.
Shavarez Smith (South Alabama) – Smith started the year great with six TDs in the first seven games. Then his QB got a little banged up and his stats suffered because of it. QB Bridge is now completely healthy again and he is putting up good stats again. I am not a fan of many of the mid priced receivers and I feel Smith has as upside as most all of them.
Other Options: Rashard Higgins (Colorado St), Daniel Braverman (Western Michigan)
Tight End
Jarred Gipson (Nevada) – I want to make this very clear: I am only recommending Gipson because I felt I needed to include the TE position is this article. I do not see a good play at the position this week, but Gipson has the most upside of any TE so you might as well roll him into your lineup. He does have two games this year with multiple TDs so the potential is there.
Other Options: Steven Walker (Colorado St)