DB's CFB Bowl Picks: Jan. 1-6
So this is it. After a season worth of picks we are down to our final set of bowl games and with it comes a couple of the biggest College Football fantasy tournaments we have ever seen. FanDuel has their $100,000 King of the Gridiron tournament and DraftKings fired up the Cash Bowl with a $50,000 guaranteed payout. Here is a quick look at some players I’m looking at for this final set of Bowl games.
Quarterbacks
Tajh Boyd (Clemson) – Few players have as much upside as Boyd and he has so many things going for him in this matchup. First off Ohio State’s defense has been one of the worst in college football over the past four games. They have given up a ton of yards to teams like Michigan, Illinois and Michigan State who don’t even have prolific offenses. This has to make you think Clemson should be able to score 35 or more easily in this one. What I like best about Boyd is that he is not afraid to call his own number near the goal line. He has scored a rushing TD in four of the past five games and that is a huge bonus on FanDuel. Price won’t be cheap, but feels like a sure thing.
Jameis Winston (Florida State) – If you believe in the Heisman jinx you might want to avoid Winston here as QB’s who win the award typical don’t fair particularly well in the Championship games. To me that is overrated and Winston should be primed for another big day. Auburn’s defense is not the reason why they are playing for the National Title and QB’s against them have put up some ridiculous numbers. If this game somehow gets into a shootout, Winston could be in for a monumental fantasy day. I personally believe a blow out is the more likely scenario which potentially could limit his upside.
Clint Chelf (Oklahoma State) – He stunk it up for fantasy owners in their last game against Oklahoma, but if you throw that game out he’s been a stud at the QB spot. Chelf is a true dual threat quarterback and although Missouri has been solid defensively most of the season, OSU runs a similar high paced spread offense that Auburn does and we all saw how that game turned out. Chelf won’t cost as much as the studs, but carries the same upside.
Other Options: Anthony Jennings (LSU), Keith Wennings (Ball State), Bryce Petty (Baylor)
Running Backs
Todd Gurley (Georgia) – Once Gurley got healthy he started putting up the “Heismanesque” numbers we expected when the year started. The past four games he has been a man among boys running the football and catching passes out of the backfield. Nebraska has been gashed by running teams most of the season and no reason for Georgia to get cute throwing with Aaron Murray on the shelf. Gurley’s price tag will make him tough to roster, but if he scores 3 TD’s you’ll be happy you paid it.
Ameer Abdullah (Nebraska) – DraftKings didn’t include the early games for their cash bowl, so he and Gurley won’t be available, but I love his price and upside on FanDuel. Abdullah has been extremely steady for the Huskers and considering Georgia has given up 586 yards rushing to their last two FBS opponents, I feel really good about Abdullah having a big game.
Tre Mason (Auburn) – The matchup might not seem ideal but it didn’t seem particularly good against Alabama or Missouri either and Mason still went nuts. This guys is matchup proof and always gets a heavy dose of work. Florida State rush defense did give up a big day to Andre Williams earlier this season, so it’s not impossible to see FSU get run on in the title game.
Other Options: Lache Seastrunk (Baylor), Devonta Freeman (Florida State), Desmond Roland (Oklahoma State)
Wide Receivers
Willie Snead (Ball State) – He is the most expensive wide receiver in the game set but it is for good reason. He is an absolute stud who is a near lock for double digit receptions and 100 yards. Arkansas State ranks in the mid 80’s against the pass, so Snead should get a heavy workload and if he finds the endzone a couple times he could have an absolute monster day.
Benjamin/Greene/Shaw (Florida State) – All three of the Florida State wideouts are in play this game set. Question is who is the best. Recent performance shows Winston loving the big target in Benjamin, but things can obviously change game to game. I find myself rostering Greene most out of the three. His price is majorly depressed and I could easily see him going for 100 and a score in the title game.
Michael Bennett (Georgia) – Even though I think Gurley is going to be the main part of the game plan for the Bulldogs, Bennett presents a tremendous value in FanDuel’s King of the Gridiron. Hutson Mason hasn’t been terrible throwing the ball so I think there are some stats to be had. Injuries to the wide receiver corp make him their top option and a very solid value play.
Other Options: Josh Stewart (Oklahoma State), Antwan Goodley (Baylor), Sammy Watkins (Clemson)
Tight Ends
Nick O’Leary (Florida State) – If there is one guy who will be very highly owned it’s going to be O’Leary. His price is extremely fair and provides the greatest upside of anyone else at the position. Looks like a plug and play to me.
Zane Fakes (Ball State) – Fakes will be a relative unknown to a lot of people, but he gets consistent looks in the pass game and definitely deserves some consideration in a game I expect to be fairly high scoring.
Other Options: O.J. Howard (Alabama), Josiah Price (Michigan State)