College Football DFS: Friday Slate, Week 5

FanDuel and DraftKings are rolling out identical slates for Friday night's CFB DFS action. Let's get right to it!

SLATE OVERVIEW

Houston (-4) @ Tulsa O/U: 54

Iowa (-3.5) @ Maryland O/U: 47.5

BYU (-9.5) @ Utah State O/U: 62.5

The most interesting line here lies with the Iowa/Maryland matchup. I'm not entirely convinced of the spread and even less convinced of the Over/Under total. I still believe it will yield the lowest point total of the night, but Vegas is giving the Terps entirely too much credit here. Their poor showing against Kent State may have been an outlier, but they will have their work cut out for them against an Iowa defense that is stingy against the run. I like the fantasy potential of the other two games much more than the headliner contest, with BYU/Utah state delivering the most firepower.

QUARTERBACK

Jaren Hall, BYU (DK $8,800, FD $10,000) @ Utah State

Barring any setbacks, Hall should be good to go Friday despite carrying an injury tag coming into the contest. Over three games, the sophomore has aptly filled the shoes of Zach Wilson by completing 80 percent of his passes and sporting a 7:2 TD/INT ratio. He's also demonstrated an ability to escape pressure out of the pocket and is good for a sizeable weekly rushing total. Since there are more names on this slate at quarterback, the public may choose to veer away from Hall based on the injury status. There's also a potential threat from Baylor Romney, who put up a massive total against South Florida and would be the pivot here if Hall has trouble during warmups. Despite the lofty salary, it's a safe bet that his exposure will be lower than we usually see with quarterbacks who top the player pool. Keep an eye on Hall and go with him if he starts.

Clayton Tune, Houston (DK $6,500, FD $9,400) @ Tulsa

Once again, we're hoping for a favorable exposure from a player who is returning from injury.  It appears that the hamstring injury is no longer an issue, and he will suit up Friday. Based on his position in the player pool on DraftKings, his exposure should be significantly lower on that site as opposed to FanDuel, who has him placed higher on the salary ladder. Although he's been efficient with the ball, we've yet to see the kind of consistent output we saw in 2020. There's a reason for optimism against Tulsa, who's allowed almost 250 passing yards per game and ranks a paltry 193rd in passing defense. In fact, the Golden Hurricane has one of the worst defenses on the slate, so all aspects of the Cougars' offense should have a green light.

Also consider: Logan Bonner, Utah State (DK $7,400, FD $7,400) vs. BYU

Although Taulia Tagovailoa was omitted as an endorsement, his lower price on DraftKings ($7,500) makes him valid for that site, especially if you opt to spend a lot at running back.

RUNNING BACK

Tyler Goodson, Iowa (DK $6,800, FD $9,200) @ Maryland

I wrestled between Goodson and Tyler Allgeier for the top endorsement but ultimately settled on Goodson due to his touchdown totals and a potential bounce-back game after a tepid performance against Colorado State. The Hawkeyes seem to have a superior offensive line every year, and although the team has struggled at times, they still find ways to give ample room for Goodson, who averages around 20 carries per game. He's also a capable pass-catcher and has logged ten receptions over four games. The Terps have struggled to stop the run, which is good news for the junior standout.

Calvin Tyler, Utah State (DK $6,400, FD $8,700) vs. BYU

Tyler's numbers ramp up weekly. His TD streak ended against Boise State, but he topped the century mark for a second straight game and is a crucial part of the Aggies' offensive engine. His move from Oregon State has definitely worked out, and his pro resume will benefit from being the bell-cow back in Logan.

Also consider: Alton McCaskill, Houston (DK $5,800, FD $7,000)

WIDE RECEIVER

Neil Pau'u, BYU (DK $6,300, FD $8,500) @ Utah State

If you can't resist Gunner Romney, by all means, go for it, but the script of this slate demands a more pragmatic approach to the wideout position due to the limited variety available at running back. For that reason, I'm going to be looking at many secondary pass-catchers beginning with Pau'u, who has emerged ahead of the Nacua brothers as the #2 guy for the Cougars. His 6-4 frame makes him a visible target and is a great 50/50 option for Jaren Hall or whoever happens to be throwing the ball. A very low-cost pivot would be Puka Nacua (DK $4,300, FD $5,700), who has shown flashes since his injury but isn't as safe as Pau'u in this spot.

Brandon Bowling, Utah State (DK $5,700, FD $8,000) vs. BYU

I've been taken with Bowling since viewing his standout performance against Air Force. He's passed the century mark in two games this season, and although he only has 20 catches so far, he has the innate ability to break out with a big play. BYU is much better against the run, so the Aggies will have to air it out - Logan Bonner has a dependable target in Bowling.

Josh Johnson, Tulsa (DK $6,000. FD $8,300) vs. Houston

The injury to Keylon Stokes has opened things for Johnson, who has turned in two consecutive 100-plus yard games. If Stokes were to return somehow, I am fine with pivoting to him for a discount, but right now, there is no word on a definitive return for the Golden Hurricane's #1 target. With Stokes absent, Johnson and Sam Crawford (DK $5,300, FD $6,800) would be Davis Brin's top options. If you utilize any of these players, Brin becomes slightly more attractive at one of the two quarterback slots.

Also consider: Dontay Demus, Maryland (DK $6,600, FD $8,800)