College Football DFS: Night Slate Week 14

Saturday's night slates are identical for both sites except for the Colorado State-San Diego state contest, which will be offered only on FanDuel.  We'll cover that game individually at the end of the article.

SLATE OVERVIEW

Colorado @ Arizona (+7.5) O/U: 58

Oregon @ California (+9) O/U: 55

South Carolina @ Kentucky (-10.5) O/U: 46.5

Clemson @ Virginia Tech (+22) O/U: 67

Alabama @ LSU (+29) O/U: 66

Baylor @ Oklahoma (-22) O/U: 61

Miami (FL) @ Duke (+14) O/U: 61

Colorado State @ San Diego State (-7.5) O/U: 46.5 (FANDUEL ONLY)

Despite the lopsided spreads, targeting the blowouts is a sensible way to go this week as teams like Alabama and Clemson do some fine-tuning before the playoffs. With the narrowest spread of the night, I think the Colorado-Arizona game is worth extra consideration.  As for teams to fade, I'm not going near Duke and have very little exposure to the South Carolina-Kentucky game.

WEATHER

Although the games in Blacksburg and Lexington will be played in the high 30's, the weather is clear for all of the games on the slate, with little or no chance of precipitation.

INJURIES

QB Grant Gunnell, Arizona (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE

Reports indicate that this is more of a probable designation, but a slight downgrade for receivers and an uptick for Colorado running backs would be in play if Gunnell can't go. Will Plummer (DK $6,700, FD $4,500) would be the next man up.

QUARTERBACK

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (DK $9,200, FD $10,500) @ Virginia Tech

It's essential to not get too cute on this slate at quarterback, as there's a noticeable gap between the true elites and budget options available. The scoring margins will count for the Tigers, although they seem locked in at #2 or #3 in the CFP rankings. I don't expect the Hokies to give Clemsonmuch trouble, but with only one game under his belt over the past six weeks, Lawrence should be flexing his offensive firepower early and often as he tines up for an almost certain matchup with Notre Dame in the conference final.

D'Eriq King, Miami (DK $8,900, FD $10,400) @ Duke

With offensive issues plaguing the Blue Devils, this should be a classic beatdown by the Hurricanes in Durham. I like King because no matter how big their lead is, King will find a way to use his legs and break away some potentially big runs out of the pocket. Cam'Ron Harris has been inconsistent in recent weeks, and King may lead the team in rushing yards if he can beat the edges.

Mac Jones, Alabama (DK $8,500, FD $10,200) @ LSU

Although we're looking at a far less impressive squad from Ed Orgeron this season, the contest should be a bit more entertaining than the spread might indicate. Jones faded in the second half against Kentucky, but that was a 63-3 beatdown where the passing game was phased out by the fourth quarter.  Otherwise, Jones has been visible in every lopsided win and has found a target in the end zone in all but one game this season. He doesn't have the added dimension of a scrambling game that King or Lawrence might have, but bookending most of your lineups with two of these three quarterbacks should be well worth the lofty expense.

Also consider: Tyler Shough, Oregon (DK $8,700, FD $11,100)

RUNNING BACK

Najee Harris, Alabama (DK $9,100, FD $10,600) @ LSU

While the endorsements aren't rocket science at this point in the column, it's important to remember that in both cash and tournament games, and especially in 20-entry max contests, opponents will run the elites with a wide array of variants around a few elites. Harris is clearly going to be one of these guys, and I think his potential should be very close to Travis Etienne (DK $8,600, FD $10,100), who won't get his own paragraph but is in line for another excellent game in the Clemson offense. I like Harris a tiny bit better, however, and that's due to a lack of reliable talent beneath him. The Tigers have guys like Lyn-J Dixon and Chez Mellusi to spell Etienne, and the Tigers like to use their entire bench. Nick Saban wants to make big statements and build impressive leads, and utilizing his bell-cow back is one way to achieve that.

Gary Brightwell, Arizona (DK $5,600, FD $7,000) vs. Colorado

Brightwell might seem to be a bit of a reach, especially when you consider the status of Grant Gunnell. Still, as the primary back for Arizona and a decent pass-catcher, he's going to be a reliable security blanket for whoever ends up under center. Although the Buffaloes have pulled off nice wins against Stanford and UCLA, their defense didn't do them any favors in those games, and if Brightwell's 112-yard game against a tough USC defense is any indication, Brightwell is worth a dart-throw at this price point.

Travis Dye, Oregon (DK $4,500, FD $8,600) @ California

Although CJ Verdell should be back up to speed in this game, I expect him to give way to Dye as this game gets out of hand.  No one is sure why Verdell left the Oregon State game in the fourth quarter, but it was enough to send him to the locker room. Dye's been very consistent with one rushing touchdown and three touchdown catches as the second guy up in the backfield.

WIDE RECEIVER

The wideout allotment on tonight's slate is hurting a bit, and as a result, it's where you want to find your budget options. Although you have to love Alabama's DeVonta Smith, he costs $1,400-$2,700 more than the next receiver below him and is too extravagant to target when you need help at the other positions.

Amari Rodgers, Clemson (DK $6,900, FD $8,700) @ Virginia Tech

Rodgers' salaries on both sites are almost ludicrously low, especially when you consider the litany of injuries currently inflicted on the Tigers at the position. Both Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson (who may see the field) are sidelined, and outside of Rodgers, only Cornell Powell (DK $6,500, FD $8,300) is someone you can count on getting multiple looks. Any other receiver on this team is a dart throw in hopes of a touchdown, most likely coming from one of two tight ends, Braden Galloway and Davis Allen.

Marvin Mims, Oklahoma (DK $6,300, FD $7,800) vs. Baylor

Spencer Rattler didn't make the cut for me this week, but I'm still impressed by this freshman, who leads the team in receptions and has a nose for the end zone (seven TD catches). When you consider Oklahoma's ho-hum day in Bedlam, the Sooners look like a decent opportunity in Waco this week. 

Dimitri Stanley, Colorado (DK $5,200, FD $7,400) @ Arizona

Although Stanley was nonexistent in their last game against San Diego State, he logged six receptions in each of Colorado's first two games and appears to be Sam Noyer's number one target at this point.  With Brady Russell (ankle) out for the foreseeable future, Noyer's options are limited to Stanley and La'Vontae Shenault (DK $4,700, FD $5,600), who, yes, is indeed Laviska Shenault's little brother. Noyer will need to push the offense, and I expect both receivers to benefit.

Devon Williams, Oregon (DK $4,500, FD $7,700) @ California

After a slow start, Williams has emerged as Tyler Shough's favorite target over the past two weeks. Against UCLA and Oregon State, he caught a combined 10 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns, an enviable streak that you won't often find on this slate, and definitely not in this salary range.  If you plan on utilizing Shough, pairing him with Williams makes for a cheap and potentially explosive stack. Hunter Kampmoyer (DK $4,200, FD $6,700) is another receiver worth considering in this offense.

Colorado State @ San Diego State (FANDUEL)

Two names jump off the page right away in this game, and that's Colorado State's Dante Wright ($9,000) and his connection at quarterback, Patrick O'Brien ($7,300). This stack, along with TE  Trey McBride ($9,500), is the most explosive combo for this contest. The wrinkle I would target in this game is the Aztecs' Greg Bell ($9,600), who's rebounded from surgery and put up some impressive numbers over the past month. He's sure to be one of the least popular high-priced guys on FanDuel's slate today and is definitely worth a look.