It's that time of year again, dear readers! I'm back for a fall of fun and profit as your DFS prognosticator, and we'll begin with a DraftKings/FanDuel column for Thursday's Week 1 four-game slate. Let's get to it!
CFB Week 1 Slate Overview for Thursday, September 3
Thursday's slate has only one game below double-digit spreads, and luckily it also has a high Over/Under. That's a good indicator for increased production for the contest's DFS options. The other contests are the good old dependable creampuff games that populate the top of Power 4 team schedules - but they shouldn't be ignored. Ideally, we look for opportunities where the outcome might be a bit closer than sportsbooks predict, but after that, a coach's tendencies to run up the score against weaker opponents is a metric you want to research. For my money, Illinois' offense is probably my favorite team in the blowout category, as the standouts are easier to identify and represent better opportunities for a solid first half of production.
CFB Weather Report for Thursday, September 3
While rain is not a concern for any of the four contests, extreme heat and humidity will be in play for players and spectators alike. Of the four games, the Akron/Wake Forest game may be the most affected by heat. It's the earliest game, and the sun will still be beating down in the first quarter. I'm singling out this game as the one with the slowest start.
CFB DFS Tools
- DraftKings College Football Optimizer
- FanDuel College Football Optimizer
- Weekly CFB Matchup Info
- CFB Targets
- CFB Stats
- CFB Team Trends
- CFB Advanced Team Stats with Plays per Game, Pass %, Run % and more
College Football DFS Picks for Thursday, September 3
Quarterbaack
Katin Houser, Illinois (DK $8,300, FD $11,100) vs. UAB
We'll almost always default to two quarterbacks due to the Superflex element, and I see no reason to move away from my original instinct with Illinois and go with Houser at the top. He's a dual-threat monster who should be able to pop right away after a productive and impressive camp. He romped for nine touchdowns on the ground with East Carolina last season, and if they let him scramble, you're printing points.
Alberto Mendoza, Georgia Tech (DK $7,200, FD $9,800) vs. Colorado
If we're going with QB in the Superflex, I like Mendoza as a risk/reward guy who could see slightly lower rostership based on a lack of relevant data. While he had decent stats in limited action with the Hoosiers, I'm not sure it merits an automatic endorsement. With Justice Haynes behind him, the Yellow Jackets are going to run the ball a lot, and new OC George Godsey intends to revert back to the run-first, option-heavy Georgia Tech offense we saw before the Buster Faulkner days. However, if they see a weakness in the secondary pre-snap, I think they trust Mendoza enough to take the shots. While we won't see the same RPO style in Godsey's scheme, Colorado's defense should allow for some plum opportunities.
Running Back
This is the position where the endorsements can get site-specific. DraftKings has Antwan Raymond (DK $8,900, FD $9,900) atop their list, while FanDuel has Justice Haynes (DK $8,100, FD $10,600) as a clear favorite over Raymond. Put simply, if you are spending at RB, Raymond is best for FanDuel, and Haynes is best for DraftKings. The salary differential is enough to make a big difference. You may ask, "Jeff, can I take both of them?" Without a doubt, but I think it's best to put one of them in the Sperflex if you choose to go that route. Eat the potential QB spike and leave the additional RB spot for a discount back to keep costs down. Here are a couple of good examples.
Aidan Laughery, Illinois (DK $6,100, FD $7,200) vs. UAB
There's no better way to save than taking a backup in a blowout scenario. That being said, Laughery isn't exactly a backup - he's more of an 1B in the backfield, just behind Ca'Lil Valentine. While this could be a situation where the hot hand gets more snaps, going with Laughery is a discount over Valentine, who could also give you plenty of first-half reps. It's the best of both worlds, but could offer too many second-half ramifications that don't go Laughery's way. Despite that possibility, I think he's worth a shot.
Clay Thevenin (DK $8,000, FD $7,900) or Ja'shon Benjamin (DK $4,300, FD $6,400), Rutgers vs. Mass
This is another spot where site choice matters. For those wanting to spend up at wideout, Benjamin offers great savings on DraftKings, while FanDuel's discount is a bit less substantial. Benjamin spelled Antwan Raymond often last season, and while Thevenin could steal that role, I think Benjamin's opportunity for a second-half explosion is good enough to bet on. Thevenin is probably the high-floor, conservative pick here.
Wide Receiver
At last, we come to wide receiver. While my eye goes immediately to KJ Duff, I am not at all sold on Dylan Lonergan yet. He's a downgrade from Athan Kaliakmanis, and if they could lose his job at Boston College, it's entirely likely that he's on a short leash. Rutgers will lean on the run, and the first game, so Duff is a regrettable fade for me.
Collin Dixon, Illinois (DK $5,200, FD $8,000) vs. UAB
While settling between Dixon and Hudson Clement was no easy task, I settled on Dixon's nose for the end zone last season and reports of a good connection with Houser in camp. I don't think Clement is a bad way to go, but Dixon is slightly cheaper and thus the better value between the two on both sites.
Isaiah Fuhrmann, Georgia Tech (DK $4,900, FD $6,900) vs. Colorado
My usual instinct with a slate like this is to find the best QB among the deep underdogs and find a wideout. This time, I'm going with another wideout from the favorites. While we've already said Tech is going to run the ball a lot, it's hard to overlook Fuhrmann's 2025 season at Elon. 907 yards and nine touchdowns are nothing to sneeze at, and it could translate into a surprise receiver in the ACC this season. It's all up to Mendoza to make that happen, and this game is close enough that Mendoza's arm could prove critical in the fourth quarter.
Danny Scudero, Colorado (DK $6,000, FD $9,600) @ Georgia Tech
I don't know what to make of Julian Lewis, although he looked decent enough when he got opportunities in place of Kaidon Salter. While Scudero's cost is a little high on FanDuel, his history as a San Jose State Spartan signals that he'll be a dependable target for Colorado's sophomore quarterback. If you're on FanDuel and still on the hunt, then I'd recommend DeAndre Moore (DK $4,600, FD $6,500). His overall health for Week 1 is a bit in question, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the dynamic Texas transfer end the season as Colorado's most productive receiver.
