DFS College Football: Saturday Night Week 1 DFS Picks and Strategy for DraftKings and FanDuel

College Football DFS: Saturday Night Picks

Hello, everyone! It's great to be back as your trusty DFS guide for Saturday nights. I feel for you Week 0 purists, but I believe Week 1 is when everything kicks into full gear. So, let's get going! We have the usual slate variants between the two sites, so we'll tag the two extra DraftKings contests at the end of the article.

Before we examine the games, let's review the key differences between the two sites in terms of construction and salary cap.

DraftKings: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 RB/WR/TE(FLEX), 1 QB/RB/WR/TE (S-FLEX)

Salary Cap: $50,000, $6,250 per player

FanDuel: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 QB/RB/WR/TE (Super-FLEX)

Salary Cap: $60,000, $8,571 per player

FanDuel has seven slots to fill, whereas DraftKings offers eight slots. DraftKings offsets this by setting salaries lower than its counterpart.  Elite players will often be found for $10,000-plus on FanDuel, but the same pool of players rarely goes above $9,000 on DraftKings. DraftKings' money allotment is lower, but it is slightly more flexible with the additional FLEX spot.  FanDuel tends to inflate the most prominent stars for one-sixth or more of its cap, but the smaller roster requirement helps to curb the potential roster insufficiencies.

College Football DFS Saturday Night Overview for Week 1

We have several high totals available for Saturday evening, but I like the potential for USC's production against Missouri State.  The Trojans like to run up the score whenever possible, so they may not rotate in their backups until the fourth quarter. It's one reason why I like the running game here, and there's also merit to looking at the backfields of Michigan and UTEP.

Saturday Night College Football DFS Picks for Week 1

Quarterback

Jayden Maiava, USC (DK $9,400, FD $11,200) @ Missouri State

Some may think the salary is too high here, but it's easy to forget that Maiava led the Trojans to a 3-1 record after being installed as the starter over Miller Moss,  and that included a solid win against a talented Texas A&M team in the Las Vegas Bowl. With another offseason to familiarize himself with Lincoln Riley's system, there's a real chance that the Trojans could make a big turnaround behind Maiava.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson (DK $8,800, FD $11,000) vs. LSU

While Garrett Nussmeier (DK $7,800, FD $9,500) can be had at a lower salary point, I think Klubnik's ability to make plays on the ground give him the edge over his opponent. I also have a good feeling about DC Tom Allen's influence on Clemson's defense. If his tenure at Penn State was any indication, he'll create an imposing unit with arguably better talent.

Also consider: Bryson Barnes, Utah State (DK $7,700, FD $10,000) vs. UTEP

Running Back

Waymond Jordan, USC (DK $7,900, FD $9,000) vs. Missouri State

While USC also brought in New Mexico's Eli Sanders through the portal, Jordan is going to receive as many snaps as he can handle. The JUCO transfer was named the 2024 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year and led his team to the NJCAA 2025 Championship. The back has consistently turned heads at camp, and he should continue a tradition of successful backs who end up at USC after excelling with other programs.

Kewan Lacy, Mississippi (DK $6,700, FD $6,300)vs. Georgia State

We have several committee situations running back on this slate, so I will go with Lacy, considering his hold on the starting job. Lane Kiffin is another coach who likes to run up the score, and while there's a possibility that other backs will get involved, Lacy should have plenty of chances to get his share. 

Also consider: Justice Haynes, Michigan (DK $7,300, FD $9,400) vs. New Mexico

Wide Receiver

Makai Lemon, USC (DK $7,300, FD $9,200) vs. Missouri State

Lemon was Maiava's favorite target once he took over last season, and I'll take Lemon as the preferred stack for my chosen quarterback. The Trojans may choose to pound the opponent into submission on the ground, but you can bet Lincoln Riley will test all aspects of his offense before conference play settles in.

Antonio Williams, Clemson (DK $7,400, FD $8,200) vs LSU

Williams could have left town and earned a high draft pick, but his decision to stay is great news for the Tigers. Klubnik has a lot of excellent targets at his disposal, and while I wouldn't fault anyone for taking Bryant Wesco or T.J. Moore, Williams has oodles of experience and is always in his quarterback's sights. He's morphed into more of a possession receiver over time, but the potential PPR value will come in handy. These are also graat salaries for Williams.

Chris Hilton, LSU (DK $3,000, FD $5,600) @ Clemson

We can always count on one or two pricing mistakes every week, and I think we've uncovered it with Hilton. An injury limited him last season, and now Aaron Anderson is the one who's hurt. With the top wideout slowed by a bum knee, Hilton's opportunities should increase, and he's one heck of a salary saver for those of us who are up against the cap.

Also consider: Corey Thompson, Utah State (DK $3,000, FD $6,800) vs. UTEP

DraftKings-Only Targets

UTSA @ Texas A&M

Marcel Reed ($8,200) is my top play from this game. The blue-chip quarterback is now the unquestioned starter and could have a monster game here. Le'Veon Moss ($7,000) is another great Aggie target. He's slated to be the top back in a semi-timeshare and comes in at a great salary point.  You've also got to consider KC Concepcion ($7,200), who comes to College Station after a spectacular tenure at N.C. State. He should have an immediate impact.  He faces a tough offense, but UTSA's Robert Henry ($4,700) should be on everyone's radar as a salary-saving measure on DraftKings.

Georgia State @ Fresno State

The charts for both teams are muddy, especially on Fresno State's end. With an impending blowout on the horizon in Week 0, the Bulldogs gave way to backups and failed to clarify who the top options would be. With no clear target here, I'd restrict endorsements to dart throws only.