FanDuel College Football: Week 14 Plays

Written by

Published on December 4, 2020

Week 14 encompasses another massive slate of 15 games, leaving a huge glob of players to sift through and plenty of potential value to be had. Clemson-Virginia Tech leads the way in terms of expected total (67.5), with the Tigers (unsurprisingly) expected to account for most of it as 22.5-point favorites. The classic Alabama-LSU showdown isn't expected to have as much drama this season despite the 66.5-point expected total, as Bama enters the showdown as the largest favorite (-29.5) on the slate.

Tied for third on the chart of expected point totals (62.5) this week is Purdue-Nebraska, which is one of two games that is essentially a pick'em at Purdue -0.5. TCU and Oklahoma State also sit at a half-point spread in favor of TCU, though at a much less appealing 51.5 over/under.

DFS Tools

Notable Potential Injuries/Absences

Aidan O'Connell, Purdue Purdue : OFS

Phil Jurkovec, Boston College : Probable

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State : Questionable

LD Brown, Oklahoma State : Questionable

Tank Bigsby, Auburn Auburn : Questionable

D.J. Williams, Auburn Auburn : Out

Dedrick Mills, Nebraska : Probable

Ronald Thompkins, Nebraska : Probable

Keaontay Ingram, Texas Texas : Out

Jordon Simmons, Michigan State : Questionable

David Bailey, Boston College : Questionable

Lopini Katoa, BYU BYU : Questionable

CJ Verdell, Oregon Oregon : Probable

Qualan Jones, Baylor Baylor : Questionable

WR/TE

Ricky White, Michigan State : Questionable

Danny Davis, Wisconsin : Questionable

Frank Ladson, Clemson Clemson : Questionable

Austin Stogner, Oklahoma : Questionable

Week 14 Plays

Quarterback

Sam Ehlinger, Texas ($10,100) at Kansas State

Ehlinger bounced back last week from a pair of mediocre showings versus Oklahoma State and West Virginia, throwing for just under 300 yards and a touchdown while running for another 65 yards and a score. He should have an opportunity to add to his rushing touchdown total of eight Saturday against a Wildcats defense that has given up six of them through nine contests. In any game Ehlinger has run for a touchdown this season, he hasn't finished with fewer than 28.4 points, and he has topped The Wildcats aren't particularly noteworthy against the pass either, allowing 7.4 yards per attempt, 266.8 passing yards per game and a pair of passing scores per game. That should give Ehlinger more than enough of an opportunity to deliver the necessary return on his salary.

Brennan Armstrong, Virginia ($10,000) vs. Boston College

Armstrong has seemingly rounded back into form after an early exit due to a leg injury and a down game against Miami, averaging 30 points under center between the last two games. Those efforts came against defenses in Clemson and Duke each allowing at least four fantasy points fewer per game to opposing quarterbacks than the Eagles. When narrowing the scope, Boston College's defense has allowed 30-plus points to opposing quarterbacks in three of the last four and four of the last six games. Mobile quarterbacks have been particularly troublesome for the Eagles, who have allowed 481 rushing yards and seven scores to opposing quarterbacks that season. That fits right into the wheelhouse of Armstrong, who has rushed for 47 or more yards in all but one game he's played this season and has run for four scores over seven games as well. That ground boost should be enough for Armstrong to hit value.

Rocky Lombardi, Michigan State ($6,300) vs. Ohio State

If you're looking to toss a flier at the quarterback position this week, Lombardi could be your guy. While the Ohio State defense by name has been one to fear in recent seasons, it hasn't quite lived up to the billing through the first four games of 2020. The Buckeyes are allowing a slate-worst 26.7 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and haven't allowed fewer than 20.8 points to an opposing QB to date. Even if Lombardi can near the bottom mark of opposing QBs on the season, he would return more than enough value to warrant a look as the lowest salary starting quarterback on the slate unless Harrison Bailey gets the nod for Tennessee. Lombardi has hit 20 or more points in three of his five games, so he may be worthy of a flier if you're looking to shift your salary elsewhere.

Running Back

Travis Etienne, Clemson ($10,100) at Virginia Tech

Etienne seems like the no-brainer play of the week at running back as he prepares to face a Virginia Tech defense allotting 4.8 yards per rush attempt, 189.2 rushing yards per game and 2.2 rushing scores per contest. The Hokies have surrendered a rushing score to a running back in all but one game and multiple in five of the nine contests they've played to date. Look for another such performance to occur Saturday as Etienne looks to break a dry spell in terms of century mark rushing games dating back to Oct. 10 versus Miami. He certainly has the matchup to do it and Clemson needs to continue bashing opponents to prove its worthiness of the playoff spot with a game already in the loss column. This also marks the end of the regular season for the Tigers, so they will likely look to end it with a statement.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma ($9,200) vs. Baylor

Stevenson has asserted himself as the clear lead option in the Sooners' backfield since returning from suspension, amassing no fewer than 21 FanDuel points in any of his three games. Saturday marks his senior day, so look for Stevenson to be on his game as the Sooners look to claim their spot in the Big 12 title game. The matchup is certainly a favorable one as well. The Bears have allowed opposing rushing attacks to average 4.5 yards per carry -- a number that jumps to 4.9 per carry when factoring in just running backs. The Bears have also allowed 11 rushing scores to opposing backs over just seven games, not to mention 26 receptions for 217 yards and a pair of scores. As 21.5-point favorites, the game script also favors a heavy rushing approach, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Stevenson to make his presence felt.

Eric Gray, Tennessee ($8,400) vs. Florida

Outside of a tough day -- like most -- against Alabama, Gray has been superb of late, turning in three rushing outputs of 123 yards or more in the last four games. While Florida's 4.1 rushing yards allowed per attempt doesn't appear particularly juicy, it's worth splitting off to running backs only again to get a better picture. Opposing backs have averaged more than 100 yards per game and north of five yards per carry while notching nine scores in eight games. The Gators have also had a little trouble guarding opposing backs, allowing 34 catches for 254 yards and another score. When we siphon out Vanderbilt and a Chris Rodriguez-less Kentucky offense the last two weeks, every previous opponent has had a running back rush for at least one touchdown, while the opposing back rushing average jumps to 5.8 yards per carry. This bodes well for Gray to do some damage while the game remains close, and he should remain involved somewhat in the second half given his pass-catching abilities.

Christopher Brown ($6,600) and Damien Moore ($5,300), California vs. Oregon

If you're looking down the board, matchup is one of the primary factors to consider. It doesn't get any better than Saturday's contest versus a Ducks defense that has let running backs trample it through the first four weeks. While the Golden Bears don't quite have an established frontrunner for the running back position like Jermar Jefferson for Oregon State, who ran for 226 yards and a pair of scores last week versus the Ducks, Moore flashed to the tune of 121 yards on 10 carries last week, an effort that could earn him additional playing time. Brown is also apparently healthier than he has been in recent weeks, and is coming off of a 914-yard rushing season last year, amassing eight touchdowns on the ground and another four as a receiver. The two seem the likely duo to handle most of the reps this week and the scouting report would seemingly suggest a heavy ground approach is the best bet.

Others to Consider: Bijan Robinson, Texas ($6,900), Dezmon Jackson, Oklahoma State ($4,900) at TCU (if Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown are out)

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Devonta Smith, Alabama ($10,900) at LSU

When you look toward the top of the board, it's tough to stray from the tippy-top of the mountain and DeVonta Smith. Even with just seven targets last week, Smith was able to haul in all of them for 171 yards and a pair of scores. He's turned in 30-plus points in five of the last six games, and returning three-times value at the wide receiver position would put him near the top in value quite often. There's no reason to anticipate much of a drop off from recent weeks as the Crimson Tide look to avenge last season's loss to LSU. Smith and the passing attack faces a beaten down LSU defense posting slate-worst marks of 302.9 passing yards per game and 9.3 yards per attempt while also letting up 2.1 passing scores per tilt. Smith may not see the field for the entirety of the second half but should be able to do more than enough damage to cover the salary investment.

Rondale Moore, Purdue ($8,500) vs. Nebraska

Moore's salary plummets this week from the $9,800 total last week against Rubtgers. While Nebraska has fared reasonably well in terms of covering the pass over the last four weeks, it's worth noting that three of them came against passing offenses ranked 95th or lower nationally in passing yards per game and the other was a Penn State team that continues to have quarterback issues. Purdue, on the other hand, checks in much closer to the Ohio State (20th nationally) end of the spectrum, ranking 19th. Moore has been a big part of why in his two games since returning to the fold, amassing a slate-best 13.5 targets per contest. Given that the Huskers have done reasonably well preventing passing touchdowns, allowing no more than two in a game, Moore wh can do plenty of damage sans touchdowns and is also an option on end arounds near the goal line, seems the safer play than teammate David Bell, who checks in with a $9,200 salary.

Gunner Romney, BYU ($7,700) at Coastal Carolina

Romney posted some big efforts early in the season but hasn't reached the end zone since the third game of the season versus Louisiana Tech. With the Cougars looking to make a statement to the playoff committee, look for them to score as early and often as possible, which could present Romney with an opportunity to find pay dirt again. He could play second fiddle to Dax Milne, but there should be plenty of passing attempts to go around. Romney has topped 16 FanDuel points in four of his eight games this season, giving him a decent shot of returning at least two-times value.

Wan'Dale Robinson, Nebraska ($6,600) at Purdue

While Dedrick Mills is back to handle the primary duties in the backfield, coach Scott Frost indicated earlier that he intended to keep Robinson involved on occasion in that facet. Robinson has turned in back-to-back double-digit fantasy efforts the last two weeks despite not reaching pay dirt. He has yet to find the end zone this year despite reaching it five times over 10 games last season. Perhaps Saturday that will finally come to fruition, which would bolster his fantasy output that has been all set on yardage and receptions so far this year. Both defenses allow the opposition around 75 plays per game, so there could be plenty of plays to go around Saturday, and Robinson is one player the Husker keep involved each and every week.

Caution to the wind play (if available): Ricky White, Michigan State ($5,500)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Benzine plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Crispy272001, DraftKings: Crispy27.