Following an opening week smattering of games, we get the full entree in Week 1, with numerous non-conference matchups headlining the slate. Texas-Texas State tops the expected scoring charts at 59.5, though the Longhorns are doing the heavy lifting on that number (44.5).
Ohio State actually leads the way in expected scoring (53.0), with Indiana second (49.0), so it shouldn't come as a shock that they are also the heaviest favorites (-49.5 and -40.5, respectively). Texas A&M matches Indiana with a 40.5-point spread against Missouri State.
There are 12 teams on the slate expected to top 30 points, so there should be plenty of fantasy opportunity to go around.
College Football DFS Weather (winds 15+ MPH, precip. chance 50-plus percent and hot/cold temps noted)
North Texas at Indiana - Temps expected to be 90-plus degrees
East Carolina at Alabama - Temps hitting 97 degrees midgame
Oregon State at Houston - Temps in the low 90s throughout
Tulane at Duke - Temps in mid-90s at kickoff but cooling to high-80s as game goes on
Boston College at Cincinnati - Temps start in low 90s before cooling to high 80s
Texas State at Texas - Temps mid-90s throughout
Arkansas State at Memphis - Temps low 90s to high 80s throughout
Clemson at LSU - Chance for some rain in this one
Notable College Football Injuries/Absences for Week 1
QB
None
RB
EJ Crowell, Alabama - Expected to play but could be limited
Tae Meadows, Auburn - Was a non-contact participant during a later stage of fall camp
Jay Haynes, Clemson - Wasn't active during parts of fall camp
WR
Lotzeir Brooks, Alabama - Expected to be a go for the opener
T.J. Moore, Clemson - Report from mid-camp indicated he should be good to go soon
Noah Rogers, Alabama - Not expected back until late September or early October
Landon Sides, East Carolina - Expected to miss opener due to hamstring issue
TE
Gabe Burkle, Penn State - Likely to miss opener due to knee issue
College Football DFS Tools
- FanDuel Lineup Optimizer
- Matchups Page (Vegas odds, opponent averages, etc.)
- Advanced Lineups Page
- Stats
- Team Trends
- Targets
- Defense vs. Position
- Team Rankings
Week 1 CFB DFS Plays on FanDuel
Quarterback
Arch Manning, Texas ($12,000) vs. Texas State
Texas State head coach GJ Kinne wants to play fast, which allowed opponents to run 69.8 plays per game last season. The Longhorns also let opponents run 68.8 plays per game last year, so this is a matchup where there should be plenty of opportunity for the Longhorns to put up points. Sure, this may be somewhat vanilla, as I reference at other points in this article, but this passing attack has way too many weapons not to feed it some in the first game of the season, especially after the Longhorns got off to a somewhat slow start in 2025 in the passing attack that led to questions about Manning's throwing motion.
Keelon Russell, Alabama ($10,600) vs. East Carolina
Russell is a dynamic playmaker both on the ground and through the air, and I think we'll see some of that in this contest. I'm not necessarily expecting we'll get a full dose of Russell on the ground, especially in a one-sided tilt, but the Bama backfield is somewhat uninspiring on the whole, and I think we'll get to see Russell given an opportunity to showcase his talents, especially with a conference game on tap in Week 2.
Brad Jackson, Texas State ($8,400) vs. Texas
I said both teams like to play fast, so I might be open to stacking the QBs here. I'm not normally one to back a quarterback on a team projected to score just 15.0 points, but I don't expect to see Jackson rostered a ton, and he's expected to be one of the best fantasy quarterbacks on the board in 2026 after rushing a whopping 174 times for 714 yards and 17 touchdowns a season ago. The Bobcats don't really have a workhorse back to turn to in this backfield, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see Jackson near or surpass his rushing totals from last season in 2026. On top of that, he threw for 3,224 yards and 21 scores last year, and Texas' defense allowed 234.9 passing yards per game. The Bobcats also return their top two wideouts from a season ago in Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn.
Another QB Stack option: Byrum Brown, Auburn ($11,600) and 
DJ Lagway, Baylor ($8,500)
Running Back
The Top Dogs
Nate Sheppard, Duke ($9,900) vs. Tulane
This game is expected to remain relatively close, so I wouldn't anticipate the starters leaving the contest at any point. Also true is that new faces abound in the Blue Devils' passing attack, from quarterback (Walker Eget taking over for Darian Mensah) to wide receiver (both Cooper Barkate and Que'Sean Brown gone). The most established and biggest holdover from 2025 is Sheppard, who ran up 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns on 200 carries over 14 games, adding 37 catches for 286 yards and a score as a receiver as well. He should be a key target in this offense for Week 1 as well.
Makhi Hughes, Houston ($8,400) vs. Oregon State
Oregon State is shifting to a more uptempo offense in 2026, which should afford some additional opportunities for Hughes and the Cougars' offense to run more plays against a defense that yielded 4.6 yards per rush attempt a season ago. The Cougs are also favored by a healthy 20.5 points in this one, so there should be plenty of opportunity to run the ball in the second half.
Mid-Tier Targets
Savion Hiter, Michigan ($6,800) vs. Western Michigan
While the Broncos fared pretty well against the run last year, Michigan should be able to trample them using mostly the ground game in this one. Hiter has drawn considerable buzz in fall camp as a true freshman and should be given ample opportunity to get his feet wet in what should be a one-sided affair with a matchup versus Oklahoma on deck.
Dierre Hill, Oregon ($6,700) vs. Boise State
This is closer to a 1A-1B situation in the Oregon backfield, yet Jordon Davison runs you $8,800. That's enough said in its own right, let alone the fact that the Broncos struggled to stop the run last year, allowing 4.8 yards per carry. Even if the rush defense holds up a bit better in 2026, I see no reason for the Ducks to get fancy here, and Hill should see a healthy share of totes in this contest. Don't overthink it; this is an easy play.
Khobie Martin ($7,700) and Lee Beebe ($6,300), Indiana
Indiana is expected to employ a three-headed monster in the backfield for the 2026 campaign. That said, I feel like Martin and Turbo Richard ($9,100) may be a small notch above Beebe in the backfield hierarchy. I'm likely targeting Martin a bit over Beebe in this instance, but this game is expected to be a major blowout, so we should see plenty of Beebe as well. Another instance where we should see vanilla offense and plenty of the ground game.
Bargain Options
Isaiah West, Ohio State ($6,000) vs. Ball State
West worked with the first-team offense a good amount in fall camp. With CJ Donaldson and James Peoples both gone, this backfield leaves plenty of opportunity, and West looks set to claim that No. 2 spot and plenty of carries, especially in a blowout game where I would be shocked to see much of the starters in the second half.
Zylan Perry, Cincinnati ($5,600) vs. Boston College
Perry and Gi'Bran Payne seem like the top two backs in this backfield heading into Week 1, yet Perry is fourth in salary among Cincinnati backs. This is a shaky backfield to target in general, but Cincy is projected to put up 28.5 points, and this BC defense yielded 5.0 yards per rush attempt last fall, matching the worst mark on this slate. Payne doesn't seem worth it at $8,000, but a low-rostered alternative in Perry could pay dividends.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Top Dog
Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama ($8,900) vs. East Carolina
The one established member of the Crimson Tide receiving corps heading into 2026, Coleman-Williams seems like a prime candidate for a bounceback season after some struggles during 2025. I don't expect him to magically fix all of his drop issues from a season ago, but he should retake the role as the focal point of the passing attack, and this is a matchup he can exploit.
Keshaun Singleton, Auburn ($8,600) vs. Baylor
Singleton is one of two Auburn wideouts listed as a starter against a Baylor defense that was, frankly, atrocious in 2025. They graded out 110th in SP+ in 2025 and rate 89th entering 2026. A slight improvement but still likely among the worst power conference teams. Unlike a lot of teams, there's plenty of synergy in the USF...I mean Auburn... offense, which includes a significant port over from the Bulls, including the quarterback and much of the wide receiver room, Singleton included. Thus, I expect this squad to come out guns blazing, and Singleton remains a key piece in that attack.
Mid-Tier Targets
Nick Marsh, Indiana ($7,600) vs. North Texas
Marsh is an NFL talent who wasted away a bit in Michigan State's offense last year. Now, he's paired with an NFL-caliber quarterback on a team that won the national championship last year. Charlie Becker will certainly get his as well, but I'm inclined to put these two on level footing entering the opener, and I can get Marsh for $800 cheaper. That's my play.
Louis Brown, Baylor ($7,400) vs. Auburn
Baylor's backfield is led by Dawson Pendergrass, an interesting yet unremarkable option, and the quarterback room brought in a once highly-touted quarterback in Lagway, along with a trio of ready-to-contribute wideouts who have separated themselves atop the chart. Both offenses in this game want to play fast, so expect a ton of plays. I also expect we'll see plenty of passing from the Bears, given the unremarkable backfield, and Brown was one of two wideouts listed as alone atop the depth chart, and he's been in the system for a year already.
Trey'Dez Green ($7,100) and Jayce Brown ($7,000), LSU vs. Clemson
Green has been the first tight end off the board in the vast majority of fantasy drafts this fall, and Brown has typically been the first wideout off the board for LSU, and these are the two I expect to be the top contributors at their respective positions on this team in 2026. Green would obviously be the choice, but the tight end spot is heavily featured in Lane Kiffin's offense, and Green is a talent who could take that production to a new level. Brown should also be featured, yet he's the third-highest receiver in salary in this offense behind Jackson Harris ($8,700) and Winston Watkins ($7,300).
Bargain Options
Rico Scott, Alabama ($5,700) vs. East Carolina
Scott is set to start for the Crimson Tide in the opener, so if you're looking for another pair option in the opener, I think this is it. Lotzeir Brooks will play but will likely be limited in the contest coming off an injury. Thus, Scott seems like the option to turn to as a likely solidified starter to open the year at an affordable rate.
Channing Goodwin, Michigan ($4,900) vs. Western Michigan
Goodwin has seemingly emerged as the WR3 in this offense, and new OC Jason Beck likes to throw the ball around more than the previous regime. Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan should operate in front of him, but the tight end room has reportedly underwhelmed in camp, so there's a chance Goodwin could make his mark against an overmatched defense in this one.
