The Friday Slate is a mixed bag of games featuring everything from a high-scoring Big 12 showdown to MACtion. With a variety of matchups, there are plenty of unique options to build lineups.
Let’s dig in…
Against the Spread Picks
Iowa (+2.5) vs Nebraska
Tulane (-3.5) vs UTSA
Total Wagers
Miami vs Boston College (Over 47.5)
Air Force vs Boise State (Over 46.5)
Ohio vs Akron (Under 46.5)
Quarterbacks
Seth Henigan, Memphis vs Temple (DK: $8.8K | FD: $11.0K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 37.75)
Seth Henigan has scored more than 21 fantasy points in four straight games and finishes out his regular season as a multi-score favorite on the road. Over that four-game stretch, he’s thrown an average of 352.5 passing yards per game. Henigan is averaging 26.4 fantasy points per game.
Temple is a positive matchup, as the Owls have allowed 26.2 fantasy points to opposing QBs. In the highest total game on the slate, Henigan is a strong play in cash games, as he’ll likely be highly owned.
— SportingVids (@VidsSporting) October 14, 2023
DeQuan Finn, Toledo vs Central Michigan (DK: $8.3K | FD: $10.5K | O/U: 54.5 | Implied: 32.5)
DeQuan Finn is averaging 23.4 fantasy points per game and is coming off of back-to-back performances that would have returned value. He’s thrown for 2,278 and 20 touchdowns this season.
Central Michigan is a mid-range matchup for opposing QBs allowing 20.6 fantasy points per game, but there is upside available in the explosive passing game. The Chippewas have allowed the ninth most passes over 20 yards in the FBS. Finn has been a reliable option in MACtion slates this season, and with a game total of 55, he’s likely to be a popular option. He’s a strong cash game option, particularly if you lack the flexibility to fit Henigan.
Brady Cook, Missouri vs Arkansas (DK: $8.1K | FD: $10.4K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 31.5)
Brady Cook has returned value on an 8.1K price tag in three out of his last four games. He’s scored more than 24 fantasy points seven times this season and is averaging 25 fantasy points per game. Cook has 3,046 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, and he’s rushed enough this season, with a particular emphasis near the goal line, to provide a rushing floor.
Arkansas allows 20.1 fantasy points per game and 211 passing yards per game. Cook is a strong pivot option away from Henigan or Frank Harris. In a GPP format, pairing Cook with Burden is one of my favorite plays on the entire slate.
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas vs Missouri (DK: $7.3K | FD: $8.9K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 24.0)
KJ Jefferson is coming off a 28.48-point performance against an overmatched FIU team. And while Missouri is a much higher caliber opponent, they’ve been susceptible to explosive passing plays and have 21.7 fantasy points to opposing QBs. With Jefferson’s consistent rushing floor and the potential for explosive passes, Jefferson is a better option in GPP lineups.
Alternatives
Frank Harris, UTSA vs Tulane (DK: $8.6K | FD: $9.8K | O/U: 52.0 | Implied: 24.25)
Michael Pratt, Tulane vs UTSA (DK: $8.2K | FD: $9.6K | O/U: 52.0 | Implied: 27.75)
Kurtis Rourke, Ohio vs Akron (DK: $7.2K | FD: $7.5K | O/U: 41.0 | Implied: 27.5)
Cooper Legas, Utah State vs New Mexico (DK: $6.3K | FD: $10.0K | O/U: 60.5 | Implied: 33.5)
Thomas Castellanos, Boston College vs Miami (DK: $6.0K | FD: $9.2K | O/U: 47.5 | Implied: 19.5)
Running Backs
Peny Boone, Toledo vs Central Michigan (DK: $7.7K | FD: $10.5K | O/U: 54.5 | Implied: 32.5)
Peny Boone has scored more than 20 fantasy points in five of his last six games. Over that stretch, he’s returned value on this price tag four times. Boone has averaged just 14 carries per game this season. He’ll take on a Central Michigan team that allows 27.0 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. One positive note for Boone in this matchup is that his efficient running style will likely be effective against a defense that allows more than five 10+ yard rushes per game. He’s a strong option in any lineup, and because of his high price tag, he could be an option to get unique.
Blake Watson, Memphis vs Temple (DK: $7.3K | FD: $11.2K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 37.75)
Blake Watson is my favorite RB play on the slate. He’s coming off of a disappointing 16.2-point performance, but he’s eclipsed 25 fantasy points in three of his last five games, including a near 50-point game against North Texas. Temple is the softest matchup for RBs on the card, as they allow 34.4 fantasy points to opposing RBs. With Memphis being a multi-score favorite, Watson should expect a consistent workload as the team plays with the lead. Watson is heavily used in the passing game and could be the stack option along with Seth Henigan.
Mark Fletcher, Miami vs Boston College (DK: $6.7K | FD: $7.5K | O/U: 47.5 | Implied: 28.0)
Mark Fletcher is coming off a season-high 31.1-point performance against Louisville and has scored more than 10 fantasy points in three out of his last four outings. He’ll get an easier matchup, albeit on the road. Boston College allows a 42% rushing success rate, which ranks 61st in the FBS, and they allow 29.3 fantasy points to opposing RBs. At his price, Fletcher is a strong pivot option away from the high-priced Boone and Watson. With expensive QBs, Fletcher will likely be a popular option.
Jacorey Croskey-Merritt, New Mexico vs Utah State (DK: $6.0K | FD: $8.8K | O/U: 60.5 | Implied: 27.0)
Jacorey Croskey-Merritt is coming off of back-to-back games with more than 20 fantasy points. He’s scored more than 10 fantasy points in every game this season and has returned value on a 6.0K price point six times. He’s scored a touchdown in every game since week 5 and has multiple touchdowns in six games. New Mexico takes on a Utah State defense that allows 36.6 fantasy points to opposing RBs, including 22 points to opposing RB1s. Croskey-Merritt is a strong option in either cash or GPP lineups.
Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma vs TCU (DK: $5.5K | FD: $7.4K | O/U: 62.0 | Implied: 36.0)
Gavin Sawchuk is on a three-game stretch, showing why he was such a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. He’s scored an average of 19.9 fantasy points over the last three games and has averaged 17.3 touches over the same stretch. His matchup against TCU is one of the best matchups on the slate, with TCU allowing 30.4 fantasy points to opposing RBs. And with Dillon Gabriel dealing with an injury, it’s a fair expectation for the backs to be heavily utilized in this game. Sawchuk will be a popular option on this slate, but provides optimal lineup flexibility for any lineup.
Gavin Sawchuk. 😤
The redshirt freshman from Littleton, Colo. has now rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games.#OUDNA
Alternatives
Cody Schrader, Missouri vs Arkansas (DK: $7.2K | FD: $10.0K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 31.5)
Marion Lukes, Central Michigan vs Toledo (DK: $7.0K | FD: $8.2K | O/U: 54.5 | Implied: 22.0)
Makhi Hughes, Tulane vs UTSA (DK: $5.9K | FD: $8.5K | O/U: 52.0 | Implied: 27.75)
$4.5K-or-less options
Darvon Hubbard, Temple vs Memphis (DK: $4.2K | FD: $5.4K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 26.25)
Receivers
Luther Burden, Missouri vs Arkansas (DK: $7.6K | FD: $9.6K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 31.5)
Luther Burden is averaging 23.6 points per game and has returned value on a 7.6K price point six times this season. He’s coming off of a 27.8-point performance in which he received 14 targets. He’s topped 10 targets six times. Burden faces an Arkansas defense that allows 34.4 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs and allows three passing plays over 20 yards per game. As a pair to Brady Cook, Burden is a high-end play in any format.
Luther Burden III ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/F9Tqs5Lrwx
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) November 19, 2023
Jalen Royals, Utah State vs New Mexico (DK: $6.4K | FD: $9.9K | O/U: 60.5 | Implied: 33.5)
Jalen Royals has averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game and has scored more than 20 fantasy points in five games, including three games with over 35 fantasy points. Royals has 934 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He averages 7.5 targets per game and has averaged 8.3 targets over the last three games. He faces a New Mexico defense that allows 45.7 fantasy points to opposing WRs. They allow 239.5 passing yards and two touchdowns per game to opponents. Royals is a strong option in all formats.
Roc Taylor, Memphis vs Temple (DK: $6.3K | FD: $8.5K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 37.75)
DeMeer Blankumsee, Memphis vs Temple (DK: $6.2K | FD: $8.4K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 37.75)
Roc Taylor and DeMeer Blankumsee have averaged 8.6 and 9.6 targets per game, respectively, over the last three games. Taylor is averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game and has returned value on his 6.3K price point four times this season. Blankumsee is averaging 15.7 fantasy points per game and has returned value four times this season. They take on a Temple defense that allows 46.3 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs and has allowed an average of 3.6 20+ yard passes per game. Both Taylor and Blankumsee are affordable options to stack with Henigan. I slightly prefer Blankumsee in GPP formats because of his higher propensity for scoring touchdowns.
Anthony Torres, Toledo vs Central Michigan (DK: $4.8K | FD: $6.2K | O/U: 54.5 | Implied: 32.5)
Anthony Torres has averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game and has eclipsed 12 fantasy points three times in the last four weeks. Torres averages 18.0 yards per reception and he’s been targeted a minimum of three times over the last five games. The Central Michigan defense allows 8.2 fantasy points to opposing TEs and has allowed the ninth most passes over 20 yards. As Toledo’s deep-threat option, Torres is an inexpensive way to make a play on the Toledo offense.
Alternatives
Jerjuan Newton, Toledo vs Central Michigan (DK: $7.1K | FD: $7.0K | O/U: 54.5 | Implied: 32.5)
Terrell Vaughn, Utah State vs New Mexico (DK: $6.8K | FD: $9.4K | O/U: 60.5 | Implied: 33.5)
Sam Wiglusz, Ohio vs Akron (DK: $5.8K | FD: $7.1K | O/U: 41.0 | Implied: 27.5)
Jared Wiley, TCU vs Oklahoma (DK: $5.7K | FD: $6.9K | O/U: 63.0 | Implied: 26.5)
Nic Anderson, Oklahoma vs TCU (DK: $5.3K | FD: $7.6K | O/U: 63.0 | Implied: 36.5)
$4.5K-or-less options
Mookie Cooper, Missouri vs Arkansas (DK: $4.2K | FD: $5.9K | O/U: 55.5 | Implied: 31.5)
Dante Wright, Temple vs Memphis (DK: $4.0K | FD: $6.9K | O/U: 64.0 | Implied: 26.25)
Jeremiah Franklin, Boston College vs Miami (DK: $3.2K | FD: $5.0K | O/U: 47.5 | Implied: 19.5)
