12/26 DraftKings CFB Main Slate Plays (Tue)

A mid-week bowl season slate is the perfect way to recover from the holiday. And with three games that aren’t completely ravaged by the portal, we have a nearly full set of DFS options to build out lineups.

With a short slate, small lineup tweaks will likely be the difference between cashing and not cashing. So let’s take a look at some of the top options.

Against the Spread Picks

Texas State (-3.5) vs Rice

UNLV (+13.5) vs Kansas

Total Wagers

Minnesota vs Bowling Green (Over 39.5)

Quarterbacks

Jason Bean, Kansas vs UNLV (DK: $8.9K | FD: $11.5K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 40)

Jason Bean took over the starting QB position from an injured Jalon Daniels mid-season and hasn’t really looked back since. He started off a little slow with an average of 10.64 points in his first two games, but closed with an average of 22.63 points per game over his last five games which includes two games over 30 points and one game where he exited early. Bean threw for 1,681 passing yards and 12 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also adds a bit of a rushing floor with 259 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Bean will have one of the most favorable matchups on the slate. He takes on a UNLV defense that allows 238.7 passing yards per game and 1.5 passing touchdowns per game. The Rebels;’ defense is incredibly vulnerable to explosive plays. They allowed the second most passing plays over 20 yards. Bean is the most expensive QB on the slate, but should be highly owned in a strong matchup.

TJ Finley, Texas State vs Rice (DK: $8.0K | FD: $10.2K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 31.5)

TJ Finley has averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game this season and has averaged 28.58 points over the last two games. He threw for 3,188 yards and 24 touchdowns this season. While he’s not a hyper-efficient runner, Finley has managed to score five times on the ground which provides additional ceiling on a weekly basis.

Finley faces a Rice defense that has allowed an average of 23.5 fantasy points to opposing QBs. They allow 216.6 passing yards and 1.4 passing touchdowns per game. Despite Rice being an average defense without any major flaws, Finley should have plenty of time to operate in the pocket as Rice ranks 121st in havoc rate. With the second-highest implied total on the slate, Finley is a strong pivot option from Bean.

AJ Padgett, Rice vs Texas State (DK: $6.5K | FD: $9.5K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 28)

AJ Padgett is expected to take over the starting job after JT Daniels medically retired. Padgett played in 5 games this season and completed 63.5% of his 96 pass attempts. He averaged 6.6 yards per attempt and threw for seven touchdowns. Despite his limited usage, Padgett has two rushing touchdowns.

Padgett will get a good matchup here against Texas State. Texas State allows 257.5 passing yards per game, which is the 15th most nationally, and 1.9 passing touchdowns. They allow an average of 3.9 passes over 20 yards per game. Padgett is a slightly risky play with only 225 snaps played this season, but in a strong matchup, he’s a good option that provides roster flexibility.

Alternatives

Jayden Maiava, UNLV vs Kansas (DK: $7.2K | FD: $9.0K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 26.5)

Cole Kramer, Minnesota vs Bowling Green State (DK: $5.8K | FD: $7.8K | O/U: 39.5 | Implied: 21.5)

Running Backs

Devin Neal, Kansas vs UNLV (DK: $7.9K | FD: $11.4K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 40)

As with the QBs, it’s best to target the highest total game, and it helps that the best RB on the slate is a part of the highest total game. Devin Neal averaged 23.4 fantasy points per game and is coming off of a 25.6-point performance against Cincinnati. Neal was incredibly consistent this season. He only failed to eclipse 20 fantasy points in three games this year and scored more than 25 points seven times.

Neal faces a UNLV defense that allows 163.3 rushing yards and 1.7 rushing touchdowns per game. They allow a 41% rushing success rate and allow 5.07 rushes over 10 yards per game. Based on the line and their implied total, sportsbooks are anticipating that Kansas will control this game. With that in mind, Neal should be in line for a big workload and will be worth the high price tag.

Darius Taylor, Minnesota vs Bowling Green (DK: $6.4K | FD: $7.0K | O/U: 39.5 | Implied: 21.5)

Jordan Nubin, Minnesota vs Bowling Green (DK: $4.8K | FD: $8.0K | O/U: 39.5 | Implied: 21.5)

Darius Taylor is considered a game-time decision for the bowl game so you’ll have to keep an eye out for news before the game, but with his upside, he should be in strong consideration for lineups. He’s averaged 21.8 fantasy points per game and has three games with more than 25 fantasy points.

In Taylor’s absence, Jordan Nubin has taken over the lead role in the run-heavy Minnesota offense. Nubin has averaged 13.9 fantasy points per game and is coming off of a 21.9 point performance against Wisconsin to close out the year.

They take on a Bowling Green defense that allows 137.2 rushing yards per game and 1.2 rushing touchdowns per game. Opposing RBs have scored 24.9 fantasy points per game and RB1s have scored 15.9 points per game. If Taylor plays, he’s going to be one of my favorite RBs on the entire slate because of the volume and his upside. If he sits, Nubin provides plenty of lineup flexibility to fit in the top-end WRs on the slate.

Dean Connors, Rice vs Texas State (DK: $5.3K | FD: $8.6K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 28)

Through Week 11, Dean Connors averaged 7.3 carries per game and hadn’t received double-digit carries in any game, but he was heavily utilized in the passing game and managed to put together several spike weeks. Over the last two games, he’s crossed over the double-digit carry threshold and remains a factor in the passing game. Connors has averaged 17.1 fantasy points per game and has six games with 20 or more fantasy points.

Connors takes on a Texas State defense that allows 156.8 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns per game. They allow an average of 26.4 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs, including 16.7 to opposing RB1s. Connors recent volume uptick should put him in a position to exploit this matchup and be a strong play.

Vincent Davis Jr, UNLV vs Kansas (DK: $5.3K | FD: $6.8K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 26.5)

UNLV generally uses a committee of RBs, but Vincent Davis appears to have a safe usage floor. He has, at least, nine carries in every game since week 7 and has averaged 12.1 carries over that stretch. Davis has averaged 10.3 fantasy points this year. He has 722 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns this season. He’s also added 99 receiving yards and one more score.

Davis takes on a Kansas defense that has allowed plenty of fantasy points to opposing RBs. Opposing RB1s have scored an average of 20.5 points against the Jayhawks. Kansas allows 167.1 rushing yards and 2.0 rushing touchdowns per game. The UNLV RB room as a whole is somewhat volatile, but Davis’ recent consistent usage makes him a viable option against a defense worth targeting.

Alternatives

Ismail Mahdi, Texas State vs Rice (DK: $6.2K | FD: $9.4K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 31.5)

Terion Stewart, Bowling Green vs Minnesota (DK: $5.8K | FD: $7.6K | O/U: 39.5 | Implied: 18)

Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV vs Kansas (DK: $5.3K | FD: $5.3K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 26.5)

$4.5K-or-less options

Juma Otoviano, Rice vs Texas State (DK: $4.4K | FD: $5.7K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 28)

Receivers

Luke McCaffrey, Rice vs Texas State (DK: $8.0K | FD: $9.7K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 28)

Luke McCaffrey averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game and is coming off a 38.2 game against Florida Atlantic. It’s clear that his rapport with AJ Padgett has secured his volume, which should make him a safe play on any slate. The FAU game with 17 targets is the standout, but McCaffrey finished with three consecutive games with ten or more targets. And over that stretch of games, he averaged 26.06 fantasy points per game.

Rice takes on a Texas State defense that allows 40.4 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs, including 17.0 to opposing WR1s. They allow 257.5 passing yards and 1.9 passing touchdowns per game. With a good matchup and a secured volume floor, McCaffrey is justifiably the top-priced WR on the slate and should be a key part of cash lineups.

Ricky White, UNLV vs Kansas (DK: $7.2K | FD: $9.8K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 26.5)

Ricky White has true slate-breaking potential. He has averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game, including five games with more than 30 points. He finished the regular season with 123 targets, 82 receptions, 1,394 yards, and seven touchdowns. Over the last seven games, he only failed to eclipse 10 targets twice.

White faces a Kansas defense that has been average against the pass. They allow 210.5 passing yards and 1.1 passing touchdowns per game. Opposing WRs score an average of 38.4 fantasy points, including 16.4 to WR1s. The line indicates that sportsbooks believe that Kansas will be in control of the game which should give White enough opportunity in any comeback efforts. With White’s upside, he has to be a part of a GPP portfolio

Harold Fannin, Bowling Green vs Minnesota (DK: $6.6K | FD: $7.6K | O/U: 39.5 | Implied: 18)

With the lowest game total and lowest implied team total, pieces of the Bowling Green offense should be limited, but Harold Fannin is the one exception. Fannin averages 13.9 fantasy points per game and has scored more than 10 fantasy points for five straight games. Over that stretch, he’s averaged 19.54 fantasy points per game and 6.4 targets per game.

Fannin takes on a Minnesota defense that has struggled against the TE position. They allow 10.8 fantasy points per game to opposing TEs and 8.1 to TE1s. Fannin also operates as Bowling Green’s top receiving option so he’ll be positioned to take a portion of the 219.2 yards and 1.8 touchdowns that Minnesota allows through the air. Fannin is somewhat price-prohibitive to be a cash game core piece, but with his volume, favorable matchup, and a game script that will likely keep Bowling Green passing the ball; he should be a part of GPP portfolios.

Kole Wilson, Texas State vs Rice (DK: $5.3K | FD: $8.2K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 31.5)

Kole Wilson has averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game including three games over 20 fantasy points. Wilson had an explosion in production in the last two games averaging 29.8 points. In those two games, he averaged 13 targets.

Wilson takes on a Rice defense that allows 216.6 passing yards and 1.4 passing touchdowns per game. Opposing WRs have scored 37.8 fantasy points against Rice and WR1s have scored 17.1 points per game. If Wilson’s recent spike in targets is an indication of his expected workload, he’s a must-stack with QB TJ Finley.

Alternatives

Joey Hobert, Texas State vs Rice (DK: $6.5K | FD: $9.5K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 31.5)

Quentin Skinner, Kansas vs UNLV (DK: $5.7K | FD: $7.8K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 40)

Daniel Jackson, Minnesota vs Bowling Green (DK: $5.6K | FD: $8.7K | O/U: 39.5 | Implied: 21.5)

$4.5K-or-less options

Mason Fairchild, Kansas vs UNLV (DK: $4.4K | FD: $6.6K | O/U: 66.5 | Implied: 40)

Boden Groen, Rice vs Texas State (DK: $4.2K | FD: $5.7K | O/U: 59.5 | Implied: 28)