College Football DFS Picks: Week 9 CFB DraftKings Main Slate Breakdown (Saturday, October 31st)

The fate of the college football season doesn’t rest in Week 9. Still, we’ll have more clarity on the conference races by the end of Saturday’s action. This week’s schedule features a bevy of intriguing matchups, pitting some prominent Power 4 teams against each other. As always, that drama will unfold in the fantasy realm, with those individual performances having a cascading effect on the standings and each team’s respective outlook moving forward.

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We’ve got you covered for DFS purposes, highlighting our preferred players from Saturday’s main slate.

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Or if cash games are more your speed, you can build your lineups alongside our projections with our Lineup Builder. From there, you can hand-build your lineup or lock in a few guys and let the builder optimize the rest based on our projections.

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Let’s dive into this week’s slate!

CFB DFS Quarterback Picks

Devon Dampier (Utah Utes): $8,800 DraftKings

Many Top 25 teams have already fallen by the wayside. But not the Utah Utes. The Big 12 program is one of three undefeated teams left standing, thanks in part to Devon Dampier‘s unrelenting contributions. We’re anticipating another strong showing from the Utes’ quarterback in Saturday’s tilt versus the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Dampier is one of the elite dual-threat quarterbacks in the FBS. Across 2024 and 2025, he threw for over 5,000 yards and ran for over 2,000 more. Predictably, the senior has picked up exactly where he left off. Through seven games this season, Dampier has already accumulated 1,616 passing yards, 348 rushing yards, and a cumulative 20 touchdowns. With season-high performances of 278 passing yards and 150 rushing yards, Dampier could set a new benchmark in both categories versus Cincinnati.

The Bearcats stack up as one of the worst defenses in the country. They give up the 10th-most yards per game to FBS opponents, getting trounced for 460.8 per game. Moreover, they’ve looked equally dismal against the pass and rush, setting the stage for a memorable performance from Dampier.

Two weeks ago, West Virginia’s Michael Hawkings threw for 464 yards and ran for 77 more. We’re predicting a similar effort from Devon Dampier, albeit with a more equitable split between passing and rushing yards. Either way, Dampier is poised to reach his fantasy ceiling at Nippert Stadium and set the fantasy standard on this week’s main slate.

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Byrum Brown (Auburn Tigers): $7,500 DraftKings

Formerly, the Ole Miss Rebels were one of the most imposing defenses in the country. Currently, they are one of the worst underperformers. The Rebels’ defensive acumen has evaporated, and the Auburn Tigers are the beneficiaries in Week 9. It hasn’t been a standout season for Byrum Brown, but he should maximize production in Oxford.

Interceptions have been an issue for Byrum to date. The South Florida transfer has thrown seven picks already this season, negatively impacting his overall standing across wholesome metrics. Nevertheless, he’s been surprisingly efficient against conference foes and should have no problem putting up numbers against Ole Miss.

Like the aforementioned Dampier, Brown is a premier dual-threat pivot. His 479 rushing yards rank 11th among quarterbacks, whereas his six rushing scores are tied for 13th. Further, the senior has found paydirt in all but one of his seven outings this season.

Where we expect Brown to do the most damage is in the passing game. Six of his eight touchdown passes this season have come against SEC foes, and he’s completing 62.1% of his throws in those contests. Of note, four of those five games have come against ranked opponents.

Ole Miss doesn’t possess the same defensive faculties as some of the other teams Brown has faced this season. Ranking 103rd in passing yards allowed per game and 94th in rushing yards, the Rebels won’t have an answer for what Byrum Brown throws their way. With that, he’s poised to rack up the fantasy points and easily surpass the implied value of his salary.

CFB DFS Running Back Picks

Kendrick Raphael (SMU Mustangs) $7,600 DraftKings

After an unexpected loss to the Louisville Cardinals back in Week 3, the SMU Mustangs have quietly asserted themselves as one of the best teams in the ACC. They have rattled off wins in four straight, looking more dominant on offense with each passing game. They’re about to hit their crescendo in Saturday’s clash versus Syracuse, and Kendrick Raphael will be conducting the symphony.

Raphael has taken the reins out of the Mustangs’ backfield. With just 17 touches through the first two weeks of the season, the senior running back has at least 22 carries in four of his last five. Across that five-game sample, Raphael has accounted for 563 rushing yards while crossing the century mark on three occasions. Naturally, that increased usage correlates with improved scoring efficiency, with all but one of his nine scores coming over that stretch.

Syracuse isn’t known for its defensive integrity, nor can the Orange be expected to prevent Raphael from going off. They give up an average of 146.3 rushing yards per game against FBS opponents, allowing three running backs to eclipse 100 rushing yards over their past five outings.

While he’s known for his rushing abilities, Raphael has proven to be an every-down back for SMU. He’s pulled down 10 of his 12 targets this season for 94 yards and recorded his first receiving tuddy of the season last time out versus Cal. Altogether, that’s a winning combination, particularly against one of the more porous defenses in the ACC.

Easily, Kendrick Raphael rates as one of the top value picks on the main slate.

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Turbo Richard (Indiana Hoosiers) $6,900 DraftKings

The Indiana Hoosiers needed to reinvent themselves in a hurry. Wanting to defend their National Championship crown, the Hoosiers saw a massive turnover from last year’s squad. Thankfully, they were able to reload via the transfer portal, which included adding Turbo Richard as their lead running back. Richard has been up to the task in Bloomington, and we should see the best he has to offer against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Inconsistency has limited Turbo from reaching his fantasy potential week to week. Through the first five games of the season, he totaled 583 rushing on just 63 touches while eclipsing 100 yards in three of those outings. Since then, he’s mustered 128 yards on 56 carries. That might be a red flag for some, but we view this as the ideal time to buy low on a game-changer.

Minnesota’s most glaring weakness is its rush defense. Nearly half of the 288.7 yards per game they give up come on the ground, and they’ve looked particularly defenseless against downhill runners. Two games ago, Purdue’s Fame Ijeboi broke loose for 195 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. Likewise, Mississippi State’s Fluff Bothwell went off for 113 yards and two scores on just 18 rushing attempts.

IU enters Week 9’s clash as prohibitive -20.5 chalk. As is typically the case in games such as this, the Hoosiers will turn to their rushing attack more frequently to control the clock and maintain their presumptive lead. Turbo Richard will get the lion’s share of those touches and is a natural progression candidate after a few down performances. We’re expecting a monumental effort.

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CFB DFS Wide Receiver Picks

Carlos Hernandez (Wake Forest Demon Deacons) $7,300

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have emerged as a legitimate playoff contender. Currently ranked 14th in the country, Wake Forest has had an offensive renaissance, operating one of the most efficient passing units in the country. Carlos Hernandez has been an integral part of that attack, and we’re anticipating a season-best performance against the Virginia Cavaliers.

We got glimpses of Hernandez’s potential in 2025, but he’s stolen the spotlight this season. The senior wideout ranks ninth in the country in receiving yards, going off for 720 yards on 49 receptions. Implicit in those metrics are a 76.6% catch rate and a 29.6% target share.

Most impressively, all of that production has come in just six games, as Hernandez missed Wake’s last game versus Cal. Thankfully, he’s had a bye week to recover from the undisclosed injury and should be ready to go come Saturday.

It’s also worth noting that Hernandez has at least 117 receiving yards in three of his six games this season.

Virginia’s defense got off to a respectable start this season, but holes have emerged following its most recent performances. Last week, run-heavy Duke threw for over 250 yards. The week prior, SMU had almost identical production, hitting 246 passing yards.

Hernandez has become a staple of the Demon Deacons’ offense. Wake Forest will count on him to deliver again in Week 9.

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Isaiah Mizell (Arizona Wildcats) $6,400

Isaiah Mizell still isn’t getting the respect he deserves. The Arizona Wildcats’ wide receiver has 317 receiving yards over his last two games. Still, his salary doesn’t reflect Mizell’s fantasy potential. Assuredly, he will be the go-to target in Arizona’s clash versus Texas Tech.

Mizell was a relatively unknown fantasy commodity at the start of the season. The sophomore was used sparingly in 2025, totaling just 39 yards on four receptions. After a tepid start to the campaign, we’ve seen exactly what he has to offer more recently. The sophomore now leads the team in receptions (27), receiving yards (493), and targets (34), with most of that production coming over the past few outings. Mizell has been targeted 23 times across his last three, pulling down 18 of those passes for 384 yards and three scores.

Texas Tech ranks as one of the worst pass defenses in the country. So far this season, opponents are throwing for 247.7 yards per game, jumping to 290.7 against FBS teams exclusively.

Worse passing teams than Arizona have fared exceptionally well against the Red Raiders. Isaiah Mizell will be the latest to expose Texas Tech. In doing so, he will cement his position as one of the elite pass-catchers in the FBS.

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Deuce Alexander (Ole Miss Rebels) $8,000

As we’ve seen all season, Ole Miss will have to fight fire with fire in Saturday’s showdown against Auburn. Opponents have had no problem moving the ball against the Rebels, forcing Ole Miss to dial up the offensive intensity to keep pace. Thankfully, they can turn to Deuce Alexander to set the tone on offense.

Alexander has been Trinidad Chambliss’ most reliable target. So far this season, the junior receiver has hauled in 43 receptions on 64 targets, accounting for a team-best 23.7% target share. As expected, that aligns with a team-leading five receiving touchdowns, ensuring Alexander remains the focus in game planning.

Auburn’s defense is a shell of its former self. This season, they are giving up nearly 400 yards per game, with 240.0 of those coming via the pass. LSU and Georgia torched the Tigers for 387 and 327 passing yards, respectively, setting an unflattering standard for what to expect from Ole Miss.

Deuce Alexander is several weeks removed from his last memorable fantasy performance. He nabbed five receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opener, going off for 134 yards and another touchdown against Florida at the end of September. While he’s had 181 receiving yards in the three games since then, we’re betting that he delivers another slate-leading performance in Week 9.

Pictured: Devon Dampier
Photo Credit: Imagn