Just when you think the College Football Playoff picture is starting to take shape, another full slate of Saturday action turns what you think you know on its head. Granted, there are a few teams that are guaranteed a postseason berth, but the majority of spots are still up for grabs. We’ll see what the 12-team field looks like after another scintillating Week 11 schedule.
We’ve got you covered for DFS purposes, highlighting our preferred players from Saturday’s main slate.
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Let’s dive into this week’s slate!
CFB DFS Quarterback Picks
Gunner Stockton (Georgia Bulldogs): $8,300 DraftKings
The Georgia Bulldogs are one of the aforementioned teams in the mix for a playoff spot. But already with one loss, they can’t afford any more slip-ups if they want to guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason. That includes looking past the 5-4 Mississippi State Bulldogs in Week 11.
Georgia’s reputation is built on a balanced attack on both sides of the football, and 2025 is no exception. They continue to trot out an elite defense with emphasis on strong offensive production. In that regard, we’ve seen improved efforts from Gunner Stockton in recent weeks. The Bulldogs’ quarterback has back-to-back efforts with at least 223 passing yards, two or more touchdowns, and 10 or more rushing attempts. Further, we’ve seen Stockton flaunt his rushing abilities throughout the campaign. Already, he’s recorded seven rushing touchdowns, including finding paydirt in three of his previous four.
Expect Stockton to maximize production against an inferior Bulldogs’ defense. While Mississippi State is sitting at a respectable 5-4, it has given up 80 points and 861 yards over its last two games. They have been particularly porous against the run, ranking 95th in the country by allowing 193.9 rushing yards per game, playing into Stockton’s improved rushing efficiency.
He isn’t the priciest quarterback on the Week 11 main slate, but Stockton does have one of the highest fantasy ceilings. We’ve got him penned in as QB1 on Saturday.
Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt Commodores): $9,300 DraftKings
For years, the Vanderbilt Commodores were the laughingstock of the SEC. That is until Diego Pavia arrived on the scene. The senior quarterback has transformed Vandy into a playoff contender but needs to finish strong to convince the CFB committee the Commodores are deserving of a spot in the 12-team field. He’ll have to be at his best versus the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.
Pavia had seen a dip in efficiency in recent weeks, but he showed signs of progression with his latest effort. Across three starts in October, the Commodores’ pivot threw for just 487 yards, two touchdowns, and a 59.2% completion percentage. But last week, he shot up to 365 yards and three scores against a top-end Texas defense. That’s a sign of things to come over the final few weeks of the season, as Pavia’s metrics work their way back up toward yearly averages.
We’re anticipating sustained production against an Auburn defense that struggles to contain opposing passing attacks. So far this season, the Tigers sit 72nd in passing yards allowed, giving up 209.6 per game. That benchmark is on the rise in recent weeks, with two of the last three opponents throwing for at least 252 yards. As is typically the case, the Tigers have looked worse on the road, giving up a 66.3% completion rating and 248.7 passing yards per game across three conference road games.
More than any other team, Vanderbilt needs to finish strong. The Commodores will turn to Pavia more frequently in Week 11, as they try to expose Auburn’s most notable defensive weakness. Pavia leads our median and ceiling projections, and we expect him to reach his fantasy pinnacle on Saturday.
CFB DFS Running Back Picks
Diore Hubbard (West Virginia Mountaineers) $4,800 DraftKings
It would take a small miracle for the West Virginia Mountaineers to salvage their campaign. Needing to win out just to become bowl eligible, the Mountaineers began their ascent with a monumental upset over 22nd-ranked Houston in Week 10. With a much more manageable Week 11 contest versus the Colorado Buffaloes, West Virginia won’t be going down without a fight.
The Mountaineers’ victory over Houston was propelled by a vastly improved ground game. They churned out 246 rushing yards in the victory, relying on Diore Hubbard to keep the chains moving. The freshman recorded a career-high 108 rushing yards on 29 carries, benchmarks that are easily replicable against the Buffaloes’ defense. Still, Hubbard’s fantasy ceiling is elevated by his scoring potential.
Even before the sharp increase in production, Hubbard was being called upon in goal-to-go situations. He has recorded touchdowns in four of his last five outings while taking on some of the premier defenses in the Big 12. Now suiting up against a rebuilding Colorado squad, Hubbard is primed for another game-changing performance.
Ironically, the Buffaloes have been trampled all year long. They rank 120th in total defense, getting torched for 215.8 rushing yards per game. Sadly, that doesn’t even take into account their current state. Colorado’s last three opponents have gouged the Buffs for 862 yards, or 287.3 yards per game.
Considering the state of both programs, we’re betting Hubbard shows out on this week’s main slate.
Nate Sheppard (Duke Blue Devils) $8,200 DraftKings
Georgia Tech, Virginia, and Louisville have garnered the most attention in the ACC Championship race. But the Duke Blue Devils have been biding their time in the weeds. The Blue Devils sit 4-1 in conference play and are a sneaky play for a spot in Week 15’s winner-take-all contest. Over the past few weeks, their offense has been one of the best in the country, and they’ll have every opportunity to continue that upward trajectory against the UConn Huskies.
While they’ve gotten credit for their elite passing attack, it’s time to pay attention to Nate Sheppard and the Blue Devils’ ground game. Sheppard has been a scoring machine, recording five touchdowns over his last four outings. Included in that sample are two multiple-touchdown games and improved offensive production. Sheppard has accumulated 369 rushing yards on 55 carries, yielding a trendy 6.7 yards per carry.
After years of wasting away as college football’s forgotten program, UConn has continued its upward trajectory from last year. However, they still lack the defensive integrity to compete against Power 4 competition. They rank as one of the worst defenses in the FBS, sitting 95th in total defense. More concerningly, their most notable weakness is their run defense. The Huskies are gouged for an average of 175.0 rushing yards per game, including 219.3 over their last three.
The Blue Devils will have no problem moving the ball in Week 11, and Nate Sheppard will be a featured contributor. You can count on him to continue his recent assault and end the day as one of the top-performing running backs on the main slate.
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CFB DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Cooper Barkate (Duke Blue Devils) $7,300
Nate Sheppard won’t be the only Blue Devil setting the fantasy football world on fire this weekend. More than every other team, Duke relies on its aerial assault to keep the ball moving. They rank fourth in the country in passing yards per game, using that to propel them to the 18th-ranked total offense. Quarterback Darian Mensah has been the architect of that success, but he wouldn’t be in that position without his main target, Cooper Barkate.
Barkate has been one of the top pass-catchers in the country. His 774 receiving yards are the seventh-most in the FBS, and his fantasy profile has been on the rise with his latest performances. Last week, the Blue Devils’ wideout grabbed six of nine targets for 127 yards and a score. The game prior, Barkate had a mind-numbing 172 receiving yards on 13 catches and 16 targets. Those benchmarks are replicable against the Huskies’ wonky pass defense.
As productive as he’s been over the past two games, scoring has been the hallmark of Barkate’s mid-season success. The California native has five touchdowns over his previous five outings, crossing the plane in all but one of those contests. Combined with his increased target share, the stage is set for another masterclass in offensive efficiency.
UConn has failed to contain weaker opponents than Duke. Over their last three games, UAB, Rice, and Boston College have all thrown for at least 200 yards against the Huskies. You wouldn’t be wrong for stacking Mensah, Sheppard, and Barkate, but priority should be given to the latter two this weekend.
Skyler Bell (UConn Huskies) $6,900
You can count on the UConn Huskies to fight fire with fire when they take on the Blue Devils at Pratt and Whitney Stadium. The Independents have relied on their offense to offset their defensive shortcomings, and in that regard, they can expect another robust offensive showing against a very beatable Duke defense.
If Skyler Bell were doing this with any Power 4 team, assuredly, he would be in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Through nine games this season, the Huskies’ receiver has recorded 994 receiving yards, 74 receptions, and 11 touchdowns on 107 targets. Moreover, he has reached another stratosphere as the season progresses. Across his last three, Bell has 432 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 26 receptions and 38 targets. Additionally, he has recorded no fewer than 125 yards or eight catches in any one of those contests.
There is a clear dichotomy between Duke’s offensive and defensive abilities. While they have no problem putting up crooked numbers on offense, every inch of that has been needed to offset their defensive shortcomings. The Blue Devils allow nearly 400 yards per game, with 250.2 of those coming via the passing game.
Skyler Bell isn’t getting the credit he deserves this season, but DFS players can use that to their advantage on Saturday. While more casual players are fawning over big names, Skyler Bell will continue to assert himself as the most underappreciated fantasy contributors in the FBS.
Omar Cooper (Indiana Hoosiers) $6,800
We’re rounding out our main slate roster with another undervalued target. It would take an implosion of epic proportions for the Indiana Hoosiers to be excluded from the College Football Playoffs. While other teams are clamoring for signature wins, Indiana can use the final month of the regular season to sharpen its offensive abilities. With that, Omar Cooper should finally start to get the attention and respect he deserves.
Undoubtedly, Cooper has been the Hoosiers’ most efficient pass-catcher. He leads the team in receptions (46) and receiving yards (669) while sitting a distant second to Elijah Sarratt in targets. Inherent in those metrics is Cooper’s optimal efficiency. His 80.7% catch rate easily outpaces Sarratt’s respective mark of 69.2%.
Week 11’s clash versus the Penn State Nittany Lions is Cooper’s chance to step into the limelight. Sarratt is dealing with a hamstring injury, casting doubt on his ability to suit up at Beaver Stadium. Even if he is in the lineup, we’re not confident that Sarratt will be operating at 100%. Naturally, that supports increased usage and target share for Cooper, as he remains Fernando Mendoza’s go-to option through the air.
Now sitting 3-5 on the season and 0-5 in Big Ten play, Penn State has seemingly given up on the season. The Nittany Lions gave up 316 passing yards last week, production the Hoosiers are hoping to match. Omar Cooper will be counted on to lead Indiana’s passing attack, and we expect him to deliver.
Pictured: Gunner Stockton
Photo Credit: Imagn
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