Week 4 of the college football slate kicked off with a Thursday night tilt between the Georgia State Panthers and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The Panthers pulled off a convincing upset, upending the Chanticleers 30-17 as +4.5 underdogs. That might be a sign of things to come this weekend, with some big-name programs on upset alert as they venture into conference matchup territory. The upset train could continue rolling on Friday night, but we’re expecting the excitement to spill into the weekend.
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
Bo Nix (Bo Nix): $9,600 DraftKings
Earlier this year, we talked about the difference Bo Nix would make for the Oregon Ducks in his senior campaign. Three weeks into the season, we’re starting to see Nix flash his Heisman-worthy potential. Conference play will reveal his true ceiling, starting with a Week 4 home matchup against the 19th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes.
With a trio of non-conference games to open the campaign, we have yet to see Nix operate to his full potential in 2023. Still, his metrics remain some of the best in the nation. The Alabama native is averaging nearly 300.0 yards per game while completing 77.6% of his passes. Further, he’s got a sterling 8-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio, resulting in an optimal 83.2 QBR.
The Buffaloes secondary is penetrable. Colorado gave up a whopping 397 passing yards at home to the Colorado State Rams last week. Those passing coverage issues will be amplified by the absence of Travis Hunter, who’s expected to miss three weeks with an undisclosed injury.
Nix and Ducks have something to prove. Taking down a ranked Pac-12 opponent with a depleted secondary bolsters their playoff chances and guarantees we see the best from Nix.
Chandler Morris (TCU Horned Frogs): $7,800 DraftKings
Expect a full display of offense under the Texas sun on Saturday as the TCU Horned Frogs host the SMU Mustangs. These teams enter the intra-state rivalry with one of the highest totals on the board, lending itself to top-tier fantasy performances from several players. Both quarterbacks rate highly in our projections, but we’re deferring to the home QB riding in as -6.5 chalk.
In his first season as a starter, Chandler Morris is picking up where Max Duggan left off. The sophomore pivot has thrown for at least 263 yards in all three of his starts, with multiple touchdown passes each time out. On average, Morris is throwing for 285.3 yards per game, completing 67.9% of his passes. Moreover, he’s unlocked the running game over the past couple of outings, totaling 116 rushing yards and a touchdown.
That spells trouble for SMU, who gave up 365 total yards in their lone road contest against the Oklahoma Sooners. The Horned Frogs could exceed that total, and Morris will do most of the heavy lifting. Look for him to reach his fantasy ceiling against the Mustangs.
CFB DFS Running Back Picks
Rasheen Ali (Marshall Thundering Herd): $6,000 DraftKings
We are kicking off our running back selections with a top-end value pick. Rasheen Ali is working to re-capture the form that made him one of the country’s top rushers in 2021. That year, Ali topped 1,400 rushing yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry en route to being named FWAA Freshman All-American. Injuries limited his participation last year, but Ali is taking names on his way back up to the top.
Through two games, the Marshall Thundering Herd running back has been sensational. Ali carried the ball 18 times in both contests, scorching an FCS opponent for 137 yards in the season opener, following that up with 85 versus the East Carolina Pirates. More impressively, Ali has found paydirt five times in those contests, scoring three touchdowns against the Pirates and two more against Albany. He’s also factored into the passing game, hauling in all five of his targets for 47 yards.
The Virginia Tech Hokies defense isn’t as imposing as it once was. FBS opponents are averaging 349.3 yards per game against the Hokies, with 220.0 of those coming on the ground. Although it’s not reflected in his salary, Ali is poised for a breakout performance at home.
Jawhar Jordan (Louisville Cardinals): $6,000 DraftKings
A well-rounded attack has helped the Louisville Cardinals off to a 3-0 start to the season. They’ve gotten contributions out of several offensive players, but none more impactful than Jawhar Jordan’s.
The Cardinals running back has been a standout in a crowded backfield. Including quarterback Jack Plummer, five different ball carriers have run at least 11 times, but Jordan’s the bell cow. Through three games, the junior has 344 yards on 32 carries for a jaw-dropping 10.8 yards per carry. Jordan’s breakaway speed has been evident in every contest. He’s broken off runs of 72 and 74 yards in the first two before stepping up with 18 carries for 113 yards last week.
It won’t be long before everyone starts to take notice of Jordan’s fantasy impact. For now, you can still get him at an affordable $6,000 salary, though not for long.
Bucky Irving (Oregon Ducks): $7,500 DraftKings
We are adding to our Ducks’ stack, highlighting Bucky Irving and his premier fantasy ceiling against the Buffaloes. The junior leads our median and ceiling projections and should be a featured performer from the vaunted Ducks’ attack.
Irving is an elite rusher, but his fantasy value extends beyond that. In addition to the 216 yards he ran for, Irving has also totaled 95 yards in the passing game while grabbing all but one of his 13 targets. But that doesn’t diminish his contributions in the running game. Irving leads the team in carries and rushing yards, ranking second in touchdowns.
There’s always some apprehension in rostering a running back who is deployed in a workshare. Nevertheless, as we’ve seen from the outset of the campaign, Irving dominates snap counts and workload, ensuring he’ll have plenty of opportunities to reach his fantasy ceiling. Considering the porous nature of Colorado’s defense, we like Irving to get there sooner rather than later.
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CFB DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Xavier Weaver (Colorado Buffaloes): $7,200 DraftKings
Of course, Colorado isn’t the type of team to roll over and die. They have their own dynamic offense, which has propelled them into the top 25 after starting the season with a win total of 3.5. Among those elite playmakers is Xavier Weaver, who has emerged as the centerpiece on offense.
Coming into the season, Weaver was expected to take a back seat to Jaycee Horn Jr. However, Shedeur Sanders has found a way to incorporate both wideouts regularly, leaning towards Weaver as his defacto pass catcher. Weaver outpaces Horn by almost 140 yards and has been the most-targetted receiver in two of the three outings. Over the last two games, Sanders has thrown Weaver’s way 24 times, five more than Horn.
With Hunter absent, there will be even more passes up for grabs. Consequently, both wide receivers will have a higher fantasy ceiling than usual on Saturday. Given the trends from the past couple of weeks, we expect that to have a bigger impact on Weaver’s production than Horn’s.
Xavier Restrepo (Miami (FL) Hurricanes): $5,800 DraftKings
From one Xavier to the next. Tyler Van Dyke has re-invigorated the Miami (FL) Hurricanes’ passing attack and that has resulted in big things from Xavier Restrepo. The junior wideout is well on his way to surpassing previous career highs. That upward trajectory is expected to continue versus the Temple Owls.
Coming into this season, Restrepo had set benchmarks of 24 receptions and 373 yards. He’s nearly matched those highs through three games, grabbing 17 receptions for 314 yards. Restrepo has come into his own lately, surpassing 120 receiving yards in Weeks 2 and 3 and posting a noteworthy 80.0% catch rate. He should be able to maintain that standard against the Owls.
Temple has taken on three lesser-than opponents this season. Even as the hosts, they don’t stand a chance against the playoff-hopeful Hurricanes. Van Dyke’s connection to Restrepo puts Benjamin Franklin to shame, and there’s nothing the Owls can do to slow it down.
Troy Franklin (Oregon Ducks): $6,900 DraftKings
Surprise, surprise, we’re shackling a Ducks receiver to the aforementioned Nix. Troy Franklin is the undisputed number-one receiver in Eugene, and that will become even more evident after Saturday’s Pac-12 clash against Colorado.
Franklin’s 17 receptions and 292 receiving yards are not only a team-best but also put him among the best in the country. Among FBS pass catchers, Franklin ranks 25th in receiving yards and 44th in catches. Moreover, he’s been Nix’s preferred target since the outset of the campaign. Franklin has led the team in targets in all three contests, accumulating 25 targets along the way.
Surely, the total of 69.5 is indicative of the track meet that this game will become. The three-headed monster of Nix-Irving-Franklin has tormented opponents every step of the way, and the Buffaloes are no exception. Look for Franklin to end the day as one of the top-performing receivers on the slate.
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