By: @Ryan_Humphries on Twitter/LineStar Chat.

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Main Slate Rundown 🏈

Apologies for no CFB newsletter last week but we’re back at it for week four! This sets up as the best college football Saturday thus far this season and probably one of the best we’ll see all year! There are a boatload of high-profile match-ups on the Saturday docket so this is sure to be a wild DFS slate ahead!

As usual, we’ll be focusing on the 14-game DraftKings main slate which will kick off at noon ET. For FanDuel players, there will be eight mutually shared games between the two main slates so, with so much overlap, there will be plenty of useful information and recommended plays for you guys as well! Let’s dig into the action! Best of luck!

To begin, here is a look at the 13 teams with a 29+ implied point total on this slate. The majority of our preferred DFS plays will be found on these rosters:

On the flip side, we’ll want little-to-no exposure to teams who are expected to struggle to crack 20 points. Unless a specific player is priced way down and is guaranteed high volume, we should lean toward avoiding these six teams:

Obligatory: Vegas spreads and totals aren’t the be-all, end-all but they do give us a solid amount of information to use as our research ‘jump-off point’ on any given slate.

Main Slate Match-Ups

Quarterbacks to Consider

QB options at various price points.

Bo Nix, ORE | $9,600 | vs. COLO

Plenty of eyes will fixate on this game, not only for “real-life football” purposes but for DFS purposes as well. With its massive 70-point over/under, we’re looking at a certified shootout. If anyone stayed up late for the Colorado vs. Colorado State game last Saturday, you’ll know that this Buffaloes defense is nothing special. Now, they’re going to be playing without star two-way player WR/DB Travis Hunter and this defense logged a ton of plays in a game that went into double-OT. So, enter Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks. We haven’t seen a ceiling game out of Nix just yet, thanks to a pair of blowouts in their first three games. But Nix is still off to an excellent start to the 2023 season, completing 77.6% of his passes for 297.7 YPG and 2.7 TDs/gm. He hasn’t utilized his legs much but we know that’s a skillset in his bag after rushing for 510 yards and 14 rushing TDs in 2022. The Ducks are comfortable 21-point favorites at home in this one, though, I fully expect them to use this as a “statement game” in front of a nationally televised audience. A huge win over Coach Prime would go a long way for the optics of an Oregon team currently ranked 10th in the country. Bo Nix is pricey, but arguably the safest play on the slate, and the Ducks head in with a 45.5 implied point total -- 10 points higher than the next-closest team.

Tyler Shough, TTU | $8,100 | @ WVU

Shough’s services were not needed far beyond the second half of last week’s game against an inferior opponent (Tarleton State). Their first two games of the season proved to be competitive, and Shough returned DKFP performances of 38.38 (vs. ORE) and 31.12 (@ WYO). Furthermore, he combined for 38 rush attempts for 137 yards and a touchdown in those first two games. Shough will bring his excellent ceiling on the road in West Virginia where Texas Tech will stand as six-point favorites. WVU has only allowed 214.7 passing YPG to opposing QBs this season, but their 14.31 yards per completion allowed ranks as the 11th-worst mark in the FBS. Shough isn’t the most polished passer, but he could realistically throw it 40+ times and run it 15+ times, making him a high-floor/high-ceiling DFS option out of the mid-range of QB pricing.

Thomas Castellanos, BC | $5,900 | @ UL

For our cheap QB play of the week, who should be considered as a QB2/Super Flex, we’ll turn to Thomas Castellanos who has rushed for at least 67 yards and scored at least 22.94 DKFP in all three games this season. His most impressive performance came just last week against No. 4 ranked FSU where Castellanos eclipsed 300 yards passing and tacked on 95 yards rushing with a score on the ground as well. Louisville showed a vulnerability to Miami dual-threat QB Haynes King in week one, allowing him to pass for 300+ yards and three scores while also scampering for 53 yards. Boston College is a sizable 14-point underdog this week but, if they hang tough like they did against FSU, Castellanos should be able to easily pay off this $5,900 price tag.

Other QBs to Consider

Shedeur Sanders, COLO | $9,500 | @ ORE

Dillon Gabriel, OU | $9,100 | @ CINCY

Chandler Morris, TCU | $7,800 | vs. SMU

Emory Jones, CINCY | $6,900 | vs. OU

Wide Receivers to Consider

WR options at various price points.

Xavier Weaver, COLO | $7,200 | @ ORE

Colorado is already the 9th most pass-heavy offense in the FBS (62.6% pass play%) and averages the 6th most plays per game (85). Now, in a game where they should either be playing catch-up or keep-up, we can lock them into huge passing volume once again. In the last two weeks, Weaver has hauled in 19-of-22 targets for 268 yards and two TDs. His target volume will be further cemented with Travis Hunter sidelined. He’ll eat up a large chunk of salary but brings both a high floor and high ceiling to DFS lineups this Saturday.

Evan Stewart, TA&M | $6,700 | vs. AUB

Stewart sat out the week three match-up with ULM due to an undisclosed injury but is expected back this week. Over the first two weeks, Stewart was QB Conner Weigman’s clear top option through the air, amassing 19 receptions on 27 targets for 257 yards and two scores. Texas A&M has leaned very pass-heavy thus far this season (59.0% pass play%, 16th highest in FBS) and the Aggies will look to impress in their SEC home opener. There are plenty of great WR options on this slate so we could see Stewart fly a bit under the radar since he was sidelined a week ago.

Jerand Bradley, TTU | $5,900 | @ WVU

Bradley is averaging 10 targets per game in a high-volume offense, so he’ll be a prime DFS option at this sub-$6k salary. West Virginia is bleeding 189.3 YPG to opposing WRs and, as mentioned in TTU QB Tyler Shough’s write-up, their 14.31 yards per completion allowed ranks as the 11th worst mark in the FBS. If Shough can be a bit more efficient with his passes, Bradley is in line for a big week three performance.

Andrel Anthony, OU | $5,300 | @ CIN

The Sooners are not afraid to spread the ball around but Anthony has led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yardage through three games. He has only brought in one touchdown thus far but, with consistent targets, the touchdowns will come in a potent offense like Oklahoma’s. Cincinnati has only surrendered 197.7 YPG through the air this season but this will be the most talented passing attack they’ve faced, by far. It is worth noting that, while they haven’t given up many completions, Cincy’s 16.9 yards per completion is the second highest in the FBS. This could be a big day for Anthony even if he brings in just a handful of catches.

Jaheim Bell, FSU | $4,600 | @ CLEM

Bell is one of the more versatile tight ends in the country and he’s been on the receiving end of three touchdowns in FSU’s two competitive games this season (Bell did not log a target in the week two 66-13 blowout over USM). The current Clemson defense does not have a strong track record against tight ends and Bell hauled in a touchdown against them in week 13 of last season when he was with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Despite No. 4 ranked FSU visiting an unranked Clemson team, this is expected to be a close game with FSU sitting at just -2.5 favorites. Bell provides much-needed mismatched and brings multi-touchdown upside to lineups at a moderate price.

RJ Maryland, SMU | $3,400 | @ TCU

It’s a bit more difficult to find worthy “punt” plays once we get a few weeks into the season, but RJ Maryland should be on the field for the majority of snaps as SMU’s starting TE. SMU had a 69-0 blowout win over Prairie Valley last week where plenty of starters saw limited action, so Maryland did not record any targets/receptions in that game. However, over the first two games, he brought in 9-of-11 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown. TCU has been very beatable through the air, ranking 122nd in pass defense (304.0 YPG) and this game carries a huge 62 over/under with a fairly close spread (TCU -6.5) so a shootout could be brewing here.

Other WRs to Consider

Troy Franklin, ORE | $6,900 | vs. COLO

Jamari Thrash, UL | $6,600 | vs. BC

Tez Johnson, ORE | $5,900 | vs. COLO

Xavier Restrepo, MIA | $5,800 | @ TEMP

Roman Wilson, MICH | $5,500 | vs. RU

Dayton Wade, MISS | $5,300 | @ BAMA

Jacolby George, MIA | $5,100 | @ TEMP

Corey Dyches, UMD | $4,700 | @ MSU

Running Backs to Consider

RB options at various price points.

Bucky Irving, ORE | $7,500 | vs. COLO

We’ve covered Bo Nix already for this Oregon team, but it probably isn’t a bad idea to keep Bucky Irving on the DFS radar. Not only is Irving averaging 8.0 YPC on the ground, but he’s one of the more involved pass-catching running backs at the FBS level and even caught seven passes a couple of weeks ago. Oregon has a crowded backfield with multiple RBs who get involved, but in what should be a fairly competitive game, Irving should carry safer volume, unlike in Oregon’s two blowout victories this season. Colorado also ranks 119th in the FBS in run defense, so there are zero match-up concerns.

Jawhar Jordan, UL | $6,500 | vs. BC

Jordan only has 32 carries on the season, but that hasn’t stopped him from racking up 344 yards rushing, for an impressive 10.8 YPC average, and four TDs. We’re expecting a competitive game here against Boston College which bodes well for Jordan’s potential volume. Given his ability to break off huge chunk yardage, the possibility of 20+ touches bodes well for his fantasy outlook. Boston College has allowed the 3rd most FPPG to RBs on this slate and ranks as the 115th run defense in the FBS.

Rasheen Ali, MARSH | $6,000 | vs. VT

Marshall is one of the few teams that has played just two games this season but it is clear that Ali is operating in a featured role after receiving at least 19 touches in both contests while punching in five touchdowns already. He remains underpriced at $6,000 as he goes up against a Va Tech team that has been gouged for 212 rushing YPG (ranks 124th in FBS) and has surrendered the most FPPG to RBs on this slate (34.6 FPPG).

Devin Neal, KU | $5,900 | vs. BYU

Touchdowns are fickle and cannot be counted on with any consistency, but Neal has already secured six total TDs (5 rush, 1 receiving) this season and is averaging 7.6 YPC and 101.0 rushing YPG. BYU faced a couple of cupcakes to begin their season but, in their first real test against Arkansas last week, they forked over 177 yards rushing and two TDs on the ground. The 3-0 Kansas Jayhawks head into this match-up as 9.5-point home favorites, which sets up well for a Devin Neal-heavy gamescript.

Other RBs to Consider

Blake Corum, MICH | $8,300 | vs. RU

Emani Bailey, TCU | $6,400 | vs. SMU

Will Shipley, CLEM | $5,700 | vs. FSU

LJ Martin, BYU | $4,700 | @ KU

That will do it for this week’s CFB DFS rundown! Best of luck!