CFB DFS Playbook & Example Lineups: Dec. 27

QUARTERBACKS

Anthony Gordon - Washington State ($8,300 DK / $10,800 FD)

All season long, Gordon has been a DFS goldmine because of Washington State’s pass-heavy Air Raid offense that runs through the arm of their quarterback. The senior is always guaranteed for a high volume of pass attempts because of how often the WSU offense goes to the air. In 12 games this year, Gordon averaged 436 passing yards and nearly four passing touchdowns per week with at least 31 DK points in nine games. This matchup vs. Air Force is by far the highest-scoring game on today’s slate and rostering Gordon to start your lineups is definitely a safe avenue while finding value elsewhere. The only worry for Gordon and the WSU offense is how many chances they will get since Air Force usually wins the time-of-possession battle with the triple-option run game. Still, Gordon can easily throw a touchdown and rack up the yards any time the Cougars have the ball because of how pass-heavy the offense is with a slew of receivers who can take it to the house on any reception. 

Kellen Mond - Texas A&M ($7,300 DK / $9,500 FD)

Game-log watchers will likely be scared off by Kellen Mond considering he put up just 14 total DK points over the last two games - but those duds came in two tough matchups against the Georgia and LSU defenses. For most of the season, though, Mond has been a very solid DFS QB because of his dual-threat ability. In a four-game sample size from Weeks 7-12 against SEC competition before those games vs. LSU and Georgia, Mond ran for 289 total yards (72 per game) with four rushing scores. His rushing ability will likely be needed a lot more today with Texas A&M dealing with a ton of absences in the backfield and having just one scholarship back on the depth chart. Plus, Mond’s regular passing contributions (233.5 yards per game with 19 passing TDs in 12 games) put him in a favorable match-up vs. an Oklahoma State defense that allowed 254 passing yards per game this season. 

Donald Hammond - Air Force ($6,900 DK / $8,800 FD)

We mentioned earlier how we want to target this game because of how high-scoring it’s expected to be for both offenses - especially on a slate with a ton of lower-scoring matchups. Hammond quarterbacks Air Force’s run-heavy triple-option attack and his DFS floor remains relatively safe because of his role as a runner. In 12 games this season, Hammond has rushed for nearly 500 yards with 11 rushing TDs. Plus, there’s actually some passing upside for him today despite Air Force’s low volume through the air. In the past three games to end the regular season, Hammond racked up 574 yards and eight passing scores on only 27 attempts because they caught defenses off-guard when they chose to throw it. Their passing game could definitely come into play against a Washington State defense that’s been very susceptible to the pass - allowing 275 passing yards per game this season. Hammond is probably the safest cash game play on this slate because of his rushing volume and passing upside in a high-scoring affair - and at a decreased price tag on both sites compared to the rest of the quarterbacks. 

Also Consider: 

• Sam Howell - North Carolina ($10,000 FD Only)

• Kedon Slovis - USC ($7,300 DK / $9,100 FD)

RUNNING BACKS

Chuba Hubbard - Oklahoma State ($8,500 DK / $10,500 FD)

If you’ve played DFS CFB at all this season, you’ve likely heard this name. Chuba Hubbard has been a stalwart in our lineups every week because of his massive workload and production as the headliner for Oklahoma State’s offense. We now have potentially one final time to roster him as the redshirt sophomore has confirmed he will play in this game before making a decision on his future NFL plans. Every time the Cowboys have been on a DFS slate this season, Hubbard was virtually a cash-game lock as he’s racked up 1,936 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground in 12 games - with at least 100 rushing yards in all but one week. Plus, he regularly sees 20-30 total touches per game which keeps his DFS floor pretty high with a guaranteed volume in both the rushing and passing game. Without many studs worth paying up for on this slate, it seems pretty safe to start your lineups with Hubbard and figuring the rest out. 

Max Borghi - Washington State ($7,800 DK / $9,200 FD)

Although Washington State runs a pass-heavy Air Raid offense, their lead tailback has been very valuable for DFS because of his consistent role as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Borghi has racked up 81 receptions for 566 receiving yards and four scores in his 12 games this season - and caught at least eight passes in seven of the final eight games of the year. With DK being full-PPR and FD as half-PPR, this pass-catching role is especially valuable for Borghi and gives him a very high floor comparable to other RBs on this slate. Plus, he’s still the best rusher on the team despite not getting many carries on a weekly basis - and the Cougars could use him as a runner more often to try to string together longer possessions in a game where Air Force will likely dominate the time-of-possession because of their own run-first, triple-option offense. Borghi ran for just 790 yards in 12 games this season, but he did score 11 times on the ground and averaged 6.5 yards per carry. 

Isaiah Spiller - Texas A&M ($5,700 DK / $8,300 FD)

Sometimes in these bowl games, DFS plays emerge as clear options because of the lack of competition on a player’s own team. For Spiller, that’s certainly the case today as he’s the only scholarship back on Texas A&M’s depth chart heading into today’s bowl game and his back-up is actually a converted quarterback. Thus, Spiller should get a large volume of touches as the Aggies’ lead back against an Oklahoma State defense that allowed 151 rushing yards per game this season. The freshman just faced two tough defenses in LSU and Georgia in the final two games of the year, but he was very productive in the weeks prior. In the four previous games, Spiller saw at least 19 touches in every game, racked up 514 rushing yards (6.3 yards per carry and 128.5 per game) with five touchdowns. He’s a clear value on DK and is certainly worth rostering on FD because of his likely guaranteed role and volume in Texas A&M’s offense. 

Tyler Goodson - Iowa ($4,700 DK / $6,900 FD)

Despite leaving the regular season finale early with an injury, Goodson is expected to be a full-go for this bowl matchup and should be strongly considered in all formats with a cheap price tag. The freshman tailback stepped into a workhorse role in Iowa’s backfield over the final few games of the year as he basically took over the majority touches from Mekhi Sargent and Toren Young. He saw 13 or more carries and scored a touchdown in each of the last three games to end the season - and he should see double-digit touches yet again against a USC defense that allowed 167 rushing yards per game this year. Before he left early against Nebraska in Week 14, Goodson already had 116 rushing yards and a score on 13 carries in just three quarters. On a slate where most lineups will have either (or both) Chuba Hubbard and Max Borghi, it’s easy to roster Goodson as a value option. 

Also Consider:

• Kadin Remsberg - Air Force ($6,400 DK / $7,700 FD)

• Elijah Collins - Michigan State ($5,300 DK / $6,600 FD)

• Vavae Malepeai - USC ($5,200 DK / $7,300 FD)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Michael Pittman Jr. - USC ($7,700 DK / $9,000 FD)

The senior wideout has been a DFS stud all season and we’ll have one last chance at rostering him as he confirmed earlier this month that he will indeed play in his final collegiate game before the NFL Draft. USC’s offense is a pass-first attack and all of the Trojans’ receivers are firmly in play - even against Iowa’s stingy defense - because of how much QB Kedon Slovis will throw it and spread the ball around. Pittman, though, ended the year on a hot streak and he’ll be looking to cap his collegiate career off with another massive performance. He had at least 11 catches and 100 receiving yards in each of the last three games of the regular season - with 30 or more DK points in all three. Plus, Pittman has put together an impressive senior campaign with 95 catches, 1,222 yards and 11 scores in 12 games - with at least six grabs in nine games while averaging 101 receiving yards per week. The Iowa pass defense is a tough matchup, but Slovis will be undoubtedly be targeting his senior pass-catcher often in both third-down and red-zone situations - keeping his floor relatively safe for this expensive price tag. 

Brandon Arconado - Washington State ($7,400 DK / $8,500 FD)

Although Arconado exited early from the regular-season finale, the senior is expected to be fully back for this bowl matchup and he should be a huge part of the game plan. Washington State boasts a ton of talent and depth in the receiving corps, but Arconado has emerged as the best and most consistent pass-catcher for QB Anthony Gordon. After missing a few games mid-season, he returned to total at least 100 receiving yards in four straight games with five touchdowns over that span from Weeks 8-12. In 10 games this season, he averaged nearly seven receptions and 100 yards per game and was a PPR-monster as the leading target hog for the pass-heavy Washington State offense. He should be a go-to target for Gordon in today’s bowl game - which is Arconado’s final collegiate appearance.  

Dillon Stoner - Oklahoma State ($5,600 DK / $7,500 FD)

After Tylan Wallace suffered a season-ending injury in October, Dillon Stoner stepped into Oklahoma State’s No. 1 wideout role for the final four games and he has not disappointed. Stoner totaled 24 receptions for 366 yards and five touchdowns over the last four games - including eight grabs and 60 yards in both of the final two weeks. The Cowboys have an uncertain QB situation right now - with Spencer Sanders likely to return from injury but Dru Brown also possibly getting snaps too - but that shouldn’t affect Stoner’s production. He’s proven he can put up numbers no matter who is under center and his workload as a receiver remains comfortable because he’s the offense’s top pass-catcher on the depth chart. 

Scotty Washington - Wake Forest ($5,200 DK / $7,300 FD)

Despite missing the final four games of the year, Washington is expected back for this bowl game and should reclaim his role as the No. 1 receiver with Sage Surratt gone for the season. The senior is listed as a starter on Wake Forest’s depth chart and it’s been reported that he will be a full-go for this matchup vs. Michigan State - which will be his final collegiate game before a possible NFL career. Washington formed a formidable pass-catching duo with Surratt for much of the year, but he’s yet to play a game as the top guy on the depth chart. During the year, though, Washington totaled 607 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in eight games. He was regularly in the 6-7k range in salary (on DraftKings) and this current price tag is a huge value if he indeed returns to being QB Jamie Newman’s top passing target. Newman is expected to play as well after he’s been dealing with an injury himself.

Also Consider: 

• Dazz Newsome - North Carolina ($8,400 FD Only)

• Tyler Vaughns - USC ($5,900 DK / $8,200 FD)

• Cody White - Michigan State ($5,400 DK / $7,600 FD)

• Renard Bell - Washington State ($5,300 DK / $6,900 FD)

• Benjamin Waters - Air Force ($4,700 DK / $7,000 FD)

• Tyrone Tracy - Iowa ($4,400 DK / $6,600 FD)

DraftKings Example Lineup:

QB: Kellen Mond - TA&M ($7,300)

RB: Chuba Hubbard - OKST ($8,500)

RB: Isaiah Spiller - TA&M ($5,700)

WR: Scotty Washington - WAKE ($5,200)

WR: Dillon Stoner - OKST ($5,600)

WR: Tyler Vaughns - USC ($5,900)

FLEX: Tyler Goodson - IOWA ($4,700)

S-FLEX: Donald Hammond - AF ($6,900)

FanDuel Example Lineup:

QB: Anthony Gordon - WSU ($10,800)

RB: Max Borghi - WSU ($9,200)

RB: Tyler Goodson - IOWA ($6,900)

WR: Micheal Pittman Jr. - USC ($9,000)

WR: Dillon Stoner - OKST ($7,500)

WR: Cody White - MSU ($7,600)

S-FLEX: Donald Hammond - AF ($8,800)