Welcome to the final CFB DFS slate of the season, college football fans! After all the COVID cancellations, Saturday morning lineup-building and profitable weekends - we’ve finally reached the finish line. Ohio State and Alabama face off on Monday night for the National Championship and it’s time to lock in those Showdown slate lineups before kickoff!

As of Sunday night, the Crimson Tide are 9-point favorites over the Buckeyes with a game total of 75.5 points (per DraftKings Sportsbook). So it should be a high-scoring one for both offenses with plenty of DFS production to go around. Let’s dive into what the best captain and FLEX plays are for this showdown slate on DK.

 

 

Top Captain Plays
PlayerTeamOpp.DK CPT $DK FPPGDK $FD FPPG
DeVonta SmithBAMAOSU1800035.4812000 
The Heisman winner is unsurprisingly the price king for this showdown slate and he’ll probably be the most popular option in cash games because of his national recognition. Honestly, it’s hard to avoid him in cash because if gets 30-40 DK points like he’s prone to do - you’ll have a tough time making up for that elsewhere. The majority of Alabama’s DFS production comes from three players - Smith, QB Mac Jones and RB Najee Harris. If you believe the Tide will score 40+ points like Vegas is projecting, then getting Smith in your cash lineups should be a top priority. Rostering him in the captain spot, though, will likely be a GPP only option - as he’s a much better FLEX play for cash.
Justin FieldsOSUBAMA1710032.9811400 
If Ohio State wants any chance at pulling off the upset, it means Justin Fields will need to have a monster game like he did vs. Clemson. In last week’s semifinal, Fields tossed six TDs and 385 yards while the Buckeyes put up 49 points. You might think that’s hard to replicate in this title game, but the Bama defense is definitely be susceptible through the air and could allow OSU to keep pace in a high-scoring game. If Fields and Co. are trailing in the second half, it’ll mean even more passing and running production from the dual-threat QB as well. He might be a popular captain in cash games and is the best overall play from the Buckeyes. Keep in mind, though, that he took a huge hit in the last game and is probably playing with some bruised or broken ribs - if that deters you at all.
Najee HarrisBAMAOSU1590032.3610600 
Alabama’s workhorse back may wind up being the most owned captain in cash - and there’s a decent chance he’s the highest-scoring DFS option overall from both teams. In the SEC title game, Harris smashed with 62.5 DK points, five total TDs and 245 total yards. Although Ohio State’s rush defense was statistically the second-best in the country this year, the Tide offense is a completely different level of competition. If the Buckeyes try to shut down the Bama passing attack, then Harris would be in line for a huge game - with a monopoly on red zone carries in this backfield.
Trey SermonOSUBAMA1380020.299200 
After starting the year as the backup RB, Trey Sermon has exploded late in the season and is now a featured part of the Buckeyes’ offense. The former Oklahoma transfer has a firm grasp on the lead back role with Master Teague dealing with an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the semifinal game and makes him doubtful for Monday night. Sermon has at least 100+ rushing yards and a TD in three straight and has seen a healthy workload of touches to take pressure off Justin Fields and the passing game. OSU would be smart to ride the hot hand and feed Sermon early and often in this one to keep Alabama’s offense off the field as much as possible. He’s the ideal GPP captain for this showdown slate and probably goes under-owned in cash games.

 

        
Top FLEX Plays
PlayerTeamOpp.DK CPT $DK FPPGDK $FD FPPG
Mac JonesBAMAOSU1620027.4610800 
Some might use Mac Jones as their captain, but he’s probably better off as a FLEX play on this slate. With how high-scoring the Alabama offense is, the QB is always a threat to put up 300+ passing yards and 3-5 TDs through the air. He offers little to no rushing upside, but that hasn’t been an issue for Jones’ DFS value this season with a balanced Tide offense that allows for both the passing and rushing attack to be dominant for fantasy. If this one turns into an offensive shootout - as Vegas is predicting - Jones would benefit from a higher volume of pass attempts and more responsibility to keep pace if Bama somehow trails.
Chris OlaveOSUBAMA1320027.178800 
Olave is the Buckeyes’ top receiver by a big margin and his absence in the Big Ten title game showed just how valuable he is to the offense. Justin Fields and the passing attack struggled in that one with Olave out due to COVID protocols. In his return in the semifinal, Fields targeted him heavily and Olave went off for 132 yards and two scores. He’s now totaled 100+ receiving yards in all but one game this year and he’s scored seven times in six games. Expect Olave to get a ton of targets once again - especially if Ohio State is trailing. He’s safe for all formats.
John Metchie IIIBAMAOSU930014.386200 
Ever since Jaylen Waddle went down earlier in the year, Metchie has been operating as Bama’s #2 receiver - a role that’s kept his DFS value fairly safe in a high-scoring offense. Waddle’s potential return muddies the situation and Metchie’s value a bit - but there’s a chance the former doesn’t even see the field on Monday. Although Metchie hasn’t found the end zone in four games, he’s still putting up around 10 DK points with a solid floor of receiving volume. If OSU tries to shut down DeVonta Smith, we may see Metchie more involved than usual and possibly score once or twice in softer coverage. He’s a better GPP play on this showdown slate with people likely locking in the top studs and saving money further down the player pool.
Garrett WilsonOSUBAMA1050022.297000 
At the beginning of the year, it was Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both dominating and consistently putting up 100+ yard games as they split the majority of Ohio State’s receiving production. Lately, though, Wilson has fallen significantly behind Olave and his lower DFS salary is evidence to that. Still, the upside is there for Wilson to go off for 100+ yards and find the end zone once or twice with how high-scoring this game should be. Alabama’s defense could end up focusing on Olave more and Wilson could emerge again as a top target for Justin Fields. He’s a solid GPP FLEX play for those that pivot off Olave.
        
Value FLEX Plays
PlayerTeamOpp.DK CPT $DK FPPGDK $FD FPPG
Jaylen WaddleBAMAOSU1110023.587400 
A month ago, it seemed Jaylen Waddle had no chance at playing in this title game after he suffered a serious ankle injury back in October - one that many believed was a season-ender. However, Waddle has been back at practice this past week and will apparently be a game-time decision on Monday after being cleared to play. It’s very possible Waddle doesn’t see the field at all or plays a decoy role even if he is active. The guy is presumably going to be a 1st Round NFL Draft pick and has a future pro career to worry about - and Alabama honestly probably doesn’t need him as they’ve been rolling without him. Still, he’s worth a shot in tournaments if we get official word that he’s active and expected to actually play worthwhile snaps.
Jeremy RuckertOSUBAMA720010.74800 
Ohio State’s receiving talent drops off significantly once we get past Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. However, Ruckert has carved out a solid role in the offense in his tight end role and QB Justin Fields has been looking his way in the red zone a decent amount. Ruckert caught two TDs in the semifinal vs. Clemson and now has totaled five TDs in just four games played this season. He could easily find the end zone in this high-scoring game and pay off his cheap salary for cash or GPP as a FLEX play. If you want a cheap way to get exposure to the Buckeyes, Ruckert is the best bet for a decent volume of receptions and possibility he scores.
Jahleel BillingsleyBAMAOSU81009.955400 
First of all, Alabama’s offense is very top-heavy in terms of DFS production with DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris and Mac Jones dominating the scoring almost every game. Billingsley, though, is a cheap way to fill out those Bama stacks and could be a GPP one-off from the Tide if you’re stacking Ohio State. The tight end is coming off a semifinal performance where he found the end zone and had four catches. His DFS floor isn’t too appealing or consistent, but he has the upside to catch a TD if this one turns into an offensive shootout where multiple Alabama players score.
Jameson WilliamsOSUBAMA39004.862600 
At some point we have to start taking chances on cheaper guys on this slate if we want to fit in 2-3 studs with one at captain. One of those options on the Buckeyes is sophomore wideout Jameson Williams. The youngster only had five catches entering last week’s semifinal - but then he went off for three receptions, 62 yards and a TD vs. Clemson. Although he’s way behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson in the receiving pecking order, Williams could catch a few balls and pay off this price tag as a nice salary-saver - especially if Alabama is leading and forcing OSU to pass more in the second half.
Will ReichardBAMAOSU570010.083800 
If you’ve played showdown slates for CFB or NFL in the past, you know that kickers are in play for high-scoring offenses - and that’s definitely the case we have here. With how much Alabama scores almost every game, the Tide kicker is actually a decent floor play for cash games as he could easily drain five extra-points and a field goal or two and provide double-digit DFS points. Reichard has a monopoly on Alabama’s kicks right now and he’s put up 10 or more DK points in seven of 12 games this season. There’s upside here, too, if Alabama somehow struggles to find the end zone and has to kick field goals more instead of going for it on 4th Down.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK CPT $DK FPPGDK $FD FPPG
Miller ForristallBAMAOSU36004.942400 
As we said with Billinglsey above, the Alabama offense is mostly confined to a core group of players when it comes to DFS production. In GPP’s, though, the secondary pass-catchers are worth a look and Forristal falls into the same category as Billingsley as a possible cheap one-off in OSU stacks or a fill-in for Bama stacks. The Tide have been playing plenty of two-tight end sets late in the year - which has resulted in Forristal playing a decent amount down the stretch. He was quiet earlier in the season, but the senior TE has at least three catches in three straight games and now has more opportunity for receptions with the increase in playing time. He’s worth a shot in GPP’s and could even find the end zone if you’re lucky.

 

 

Example Lineups:

 

DK CASH:

CAPT - Najee Harris, BAMA ($15,900)

UTIL - DeVonta Smith, BAMA ($12,000)

UTIL - Mac Jones, BAMA ($10,800)

UTIL - Jeremy Ruckert, OSU ($4,800)

UTIL - Will Reichard, BAMA ($3,800)

UTIL - Miller Forristall, BAMA ($2,400)

 

DK GPP:

CAPT - Trey Sermon, OSU ($13,800)

UTIL - Mac Jones, BAMA ($10,800)

UTIL - Justin Fields, OSU ($11,400)

UTIL - John Metchie, BAMA ($6,200)

UTIL - Jahleel Billingsley, BAMA ($5,400)

UTIL - Miller Forristall, BAMA ($2,400)