Welcome to this guest article from Paydirt sub GordyLamb! This article will go over some of the most important aspects at each position for the CFB DFS main slate. The content of this is mostly geared towards Draftkings but is plenty applicable to Fanduel as well. Likewise, make sure to check out the range of outcomes models for CFB found here at Paydirt, so if you are interested in the same data we use, grab a subscription today!
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College Football DFS Week 4: DraftKings Position-by-Position Breakdown
College football DFS rewards the same core skills as other daily fantasy formats—projecting volume, identifying leverage, and building correlated lineups—but the player pool is larger, roles can change quickly, and quarterback rushing carries outsized value. This breakdown focuses on the main-slate decisions at each position, with an emphasis on ceiling, ownership, game environment, and lineup construction.
Quarterback
This is a strong pay-up slate, with several dual-threat quarterbacks in fast-paced, competitive matchups. I am reluctant to go below $7,200 at the position. Several of the best options also face one another, which makes opposing-quarterback pairings—Russell and Kamario, Brown and Brandon, or Pribula and Daniels—appealing ways to capture a game environment without forcing a traditional stack.
Julian Sayin — $9,000: I will continue to avoid him at this salary because he offers limited rushing upside. The fade hurt last week, but a matchup with Iowa does not look like a ceiling spot. If you want exposure to the Ohio State passing game, I prefer using Smith at wide receiver as a standalone play.
Keelon Russell — $8,800: I expect this game to shoot out. Russell scored 43 DraftKings points against South Carolina last week and has as legitimate a chance as anyone on the slate to reach the 300-yard passing and 100-yard rushing bonuses. He has not yet shown his full rushing ceiling in college, but his track background supports the upside. Alabama should be motivated to make a statement in this matchup of high-end sophomore quarterbacks.
Gunner Stockton — $8,700: The concern is the same as it has been all season: Georgia is favored by 24 points, and Stockton may not need to push for rushing production. In that script, the ceiling we need at this salary becomes difficult to reach.
Michael Hawkins Jr. — $8,500: He is the play if you are following the game logs. Hawkins has been shredding teams on the ground and has the raw ceiling to lead the slate in quarterback scoring. The matchup is not ideal, but the upside is undeniable.
Conner Weigman — $8,400: The bull case is a 31-point implied team total in a game competitive enough to require rushing involvement. The bear case is the matchup with UCF, which ranks near the bottom of the nation in plays per game and will try to limit Houston’s offensive opportunities.
CJ Carr — $8,200: As with Stockton, the concern is game script. Notre Dame is favored by 21 points, and Carr may not be needed enough to deliver a tournament-winning score.
Kamario Taylor — $8,100: One of my favorite quarterbacks is back on the main slate in what may be the toughest matchup of his young career. This is not the Alabama defense of old, however, and Ashton Daniels threw for 377 yards against it. The Alabama name may suppress ownership, while Taylor still brings the rare 300-yard passing and 100-yard rushing ceiling.
Byrum Brown — $8,000: Brown offers massive tournament potential and is one of the nation’s most dangerous rushing quarterbacks. The matchup is difficult, but likely sub-10% ownership compensates for that risk.
Philo — $7,700: A 30-point implied team total makes him a credible pivot from Baugh. I probably will not get there, but the tournament case is clear.
Beau Pribula — $7,500: A strong play in a favorable matchup against Florida State. He may go overlooked and offers useful rushing upside at a salary that keeps roster construction flexible.
Joseph — $7,500: I usually remove quarterbacks in Big Ten matchups because they can turn into low-scoring games, but Joseph is viable here at low ownership.
Brandon — $7,400: His team carries a 31-point implied total, and he has looked excellent as a freshman after entering college as the No. 2 overall recruit. Auburn’s high rate of man coverage can create rushing lanes for an athletic quarterback. At roughly 5% projected ownership, he is my favorite play on the slate.
LaNorris Sellers — $7,200: He is projecting for ownership, and the play is reasonable, though this feels more like a floor spot than a ceiling spot. Sellers will eventually post a 100-yard rushing game with multiple touchdowns; the question is whether this is the week.
Bryce Underwood — $6,900: Fade.
Ashton Daniels — $6,500: He scored nearly 40 DraftKings points against Alabama, so Virginia should not scare us away. The concern is passing efficiency and the associated volatility, even at a favorable salary.
Jenkins — $5,700: A viable salary-saving option in a pace-up matchup with Houston. If UCF is forced to play faster, Jenkins could produce a respectable score. I do not think punting quarterback is optimal this week, but he would be my first look if taking that route.
Running Back
Slate Approach
Paying up at quarterback makes running back difficult because there is no obvious punt value. Most of the midrange offers either strong usage in a difficult matchup or a slight committee lead in a better matchup. I am more willing to accept ownership here and prioritize the popular workload bets: Fuller ($7,200), Bothwell ($7,100) when not using Kamario, Flora ($6,300), Baxter ($6,000), and Kromah ($5,900).
Wide Receiver
Ceiling, Leverage, and Value
Jeremiah Smith: Smith is the best player in the nation and remains viable at any ownership. Last week’s 12-catch, 217-yard, four-touchdown eruption produced 60.7 DraftKings points and illustrates a ceiling no other receiver can comfortably match.
Ryan Coleman Williams: At roughly 5% projected ownership, Williams is the leverage target. He is $2,000 cheaper than Smith and is the only receiver on the slate with a plausible path toward a comparable ceiling. The hands remain a concern, but the price and ownership discount make the tournament case compelling.
Florida situation: Bailey Stockton at $3,600 is attracting ownership despite uncertainty about whether he will play or be limited. Even if WR1 Brown sits, Stockton may only rise to third in the pecking order. That news would more clearly benefit Wilson—expensive, but a strong GPP option—and Singleton, who would become one of the slate’s best values if confirmed for a full role.
Preferred values: Flores ($4,500), Darby ($4,200), Duce Robinson ($4,100), and Scott ($3,900).
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