CFB FanDuel DFS Breakdown for Saturday, October 18
Shootout Potential (games featuring high implied totals on both sides)
Baylor (31.5) at TCU (34.0) - 65.5 Total
USC (25.5) at Notre Dame (35.0) - 60.5 Total
Georgia Tech (29.0) at Duke (31.5) - 60.5 Total
Texas A&M (33.0) at Arkansas (25.5) - 58.5 Total
Tennessee (25.0) at Alabama (33.5) - 58.5 Total
We have several games with shootout potential, where the spread is less than 10 and the game total is nearing the 60-point mark. There is definitely some potential this week to stack 2-3 games to account for most, if not all of your lineup, That said, college football DFS isn't as reliant on game stacking as the NFL side, where scoring can be at a premium.
Blowout Potential (Spreads 14.5-plus points)
Cincinnati (39.5) at Oklahoma State (18.0)
Ohio State (33.5) at Wisconsin (8.0)
These contests typically feature one team you're interested in taking, and that's definitely the case here. There isn't really anyone on either Oklahoma State or Wisconsin I'd be eyeing on the slate, but the two Ohio schools sport plenty of intriguing DFS options.
Other Noteworthy Implied Totals
Georgia (30.5)
Texas Tech (29.5)
Michigan (28.0)
College Football DFS Weather (winds 15+ MPH, precip. chance 50-plus percent and hot/cold temps noted)
Washington at Michigan - Significant chance for rain throughout, wind over 11-13 MPH as well
Texas A&M at Arkansas - Sizable rain chance for much of the game, plus winds 15-plus MPH
USC at Notre Dame - Significant rain chance throughout
Notable College Football Injuries/Absences for Week 8
QB
Sam Leavitt, Arizona State - Expected to return after missing last week
Behren Morton, Texas Tech - Questionable to suit up with a leg injury after missing last week, trending toward a GTD but likely not starting
Billy Edwards, Wisconsin - Hasn't played in a while, not holding my breath
Zane Flores, Oklahoma State - Won't start this week
RB
Justice Haynes, Michigan - Status unclear for Saturday
Jam Miller, Alabama - Deemed probable after suffering a concussion last week
DeSean Bishop, Tennessee - Probable to suit up following lower-body injury
Le'Veon Moss, Texas A&M - Set to miss significant time following ankle injury
Waymond Jordan, USC - Sidelined 4-to-6 weeks with an ankle injury
CJ Baxter, Texas - Doubtful to suit up this week
Darrion Dupree, Wisconsin - Was carted off last week due to injury, status unclear
Kanye Udoh, Arizona State - Probable to suit up after missing practice due to illness
Kyson Brown, Arizona State - Sidelined for foreseeable future with foot injury
WR
Joseph Manjack, TCU - Probable to suit up
Aaron Anderson, LSU - Probable to return this week after missing last week due to a knee issue
Ed Small, TCU - Questionable on availability report
Trech Kekahuna, Wisconsin - Left last week with an upper body injury, status unclear
Keontez Lewis, Oklahoma - Played last week after a scary injury two weeks ago. Status for Saturday uncertain
Jaden Greathouse, Notre Dame - Questionable to suit up against USC due to a thigh issue
Jalen Brown, Arkansas - Set for second straight absence due to leg issue
TE
None
College Football DFS Tools
- FanDuel Lineup Optimizer
- Matchups Page (Vegas odds, opponent averages, etc.)
- Advanced Lineups Page
- Stats
- Team Trends
- Targets
- Defense vs. Position
- Team Rankings
Week 8 CFB DFS Plays on FanDuel
Quarterback
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor ($12,000) at TCU
Robertson and the Bears are a slight underdog in this one, but they still sport an expected score of 31.5 for the contest. Robertson has thrown for north of 340 passing yards in the last two contests and four times through the team's first six games. He'll likely be called upon to repeat that feat in this one against a Horned Frogs defense that grades out 20th against the run (potentially stymying Bryson Washington and the ground game), while the coverage unit is only 53rd nationally and the pass rush is 125th. Robertson isn't affected much by pressure anyway, so that's largely a wash, but he's still a little better when the pocket is clean, and that should be more often than not in this one. The game script and the opposing defense match well for a big showing from Robertson.
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M ($10,600) at Arkansas
Reed sports one of the more favorable fantasy matchups for his quarterback type on the slate. His dual-threat ability should play well against a Razorbacks defensive unit that has yielded 294 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks through six games. On top of that, the coverage unit grades out 110th nationally, which bodes well for significant yardage through the air, especially with Le'Veon Moss ruled out for the remainder of 2025. The Aggies have a lot of star power through the air, and I expect Reed to find his wideouts time and again in this one. The wind and weather, however, is a slight concern, so it wouldn't surprise me to see Reed do a bit more on his own.
Arch Manning, Texas ($9,300) at Kentucky
Could this finally be the week Manning and the passing attack put up a big number? I'm not certain, but the matchup certainly portends to a pass-heavy approach. The Wildcats grade out 30th overall as a rush defensive unit, while the coverage unit ranks 106th nationally, matching up with the Wildcats' 8.3 yards per attempt allowed thus far. Kentucky has surrendered just 0.6 passing touchdowns per contest, anchoring the points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks (21.5) to a lower number than it probably should be. That dam is bound to break on both sides at some point, and this could be a matchup where a low roster rate provides a boost in GPP formats. This Texas wideout room is too talented to be held down forever.
Bonus: Will Hammond, Texas Tech ($8,600) at Arizona State - If he starts
Hammond isn't a guarantee to start, but if he does, he's more intriguing from a fantasy perspective than Morton ($8,600), who is much more of a statue in the pocket. Despite seeing the field for regular duties only here and there, Hammond has racked up 24 carries for 231 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He has yet to play a full game under center and still has four contests with 16.5 or more FD points. If he's starting, he's worth a look versus a Sun Devils defense that grades out just 85th nationally.
Running Back
The Top Dogs
Jeremiyah Love ($12,200) and Jadarian Price ($8,900), Notre Dame vs. USC
The Notre Dame offense runs through this backfield, and that should be the case even more so this week. The Trojans grade out well as a pass coverage unit, despite what the numbers say, ranking 23rd overall, while the run defense checks in 62nd in the country. Part of the numbers looking better for opposing passing attacks likely relates to the Trojans being ahead on the scoreboard most of the year. This game is expected to feature a different storyline, with the Fighting Irish favored by double digits. Love should see a hefty workload yet again Saturday, and Price should get his touches as well, and the raw stats of the matchup may deter some from taking the plunge on the hefty salaries.
Jam Miller, Alabama ($9,300) vs. Tennessee
Miller was an early departure from last week's contest against Missouri due to a concussion, but he's still handled 23 or more touches in each of the last two weeks. Next on the docket is a Vols defense that ranks 81st overall against the run, while the pass rush is among the top 10 in the country, and the coverage unit is 47th in the nation. While the passing attack is often a big part of the game plan, Miller and company in the backfield still get their fair share of touches, evidenced by Miller's involvement. Tennessee plays uptempo, so there should be plenty of opportunity for Miller to get involved here.
Nate Sheppard ($9,200) and Anderson Castle ($7,100), Duke vs. Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets' defense has been far from impressive this season, and the run defense is a particularly intriguing spot to target them. Sheppard has emerged from the pile to claim the clear lead role for the Blue Devils in the backfield and is coming off back-to-back two-touchdown contests. He should claim the lead role in this one as well, but Castle has also kept himself in the mix with a regular role, handling double-digit carries in the last three games and comes in at an extremely affordable rate.
Mid-Tier Targets
Jordan Marshall, Michigan ($8,700) vs. Washington - If Justice Haynes is out
Marshall handled a career-high 14 carries last week against USC and turned it into 68 yards, adding a catch for another 16 in the contest. With Haynes squarely in the questionable column after exiting last week, Marshall could be the absolute lead back here with a path to dominate the carries. The Huskies don't stand out anywhere on defense, but the rushing defense in particular doesn't grade out well. I'll take a stab at the backfield here with Marshall if the matcup allows
Kevorian Barnes, TCU ($8,500) vs. Baylor
In the two games since returning from injury, Barnes has yielded carry shares of 46 and 55 percent, while no other running back has topped 17 percent in either of the contests. That said, the carry shares only equate to a combined 28 totes over the contests. However, the defenses the Horned Frogs have faced (Kansas State and Colorado) have been about equal or worse at defending the pass than the run. That's not the case here. The Bears' pass coverage grades out in the top 20 nationally, and has yielded 7.2 yards per attempt and 1.3 passing touchdowns per contest. The run defense, per PFF, is all the way down at 85th in the land, and that's not surprising given the 4.3 yards per attempt, 177.2 rushing yards per game, and 2.0 rushing scores per contest it has surrendered. If the Horned Frogs lean on the ground game a bit more this week, Barnes should be the primary beneficiary and could put up sizable numbers for a squad with the third-highest implied score on the slate.
Rueben Owens, Texas A&M ($8,400) at Arkansas
Owens has a solid matchup on the schedule this week, and he's fresh off a pair of hefty workloads against Mississippi State and Florida the last pair of games, handling a combined 38 carries. With the news that Le'Veon Moss will miss the remainder of the season, the backfield should be Owens' to command. With Arkansas' defense similarly poor against the pass and the run and a little rain in forecast, it wouldn't shock me to see a heavy dose of Owens on the ground here. That said, the Aggies grade out slightly better as a pass-blocking unit, but the volume should still be there for Owens to potentially post his highest fantasy total of the season. That said, Owens should have a heavy roster percentage this week.
Bargain Options
J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech ($7,800) at Arizona State
Williams had the big game two weeks ago, but it was Cameron Dickey who exploded last week for the Red Raiders. That resulted in a major course correction in both salaries. While Dickey checks in with a $10,600 salary this week, Williams runs you almost $3,000 less. While Dickey's performance would seem to indicate the touches will head his way, it was Williams who handled 19 carries just two weeks ago and was the more efficient back. This seems to be a hot hand situation in the backfield, and I wouldn't count out Williams from claiming a heftier workload this week. The matchup isn't bad either, so I may take a shot at it and hope Williams puts out the upside that saw him tally 24.3 FD points in Week 6 against Houston.
King Miller, USC ($7,600) at Notre Dame
The USC backfield has been decimated by injuries the last couple of weeks, with Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders both expected to miss considerable time; the whole season in the case of Sanders. Miller stepped into the void atop the depth chart last week and exceeded any expectations, running for 158 yards and a touchdowns and catching two passes for 14 yards against Michigan, one of the better run defenses in the country. Notre Dame is also solid but not quite as good, and Miller's salary is still just starting to rise, so I think this is a spot where it's still putting him in lineups, because he should receive as much volume as he can handle.
Chauncey Bowens, Georgia ($6,300) vs. Ole Miss
In true Georgia fashion, the backfield continues to dole out carries to multiple backs, and Bowens handled only four last week against Auburn. However, he was productive before that, racking up 189 total rushing yards between the Kentucky and Alabama games the two weeks prior. The Ole Miss defense shapes up in a way where the opposition generally performs better on the ground, and the Dawgs are favored in this one, so I could see Bowens handling a larger carry share than usual and making something happen. Bowens already has two efforts of 17.6 or more FD points under his belt, and there should be some room to roam in this one.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Top Dog
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State ($11,000) at Wisconsin
I was looking for the best spot to insert a Buckeye, and Smith seems to be the spot where I land more often than not. The offense has ben spread around a decent amount lately, leading to a relatively mediocre stat total last week by Smith's standards (five catches for 42 yards and a TD). This week, though, he gets a Wisconsin defense that's been generally solid against the run but has struggled to contain opposing passing attacks, allowing 7.9 yards per pass attempt. Ryan Williams posted his best game of the 2025 season against this defense, racking up five catches for 165 yards and a pair of scores, and it wouldn't shock me if we see a big stat line from Smith here as well.
Mid-Tier Targets
Josh Cameron, Baylor ($8,200) at TCU
While Michael Trigg has been the star of the Bears' offense this season, something tells me this could be the week we see Cameron's name jump back into the limelight. Cameron steps up when big games are on the schedule and has some tantalizing upside in the right scenarios. In week 2 against SMU, Cameron delivered nine catches for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns for 29.6 FD points. While he may not match that total, I wouldn't leave a big performance off the table against a TCU defense that has been far more amicable to opposing passing offenses than the defensive front has been to running backs. Cameron is certainly capable of finding pay dirt multiple times, and I get the feeling this one could prove to be a shootout.
Kevin Coleman, Missouri ($7,400) at Auburn
Coleman sports a 26.3 percent target share on the year, and this week faces an Auburn pass defense that ranks among the top-five worst in all of college football. The tigers are only projected for 22.5 points in what's expected to be one of the lower-scoring contests on the slate, but we don't necessarily need to completely neglect the game. Auburn's defensive front is stingy against the run, so it wouldn't shock me if they turn to the passing attack more than usual in this one, and Coleman could see double-digit targets again Saturday.
Ja'Kobi Lane, USC ($7,100) at Notre Dame
While Makai Lemon is obviously the favorite target in this offense, Lane tallied his highest target total of the season (seven) last week versus Michigan. Notre Dame's secondary is beatable, and the game script is expecting to call for a heavy dose of the Trojans' passing attack. Lane was dealing with an injury for a bit that likely limited his upside a bit, but this could be a spot where he delivers on the promise that had many pegging him as a potential first-round receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. At this discounted rat, I think he's worth a shot if you're looking for a budget-saving WR on a team with high scoring potential.
Bargain Options
Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati ($5,500) at Oklahoma State
Caldwell is a cheaper alternative to some of the other wideouts in the Bearcats' receiving room, and there isn't really a ton to separate one from another. In fact, Caldwell has just two fewer targets than Cyrus Allen over the past three games, though he's only caught seven of his 17 targets in that span. This is a game where completions should come at a higher rate, which could bolster his output. Even without the efficiency, he turned in one of his better outings of the season last week versus UCF, nabbing a pair of touchdown passes.
Sam Jackson, Oklahoma State ($5,100) vs. Cincinnati
Jackson will start at quarterback for the Cowboys on Saturday. Need I say more? I understand that yielded negative points last week against Houston, so the upside here may be somewhat muted, but there is still something to be had, and you're getting a starting quarterback for your wide receiver slot at just a $5,100 price tag. It's worth a shot in at least GPP formats.
Javonnie Gibson, Oklahoma ($4,800) at South Carolina
This is just throwing something at the wall to see if it sticks. Gibson has a whole four targets to his name through his first two appearances after making it back from a broken leg. That said, Gibson showed major promise in the spring, and reports suggest that head coach Brent Venables indicated they want to get the ball in Gibson's hands. With Keontez Lewis expected to sit this one out, look for Gibson to move into the starting lineup, and there's a chance he delivers on the promise he showed in spring against a South Carolina defense that grades out 98th against the pass.
