College Football DFS: Army vs. Navy Showdown Slate

The Army-Navy football game is truly a showcase game. That true even this year when Army is 8-3 and Navy is 3-8. They get to play as the sole matchup taking place, a rivalry over a century old put in the spotlight. If you love college football, you're watching this game. Also, if you like playing DFS college football, you are focused on this matchup as well.

Both DraftKings and FanDuel are offering showdown competitions. They have similar rules. With DraftKings, you have a captain that is worth 1.5 times the points. FanDuel calls this player your MVP, but the rest is the same. However, with DraftKings you have to choose five flex players, while with FanDuel you choose four. You get $50,000 for DK and $60,000 for FD. Also, with DraftKings your captain's salary is inflated, while with FanDuel the MVP's salary is the same.

The only injury of note is Army's fullback Anthony Adkins, who missed the Liberty game with an undisclosed issue. He's questionable for this game.

I've decided to select six players from this matchup that I like, starting with the player I would choose as my captain/MVP.

Jakobi Buchanan, RB, Army ($13,500 FD/$15,600 DK): I should note $15,600 is Buchanan's captain's salary on DraftKings. I'm taking him as my captain/MVP, but if you don't his salary is $10,400 on DK. This is, obviously, a matchup that is all about the run. Thus, it's also a matchup that comes down to run defenses. Army ranks 12th in rushing yards allowed per game, fourth in rushing first downs allowed per game, and 42nd in rushing yards allowed per attempt. Navy, meanwhile, ranks 32nd, 30th, and 57th in those categories.

That is to say, I am favoring Army in this matchup, and Buchanan is on top of the Black Knights' depth chart. He's also coming off his best game of the season, having rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries on the road against Liberty. Overall, he has 11 scores this year.

Tai Lavatai, QB, Navy    ($13,000 FD/$10,000 DK): Lavatai missed a little time this season, but all in all he's been the primary quarterback for the Midshipmen. His passing numbers are, of course, unremarkable, as he attempted 55 passes all season (five of which went for a touchdown). He also carried the ball 150 times, second-most on the team, so clearly Lavatai is the focal point of this offense. It's not an easy matchup, but I don't want to go all Army players.

Tyrell Robinson, RB, Army  ($12,500 FD/$8,000 DK): There are players that plod their ways to yards, and then there is Robinson. He leads the Black Knights with 582 rushing yards even though he's only carried the ball 59 times. That means he's averaged 9.9 yards per carry. The only knock on him is the fact he only has three touchdowns, but Navy has allowed 29.6 points per game this season.

Carlinos Acie, RB, Navy ($9,000 FD/$7,000 DK): Acie is my upside play from the Midshipmen. He only carried the ball 57 times this year, but he averaged 9.6 yards per carry. That's why he's second on the team in rushing yards. Acie is also coming off his best two games of the season. He rushed 16 times for 241 yards and two touchdowns.

Tyson Riley, RB, Army    ($7,500 FD/$3,000 DK): Is there a low-salary player that might be worth a shot? I think Riley has the potential. He's carried the ball 37 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns this season. However, over the last three games, he has 22 carries for 116 yards and a score. Hey, at this salary it won't cost you much to take a shot on him, and you aren't going to be able to get all the key ball handlers on your roster for this one.

Bijan Nichols, K, Navy    ($4,400 DK): This is for DraftKings only, since FanDuel doesn't include kickers. Army has attempted all of eight field goals all year. Nichols has attempted 17, and he's made 14 of them. He's perfect under 40 yards and has made a 50-yarder this season.  Nichols is also perfect on extra points. It's more likely Navy will be kicking field goals in this one, and Nichols has proven fairly reliable.