DraftKings College Football DFS Breakdown
DraftKings is offering seven of the eight bowl games on tap for its main slate, and we'll begin our hunt for ideal selections by first looking at key injuries and opt-outs for all seven games. While we will touch on some great pivots in some of these circumstances, I'd analyze every depth chart where absences are mentioned to identify other plays that could be under the radar. We've also seen some last-minute opt-outs this season, so be sure to double and triple-check your lineups as games lock.
CFB Injuries and Opt-Outs for Saturday, December 27
Pinstripe Bowl: Clemson (-3) vs. Penn State O/U: 48.5
- Penn State's biggest offensive absence will be RB Nicholas Singleton, along with several notable defensive absences
- Clemson will be without 27 players, with most starters coming from the defense
- Notable offensive Clemson absences include WR Antonio Williams and WR Cole Turner
Fenway Bowl: Army (-9.5) vs. UConn
- A mass exodus is underway at UConn, with starting QB Joe Fagnano and RB Victor Rosa as the key offensive absences
Pop-Tarts Bowl: BYU (-3.5) vs. Georgia Tech O/U: 55.5
- There are very few issues in this game, but BYU RB LJ Martin (shoulder) will be absent
Arizona Bowl: Fresno State (-5.5) vs. Miami (OH) O/U: 41.5
- Miami QB Dequan Finn left the program in November
- Also, Miami WR Kam Perry will enter the transfer portal
New Mexico Bowl: North Texas (-5.5) vs. San Diego State O/U: 53.5
- Mostly clean, but SDSU will be without two starting DE
Gator Bowl: Missouri (-4) vs. Virginia O/U: 44.5
- Missouri QB Beau Pribula plans to enter the portal and will not play
- Missouri WR Joshua Manning is also entering the portal
Texas Bowl: Houston (-2.5) vs. LSU
- LSU Michael Van Buren will start with Garrett Nussmeier (abdomen) sidelined
- Most of LSU's absences are backups, but WR Aaron Anderson will opt out
College Football DFS Weather
Pinstripe Bowl: 50 percent chance of sleet/snow
New Mexico Bowl: 42 percent chance of rain
Arizona Bowl: 40 percent chance of rain
College Football DFS Tools
- College Football DFS Lineup Optimizer
- Matchups Page (Vegas odds, opponent averages, etc.)
- Advanced Lineups Page
- Stats
- Team Trends
- Targets
- Defense vs. Position
- Team Rankings
DraftKings CFB Bowl Game Plays for Saturday, December 27
Quarterback
Cale Hellums, 
Army ($8,200) vs. UConn
With so many defensive pieces absent for the Huskies, I predict a productive day for Hellums and the Blck Knights. Hellums isn't normally someone I would target, but the run-focused quarterbacks should be able to find open space against UConn's patchwork defense. Hellums' floor is also solid, with great running totals in almost every game this season.
Haynes King, 
Georgia Tech ($9.000) vs. BYU
King hit a wall against Georgia, but most teams have been unable to keep King in check, and he's the ideal QB candidate for this slate if you want to spend up. His offense is still intact, and although BYU is no slouch defensively, King's passing volume will offset any serious blunders. This game is also projected to be the highest-scoring contest on Saturday.
Also consider: Ethan Grunkemeyer, 
Penn State ($7,300) vs. Clemson, Matt Zollers, 
Missouri ($6,800) vs. Virginia
Running Back
Kaytron Allen, Penn State ($7,700) vs. Clemson
No Nick Singleton? No problem. Allen leapfrogged him as the top PSU back long ago, and he'll give the depleted Clemson defense serious headaches in Yankee Stadium. We've seen how bad Clemson looks when they send out the backups in a blowout. Most of them will be starting in this contest, and although Dabo Swinney will have the team fired up to make a statement, the potential inclement weather and an inability to stop Allen will hurt the Tigers in the worst way.
Lucky Sutton, 
San Diego State ($5,700) vs. North Texas
Most DFS players will go to UNT's standout freshman Caleb Hawkins ($9,500) in this game, but Sutton interests me more due to a cap-saving salary against a mediocre run defense. The junior has rushed for 1,232 yards and 10 touchdowns and is the heartbeat of the Aztecs' offense. This should be a high-scoring matchup, as neither defense is particularly special.
Ahmad Hardy, 
Missouri ($6,900) vs. Virginia
Hardy's salary is particularly surprising, and he comes in much lower than UVA's J'Mari Taylor ($8,300), whom I would be more inclined to go with if his salary were lower. Still, Hardy finished as one of the best running backs in the SEC, with 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns to his credit. UVA's run defense is strong, but I think Hardy's salary is too low to pass up.
Wide Receiver
Kevin Coleman, Missouri ($4,900) vs. Virginia
I'll gladly take Coleman at this low salary. You probably noticed Matt Zollers an honorable mention from me, and the 6-4 freshman showed that he has a cannon for an arm in limited appearances. While the Tigers will lean on Ahmad Hardy, Coleman will be in Zollers' sights often. The Cavaliers will be focused on containing the run, and I think Zollers could surprise them a few times.
Cameron Ross, 
Virginia ($4,000) vs. Missouri
Trell Harris (knee) is banged up and questionable, making Ross the next man up for Chandler Morris. Jahmal Edrine ($4,100) will also be viable if Harris remains out, but Ross looked great in the title game while dealing with a hamstring injury. One could argue that Edrine has the better floor, but a couple of weeks of rest gives Ross extra upside.
Kyle Parker, 
LSU ($3,600) vs. Houston
I'll continue the budget trend at wideout with Parker, who seems to have Michael Van Buren's confidence. The Tigers will have a couple of key wideouts absent, and the situation could lead to Parker's highest snap count of the season. I don't have much faith in Van Buren overall, but Parker is a sophomore who will get extra looks. If Parker scares you, Zavion Thomas ($4,200) is another LSU wideout to consider.
Also consider: Tristan Smith, Clemson ($3,900) vs. Penn State, Trebor Pena, Penn State ($4,400) vs. Clemson
