This article is part of our DraftKings College Football series.
I need to open Week 6 by apologizing to the players listed in this column over the first five weeks. I understand that injuries are part of the game, and that this season has been ripe with serious setbacks. But Tulsa wide receiver Keevan Lucas became the second player to be lost for the season that has been featured here, joining Notre Dame's Malik Zaire, while Arkansas' Keon Hatcher and Wisconsin's Corey Clement have missed significant time and Iowa's Leshun Daniels lost his job due to an ankle injury. So, if you're playing against guys listed below in a season-long league, you can thank me for the pending curse I'm about to set forth.
DraftKings' Week 6 slate features 17 games; unfortunately, there are a plethora of struggling or limited offenses facing a lot of sound defenses. Six games check in with an over/under total below 50, highlighted by the ridiculously low total of 35 for Michigan-Northwestern.
QUARTERBACK
Cardale Jones, Ohio State (vs.Maryland) - $6,900
It very well could be now or never for the struggling Jones. He's has just two games with at least 20 fantasy points and has combined for 16.28 in his other three. After rushing for 99 yards in the season opener against Virginia Tech, Jones has combined for 28 yards on the ground and has five interceptions and four fumbles. Maryland's pass defense has been hit or miss, allowing 249.6 yards per game, though only two opponents have topped that number. The Terps have allowed 12 touchdowns on the year, but 10 of them have come in the last two games, and they have just five interceptions. The stats don't suggest Jones rebounds, and the game's total is just 48 points, but it just has the feel of a get-well game for the Buckeyes, and Jones is likely to have very low ownership.
DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame (vs. Navy) - $6,200
Kizer represents the exact opposite of Jones. He's priced below his value, having produced 60.32 points in his last two outings, and as such, he's likely going to be a popular selection. The concerns I have for Kizer are built around Navy's triple-option offense. Though the Irish had a game plan that was nearly perfect against a similar style from Georgia Tech three weeks ago, the fact is the constant running limits opponent possessions. Kizer managed to throw 30 passes against the Jackets, but he had just one score. He's had six in the last two games, and if he can get off another 30 passes Saturday, I like his chances to produce.
Others to consider:Tommy Armstrong, Nebraska (vs. Wisconsin) - $6,300; Christian Hackenberg, Penn State (vs. Indiana) - $5,900
RUNNING BACK
Johnny Jefferson, Baylor (at Kansas) - $4,500
Through five weeks, I've yet to find a great reason to truly splurge at running back. Jefferson is a gamble, as he'll share carries two or three ways. But this is a game where Baylor could score 100 points if they wanted to. You have to think Shock Linwood is out of his pads midway through, and Jefferson uses some garbage-time handoffs to pad his stats. He's had between nine and 12 carries in three straight while scoring in each of those games, and the Jayhawks should allow that streak to extend to four.
Shannon Brooks, Minnesota (at Purdue) - $3,600
Brooks has taken over as my cheap pick waiting to explode, replacing Virginia Tech's Travone McMillian. The Gophers have questions at quarterback, making it easy to assume a higher emphasis on the run game. While Rodney Smith remains the starter, Brooks has gotten 20 carries to Smith's 27 in the last two weeks, averaging 5.75 yards per carry and scoring twice. He'll face a Boilermaker rush defense that has allowed eight rushing touchdowns in their last three games, while opponents made a concerted effort to attack on the ground, averaging 45.3 attempts per game.
Wayne Gallman, Clemson (vs. Georgia Tech) - $5,800
I guess Gallman needs to score more touchdowns to get more love in the fantasy community because he continues to show lower than average ownership at a modest price, while steadily churning out solid yardage on big carry numbers. He hasn't scored in two weeks, but Gallman has 46 carries for 237 yards over that span. The shortened game against Georigia Tech scares me some, so maybe he doesn't see 20 totes Saturday, but the Jackets have allowed 6.2 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns on the ground in their last three games.
Others to consider:Nick Scott, Penn State (vs. Indiana) - $4,300; Qadree Ollison, Pittsburgh (vs. Virginia) - $5,200; Markell Jones, Purdue (vs. Minnesota) - $4,600; Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Illinois (at Iowa) - $4,500;
WIDE RECEIVER
Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma (vs. Texas) – $4,500
Westbrook has 10 catches for 188 yards in his last two games. He hasn't scored since Week 1, but the Sooners' passing game has a huge opportunity for production against a terrible Longhorns secondary. Texas has allowed an average of 296.63 yards through the air and scored a total of 16 touchdowns. Westbrook may not be the only Sooner receiver to get his Saturday, and mixing in quarterback Baker Mayfield ($8,000) makes a lot of sense.
Marken Michel, Massachusetts (at Bowling Green) - $4,200
While Tajae Sharpe gets all the publicity in fantasy circles for the Minutemen, and rightfully so, Michel has quietly emerged as a reliable second option. He's increased his catch total each week, from four in Week 2 to seven last week when he exploded for 113 yards and two touchdowns. This game has the highest total in this slate at 78.5, and Michel is a very cheap way to get a piece of that action.
Ricky Jeune, Georgia Tech (at Clemson) - $3,100
Jeune has seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. In this offense, he's always going to be a risk to put up a goose egg, and while unlikely to the the Tigers' strategy, he could be shadowed by future first-round pick CB Mackenzie Alexander. The Jackets rushing attack has struggled, forcing more passes and they've also played from behind far too often for their style. Jeune has a sound chance to grab a few jump balls, while possibly scoring.
Others to consider:De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska (vs. Wisconsin) - $3,000; Michael Thomas, Ohio State (vs. Maryland) - $4,700; Canaan Severin, Virginia (at Pittsburgh) - $4,300
MY ENTRY
QB – Blake Frohnapfel, Massachusetts (at Bowling Green) - $7,500
QB – Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (vs. Texas) - $8,000
RB – Travis Greene, Bowling Green (vs. Massachusetts) - $5,600
RB – Johnny Jefferson, Baylor (at Kansas) - $4,500
WR – Jared Dangerfield, Western Kentucky (vs. Middle Tennessee) - $6,100
WR – Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky (vs. Middle Tennessee) - $6,000
WR – Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma (vs. Texas) - $4,500
Flex – Shannon Brooks, RB, Minnesota (at Purdue) - $3,600
Flex – Marken Michel, Massachusetts (at Bowling Green) - $4,200
I'm going stack-heavy this week, pairing two top quarterbacks with two lower priced receivers, while doubling up on Western Kentucky receivers with their quarterback, Brandon Doughty, checking in as the highest priced signal caller. Frohnapfel has topped 350 yards in two games against a sound Temple defense and FIU, and Bowling Green has allowed at least 348 yards through the air in their last three games.
I initially had Cardale Jones in Frohnapfel's place while spending for a perceived sure thing at running back in Iowa's Jordan Canzeri ($6,200). The upgrade of $600 felt worth it for Frohnapfel and while my initial running back target was Clemson's Wayne Gallman, Greene was a very nice consolation price for my remaining budget. With a little luck on Brooks and Jefferson, this roster has some big scoring upside.
