This article is part of our FanDuel College Football series.
The following picks are for the early slate on FanDuel.
CASH GAME TARGETS
QUARTERBACK
Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky (at Indiana) - $8,900
Doughty is as bit more expensive than the comparable Gunner Kiel, but Doughty is in a matchup that should last all four quarters, whereas Kiel might be done at halftime against the RedHawks. Not only is Doughty in a favorable matchup in a game that projects to be high scoring, but WKU might be more pass-happy than ever with feature back Leon Allen (knee) out.
Honorable mention: Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati (at Miami, Ohio) - $8,200
RUNNING BACK
Jordan Howard, Indiana (vs. Western Kentucky) - $8,300
Howard was a beast for UAB in 2014, so his hot start at Indiana isn't exactly surprising. Still, it's good to see Howard not only hold his own in his first two games with the Hoosiers, but outright stomping Southern Illinois and Florida International for a combined 304 yards and three touchdowns on 47 carries (6.5 YPC). Howard ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns against Western Kentucky last year.
Honorable mention: Patrick Skov, Georgia Tech (vs. Notre Dame) - $5,200
WIDE RECEIVER
Ricky Jones, Indiana (vs. Western Kentucky) - $6,300
Jones appears to have established himself as Indiana's clear No. 1 wide receiver, totaling 11 receptions for 242 yards and a touchdown through Indiana's first two games. The Hoosiers are projected to score roughly 37 points in this home matchup, and if Jones' past percentages hold, that should equal a good day for him.
Honorable mention: Amara Darboh, Michigan (vs. UNLV) - $6,200
TIGHT END
Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky (at Indiana) - $3,700
Higbee has been Western Kentucky's top pass catcher through two weeks, totaling 11 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown. Part of that had to deal with the hamstring injury suffered by wideout Jared Dangerfield, but the season-ending knee injury to running back and target monster Leon Allen should stabilize Higbees role even as Dangerfield reacclimates.
TOURNAMENT-SPECIFIC TARGETS
QUARTERBACK
**Jeff Lockie, Oregon (vs. Georgia State) - $6,700
**Only if Vernon Adams (hand) is out. If Adams is out, though, Lockie would step as starter for a team that should score at 50 points if it has any interest in doing so.
RUNNNING BACK
D'Andre Ferby, Western Kentucky (at Indiana) - $6,000
Ferby is an unknown for the most part, as the former third-string runner will step in as starter with Leon Allen (knee) and Anthony Wales (hamstring) out. Still, at this price and on a team that should breeze past 30 points against one of the worst Power Five defenses, Ferby is at least worth some tournament shots.
WIDE RECEIVER
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky (at Indiana) - $6,100
Consistency isn't easy to find among Western Kentucky's receivers, but the hits can be quite big, and Taylor is heading into his best matchup of 2015 to this point. Not only is the Indiana defense historically unable to keep up with offenses of WKU's talent level, but Taylor could have access to more production than usual with Leon Allen (knee) out.
Honorable mention: Bug Howard, North Carolina (vs. Illinois) - $4,500
TIGHT END
Jake Butt, Michigan (vs. UNLV) - $3,400
Butt is probably at least as good of a player as Higbee, but I'm putting him in the tournament area just because Michigan will pummel UNLV and there might not be a ton of passing targets to go around. He still looks like the pretty clear No. 2-ranked tight end for this slate, however.
FADES
QUARTERBACK
Vernon Adams, Oregon (vs. Georgia State) - $8,400
Adams is questionable with a finger injury, but even if he suits up, this is probably a situation to avoid just because Oregon won't need him to win, and the game should get out of hand in a hurry. Georgia State's defense is among the worst even outside of the Power Five conferences, and it's generally bad policy to pick limited players who are unlikely to play more than two quarters.
RUNNING BACK
Terrell Newby, Nebraska (at Miami) - $7,700
Some might look at Newby's Week 2 boxscore and conclude he turned a corner, but I wouldn't. Totaling 236 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns is certainly an impressive boxscore, but it's important to remember Nebraska was playing South Alabama. In Week 1, against a mediocre BYU defense, Newby ran for just 43 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Miami's defense is better than BYU's, and Nebraska is on the road with a point projection of just roughly 27. I'd bet Tommy Armstrong runs for a touchdown before Newby does this week.
WIDE RECEIVER
Quinshad Davis, North Carolina (vs. Illinois) - $7,100
Davis is a good player in a favorable matchup, and he might actually be a worthwhile tournament gamble for those who can afford to input a lot of lineups, but I can't see the reason for paying up to this extent in a slate where players like Tajae Sharpe ($6,700), Aaron Burbridge ($6,500) and Dede Westbrook ($6,000) are available for less.
