This article is part of our FantasyAces College Football series.
QB
Deshaun Watson – Clemson vs. North Carolina ($6,450)
Watson is the most expensive quarterback on the slate, but I think it's worth paying up for. Watson has been unreal in the past six weeks, not only passing at a high level (2,233 yards and 16 touchdowns in seven games), but averaging 79 yards and a touchdown per game on the ground, as well. North Carolina's pass defense has been solid this year, but it hasn't faced many tough tests – the two best passing offenses they've faced are probably Miami (FL) and North Carolina State – and starting safety Sam Smiley is out.
Chris Johnson – Baylor vs. Texas ($4,450)
Johnson was a disaster against TCU last week, but the unreasonable weather conditions almost have to be the reason for it. He completed 5-of-10 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while running for 42 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma State the week prior, and that was playing off the bench after Jarrett Stidham had already thrown 21 passes and ran seven times prior to his injury. In any case, getting the production of the Baylor quarterback position at a price this low is almost always a good policy.
Honorable mention: Brandon Doughty - Western Kentucky vs. Southern Mississippi ($5,900)
RB
Christian McCaffrey – Stanford at USC ($5,950)
Donnel Pumphrey is the other top consideration, but at the same price, I prefer McCaffrey just because the tempo of the SDSU-Air Force game could be at a crawl. While USC's run defense is competent, McCaffrey has shown he's basically matchup-proof with 2,075 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage, and 152 yards and one of those touchdowns were against USC earlier this year.
Anthony Wales – Western Kentucky vs. Southern Mississippi ($5,200)
D'Andre Ferby is definitely a nuisance, but the general rule is Western Kentucky gives Wales the ball when they're in a truly competitive situation. Playing in a conference championship game against an impressive Southern Mississippi squad gives reason to expect this game to be a busy one for Wales, who has so far been the most explosive Western Kentucky running back yet.
Honorable mention: Donnel Pumphrey – San Diego State vs. Air Force ($5,950), Shock Linwood - Baylor vs. Texas ($5,100), Wendell Smallwood - West Virginia at Kansas State ($5,050), Wayne Gallman - Clemson vs. North Carolina ($5,050), Ito Smith - Southern Mississippi at Western Kentucky ($4,650), Jalen Richard - Southern Mississippi at Western Kentucky ($4,600), Chris Warren – Texas at Baylor ($4,400)
WR
Taywan Taylor - Western Kentucky vs. Southern Mississippi ($5,400)
Taylor has 270 yards and four touchdowns in his last four games, yet he's been a disappointment in that stretch. Given how dominant he was in the first eight games, Taylor's modest four-game stretch appears to be the anomaly here. In a game that shouldn't be a blowout victory for Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers should lean on Taylor further into the game than they normally might have reason to.
Casey Martin – Southern Mississippi at Western Kentucky ($4,400)
Martin probably isn't much of a big-play threat, but he's the second wideout in a passing game that totaled 37 touchdowns in 12 games. Despite safely trailing lead receiver Mike Thomas in the yardage and touchdown categories, Martin has the team lead with 72 receptions, and his 819 yards and seven touchdowns are solid marks, too.
Honorable mention: Mike Thomas – Southern Mississippi at Western Kentucky ($5,300), Deon Cain – Clemson vs. North Carolina ($4,350), Mack Hollins - North Carolina at Clemson ($4,150), Ryan Switzer - North Carolina at Clemson ($4,050)
TE
Tyler Higbee – Western Kentucky vs. Southern Mississippi ($4,300)
In his first game back from a knee injury that cost him four games, Higbee caught six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Marshall defense last week. With 37 catches for 555 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games, Higbee is worth paying up for.
Honorable mention: George Kittle - Iowa vs. Michigan State ($3,700), Austin Hooper - Stanford at USC ($3,650), Jordan Leggett - Clemson vs. North Carolina ($3,550)
