Daily Fantasy College Football Week 4: DraftKings Optimum Lineup, Matchup Advice
For daily fantasy college football owners heading into Week 4, things aren't getting any easier.
Most major programs are getting out of the early season cupcake contests against lesser opposition, games that amount to exhibitions, and into the serious meat of the schedule.
With any luck, owners used the first few weeks of the season to build up a solid bankroll. If not, there are still some great matchups to exploit in Week 4. Whether it's a sleeper stepping up to a miserable defense, a quarterback assuming the lead role or something else, there are various avenues to an optimal DraftKings lineup this weekend.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Below, let's build the lineup with the thickest of Saturday's action.
DraftKings Optimum Week 4 Lineup
| QB | Skyler Howard (WVU) | MD | 27.7 | $6,800 |
| QB | David Blough (PUR) | BGSU | 0.3 | $6,700 |
| RB | De'Veon Smith (MICH) | BYU | 19.0 | $6,200 |
| RB | Chris Carson (OKST) | UT | 16.9 | $5,400 |
| WR | Reginald Davis (TT) | TCU | 18.4 | $4,900 |
| WR | Roger Lewis (BGSU) | PUR | 37.0 | $7,700 |
| WR | Cam Serigne (WF) | IU | 10.5 | $3,900 |
| FLEX | Ty Isaac (MICH) | BYU | 9.4 | $4,300 |
| FLEX | Jovon Durante (WVU) | MD | 21.6 | $3,900 |
Only Saturday games (12 p.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET) listed.
QBs
Skyler Howard ($6,800)
No need to spend big at quarterback when this sort of opportunity presents itself.
West Virginia's Skyler Howard is on fire, scoring 26.06 and 29.32 points in his first two games, orchestrating the efficient attack with the utmost of ease. He gets woeful Maryland next in a contest Las Vegas has at an over-under of 57.
In Week 2, the Maryland defense surrendered 491 passing yards to Bowling Green, owners of another efficient attack. At home after a week off, Howard's 72.5 completion percentage and five touchdowns only figure to climb against the Terrapins.
David Blough ($6,700)
It's David Blough time for Purdue.
The highly regarded freshman doesn't have any pertinent stats of note, but it's no reason for owners to shy away. The Boilermakers want to get away from the turnover-happy Austin Appleby and happen to do so at just the right time.
The Boilermakers are dogs in this weekend's encounter with Bowling Green—a game with an over-under of 75. In other words, Blough will take to the air early and often, giving owners plenty of chances at solid production while playing from behind.
The Bowling Green defense has surrendered a minimum of two touchdowns to quarterbacks per game through three contests so far while forcing just one interception. There's not a better time for Purdue to get the freshman under center.
Ditto for owners.
RBs
De'Veon Smith ($6,200)
Michigan's De'Veon Smith has 206 yards and three scores on a 3.9 per-carry average through three games, but he figures to match his 4.8 average from 2014 sooner rather than later.
It helps that Smith next gets BYU. Not only are the Wolverines favored and figure to want to run the ball most of the day, the BYU defense has surrendered 486 rushing yards and five touchdowns in three games.
As the lead back, Smith has already hit 50 percent of his touchdown total (six) from last season. It wouldn't be a shock to see him add a few Saturday against a defense struggling to contain stables of backs.
Chris Carson ($5,400)
Last week, Oklahoma State back Chris Carson broke out against Texas-San Antonio with 104 yards and two scores on just 17 carries, good for 26.8 points.
Carson won't reach such gaudy totals each week, but Saturday wouldn't be such a bad wager for him to post similar numbers. He's on the favored team against Texas with an over-under of 61.
It's not hard to see why—just look at how Texas has performed against the rush:
| Notre Dame | 52 | 214 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Rice | 58 | 228 | 3.9 | 2 |
| California | 41 | 280 | 6.8 | 3 |
On second thought, maybe Carson can one-up himself the very next week against a weak defense.
WRs
Reginald Davis ($4,900)
This is an incredible price for a guy coming off a 31.5-point outburst.
In fact, it's safe to say Texas Tech wideout Reginald Davis has arrived—he's posted 5.3, 18.3 and 31.5 points through three games.
The numbers will taper off a bit, of course, but Davis is now a mainstay in a pass-happy attack heading into a game with a ridiculous over-under of 80.5 points and his team is an underdog by a touchdown.
Considering the TCU defense just gave up 330 receiving yards and a score to wideouts, not to mention 37 total points, Davis is an outstanding add to any lineup.
Roger Lewis ($7,700)
Of course, it's silly to skimp on Bowling Green weapons any week now, but it's especially silly to skip on wideout Roger Lewis.
In three games, Lewis has 510 yards and five scores on 24 catches. Or in fantasy terms, he's scored 6.9, 50.0 and 54.1 points. Now he gets Purdue, which has allowed more than 40 points twice and four touchdowns to pass-catching targets.
By the time Lewis finishes with Purdue, he's prone to be even more expensive. Ride the waves before they subside, folks.
Cam Serigne ($3,900)
In a pinch, Wake Forest's Cam Serigne is a nice value buy as he continues to work his way up the food chain in the Demon Deacons offense.
The sophomore started the season with three catches apiece in two games with one touchdown before five grabs for 50 in his last outing. He figures to do plenty of damage against Indiana in a contest with an over-under of 56 with his team the underdogs.
Indiana can't help but give up massive numbers through the air:
| S Illinois | 24 | 411 | 17.1 | 4 |
| FIU | 24 | 283 | 11.8 | 3 |
| W Kentucky | 35 | 484 | 13.8 | 3 |
Look for Serigne to post the biggest game of his season yet given the circumstances.
Flex
Ty Isaac ($4,300)
Feel free to ride the coattails of other Michigan players given the obvious strengths of the matchup against BYU.
Ty Isaac would be another cost-effective name to know, especially after a Week 3 outburst in which he posted 20.4 points against UNLV, gaining 114 yards and a score on just eight carries.
Issac won't always have such a great opportunity for splash plays such as a 76-yard scamper, but it's hard to fathom the coaching staff doesn't give him similar usage or that he won't break off nice runs against a miserable defense.
Jovon Durante ($3,900)
It's always advisable to look for quarterback-wideout stacks if the matchup is right and Las Vegas gives the right hints.
Such is the case with Howard and wideout Jovon Durante, who in two games has 10 grabs for 181 yards and two scores, going for 24.1 and 19.0 points in the process.
Durante, despite being a true freshman, is one of the sport's rising stars in the confines of the West Virginia offense. He's the type of weapon who can score from anywhere on the field and is an especially smart play against the leaking Maryland defense.
With this lineup, owners double benefit when Howard and his new favorite wideout hook up.
Pricing information and scoring data obtained from DraftKings.com. Odds via Odds Shark.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
