Daily Fantasy College Football Week 14: DraftKings Value Guide and Top Sleepers
Week 14 of the daily fantasy college football slate on DraftKings features conference championships and the final regular-season outing for a few programs in the Big 12.
Every DFS participant is on the prowl for value plays and sleepers. Use the following information as a guide to locating the low-priced options on Saturday.
Factors used to compile this list were matchups, trends and recent performances, while players in the mid-to-lower tiers of prices at their respective position were the main focus.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Tyrone Swoopes, QB, Texas ($5,800)
While Greg Ward Jr. and Chris Johnson are appealing dual-threat quarterbacks, Tyrone Swoopes is an appealing second choice.
Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News reported Swoopes will be the starter over Jerrod Heard, whose status is in question due to concussion symptoms:
Swoopes stepped in against Texas Tech and assembled a productive two-plus quarters. The junior still tallied 98 yards and two touchdowns even though Chris Warren III racked up 276 yards and four scores.
Baylor has a better defense than it's typically given credit for, but Joe Hubener and Baker Mayfield both found running room against the Bears, while Trevone Boykin and J.W. Walsh each recorded a touchdown.
Swoopes' performance should be a happy medium compared to those four.
Projection: 138 pass YDS, 1 TD; 68 rush YDS, 2 TD
Justin Davis, RB, USC ($5,100)
USC is looking for revenge, and Justin Davis should be a key contributor for a revitalized Trojans run-first offense under now-permanent head coach Clay Helton.
"With all the physicalness that we're bringing, I'm having a great time now," Davis said, per Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times. "The one thing [Helton] preaches to us is downhill running the ball. We're going to come right at you and you guys are going to have to stop us."
Ronald Jones II is also a factor in the backfield, but Davis has led USC in rushing yards during the last three contests—including a pair of 130-plus-yard outputs over the last two games.
Stanford has struggled to stop the run recently, surrendering 231 yards and three touchdowns to Oregon as well as 299 and two against Notre Dame. Expect Davis to lead the way for the Trojans.
Projection: 83 rush YDS, 1 TD; 3 REC, 28 YDS
Gerald Holmes, RB, Michigan State ($4,500)
Slowly but surely, opponents have started to post better numbers against a solid Iowa defensive front.
After allowing 74.1 yards and one total touchdown during the first seven games, the Hawkeyes have ceded an average of 160.2 yards and eight combined scores since October 31.
Gerald Holmes has earned the starting job at Michigan State and capitalized on the opportunity, notching a touchdown in five consecutive games.
His trend meshes perfectly with Iowa's not-so-great recent defense, particularly in the red zone. Holmes should receive at least 15 carries and reach the end zone while saving your lineup a little cap space for big-name wideouts.
Projection: 78 rush YDS, 2 TD; 2 REC, 18 YDS
Jay Lee, WR, Baylor ($4,700)
One of the biggest boom-or-bust fantasy players, Jay Lee presents a major risk yet offers a tantalizing upside.
He only caught one pass for seven yards last week during the rain-soaked tilt between Baylor and TCU. Consequently, Lee should have a low ownership rate on Saturday.
Additionally, he's recorded at least 14.9 points in four of five games at McLane Stadium. Lee failed to reach the mark three times on the road.
Texas allowed five passes of 30-plus-yards to Texas Tech, and Baylor runs a similar vertical-focused offensive attack. Lee is poised to be the beneficiary of a suspect secondary.
Projection: 4 REC, 104 YDS, 1 TD
Matt VandeBerg, WR, Iowa ($4,000)
In 2014, it was basically impossible to trust a receiver lining up opposite the Michigan State secondary. This year, that's a matchup to exploit.
Matt VandeBerg is Iowa's go-to receiver, and he can still thrive without ripping off explosive gains. Penn State's Chris Godwin tallied 11 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns on the Spartans despite registering a long reception of just 21 yards.
Plus, the Hawkeyes are likely to encounter a stiff test when running the ball. MSU's run defense is typically better prepared for big games, evidenced by the strong outing at Michigan and dominant day at Ohio State.
VandeBerg's best performances came against the team's best competition—Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Minnesota. The offense was forced to pass in those games.
How trendy of him.
Projection: 6 REC, 81 YDS, 1 TD
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Follow Bleacher Report CFB and DFS writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
