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We'll kick things off in week four with a showdown between the Houston Cougars and Tulane Green Wave. Tulane is favored by five points and Vegas has set a 56 total. Tulane will do their best to slow things down and establish the run, while Houston will speed it up and primarily attack with the QB.
Showdown slates are all about strategy, so let's dive in and take this thing down! In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy college football lineup picks for the showdown slate of games on FanDuel and DraftKings on 9/19/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
Once again, FanDuel and DraftKings are taking a very different approach to college football. I'll be following a DraftKings baseline as it it a lot simpler, but I will try my best to include FD plays as well. If you can't find enough value, feel free to reach out on Twitter @VarneyDFS. I will be around all day to answer questions.
FanDuel, DraftKings DFS Captain
D’Eriq King - Houston - DK $17,100 FD $17,000
Even if Houston ends up losing this game, I don’t see anyone with the floor or ceiling of D’Eriq King. He could easily put up 30+ fantasy points and be an absolute must own at 75%+ ownership. There isn’t a single other player on the slate you can say that about. He also doesn’t hinder your ability to pay for anyone else, so there’s no real upside in the fade. This Houston offense hasn’t clicked just yet, but we know Dana Holgorsen is a QB savant and things looked a lot better last week. This Tulane defense is an average one and it’s fair to expect 20-30 fantasy points out of King. With that being said, there’s a reason he was the unanimous number one pick in CFB fantasy drafts. The upside is tremendous once this offense jives. Lock King into 100% of your captain spots and and hope he’s under 90% owned.
FanDuel, DraftKings DFS Safe Plays
Justin McMillan - Tulane - DK $8,400 FD $15,500
Tulane hopes that McMillan won’t have to throw the ball a ton, but it’s wishful thinking. In an ideal world, Tulane establishes the run and McMillan walks away with 20 passes and 200 yards. If Tulane falls behind at all, however, he will be asked to throw a lot more against a weak Houston pass defense. McMillan is a good QB and he’s shown the ability to go for 250+ through the air. He has a couple solid weapons on the outside and they can play with these corners. Tulane is a slight favorite in this game, and there’s not much salary restriction, so play both QB’s and move along.
Darius Bradwell - Tulane - DK $6,600 FD $9,000
Like I said, in an ideal world, Tulane establishes the run here and works it all game long. They are a slight favorite, so it’s not a pipe dream. If Bradwell can find the endzone early and give the Green Wave an early lead, he could have a big game. He’s not a bellcow back and we will see carries out of Dauphine and Jones, but Bradwell is the clear number one and he’s secured goal line work. He shouldn’t have any trouble picking up 50+ yards and a possible score against this weak defense.
Marquez Stevenson - Houston - DK $8,200 FD $13,000
Stevenson is your top option to pair with D’Eriq King. On full slates, King is a guy you can run naked as he doesn’t have a guy that constantly puts up 100+ yard games. With that being said, Marquez Stevenson is the clear WR1 and you have to plug him in there on a showdown slate. King will look his way all night long, and especially in a close game. He can get separation from any CB on this field and they could get him involved in the end-around game as well. You won’t find a lineup of mine without Stevenson on it.
Darnell Mooney - Tulane - DK $7,600 FD $12,000
This Tulane passing game hasn’t had a chance to go off yet, but this game against Houston is their best match-up yet. Jalen McCleskey has shown no threat to Darnell Mooney as the number one option on this offense. He’s seen seven catches to just two for McCleskey. Mooney is nearly guaranteed to catch five plus balls tonight and he should find the endzone is Tulane is forced to play from behind at all.
Keith Corbin - Houston - DK $7,000 FD $9,500
The number two option for King is Keith Corbin, who looked solid last week in the loss to Washington State (3 catches, 54 yards). It was the first time anyone outside of Stevenson made a difference on the outside, and King even targeted him on a few third downs. Tulane will have their eyes set on Stevenson, and Corbin could easily slide in there with a big TD grab.
DraftKings DFS Contrarian Plays
Kyle Porter - Houston - DK $6,200 FD $11,000
Porter has been getting the bulk of carries on this offense, and there is always a case to be made for a starting RB on a showdown slate that will be under owned. All it takes is one broken run and you’re in the money. Two and you’re in that top 5%. That goes for all of these guys. This is college football and one long score changes a showdown slate like crazy. Tulane isn’t bad against the run, but Houston will keep Porter involved on the ground and through the air. He’s not a bad play.
Jeremy Singleton - Houston - DK $3,000 FD $8,500
On DraftKings, I have a lot of Singleton as he opens up just about anything you want to do. He’s only reeled in one catch in each of their first two games, but he’s been out there for 68% of pass plays and was targeted twice in the red zone a week ago. With such a cheap price tag, all you need is a catch or two to pay off. If he happens to score, you will almost have to own him to have any chance.
Jalen McCleskey - Tulane - DK $5,600 FD $7,500
McCleskey hasn’t proven himself just yet, but we know he has the tools to be the best receiver on this offense. He’s a highly touted transfer from Oklahoma State, and was a five star recruit coming out of high school. McMillan hasn’t had a game where he’s needed to throw the ball, and he may find some chemistry with McCleskey once he does. His price is uber cheap on both sites and I don’t think you’re crazy to throw him in there with hopes that he and McMillan have some newfound chemistry. I certainly will.
