I am going to dub this slate as “Put up or shut up” Saturday. We now have a two-game sample size to work with, as most teams have been active in both week 1 and week 2. There are a lot of players on this DraftKings slate who came into the season with hype and anticipation and have fallen short of expectations. Yet, DraftKings still has them priced up salary-wise with their peers who have performed well so far this season. So, this week is going to be about finding who can bounce back, i.e. who is going to put up the numbers that we need? Let’s dive in.
The Cougars’ signal-caller has not been one of the aforementioned players who has started this season off slow. He’s scored over 36 DraftKings points in both games so far. Now, Washington will be the toughest defense that he has faced, but Washington State is still implied to score 25 points in this one, and Mateer has massive rushing upside, evidenced by his 21 carries, 197-yard performance last week.
I think Garrett Greene is the slate’s perfect buy-low candidate. After opening up the season with a disappointing performance against Penn State, Greene rebounded against FCS Albany last week but still did not get priced up on DraftKings. This is a guy who had three 40 fantasy point performances last season, so we know that the upside is there. And Greene is a dual threat who will score a lot of his fantasy points with his legs, so there is no reason to feel the need to stack him with one of his pass-catchers.
Thomas Castellanos, Boston College, $7800
We might as well just start setting up a permanent residency for Desmond Reid in this section until DraftKings raises his price. The Pitt Panthers’ workhorse parlayed 25 touches into 43 DraftKings points against Cincinnati. This West Virginia defense got gashed to the tune of 222 yards by the Penn State ground game. Even if Pitt can not find that same success, Reid’s usage in the pass game makes him a safe play with upside.
Through no fault of his own, it’s been a quiet start to 2024 for Darius Taylor. The Star RB was injured in Minnesota’s week 1 loss to North Carolina, and did not play a full game against FCS Rhode Island. I think this is a great spot to buy low on Taylor, who was routinely priced much higher in 2023. The matchup with Nevada on paper is a good one, as I expect the Golden Gophers to have the advantage on the offensive and defensive lines.
Roydell Williams, Florida State, $5800
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, $5700
Through two weeks, the USC transfer has been the targets, receptions, and yards leader in the Tulane passing game. He has also topped 100 yards in both games but is yet to score a touchdown. I think this is a great spot to target Williams, as I expect Tulane to be trailing and looking to increase passing volume, and he is due for some positive touchdown regression.
Do you want to hear a stat that doesn’t sound true but is? In every game this season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys have allowed an opposing WR to top 150 receiving yards. Granted, this is a two-game sample, but when you consider that their opponents are run-happy South Dakota State and Arkansas, it gets even more impressive. Well, now Tulsa and Kamdyn Benjamin come to town. Benjamin is the clear WR1 in this Tulsa passing game with 18 targets so far on the season and has topped 23 DraftKings points in both games so far.
Will Pauling, Wisconsin, $5100
Konata Mumpfield, Pitt, $6000
Theo Wease Jr, Missouri, $6200 (if Luther Burden III is OUT)
Klare led all the Purdue pass-catchers in fantasy points in their first game. Also, with a tough matchup against Notre Dame looming, I could see a lot of targets going Klare’s way as the Purdue offense tries to get rid of the ball quick and avoid the Irish corners.
Roydell Williams HIGHER 11.05 fantasy points
Jeremiyah Love HIGHER 19.5 longest rush
Darian Mensah HIGHER 14.15 fantasy points
