College football DFS lineups for Week 6 should have clear spending targets at running back. The harder decision is choosing which expensive quarterback earns a spot.
Michael Hawkins Jr. tops my quarterback rankings in a West Virginia matchup that also puts Arizona’s Noah Fifita in play. Jamal Roberts costs less than several backs ranked behind him, while Kwazi Gilmer gives DraftKings players a cheap receiver with heavy volume.
The accompanying tables use my Week 6 positional rankings and the supplied DraftKings and FanDuel salaries.
MORE: College fantasy football Week 6 rankings: Jeremiah Smith, Jahiem White lead
Quarterbacks outlook
West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) warms up prior to their game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys | Ben Queen-Imagn ImagesHawkins is my top DraftKings spend at $9,000. He ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the 45-42 loss at Iowa State, and his 11 rushing touchdowns are tied for the FBS lead. Arizona allows only 100.5 rushing yards per game, but that scoring role keeps him atop my board.
Fifita is the natural stack partner at $8,900. Arizona’s quarterback leads the Big 12 with 13 touchdown passes and a 73.8% completion rate, and West Virginia allows 317.8 passing yards per game.
Trinidad Chambliss is the top FanDuel quarterback in this group at $12,000 and costs $8,700 on DraftKings. Ole Miss had a bye after its 52-28 loss to Florida, and Chambliss enters the Vanderbilt game with 1,222 passing yards and eight touchdowns. The Commodores allow 25.0 points per game.
Drew Mestemaker is the better FanDuel value at $10,600. He threw for a season-high 389 yards and three touchdowns against West Virginia before Oklahoma State’s bye. UCF ranks 27th nationally in pass-efficiency defense, so this is a tougher test, but a $1,400 discount from Chambliss is worth that risk.
MORE: College football prediction market picks, upset bets for Week 6
QB Plays – CFB DFS Week 6
Price
Rank
Player
Team
DraftKings
FanDuel
$$$
1
Michael Hawkins
WVU
$9,000
N/A
$$$
2
Trinidad Chambliss
MISS
$8,700
$12,000
$$$
6
Noah Fifita
ARI
$8,900
N/A
$$$
7
Avery Johnson
KSU
$8,300
$10,800
$$$
8
Conner Weigman
HOU
$8,600
$10,900
$$
12
Drew Mestemaker
OKST
$8,000
$10,600
$$
17
LaNorris Sellers
SC
$7,200
$10,200
$$
22
Anthony Colandrea
NEB
$7,900
$9,800
$
30
Rocco Becht
PSU
N/A
$9,400
$
38
Katin Houser
ILL
$7,000
N/A
Running backs outlook
Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard (20) reacts after scoring against the Tulane Green Wave | Zachary Taft-Imagn ImagesRoberts is the best value at the position at $7,500 on DraftKings and $9,200 on FanDuel. He ran 24 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns in Missouri’s 45-17 win over Florida, and he has become the focal point of the Tigers’ rushing attack with Ahmad Hardy out.
Roberts had 44 yards on 17 carries before two long second-half runs, and Texas A&M just held Arkansas to seven points. Still, a back ranked fourth at this price belongs in most DraftKings builds.
Nate Sheppard is the priciest back on my list at $9,700 on DraftKings, and he’s worth paying for. Duke’s lead back ranks third nationally with 644 rushing yards and has caught three touchdown passes. Georgia Tech allows 189 rushing yards per game, the 16th-worst mark in the country.
Sedrick Alexander is the cheapest back worth considering at $5,400 on DraftKings. Vanderbilt’s senior has scored in all but one game this season, including a 2-yard touchdown in the 38-14 loss to Georgia. Ole Miss spent its bye trying to fix missed tackles and explosive plays allowed, and Alexander’s goal-line role makes him a useful salary saver next to Sheppard.
MORE: College Football biggest risers & fallers after Week 5
RB Plays – CFB DFS Week 6
Price
Rank
Player
Team
DraftKings
FanDuel
$$$
4
Jamal Roberts
MIZ
$7,500
$9,200
$$$
5
Nate Sheppard
DUKE
$9,700
N/A
$$$
7
Jadan Baugh
FLA
$9,100
$11,200
$$$
8
Cam Cook
WVU
$8,900
N/A
$$$
9
Wayne Knight
UCLA
$8,000
$9,000
$$
10
Caleb Hawkins
OKST
$7,100
$8,500
$$
15
Matt Fuller
SC
$7,200
$8,600
$$
17
Ja’Kyrian Turner
PIT
$6,400
$7,700
$
30
Jordon Davison
ORE
$7,000
$7,200
$
31
Aneyas Williams
ND
N/A
$7,300
$
48
Mekhi Nelson
NEB
$5,200
$7,200
$
51
Sedrick Alexander
VAN
$5,400
$6,800
Wide receivers & tight ends outlook
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Luke Montgomery (51) | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Smith is the receiver to build around on FanDuel at $12,800. Ohio State’s star caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa for his second straight 200-yard game. Maryland allows 37.8 points per game.
Cayden Lee is my favorite DraftKings receiver in the upper tier at $6,900. He ranks WR4 and costs less than Deuce Alexander and Charlie Becker, who rank behind him. Lee caught eight passes for 110 yards against Florida, and pairing him with Roberts gives you both sides of Missouri’s offense.
Gilmer is the best cheap receiver on the board at $4,900 on DraftKings. The Nebraska wideout drew 18 targets and caught 11 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the 48-23 win over Maryland, his second straight 100-yard game. Indiana is a much tougher opponent, but that volume is rare at this price.
Patrick Overmyer is the tight end value at $4,900 on DraftKings and $6,700 on FanDuel. Houston’s tight end caught six passes for 76 yards against UCF and ranks TE2 in my rankings. Kansas State allows just 131.7 passing yards per game, so his case rests on a steady role rather than the matchup.
MORE: Jesse Legree chases history as Oregon State freshman WR trails only Jeremiah Smith
WR & TE Plays – CFB DFS Week 6
Price
Rank
Player
Position
Team
DraftKings
FanDuel
$$$
1
Jeremiah Smith
WR
OSU
N/A
$12,800
$$$
2
Collin Dixon
WR
ILL
$8,400
N/A
$$$
5
Deuce Alexander
WR
MISS
$7,900
$9,100
$$$
6
Charlie Becker
WR
IU
$7,600
$9,600
$$
4
Cayden Lee
WR
MIZ
$6,900
$8,500
$$
10
Justin Bowick
WR
OKST
$6,200
$7,300
$$
13
Wyatt Young
WR
OKST
$7,200
$7,900
$$
20
Amare Thomas
WR
HOU
$6,500
$8,000
$$
23
Junior Sherrill
WR
VAN
$5,700
$7,400
$$
24
Evan Stewart
WR
ORE
$6,000
$8,400
$
19
Kwazi Gilmer
WR
NEB
$4,900
$7,700
$
36
Isaiah Sategna
WR
OU
$5,900
$6,600
$
2
Patrick Overmyer
TE
HOU
$4,900
$6,700
$
4
Jelani Thurman
TE
UNC
$5,100
$6,000
$
7
Rocky Beers
TE
OU
$4,200
$6,300
$
8
Benjamin Brahmer
TE
PSU
N/A
$6,100
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.