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After a long offseason, we are back with a small taste of college football in Week 0! Our Week 0 rankings will look a bit different than most weeks as there are only three games on the slate. All three games are also supposed to be a bit one-sided as they all feature spreads of at least 9.5 or higher.
This is likely to mean that the passing games are a bit underused in Week 0, while the focus of your fantasy slate should be on the quarterback and running games.
Also of note, the first week or two of the season can be incredibly tough to gauge and new players, coaches, and limited roster news can send shockwaves through the DFS world in the early weeks.
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Week 0 CFB DFS Quarterback Rankings
Top Cash game option: Tommy Mellott
Mellott may not be a household name as he comes from an FCS team, but his production should pop off the page. He plays a Tim Tebow-esque game in that he is a solid passer, but makes the most noise on the ground. Last year, he had five games with 10+ rushing attempts and should be in a smash spot as a -9.5-point favorite on the road.
𝙏𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙔 𝙏𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀𝘿 𝙊𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙅𝙀𝙏𝙎 ✌️⚡️@Tommy_Mellott | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/qwBA53Umag
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 2, 2023
Top GPP option: Preston Stone
Stone will be commanding the team with the highest team total this weekend and has shown the ability to put up big numbers in the past. Last season, he had eight games over 23 fantasy points, including three over 30.
There is certainly some risk of blowout here, as SMU is a massive favorite, but coming off an injury, the coaching staff might let Stone go a bit longer in this one to get his game legs under him.
Quarterback seems fairly stable for this slate as we seem to know all of the starters going into Week 0. Brendon Lewis and Devon Dampier seem like high-risk/low-reward plays, while DJ Uiagalelei is likely to not have a huge game in a new system.
Haynes King is a solid player who put up a few monster games last year but will also be likely facing the toughest defense on the slate, and a game overseas can often lead to some issues in the passing game.
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Week 0 CFB DFS Running Back Rankings
Top Cash game option: Lawrance Toafili
The Seminoles backfield will likely be a bit crowded during the year, but in Week 0, I would lean toward the returning player in Toafili as opposed to the transfer in Roydell Williams.
Toafili only had one game with double-digit carries last year but mixed in 21 receptions to provide a nice fantasy floor. In what may be a tight game, look for the Noles to lean on their known quantity at running back.
Top GPP option: Scottre Humphrey
Much like Florida State, the Montana State backfield looks to be quite crowded. Along with Mellott and Julius Davis, Humphrey should be in the mix for a nice workload. He ended last year going over 14 fantasy points in three of four games and was leaned on heavily in the playoffs. As a low-owned option, Humphrey can open up a poor New Mexico defense.
Running back feels like the best place to land for your flex and possibly even super flex positions this week. If you want to get different in a GPP, pairing Toafili with Alabama transfer Roydell Williams could give you a very unique build that has plenty of upside.
Jamal Haynes is also an interesting pick for Georgia Tech if you are not using Haynes King in a quarterback spot, as the lead back had six games over 15 fantasy points last season.
With SMU likely to score the most points on the slate, its stable of backs is worth a look. Jaylan Knighton, LJ Johnson Jr., and Camar Wheaton have all flashed major upsides; however, knowing which will get the work or the goal-line carries appears to be a mystery.
Week 0 CFB DFS Wide Receiver Rankings
Top Cash game option: RJ Maryland
This is not an exciting pick, as picking a tight end is generally not used in CSFB DFS, but on a short slate, Maryland is one of the safest options on the board at his price. He had multiple receptions in every game except one last year and came away with seven touchdowns. With a high team total, it is a good idea to secure some points with Maryland in cash games.
Top GPP option: Eric Singleton Jr.
Singleton Jr. is our pick for GPPs this week as has the best combination of potential game script as well as elite quarterback play. He started last year hot with touchdowns in the team's first five games but cooled off late.
In a game that the Yellow Jackets are likely to be trailing, Singleton could see an expanded target share after hauling in 48 receptions last season. If he happens to get in the end zone twice, he could be the key to a GPP-winning lineup.
Admittedly, this has been a tough group to sort through due to the style of games that seems likely to play out. Florida State is a sizeable favorite and is working with a new, albeit experienced, quarterback, while also having lost its star receiver in Keon Coleman.
Montana State is also a decent favorite and would much prefer to run the ball, which leaves SMU as the top passing attack amongst the favorites.
Preston Stone has a ton of ability at quarterback, and with a hefty team total, it seems likely one of his receivers has a big day, but picking that one may be tough. RJ Maryland is the likely safest pick, but tight end has limited upside, whereas Moochie Dixon is a price saver who could go off for a huge game.
When looking at the underdogs, it might be tough sledding to find a consistent threat outside. Our best bet may lie with Eric Singleton Jr. and Malik Rutherford from Georgia Tech. They both have flashed some upside and have a capable quarterback getting them the ball.
Meanwhile, with New Mexico and Nevada having quarterbacks who have shown very little in their career in the passing department, any receivers for their teams would truly be gambles. Caleb Medford showed us a bit at the end of last year, but with a new coach in place, it will be hard to know how their group fits in this year.
Overall, this group of receivers is not safe for cash games and is a bit of a hope when it comes to GPPs.
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