College Football Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 12/24/19
Christmas Eve brings us a one-game slate on the college football schedule, with Brigham Young taking on Hawaii in the the Hawaii Bowl. With the total set at 64 points and BYU favored by just two, there should be plenty of fantasy points available.
If you're new to the single-game format, you'll select one player from this game as your MVP. The fantasy points accumulated with this selection will earn 1.5 times his total fantasy points. You'll then select four other players who earn fantasy points at the standard rate.
In this preview, I'll break down the top MVP candidates -- who should also be used in the normal slots if not selected as your MVP -- while also highlighting some others who should be in consideration for the flex position. All references to betting totals and spreads are from the NCAAF odds.
MVP Candidates
QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii ($16,000) -- BYU's defense surrendered just 14.5 points per game to opposing starting quarterbacks this season, but Cole McDonald should be considered a near matchup-proof fantasy weapon. McDonald scored at least 20 points in 10 of 13 games this year, making him the safest selection for the MVP slot.
QB Zach Wilson, BYU ($14,000) -- If you're looking to fade McDonald, who will likely have high MVP ownership, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is the next most logical choice. Hawaii's defense has surrendered at least 20 points to six different starting quarterbacks. Wilson's average fantasy performance (16.97 points) doesn't due justice to his potential, as he faced a tough schedule which was shortened by injuries. Wilson was held do just 10.6 fantasy points against Utah and 13.5 against San Diego State, but demonstrated his potential against weaker defenses with 24.1 points against USC and 29 against Massachusetts.
WR Cedric Byrd, Hawaii ($13,500) -- The quarterbacks are the obvious MVP candidates, but a reasonable third option is Hawaii receiver Cedric Byrd, who finished second in the nation with 149 targets, according to Sports Info Solutions. The one concern for Byrd in this matchup is BYU's success defending the slot, where Byrd primarily lines up. According to Sports Info Solutions, BYU is allowing just 5.99 yards per target to slot receivers, the seventh lowest rate in the nation.
Flex Options
WR Jason-Matthew Sharsh, Hawaii ($11,500) -- While Byrd dominated Hawaii's target share throughout the course of the season, Jason-Matthew Sharsh stepped into an equally dominant role down the stretch. Over Hawaii's final six games, it was actually Sharsh who lead Hawaii with 59 targets, according to Sports Info Solutions (one more than Byrd). During those final six games, Sharsh and Byrd were also tied with nine red zone targets apiece.
RB Miles Reed, Hawaii ($9,500) -- Hawaii is well-known for being a pass-first team, but Miles Reed was able to remain a productive fantasy player this year. Reed never eclipsed 20 fantasy points, but he did reach double digits six times in 14 games. According to Sports Info Solutions, Reed led the team with 18 rushing attempts inside the 10 yard, giving him a good chance of reaching the end zone in this game.
WR Micah Simon BYU ($7,500) -- In games started by Wilson, Micah Simon led BYU with an 18.4 percent target share according to Sports Info Solutions. He also closed out the regular season on a high note, with five or more receptions in three of his last four games. Simon only reached the end zone twice this year, but that may have just been a factor of bad luck as he was tied with Gunner Romney for the team lead in red zone targets.
RB Emmanuel Esukpa, BYU ($7,000) -- Emmanuel Esukpa hasn't suited up since November 2 due to a foot injury, but he led all BYU running backs in carries in each of his last two full games. Lopini Katoa finished the year as BYU's lead back, but never eclipsed more than 49 rushing yards in a game as the starter, which could leave the door open for Esukpa to reclaim the role in this game. Esukpa is reportedly is on track to play, but be sure to check in on his status before kickoff. Given the uncertainty in the backfield, even with a healthy Esukpa, all BYU running backs should be treated as a tournament dart throws only.
Ryan McCrystal is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Ryan McCrystal also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username cfbfilmroom. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
