It’s the most wonderful time of the year! How many years is ESPN going to run that same song? We’re going on about 15 years right now so who the heck knows how much longer it will go. But seriously, it IS the most wonderful time of the year. New Year’s Eve brings us our 2nd College Football Playoff with two fantastic matchups. Can the Sooners beat a first-string quarterback? Will Bama get taken out by a Big Ten team for the 2nd year in a row? There will be no grading of the expert picks this week but I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the Consensus picks so let’s dive right in. However, should you want to check out the season-ending CFB Daily Overlay Scores just click the link.
Quarterback
Recommended
Deshaun Watson (6x) – Watson comes in as the engineer of the only undefeated team in the country. His last time out, in the ACC Championship Game, Watson totaled three touchdowns through the air and two on the ground. That being said, Baylor made UNC’s defense look like a powederpuff team.
Suggested
JT Barrett (4x) – JT has had an up and down season in which he opened up as the backup and then was suspended for a DUI arrest later in the season. He’s gotten it done on the ground more so than the air of late.
Chad Kelly (4x) – Kelly’s old team, the Clemson Tigers, will be playing for a national title. Kelly will be ringing in the new year in NOLA. He doesn’t get enough credit for the work he does with his legs. He’s put up at least two passing touchdowns in each of his last seven games.
Baker Mayfield (3x) – Baker has done a lot of yapping this week. Now it comes time for him to back that up on the field. My money is on him doing so. He has failed to break the 200 yard passing mark in each of his last two games.
Running Back
Highly Touted
Davin Cook (8x) – Cook sat out a game and still ran for 1658 yards. Houston has not seen a running back with Cook’s talent this year. I’m betting on him having a field day – 200+ yards and at least two TDs.
Suggested
Ezekiel Elliott (4x) – Elliott will be playing his final game as a Buckeye in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. Elliott bounced back nicely his last game out when he lit up Michigan’s stout defense for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Derrick Henry (4x) – Heisman winners tend to not fare well in bowl games. I’m not going to be against Derrick Henry. The TIde is going to run the ball and their horse is going to be the man carrying the load.
Wayne Gallman (4x) – Since Gallman sat out in November against Wake, he’s put up games of 102 and 187. He gashed the UNC defense in the ACC Champ Game.
Christian McCaffrey (3x) – I’m a bit surprised that McCaffrey only showed up three times. He ran, caught and threw for a touchdown in the Pac-12 title tilt against USC. He has a chance to top the 2,000 yard mark with 153 yards against Iowa.
Wide Receiver
Highly Touted
Laquon Treadwell (7x) – The junior will play his last game in the Ole Miss red and blue. After a stretch of five straight 100-yard outings, Treadwell has failed to reach that mark in his last two.
Recommended
Sterling Shepard (6x) – Shepard is a great guy to own in the PPR format. He catches a lot of short routes, which he often turns in to long plays.
Suggested
Calvin Ridley (4x) – Ridley lit up a solid Florida secondary in the SEC Champ Game in Atlanta. Sparty will stack the box to stop Henry, therefore, Ridley will see a lot of 1-on-1 matchups downfield.
Kermit Whitfield (3x) – Whitfield has only topped the 100-yard mark twice this season. With Sean Maguire at quarterback, Whitfield should see some additional targets.
James Washington (3x) – This play all hinges on Mason Rudolph’s health. Rudolph is healthy…at least that what Mike Gundy is saying. Gundy plays coy with the media when it comes to quarterbacks so your guess is as good as mine. If Rudolph plays, Washington is severely underpriced though.
Make sure to get your lineups in early for the 11am kickoff in the Peach Bowl. There are some big money GPPs out there to be had. Good luck and let’s get that cash!
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