DraftKings college football picks October 31: Cash today with T.J.

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 10: West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver T.J. Simmons (1) celebrates in the stands with fans following the college football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 10, 2018, at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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BOONE, NC – OCTOBER 19: Appalachian State University running back Darrynton Evans (3) runs during a game between the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks and the Appalachian State Mountaineers on October 19, 2019, at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, NC. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

DraftKings college football running back picks October 31

Top Tier:

Boy, did the Eagles miss Wesley Kennedy. Kennedy has 324 rushing yards in three games after missing the first five games due to a suspension. He also has five touchdowns in that span. It’s going to be tough sledding against Appalachian State, but the volume will be there for Kennedy. The only question is whether we want to spend this much against the Appalachian defense.

Honestly, I would move towards Darrynton Evans. Evans has had a really good season, but South Alabama shutting him down last week is a bit of a concern. Georgia Southern’s run defense is a strength. It better be facing an option in practice every week. Still, I trust Evans over any back in an option offense.

Middle Tier:

Baylor may finally have some separation in the running back race that has been going on since the spring. Jamycal Hasty bowled over Oklahoma State for 146 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns while John Lovett only carried seven times. Lovett still averaged eight yards per carry, but the explosiveness of Hasty is what has sparked the Baylor offense. Still, I’m not opposed to using both. I think the touches are there, but Lovett likely needs a touchdown to be worth while.

Oklahoma State transfer J.D. King held the fort down while Kennedy was out and still is a big factor in the offense. The Eagles will run 60 or more times a game. There’s plenty of carries to go around. I actually like King better for the price even if Kennedy is more explosive. I’ll ride the volume in cash.

Bargain Shoppers:

The West Virginia run game has been a disaster thus far. Kennedy McKoy has been surpassed by Leddie Brown, but not really by anything Brown has done to earn the job. I know you want value at running back, but you are honestly better off playing a backup from one of the other three teams.

Marcus Williams actually has more carries than Darryton Evans over the last two games, but it’s more a product of Appalachian outscoring their opponents 87-10 over that span than anything Evans has done to lose his grip on the job. If this one stays close, Williams is going to have a difficult time hitting value. He pretty much needs a blowout to be worth our time.