College football DFS picks December 18: We go to Jaret

AMHERST, NY - OCTOBER 26: Buffalo Bulls Running Back Jaret Patterson (26) runs with the ball during the first half of the game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Buffalo Bulls on October 26, 2019, at UB Stadium in Amherst, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Nov 27, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) in action against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

College football DFS quarterback picks December 18:

Top Tier:

I can’t argue with Kedon Slovis here at all. In fact, he looks cheap. Oregon has been gutted on the ground, but this is the only USC piece that we know will produce. They spread the ball around a lot and run with three backs. Slovis is the only sure thing and is worth paying for.

Both Tyler Shough and Drew Plitt are going to have problems here. I prefer Plitt because Ball State is going to have to throw to have any prayer of winning this game. He may make some mistakes, but I do expect the Letterman’s to hang around, so Plitt should have a decent day.

Middle Tier:

We do know that Adrian Martinez will start the game for Nebraska. The question is whether he will finish it. On paper, this is the kind of game where Martinez should shine, but he hasn’t really shone at all since his freshman season. Still, I like the upside on Martinez for the price.

I don’t really trust the Marshall offense against the UAB defense after both them and the Blazers got locked down by Rice. Kyle Vantrease is a much better pick. Ball State can’t really stop the run either, but Buffalo is still going to throw in this game to keep the Cardinals off balance. Just don’t expect a ceiling game.

Bargain Shoppers:

It would truly be a shame if Noah Vedral wouldn’t get a crack at his former team. He grew up in Wahoo, Nebraska, and committed with Nebraska icon Scott Frost at UCF. When Frost left UCF, Vedral followed him to Nebraska and got his degree. He is a grad transfer at Rutgers right now. How poetic would it be for him to end his college career basically the way it started? I might play Vedral on narrative alone. If he’s out, Artur Sitkowski has looked good enough at times this year to take a shot with him in GPP formats.

Tyler Johnston is back for UAB, and he’s an intriguing option here. He can run, which is especially valuable in a cheap quarterback. I see at least one quarterback that will score under Johnston on this slate and maybe two others. He’s a nice option on the cheap.