This article is part of our FantasyAces College Football series.
It's conference championship week, so that means college football fans will have some killer matchups to enjoy with major playoff implications. That also means there is less than a full slate of games from which to choose. Making things more difficult, most of the fantasy stalwarts in action are facing capable, and in some cases, downright nasty opponents. I plan on investing heavily in quarterbacks and finding value elsewhere. Here are my favorite plays in week 14.
QUARTERBACK
Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky (vs. Southern Miss) - $5,900
I'm buying all the stock I can in the Hilltoppers this weekend, and that obviously starts with Doughty. He leads the country with 42 touchdown passes, has thrown only six interceptions and ranks fifth with 4,184 passing yards. All of that makes Doughty a solid play every week, but on this slate, the WKU-Southern Miss game has big potential to become a shootout, making him a must play.
Deshaun Watson, Clemson, (vs. North Carolina) - $6,450
I just mentioned Doughty's national ranking in passing yardage. The next closest guy available on FantasyAces is Watson, who ranks 21st in the country with 3,223. The added value you get with Watson, though, is 756 yards and nine scores on the ground. I will be paying for the top two signal callers and feel great about it.
Chris Johnson, Baylor (vs. Texas) - $4,450
If you need a budget play at quarterback in week 14, Johnson is your guy. He's an athletic passer, who spent time as a receiver while also performing QB3 duties, and has some upside in this matchup versus a Texas team that has been lit up more than once this season. Johnson didn't get a chance to show what he could do in a rain-soaked contest with TCU last week after replacing injured Jarrett Stidham. So, there are some unknowns with Johnson, but Baylor is still going to run its trademark uptempo style. Biletnikoff Award finalist, Corey Coleman, is also still lining up out wide for the Bears. All of that makes for a volatile, but potentially rewarding sleeper.
Others to consider: Greg Ward, Marquise Williams
RUNNING BACK
Derrick Henry, Alabama (vs. Florida) - $6,300
Alabama coaches have been riding Henry hard down the stretch and the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder is now has a chance at 2,000 yards to go with 22 touchdowns. I won't be rostering Henry this week versus a top-10 defense in the Florida Gators and the cash spent on my elite QB combo, but I wouldn't shy away from the "El Tractorcito" if he fits your budget.
Shock Linwood, Baylor (vs. Texas) - $5,100
Linwood has been dealing with a bum knee, but is practicing this week and is listed as probable against Texas. This contest has the second highest over/under on the slate, and if Linwood is anywhere near 100 percent healthy Saturday, he's a value play.
Chris Warren, Texas (at Baylor) - $4,400
Warren exploded for 288 yards and four touchdowns last week against Texas Tech and has been named the starter Saturday versus Baylor. He won't find it nearly as easy to run on a solid Bears defense, but there will be plenty of opportunities in a game that is projected at 68 total points.
Others to consider: Wendell Smallwood, Donnel Pumphrey, Anthony Wales
WIDE RECEIVER
Juju Smith-Schuster, USC (vs. Stanford) - $5,200
Smith-Schuster, a frequent member of my DFS rosters in 2015, has gone through a few underwhelming weeks after setting fire to the Pac-12 over the first nine weeks. One of those games was an 8-153-1 line versus the very same Stanford team he will face for the conference title. I'm not jumping off the Juju wagon now.
Jared Dangerfield, Western Kentucky (vs. Southern Miss) - $4,450
Dangerfield is the first of my receivers to stack with QB Brandon Doughty. Dangerfield is a possession guy who lacks big-play ability, but he's priced right and ranks second on the Hilltoppers in both receptions (67) and touchdowns (7).
Demarcus Robinson, Florida (vs. Alabama) - $3,750
Robinson was reinstated this week from a team-imposed suspension, which is why this price tag doesn't jive with his talent level. It hasn't been announced whether he will start, or play, in the SEC Championship game, but I'd be surprised if they don't utilize their best receiver when they need him most. There is a good chance Florida will need to throw from behind in this one, so monitor Robinson's status, as he could be a sneaky low-cost flex.
Others to consider: Demarcus Ayers, Casey Martin
TIGHT END
Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky (vs. Southern Miss) - $4,300
Higbee returned from a knee injury last week that kept him out of action for six weeks and looked like his old self, gaining 96 yards and scoring twice on his six catches, so play him with confidence. I generally punt tight end. Higbee, though, is not only far and away the best tight end available, but he's not very expensive and gives me a second player to stack with Doughty on a Western Kentucky team that should score often this weekend.
Others to consider: Austin Hooper, Jordan Leggett
