CFB DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks For 11/16: Saturday Playbook

Entering Week 12 of the college football season, the pressure intensifies, making it crucial to carefully construct winning CFB DFS picks.

Each matchup offers valuable insights, featuring top players in excellent form alongside lesser-known talents ready to shine!

CFB DFS Picks, Daily Fantasy Playbook & Schedule: November 16th

With the latest statistics and trends at our disposal, we can identify this week’s key players and value selections, ensuring we understand the details that differentiate winning fantasy lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Following a crazy Week 11, Week 12 is set to deliver even more thrills. Let’s explore our CFB DFS picks and begin assembling lineups for another successful week!

CFB DFS Lineups: Quarterbacks

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Take away Weeks 1 and 2 and Leonard has been arguably one of the best QB options each and every week. He’s scored at least 24.2 fantasy points in each game since, including 4 games of 30+. Whether he airs it out or uses his legs, he’s in great position to exceed his CFB DFS projections against a brutal Virginia defense.

Kevin Jennings, SMU Mustangs

Jennings is arguably my favorite play of the week based on price and matchup. He’s much cheaper than the other top options at QB and, like Leonard, has been on a heater after the first couple of games. He put up 28+ fantasy points in back-to-back games in Weeks 6 and 8 (bye in Week 7), and he should surpass that number here facing Boston College.

Fernando Mendoza, California Golden Bears

A few weeks ago, Mendoza would have never made the write-up portion of CFB DFS picks. He’s played absolutely outstanding in their last two games though, scoring 37.6 fantasy points in Week 9 and then 36.5 in Week 11. This Syracuse defense he’ll go up against Saturday isn’t anything special, so Mendoza could very well keep his hot streak alive.

CFB DFS Lineups: Running Backs

Brashard Smith, SMU Mustangs

I love Jennings at QB, and I love Smith at RB. The Mustangs should have no issues rolling over BC with ACC title hopes in their sights. Smith is coming off a 43-point performance in Week 10 after a 31-point Week 9. There’s simply no reason to fade him; even if the Eagles are better against the run than the pass, they still aren’t even great at that.

Makhi Hughes, Tulane Green Wave

Hughes is probably a must-start no matter what his CFB DFS projections look like, but the fact that Navy struggles to stop the run aids to that point even further. His worst game since Week 3 has been 19.9 fantasy points. He’s reached 29+ now in 5 straight games and is the clear engine that drives this Green Wave offense.

Isaac Brown, Louisville Cardinals

I’ve been high on Brown for some weeks now, and it’s really paid off. Since becoming the lead back, he’s racked up at least 18.9 fantasy points in every single game and has also scored 25+ in his last two games. He’s coming off the best game of his young career and faces a well below-average rush defense from Stanford.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State Nittany Lions

This one comes with a bit of an asterisk, as you’ll need to continue to check in on the health of RB Nick Singleton. If he is out, Allen becomes the play of the week. Even still though, he’s probably not 100%, and with PSU facing Purdue, they could probably afford to give Allen a bulk of the touches. He’s a good play as is, but a great one if Singleton doesn’t suit up.

CFB DFS Lineups: Wide Receivers

Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville Cardinals

Brooks had his worst game of his career against Clemson a week ago, but he’s in a great spot to bounce back. Stanford can’t defend the pass to save their life, and even though Brooks wasn’t dominant like usual last week, he still led the team in receiving. I’m willing to bet he does so again on Saturday, and probably even finds the end zone.

Tyler Warren, Penn State Nittany Lions

He’s been the best TE in the country this season, but from a CFB DFS picks standpoint, Warren’s been more boom-or-bust. He has 4 games of 22+ fantasy points but 5 games of less than 15. Going up against Purdue this week, Warren should have no issues having more of a ‘boom’ week, so long as the game isn’t a blowout too quickly.

Elic Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal

We get terrific value on Ayomanor here, who has quietly had a tremendous season. He’s scored a touchdown in 5 of Stanford’s last 7 games and, seeing as they should be losing for a majority of this one, has a chance to keep up that trend. The Louisville pass defense being suspect also helps Ayomanor’s case in Week 12.

Makai Lemon, USC Trojans

Almost the same thing from above can be retyped for Lemon. I would certainly take advantage of his price now before it rises, because it will continue to do so if he keeps playing this way. He’s now recorded 70+ receiving yards in 4 straight games and is coming off of back-to-back weeks of 21+-point showings.

Tobias Merriweather, California Golden Bears

Merriweather saw his first action of the season a week ago and he definitely didn’t disappoint with a 6-52-1 stat line. His 6 catches were second on the team, showing that Cal is eager to get him involved in the offense ASAP. This contest has a chance to see plenty of points scored, and if it does, I’d be surprised if Merriweather wasn’t involved in at least one.

Core CFB DFS Lineup Picks: QBs, RBs & WRs

Quarterbacks

• Riley Leonard, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• Kyle McCord, Syracuse Orange
• Kevin Jennings, SMU Mustangs
• Fernando Mendoza, California Golden Bears

Running Backs

• Brashard Smith, SMU Mustangs
• Makhi Hughes, Tulane Green Wave
• Isaac Brown, Louisville Cardinals
• Caden Durham, LSU Tigers
• Kaytron Allen, Penn State Nittany Lions
• Jahiem White, West Virginia Mountaineers

Wide Receivers

• Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffaloes
• Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville Cardinals
• Tyler Warren, Penn State Nittany Lions
• Trebor Pena, Syracuse Orange
• Elic Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal
• Makai Lemon, USC Trojans
• Tobias Merriweather, California Golden Bears
• Josh Cameron, Baylor Bears

College Football DFS Player Pool: Saturday, 11/16