The new year will get started off right with some nice matchups in the college bowl games of the day, with blue bloods going toe to toe. It really pays to keep close watch on who is playing, and who is sitting out these bowl games, as Georgia’s James Cook looks to be an incredible value on Wednesday:
Quarterbacks
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota ($6,500 on DraftKings, $7,600 on FanDuel) – I don’t love any of the quarterbacks on this slate, but my favorite of the bunch is Morgan, who will get plenty of volume as the Golden Gophers try to avoid the Auburn Tigers’ ferocious rushing defense in the Outback Bowl. Plus, he’s got a great receiving corps to catch the ball.
Mac Jones, Alabama ($7,000 on DK, $9,800 on FD) – I expect a similar game flow for Alabama’s QB, as Jones tosses a lot of safe, short-to-medium-range passes against a tough Michigan defense in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. That game plan was effective in the Iron Bowl, as the Tide rolled up big numbers on Auburn in a losing effort.
Running backs
James Cook, Georgia ($4,100 on DK, $5,600 on FD) – D’Andre Swift could miss the game with a hurt shoulder, and even if he plays, we shouldn’t expect him to get a ton of carries and risk aggravating that injury and harming his 2020 NFL Draft stock. Brian Herrien didn’t even make the trip to the Sugar Bowl. That leaves Cook in a very enviable spot on a team with a run-first focus against a mediocre rushing defense in Baylor. And that salary is fantastic.
Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin ($8,400 on DK, $10,800 on FD) – By paying down for Cook, we can afford to splurge on Taylor, who will cap an excellent career in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. Taylor should expect to get his usual monster workload of about 25 touches per game against the Ducks’ so-so run defense.
Wide receivers
Tyler Johnson, Minnesota ($6,600 on DK, $8,800 on FD) – While the Golden Gophers’ Outback Bowl opponent, Auburn, has a strong defense, the Tigers rank 63rd against opposing wide receivers in DFS. That points to Johnson getting his share of DFS points in the contest. He has been hot of late, scoring a touchdown in each of his past six games, while averaging about seven receptions per game during that span.
Henry Ruggs III, Alabama ($6,100 on DK, $8,000 on FD) – Trying to guess the ‘Bama receiver who will come up big on any given day is an exercise in futility, but for the VRBO Citrus Bowl, I’ll take my chances with Ruggs. He caught six balls for 99 yards and a touchdown against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, with quarterback Mac Jones filling in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered a season-ending hip injury against Mississippi State. And Ruggs is cheaper than his cohorts, Devonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy.