Week 1 action continues with a Monday Showdown featuring Louisville against Ole Miss, and DraftKings and FanDuel have great contests for this slate of games. This CFB DFS breakdown will look at each team and provide information about each skill position player of note within the contest. Make sure to check out our projections, depth charts and datasheets for more information. With that said, let’s dive into the first iteration of the college football DFS picks for Monday’s matchup.
College Football DFS: Week 1 Monday CFB Picks
Louisville vs. Ole Miss
Louisville (32.5 Implied Total)
Plays/Game – 69.4 (90th)
Pass Rate – 44.95% (80th)
Scott Satterfield enters his third season with Louisville after a 12-12 record. Seven starters on offense and six on defense return to a team that went 4-7 last year. Fortunately, they return four starters on the offensive line, who combine for 95 cumulative starts.
Dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham ($17,700) is back for 2021. He rushed for 609 yards last year on top of his 2,617 yards as a passer. This offense produces solid volume, with Cunningham throwing for 237.7 yards per game. Unfortunately, he will have to overcome the losses of his top pass catchers, but his mobility still makes him a strong play.
Javian Hawkins left Louisville, putting Jalen Mitchell ($12,600) atop the depth chart. He eclipsed 10 carries in each of his final three games with Louisville and rushed for 347 yards on 52 attempts (6.7 yards per carry). He was far more efficient than Hassan Hall ($4,800), which proves why he was listed above Hall on the depth chart. Hall still should receive a few carries, making him viable in large tournaments.
Louisville’s receiving room is completely revamped. The only clear starter on the depth chart is Jordan Watkins ($9,600), who had eight catches for 57 yards last year. The other positions listed co-starters between Justin Marshall ($5,100), Tyler Harrell ($3,900), Braden Smith ($7,200, and Josh Johnson ($2,400). Smith is the leading returner of the bunch, with 27 catches for 370 yards. Johnson battled injury for most of last year but previously played a larger role. They also return athletic receiving tight end Marshon Ford ($8,100), who ranked fourth in receiving. Paying for the secure playing time in Watkins makes sense. Otherwise, if targeting a co-starter, going all the way down to Johnson could help save salary.
Ole Miss (43 Implied Total)
Plays/Game – 81.6 (4th)
Pass Rate – 43.38% (89th)
Ole Miss will not have head coach Lane Kiffin for this game, but they are 10-point home favorites. Ole Miss returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense, including four starters on the offensive line.
At quarterback the Rebels return elite dual threat Matt Corral ($19,200). Corral is the most expensive player on the slate after rushing for 506 yards and throwing for 3,337. He completed 70.9% of his passes for 10.2 yards per attempt and is deserving of the most expensive player on this slate.
Jerrion Ealy ($13,500) will function as the lead back. He rushed for 745 yards on 147 carries last year, adding 15 receptions. Snoop Conner ($6,600) and Henry Parrish ($3,300) will complement him occasionally. Parrish looks like the preferred play of the two after Conner fell out of favor late last year. Parrish Rushed for 263 yards on 56 carries to Conner’s 421 on 93 carries. Parris was also listed ahead of Conner on the depth chart.
At receiver Ole Miss will move forward without Elijah Moore and Kenny Yeboah. This means Jonathan Mingo ($10,500), Braylon Sanders ($15,300) and Dontario Drummond ($11,400) will have to step up. Drummond is the leader among the returners, with 417 yards on 25 catches. However, Mingo played more and finished with a higher target share. Sanders caught 15 passes for 376 yards as the third option, but his role is also clear this year. All three are solid targets. Ole Miss will also likely involve former quarterback John Rhys Plumlee ($3,600) on some gadget plays after he changed positions this offseason. He saw six targets in Ole Miss’ final game last year. All four of these players are great college football DFS picks at their price ranges.
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