College football Week 1 continues with a single-game Monday slate. CFB DFS differs from traditional NFL DFS in a few key areas. Rosters do not require a defense and instead incorporate a superflex where a second quarterback can be rostered. With the exception of short slates, using a second quarterback generally makes the most sense. From there, traditional stacking rules and other general football DFS strategies apply (such as looking at college football ownership projections). With that said, let’s dive into our CFB Week 1 Clemson-Duke DFS picks, projections and more.
CFB Week 1 DFS Picks and Projections
Quarterback
Cade Klubnik ($11,800) – With D.J. Uiagalelei moving to Oregon State, 5-star recruit Cade Klubnik will start for Clemson. Klubnik completed 61% of his passes for 7.0 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and three interceptions last season, and he looks to have some mobility, with 139 rushing yards on 42 attempts. While Klubnik has yet to perform over a larger sample, his upside is undeniable. Clemson is a 13-point favorite, and Klubnik stands out as a strong captain and flex option.
Riley Leonard ($10,400) – Riley Leonard returns as Duke’s starting quarterback after an elite 2022 season. He completed 63.8% of his passes for 7.6 yards per attempt, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions and also rushed for 699 yards on 124 attempts. His offensive line looks a little worse this year, but Leonard still has elite upside behind his mobility. Leonard and Klubnik come in almost dead even in terms of price-adjusted projection, making them both elite plays.
Running Back
Will Shipley ($9,800) – Headlining an elite committee, Will Shipley projects to lead Clemson in touches this year. Phil Mafah will be involved, and Clemson even listed him as a co-starter. With that said, Shipley still accounted for 1,171 rushing yards, 37 catches and 237 receiving yards last year. One of the top all-purpose backs, Shipley is a better price-adjusted play than Mafah. However, this makes Mafah interesting for contrarian builds.
Jaquez Moore ($2,600) – Duke uses three running backs, but they all are priced to play. The cheapest of the bunch, Jaquez Moore rushed 79 times for a hyper-efficient 508 yards last year, while catching seven passes. He only played in 11 games but should be in play as a punt. Jordan Waters and Jaylen Coleman are the other two backs. Waters also rushed 123 times for 566 yards. However, he operated as the primary pass-catching back, with 16 receptions. Finally, Coleman returns after playing in just nine games last year. He figures to be the most contrarian of the bunch. Overall, most lineups should contain one Duke back as salary relief.
Editor Note: Looking for more 2023 college football predictions? Experts are to break down this college football season — make sure to check out the rest of OddsShopper’s’ college football articles. If you still need more picks, our market-based betting model might just be for you — or try it out now!
Wide Receiver
Antonio Williams ($8,400) – Antonio Williams is Clemson’s projected top wide receiver, and he caught 56 passes for 604 yards as a true freshman last year. He played in the slot 93% of the time and should find advantageous matchups there again this year. Behind him, Beaux Collins projects to operate as the WR2, with Adam Randall and Cole Turner listed as co-starters at the final receiver spot.
Jalon Calhoun ($7,400) – Jalon Calhoun caught 62 passes for 873 yards and four touchdowns last year. He projects to be Duke’s top receiver and played in the slot 58.9% of the time.
Jordan Moore ($3,400) – Perhaps the biggest pricing error on the slate, Jordan Moore operates as Duke’s clear WR2. He caught 60 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns last year. He will also handle the occasional carry, giving him an excellent floor for DFS. Behind him, Sahmir Hagans should be WR3, with Eli Pancol injured. Duke also splits tight end between Nicky Dalmolin and Cole Finney.
Jake Briningstool ($2,000) – Clemson’s projected starting tight end is Jake Briningstool, who caught 25 passes for 284 yards last year. This ranked fifth on the team despite him only playing 391 snaps.
