CFB War Room: Thursday 8/28 Main Slate Battle Plan

I’m DraftMasterFlex (Joel). I specialize in CFB DFS and I’ve stacked up multiple six-figure wins over the years. The CFB War Room is where I share the exact process: team totals, projected starters, best-guess target and carry shares, camp buzz that actually matters, and the cleanest paths to points so you can build with confidence.

We’ve got a fun Week 1 starter on Thursday night with a 6-game slate and plenty of ways to get different.

As of the current board, the four highest implied team totals belong to NC State, UCF, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

For shootout potential, circle ECU at NC State and Nebraska vs Cincinnati in Kansas City.

What you’ll get below: a game-by-game breakdown with spreads, O/Us, implied team totals, projected starters with best-guess shares, OC and scheme notes (who shines in this offense and why), the DFS-relevant camp buzz for each team, and the cleanest ways to attack each defense. I’ll close with exactly how I’m building my player pool and stacks for Thursday.

ECU at NC State

Line and totals: NC State -14, 61.5 total
Implied team totals: NC State 37.8, ECU 23.8

ECU

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Katin Houser (QB, $9,700) 30-34 attempts, 6-8 rushes
• RB London Montgomery (RB, $5,100) 12-15 carries, 2-3 targets
• RB Marlon Gunn Jr. (RB, $4,500) 8-10 carries
• WR Anthony Smith (WR, $7,400) 24-26% targets
• TE Jayvontay Conner (TE, $3,000) 8-10% targets

OC and style: Up-tempo spread with RPOs and vertical X shots, TE seams mixed in.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Houser locked in as QB1. Anthony Smith repeatedly singled out for explosive plays.

Opponent D and how to attack: NC State’s front squeezes early downs. Use RPO and quick game to set up play-action go balls to Anthony Smith. Jayvontay Conner is a cheap seam and red-zone punt in chase scripts.

NC State

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB CJ Bailey (QB, $9,500) 28-32 attempts, 6-10 rushes
• RB Hollywood Smothers (RB, $7,000) 16-20 carries, 3-4 targets
• RB Jayden Scott (RB, $4,800) 8-10 carries
• WR Noah Rogers (WR, $6,800) 22-24% targets
• WR Wesley Grimes (WR, $4,800) 18-20% targets
• WR Terrell Anderson (WR, $5,200) 16-18% targets
• TE Justin Joly (TE, $6,300) 16-18% targets with strong red-zone utility
• WR Jonathan Paylor (WR, $3,200) not a listed starter, but real camp buzz for designed touches and returns

OC and style: Pro-spread with TE involvement, QB run tags, and RPO quicks to set up boundary shots.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Noah Rogers steady as alpha. Justin Joly remains featured. Jonathan Paylor is buzzy despite opening as rotational.

Opponent D and how to attack: ECU is in transition. NC State can hammer zone run, isolate Rogers outside, and flood Joly into soft spots. Smothers has goal-line equity on a 37.8 TT.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati (game in Kansas City)

Line and totals: Nebraska -6.5, 52.5 total
Implied team totals: Nebraska 29.5, Cincinnati 23.0

Nebraska

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Dylan Raiola (QB, $7,500) 28-32 attempts, 4-6 rushes
• RB Emmett Johnson (RB, $7,500) 14-18 carries, 2-3 targets
• WR Dane Key (WR, $7,800) 24-26% targets
• WR Jacory Barney Jr. (WR, $6,400) 18-20% targets
• WR Nyziah Hunter (WR, $5,000) 18-20% targets
• TE Carter Nelson (TE, $3,600) 10-12% targets with red-zone upside

OC and style: QB-friendly spread with choice routes and RPOs around a three-WR tree.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Steady hype around the passing game. Raiola praised for command. Barney and Key repeatedly tagged as headline targets.

Opponent D and how to attack: Cincinnati’s interior is stout. Stress the corners with Key and Barney on outs, digs, and glances, then use Hunter on posts. Nelson is a sneaky red-zone pivot.

Cincinnati

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Brendan Sorsby (QB, $9,300) 28-32 attempts, 8-10 rushes
• RB Tawee Walker (RB, $5,900) 10-14 carries
• WR Jeff Caldwell (WR, $5,700) 22-24% targets, X
• WR Cyrus Allen (WR, $5,300) 20-22% targets, slot
• WR Caleb Goodie (WR, $4,000) 14-16% targets, Z
• TE Joe Royer (TE, $5,600) 16-18% targets with heavy red-zone role

OC and style: Pro-spread with QB run, vertical shots, and meaningful TE involvement.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Portal WR group has popped. Allen and Caldwell featured. Royer shows up as a chain-mover and TD threat.

Opponent D and how to attack: Nebraska’s defense is still gelling. Use Sorsby’s legs and play-action crossers to Allen and Caldwell. Royer is leverage vs single-high.

Buffalo at Minnesota

Line and totals: Minnesota -17.5, 44.5 total
Implied team totals: Minnesota 31.0, Buffalo 13.5

Buffalo

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Ta’Quan Roberson (QB, $6,600) 24-28 attempts
• RB Al-Jay Henderson (RB, $6,400) 14-16 carries, 2-3 targets
• WR Victor Snow (WR, $6,000) 22-24% targets, slot
• WR Nik McMillan (WR, $4,700) 16-18% targets, perimeter

OC and style: Spread with tempo elements, slot-friendly target distribution.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Snow remains the volume anchor. McMillan healthy and involved.

Opponent D and how to attack: Minnesota is sturdy vs the run. Path is short passing to Snow and selective deep shots to McMillan, especially if Minnesota squeezes the box.

Minnesota

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Drake Lindsey (QB, $6,100) 22-26 attempts, 4-6 rushes
• RB Darius Taylor (RB, $9,000) 20-24 carries, 4-6 targets
• WR Javon Tracy (WR, $4,500) 20-22% targets, X
• WR Logan Loya (WR, $5,900) 20-22% targets, slot
• TE Jameson Geers (TE, $3,800) 12-14% targets with red-zone utility

OC and style: Greg Harbaugh Jr. with Matt Simon. Run-first, play-action shots, TE usage at the goal line.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Lindsey praised through camp. Tracy looks like outside WR1. Geers hit the Mackey watch list and keeps showing red-zone utility. Taylor has real receiving ceiling after 10 catches vs Michigan and 9 vs Illinois last year.

Opponent D and how to attack: Buffalo has profiled stronger vs run than pass. Expect a loaded box. Answer with Taylor in the passing game, quick stuff to Loya, PA to Tracy, and red-zone looks for Geers.

Jacksonville State at UCF

Line and totals: UCF -18.5, 52.5 total
Implied team totals: UCF 35.5, Jacksonville State 17.0

Jacksonville State

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Gavin Wimsatt (QB, $7,200) 22-26 attempts, 10-14 rushes
• RB Cam Cook (RB, $5,800) 12-15 carries with screen and swing usage
• WR rotation behind the QB-RB core

OC and style: Balanced concepts with the QB run game featured.

Opponent D and how to attack: Against UCF’s athletic defense, JSU needs Wimsatt’s legs and rhythm throws. Volume is your DFS path given the 17.0 TT.

UCF

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Cam Fancher (QB, $8,300) 24-28 attempts, 8-10 rushes
• RB Myles Montgomery (RB, $6,000) 16-20 carries, 2-3 targets
• RB Jaden Nixon (RB, $5,500) 8-12 carries
• WR Duane Thomas Jr. (WR, $5,800) primary slot usage
• WR Chris Domercant (WR, $4,400) perimeter snaps
• WR Waden Charles (WR, $3,200) rotational outside

OC and style: Steve Cooper under Scott Frost. Speed-based spread with QB run and zone-read. WR rotation early; RB usage steadier.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Fancher confirmed QB1. Backfield framed as Montgomery 1A with Nixon mixing.

Opponent D and how to attack: New-look JSU with heavy roster churn. Set tempo on the ground with Montgomery and Fancher’s legs, then PA to whichever wideout separates.

Miami OH at Wisconsin

Line and totals: Wisconsin -17.5, 39.5 total
Implied team totals: Wisconsin 28.5, Miami OH 11.0

Miami OH

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Ben Finley (QB, $5,400) 26-30 attempts
• RB Kenny Tracy (RB, $6,200) 10-14 carries
• RB Jordan Brunson (RB, $4,200) 8-10 carries
• WR Deion Colzie (WR, $4,900) 20-22% targets, X
• WR Brady Simmons (WR, $3,000) 16-18% targets, Z
• WR Kam Perry (WR, $3,900) 18-20% targets, slot

OC and style: Multiple with play-action. Portal-heavy WR room that should settle quickly.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Simmons flashed through camp and projects to be on the field as a starter. Cheap path to 4-6 targets in a trailing script.

Opponent D and how to attack: Wisconsin should control. Miami needs quick game with Perry and boundary shots to Colzie. Finley’s volume creates punt WR value.

Wisconsin

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Billy Edwards Jr. (QB, $8,000) 24-28 attempts
• RB Dilin Jones (RB, $5,700) 16-20 carries with goal-line work
• WR Trech Kekahuna (WR, $6,100) 20-22% targets, slot
• WR Chris Brooks Jr. (WR, $3,100) 14-16% targets, Z value

OC and style: Jeff Grimes brings downhill wide-zone with play-action shots.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Jones expected to lead early. Kekahuna and Brooks Jr. are the clearest WR values for PA concepts.

Opponent D and how to attack: Script favors Jones to control. PA to Kekahuna when needed. Passing ceiling is capped by the environment, but the RB1 and a value Z are very live.

Wyoming at Akron

Line and totals: Wyoming -7, 48.5 total
Implied team totals: Wyoming 27.8, Akron 20.8

Wyoming

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• QB Kaden Anderson (QB, $6,800) 20-24 attempts, 6-8 rushes
• RB Sam Scott (RB, $5,200) 16-20 carries
• WR Jaylen Sargent (WR, $5,500) 20-22% targets
• WR Chris Durr Jr. (WR, $5,400) 18-20% targets
• TE John Michael Gyllenborg (TE, $6,500) 18-20% targets and red-zone usage

OC and style: Ball-control run game with the TE central to the pass game.

DFS-relevant camp buzz: Gyllenborg and Durr emphasized in passing concepts. Scott projected for early-down load.

Opponent D and how to attack: Akron struggled vs the run last year. Lean Scott and finish drives with Gyllenborg.

Akron

Projected starters and usage (best-guess):

• RB Sean Patrick (RB, $3,000) 10-14 carries
• WR Alex Adams (WR, $6,200) 28-30% targets, alpha X
• WR Kyan Mason (WR, $3,300) 14-18% targets, slot

OC and style: Quick-game centric when chasing. Primary read funnels to Adams, with Mason as the cheap PPR valve.

Opponent D and how to attack: Wyoming is disciplined. Akron needs rhythm throws and YAC. Adams is your volume bet; Mason is a cheap floor punt.

Low-salary sleepers with real paths this week

• Caleb Goodie (WR, $4,000, Cincinnati) expected starting Z with downfield juice
• Javon Tracy (WR, $4,500, Minnesota) projected X for a 31.0 team total
• Jameson Geers (TE, $3,800, Minnesota) red-zone usage and a clean correlation with Lindsey stacks
• Brady Simmons (WR, $3,000, Miami OH) min-price starter on the perimeter
• Waden Charles (WR, $3,200, UCF) rotational outside in a high-total game
• Chris Brooks Jr. (WR, $3,100, Wisconsin) cheap Z who fits PA concepts
• Jonathan Paylor (WR, $3,200, NC State) not a starter, but buzzy gadget and return role
• Jayvontay Conner (TE, $3,000, ECU) athletic TE punt in chase scripts
• Sean Patrick (RB, $3,000, AKR) starting freshman RB

How I’m attacking this slate

1. Build around Nebraska vs Cincinnati in Kansas City. There’s been steady off-season buzz on Nebraska’s offense and Dylan Raiola (QB, $7,500) is priced well. Preferred stacks: Raiola with Jacory Barney Jr. (WR, $6,400), Dane Key (WR, $7,800), and Nyziah Hunter (WR, $5,000). Run back with Cyrus Allen (WR, $5,300), Jeff Caldwell (WR, $5,700), Caleb Goodie (WR, $4,000), or Joe Royer (TE, $5,600).
2. Leverage Minnesota passing. Drake Lindsey (QB, $6,100) is a strong contrarian salary saver. If Buffalo sells out on Darius Taylor (RB, $9,000), stacks with Javon Tracy (WR, $4,500), Logan Loya (WR, $5,900), and Jameson Geers (TE, $3,800) make sense. Bring back Victor Snow (WR, $6,000) or Nik McMillan (WR, $4,700).
3. Feature backs in plus scripts. Top RBs for me are Darius Taylor (RB, $9,000) and Hollywood Smothers (RB, $7,000). Others I like: Myles Montgomery (RB, $6,000), Emmett Johnson (RB, $7,500), Dilin Jones (RB, $5,700), Sam Scott (RB, $5,200).
4. QB salary approach. I prefer builds with Dylan Raiola (QB, $7,500) and Drake Lindsey (QB, $6,100) so I can spend at RB and WR. The higher-priced QBs like Katin Houser (QB, $9,700), CJ Bailey (QB, $9,500), and Brendan Sorsby (QB, $9,300) have ceiling but are harder to fit.
5. WR pool focus. Nebraska’s starters, one Minnesota receiver in most builds, Cincinnati receivers (Caleb Goodie at $4,000 has real upside), Anthony Smith (ECU, $7,400), Noah Rogers (NC State, $6,800), Justin Joly (NC State TE, $6,300), Brady Simmons (Miami OH, $3,000) as a min dart, and Jameson Geers (Minnesota TE, $3,800) as my favorite salary saver.