Washington-Michigan: Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper for the CFP National Championship

With daily fantasy football being so popular, it was only a matter of time before it translated to the college level.

Similar to NFL single-game DFS contests, FanDuel now offers single-game college football daily fantasy contests for marquee events in most states. In this format, you'll select one "MVP" that accrues 50% more fantasy points and round out the lineup with four other "FLEX" positions.

Finding target data for pass-catchers in college can be difficult, so figuring out which players are on the field and getting work can make all the difference. Naturally, there are also more lopsided outcomes in college, so balance game scripts appropriately! Your running back's monstrous first half could lead to a bagel in the second.

How should we approach the 2024 CFP National Championship from a DFS perspective?

Note: All stats are from PFF.com. All tables are sortable by any category. All college football odds are via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Washington-Michigan Preview

At least on the surface, this year's title game has the scoring balance to make for a fun single-game slate on FanDuel. Its total is 56.5 points with a reasonable 4.5-point spread.

The Michigan Wolverines are the expected party in this game after multiple CFP appearances in recent years, and they've done it with their usual format of a running game and defense. They've posted 4.3 YPA on the ground as an offense, and they finished 2023 exactly 5th of 133 FBS schools against both the pass and rush (in terms of YPA).

UM needed overtime but did dispense the Alabama Crimson Tide, 27-20, to earn this trip to Houston in a classic Rose Bowl.

They'll be a fascinating stylistic matchup for the Washington Huskies, who have done their best "Greatest Show on Turf" impression to make their second CFP and first title game. Led by a confident, gunslinging lefty, UDub ranks eighth in passing YPA this season (9.4) to bury most foes. However, their defense has an obvious kryptonite; they're exceptional against the pass (22nd in YPA allowed), but they've been run over for 4.4 YPA on the ground (82nd in FBS).

Washington ceded three rushing scores on New Year's Day but still prevailed over the Texas Longhorns, 38-31, in the Sugar Bowl.

Which players will put up big games from these two sides?

MVP Considerations

• Michael Penix Jr. ($16,500)
  • How could this helper start anywhere else? Penix Jr. posted 420 passing yards and a season-high 31 rushing yards when Washington needed them most in the Sugar Bowl. Michigan is a bear of a matchup that just held Jalen Milroe to 116 yards passing, but he's fallen short of 250 passing yards just twice all season.
• Blake Corum ($16,000)
  • Based on matchup, Corum is the only player that I'd identify as a guy I'd play on a Saturday main slate. Washington's weakest point is defending the rush, and his godly red zone role has led to multiple scores in six straight games. I prefer him to Penix Jr. straight up and, obviously, at salary.
• J.J. McCarthy ($13,500)
  • McCarthy just continues to produce fantasy points in Michigan's competitive, high-stakes games. He threw for three scores and added 25 yards on the ground in the Rose Bowl, but 8.2 YPA against Alabama has me optimistic he can produce in what should be an easier matchup this go-round. Corum snagging most of the scores or a supremely positive script are the likely paths to failure.
• Rome Odunze ($12,500)
  • The future NFL first-round pick has at least 7 catches and 100 yards in each of his last four games and led the Huskies in target share (28.3%) by a solid margin, so if any receiving option merits MVP consideration, it's him. However, he's a roll of the dice in a brutal matchup when returning teammates have left him without a score in consecutive games.

Flex Considerations

• Jalen McMillan ($11,000)
  • For much of the past two years, McMillan was a 1B to Odunze's 1A, but six games missed due to injury separated the team's pecking order in 2023. The junior isn't as explosive (13.5 YPC) but caught 5 balls for 58 yards and a tuddie in the Sugar Bowl. Per dollar of salary, I see he and Odunze fairly similarly, and he'll be significantly less popular.
• Dillon Johnson ($10,500)
  • Johnson's Sugar Bowl injury infamously nearly led to a Texas comeback, but he is expected to play in Monday's title game. Washington is projected to trail against a top-five rush D, but the every-down back handled 72.4% of the Huskies' carries this season and punched in 16 touchdowns. Ignoring his upside for a pair of scores -- at a tiny salary -- would be foolish.
• Ja'Lynn Polk ($10,000)
  • The Odunze/McMillan dynamic added a third target this season with Polk. The sophomore had the best fantasy day of the bunch with 5 catches, 122 yards, and a score on New Year's Day, and he ran more routes per game (32.3) than a hobbled McMillan (22.3) this season. He'll be tremendously popular at the lowest salary with a similar outlook to the other two key targets.
• Roman Wilson ($9,500)
  • Michigan's wideout hierarchy isn't a place with much certainty, but McCarthy has tossed at least five targets and a touchdown pass Wilson's way in each of their last two CFP games. Despite working out of the slot, he led UM in yardage share (23.4%) this season over deep-ball threat Cornelius Johnson ($8,000). I see him as their top guy.
• Jack Westover ($8,500)
  • The surprise in DFS on Monday was Westover, who randomly saw eight targets despite just a 9.2% target share this season. His routes per game (20.9) indicated more potential involvement all year, but consider me a pessimist that Washington's tight end tops 8.0 FanDuel points again.
• Donovan Edwards ($8,000)
  • If angling toward a lopsided Michigan victory, Edwards has to be in the conversation as a bargain-bin piece. Edwards often spelled Corum with 393 yards and 3 touchdowns this season in blowouts, and he posted 23 carries and 119 yards in last year's CFP with Corum hurt. Washington's rush defense is the only "good" matchup to target on the slate, so doubling down with the Wolverines' backup could pay dividends if this year's title game looks anything like last year's.

If you're betting on Monday's CFB National Championship, you can take advantage of FanDuel Sportsbook's 30% Profit Boost Token, which can be used on any CFP Title Game bet, including Same Game Parlays. Check the promotions page for more info.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.