Florida Football: Gators to start and fade on DraftKings vs Tennessee

We chronicled earlier this week the betting odds for Florida football against Tennessee and noted how the line has been dropping in Florida’s favor.

But there are options for daily fantasy, and we here at Hail Florida Hail are going to give our advice of which Gators you should consider playing against Tennessee.

We are going to be looking at the DraftKings Classic style for the 7 PM Night games. In addition to Florida vs. Tennessee, the following seven games are a part of the slate:

• Northern Illinois at Nebraska
• Georgia Tech at Ole Miss
• Pitt at West Virginia
• Syracuse at Purdue
• BYU at Arkansas
• Akron at Kentucky
• TCU at Houston

Florida Football: Start or fade

• Graham Mertz
  • $6,400
  • FPPG – 18.5 points

As one of the cheapest options at QB for this slate of games, there is some temptation to go with Mertz. Matchup-wise, Tennessee is more prone to the pass than they are to the run, and Mertz has shown through two games he is capable of a high completion rate to keep the ball moving.

But it is unlikely he is going to put up big points. Even against Utah, despite throwing for over 300 yards, he still only put up 18.4 fantasy points. And in a daily fantasy style, one needs guys that are going to go off.

If you are playing tournament style, he probably doesn’t have a high enough ceiling to take you to victory. If you are playing 50/50, you could possibly justify Mertz at his price with the plan to spend the money on a different high-money player.

•  Montrell Johnson
  • $6,400
  • FPPG – 17.3 points

Last week, we said, “Johnson could either go for 125 yards and three touchdowns tonight or 60 yards and no touchdowns.”

Well, he did the former and had 119 yards and two touchdowns.

What is tough about taking Johnson is that Tennessee’s run defense is solid, but Florida does get back center Kingsley Eguakun to stabilize the run game.

He is the more likely back of the two to get touches on the goalline if Napier opts to rotate his backs.

• Trevor Etienne
  • $5,900
  • FPPG – 12.3 points

Slightly cheaper than Johnson, Etienne was the more heavily featured back against Utah.

But also, the question regarding taking either Gator running back is if they will look more like they did against McNeese State or if they look like they did against Utah.

Keep in mind that McNeese State was begging Florida football to run the ball with super soft coverage.

There is reason to believe that Napier will try and run the ball, but Florida’s run game was held in check last season against Tennessee. Etienne had nine carries for just 35 yards.

• Ricky Pearsall
  • $6,600
  • FFPG – 22.3 points

If you want one Gator that is almost certain to get touches and productive ones, it is Pearsall.

At $6,600, he is the second most expensive healthy receiver one can choose from, but there is little reason to believe that he won’t be worth it.

Plus if you want to go the negative Nancy route and believe Florida will fall behind in this game, it will force the Gators to throw it more, allowing more points for Pearsall.

• Caleb Douglas
  • $5,300
  • FFPG – 14.2 points

Eight different receivers registered a catch last week with Florida football. Caleb Douglas was not one of them.

Essentially, picking up Douglas would be a dart throw with the hope that he gets targeted on a goal-line fade like he did against Utah.

• Eugene Wilson
  • $4,700
  • FFPG – 8.4 points

Wilson very nearly had a touchdown last week but was tackled at the one.

As the hype train around him continues to grow, he is still priced at a rate that makes him very appealing for the daily fantasy format.

While he had four catches last week, we have also seen Napier use him in end around situations also to pick up rushing yards.

For now, he is still a great value pick with a high upside.