Iowa State at Arizona Breakdown: Week 8, Oct. 24, 2026

The story

Arizona has won four straight and sits 5-1, most recently beating West Virginia 52-31 on Oct. 10. Iowa State is 3-3 and lost at BYU on Oct. 9. For fantasy, the Wildcats bring an offense averaging 35.7 points a game into Tucson, while the Cyclones average 29.7. Each side has one clear anchor worth building around.

The angle

Arizona carries an implied 31 points to Iowa State's 21, and neither offense points to an extreme game, so usage and matchups decide it. Both teams spread their catches around and split their backfields, which narrows the bankable plays. Arizona's defense is the tougher of the two, rating in the top 25 percent of FBS against quarterbacks and receivers. That is why the Iowa State plays here rest on volume.

Start 'em

Aiden Flora has taken over the biggest share of Iowa State's backfield: 49 percent of the carries over the last three games, up from 34 percent before that, on 17.3 carries a game. He has averaged 22.4 points a game this season and 25.1 over his last three games, with a season high of 49.1, and he has scored at least 10 in each of his last five games. Arizona's run defense is above average, in the top 30 percent of FBS on a per-carry basis, which may trim his upside. Safe floor: a workload that size holds up against a sturdy front.

Noah Fifita has thrown for 307 yards a game over Arizona's last three games while adding 7.3 carries a game. He has averaged 25.7 points a game this season and 25.6 over his last three, with a high of 35.4, and he has cleared 14 points in each of his last five games. Iowa State's defense is about average against quarterbacks, and an implied 31 points gives him room to work even with Tre Spivey (Arizona) out for the season and Chris Hunter (Arizona) out. Safe floor: his weekly consistency is the steadiest in this game.

Isaiah Mizell has caught 19 percent of Arizona's passes over his last three games, up from 12 percent earlier, and he has played in five of Arizona's six games. He has averaged 13.2 points a game this season and 19 over his last three, peaking with 6 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the 52-31 win at West Virginia. The Arizona Daily Star reported he moved into the starting lineup with the top three receivers sidelined by injuries, and coach Brent Brennan said, "He's different and that different showed up today in a super impactful way." Iowa State is about average against receivers. Brandon Phelps (Arizona) sits behind him at 10.7 points over the last three games to Mizell's 19. Start: his role and output are both on the rise.

Value

Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State's starting QB, has added a rushing floor, with 10 carries a game over his last three games, up from seven before that, alongside 189 passing yards a game. Arizona is in the top 25 percent of FBS against quarterbacks, but he has averaged 13.4 points over that span and at $6.4M is projected for about 13.

Kedrick Reescano has 38 percent of Arizona's carries over the last three games, on 13 a game, and has averaged 11.2 points in that stretch. Iowa State is about average against running backs, and at $5.4M he is projected for about 12.

TL;DR

Build around Flora and Fifita for floor, start Mizell in his expanded role, and treat Raynor and Reescano as fairly priced value pieces.