Open the Control Room

Author name: Jim Moorman

Editor in Chief for @DFF_Dynasty #DFFArmy #DynastyFootball

vonnahme

Devy Players of the Week: Week 9

How are we already nine weeks into the college football season? This is the downside of the college fantasy season: it goes by too quickly. We may have only a few regular-season weeks left, but some names are still surging up my Devy ranks with big-time performances. Let’s take a look at a few of those names now. 

Quarterback

Drew Mestemaker (QB – Oklahoma State)
27-42, 323 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
5 attempts, 14 yards

The Cowboys suffered a heartbreaking 51-49 loss to Iowa State this weekend, but their QB1 did everything he could to give them a shot. The North Texas transfer threw for 323 yards and five touchdowns, marking his seventh straight 300-yard game. He’s now over 2,600 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns on the season, adding another pair of scores on the ground. 

There’s now discussion that Mestemaker could be the first quarterback selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. Considering he didn’t even start at quarterback in high school, the speed at which he’s learned and developed at the position is pretty ridiculous. Could he be the 1.02 in dynasty rookie drafts this spring? 

LaNorris Sellers (QB – South Carolina)
19-24, 301 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
12 attempts, 101 yards, 2 TDs

As soon as I’m ready to throw in the towel on Sellers and move on with my life, he has a performance like this that gives me hope. The Gamecocks took down the Sooners 42-25 thanks to Sellers’ 402 yards of offense and five total touchdowns. 

If you exclude sack yardage, Sellers has now posted four games of 100+ rush yards this season. This is exactly what makes him so intriguing for fantasy. If he can piece it all together as a passer, his Konami-Code playstyle could give him Cam Newton-level upside. He has a bazooka for an arm and can make the highlight play at any given time. But I still have questions about accuracy and processing ability. 

Running Back

Caleb Hawkins (RB – Oklahoma State)
25 attempts, 194 yards, 2 TDs
9 targets, 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD

Mestemaker wasn’t the only player who showed out for the Cowboys this weekend. Their workhorse running back, Caleb Hawkins, posted 51.5 fantasy points, finishing second among all FBS positions in Week 9. Hawkins had his first multi-touchdown performance on the ground and caught a third touchdown through the air, putting his total up to six for the season. 

Despite the lack of touchdown luck this year, Hawkins has been tremendous analytically. He’s averaging 5.4 yards per attempt (YPA), 4.10 yards after contact per attempt (YCO/A), and has been efficient as a pass-catcher with 1.76 yards per route run (YPRR). He’s a projected second-round pick on NFL Mock Draft Database, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he waited until 2028 to declare. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 9 Read More »

toney

Devy Players of the Week: Week 8

Welcome back for another edition of Devy Players of the Week. Week 8 brought a few new breakout performances, including a 40-burger from a true freshman! Let’s take a look at who made the list this time around. 

Quarterback

Darian Mensah (QB – Miami)
31-37, 387 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
2 attempts, 16 yards

Unsurprisingly, Mensah and the Miami Hurricanes took care of business against Pittsburgh this weekend, racking up 52 total points. Mensah had another near-flawless performance, amassing over 400 yards of offense and four touchdowns. He’s now up to 22 touchdowns and just one interception on the season, as Miami remains undefeated at 7-0. 

Mensah has as good a case as any to be the first quarterback taken in April’s draft. He may not have that elite fantasy ceiling we’re looking for with our early first-round rookie picks in dynasty, but there’s no doubt this kid is playing some excellent football. 

Sam Leavitt (QB – LSU)
32-45, 387 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
8 attempts, 52 yards, 1 TD

That’s back-to-back appearances on the DPOTW series for Sam Leavitt. This is exactly the player I was hoping for when I traded @Evan_Kerr_ Bryce Young for Leavitt, Naeem Burroughs, and a 2027 2nd in one of my Devy leagues earlier this season. (For what it’s worth, I still hate that trade looking back now.) Leavitt and the Tigers handled Auburn without issue this weekend, winning by a score of 38-17. Leavitt was the star, accounting for four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). 

If Leavitt can keep this momentum through the final four games of the season, I could see him back in the first-round discussion for the 2027 NFL Draft. His dual-threat ability makes him an enticing fantasy target if he has a real shot at starting under center on Sundays. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 8 Read More »

sellers

Devy Players of the Week: Week 6

Devy Players of the Week is back! Week 6 features a few new names making the list, a couple of prospects salvaging their NFL draft stock, and a tight end stat line so absurd I had to double-check the box score.

Quarterback

LaNorris Sellers (QB – South Carolina) 
23-35, 279 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
13 attempts, 31 yards, 1 TD

I wrote in the DFF Discord yesterday that this could be Sellers’ last game as a starter if they lost to Florida and dropped to 0-4 in conference. Not only did he save his job with an upset win over the Gators, but he put up one of the better stat lines in the country. 

Sellers threw for four touchdowns and rushed for one more yesterday, making several NFL-caliber throws. He looked as confident as I’ve seen him all year in the pocket, working through progressions and completing passes in some tight windows. This one game isn’t enough for me to move him back up my devy rankings, but I was thrilled to see him possibly turning a corner. 

Bear Bachmeier (QB – BYU)
22-30, 329, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
11 attempts, 107 yards

Bear Bachmeier was due for a big performance after two straight games without a passing touchdown. He dominated in BYU’s win over Iowa State this weekend, totaling 436 yards and throwing two touchdowns. Bachmeier’s dual-threat ability makes him a compelling fantasy asset, though I wouldn’t bet on him becoming an NFL starter quite yet. 

If BYU hopes to keep their undefeated season alive, Bachmeier will need to continue leading the charge with L.J. Martin out for at least another month. 

Running Back

Fame Ijeboi (RB – Purdue)

If you don’t think Fame Ijeboi is a future NFL running back, just flip on a Purdue game once and watch this kid tote the rock. He’s as physical a runner as anyone in the country and displays some impressive short-area burst through the hole. 

Fame’s surface-level stats (like yards per attempt) may not look impressive without context, but when you realize Purdue is ranked 136th out of 138 FBS teams in run block grade, you can see why. Digging a bit deeper, you’ll see Fame leads the FBS in missed tackles forced (48). His 41% juke rate this season is slightly better than Ashton Jeanty’s season average in his final season at Boise State, when he went god-mode all year. NFL workhorse is absolutely within his range of outcomes here. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 6 Read More »

simmons

Devy Players of the Week: Week 5

Welcome back for another edition of Devy Players of the Week! As we inch closer to the midway point of the regular season, we’re getting a clearer picture of who will hit our dynasty rosters and who lacks the tools to hack it on Sundays. Let’s take a look at which prospects stood out in Week 5. 

Quarterback

Austin Simmons (QB – Missouri)
23-30, 340 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
3 attempts, 3 yards

Several other quarterbacks had better box scores this weekend, but I’d be remiss to leave out Austin Simmons in this week’s edition after the upset he just pulled off. Despite being 5.5-point dogs to the 8th-ranked Florida Gators, Simmons led his Tigers to a dominant 45-17 win and played some truly polished football. 

Simmons showed off his arm talent in this matchup, zipping tight spirals with pinpoint accuracy all afternoon. He’s playing some of the best football in the country and hasn’t thrown a single interception in five games. Simmons is up to my devy QB22 overall. If he keeps this up, he may just declare in 2027 and go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. The one downside is that Simmons lacks any rushing upside. 

CJ Carr (QB – Notre Dame)
21-29, 234 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
5 attempts, 14 yards, 1 TD

CJ Carr continues to silence the doubters (including myself), playing mistake-free football and leading the Irish with confidence every week. I maintain the stance that Carr doesn’t have a very strong arm, but he’s highly accurate and has some of the best touch in the country. His superpower is his processing ability, both pre-snap and post-snap. Being able to diagnose a defense quickly is arguably more important than any physical tools when finding success as an NFL quarterback. 

Carr put together another excellent stat line in Notre Dame’s win over UNC, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for one. He’s another guy who won’t get you much fantasy production on the ground, so his ceiling is relatively capped. 

Running Back

DeSean Bishop (RB – Tennessee)
34 attempts, 220 yards, 3 TDs

Bishop accounted for all of Tennessee’s touchdowns in their 24-14 win over Auburn this weekend, improving to 4-1 on the season. Bishop’s competence as a rusher has been integral in taking some pressure off the passing game, which has been up and down all year. The Vols benched their true freshman quarterback, Faizon Brandon, midgame, relying solely on the run game to get them the dub. 

Bishop saw 34 attempts this weekend, rushing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the excellent numbers, I do have some hesitation investing in any Tennessee players from a devy perspective. It tends to be an offensive system that produces plenty of college fantasy points, but doesn’t necessarily develop its players for the next level. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 5 Read More »

Jeremiah smith

Devy Players of the Week – Week 4

Week 4 of college football is officially in the books! Hopefully your rostered devy players have been moving up DFF’s consensus Big Boards and not down. There’s a lot of movement in these early weeks of the season, as players firmly establish roles in their offense and begin to stand out among the rest. With that, let’s take a look at this week’s top performances! 

Quarterback

Keelon Russell (QB – Alabama)
21-27, 365 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
6 attempts, 46 yards, 1 TD

Could Alabama make a run at the National Championship this year? With Keelon Russell under center, I wouldn’t count them out. Russell lands on my DPTOW list for the second consecutive week as the Crimson Tide DISMANTLED this South Carolina Gamecock defense, winning 49-18. 

Russell accounted for over 400 yards of offense and five total touchdowns in this one, once again looking calm and polished in the pocket throughout. Russell has moved up to my devy QB1 overall, but he has some difficult challenges ahead, to say the least. Bama’s next four games: Mississippi State, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and LSU. If he can make it through this stretch unscathed, we may be looking at the 1.01 in 2028 dynasty rookie drafts. 

Julian Sayin (QB – Ohio State)
27-36, 367 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
9 attempts, 27 yards, 1 TD

Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes took care of business against the Illini this weekend, winning by a score of 42-19. Sayin put up an identical stat line to Russell, posting nearly 400 yards of offense and five touchdowns of his own. Through four games this year, Sayin has racked up over 1,200 yards and 12 total touchdowns with just one interception. 

Resident Buckeye fan and DFF analyst @Evan_Kerr_ has pointed out that Sayin may not have an NFL arm, frequently underthrowing his receivers deep. Luckily, he has arguably the best receiver in college football history on his team, so he gets bailed out frequently. I’m not sold on Sayin as a dynasty asset yet, but as with any quarterback, we’ll have to see what kind of draft capital and landing spot he gets. Even if he gets a starting job, his fantasy ceiling is capped with his lack of rushing upside. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week – Week 4 Read More »

Jalen coker

My Early-Season Fantasy Football Misses

Nobody has a perfect hit rate in fantasy, and anyone who claims they do is lying. At DFF, we believe being transparent about our misses is important. It’s the first step in learning from mistakes and improving our process. 

That’s why, in today’s article, I’ll be diving into my early-season misses and the lessons I’ve learned (if any) through a dynasty lens. Dynasty calls for more patience than redraft; just because someone has failed to produce through three weeks or dominated early doesn’t mean they’ll be the same player for years to come. So let’s figure out whether it’s time to hit the panic button.

Colston Loveland (TE – CHI)

I’ve been part of the Loveland hive since his early days at Michigan. He displays the play strength to play in-line, has velcro hands, and moves like a wide receiver. There’s a reason I have 33% Loveland ownership across all my fantasy leagues; I took him over Tyler Warren in every single rookie draft I was in last year.

Well, it’s been a nightmare start to the season for the former Wolverine, sitting with only one reception in two games. His 2026 per-route numbers include a 6.3% target rate and 0.05 yards per route run. (How is that even possible?) To everyone’s surprise, Kalif Raymond is leading the charge at wide receiver, and HC Ben Johnson is even drawing up plays for Sam Rousch. Odd. 

While my Loveland teams have gotten off to a slow start, I’m not panicking yet. Loveland is the TE4 overall in snap rate and TE6 in route participation. He’s a full-time player with real receiving skills, and the big games are coming. I’ve dropped Loveland a bit in my overall dynasty ranks, but he does remain as my TE3 overall. 

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR)

I specifically remember saying in our DFF Discord this offseason that Jalen Coker was a JAG, and that it was tough to envision a scenario where your team is a true contender and Coker is an every-week starter. Boy was I wrong. Shout-out to DFF analyst @Paul_Ryan15, who was bullish on Coker since this summer. 

In Coker’s last four games (dating back to last year), he’s averaging 9 targets, 8 receptions, 85 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown per game. That’s about 22 PPR points per game. Bryce Young appears to be the real deal, and this passing offense is consolidated between two guys: Coker and Tetairoa McMillan. 

I’ve been trying to buy Coker recently, but nobody is selling. And frankly, I don’t blame them. A four-game sample isn’t massive, but it also suggests this is no fluke. He’s moved up to my WR31 overall in dynasty. I’m not sure there was a major lesson to be learned here, other than that a clear top-two option in an offense trending upwards deserved more of my attention, even if Coker was a UDFA and a modest producer in the past. I’ll be interested to see how this passing offense fares against some better defense as the season progresses. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

My Early-Season Fantasy Football Misses Read More »

baugh

Devy Players of the Week – Week 3

How is Week 3 of college football already in the books? Time flies when you’re watching the greatest sport on planet Earth. Anyway, you guys know the drill by now. I’m bringing you the top two performances from each fantasy position this week, focusing solely on future NFL prospects. Let’s see who made the cut. 

Quarterback

Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele (QB – Cal)
27-33, 448 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs

The Hawaiian southpaw had his best game of the season yesterday, granted it was against an FCS opponent in Wagner. He threw for 448 yards and three touchdowns in just 2.5 quarters, scoring on seven of eight drives. JKS was nearly perfect under center this weekend, but we expected as much against this level of competition. 

I want to see him take another step forward in P4 play; against Syracuse and UCLA this year, he’s sitting with just a 60% completion rate and 6.0 yards per attempt. He’ll need to be more efficient as a passer to solidify his spot as the devy QB1, given he provides nothing on the ground. Realistically, we’ll need him to become a Joe Burrow-level passer to be a first-round startup pick in dynasty formats (which I believe is in his range of outcomes). 

Keelon Russell (QB – Alabama)
23-30, 320 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
5 attempts, 62 yards, 1 TD

Keelon legacy game! What a performance from the sophomore in a shootout win against Florida State. He accounted for nearly 400 yards of offense and four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), not even turning the ball over once. 

This was the kind of stat line we were waiting for after two underwhelming box scores to start the season. Russell looked confident as ever in the pocket this weekend, with polished mechanics and a lightning-quick release. He’s a pass-first quarterback with the mobility and burst to tuck it and run at any time. This 2028 quarterback class is shaping up to be incredible, with JKS, Keelon, and Kamario Taylor leading the charge. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week – Week 3 Read More »

taylor

Devy Players of the Week: Week 2

Welcome back to Week 2 of Devy Players of the Week! The headline game was a clash of titans between Ohio State and Texas, with the Longhorns pulling off a stunning comeback. We have plenty of future NFL talent to break down, so let’s get into it.

Quarterbacks

Lincoln Kienholz (QB – Louisville)

16-22, 332 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
6 attempts, 42 yards, 2 TDs

What a start to the season for Lincoln Kienholz. After racking up nearly 400 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 against Ole Miss, Kienholz posted an even better stat line in Week 2 against Villanova. We got another 374 yards and four total touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) from the Ohio State transfer in this one.

We went from wondering whether Kienholz could secure a starting gig to Kienholz playing some of the best football in the country through two weeks. He’s a guy to watch going forward; if he gains NFL buzz, Kienholz has the rushing upside to be an intriguing fantasy option.  

Kamario Taylor (QB – Mississippi St.) 

16-23, 227 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
12 attempts, 91 yards, 0 TDs

Perhaps nobody in the country has seen a bigger surge in devy value than Kamario Taylor out of Mississippi State. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound monster has gotten off to a blazing start this year, dominating both as a passer and a rusher. We knew he was a Konami-Code player coming into this season, but what’s impressed me most is his tools as a passer. Taylor has a cannon for an arm, can zip it into tight windows, can throw on the run, and shows poise beyond his years in the pocket. He showed off the full repertoire this weekend, having his way with Minnesota Gophers’ defense from start to finish. 

Speaking of years, did you know this kid is only 19? That’s right. Taylor is a true sophomore and isn’t even eligible to declare until 2028. We could be looking at the next Kyler Murray, only six inches taller and 25 pounds heavier. There’s a case to be made for Taylor as the devy QB1 overall now. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 2 Read More »

Darian Mensah

Devy Players of the Week: Week 1

Welcome back for the Week 1 edition of Devy Players of the Week! We still have a few Sunday and Monday night games to wrap up Week 1, but given that I’ll be M.I.A. until next Sunday, I figured I’d better get you all an article now. This week featured a ton of elite performances, making it tough to select just two winners per position. We’ve got plenty to cover, so let’s not waste any more time!  

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 1 Read More »

Trent mosley

Devy Players of the Week: Week 0

In my books, Christmas morning is a close second to the first slate of college football games each season. The long wait for football is finally over, and with it comes the return of our Devy Players of the Week series! If you remember from prior years, I cover the top two performances (in my opinion) at each fantasy position, every week of the college football regular season. 

Week 0 was an abbreviated slate, so we don’t have a ton to choose from, but we still saw some breakout performances and surprises to kick off the 2026 season. As a reminder, this is a Devy series, so we’re focusing solely on guys with a reasonable path to NFL touches down the road. With that, let’s take a look at the standouts from yesterday’s games!

Quarterbacks

Jayden Maiava (QB – USC)

25-29, 286 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
2 carries, 4 yards, 1 TD

Sure, it was against San Jose State, but senior QB Jayden Maiava had as close to a perfect game as one could hope for to kick things off. He finished with three total touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing) and threw just four incompletions all game. He got these numbers in just three quarters, too, as USC’s lead was large enough to sit their veteran playcaller in the fourth. 

I’ve generally been in the camp that Maiava’s efficiency is mostly a product of Lincoln Riley’s fast-paced, spread offense, which relies heavily on quick, simple reads and passes. I’m still skeptical of the NFL upside here, and this game doesn’t change a ton for me, but I’m open to being wrong. There’s no denying Maiava’s production profile, leading the B1G in passing yards and scoring in 2025. Once WRs Terrell Anderson and Tanook Hines return, the ceiling will only be that much higher for the Trojans’ offense. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Devy Players of the Week: Week 0 Read More »

achane

Does Team Success Matter for Fantasy RBs?

We’ve all heard this fantasy advice before: target running backs on good teams, fade the ones on bad offenses. A prime example this year is De’Von Achane, whose Underdog ADP sits at RB11 overall. This is four spots below Saquon Barkley, who averaged nearly six fewer PPR points per game than him in 2025. The reason? Achane plays for a team that’s projected to win 4.5 games on most major sportsbooks. 

Logic tells us that winning teams run more late in games, see more red-zone trips, and score more points. But how much is team success actually correlated to RB production in fantasy? To find out, I had Claude pull ten full seasons of NFL data (2016–2025) from nflverse to find out. Stick around to see what I learned; the answer may surprise you! 

The variables

To measure “team success” for this exercise, I’m using actual point differential (average scoring margin per game across a full season) and Vegas-implied point differential (the average margin each team was expected to win or lose by, based on the closing spread). The Vegas line matters specifically for fantasy draft strategy, assuming there’s some meaningful correlation between team success and RB production. 

On the running back side, I’m looking at PPR points per game, and splitting it three ways:

RB1: the leading PPR scorer in each team’s backfield that season (minimum 8 games played)
RB2 / RB3: the second- and third-leading scorers (minimum 4 games played)
The whole RB room: every running back on the roster combined (to capture how much fantasy output a team’s backfield provided, regardless of who got the touches)

That gives us 320 team-seasons (32 teams × 10 years) built from nflverse’s official play-by-play, schedule, and weekly stat data. Now that we have the setup, let’s check out the findings. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Does Team Success Matter for Fantasy RBs? Read More »

pwash

Parker Washington: Buy the Hype or Fade the Noise?

Parker Washington has seen an incredible surge in dynasty value over the past 12 months, climbing from outside the top 100 wide receivers this time last year to WR31 overall today, according to KeepTradeCut. This is due in large part to Washington’s strong end to the 2025 NFL season, racking up 26 receptions, 454 yards, and three touchdowns over Jacksonville’s final four games (regular season + playoffs). Since then, we’ve seen nothing but bullish news out of OTAs and training camp regarding Washington. 

On the other hand, this was a former Day 3 pick who barely cracked 500 receiving yards through his first two NFL seasons. Was he simply reaping the benefit of Travis Hunter landing on IR and Brian Thomas Jr. battling his own set of injuries on the field? Has the Parker Washington hype gone too far, or is he here to stay? Let’s find out. 

College Profile

Parker Washington was a 4-star recruit and a top-50 receiver in the country coming out of high school, according to 247 Sports. He played all three of his college seasons at Penn State, amassing 1,900 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in Happy Valley. From an analytical perspective, he was pretty underwhelming, posting a career 20.9% target rate and 1.91 yards per route run. 

Washington was an early declare, despite posting relatively pedestrian numbers. He ultimately went in Round 6 of the NFL Draft, which we rarely see from early declares now. Washington technically had two years of eligibility remaining, having played his freshman season during the COVID season. It’s very possible he’d have taken a big step forward had he stayed in college (and transferred to a more pass-friendly environment). NIL deals at this time were not nearly as lucrative as they are today, which surely played into his decision. 

Early NFL Career

Parker Washington began his NFL career as a part-time player, buried on the depth chart behind guys like Calvin Ridley, Evan Engram, and Christian Kirk (all still technically in their prime). Washington had his opportunity to flourish in 2024 with Calvin Ridley gone, plus Christian Kirk and Evan Engram hurt for much of the season. However, rookie Brian Thomas Jr. emerged as the WR1 and dominated target share, leaving Washington as an afterthought. 

Despite running nearly 400 routes in 2024, Washington managed only 32 receptions, 390 yards, and three touchdowns. His 13.3% target rate and 1.02 yards per route run on the season were dismal marks, and ones that typically suggest your time in the NFL is numbered. 

In terms of dynasty value, Washington was a roster clogger at best through two seasons. In most leagues, he went undrafted in dynasty rookie drafts in 2023, bouncing from random rosters to the waiver wire. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Parker Washington: Buy the Hype or Fade the Noise? Read More »

craver

Flag Planting for the 2026 College Football Season

Long-term success in Devy and C2C formats means planting your flag on college prospects early, before the market catches up. Some player takes that your league mates consider absurd today could be consensus in a couple of months; that’s how fast this landscape moves.

With that in mind, I’m going on record with four of my spiciest Devy/C2C takes for the 2026 CFB season. There will always be swings and misses in these formats, but when I do make contact, I want it to be a home run.

1. Mario Craver will be runner-up for the Biletnikoff and go in Round 1 of the 2027 NFL Draft. 

Mario Craver is one of the more polarizing players in Devy formats today. There are certainly “truthers” (like myself) out there, but most are concerned his playstyle and frame will limit his NFL ceiling. 

I have very few concerns with Craver. Sure, he’s undersized, but he reportedly put on a ton of size this offseason and is up to 180 pounds. He always played bigger than his listed size, but physicality should no longer be an issue. 

Craver is a twitchy, dynamic route runner who can win at all three levels and has the acceleration to take the top off of defenses. He was also outproducing first-round talent KC Concepcion in the early part of the 2025 season, with 440 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the first three games. Craver has his quarterback, Marcel Reed, back, and projects to be the clear WR1 for the Aggies. 1200 yards and eight touchdowns will be his floor in 2026.

2. Jonathan Hatton Jr. will be the Sooners’ clear RB1 by the end of the season. 

I’ll take it a step further: Hatton will be valued as a top 12 running back in Devy by this time next year. He has plenty of backfield competition this year, with Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock returning, as well as Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant. But I think the consensus four-star freshman will ultimately prove to be the most talented of the bunch and be a starter late in the year. 

Hatton has received nothing but rave reviews from the Oklahoma coaching staff this offseason. Reports say he’s around 230 pounds right now, but highly explosive and lightning fast for his size. 

I liked what I saw on his high school tape, displaying a willingness to initiate contact and showing decisiveness behind the line. He’s more of your one-cut, downhill runner, and once he gets momentum, he’s tough to bring down. I think Hatton could be really special.

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

Flag Planting for the 2026 College Football Season Read More »

nabers

Training Camp News and Injuries: Fantasy Impact

Football is back, baby! With training camp officially underway for all 32 NFL teams, our timelines are once again flooded with on-the-field news and highlight plays. It can be tough to keep tabs on everything and decipher what matters vs. what doesn’t in dynasty, which is why I’ve put together this breakdown for you. 

Below, you’ll see the top headlines from training camp as of August 1st, dynasty impact, and my personal take on the news. 

Stock-Up Players

Malik Nabers (WR – NYG) – Last time we saw Nabers, he was limping to first place in a celebrity softball game. We were receiving nothing but ominous news regarding his ACL recovery early this summer, but things have turned around since then. He’s avoided the training camp PUP list and looks to be at full health running routes in camp. If Nabers plays Week 1 and gets off to a hot start, he could easily be back in the conversation for dynasty WR1 overall by midseason. 

Deebo Samuel (WR – SF) – Deebo is back with his former team, following the injury news on Ricky Pearsall. With Pearsall potentially out for the year and Christian Kirk dealing with calf issues, San Francisco needed to shore up this wide receiver room somehow. Add in Jordan James suffering fractured ribs, and Deebo could be back in the classic “Deebo” role in 2026. The question is whether or not he’s completely washed. Either way, 2026 will likely be his last usable season for fantasy. I’ve moved him up, but only marginally. He may be a good sell-high candidate now. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Training Camp News and Injuries: Fantasy Impact Read More »

kyren

Reviewing My Recent Dynasty Trades

Time for a subscriber favorite, a good old-fashioned trade review! Below, I’ll cover four recent trades I’ve made over the past week and my reasoning behind each trade. These four trades come from three different leagues (two dynasty, one C2C). The ultimate goal of these trade articles (outside of entertainment) is to give you an idea of what to prioritize when deciding whether to hit that “accept” button. 

If you’re looking for a second opinion on your own dynasty trades, check out our AccuTrader in The Dynasty Control Room. Sync your leagues and get a full trade breakdown based on DFF’s Expert Consensus ranks. 

DFF C2C Bragging Rights

This trade was made in a C2C league, which primarily consists of creators from Campus 2 Canton and our team at DFF. I made this trade with @DffFrankPanthro, sending him Alabama RB Ezavier Crowell for Jaylen Waddle. 

With this being Year 1 of the league, there’s plenty of parity from top to bottom. Nobody really sold a ton of Canton picks for Campus picks or vice versa, so it’s anyone’s game on both sides. My weakest position on the Canton side was wide receiver, with my top three WRs being Justin Jefferson, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Romeo Doubs before this trade was made. I wanted to bolster my WR room without sacrificing other areas of my NFL side, so I understood I needed to give up a premier asset on the college side to do so. 

I knew from talking ball with Frank virtually every day that Crowell is his RB1 of the freshman class and one of his favorite overall assets in C2C formats. I won’t deny that the long-term ceiling play in this deal is Crowell, especially in this particular league, where RB scoring is so favorable on the NFL side (0.25 PPC, 0.25 rushing 1st down). It was a lot to give up, but I’m incredibly bullish on Jaylen Waddle now that he’s in Denver. Despite being alpha’d by Tyreek Hill for much of his career, Waddle has always been hyper-efficient from a per-route basis, and now steps into a situation where he should be the WR1 on his team. I’m not too concerned with Courtland Sutton, who is entering his age-31 season and saw a big drop in efficiency in 2025. I feel pretty confident in saying Waddle has WR1 (top 12) upside in fantasy once again. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Reviewing My Recent Dynasty Trades Read More »

marsh

Who is the WR2 of the 2027 Class?

You might’ve noticed that the title of this article differs slightly from the QB and RB articles I released. That’s because the WR1 of the 2027 class is as set in stone as we’ve ever seen. Barring some sort of traumatic injury, Jeremiah Smith is locked in as the top dog and a top-5 overall pick in the NFL Draft next April. 

We don’t need to go into detail with Smith’s prospect profile; you already know everything there is to know about this generational prospect. Instead, I’m going to try to help answer the question: who is the WR2 overall in the 2027 draft class? 

If you missed the quarterback or running back articles in this series, be sure to click the links here. With that, let’s talk wide receivers. 

Who’s after Jeremiah Smith?

Similar to the quarterback article, I compiled a list of guys I think have at least an outside shot at being the WR2 in this draft class. Unlike the quarterback article, this list will be considerably shorter. 

Cam Coleman
Ryan Coleman-Williams
Jayce Brown
Bryant Wesco
T.J. Moore
Nick Marsh
Mario Craver

I’ll be removing prospects from contention one at a time, starting with my lowest-rated of the group from a devy perspective. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Who is the WR2 of the 2027 Class? Read More »

moore

Who is the QB1 of the 2027 Class?

Tier 3 QBs
Jayden Maiava (QB – USC) 

I think that Jayden Maiava is mostly just a product of Lincoln Riley’s quarterback-friendly offense and lacks any real NFL traits. He struggles under pressure, turns the ball over far too much, and lacks creativity when a play breaks down. I won’t deny that he has the size and production profile to be on this list, but he’s not someone I’m targeting in devy formats. 

Drake Lindsey (QB – Minnesota)

I see why Lindsey is getting so much hype in devy circles. He’s a pro-style quarterback with excellent size and elite arm talent, can push the ball down the field with relative ease, and impressed as a processor in his first year as a starter. All that considered, he’s still a projections-based bet, and as a redshirt sophomore, I imagine he’ll spend two more years in college. 

Trinidad Chambliss (QB – Ole Miss)

Chambliss really impressed in his first year at the D1 level, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards with only three interceptions. He can play off-platform, has above-average arm talent, and the rushing upside to be genuinely excited about from a fantasy perspective. My biggest concern is that he fought so hard for a sixth year of college eligibility when the 2025 quarterback class was so weak. Because of that, I question the true NFL ceiling. 

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Who is the QB1 of the 2027 Class? Read More »

jayden

How NFL Personnel Tendencies Are Reshaping Fantasy Value

Over the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard NFL and fantasy analysts discussing a shift in the offensive meta, specifically the rise of 12 and 13-personnel packages. But what does it actually mean, and does it have any real impact on your dynasty teams?

The short answer is yes. In today’s article, I’ll break down the “why” behind it, but first, let’s make sure we’re all speaking the same language.

If you’re unfamiliar, here’s what it means when someone refers to “X-personnel”:

11 personnel — 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
12 personnel — 1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR
13 personnel — 1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR
21 personnel — 2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR
22 personnel — 2 RB, 2 TE, 1 WR

These five groupings make up the majority of NFL play-calling year over year, and the balance between them is shifting in ways that matter for how you build your roster and prioritize certain fantasy players.

For this article, I pulled NFL leaguewide data dating back to 2022 from sumersports.com, and have confirmed that TE-heavy packages are steadily increasing, while 11 personnel is decreasing across the league. 

Below, you’ll see a graph breaking down how the five most popular formations have trended from 2022 to 2025:

To access the rest of this article, login or become a member. control room correct size

How NFL Personnel Tendencies Are Reshaping Fantasy Value Read More »

Save to list