Each week I will bring you the latest updates and NFL buzz surrounding college players that should prove to be integral to future fantasy success. I will utilize recent statistics, performance and film, and general “front office whispers” to compile the intel I share with you. My hope is to provide you with a leg up on your opponents. You will know which devy players to target in trades and/or in what range of draft picks (both NFL and fantasy drafts) you can expect these players to be selected. If you want to read last week’s article, click here.
Another weekend of college football is in the books, and we all got to witness a big game that finally lived up to the hype, watching Notre Dame actually come through in a big game for once. The double-overtime thriller, though, was not the only action, as we welcomed back Pac12 and MAC football this past week. We continued to see offensive fireworks in the SEC as well. Consequently, we will sift through the Week Ten action and take a look at some of the draft stock movements for our future fantasy football stars.
TRENDING UP
D’Eriq King – QB – Miami
The Miami QB has now been featured in my article three times, which is fitting for a talented yet polarizing player that possesses his unique, dynamic abilities. D’Eriq King has battled back after his stumbles against Clemson to reinforce his draft stock. This past Friday, King led #11 Miami to a big ACC win over North Carolina State. King led his team in rushing, threw for 430 passing yards, and accounted for all five of his team’s TDs in the win. He completed 31-of-41 passes, adding 15 carries for 105 yards on the ground.
While it is true King slipped up against his stiffest competition and what best represents an NFL caliber front-seven in Clemson, in each of Miami’s other games, King has displayed the ability to go through progressions, throw accurately and with touch when necessary, and run to get himself out of trouble. While he does not have the same speed or arm strength of top mobile QBs we have seen drafted in recent years, King does have a watered-down version of Kyler Murray’s skillset. His strong play through seven games of the ACC schedule should render him drafted in the mid-to-late 1st round of the NFL Draft by an NFL team chasing the Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray model of offense. Similarly, in Superflex rookie drafts, his rushing upside should make him a mid-1st round pick.
Garrett Wilson – WR – Ohio State
While several RBs lit up the stat sheets this weekend, those games were against far inferior opponents, so yes, I will put off Mohamed Ibrahim’s eight rushing TDs over the last two weeks for another week. Kyren Wiliams’ big day may also be worth mentioning, but Notre Dame has the best offensive line in the nation, and Clemson was down a few defensive starters. After writing about teammate and fellow Buckeye Chris Olave last week, I had no choice but to write about Garrett Wilson’s rise up the WR ranks this week.
Garrett Wilson has now compiled over one hundred receiving yards in every game he has played this season. This weekend against Rutgers he recorded six receptions for 104 yards and another TD. Wilson has displayed speed and big-play ability in a variety of ways, whether that be on the ground, with yards-after-catch on short routes, or tracking down the deep ball. He has established himself as the 1A or 1B alpha receiver across from fellow stud Chris Olave, which makes Heisman front-runner Justin Fields look even more intimidating.
Like Olave, Wilson is still developing his frame, but he has shown he can consistently beat defenses with his route running and speed. Wilson will push against fellow BIG10 receiver David Bell to be the top WR drafted in the 2022 rookie class should he choose to declare next year. I am excited to watch him develop over the rest of this season and next.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – LB – Notre Dame
Another name that’s been featured in this article before–albeit on the wrong end–is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Jeremiah is a player who came into the season with some hype and early-round draft expectations. After an uninspiring first half of his season, Owusu-Koramoah needed to shine in the spotlight of the biggest game of the regular season. The versatile LB took full advantage of his opportunity, leading the Irish with nine tackles, seven solos, two and a half tackles for loss, half a sack, two takeaways, and a defensive TD.
While his defense gave up a record 439 passing yards to standout freshmen D.J. Uiagalelei, the defense ultimately made plays when it had to, led by Owusu-Koramoah’s efforts. If he can leverage this huge performance into continued consistency and big-play success, then I can see the senior being drafted in the mid-to-late second round of the NFL draft, which would make him a mid-third round pick in rookie drafts of dynasty IDP leagues.
TRENDING DOWN
Zach Charbonnet – RB – Michigan
While Michigan’s offense as a whole combined for only 13 rush yards on 18 attempts in an embarrassing loss to Indiana, you have to consider Zach Charbonnet’s sophomore season a bust thus far. Charbonnet earned just one carry for four yards on Saturday, adding three receptions for 28 yards while his team trailed all game. The former four-star recruit boasts size and speed, but the fact that he has been unable to separate himself from a backfield committee is a legitimate concern.
Through three games this season, Charbonnet has just 15 total touches–ten carries and five receptions. Michigan annually boasts a strong recruiting class and offensive line, so there are no excuses for their poor record or Charbonnet’s lack of production. The coaching staff appears to feel just as comfortable with teammate Hassan Haskins in the backfield as they do Charbonnet. Charbonnet has never been a player I’ve been interested in, but at this point, he is completely off my draft board. He is just a sophomore, so there is plenty of time for things to change.
Chuba Hubbard – RB – Oklahoma State
Chuba Hubbard, another player who has been on the “trending down” list before, disappointed again this past weekend in #18 OSU’s narrow win over Kansas State before hobbling off with a lower extremity injury. Hubbard carried the ball just six times for 31 yards and added a reception for four yards. Hubbard was already having a disappointing season coming off last season’s 2000 yard outburst. The severity of this injury could dictate whether or not Hubbard has an opportunity to bounce back and redeem this season.
With his known limitations as a blocker and a receiver, Hubbard will need to be on the field as much as possible to showcase improvement in those areas. Additionally, he will need to be on the field to excel as a pure runner as he did last year, which may convince NFL teams to look past his other deficiencies. Without a bounce-back second half of the season, I see Hubbard being drafted in the mid-to-late third round of the NFL Draft. His landing spot should determine how early he will be drafted in dynasty rookie leagues, anywhere from mid-to-late first round.
Nyles Pinckney – DT – Clemson
As a player that flirted with declaring for the NFL Draft a season ago, we have come to expect dominant play from Nyles Pinckney this season. What we have witnessed so far is a lack of impact plays and pedestrian stat lines, although he has been keeping blockers occupied and allowing Clemson LBs to make plays. This underwhelming season from Pinckney was highlighted by this past weekend’s showdown with #4 Notre Dame.
Pinckney tallied just three tackles with two solos and a half-sack on Saturday, while in part allowing Notre Dame to control the line of scrimmage for the majority of the day. The Irish ran for 208 yards as a team and posted over 500 yards of total offense. Through eight games this season, Pinckney has just 17 tackles, with eight solos and one sack. Given his size and limited production this season, I cannot see him being drafted earlier than the fifth-round of the NFL Draft. When you consider this is where Grady Jarrett was drafted, it does leave hope for Pinckney at the next level. However, at this point, he is off my draft board in dynasty IDP rookie drafts.
SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER TO WATCH
Jaret Patterson – RB – Buffalo
A name that has been on analysts’ “sleeper” lists the past few seasons is Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson. Patterson has been a star for the Bulls since he ran for over 1000 yards his true-freshman season. Last year he ran for nearly 1800 and compiled over 2000 total yards with 14 TDs. Now that the MAC conference has begun play, Patterson has picked up where he left off.
This past Saturday he ran for 137 yards and 2 TDs on 20 carries against a respectable Northern Illinois team. I want to see Patterson display improvement as a receiver this season, but even if he doesn’t, his skills and statistics have already garnered him day three draft stock. With another huge season and an added propensity to catch the ball, Patterson might make his way as high as a late-third or early-fourth round pick come this April. In dynasty rookie drafts, he should be considered a third or fourth-round value.
PREVIOUS WEEKS’ DRAFT STOCK WATCH
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