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.
This third week of college football brought us action that included 20 games, ten ranked teams that took the field, two upsets of ranked opponents, and several close games that seemed to go down to the wire. Additionally, we learned that the BIG10 conference will play an abbreviated season starting at the end of October. Let’s now discuss some devy player draft stocks as a result of this week’s action.
TRENDING UP
D’Eriq King – QB – Miami
After a strong Week 2 performance in which he led Miami to a win over UAB, D’Eriq King has now passed a more difficult test. This weekend he threw for 325 yards and three TDs with completions on 18 of 30 attempts in a win over #18 Louisville. King showcased the ability to rely on his arm and decision-making, as Louisville held him to under ten yards rushing on eight attempts. While we would like to see his completion percentage a little higher, King showed poise and leadership as well as responsibility with the football (zero turnovers) in leading his team to a big ACC win.
If King can keep this momentum and efficiency moving forward, he will finish as a contender for the Heisman trophy. He will have plenty of opportunities to put his recent success to the test and earn further accolades in the coming weeks as he squares off against a stingy Florida State defense next week before heading to Clemson in Week 5. If King continues to take care of the football against some of these potent ACC defenses, then he will have an opportunity to sneak into the back end of the 1st-round of the 2021 NFL Draft, even if Miami loses two or three of those games.
Tylan Wallace – WR – Oklahoma State
This may come as a surprise to many of my readers, as OSU largely disappointed offensively this weekend. After all, Wallace produced only four receptions for 94 yards in the box score. However, if you consider the circumstances (which will be discussed momentarily), it is not poor production. Wallace put together a solid game and came down with a big catch that helped his team produce a scoring drive and win the game. Most of all, Wallace displayed strong hands and looked fully healthy in his first game back from the injury that ended his 2019 campaign early.
Given the fact that he played the majority of the game with two backup QBs, there is hope that Wallace will still be able to produce in this situation moving forward. Assuming he stays healthy, expect Wallace to enter back into the top-ten devy WR tier and potentially be a top-five guy. If this plays out, he will probably be drafted in the late-1st or early 2nd-round of the NFL Draft, making him a late-1st round rookie pick in most dynasty rookie drafts.
Zaven Collins – LB – Tulsa
Tulsa LB Zaven Collins wreaked havoc on the OSU offense early and throughout much of the game. He finished with six solo tackles, three sacks, and four tackles-for-loss. Collins is a relatively unknown name playing for Tulsa, but he did enter the season as a preseason candidate for the Chuck Bednarik Award. Collins is a 6’4” 260 lb. redshirt-junior that is a three-year starter. He is a smart player with good ball skills, having played QB and safety in high school.
Collins has a diverse skill-set and will most likely be asked to do a variety of things at the next level. He reminds me of Anthony Barr of the Vikings. Collins may be asked to line up on the edge and rush the passer at the next level as well, which he has shown he is capable of. He will have more opportunities to shine this year, as Tulsa plays a difficult schedule that features UCF, Cincinnati, and a fun Houston offense. He will be a day two or day three pick in the NFL draft when he declares, so there is not much reason to roster him in IDP devy leagues unless it is a very deep or unlimited devy league.
TRENDING DOWN
Spencer Sanders – QB – Oklahoma State
While Tylan Wallace impressed on Saturday, Spencer Sanders had a rough day. Sanders had been viewed as a player on the rise coming into the season, after a dynamic freshmen season in 2019. The dual-threat QB boasts great speed and a powerful arm and was viewed as one of the top QB options in the 2022 eligible draft class. Saturday, though, he took a couple of bad sacks, and outside of one good throw, he didn’t stand out in his first drive against an exploitable Tulsa defense. The next drive, a high handoff to Chuba Hubbard caused an ugly fumble that ended the team’s drive and ultimately, Sanders’ day as he left the game with an ankle injury.
The injury was later diagnosed as a high ankle sprain but is not believed to be a serious one. He is week to week for now, but his stock takes a hit with his pedestrian play before the injury, in addition to the result of the injury itself. Also, he now risks the unwanted label of being injury-prone, having dealt with a thumb injury last season. Sanders is a young player that has plenty of time to improve his stock, but he needs to be sharper and take advantage of his opportunities in the future.
Chuba Hubbard – RB – Oklahoma State
When his QB left the game, all of Tulsa’s attention turned to Chuba Hubbard. He struggled to produce until the last ten minutes of the game. He finished with 93 rushing yards and a TD on 27 carries, and also caught two passes in which he was dropped for a combined negative-seven yard loss. Any time that Spencer Sanders misses will be tough sledding for Hubbard.
When you factor in his limited skill as a receiver and his poor pass-blocking ability, I feel that a poor statistical season for Hubbard will cause him to fall in the NFL Draft. If Sanders misses a few weeks, then Hubbard could continue to struggle. I know at this point it seems like I only watched two games this weekend, but I assure you, there is more!
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – LB – Notre Dame
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an undersized linebacker who was on almost every 2020 preseason award watch list. He has a diverse skill-set and really stood out against Duke in Notre Dame’s first game, compiling nine tackles, two TFLs, one sack, and a forced fumble. Owusu-Koramoah is a player that had to wait two and a half years to get his shot and now needs to do as much as possible with the time he has left to prove to NFL scouts he can play at the next level.
In a favorable matchup against the University of South Florida this weekend, Jeremiah recorded just a single assisted tackle. This against a USF team that largely ran the ball and threw short the few times they did throw the ball. Granted, he finished the game early due to USF’s inability to compete, but the fact that Owusu-Koramoah didn’t stand out in a game in which nearly everyone else on the team had a big play highlight is a bit concerning for a player touted as an undersized overachiever with a high-energy motor.
SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER TO WATCH
Frank Harris – QB – University of Texas-San Antonio
Junior QB Frank Harris ran for two scores and threw for another as he led UTSA to victory over FCS foe Stephen F. Austin State University. Harris posted his career-high with 269 passing yards on 23-of-36 passing with just one INT. Harris is an athletic running QB that has had his collegiate career marred by injuries up to this point. He could catch on with an NFL team on day three of the draft or as an UDFA when he decides to declare and would be best served to stay in college for the 2021 season.
**BONUS** Grayson McCall – QB – Coastal Carolina
My favorite small school player led his team to win against FCS opponent Campbell this weekend, completing eleven of sixteen passed for 273 yards and two TDs, adding 22 rushing yards on three carries. McCall played mistake-free football and did not turn the ball over. He helped his team to a big lead early, which they never relinquished. This allowed him to exit the game early in the 4th quarter. This team feeds off of his leadership and contagious energy.
Previous Weeks’ Draft Stock Watch:
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