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.
Compared to the previous two weeks, Week Six of the college football season played out relatively similar to what fans expected. There were many unexpected shootouts in the SEC this week, which is unique. However, outside of #21 Texas A&M taking down #4 Florida and an unranked Mizzou team upsetting #17 LSU, the week seemed status quo. We again will discuss some of this past weekend’s player performances and draft stock movement!
TRENDING UP
TERRACE MARSHALL JR. – WR – LSU
Although it was in a losing effort, Terrace Marshall did everything that he could to prevent an upset loss to Mizzou. He finished the day with 11 receptions for 235 yards and three TDs. He has now compiled 21 catches for 424 yards and seven TDs through three games this season. Last season’s LSU team was one of the best college football teams in history, sending ample talent to the NFL this past April, many of which were first-round picks in the NFL Draft.
While Marshall appeared to be the third or fourth option behind Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and at times Clyde Edward-Helaire, he has already shown us this season that he is the next in line to hear his name called early on draft day. Marshall is draft-eligible after this season, but you may see him decide to stay in school to avoid joining an already loaded 2021 WR draft class, which includes Ja’Marr Chase, who opted out prior to the season.
Marshall will surely be an NFL first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft if he avoids injuries. If he continues at his current pace and elects to enter the draft after this season, then he will probably end up as a second-round pick in April. Regardless, he should be viewed as a late 1st round pick in dynasty rookie drafts in 2021 or 2022.
BREECE HALL – RB – IOWA STATE
After effectively putting the entire offense on his shoulders and willing Iowa State to victory over Oklahoma last week, despite poor play from Brock Purdy, Breece Hall did it again this week. He churned out 135 rushing yards and two TDs on 27 carries against the Texas Tech Red Raiders this weekend, leading the Cyclones to victory. He also tacked on a 14-yard reception. I hope to see the Cyclones utilize Hall in the passing game more moving forward.
At this point, Hall is the bettor’s favorite to be the first RB to come off the board in the 2022 draft. He appears to be the total package, with good speed and burst, and great power and play strength to make up for what he lacks in lateral movement. Although he is not asked to do it much, he has shown he is a competent receiver when called upon. If Hall avoids injury, he should be a day two pick in the 2022 NFL draft and will be a slam dunk first-round pick in 2022 dynasty rookie drafts.
MONTY RICE – LB – GEORGIA
Another name in IDP that maybe hasn’t been acknowledged as much as he should be is Monty Rice. That looks to change after this weekend’s performance in a big win against #14 Tennessee. Rice finished with eight total tackles: five solos, two TFLs, and a critical sack-fumble in which he picked up and ran for a 20-yard TD, that effectively ended the game and any hope Tennessee had for an upset.
While Rice was named to the pre-season Butkus Award watch list, he was only listed as a pre-season 2nd team all-conference selection. By the end of this year, Rice will have started for two and a half seasons for the Bulldogs and will most likely have led the team in tackles in 2019 and 2020. A smaller, versatile, sideline-to-sideline LB, Rice profiles as a poor man’s Roquan Smith and can be expected to be a day two pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In IDP dynasty leagues. in a loaded 2021 class, he should be an early-third round rookie pick.
TRENDING DOWN
D’ERIQ KING – QB – MIAMI
This past weekend D’Eriq King’s rising momentum was halted as he was exposed as a still-developing passer against what looks like the closest thing he will see to an NFL-caliber defense this season. #7 Miami completely flopped against #1 Clemson, a game in which King’s offense could only muster ten points (one TD was scored via blocked FG on special teams). King finished the day with just 121 passing yards and zero TDs on just 12-of-28 passing. He also threw two INTs. However, he was under siege most of the day as Miami’s offensive line was no match upfront for Clemson’s front seven. King did rip off a few nice runs–both designed and ad-libbed off passing plays–for 84 yards and a TD.
If King hopes to be a first-round NFL draft pick, he will have to show that Miami can lean on his arm to win games or at least to keep them close. He underthrew open receivers on both of his interceptions this weekend. King looks to be a day two developmental QB prospect at this point, though Lamar Jackson’s success in the NFL may cause a team to reach for him a little early. Oddly enough, his fantasy value is probably more than his real NFL value at this point, as the rushing ability alone at the QB position provides a nice edge if he can land on an NFL team that does not have an established QB.
GEORGE PICKENS – WR – GEORGIA
Let me start by saying George Pickens is a stud-athlete and is oozing all-star potential. After a strong showing as a true freshman last season, Pickens has gotten off to a slow start this season. This past weekend against Tennessee, he caught just two passes for 14 yards. What’s worse is Pickens was caught spraying water on an opponent on the sidelines after a play, which drew the ire of head coach Kirby Smart. On the season, Pickens has compiled just eight catches for 87 yards, though he has scored two TDs.
Unexpected new starting QB Stetson Bennett has seemed to favor teammate Kearis Jackson through three games this season. Pickens now finds himself in his coach’s dog-house and also battling to establish rapport and trust with his new QB, who has played well enough to be named the team’s starter moving forward. However, Pickens has NFL first-round talent and plenty of time to work hard to earn back the trust of his coaches and teammates. As a very young star, he has plenty of time to put up good film for scouts and bounce back from this set-back. It is far too early to predict draft stock with so much to play out, but this inauspicious start to the season is certainly a cause for concern.
TREVON MOEHRIG-WOODARD – S – TCU
After putting himself on the map for NFL draft scouts last season, Trevon Moehrig-Woodard has had a steady but unspectacular start to the 2020 season. Moehrig-Woodard recorded just six tackles with three solos this past weekend in a loss to Kansas State. Through three games, he has logged just 13 total tackles with seven solos. That is all. He has not recorded a single TFL, sack, INT, or pass defended through one-third of the college football season. For a player that hopes to be the first safety taken in the 2021 NFL draft, he has some work to do.
Moehrig-Woodard recorded an insane 15 passes defended and four interceptions as a safety last season. However, this season he has struggled to create impact plays. Admittedly, teams are avoiding his side of the field a little more frequently this season. If Moehrig-Woodard wants to be the top safety in the nation, he will have to find a way to make the game-changing, momentum plays that he so often provided for the Horned Frogs last season. His NFL draft stock has him as an early day two pick, but in fantasy, I never devote heavy draft capital to DBs, and I would not draft him earlier than in the fifth round of a dynasty rookie draft.
SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER TO WATCH
JAELON DARDEN – WR – NORTH TEXAS
The dynamic slot WR for the Mean Green went off this past weekend in a losing effort to Charlotte. Jaelon Darden accounted for more than half of his team’s total yards and literally every touchdown, as he finished the day with 13 catches for 244 yards and three TDs. Through four games this season, Darden has racked up 36 receptions for 485 yards and leads the entire nation with nine TDs.
Darden is a dynamic athlete that plays with strength despite his diminutive size. He also has return skills and has shown an ability to make plays rushing the ball on end-arounds. He has displayed the ability to run routes and make plays in the short, intermediate, and deep levels of the defense. Darden looks like a strong bet to be a day three pick in the 2021 NFL draft, as his versatility, special teams experience, and big-play ability will be coveted by many teams. He is the kind of player I like to stash on my taxi squad in dynasty leagues if he goes undrafted.
PREVIOUS WEEKS’ DRAFT STOCK WATCH
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and countless other quality reads and content offered here at Dynasty Football Factory. Also, you can interact with me on Twitter at @DocFFFN.
