Hello, again Fantasy Devy Gamers! Each week I will bring you the latest updates, performances, and NFL buzz surrounding college players that should prove to be integral to their eventual NFL Draft Stock. 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.
This series is coming to you on a bi-weekly basis in 2021. In weeks two through four of FBS play, already there are different and new teams atop the standings in several power five conferences from what everyone has grown accustomed to over the past decade. These are highlighted by Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Iowa at the top of the ACC Atlantic, ACC Coastal, and Big Ten West conferences respectively. Additionally, there is a four-team tie at the top of the Big Ten East–and Ohio State is not included. Baylor joins Oklahoma and Oklahoma State atop the Big 12 and Arizona State and UCLA are tied atop the Pac-12 South. Let’s look at the draft stock movement that has taken place amidst all of these surprises!
TRENDING UP
Jaxson Dart – QB – USC
True-Freshman QB Jaxson Dart tops my list of draft stock risers because his performance off the bench in relief was remarkable. Almost nothing could go right for the Trojans to start the season, but when Jaxson Dart entered the game for an injured Kedon Slovie against Washington State down two TDs, he resurrected a dying USC offense. In just a quarter and a half of play, Dart had led USC to a 35-14 lead by the start of the fourth quarter. Interim head coach Donte Williams must be ecstatic that Dart has shown he is already prepared to compete against the Pac-12.
Dart completed 30 of 46 passes for 391 yards and four TDs. While he did throw two INTs, the offense looked more explosive than it has this season running with Slovis under center. Unfortunately, a few days later Jaxson Dart was seen dawning a knee brace at practice a few days later, and it was revealed he had minor surgery to clean up a mild meniscus tear. While Slovis returns from injury this week and is expected to start, no one knows how long of a leash Coach Williams will give him if the offense struggles again. The needle is pointing up for Dart and his future.
Kenneth Walker III – RB – Michigan State
No player has benefited more from their transfer portal opportunity this season than Kenneth Walker III. Through just four games, Walker has diced up Northwestern, Youngstown State, and Northwestern, and while was held in check against Nebraska, he kept the offense on schedule and the play-action game effective. Through four games Walker has carried 76 times for 554 yards on the ground and five TDs. As a receiver, he has added three receptions for 17 yards and another TD out of the backfield.
At Wake Forest, Walker was a target of owners playing in moderately deep devy leagues, but his production this season has gotten him noticed. If he continues to play this well against a stout Big Ten schedule, he will see his stock rise to be among one of the top-five draft-eligible 2022 backs.
TreVeyon Henderson – RB – Ohio State
The top overall RB recruit in the class has not taken long to impress in his true-freshman season. TreVeyon Henderson already has 439 yards and six TDs on just 46 carries in four games. He has added three catches for an additional 87 yards and another TD. Henderson has all the traits to be the next generational RB to enter the NFL. He has excellent balance, shows strength and power, possesses breakaway speed, and can catch and run routes. Over the next two and a half years he will need to continue improving his pass protection and make sure he stays healthy. The sky is the limit for this future first-round pick.
https://twitter.com/BillyHeyen/status/1439358060754083848?s=20Drake London – WR – USC
Junior receiver Drake London has pretty much already matched the statistics marks of his previous two seasons through just four games. London is coming off of 170 and 165-yard performances respectively, in which he has caught 23 passes and scored twice these last two weeks. He had a concussion late in the game against Washington State, but it looks like it was a mild one and he is expected back next week.
At 6’5” and 215 lbs London already possesses NFL size and has shown the ability to stretch the field and run routes. He is a tough player that absorbs contact well and continues to move the pile and continue moving the sticks. He has good enough speed to see himself drafted on day two of the NFL draft whether he chooses to declare in 2022 or 2023.
Josh Downs – WR – UNC
While UNC has had its ups and downs through four games this year, Josh Downs has been consistently up. He is the clear alpha receiver on his team and already a favorite target of QB Sam Howell. Downs has caught eight passes each game this season and has accumulated 452 yards on those 32 receptions. He has already scored five TDs on the year and has shown some ability as a punt returner as well.
Downs has done most of his work out of the slot and he has shown the ability to get open on short, intermediate, and deep routes against both man and zone coverages. He possesses exceptional acceleration and can get to top speed in just a few strides. His speed is top-tier and he has some creativity with the ball in his hands after the catch. If he continues to improve his strength and his route running, he should hear his name called early whether he chooses to declare in 2023 or 2024.
Brock Bowers – TE – Georgia
If anyone missed it, your author proclaimed true-freshman Brock Bowers as the new devy TE2 two weeks ago. Since then, Bowers has caught nine more passes for 122 yards and two more TDs. He has still been serving as one of, if not the top option in the Georgia passing game.
The athletic TE from wine country has all of the tools we like to see in the modern TE position. My colleague @RookieWhisper has noticed and highlighted Bowers’ outstanding traits as well. While he is currently the Bulldogs’ leading receiver, given the traits and ability he’s displayed, if he just manages a top-three finish on his own team in receiving he should hold down the devy TE2 spot behind Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer for the rest of the season.
Kyle Hamilton – S – Notre Dame
Kyle Hamilton is a name well-known, so while this may seem like a bit of a cop-out, his play has been so strong this season that he may become the rare safety that is drafted top-10. At 6’4” and 220 lbs he possesses Derwin James-like size and ability, yet slightly bigger. Hamilton has shown the ability to play deep safety or two-high coverage and can play in the slot or come down and become a box defender or a blitzer. This season he has 24 tackles with 14 solos, two TFLs, two passes defensed and three INTs already. He is a team leader and possesses a strong football IQ. Hamilton is the exception, one of the rare times that your author may actually spend a rookie draft pick on a DB in an IDP dynasty league. Hopefully, he is available as a late-second-round pick in full IDP dynasty drafts next season.
Aidan Hutchinson – EDGE – Michigan
There were concerns about Aidan Hutchinson returning from injury and having a slow start to the 2021 season. Consider those concerns disregarded. Hutchinson is currently tied for second in the entire FBS with 5.5 sacks. He also has 15 tackles and 5.5 TFLs in four games. Although they haven’t been tested yet, Michigan’s defense has held all four opponents to 14 points or less this season. Hutchinson is the leader and best player on the defensive front. There were already whispers about him earning his way into the first round of the NFL draft last season before he fractured his leg. Now it appears if he remains healthy he will at minimum be a late-first round pick in the 2022 draft, with the potential to earn his way to becoming a top-15 overall selection. In IDP dynasty leagues he should be an early second-round pick.
TRENDING DOWN
Spencer Rattler – QB – Oklahoma
While OU has remained undefeated (barely) this season, Spencer Rattler has not. Against West Virginia last weekend he was nearly “booed” off the field by fans. The Sooner offense has been poor with Rattler behind center this season, as it stalled numerous times against West Virginia and Nebraska. If you remove the Western Carolina blowout, Rattler has thrown for just 774 yards with three TDs and three INTs and has taken five sacks. While he has all the arm talent and ability to be a next-level superstar, Rattler has struggled with decision-making and taking care of the football in the past. He still has time to turn it around, but a pedestrian OU offensive line will force him to make his reads and decisions quicker.
Kedon Slovis – QB – USC
As mentioned earlier, Slovis and the Trojan offense had been anemic before his injury. While it looks as though he will return to the starting job this week, after Dart’s performance his job may not be safe unless he improves. Slovis has had high expectations from devy analysts everywhere, but this season could play out to be a nightmare for him and his draft stock. We will see how he and the offense perform against Colorado this coming weekend.
Eric Gray – RB – Oklahoma
Many dynasty devy gamers were excited to hear that Eric Gray landed at OU following his entrance into the transfer portal. However, the excitement has been dulled as Gray has largely served in a change-of-pace role so far this season. Incumbent starter Kennedy Brooks, who opted out of last season due to covid, has run with the majority of the reps and played on important downs. At this point, Gray is showing that concerns about whether he could serve in a three-down role at the next level are warranted. From a production standpoint, Gray has been solid but unspectacular, producing 223 yards on 45 carries. He has down the most damage as a receiver, where he has six receptions for 68 yards and a TD.
Gray has solid third-down skills and has shown creativity and playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, but he will need to step up (behind a surprisingly less dominant offensive line) running the ball between the tackles if he hopes to earn anything more than day three draft capital.
DeaMonte Trayanum – RB – Arizona State
The bruiser down in the desert came into the season with high expectations but thus far has mustered just six carries for 52 yards and a couple of TDs against a lowly South Utah squad. In that game, he injured his foot and has not been on the field since. In his stead, backfield mate Rachaad White has taken over as the lead back and performed well. Teammate Daniyel Ngata has also performed well in a change-of-pace role. Trayanum has shed his walking boot, but it is not known yet when he will return to the lineup. Already limited with athleticism, it will be interesting to see how the foot injury affects him the rest of this season after he makes it back.
Agiye Hall – WR – Alabama
While Alabama has been pile-driving teams into the ground, it hasn’t been perfect for everyone on the roster thus far. Agiye Hall received a ton of hype this summer when he was running with the first-team offense and making plays against the Tide’s defense. However, when it came time for the games to be played, Hall has been no more than a depth piece. He has just one catch for ten yards on the season. While this is no cause for panic or even much concern (most draft hopeful WRs who aren’t injured have performed well the past few weeks), it is a bit of a let-down considering Hall came into the year with so much hype. As merely a true freshman, Hall will undoubtedly break out in the future, we’re just going to have to wait longer to see it.
Jack Sanborn – LB – Wisconsin
The Badgers have been run over by both Penn State and Notre Dame so far this season. Through three games LB Jack Sanborn has just 11 total tackles with five TFLs, one fumble recovery, and a single sack. Sanborn has been described as a highly competitive player who has a non-stop motor, but this season he has not been getting to the football in the same way he has in the past. Once projected as a potential NFL-level MIKE LB, his lower body tightness and limited athleticism will continue to stand out if he does not produce the tackle numbers and punishing hits that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. His draft stock is sliding to where he may be selected day three this coming April if he doesn’t improve.
SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER TO WATCH
Christian Watson – WR – North Dakota State
A player that had day three draft buzz last season before he opted to return for his senior season is Christian Watson. Watson is a receiver with legitimate speed who is a threat to score a TD on any play. He had an incredible first season in 2019 (his 2018 was lost to pre-season knee surgery) where he averaged 21.5 yards per reception. After the Covid-19 season cut short 2020 to just one game, he has picked up right where he left off so far this season.
In three games, Watson has amassed 198 yards and two TDs on nine receptions. NDSU has been throttling teams again this season, or he may have greater statistics. He makes consistent hands-catches away from his body and boasts decent size already at 6’3” and 206 lbs.
If he continues to dominate we can expect to hear his name called as early as the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
PREVIOUS WEEKS’ DRAFT STOCK WATCH
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