Campus2Canton Analysis
Week 1 gave us a lot more to work with. We finally have real usage, real workloads, and enough game action to start figuring out which early roles might actually stick.
This report covers games completed through Sunday. SMU and Florida State play Monday night, so I am leaving that game out rather than trying to make decisions before it is played.
The approach stays the same. Help the campus lineup first. Then look at C2C appreciation, age, and ceiling.
A lot of the biggest Week 1 names are already rostered in the leagues I checked. Nate Sheppard, Jamal Rule, Mason Heintschel, J’Koby Williams, KJ Duff, Faizon Brandon, Jeremiah McClellan, Jaylin Carter, and Jamari Johnson will still be discussed because their Week 1 usage matters. They are not realistic waiver additions, so I am not attaching FAAB bids to them.
In late December 2025, head coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins knew they had a problem.
Problem? What problem? They just finished 11-2 in regular-season play and qualified for the university’s first-ever appearance in the college football playoff, losing to the eventual runner-up, Miami, 3-10.
Yes, the season was a success, but in the big-money, big-stakes business of modern-day college football, only championships matter, and resting on your laurels will get you fired.
After starting X wide receiver Noah Thomas transferred to Georgia, the 2025 Texas A&M wide receiver room had a hole and consisted only of players six-foot and under. The lack of size was cited as one of the reasons TAMU couldn’t score a touchdown against the physical Hurricane defense.
Elko and Wiggins needed to completely reset the boundary position in the portal, and when the portal opened on January 2nd, they immediately targeted former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton, officially signing him on January 11th, recapturing that missing, dominant ‘True X’.
Isaiah Horton was a 247 four-star from Tennessee who committed to the University of Miami out of high school. Horton broke out in his redshirt sophomore year while being led by 1st overall NFL Draft pick Cam Ward.
Horton jumped into the transfer portal and joined Kalen DeBoer and Ty Simpson at the University of Alabama. After enjoying another productive season, Horton decided to enter the portal again, claiming the departure was amicable but wasn’t comfortable in his role.
Coach Holmon Wiggins offered Horton a crystal-clear, high-volume blueprint that guaranteed Horton the undisputed, alpha “X” boundary role where his 6’4″, 215-pound frame could command a massive target share for NFL scouts.
A bonus for Horton was Marcel Reed. Both players are from the Volunteer State and played together on the 7-on7 circuit.
“He adds a different dimension to the room, maybe a dimension that we were missing last year in terms of pure size and height, the ability to go and make contested catches.”
– Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko
In this ~FREE~ article, @force_fantasy explains the difference between Devy, Campus 2 Canton, and College Fantasy Football (CFF) formats.
@DffFrankPanthro brings his Campus to Canton start-and-sit advice to the table for Week 1 in this ~FREE~ DFF article!
Week 0 gave us only eight FBS games, so we are still working with a small sample. The goal is simple: find players who can help the campus lineup now without sacrificing future C2C value. This is where discipline matters. We want to attack new opportunities before the rest of the league catches up, but we are not emptying the FAAB account because someone had one productive Saturday. Every recommendation assumes a $100 C2C budget. Adjust for your available player pool, scoring, lineup requirements, taxi rules, roster size, and remaining FAAB.
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Since late 2018, the transfer portal has been open for business, but it didn’t boom until 2021. Since then, it has turned college football into an open-market economy and is what many college football purists consider to be a stain on the tradition-laden sport they love.
Every once in a while, though, it does what it was meant to do at its core: provide opportunity.
Welcome to college football national consciousness: high school zero-star, zero-offer, and zero-win wide receiver Tony Diaz.
After enduring a grueling 0-10 senior season at San Marcos High School, Diaz signed with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The brand-new start-up program didn’t play a game in its first season (2024), and he redshirted for the entire calendar year, practicing in internal squad scrimmages. For nearly two years, Diaz didn’t experience a single official football victory.
In 2025, when the Vaqueros finally took the field, not only did Diaz notch wins, he took the FCS by storm.
As a redshirt freshman, Diaz dominated his team’s passing volume, commanding 67 receptions, 875 yards, and 11 touchdowns, earning AP All-American Honorable Mention honors and placing 7th in the Jerry Rice Award voting, the FCS equivalent to National Freshman of the Year.
Diaz’s breakout at age 19 is not only an incredible feat on the football field but a massive indicator of future success. For the Vaqueros, Diaz wasn’t a part of the offense; he was the offense.
Dominating FCS competition is one thing; doing it on Saturdays in the Big Ten against Ohio State, Michigan, and other NFL talent-filled schools is an entirely different beast. But that’s exactly what Kirk Ferentz, Tim Lester and the Iowa Hawkeyes expect out of Tony “Boogey Man” Diaz. They were able to nab the coveted transfer portal star over Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, and Oklahoma State, to name a few. The hook was Diaz continuing the feature role that he thrived in at Edinburg in Iowa City.
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Week 0 is finally here, but we still have to be honest about what we know. No FBS games have been completed. We do not have snap counts, target shares, or actual game usage to evaluate yet. This week is still about official announcements, injuries, camp roles, and projected depth charts.
That does not mean we sit around and wait. It means we attack the situations with real information behind them and stay patient everywhere else.
Highly valued C2C assets will be handled differently as well. I will give you the updated news, but I am not assigning generic FAAB bids to players who should already carry significant value in competitive leagues. All bids are based on a $100 FAAB budget.
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On December 1, 2025, Michigan State University officials were determined to start the new year off right and charted a new course for their beloved football team.
On that Monday, Pat Fitzgerald, the former Northwestern head coach, vowed to “restore tradition” to the state’s second-most-popular college institution. Replacing the ineffective Jonathan Smith, Fitzgerald brings a culture of physicality and defense to East Lansing that athletic director J Batt says is “an excellent fit for Michigan State football”.
Priority one was reviving a moribund Spartan running game and establishing a physical, Big Ten identity, and that required looking outside of the current locker room to the transfer portal; enter Cam Edwards, running back, UConn.
Fitzgerald targeted and fast-tracked Edwards’ recruiting, hosting him and his UConn teammate, left tackle Ben Mrawski, as soon as the portal opened on January 2nd, securing both commitments within the week.
Edwards was Pro Football Focus’ number two ranked running back available in the transfer portal and had significant interest from Penn State, Nebraska, LSU, TAMU, Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, and Michigan, among others. The Spartans won out by offering Edwards something none of the other top-tier programs could offer: an uncontested path to a featured bell-cow role.
Who is Cam Edwards?
A native of Norwalk, Connecticut, Edwards decided to stay home and play for former NFL head coach Jim Mora and the UConn Huskies. Edwards carved out a successful career while in Storrs, playing in 36 career games while starting 23. He enters MSU as a redshirt senior.
A source with intimate knowledge of those UConn teams on Edwards’ move to MSU:
“He should be their bell cow; that’s perfect for that conference, great kid too, runs hard as shit and falls forward, we used to call him ‘Mr 5 a pop’.”
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Who I Am Adding Before Week 1 and Who Can Stay on the Watch List
We have not played one FBS game in 2026, so I am not going to act like we know exactly how every one of these depth charts will look when the season starts.
There are no box scores to study. We do not have snap counts, target shares, or goal line usage. Right now, we have previous production, camp reports, coach comments, and players moving up or down the depth chart.
Camp reports matter, but they are not gospel. Coaches experiment with different combinations. Reporters only see what they are allowed to see. One good practice can create a lot of excitement without producing a real fantasy role.
That does not mean we sit around and wait for Week 1. By then, some of these players will already be gone.
The goal is to find the camp information that can turn into actual fantasy production while avoiding the noise that empties your FAAB account. These suggested bids are starting points. Adjust them based on your league depth, scoring, roster construction, and the players who are actually available.
Top Waiver Priorities
Isaiah West (RB – Ohio State): Aggressive add for 12 to 18 percent
Cornell Hatcher Jr. (RB – Oregon State): Add for 8 to 14 percent
Jaylen Raynor (QB – Iowa State): Add for 8 to 12 percent if available
Dane Jones (WR – TCU): C2C or deep CFF add for 4 to 9 percent
Jaylen Himes (WR – Southern Miss): Deep league add for 3 to 6 percent
Quarterbacks
Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State
If Jaylen Raynor is sitting on waivers, go get him. I do not need to make this more complicated than it is.
Raynor threw for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns at Arkansas State in 2025. He also ran for 423 yards and 7 more touchdowns. That rushing production is what gets my attention because it gives him a way to score fantasy points even when the passing game is not clicking.
Iowa State identified Raynor as its starting quarterback during camp and named him a team captain on August 15. That tells me the Cyclones trust him to lead this offense.
There is still some risk. Raynor is moving into the Power Four and learning a new system. The defenses will be better, and I am not expecting him to walk into Iowa State and immediately improve on everything he did at Arkansas State.
I do expect him to run. That alone makes him useful in four-point passing touchdown formats.
Iowa State opens against Southeast Missouri before traveling to Iowa. The first game should give Raynor a chance to settle into the offense before facing a much tougher defense.
My call: Add for 8 to 12 percent of your FAAB. His campus value is stronger than his long-term C2C value, but a starting quarterback with this kind of rushing production should not be on waivers.
Ethan Hampton, Southern Miss
This one depends on how deep your league is. Ethan Hampton reportedly left spring as the leader of the Southern Miss quarterback competition after taking control during the spring game. He has the clearest path to the starting job, but I am not treating the competition as completely settled yet.
The schedule is another reason to keep the bid low. Southern Miss opens against Alcorn State, which could give Hampton an immediate streaming opportunity. Auburn comes next, and I am not putting him into my lineup automatically for that matchup.
My call: Add for 1 to 3 percent in deeper leagues. He is a matchup play until we see him hold the job and produce in the new offense.
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As a true freshman, Bo Jackson sprinted onto the college football scene as one of the top running backs in the nation. The Cleveland, Ohio, native and four-star recruit amassed 1,090 yards rushing at an astounding 6.1 yards per carry, while tallying 1,290 total yards and seven touchdowns. The historic season helped lead the Buckeyes to a 12-2 finish and an appearance in the college football playoffs. Jackson joined rare air in Columbus, becoming only the fifth running back in school history to clear 1,000 yards rushing in year one; the others being Robert Smith, Maurice Clarett, J.K. Dobbins, and TreVeyon Henderson. This feat earned Jackson Freshman All-American and Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
You’re probably thinking: “Wait, David, isn’t this an article about Isaiah West?”
It is, but I have to set the table so you understand the shocking momentum building behind West and his potential ascension.
August 6th, following day one of fall camp, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day stated:
“Well, first off, you can see his body. You can see the work he’s put in. Had a tremendous off-season. One of the best in the whole building. Consistency. And when he was there last year, he showed some really good things. So we want him to take the next step”
No big deal, that’s coach speak, right? Head coaches talk up players and their offseason improvements every year, right?
Absolutely, but to find an edge in Devy/C2C we have to pay attention to the action behind those words.
According to eyewitness accounts, West commanded first-team reps alongside quarterback Julian Sayin, while Jackson ran with the second team on an adjacent field for the first three days of camp.
So what the hell is going on? Is this real?
How can we decipher this and apply it to our Devy/C2C teams?
What about my Bo Jackson shares; should I sell?
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In his DFF debut article, @GridironNerd makes the case for QB Will Hammond as a buy-low target in Devy and C2C formats.
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.
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Welcome back for the fourth and final edition of our ACC series, where @DffFrankPanthro and @jim_DFF break down their consensus top 10 players at each position from a C2C perspective.
If you missed any of the past three articles, you can view them below:
Quarterback article
Running back article
Wide receiver article
Next up, we have the tight end position. Let us know your thoughts on the list; we had to dig deep for this one!
1. Gavin Mueller, Miami
Frank’s rank – TE1
Jim’s rank – TE2
Written by – Jim
Why He’s Ranked Here
It may be surprising to see an incoming freshman ranked as the top C2C tight end in the ACC, but that really just speaks to the lack of talent at the position right now. Mueller has the size, strength, and athletic upside to develop into an elite Campus asset and eventually make a difference on our dynasty rosters.
Recruiting
Mueller was a 4-star prospect on all three major recruiting platforms, ranked as highly as the TE3 in the 2026 class on ESPN. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing basketball and track & field. Mueller was used as a tight end and running back in high school, accounting for nearly 1,200 yards of offense and 30 touchdowns as a senior.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
Depending on how depleted rosters are, Mueller should be someone considered as early as the third round in your supplemental drafts. Once Mark Bowman and Ian Premer are off the board, Mueller should be targeted.
Startup Draft Outlook
Given he’s a projection-based bet and so many of these elite TE prospects don’t pan out, I wouldn’t reach on Mueller in a startup. I’m just fading tight end in general and relying on waivers on the Campus side, unless I can grab someone like Trey’Dez Green or Jamari Johnson. That said, once you hit about Round 15 in Superflex formats, you can consider drafting Mueller. He could end up being a zero, but he also has the upside to smash his ADP.
Strengths
Burst
Athleticism
Size (6’5”, 255 lbs.)
Stop-go ability
Blocking ability
Biggest Question
The question with Mueller is the same as with any highly-touted freshman: what are the odds they hit their potential and become a fantasy star? The odds are always slimmer than we’d like to admit, but if you’re throwing a dart on anyone, it should be a profile like Mueller’s.
Always Be Scouting Take
Gavin Mueller is already built like an NFL tight end, with the functional athleticism to match. He’s new to the game (first varsity season was as a junior) but has developed quickly. Mueller is a natural hands-catcher with the frame and strength to win in congested areas, is great after the catch, and is a willing blocker. You may have to be patient with him in 2026, given Elija Lofton is there.
Draft Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High Fantasy Ceiling
2. Luke Reynolds, Virginia Tech
Frank’s rank – TE2
Jim’s rank – TE1
Written by – Frank
Why He’s Ranked Here
I’m hoping the move to Virginia Tech is exactly what Luke Reynolds needs. The talent has always been there, but the college production has not matched it yet. He now reunites with James Franklin and his former Penn State tight ends coach, Ty Howle, who is Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator. That gives Reynolds a real chance to earn a bigger role in an offense that already knows what he can do.
Verified Stats
In 2025 at Penn State, Reynolds caught 26 passes for 259 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games. For his career, he has caught 35 passes for 370 yards and one touchdown in 29 games. He has also rushed three times for 58 yards.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
Reynolds should already be rostered in most deeper C2C leagues, but there is a chance he is available in shallower formats or was dropped after two quiet seasons. I would take the chance if the price is reasonable. The move gives him another opportunity, but I’m not drafting him like the breakout has already happened.
Startup Draft Outlook
Reynolds is still a high-upside C2C tight end for me, but he remains a projection. The size and talent make him interesting for both the Campus side and the Dynasty pipeline. I just need to see the production finally catch up before I move him into the top group at the position.
Strengths
6’4” 250-pound frame
Two years of college experience
Familiarity with James Franklin and Ty Howle
Opportunity for a fresh start
Biggest Question
Can Reynolds turn more opportunities into explosive plays and touchdowns? He caught 26 passes last season, but they produced only 257 yards and no touchdowns. The next step is not just getting more targets. He has to do more with them. Virginia Tech also has several tight ends competing for work, so a featured role has not been handed to him. The position group combined for 17 catches and 205 yards in the spring game.
Always Be Scouting Take
I’m still buying the upside, but I need to see it now. The move to Virginia Tech gives Reynolds a fresh start with coaches who already know him. That is encouraging, but he is still more projection than production at this point. He has the physical ceiling to become a difference-making fantasy tight end. Now his 2026 season has to prove it.
Draft Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High-Upside Target
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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.
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You all know what time it is: time for another edition of our Campus 2 Canton ranking series! In this article, @DffFrankPanthro and @jim_DFF cover their consensus top-10 wide receivers in the ACC from a C2C perspective. If you missed either of the first two articles in this series, you can check out the quarterback article here and the running back article here.
1. Malachi Toney, Miami
Frank’s rank – WR1
Jim’s rank – WR1
Written by – Frank
Why He’s Ranked Here
Malachi Toney is ranked here because I believe he’s the best wide receiver in the ACC entering 2026 and one of the best overall Campus assets in C2C.
His freshman season was nothing short of amazing. He immediately became Miami’s go-to receiver, setting school records while leading the nation in receptions. Now he gets another talented quarterback in Darian Mensah, giving him every opportunity to build on an already elite season.
For me, Toney checks every box. He’s an elite CFF producer, an elite C2C asset. There aren’t many receivers I’d rather build around.
Verified Stats
In 2025 at Miami, Toney caught 109 passes for 1,211 yards (11.1 yards per catch ) and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. He also rushed 23 times for 113 yards and one touchdown, finishing with 1,622 all-purpose yards.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
Toney should already be rostered in virtually every supplemental draft. If he somehow isn’t, he becomes one of the easiest selections on the board. He’s a true difference-maker who can anchor your Campus lineup from Day 1.
Startup Draft Outlook
Toney is one of the first receivers I’m looking to build around. He gives you elite weekly production today while also carrying the type of long-term upside Dynasty managers look for. He’s one of the rare players who strengthens both your Campus roster and your Dynasty pipeline.
Strengths
Always seems to find a way to get the football
Proven production against ACC competition
Dangerous after the catch
Versatile offensive weapon
High NFL upside
Biggest Question
Can Toney repeat a record-breaking freshman season now that every defense will build its game plan around stopping him? The talent is obvious, but maintaining that level of production won’t be easy.
Always Be Scouting Take
This one is pretty simple for me. Toney already proved he can produce at a high level, and Miami’s offense should continue to run through him. He’s one of the safest wide receivers in CFF and C2C, and I think he has a real shot to become an NFL 1st Round Draft pick. When I can get elite Campus production with a player who also has Dynasty upside, that’s exactly the type of player I want to build around.
Draft Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Elite Target
2. Bryant Wesco, Clemson
Frank’s rank – WR2
Jim’s rank – WR2
Written by – Jim
Why He’s Ranked Here
Bryant Wesco was a big name in college fantasy before stepping foot on Clemson’s campus, coming in as a four-star recruit and a borderline top-10 wide receiver in the 2024 class. He lived up to the hype as a true freshman, amassing 700 receiving yards and five touchdowns alongside some tough target competition. He was off to an even better start as a sophomore before suffering a traumatic back injury in Week 8, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
If Wesco is fully healthy, there’s a legitimate case for him being the second most talented wide receiver in the country, behind Jeremiah Smith. He’s a twitchy, explosive receiver who can line up anywhere on the field, with elite route running chops to separate consistently.
Verified Stats
Wesco has posted some strong peripheral numbers through his first two seasons, with a 22.5% target rate and 2.37 yards per route run (YPRR). Those numbers may not scream “superstar”, but considering he was competing for targets with Antonio Williams (now on the Commanders) and T.J. Moore (another potential first-round talent), these numbers are about as good as you could ask for from an underclassman in the Power 4.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
In almost every supplemental draft, Wesco is already going to be on a roster, and you’ll likely have to acquire him through a trade.
Startup Draft Outlook
Wesco is someone who should go off the board near the end of Round 1 in Superflex formats for Campus startups. He’s an elite talent, a future NFL star, and arguably a top-5 C2C wide receiver today.
Strengths
Twitchiness
Route nuance
Ball tracking
YAC ability
Versatility
Biggest Question
What version of Bryant Wesco will we see post-injury? Watching clips of him in spring practice on X, he looks like he’s back to 100%, but we’ll see once the pads are on and defenses are on the field. If he didn’t lose any burst or agility from the surgery, he’ll be a first-round pick next April.
Always Be Scouting Take
Bryant Wesco is a special talent and projects tremendously for fantasy purposes. We’ll see how the quarterback play fares at Clemson in 2026; this is really the only thing preventing him from being a league winner on the Campus side.
Draft Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must Draft
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Welcome back for Part 2 of our ACC ranking series! In this series, @DffFrankPanthro and @jim_DFF bring you their consensus top-10 prospects from a Campus 2 Canton perspective at each fantasy position. If you missed the quarterback article, be sure to check that out here.
With that, let’s dive right in and reveal our top-10 C2C running backs in the ACC.
1. Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech
Frank’s rank – RB1
Jim’s rank – RB1
Written by – Jim
Why He’s Ranked Here
Haynes transferred back to his home state of Georgia after a breakout junior campaign with Michigan, rushing for nearly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 7 games. Unfortunately, a foot injury cut his season short; if he had stayed healthy and played the full season, there’s a real chance Haynes would have been a Round 1 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. (Don’t believe me? Jadarian Price went in Round 1 this year.)
I don’t love what I see on tape with Haynes, relative to the top RBs in the 2027 class. He lacks the wiggle and lateral agility to find a ton of success between the tackles, and he’s nearly a zero in the receiving game. All that considered, he’s still my RB1 in the ACC (just barely ahead of Brown). I’m expecting a big season with the Yellowjackets and Day 2 draft capital next April.
Verified Stats
Haynes averaged a robust 7.1 yards per attempt (YPA) as a junior. His yards after contact were much more modest, but still a solid mark of 3.77 yards after contact per attempt (YCO/A). As a receiver, Haynes provided very little value. He hauled in just 13 receptions for 50 yards with 0.50 yards per route run (YPRR).
Supplemental Draft Outlook
In almost every supplemental draft, Haynes is already going to be on a roster, and you’ll likely have to acquire him through a trade.
Startup Draft Outlook
Haynes is a borderline top-5 RB in Campus 2 Canton formats. You’ll likely see Bo Jackson, Ezavier Crowell, Savion Hiter, and Jadan Baugh go over him. But after that, he’s fair game. I would consider Haynes around the 2-3 turn of Superflex startups.
Strengths
Size
Breakaway speed
One-cut ability
Burst/Acceleration
Biggest Question
Is Haynes a nuanced enough rusher to become an RB1 in the NFL? And if so, will he be relegated to a two-down role, given the limited receiving profile? There’s still plenty left for him to prove from a fantasy perspective.
Always Be Scouting Take
Even if I have some questions about the NFL upside here, he’s still one of the safer RB bets in the 2027 class, and he’s in line to crush on the college side in 2026. He’ll help your Campus team compete now, and has the upside to make a difference on your Canton team later.
Draft Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must Draft
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Continuing his Campus 2 Canton rankings series, @DffFrankPanthro collabs with @jim_DFF to break down the top ACC quarterbacks.
Wrapping up the SEC, @DffFrankPanthro covers his top 10 tight ends heading into the 2026 season from a Campus 2 Canton perspective.
1. Cam Coleman, Texas
Why He’s Ranked Here
Cam Coleman is my WR1 in the SEC because he gives you the best mix of production, size, talent, and long-term upside.
He already showed he can play at a high level in the SEC, and now he gets a fresh start at Texas. That matters. When a receiver with his size and playmaking ability gets paired with Arch Manning, gets me excited.
What I like most about Coleman is that he is not just a big receiver who wins because he is bigger than defensive backs. He creates separation, attacks the football, and makes plays down the field. He has the size, ball skills, and body control that translate to C2C, Devy, and the NFL while still giving you immediate CFF production.
For me, Coleman is the cleanest wide receiver profile in this SEC group. He has already produced, he has NFL traits, and now he has a chance to become the featured weapon in one of the best offenses in the country.
Verified Stats
In 2025 at Auburn, Coleman caught 56 passes for 708 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 12.6 yards per reception.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
In almost every supplemental draft, Coleman is already going to be on a roster, and you’ll likely have to acquire him through a trade.
Startup Draft Outlook
In startups, Coleman is a cornerstone wide receiver. He gives you production today with the upside to become one of the most valuable receivers in C2C and Devy.
Strengths
Size and ball skills
Proven SEC production
Downfield playmaker
Red-zone threat
Long-term NFL upside
Biggest Question
How quickly does Coleman become the clear No. 1 target at Texas? The talent isn’t the question. The target share will determine just how high he climbs this season.
Always Be Scouting Take
Coleman is the type of wide receiver I want to build around. He has the size, production, and playmaking ability to win in multiple ways. If he becomes the guy at Texas, I think his value can take another jump. I also see a big year coming for Coleman now that he has Arch Manning throwing him the football. That combination has a chance to be one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the SEC. He is my WR1 in this group for a reason.
Draft Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must Draft
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Running back is one of the toughest positions to evaluate in C2C, Devy, and CFF. Talent matters, but opportunity matters too. You can love a player’s skill set, but if he is buried on a depth chart or stuck in a bad situation, the value can take longer to show up.
This SEC running back group is loaded. You have elite freshmen, proven college producers, transfer portal risers, three-down backs, and players who can help you win right away. Some of these backs are built for long-term Devy value, while others are the type of CFF producers who can carry your lineup on Saturdays.
These rankings are based on my own board. I’m not just ranking these guys by stats or recruiting stars. I’m looking at the full picture: vision, patience, contact balance, burst, pass-catching ability, CFF production, C2C value, Devy upside, roster insulation, and how aggressive you should be in supplemental or startup drafts.
The goal is simple. I want to help you know who to target, when to be aggressive, and where the value might be.
Let’s get into my Top 10 SEC running backs.
1. Ezavier Crowell, Alabama
Why He’s Ranked Here
Ezavier Crowell is my RB1 overall, not just in the SEC, and I’ll be honest, he is my guy in this running back group.
When I evaluate running backs, vision and patience come before speed. Crowell checks those boxes. He runs with a plan, stays square, lets blocks develop, and then gets north when it is time to go. That is what I want from a real running back.
The part I love most is how complete the profile feels. He has the size, burst, balance, and power to finish runs. He can create explosive plays, but he is not just a highlight runner who needs everything blocked perfectly. He can fight through contact and turn ugly runs into positive yards.
Recruiting Profile
According to 247Sports, Crowell is an Alabama running back from Jackson High School in Alabama. He is listed at 5-foot-11 and around 215 pounds. 247Sports describes him as a back with excellent bend, vision, and burst for his size, while also noting his ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield and slot. His profile also points to a bell-cow type skill set with the size and ability to handle every-down work.
Crowell enters college with over 6,000 rushing yards at the high school level while averaging well over 10 yards per carry. He also has verified track background, including a 10.74 in the 100 meters.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
Crowell is exactly the type of player freshman supplemental drafts are made for. If I’m sitting in a freshman draft and Crowell is on the board, I’m not trying to get cute. He is one of the first names I want.
Startup Draft Outlook
In startups, Crowell is a player I’m willing to be aggressive on. You may have to wait for the full workload, but that is part of playing C2C and Devy the right way. You draft the talent before everyone else sees the box scores.
Strengths
Vision and patience
Bell-cow frame
Contact balance
Burst through the hole
Pass-catching ability
Biggest Question
How quickly does Alabama give him meaningful touches? The talent is not the concern. The only question is how fast the opportunity comes, especially with the wrist injury in the spring.
Always Be Scouting Take
Crowell is my favorite running back in this article. He fits everything I look for at the position: vision, patience, size, burst, contact balance, and receiving upside. Sometimes people chase speed. I want the complete back. Crowell is my RB1 overall, and if I have the chance to draft him, I’m taking him.
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There may not be a more important position in C2C, Devy, and CFF than quarterback. If you hit on the right quarterback, he can carry your roster for multiple years. If you miss, especially in deeper formats, it can set your build back fast.
This SEC quarterback group is loaded. You have future NFL upside, proven college production, high-end freshmen, dual-threat fantasy ceilings, and quarterbacks who could become major risers once they get the full job.
These rankings are based on my own board. I’m not just ranking these guys by college stats. I’m looking at the full picture: CFF production, C2C value, Devy upside, roster insulation, and how aggressive you should be in supplemental or startup drafts.
The goal is simple. I want to help you know who to target, when to be aggressive, and where the value might be.
Let’s get into my Top 10 SEC quarterbacks for Campus to Canton.
1. Arch Manning, Texas
Why He’s Ranked Here
Arch Manning is my QB1 in the SEC because he gives you the best mix of name value, talent, production path, and long-term insulation.
When you are drafting in C2C or Devy, you are not just drafting what a player is today. You are drafting what he can become. Arch gives you the type of ceiling that can change a fantasy roster. He has the arm, the pedigree, the athletic ability, and the system around him to become one of the most valuable quarterback assets in these formats.
From a fantasy standpoint, the exciting part is that he is not just a statue in the pocket. He can move, extend plays, and add enough with his legs to matter. That matters in C2C, and it matters even more when you are betting on long-term upside.
Verified Stats
In 2025 at Texas, Manning completed 248 of 404 passes for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
Supplemental Draft Outlook
In almost every supplemental draft, Manning is already going to be on a roster, and you’ll likely have to acquire him through a trade.
Startup Draft Outlook
In startups, he is a cornerstone pick. You can build around him for both Campus and Canton value. He gives you immediate excitement and long-term trade insulation.
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In this ~FREE~ DFF article, @jim_DFF wraps up his C2C startup series by covering his favorite late-round picks, as well as his favorite ADP value from the other 11 teams.
In this week’s episode of Always Be Scouting, @DffFrankPanthro and @John_mancuso5 invite DFF analysts @jim_DFF and @Evan_Kerr_ back on to break down an expert C2C startup draft.
Welcome back for Part 2 of my C2C startup series, where I give you a behind-the-scenes look at my Campus selections and draft strategy in a league full of expert analysts. If you missed Part 1, where I covered my first ten picks, you can check that out here. I’ll run through picks 11-20 and my reasoning in this article and then wrap it up with a handful of my favorite late-round picks in Round 3.
As a reminder, this is the Campus draft in a C2C startup, and the league format is start 12, 2QB, and Superflex. No more wasting time; let’s jump right in!
11.04 – Faizon Brandon (QB – TEN)
I went with an incoming freshman for my QB3 with Faizon Brandon. He’s reportedly winning the QB competition this offseason and is tracking to be the Week 1 starter for the Vols. Brandon boasts above-average arm strength and made some impressive anticipatory throws on his high school film, displaying good footwork and mechanics. He’s not a dual-threat guy by nature but is highly athletic and mobile, amassing 24 rushing touchdowns and nearly hitting 1,500 rushing yards in his high school career. This pick could end up being a smash in the double-digit rounds.
12.09 – Jai’Den Thomas (RB – UNLV)
I wrote up Thomas a few weeks ago in another article as my Devy “sleeper” at the RB position. He’s coming off a 1,000-yard, 12-touchdown season where he averaged over 18 FPPG and should be in line for an even larger workload in Year 4. Not only should “Jet” Thomas be an every-week starter for my team, but I think he has some sneaky dynasty value as a potential scat back at the NFL level. He’s a smaller back but highly explosive and unbelievably efficient.
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We’re well into the DFF C2C Bragging Rights startup draft, a highly competitive C2C league bringing together content creators from Dynasty Football Factory and Campus 2 Canton. After wrapping up the “Canton” draft, the “Campus” draft is now underway. With roughly 20 rounds in the books, we’re approaching the halfway point.
This will be Part 1 of my draft series, where I’ll break down my picks from the first 10 rounds and walk through my macro-level strategy. Keep an eye out for future editions, where I cover my middle and late-round selections.
A few notes for context: this is a managed league (not best ball), with a start-12, 2QB/Superflex lineup, meaning you can start up to three quarterbacks. With that in mind, let’s review my picks and where I’m headed from here.
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