College Fantasy Football: Five SEC tips for your draft

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The college football season is right around the corner, which means it’s almost time to play college fantasy football, too. In some ways, that takes a different perspective when drafting teams and considering who to put on your squad. Here are five thoughts on the SEC with weeks to go before the season.

There could be an argument that Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham is the best pure quarterback in the SEC, maybe even Georgia’s Jake Fromm after leading the Bulldogs to the national title game, but Missouri’s Drew Lock is a fantasy goldmine.

Lock threw for 3,964 yards last season (806 more than Stidham, who was in second place) and he had 44 touchdown passes as well - 18 more than Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur and 26 more than Sitdham. If there’s a lock in the SEC, it’s to take Lock as a No. 1 quarterback.

Missouri did lose its top receiver in J’Mon Moore, who had 65 catches for 1,082 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but the Tigers return a bunch of talent and the offense should be sharp. Receivers Jonathan Johnson, Emanuel Hall and others should be top targets. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is back after leading the team with 11 TDs last season. Lock should have another huge year.

Former five-star Najee Harris will figure more into Alabama’s offense, but taking senior running back Damien Harris early makes a lot of sense for fantasy owners.

Alabama is still figuring out the quarterback spot (although many expect Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Crimson Tide back in the national title game, to earn the starting job). As that works itself out and Alabama finds some reliable go-to receivers with the departure of Calvin Ridley, expect the Crimson Tide to hand the ball off a lot to Damien Harris especially behind such a dominant offensive line.

Receivers Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith and others will play a more prominent role in Alabama’s passing attack. But quarterback Jalen Hurts ran a team-high 154 times last season. With Tagovailoa in there, even if Damien Harris gets a quarter of those carries, then his numbers could improve even more - after rushing for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

The SEC’s leading returning rusher is Kentucky’s Benny Snell, who finished with 1,333 yards and a league-high 19 rushing TDs last season. He could be in line for another huge season, especially if the offensive line delivers because the Wildcats have uncertainties at quarterback and receiver so Kentucky could lean even more on Snell’s abilities.

Snell could be an excellent option at running back but in Kentucky’s six losses last season, he either performed really well or was basically non-existent. The Wildcats are not expected to be world-killers this year, so Snell could be hit or miss in big moments.

In losses to Florida, Mississippi State and Northwestern, Snell did not perform well. In losses to Ole Miss, Georgia and Louisville, Snell was far more productive. With games against Florida, Mississippi State and South Carolina in September, Snell might be shaky early in the season but he’s still a phenomenal back to have on the roster.

Teams that like to run the ball better watch out against Auburn, Mississippi State and other defensive fronts in the SEC that should be absolutely stellar. Florida, Missouri, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and others could be dominant on the defensive line as well, so it’s something to consider when looking at drafting a defense.

Auburn and Mississippi State should be particularly excellent against the run, but both the Tigers and the Bulldogs have unproven pieces in the secondary. Still, at Auburn with Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown, Dontavius Russell and others and then at Mississippi State with Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat leading the way, teams could have a really tough time moving the ball.

Shea Patterson is off to Michigan and this is undoubtedly quarterback Jordan Ta’amu’s offense to run - and what an offense it could be at Ole Miss.

A.J. Brown might be the best wide receiver in the country and he’s super productive. Then Ta’amu will have DaMarkus Lodge, DK Metcalf and tight end Dawson Knox among others at his disposal in the offense. Plus, Ole Miss’ rushing attack is a little uncertain and unsettled so the passing game should be leaned on early and often.

The early schedule is a little tricky with Alabama and LSU before the end of September but the opener against Texas Tech could be a shootout and then Southern Illinois and Kent State could be easy blowouts with big numbers going up.

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