College Fantasy Football: Looking ahead to Week 1 in the ACC
The first full week of college football is coming up, which means it’s time to set your fantasy rosters. Here are some players to love heading into the week and others to consider putting on the bench. We look today at the ACC.
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MORE: Looking ahead to Week 1 in the Big Ten
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LOVE 'EM
Clemson's defense
There has been so much written about Clemson losing its entire defensive front but I think that is only going to make the new front four – featuring former five-star Xavier Thomas – more lethal because it will have something to prove. This opening game against Georgia Tech is a perfect set-up, too, because the Tigers no longer have to prepare for the option offense. Instead, they’ll be getting a bunch of players recruited to play in the option offense but running something else under new coach Geoff Collins. There’s a decent chance Clemson pitches a shutout in the opener.
There has been an incredible amount of turnover for NC State’s offense losing its quarterback, top receivers and really brilliant offensive coordinator but I still have faith in Emezie, who was overshadowed by Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers last season. Harmon and Meyers combined for 173 receptions a year ago and now Emezie will be the No. 1 target for new quarterback Matt McKay, who is short on experience but not talent. East Carolina gave up 421 passing yards to NC State last year and it could be more of the same this week.
From a fantasy perspective, there is a whole lot to like in this game and Neal should take advantage. The over/under is set at 66.5, the highest for any ACC matchup this weekend. Liberty’s defense allowed more than 484 yards per game last season, equally average against the run and pass. And in Syracuse’s new offense under quarterback Tommy DeVito, the Orange could lean on Neal a lot whether running the ball or using him out of the backfield. It’s not a sexy pick but this is about winning your fantasy league and Neal could put up huge numbers this weekend.
NOT SO SURE
Duke
One of my themes throughout the preseason when it comes to fantasy is that Alabama is ticked off and embarrassed by how last season ended and so picking up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, running back Najee Harris and all the Alabama receivers would be good for business. There were some key losses on the Crimson Tide defense which could be concerning. But Duke is just simply outmatched here and Alabama is going to make a statement in its first game back. The line is 35 with an over/under of 57.5 so Las Vegas thinks a 45-10 game or close to it is in the works. That’s not good for any fantasy owners of Duke players. I think it could be even more of a blowout.
Georgia Tech
How can I put this? Georgia Tech has a bunch of players running an offense they were not recruited to run, it’s a first-year system under new coach Geoff Collins and there is a chance for complete annihilation this weekend at Clemson. The only thing stopping destruction is coach Dabo Swinney and how badly he wants to put it on the Yellow Jackets before gearing up for Texas A&M. The offense will score at will. This could be really, really ugly. Collins could get things going at Georgia Tech but it won’t be this weekend.
I continue to say that Akers is one of the most talented running backs in college football. The problem is that Florida State’s offensive line has continued to underperform and against a stout Boise State front I don’t see that changing. You may have never heard of Chase Hatada, Sonatane Lui and David Moa but they’re going to give the Seminoles problems upfront in the season opener. Quarterback James Blackman will have to get the ball out fast and I’m not sure Akers will get a lot of running room against a Boise State defense that allowed just 122 rushing yards and 16 rushing TDs all of last season.