WEEK 6: QBs | RBs | WRs | Defenses | Rivals Fantasy Football Home
YAHOO SPORTS COLLEGE FANTASY FOOTBALL IS HERE! ... Sign up here for free
Another week of college football is in the books. Here is a look at five things I found interesting from a college fantasy football perspective in this weekend review.
NOTRE DAME OFFENSE IS TOO MUCH
Since quarterback Ian Book has taken over the Notre Dame offense, the Irish have scored 56, 38 and 45 points in blowout wins over Wake Forest, Stanford and Virginia Tech, respectively.
Saturday night Book was more than capable as he led the Irish offense up and down the field throwing for 271 yards with two touchdowns and a pick and Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams went off for 178 rushing yards and three scores. Big outside receiver Miles Boykin dominated as well with eight catches for 117 yards and two scores.
Then there is Chris Finke, Book’s safety net at receiver, tight end Alize Mack and others. This offense is moving seamlessly up and down the field, Book is getting more comfortable running the show and if Notre Dame didn’t blow it at Virginia Tech in a night setting, it’s unlikely they blow it from here.
Teams have been scoring left and right on Pitt - Notre Dame’s next opponent - and then a bye week will make us revisit exactly where this offense stands for the homestretch.
EHLINGER COMING ALIVE
Our opinion of Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger seems to change week-to-week but we’re excited now after he threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns and ran for three other scores in Texas’ thrilling victory over Oklahoma this past weekend. With that performance, Ehlinger has moved into the top 15 of fantasy scorers for quarterbacks and he’s still owned in only 28 percent of leagues.
Ehlinger has looked more confident running the Longhorns’ offense and the schedule is setting up where Texas could put a lot of points on the board in the coming weeks. A game at Oklahoma State in a few weeks is not nearly as daunting after Cowboys gave up 48 points to Iowa State, not exactly an offensive juggernaut.
If you’re looking for a fantasy quarterback who could have a big second half to the season, Ehlinger might not be a bad pick.
QUARTERBACKS BEING OVERLOOKED
Of the top 15 highest-scoring quarterbacks in college fantasy football, eight are owned in 88 percent or higher of all leagues. That makes sense. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins has scored the most fantasy points so far this season and he’s owned in 96 percent of leagues. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray is second in points and he’s at 97 percent. Penn State’s Trace McSorley and West Virginia’s Will Grier are both at 99 percent, tied for the highest.
But among the 15 quarterbacks, many are still incredibly undervalued and could be steals in fantasy leagues. Washington State’s Gardner Minshew, who continues to put up huge numbers, is owned in only 53 percent of leagues. And it gets worse. Virginia’s Bryce Perkins, seventh on the list even after coming off a bye week, is owned at a 28 percent clip. Colorado’s Steven Montez is at 29 percent. Oklahoma State’s Taylor Cornelius and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond are surprisingly low as well, not to mention Ehlinger, who is referenced above.
DUMP AUBURN PLAYERS NOW
Auburn’s offense is bad and it needs a lot of work to get better. The Tigers mustered three field goals in a 23-9 loss at Mississippi State on Saturday night as quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw for only 214 yards, Ryan Davis with eight catches for 91 yards was the only receiver that looked to have a pulse and it’s just a bunch that doesn’t look like they can score lots of points in the SEC.
Still having Auburn’s defense makes a lot of sense because it’s still a top four defense in fantasy points but that offense has been putrid. Only 24 points against Southern Miss two weeks ago and now this shoddy performance at Mississippi State? The schedule loosens up a little bit but not enough to give me any confidence to pick up Auburn offensive players.
On the season, Stidham has five touchdown passes. That’s like one half of football for Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa.
LSU PLAYERS, TOO
Other than running back Nick Brossette, who had 95 rushing yards and two touchdowns in LSU’s loss to Florida on Saturday, what other LSU offensive player would you want on your fantasy team?
Quarterback Joe Burrow went 19 of 34 for 192 yards and two picks, one of them being a pick-six in the closing seconds. No receiver has really stepped up as no one on the team through six games has more than two receiving touchdowns. Even the defense is ranked No. 18 nationally in fantasy points, not blowing anybody away.
And the schedule gets even more brutal from here. Georgia comes to town this weekend with one of the best defenses in the country, followed by Mississippi State (ditto, ask Auburn), followed by Alabama. Where exactly will LSU be scoring points over the next three weeks? There are plenty of places to get high-scoring offensive stars in fantasy football. Baton Rouge is not one of them.
