College Fantasy Football: Weekend guide

I wrote in my Week 1 Fantasy Review that it was a total mistake for Arizona’s coaching staff to keep star quarterback Khalil Tate in the pocket most of the night and force him into being something he’s not - a pocket passer.

I’ve watched Tate since early in his high school career and he’s a dynamic playmaker - if the coaches don’t hold him back. That’s what coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff did in Arizona’s loss to BYU, during which Tate completed only 17 of 34 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown and rushed only eight times for 14 yards and a score.

This week, Sumlin hinted that Arizona needs to give its playmakers more opportunities - wow, that’s a novel idea! - and maybe Tate will have more freedom this weekend at Houston. If Tate is forced to sit in the pocket, though, expect another disappointing week for him in fantasy. He could put up huge numbers if the play-calling doesn’t get in the way.

WHAT DOES NEBRASKA DELIVER?

I was looking forward to seeing what Nebraska looked like under first-year coach Scott Frost and with freshman Adrian Martinez at quarterback, but its season-opener against Akron was canceled last weekend because of thunderstorms.

I’m sure the Huskers wanted the tune-up against the Zips before Colorado came to town, but such is life. So, now we’ll see what Nebraska can offer. Stanley Morgan Jr. could be one of the nation’s top receivers, and the Huskers have other explosive players at that position. Offense has never been a problem for Frost-coached teams.

Colorado decimated Colorado State in its opener but the Rams’ defense is a complete joke, already giving up more than 1,200 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns in two games against the Buffaloes and in the opener against Hawaii.

GEORGIA TESTED

We will learn a whole lot more about both Georgia and South Carolina when the two SEC East schools meet this weekend as compared to their season-openers, when they drubbed cupcakes Austin Peay and Coastal Carolina, respectively.

How will South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley look after throwing for 250 yards and four touchdowns and hitting all kinds of receivers in the Gamecocks’ stable against a legitimate defense? How will Georgia’s offense move with some receivers battling injuries - but a lot of high-end players still available? And for keeper leagues, how do the Bulldogs utilize five-star quarterback Justin Fields?

From a fantasy perspective, there are a lot of questions still left unanswered until the game is played. The over/under line is hanging around 57 points, so Vegas thinks some points will be scored, but there are a lot of other “sure things” out there, so those would be the stores I’d be shopping in this weekend.

CLEMSON ON THE ROAD

From a fantasy perspective, it’s difficult to start either Clemson quarterback - Kelly Bryant or Trevor Lawrence - because no one seems to know how much either will play. The sense is that Bryant will get the nod since he has more experience taking the team on the road, but the other sense is that Lawrence is just more special and will get plenty of opportunities in College Station.

I’ve said for a while that I believe if Lawrence looks good in this outing - not in a blowout over Furman - that he will become the Tigers’ starting quarterback so the offense has more continuity. It’s a big stage for the No. 1 prospect in the 2018 class, but Lawrence has ice in his veins and could make a big statement.

It’s really tough to put many A&M offensive players on your fantasy roster this weekend. The Aggies rushed for 503 yards last weekend against Northwestern State, and Trayveon Williams had 240 yards and three scores. But does anyone expect that type of production against a Clemson front four that features four possible first-round NFL Draft picks?

BIG LOSERS, BIG POINT SPREADS

Four of the most disappointing team performances in Week 1 came from Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Texas.

All four are huge chalk this weekend, with Michigan coming off as a 28-point favorite (the Wolverines only scored 17 points in a loss to Notre Dame last week); Texas is a 23-point favorite in its home opener against Tulsa (the Longhorns lost for the second-straight season to Maryland last weekend); and Miami and Florida State are not lined because those schools are playing Savannah State and Samford, respectively.

Players from those teams - like Michigan QB Shea Patterson or Miami QB Malik Rosier or the entire Florida State offense or most of Texas’ offense - could have a huge rebound performance. Or they just might not be good football teams. In fantasy, there are a lot better options. Pass until they prove themselves.