College Fantasy Football: WRs to watch for Week 9
It is already Week 9 of the college football season. Here is a look at five wide receivers you should consider starting in your fantasy leagues.
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Jalen Hurd, Baylor
Hurd has become quarterback Charlie Brewer’s favorite target in Baylor’s passing game as the former Tennessee running back has 42 catches for 550 yards and three touchdowns so far this season on a team that scores nearly 36 points per game. Hurd is the seventh-highest fantasy scorer among receivers nationally, so taking a shot on him this weekend could work. West Virginia will look to rebound from a loss to Iowa State, and that means the Mountaineers could score lots of points. That’s actually good news for Hurd, as the Bears will have to keep up.
JD Spielman, Nebraska
The theme this week in these College Fantasy Football articles is to start as many Nebraska players on offense as possible, since the Huskers are not only coming off their first win this season but also host Bethune-Cookman this weekend. Quarterback Adrian Martinez and running back Devine Ozigbo were recommendations in previous posts, and now we go with Spielman, who leads the team with 48 catches for 614 yards and seven scores. As teams try to slow down Stanley Morgan, Spielman has gotten free and is putting up nice stats.
Rondale Moore, Purdue
How can Moore not be a part of every fantasy lineup especially after catching 12 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in Purdue’s upset win over Ohio State last weekend? He’s the second-highest scoring receiver in fantasy leagues, behind only Colorado’s Laviska Shenault (who might not play this weekend again because of injury), and he’s clearly the top target in Purdue’s offense. Michigan State’s pass defense has been better recently, but the Spartans are still giving up more than 275 passing yards per game and particularly struggle against spread offenses. This could be a letdown spot for the Boilermakers, or their offense could just be kicking into high gear.
Miles Boykin, Notre Dame
Notre Dame is coming off a bye week, but two weekends ago it did not play well, sneaking by Pitt, 19-14, in a game that should not have been nearly so close. So that has given the Irish a long time to think about this game against Navy and how the offense can improve. Boykin is quarterback Ian Book’s favorite target, a big outside receiver who should be far too much for a Navy defense that allows more than 253 passing yards per game and has given up 15 passing scores. And when the Midshipmen lose they usually lose big - giving up 59 to Hawaii, 35 to Air Force and 49 to Houston last week.
Dillon Mitchell, Oregon
The big Pac-12 showdown last weekend between Oregon and Washington State did not go the Ducks’ way, so they will be looking to bounce back on the road at Arizona this weekend. Quarterback Justin Herbert, who is now drawing John Elway and Andrew Luck comparisons, is too good to keep down, and Mitchell is his favorite target with 42 catches (more than double anybody else on the team) along with 608 receiving yards and three scores. I would like to see Mitchell get in the end zone more and that could come this weekend. Arizona’s pass defense isn’t horrible, but Oregon is looking to rebound this weekend and the Wildcats probably won't be able to keep up.
