Devy 100: 80-71

Rob Willette

The off-season is always an exciting time for dynasty owners.  This goes double if your league also has a devy aspect.  Between depth-chart shuffling, recruiting season, and spring ball, there is a lot going on in the college football world. 

This comes with the disclaimer reiterating fantasy football is an inexact science.  This is exacerbated when you throw college talent into the mix.  Many guys not on this list are sure to breakout and become notable NFL prospects.  But these are in my estimation the individuals with the most next level potential. 

80 – WR Tarik Black, Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines were acutely aware Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, and Jake Butt were leaving after the 2016 season.  They have loaded up on receivers in their past two recruiting cycles, and their 2017 class may turn out to be one of the better groups we have seen.  Tarik Black would be the headliner for most groups, but not this one.  However, he still has every opportunity to be an elite collegiate receiver and legitimate NFL prospect.  A menace after the catch at 6’4, 208 pounds, Black moves like a small receiver and shows an effortless ability to get north and south after the catch.  If he can translate his tenacity post-catch to the catch point and make leaps physically, we could be looking at a high-end prospect.

79 – WR Miles Boykin, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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I was tempted to omit Boykin from this list.  He hauled in only six passes during 2016 as an ancillary weapon in an up-and-down passing game.  It is possible I remain tantalized by the athletic profile he possesses.  However, Boykin did earn more run as the season went on and spring reports have been positive.  He offers a different dynamic than returners Equanimeous St. Brown and Kevin Stepherson, and his combination of size and fluidity is rare.  It is now or never for Boykin, but he is still a good flier due to his raw potential and opportunity in South Bend. 

78 – RB Josh Adams, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

An atypical running back prospect, Josh Adams looks like a receiver running with the football and he can chew up yardage in a hurry.  His issues are in tight spaces; he’s neither overly elusive nor powerful and it hinders his ability to embrace a full-time role at the next level.  I am intrigued by Adams mostly because I feel he can be utilized in the passing game and as a big play threat out of the backfield who can hit a home run thanks to his size/speed combination.  He will be an interesting evaluation, but you can’t ignore his production and unique skill-set.

77 – WR Simmie Cobbs, Indiana Hoosiers

An ankle injury washed away the junior season of Simmie Cobbs, and robbed us an opportunity to see how he would build on his 1,035 yard sophomore campaign.  The plus traits with Cobbs are obvious; he is a big bodied receiver at 6’4”, 220 and he displays the ability to make circus catches with excellent body control and effortless motion.  He plays smaller than his frame would suggest, though we’ve yet to see how he has progressed physically after his breakout campaign.  It will be interesting to see how his role evolves with Nick Westbrook offering an excellent option on the other side of the field.

76 – WR Austin Mack, Ohio State Buckeyes

After garnering a lot of spring buzz, Austin Mack posted an extremely modest 2-15-0 line as a true freshman, failing to make much of an impact as the Buckeyes passing game sputtered for much of 2016.  With the departures of Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel, there are a lot of targets up for grabs, although a lot of competition lurks and only Brown had a role Mack could assume.  I still like the Indiana product to emerge as one of the Buckeyes leading receivers, as his powerful build and run after the catch prowess should work well given some of J.T. Barrett’s limitations.  His stock could soar throughout the 2017 season.

75 – WR Seth Dawkins, Louisville Cardinals

An impressive athlete who did not turn 18 until just before the 2016 began; Seth Dawkins is one of devy’s best kept secrets.  A well-regarded yet unheralded recruit, Dawkins made his mark early as a part-time player and special teams contributor.  Even though the Cardinals roll through quite a few receivers, Dawkins’ role should continue to expand and his profile should grow. 

74 – RB B.J. Emmons, Alabama Crimson Tide

Heralded by many as the top freshman running back in the 2016 cycle, B.J. Emmons put forth a productive freshman season, though a late season foot injury and the emergence of Joshua Jacobs limited his overall opportunities.  A second foot surgery popped up this off-season, which is certainly a cause for concern.  On the field, Emmons is a power back who can brush off tacklers with ease and has enough athleticism to make people miss in the open field.  There’s a possibility he gets lost in the shuffle in the Alabama depth chart; while Emmons is very good in his own right, he may be the fifth or sixth best player in his own backfield.

73 – QB Luke Falk, Washington State Cougars

Don’t let the system and unorthodox throwing motion fool you.  Luke Falk is a quality prospect and had he come out in 2017, he may have pushed to be one of the top quarterbacks off the board.  He is calm in the pocket and while lacking flash, he routinely keeps the chains moving with accurate, rhythm passing.  He could flirt with round one with another strong 2017 campaign.

72 – WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma Sooners

Few incoming freshman receivers have a game which pops off the screen like Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb.  The sinewy, loose-limbed Texas native creates separation effortlessly and routinely makes circus catches look easy.  His lid-lifting abilities should get him on the field early for a team looking to replace a lot of receiving production, and he has the overall toolkit to mature into one of the Big 12’s better receivers.  I personally feel he is extremely underrated at this point in the process.

71 – RB Sony Michel, Georgia Bulldogs

I’m perhaps guilty of underrating Sony Michel.  I just do not see a lock for NFL success.  However, he is certainly not without talent.  He has been an extremely productive player in the SEC and is a quality pass catcher in addition to a slashing runner who can pick up yardage in chunks.  I just see him as a one speed player whose relatively limited athletic profile will result in him being a complementary player in the NFL.  He has a role, especially as a potential back who can contribute in the passing game.  I just do not see a lead runner.

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rob willette