Devy Roundup: Week Ten
We have a new team atop the AP Top 25 College Football rankings! LSU passed Alabama this week by the slimmest of margins as the top three teams (LSU, Alabama, and Ohio State) are all separated by just eight points. All three have played well this year and are good bets to the make the playoffs. Clemson has had some ups and downs so far but is still a good bet to make the playoffs as well. However, as we all know, anything can happen in college football. It is what makes watching it so much fun.
MY RANKINGS
The projected 2020 rookie class is extremely deep. There are currently nine players I have ranked very highly and would be thrilled to acquire in rookie drafts. A lot can change between now and April but mid-first-round rookie picks are looking very valuable. Below is how my top nine stack up against the first and second-year NFL players.
The three wide receivers (Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and CeeDee Lamb) I have in my top nine have all been projected to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. In addition to those three, a few other receivers have been projected first-rounders as well. This is a special class.
While this particular mock did not have any running backs being selected in round one, I am still confident at least one or two will be with a lot more being selected on day two. Add in five or six quarterbacks with a chance to be selected on day one and superflex drafts are even deeper. Keep collecting second and third-round rookie picks.
Top performers
Below are some of the top performers of the week. Of course, I could not list everyone who played well, but here are a few who stood out. You can find the full set of statistics from the week here.
JK Dobbins, RB Ohio State (163 yards rushing, 2 TDs, 3 rec, 58 yards)
Ohio State dominated Wisconsin and further cemented their standing near the top of the college football rankings. Very few team have been able to keep Jonathan Taylor in check but the Buckeyes did. They still have a couple of tough tests left on their schedule but they continue to look like one of the top teams in the country. JK Dobbins looks much more explosive this year and has looked great as the main back. He has rushed for at least 90 yards in all but one game this year.
Joshua Kelley, RB UCLA (164 yards rushing, 4 TDs)
Kelley was a pleasant surprise last year as he was one of the most productive running backs in college football. After a slow start to this year while dealing with injuries, Kelley has turned it on the last few weeks and looks like the Joshua Kelley we saw last year.
Marquez Stevenson, WR Houston (5 rec, 211 yards, 2 TDs)
Even with quarterback D’Eriq King deciding to redshirt, Stevenson has remained productive. A 96-yard touchdown surely helped in this one. He is a very explosive player who is a big play waiting to happen.
CJ Verdell, RB Oregon (257 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 4 rec, 56 yards)
In a game where quarterback Justin Herbert did not throw a touchdown, Oregon still held off Washington State on the back of CJ Verdell. He had a dominant game while rushing for a career-high 257 yards.
Cam Akers, RB Florida State (144 yards rushing, 4 TDs, 26 yards passing)
Congratulations to everyone who did not give up on Akers’s talent and bought low in devy leagues. In addition to making devy owners happy, Akers has dramatically helped his NFL draft stock rebound this year. He still has some developing to do as a runner, but the raw talent and traits are there.
Jauan Jennings, WR Tennessee (7 rec, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 18 yards rushing)
Once a top recruit, Jennings has dealt with injuries throughout much of his career at Tennessee. He is enjoying a nice bounce back this year as a senior.
MARQUEE MATCHUPS
Below are some of the games I will be sure to tune into for this upcoming week’s slate. You can check out the full week ten schedule here.
#8 Georgia @ #6 Florida – 11/2 @ 3:30 PM EST on CBS
The SEC has given us plenty of great matchups so far this year and this week is no different. The loser of this game likely loses any chance at making the college football playoffs so there is a lot on the line in this game.
Miami @ Florida State – 11/2 @ 3:30 PM EST on ABC
Cam Akers has been a revelation this year as he tries to continue to improve his NFL draft stock. He has arguably already improved it a couple of rounds compared to where it was last year but he still has a lot of work to do to reach the first-round projection many placed on him when he entered college.
TCU @ Oklahoma State – 11/2 @ 3:30 PM EST on ESPN
Fellow DLF writer Ray Garvin will be glued to his television for this game as it features two of his favorite devy players in TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor and Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard. I cannot blame him as these are two of the most explosive players at their positions.
Reagor is stuck in a poor offense but finally showed a glimmer of production last week. Do not lose faith in him. On the other hand, Hubbard has been one of the most productive players in college football and is quickly becoming a household name.
#15 SMU @ #24 Memphis – 11/2 @ 7:30 PM EST on ABC
The trio of Shane Buechele, Reggie Roberson, and James Proche continues to impress and has helped SMU rebuild their football program back up after their scandal.
Memphis running back Patrick Taylor continues to get closer to a return to the field, but Kenneth Gainwell has looked great filling in for him.
- Devy Roundup: Week 14 - November 26, 2019
- Devy Roundup: Week 13 - November 20, 2019
- Devy Roundup: Week 12 - November 12, 2019
