Developing Assets: Week Three

Ray Garvin Posted On September 14, 2019

Dynasty is a game of chess not checkers. Whether you are tracking players for your devy leagues or are looking ahead to the 2020 class in a more traditional dynasty format, the goal is still the same. As an owner, you want to put your team in the best position for short and long-term success. Following the weekly world of college football can pay dividends for fantasy players who follow this advice.

Each week this season, I’ll focus on a trio of games throughout the day, along with some key future pros you might want to focus on as you watch.

For the prospects to watch section I will be excluding the players who are currently ranked inside DLF’s Top-10 devy positional rankings.

WAKE UP AND WATCH

Ohio State at Indiana (11:00 CT, FOX)

Justin Fields has only been the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes for two weeks now, and he looks even better than advertised. On the season he has thrown for 458 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions, while adding 103 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. According to Devy Watch ADP, Fields is sitting right behind Tua Tagovailoa as the quarterback three; 18 slots after the top quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. With his early-season production, the 2021 eligible prospect is a screaming value in devy startups.

J.K. Dobbins got on track last week rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns, but faces the 20th-ranked rushing defense in FBS this weekend. We’ll see if he can keep the momentum going versus the Hoosiers. So far, the Buckeyes have yet to establish a go-to wide receiver, true freshman Garrett Wilson only has one reception in two games, with Binjimen Victor and Chris Olave leading the way in yards. Neither of these players are ranked inside DLF’s top-70 devy wide receivers.

Indiana’s talented sophomore running back Stevie Scott, DLF’s 29th-ranked positional player, takes on an Ohio State defense that has only given up 129 yards on the ground in two games. For you owners who participate in IDP leagues, Chase Young is an absolute monster, but I don’t need to tell you that!

Other teams in early action include:

Pittsburgh at Penn State (11:00 CT, ABC) Prospects to Watch: WR KJ Hamler and RB Noah Cain

Arkansas State at Georgia (11:00 CT, ESPN2) Prospects to Watch: WR Kirk Merritt, RB Zamir White, RB James Cook and WR George Pickens

Air Force at Colorado (11:00 CT, PAC12) Prospects to Watch: RB Jaren Mangham and WR K.D. Nixon

MIDDAY MARQUEE

Alabama at South Carolina (2:30 CT, CBS)

Let’s start with South Carolina and talk about one heck of a performance last Saturday by highly touted true freshman Ryan Hilinski; who in his first career start threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. If you don’t know this kid’s story let me tell you, go look it up! He’ll have his most difficult test of the season against this Alabama defense; but he’ll have a fantastic wide receiver, Bryan Edwards, to throw to and Tavien Feaster in the backfield.

Now, I don’t need to tell you that Jerry Jeudy, Tua Tagovailoa, Henry Ruggs and Jaylen Waddle are absolute stars. These players will be drafted early in their respective NFL Draft classes and early in your dynasty rookie drafts. Let us focus our attention on some other Crimson Tide players who aren’t receiving the same attention that we need to be monitoring. DeVonta Smith needs to be on your devy radar. He is currently DLF’s devy WR23, but has the skillset and production to move even higher.

Running back Najee Harris has also looked good early in the season in limited duty. He is right outside the top ten, but looks more explosive this season and has shown well in the passing game. Alabama is heavily favored in this matchup, but the Tide are on the road and the Gamecocks have the offensive talent to make this one interesting; at least for a little bit.

Other teams in mid-day action include:

Arizona State vs. Michigan State (3:00 CT, FOX) Prospects to Watch: QB, Jayden Daniels and RB, Elijah Collins

Iowa at Iowa State (3:00 CT, FS1) Prospect to Watch: QB, Nathan Stanley

USC vs. BYU (2:30 CT, ABC) Prospects to Watch: QB Kedon Slovis, RB Stephen Carr and TE Matt Bushman

PRIMETIME PLAY

TCU at Purdue (6:30 CT, BTN)

I cannot begin to express the excitement I have for this game and the excitement we should all have between two of the most dynamic receivers in college football. Rondale Moore is currently DLF’s WR2 and Jalen Reagor WR5.

Moore is coming off of a monster performance versus Vanderbilt where he caught 13 balls for 220 yards and one touchdown. He is one of the most, if not most explosive and dynamic playmaker in college football today. Moore looks to continue his tear on college football but faces an always tough defense in TCU, who after one contest is ranked number 11 in total defense. If you don’t have him on a devy roster, do everything you can to trade for him, if you do have him already, congratulations.

Purdue tight end, Brycen Hopkins is someone to keep an eye on. He’s looked like a playmaker early in the season with three touchdowns in two games. He is currently the 11th-ranked devy tight end, but should be moving up our rankings here soon.

TCU did not play in week two, but Reagor by his standards disappointed week one with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, however, he fumbled multiple times and dropped a couple of passes. He looks to get back on track in this one, and show why he deserves to be discussed as one of the top wideouts in the 2020 class.

Continuing with the freshman quarterback theme, keep TCU true freshman Max Duggan on your radars. He’s was a highly rated dual-threat quarterback who looked like he might have something in the Horned Frogs lone contest this season.

Other teams with evening games include:

Oklahoma at UCLA (7:00 CT, Fox) Prospects to Watch: QB Jalen Hurts and WR Charleston Rambo

Florida State at Virginia (6:30 CT, ACCN) Prospect to Watch: WR Tamorrion Terry

Syracuse at Clemson (6:30 CT, ABC) Prospects to Watch: WR Joe Ngata and WR Frank Ladson Jr.

2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

As the NFL Draft has grown in popularity, that means it has become a year-round business and we no longer have to wait until the end of the football season to see where the top players project to land. Multiple sites and writers are nor regularly producing mock draft months out from the actual event and I’ll now be including those in these weekly updates.

Here’s the latest projection from Kevin Hanson of Sports Illustrated :

Pick #1 MIA Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama

Pick #3 NYG Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama

Pick #4 CIN Justin Herbert, QB Oregon

Pick #10 BUF Laviska Shenault, WR Colorado

Pick #14 TEN Jake Fromm, QB Georgia

Pick #15 CAR Tee Higgins, WR Clemson

Pick #19 OAK CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma

Pick #25 GB Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Pick #26 DAL Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt

Pick #27 LAC Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

Pick #28 NO Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU