Devy 100: 35-31

Rob Willette Posted On August 28, 2020

The tagline here at DLF is telling: There is no off-season. The edict goes double for devy leagues. From the initial Signing Day in December through fall camps in August, there is an overwhelming amount of information to digest in order to make an informed decision. It is what makes it such a challenge yet so rewarding when a prospect you have invested in for years pays off.

The Devy 100 is intended to be a preliminary deep dive into the best dynasty assets college football has to offer. Even with a list this large, there will surely be omissions and plenty of movement throughout the year as players develop a more robust profile. This is not to hedge my bets (well – maybe a tad) but to illustrate the purpose of such a list. Alas, we get to the 100. Feel free to @RobWillette24 with your hate mail, which I will assuredly ignore.

35: CJ Johnson, WR East Carolina Pirates (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Elite players find their way into the Group of 5 ranks for a variety of reasons. Many times, it is due to the fact their physical development comes later in life as opposed to the elite recruits. You cannot say this is the case for Johnson, as he is six foot two inches of carved-up marble. As you’d expect to see from a burly receiver, Johnson is a bully at the catch point and utilizes strength and tenacity to chew up yards after the catch.

Johnon is not a premier athlete, though he has ample time to add a bit more explosiveness to his game. Two more years of development are huge for a player like him, who has proved dominant at an early age yet has plenty of room to improve to become a big-time prospect. He checks enough boxes at this juncture to rate him highly in the devy ranks.

2020/2021 Outlook: From a yardage standpoint, Johnson was the Pirates’ top receiver and there is little behind him to knock him off his perch. Given East Carolina is an effective passing offense, the sky is the limit in year two.

34: Brevin Jordan, TE Miami Hurricanes (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Essentially operating as the WR1 for the Hurricanes, Jordan – and others – will add juice to the 2021 tight end class after an abysmal group in 2020. Jordan is what you’d expect a modern TE to be; he is a supersized wide receiver who creates nightmares due to his combination of athleticism and physicality. Jordan is as smooth as a Marvin Gaye vocal track and can separate with ease given his burst and speed off the line.

There are going to be questions on how he handles bigger defenders in the blocking game, but he shows strong instincts for blocking as well as a strong will. But realistically, we do not care about his blocking. We care about fantasy points, and Jordan has the tools to pile up the fantasy goodness.

2020/2021 Outlook: The Hurricanes have had offensive issues for what feels like this entire century. A transfer quarterback in D’Eriq King gives hope, and Jordan’s the best weapon on this team. He should put together his best season to-date.

33: Justin Fields, QB Ohio State Buckeyes (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Perhaps Kirby Smart’s most important recruit never made an impact for Georgia, transferring after a year stuck behind the efficient yet not nearly as talented Jake Fromm. Georgia’s loss was a major boon for Ohio State, as all Fields did was toss 41 touchdowns against three interceptions as he led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff. He was efficient through the air, notching 9.2 yards per attempt and was an asset on the ground with 484 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fields is more hammer than butterfly in the open field, which can, of course, expose him to risk as a runner. A strong pocket passer with more than enough athleticism to make plays as a runner, Fields is a high-end quarterback prospect with unlimited upside.

2020/2021 Outlook: While one can always hold out hope, the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the 2020 campaign very well means we could have seen the last of Justin Fields on a college football field. A spring season – which seems rather comical in my opinion – would make little sense for Fields as he prepares for the NFL Combine and the draft process. Draft preparation is the most likely next step for Fields as he starts his journey to the next level.

32: Breece Hall, RB Iowa State Cyclones (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: How do you replace David Montgomery? Pretty easily, apparently. This is no knock on Montgomery – who was a fantastic back at Iowa State – so much as a credit to Matt Campbell and company, who identified Hall as a potential lead runner and received immediate returns. Hall is a well-rounded runner who excels in the passing game; he shows reliable hands and the ability to turn upfield immediately after the catch without wasted motion.

Hall is a quality athlete with few holes, though I do question if his upside is more than a quality back. Of course, with two years left on his development path, there is ample time to show he is a special player.

2020/2021 Outlook: With an experienced quarterback, and a great freshman year behind him, Hall’s second season is poised to be a big one. He’s set to establish himself as one of the nation’s better runners.

31: Kyle Pitts, TE Florida Gators (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Big, strong, competitive, and athletic, Pitts checks every box when attempting to identify a top TE prospect from a fantasy standpoint. Pitts is built like a small forward and can simply run past any defender whose size approaches his own.

His movement skills are rare and allow him to contribute to a passing game in a myriad of ways. There are no tight ends in college football who can match Pitts’ size/athleticism combo, and as such he has established himself as the top prospect at the position.

2020/2021 Outlook: Florida loses quite a few talented pass-catchers, leaving the door open for Pitts to be the favorite target of Kyle Trask. Merely scratching the surface, Pitts could explode in 2020.