Devy 100: 5-1

Rob Willette

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.

5: DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama Crimson Tide (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: A high-level producer at a Blue Blood program, Smith somehow seems to always slide under the radar when discussing the nation’s elite receiver prospects. It is a major oversight in my eyes, as despite valid weight concerns (he is listed around 175 pounds) Smith showcases outstanding feel for the position and combines it with virtually unmatched athletic tools.

He can win at all areas of the field, showcasing nimble feet off the line to beat defenders and bursting by defenders who appear stuck in mud when he stretches the field vertically. Smith has added 20 pounds since arriving on campus and has the frame to carry more. I’m not overly concerned with a single checkmark against him given all the positives he displays on the football field.

2020/2021 Outlook: As Alabama moves on from Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, they’ll lean even more heavily on Smith. The Louisiana native paced the Tide in receiving in 2020 and is the heavy favorite to do so once again. Mac Jones has proven more than capable of leading an explosive passing attack.

4: Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota Golden Gophers (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: The Golden Gophers were able to snag Bateman – a late riser in the recruiting ranks – out of Georgia as they expanded their recruiting footprint. Bateman has rewarded the Gophers’ overtures with two fantastic seasons, including a 2019 campaign which saw him emerge as one of the nation’s finest receivers.

Bateman is long and lean, and has incredible awareness and is excellent at making adjustments as the ball is in the air. He can make the spectacular look mundane and does all the little things right; few have the well-rounded skillset Bateman can offer. He has the look of a lead receiver at the next level, and one who can contribute early.

2020/2021 Outlook: Bateman is back after initially opting out, setting himself up for a huge 2020 campaign. The Gophers return an experienced and efficient quarterback in Tanner Morgan, and gone is the gifted Tyler Johnson. Bateman is set to be one of the nation’s more productive receivers.

3: Rondale Moore, WR Purdue Boilermakers (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Despite a 2019 all but lost to injury, Moore is an elite devy asset and one of the nation’s premier playmakers. Moore only knows one speed: fast. You can get Moore in space and watch him work his magic; few defenders have a shot at tackling him in a one-on-one situation. He’s like a video game cheat mode, utilizing insane quickness and more power than expected to prove unstoppable with the football in his hands.

We’ve yet to see him get full-time reps as a standard receiver but smart organizations will overlook what could be perceived as a negative. You get Moore on your team and tailor plays for him; no scheme should limit such a playmaker. Moore is a premier producer and an elite athlete. He will hear his name called early in 2021.

2020/2021 Outlook: Like Bateman, Moore is back in after initially opting out for 2020. The Boilermakers have another alpha receiver to feed in David Bell (discussed previously) but Moore is such a unique playmaker you find ways to give him the football. He’ll crush, even in an abbreviated season.

2: Travis Etienne, RB Clemson Tigers (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Despite having nothing left to prove, Etienne returned to Clemson for his senior season. While I’ll never begrudge a prospect for the path they choose to take, it was a downer for the fantasy community as Etienne could be making an impact in the NFL this season. Etienne remains an elite prospect who eliminates pursuit angles and possesses the type of burst which is extremely rare and special. Trevor Lawrence’s backfield mate is more than just an athlete, however. He runs with a high compete level and plays a much more physical game than you’d expect with someone who has a reputation as a big-play threat.

After looking like a poor receiver in his first two years, Etienne made huge strides in year three, even becoming an asset for the Clemson offense. It was another box checked for Etienne as an elite prospect, and really the only one he had left. He is the favorite – possibly a heavy one – to be the first back off the board.

2020/2021 Outlook: Clemson is a juggernaut again, and Etienne is its most accomplished player outside of perhaps Lawrence. A lead back who is too skilled to be pushed by his backups, Etienne will shatter more records as he closes out his collegiate career.

1: Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU Tigers (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: A strong freshman season gave way to a sensational sophomore year, with Chase separating himself as the best receiver in college football and a top-of-round-one type of prospect. The tandem of Joe Brady and Joe Burrow unlocked untapped potential within the LSU offense, with perhaps nobody benefiting more than Chase.

The Louisiana product looked like an NFL receiver each time he took the field, teaming with Burrow and his receiver brethren to create one of college football’s most productive and exciting offenses of all-time. Chase has become a better athlete since he arrived at LSU, turning what was a pedestrian athletic profile into one which should prove well above-average. Strong, smart, and with a Biletnikoff in his back pocket, Chase is racing towards the top of the first round in rookie drafts.

2020/2021 Outlook: Chase opted out. Unlike several other stars, he elected to stay out. It is hard to find a negative in this decision. Chase has proven all he needs to on the football field and will have ample time to train for February’s Combine. He is a first-round receiver.

rob willette