Devy Stock Market
The Devy Stock Market continues this week as we discuss a freshman phenom bursting on the scene, the next great Big 12 quarterback-wide receiver connection, a dynamic backfield duo, and a senior looking sneak his way into NFL consideration.
Caleb Comes In Clutch – Caleb Williams, QB Oklahoma
Spencer Rattler’s struggles in 2021 have been no secret to devy players, as he has not lived up to the performance of his redshirt freshman season. As a redshirt freshman, Rattler recorded a 10.3 AY/A with a 28-7 touchdown-interception ratio. As a redshirt sophomore, Rattler has sputtered, producing 228 passing yards per game, nearly 50 yards fewer than last year’s average with a declining AY/A of 7.7.
Rattler’s struggles have produced an opportunity for true freshman Caleb Williams. Williams was a five-star recruit and the top dual-threat quarterback in his recruiting class per Rivals, which is why he was even a consideration to supplant one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football in 2020. During the Texas-Oklahoma game, Rattler was benched, giving Williams an opportunity and he took advantage.
In less than three quarters, Williams passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and showed off his legs with 88 yards and a touchdown, leading Oklahoma to a comeback win. This big opening performance nearly cements Williams’ status as a top-two quarterback in devy and hopefully the Oklahoma starter as well. If the manager in your league doesn’t value him as a top-two devy quarterback after only one game, there may still be a buying window, even if it’s a more expensive one.
We are not Worthy, Casey at the bat – Xavier Worthy, WR Texas and Casey Thompson, QB Texas
On the other side of the ball in the Red River Rivalry, freshman wideout Worthy and junior quarterback Casey Thompson made moves of their own. Worthy was a four-star wideout and the #11 wide receiver in the recruiting class per Rivals and he is showing early that that was too low.
Worthy has made nothing but big plays in 2021, averaging 21.2 yards per catch. He recorded 261 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns against Oklahoma, his second career 100-yard game and he is averaging 122 receiving yards in three Big 12 matchups.
Worthy wasn’t ranked high enough in the recruiting circuit to garner consideration outside of deep devy leagues, but he will certainly be a highly ranked option in devy next off-season, particularly with more performances like we saw last week. One negative is his weight – he has time to build muscle, but 6’1” 160 pounds is not a size that NFL teams would like to see. As a fantasy player, you’d hope to see him at least in the 180-pound range as he collegiate career progresses.
The man throwing to Worthy was Casey Thompson. Thompson sat behind Sam Ehlinger for two seasons and is now getting the opportunity – and he is being productive with it. Since being named the starter in week three, Thompson has 13 passing touchdowns in four games, including a pair of five passing touchdown games. He does have an impressive 11.3 AY/A on the season, but I do fear that the quarterback who took over two years to earn the starting job may be another example of someone with huge Big 12 numbers, but not an NFL prospect. If any managers in your league see him as more than that and you don’t, now is the time to cash in for whatever you can.
Purple Power – Zach Evans and Kendre Miller, RB TCU
While Evans came into TCU with much fanfare and a five-star recruiting ranking, Miller snuck under the radar as a two-star recruit, per Rivals. Both backs were productive as true freshmen: 415 rushing yards on 7.7 yards per carry for Evans and 388 rushing yards on 7.2 yards per carry for Miller. Likely due to his lower recruiting ranking and the upside of Evans, Miller continued to go unnoticed in the off-season.
While playing second fiddle, Miller has continued to be productive in 2021, averaging 8.9 yards per carry, highlighted by 12 carries for 185 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Texas Tech. Even with the skill of Evans, I’d be surprised if Miller didn’t average in the 9-12 carry per game range the rest of the season.
While Miller has been good, Evans has been great, and is clearly a top running back in college football. After a 27-yard performance in week one, Evans is averaging 140 rushing yards per game with six total touchdowns. He had 143 rushing yards with 8.4 yards per carry and two trips to the end zone against Texas Tech. While Evans is the more talented and highly ranked back, he is nearly unbuyable on the trade market, which is not the case for Miller, so if you have the opportunity to acquire him, now would be a good time to try even with a slightly elevated price.
He’s a Badie – Tyler Badie, RB Missouri
Badie is a senior running back making a last year bid to be an NFL running back. He didn’t do anything special in his first three collegiate seasons, averaging 33 yards per game with 4.6 yards per carry. But he has shown flashes as a senior with a pair of 200-yard performances, one in the opening week with 203 yards on 8.1 yards per carry with two total touchdowns against Central Michigan and another last week, tallying 217 yards on 12.8 yards per carry with three total touchdowns.
However, even with those big performances, in this breakout season, he has had lackluster performances as well, averaging only 64 rushing yards in the four games outside the 200-yard performances. Badie is likely a day-three running back pick at best, so if his 200-yard performances have given him any value, now is the time to capitalize.
- Dynasty Commish Calendar: August - August 5, 2023
- Dynasty Commish Calendar: June - June 9, 2023
- Dynasty Commish Calendar: May - May 3, 2023
