Devy Fantasy Football Rankings: Movers and Shakers
Welcome to Movers and Shakers, an in-season series from DLF. Each week we choose a different ranking category; top 250 (one quarterback and superflex), devy, and IDP. We then review players from that group who may have risen or fallen substantially from the past month’s ranks and alert you to any relevant changes. Let’s get right to it.
QUARTERBACK
Michael Penix, QB Washington (DLF RANK: 33 OVERALL, QB9)
Penix is putting up crazy numbers again this season and has Washington off to a great start and a sleeper for the college football playoff.
Numbers Courtesy of ESPN.com.
Penix started off his career at Indiana and dealt with many injuries but did have a promising season in 2020 before a season-ending injury. Since he transferred to Washington, he has been putting up crazy numbers. In 2022, he had over 4,600 yards and a great TD/INT ratio of 31-8. In 2023 he has increased his completion percentage up to over 74% and his QB rating is over 196.
Should Move Ahead Of:
Pennix has shown through about a season and a half at Washington that he has the tools and should be thought of as one of the top college quarterbacks. I think he should be moved over Conner Weigman, Drew Allar, and JJ McCarthy. Allar and Weigman have shown flashes but nowhere near the consistency that Penix has. McCarthy is a harder move because I think he could get higher draft capital but as of this moment Penix has shown more in his college career.
RUNNING BACK
Audric Estime, RB notre dame (DLF RANK: 60 OVERALL, RB21)
Estime did not do much his freshman year but last year he led the Irish attack with over 900 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has continued where he left off in 2022, with seven touchdowns in six games, and looks to shatter his rushing production from a year ago. He is more involved in the passing game already matching the number of receptions from last year and has increased his average yards per carry by over a yard. Estime is a tough runner and has shown the ability to take the ball the distance with runs of 50 and 80 this season.
Numbers Courtesy of ESPN.com.
Should Move Ahead Of:
Estime at RB21 just seems too low based on his performance over the past two seasons. I believe he should be ahead of Jase McClellan and Donovan Edwards. McClellan in his four years has dealt with injury and has not been able to take over the Alabama backfield. Edwards has improved but he is more of a threat in the passing game than the running game. He still struggles with vision and tends to go down on early contact. Estime is the type of player that compares to Zach Charbonnet and he was taken in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft.
WIDE RECEIVER
Roman Wilson, WR Michigan (DLF RANK: unranked)
Roman Wilson was a top 220 recruit in 2020 out of Hawaii for the Wolverines. In his first three years he had modest numbers, with his highest output at 420 receiving yards in 2021. The Wolverines have had a more aggressive passing attack to start 2023 and Wilson has taken over the number one spot at receiver. He already has matched his number of touchdowns for his career with eight in just five games. He is going to surpass all of his previous highs in receiving and is becoming uncoverable by defenses. Wilson has speed but also despite his size can come up with contested catches. This week against Nebraska, he came up with a circus catch in the endzone.
ROMAN WILSON, HOW?!
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 30, 2023
Should Move Ahead Of:
Wilson does not get the volume that other receivers get because of the offense Michigan runs. He does lead the nation in touchdown receptions with eight and that is on only 19 receptions. Wilson deserves to be within the top 37 WRs that are ranked currently. I think he should be ahead of both Alabama receiver Ja’Corey Brooks and Kobe Prentice who are near the bottom of the WR list. There is speculation, since Wilson does not have the volume, but his game should be able to translate to the NFL with the wide-open schemes used now.
TIGHT END
Ben Sinnott, TE Kansas State (DLF RANK: UNRANKED)
There is Brock Bowers and then everyone else at tight end this year but it is important to look at others at the position. Tight end is so hard to predict, but if you get it right, you have a leg up on your competition. This year we see Sam Laporta paying big dividends as he is producing right away.
Sinnott had a nice 2022 campaign with 31 catches for 447 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023 he is on pace to surpass those numbers with 16 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns through four games. He has at least five receptions in three out of the first four games and is a big part of the Wildcat offense. I think he should be on the watch and at least in the top 10 of tight ends this year.
WRAPPING IT UP
The college football landscape changes week to week. It is important not to overreact to each week, good or bad. Look for the consistency of players but also the traits that would translate to the next level. Follow along with DLF’s devy rankings for the latest player movement and updated comments.
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