The Devy Fantasy Football Top 100: 95-91

Dylan Sampson | © Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Rob Willette Posted On March 9, 2024

As devy dynasty football grows in popularity, finding edges around the margins becomes far more difficult. Your average devy manager can rattle off the four deep of Georgia’s running back depth chart with ease. The proliferation of camps and the presence of social media can make players stars when they are in high school.

Of course, players emerge on the scene every year. Development is seldom linear. Football is a difficult game, and I can say this as a former mediocre high school football athlete who played in the nation’s 31st most talent-rich state, so I know of what I speak.

Below we examine some of the game’s top devy talent as part of the Devy 100.

95. Branson Robinson, RB Georgia (2025 Draft-Eligible)

Profile: Robinson was the rare true freshman ready for the rigors of SEC football as a true freshman, with his 5’10” and 220-pound frame making him appear as though he was making his home in an NFL facility. He worked his way into the mix in his first year, posting 330 yards rushing and three scores, two of which came in the national title game as the Bulldogs made quick work of TCU.

It was wheels-up for 2024, and then disaster struck. Robinson ruptured his patella tendon in August, wiping away his sophomore season and raising questions as to how quickly he can bounce back. A ruptured patella is no minor injury, and we may not get a look at him at anything resembling full strength until 2025. It is a massive blow to his devy stock and raises major concerns as to how well he can rebound.

2024 Outlook: Robinson is unlikely to progress beyond no-contact practice for a long while, and the Bulldogs brought in transfer Trevor Etienne to lead their backfield. He is likely to work his way back slowly and earn more work as the year goes on, but 2024 is almost exclusively about returning to full health for the sophomore.

94. Dylan Sampson, RB Tennessee (2025 Draft-Eligible)

Profile: Combine standout Jaylen Wright was not the only productive Volunteer back in 2023. Sampson worked in tandem with Wright (perhaps more accurately in a full committee with Jabari Small included as well) and racked up 779 total yards with eight scores. While he has a small frame at right around 190 pounds, he plays big and has the electric feet you would want to see from a back who profiles as more of a satellite player.

Tennessee can make it tough to evaluate players due to the general funkiness of their offense, but Sampson stands out due to his natural skill as a receiver and his ability to create yardage out of nothing. He gets skinny through the hole and can make subtle cuts in space to shimmy away from defenders. Sampson does not profile as a lead back at the next level, but he has the toolkit to fit in almost any backfield as a complementary piece.

2024 Outlook: Sampson should be the lead back in 2024. While others will mix in – perhaps most notably rising sophomore Cameron Seldon – Sampson has the experience and talent to be a focal point of the Tennessee offense, and should post great numbers in the skill position-friendly scheme.

93. Avery Johnson, QB Kansas State (2026 Draft-Eligible)

Profile: Johnson is already one of the better athletes at the quarterback position in college football. If the recruiting process did not make it evident enough, his 90 yards rushing and five scores against Texas Tech closed the case. He has excellent quickness and the long speed to turn scrambles into touchdowns.

Of course, athleticism only gets you so far at the position. Fortunately, Johnson has worked tirelessly to tighten up his mechanics, and looks far more polished as a passer than he did even two years ago. The delivery is smooth, and he has the zip to dot the field with accurate throws. There is plenty of work to be done, but Johnson has the foundation of a quality quarterback and the upside to be an absolute star.

2024 Outlook: After operating as a change-of-pace option in 2023, this is now Johnson’s team. Will Howard has transferred to Ohio State, removing the only real obstacle in his path to becoming a starter. Kansas State is one of the nation’s most well-coached teams, providing optimism his development will go smoothly as he introduces himself to the college football world.

92. Mylan Graham, WR Ohio State (2027 Draft-Eligible)

Profile: Ohio State develops wide receivers as well as anyone, yet Graham is one who arrives on campus fairly readymade. The long and sinewy receiver is a true technician, humiliating corners off the line and gaining separation with ease. While not yet a premier athlete, he is loose at the line of scrimmage and has the quickness to make defenders miss in space.

Of course, being a polished receiver does not portend future success. Plenty of “safe” picks go sideways for one reason or another. You have to love Graham’s foundation, however, and the opportunity to add strength and work with Brian Hartline over the next three to four years will be huge in helping him reach the next level.

2024 Outlook: True freshman receivers seldom crack the rotation at Ohio State. The Buckeyes are annually loaded with older depth, and it can take time to get accustomed to the scheme. Graham should not be counted on for much, though any production as the year goes on should be viewed as a big positive.

91. CJ Donaldson, RB West Virginia (2025 Draft-Eligible)

Profile: As you would expect from a 240-pound back who used to play tight end, Donaldson plays the position with a rare physicality. He keeps his legs churning for extra yards yet does not just seek out contact recklessly. He picks his spots and has light enough feet to slide off contact instead of initiating it.

After a 526-yard freshman season in what proved to be a truncated campaign, Donaldson surged to 798 yards rushing in year two, quietly becoming one of the nation’s more effective runners. We have yet to see much from him as a receiver, and it is possible he is never more than a part-time runner. But he has unique size and enough athleticism to serve as the thunder component in an RBBC.

2024 Outlook: Donaldson teams with Jahiem White to quietly create one of the best backfields in college football. They figure to split touches pretty much down the middle, perhaps preventing Donaldson from really rounding out his game in 2024.