Whether you were a hardcore college fantasy player or a casual college football fan last year, you probably had three things come to mind when the Oregon Ducks were mentioned. The crazy uniforms, QB Dennis Dixon and RB Jonathan Stewart. This season only one of those three are back and love ‘em or hate ‘em (for the record I love ‘em), it’s the wild Nike uni’s. With those offensive juggernauts departed to the NFL, Mike Belloti has some big holes to fill and fantasy players are left to figure out if, when and who will become the playmakers in an offense that still has the potential to put up impressive and useful fantasy numbers. Those answers may be starting to shake out as the Ducks near a regular practice schedule for their Aug. 30th opener at home against Washington.
Dennis Dixon was a treat to watch running O-Coordinator Chip Kelly’s “speed spread” attack, but an open competition to determine Dixon’s successor is more of a preference of style than player.
Drew Tedford’s team had very high expectations heading into last season, and after getting sweet revenge on Tennessee in the season opener in Berkley, it seemed as though the Bears were going to be a force. A pair of three-game losing streaks all to conference foes turned the buzz into a whimper. This year the expectations are much lower for Tedford and company with only four returning starters on offense. Despite the sound of doom and gloom there is a potential fantasy running back gem for the plucking here in So. RB Jahvid Best.
The passing game should be strong enough with returning two-year starter, Sr. Nate Longshore, battling So. Kevin Riley for the spot under center. Longshore you probably know, but it was Riley who was the star in the Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force that led to an open competition in Spring. That duel was short lived when a pectoral muscle injury ended Longshore’s Spring early. Both had played well up to that point and Riley finished strong enough to further fuel speculation of an open competition this Fall. Tedford himself then acknowledged the open competition despite the initial depth chart listing Longshore as the starter to open camp. We may not know for sure until the week of the opener when Michigan State visits Cal Aug. 30th.
The new UCLA regime headlined by Neuheisel wearing the head honcho headset and Norm Chow directing the offense has the makings of a very intriguing fantasy offensive production formula. Unfortunately, those offensive guru’s collective genius won’t be able to overcome a major lack of top flight talent and depth. A rebuilding process will have to be completed before fantasy players will be able to utilize any Bruins.
That depth issue got even worse in Spring when Patrick Cowan, the likely starter, blew an ACL and then his primary competition, Sr. Ben Olson, broke his foot in the same practice. Olson is back to run the show, but this doesn’t have the makings of a high scoring or useful fantasy attack despite the offensive production resumes of the new coaching staff. Olson has the size (6-4, 235 lbs.) and arm to possibly be a pleasant surprise, and he very well may be throwing more than planned while often playing from behind. However, any realistic fantasy optimism here is just what it sounds like… a reach. Junior college transfer, Jr. Kevin Craft will serve as the back-up.
Arizona Tech… Arizona Red Wildcats… perhaps Texas Tech West… Fantasy players relying on any of Mike Stoops’ aerial options this season hope all of those monikers will fit. In the second year under O-Coordinator Sonny Dykes’ spread system (the playbook is directly from Texas Tech with the changes basically limited to an A logo slapped over the double Ts), Mike Stoops’ job may be on the line along with the fantasy seasons of those who count heavily on QB Willie Tuitama and WR Mike Thomas (right, Icon SMI).
Tuitama (Sr.) set school records last season for TD passes (28) and passing yards (3,683) in his first year in the new pass happy look. This year both Stoops and Dykes have indicated that they plan to rely on Willie’s big right arm even more as well as take more shots downfield, something lacking from the attack last season. After a concussion-filled 2006 sophomore season nearly ended his playing days, it was nice to see Tuitama not only stay healthy but demonstrate plenty of toughness and durability amidst 524 attempts. Slinging the ball behind an improved O-line should help even more to make ‘06 a distant memory and give owners even more confidence in his health this season.
For a team that went 9-4 last year and won a bowl game (21-14 Vs Maryland in the Emerald Bowl), there is a pretty ‘ho-hum’ feel to this Oregon State squad. With 7 starters back on offense and only 3 on defense to attack a tough schedule, I am expecting that same ‘ho-hum’ feel minus some wins and bowl game. From a fantasy perspective however, there is one gem twinkling in the dirt for those that spot it…especially if he can be dusted off and shined back up.
At QB, there is definitely some uncertainty here and the OSU faithful seem to be split down the middle between scrappy 5-11 junior Lyle Moevao and the prototypical 6-4 Sean Canfield. At the start of last year, the job was Canfield’s until a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder vaulted Moevao into action. Either way, how this one pans out is not going to be of fantasy importance. Although you could argue that a fully healthy Canfield could prove better for some of the relevant WR talent.
Whether you were a hardcore college fantasy player or a casual college football fan last year, you probably had three things come to mind when the Oregon Ducks were mentioned. The crazy uniforms, QB Dennis Dixon and RB Jonathan Stewart. This season only one of those three are back and love ‘em or hate ‘em (for the record I love ‘em), it’s the wild Nike uni’s. With those offensive juggernauts departed to the NFL, Mike Belloti has some big holes to fill and fantasy players are left to figure out if, when and who will become the playmakers in an offense that still has the potential to put up impressive and useful fantasy numbers. Those answers may be starting to shake out as the Ducks near a regular practice schedule for their Aug. 30th opener at home against Washington.
