Can you believe it…it is just days from the start of the 2010 College Football season! And, of course, you probably want to know whether your fantasy QB is worth playing in Week One….like Texas A&M’s JerrodJohnson (photo, thanks, Scout.com)
We got the lowdown on many of the top QB plays this week…and we even did this article on our own. What? You think we got Butch Davis’ Nanny to write this? Come on… Read the rest of this entry →
Quick update before National Draft Day on Saturday August 28…two star college football players (each potential Top 10 at their position) were suspended indefinitely Friday, dramatically altering the depth charts and cheat sheets of fantasy college football 2010.
My man-crush Middle Tennessee QB Dwight “Donkey” Dasher seems not to know when to fold ‘em, poker led him to a personal debt to an elderly man in Murfreesboro. The debt on its own is not really the issue as I am sure the NCAA would go nuts trying to track down personal lending for all athletes, but the still-alleged theft of a teammates blank check as collateral is what will keep Dasher out indefinitely.
<<<FANTASY IMPACT>>> Drew and I talked this one out a lot today, we think it is too early to cut Dasher. He could be out three games, or this could be a 2009 Dez Bryant like situation that drags out for the season. Current weight of the evidence has us suggesting a hold on Dasher.
On the other end of the social ill scale, rumors surface on the Net late Friday that Missouri RB Derrick Washington was off the team due to allegations of sexual battery. I will spare you the details but check out ESPN and the excellent Columbia Daily Tribune for details. The case was dismissed in July, but is playing a part in the suspension.
<<<FANTASY IMPACT>>> The Washington case is tougher to call, but has bigger implications for a season long dismissal. At the very least, grab Kendall Lawrence who takes over the #1 spot for the Tigers, but even better if RB Ronnie Hillman of San Diego State is still a free agent in your league you should secure him.
After three years and three consecutive national championships, the SEC has one heck of a resume to hang their hat on. However, all that bling serves as a shield toward a pretty awkward couple of issues: the league only runs two deep at the top right now and fantasy players tail off in a hurry down south of the Mason Dixon. Attrition caused its own mess, so …now what? Now we have a couple of guys who are impact players, a few guys who could be, and then a heck of a lot of hope.
Big arm, big body, big-time coach - yes, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett looks like the real fantasy deal (Icon SMI)
At least we have trophies…
QUARTERBACK
1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
2. Cam Newton, Auburn
3. John Brantley, Florida
4. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss
Let’s start with the obvious: Ryan Mallett is as close to a fantasy QB beast the SEC is likely to get for the near future. He has a system designed to maximize his talents, he has a quality crop of WRs, and he’ll get the opportunities. After that …. yikes. Sure, Stephen Garcia is still floating around, and Greg McElroy is a great real-life QB, but they have systemic issues – McElroy isn’t in an offense that lets him pass enough, and Garcia is going to be yanked out of at least 3-4 games (plus is still playing behind a swinging gate of an offensive line).
Instead, we’re left with what systems are likely to produce. Newton, Brantley, and Masoli are all untested in SEC play, excepting Newton’s garbage time as a Gator his freshman year. However, they’re all in systems that can maximize their talents (and to be brutally frank, I flipped their order a few times writing this). For now, I trust Newton more than either of the two guys ranked below him. Brantley has all the tools, but after what happened to Florida’s offense under Steve Addazio last year, I’m a bit gunshy. Masoli by all rights should be going to an offense that will let him run – Matt Jones in 2004 as a good example of Masoli’s potential – but there’s the simple matter of, well, not trusting that Houston Nutt has any idea how to coach QBs. At all. Couple that with Ole Miss breaking in three new guys on the line and there are some red flags here, even with Masoli’s production last season.
Don’t get me wrong – Newton, Brantley, and Masoli all have a chance to be the best fantasy QB in the SEC. But in the absence of any history, we’re left to fall back on what we’ve seen guys like them do, and the production potential of those three guys doesn’t outweigh what we already know about Mallett.
Vince and Drew debut the Fantasy College Blitz Cheatsheet Customizer so you can personalize your draft preparation for your leagues specific rules.
We discuss not only the Top 5 at each position, but also debate the placement of some big names to the national media that we just do not expect to rack up the stats. And Drew surprises Vince with three wide receiver names that even he had never heard of!
Seriously, if you would like some custom work done for your cheatsheets, Drew offers as much at about the 35 min mark. Email him at drew [at] fantasycollegeblitz [dot] com. Follow his “Tweeter” feed at twitter.com/fcbdrew
Feedback on the podcast, or media inquiries, please email vince [at] fantasycollegeblitz [dot] com.
Drew ordered and projected over 1000 players for 2010 so you will not be left without names at the end of your draft!
Many of you personalize your leagues with unique scoring systems so Drew allows anyone to input their matrix so they can evaluate each of skill position!
Drew will update his projections constantly throughout August right up to kickoff – stay tuned for his updates and an tune to the podcast discussing our early August views for 2010.
Can you believe it…it is just days from the start of the 2010 College Football season! And, of course, you probably want to know whether your fantasy QB is worth playing in Week One….like Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson (photo, thanks, Scout.com)
