They may be ending the Space Shuttle program at NASA, but Houston will still have a lot of rockets…it just seems that NASA placed them a little closer to downtown on the University of Houston campus.

Conference USA’s top offense will be joined by a slew of CUSA programs producing some of the nation’s best fantasy talent.  Of course, the Number One fantasy player from last season, Houston QB Case Keenum (photo, thanks IconSMI), is back for 2010….but, check out the other top fantasy prospects from CUSA…the conference is loaded…

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CUSA EAST

EAST CAROLINA PIRATES

One of the top WRs in the nation is Dwayne Harris, who had nearly 1000 yards receiving and scored 10 TDs, 3 of those on kickoff returns.  The only thing that keeps Harris from being a sure-fire top WR pick is that ECU will be breaking in a new QB (possibly Dominique Davis, Boston College transfer), and a new offense scheme under new head coach Ruffin McNeill….a former Texas Tech assistant.

ECU, who has won the last two CUSA championships, may have to throw more than they planned to, as the RB corps has been hit hard by gradauation and suspension.  Jonathan Williams looks to be the top RB, but had only 38 yards rushing last season.  Of course, if McNeill can muster any of that Texas Tech offense from past seasons….he may not need a ground game.

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD

New head coach Doc Holliday will have little fantasy talent to start his Herd career with, but, a late draft consideration is QB Willy Korn, who transferred from Clemson….a few years ago Korn was one of the top prep QBs in the nation.  WR Antavious Wilson (724 yds, 3 TD rec) will be Korn’s top target.

RB Martin Ward (393 yds, 3 TDs rush) looks to be the heir-apparent to star RB Darius Marshall….and worthy of a late round consideration, as new coach Holldiay comes from West Virginia, familiar with a ground-oreinted offense.

MEMPHIS TIGERS

The Tigers under-produced the past few seasons, and looks like they will continue to do so in 2010 under new head coach Larry Porter.  The top fantasy consideration may be RB Jerrell Rhodes, a true freshman who may get the start…he is the new coach’s recruit…possibly starting over Lance Smith.  Memphis may have all of its starting O-Line return, and that should help the ground game.

At QB, Miami transfer Cannon Smith, takes over at the position.  Smith is the son of the CEO of FedEx (Memphis-based company), but, I do not see Smith delivering much offense in 2010

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES

One of the best programs in CUSA will welcome back QB Austin Davis to the starting lineup.  Davis missed a good part of last season due to injury, and is a productive QB who has one of the best WRs in the conference in DeAndre Brown (785 rec yds, 9 TDs), and, Brown is one to look for on draft day.  Backup QB Matevious Young filled in well in Davis’s absence last season….and a late-pick for a handcuff to Davis, if your draft is deep enough.

The ground game may take a hit this season, as Damion Fletcher has used up his eligibility…while the O-Line lost most of its starters due to graduation.  Even with the apparent low-lights with the USM ground game, it may be worth it to take a late-pick on RB Kendrick Hardy, a redshirt frosh who was a top RB in high school two years ago.

UAB BLAZERS

Joe Webb may be gone, but, the Blazers may have a good replacement in QB David Isabelle, who is another running QB who can hit a pass now and then.  UAB returns most of their O-Line, so Isabelle is a late-round consideration.  Isabelle’s top target will be WR Frantrell Forest, who had over 500 yards and 9 TDs receiving last season.  For leagues that require a TE, Jeffrey Anderson scored 5 TDs on 25 catches last season.

The ground game will probably feature a lot of Isabelle, but you may want to keep an eye on JUCO imports RB Pat Shed and RB Chad Winbush.  With an experienced O-Line,  these two backs will be worthy for any free agent/supplemental considerations.

UCF KNIGHTS

UCF is one of those programs that is a much better team on the field than they are for fantasy….especially when the top UCF fantasy consideration, RB Brynn Harvey (1109 rush yds, 14 TDs), will miss a few games early after suffering a knee injury in spring ball.  RB Jonathan Davis, a quick and elusive back, will be a good late-round pick up as he will get most of the carries in Harvey’s absence.

WRs Kamar Aiken (610 yds, 9 TD rec) and A.J. Guyton (572 yds, 1 TD rec) may see their stats suffer as erratic QB Rob Calabrese takes over the starting job…at least until highly-touted true frosh Jeffrey Godfrey is ready to assume helm.  Consider Aiken and Guyton late in your draft…or for free agent/supplemental

UCF’s top fantasy consideration may be its defense, which will be one of the best in CUSA this fall.  UCF gets its share of return TDs, INTs, fumbles, and sacks….with DE Bruce Miller the leading returning QB sacker in the nation.

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CUSA WEST

HOUSTON COUGARS

If fantasy football talent was like shopping malls, the University of Houston would be the Mall of America.   It all starts with, arguably the top fantasy talent in America, QB Case Keenum.  In 2009, Keenum threw for nearly 5700 yards and 44 TDs, leading the nation in those categories.  Keenum has a chance to set numerous career NCAA records, including career passing yards, if he comes near his 2009 numbers this season.   Yes, he is the first pick in any fantasy draft.

Keenum has most of his supporting cast back, including WRs James Cleveland (1214 rec yds, 14 TDs), Tyron Carrier (1029 rec yds, 7 TDs), and Patrick Edwards (1021 rec yds, 6 TDs).  All three WRs are good draft picks, especially the super-busy Cleveland.  Note, also, that Carrier had 4 kickoff return TDs last season.

The backfield loses one top player,  super-soph Charles Sims was suspended for the 2010 season.  However, it makes Bryce Beall  (670 rush yards, 311 rec yards, 10 total TDs) so much more valuable, as he will get the majority of the action, like he did in 2008 when he was a frosh.  Without having to split action with Sims, Beall becomes a high-round draft pick.

PK Matt Hogan is a solid kicker, and hit 12-12 FGs last season….with this offense Hogan is worth a late pick on draft day.

If there is any negative to Houston, it may be their defense, especially against the run.  The Cougars gave up over 225 rush yards per game last season, and some teams were able to ball-control to keep the UH offense off the field.  When on the field, no one can stop the Houston offense.  No one, on their schedule.

RICE OWLS

Rice lost a big chunk of its 2008 offense…and it showed in 2009.  Top QB Nick Fanuzzi threw for only 1598 yards and 11 TDs last season, and the Alabama transfer should see those numbers improve a little bit.  The Owls do return their entire starting offensive line, so look for Fanuzzi to have better numbers, especially with WR Patrick Randolph (356 yds, 4 TDs) back.  Fanuzzi and Randolph are late-round draft considerations.

Rice’s top fantasy prospect may be RB Sam McGuffie, a former prep blue-chipper who started a couple of games at Michigan two years ago.  McGuffie is a big-time RB that Rice rarely sees (Rice has high academic standards), and, could flourish behind an experienced Owl O-Line.  McGuffie is a great pick if still around late in your draft.

SMU MUSTANGS

Things are really looking up for Southern Methodist University, who won 8 games, inclduing a bowl game, in 2009….the first they have done that since the dreaded “Death Penalty” imposed by the NCAA in the mid-1980′s

Head coach June Jones may have finally found his QB for the Run-And-Shoot offense.  Sophomore Kyle Padron took over controls in the middle of last season, and finished with nearly 2000 yds and 10 TDs.  He is a top QB consideration in 2010, as he will be the prohibitive starter in this high-octane offense.

SMU has some good WRs in Aldrick Robinson (800 yds, 5 TDs rec), Terrance Wikerson (527 yds, 4 TDs red), and Cole Beasley (493 yds, 3 TDs).  Look for their numbers to go up in 2010, as Padron improves.  At least, these Mustang WRs are late-draft considerations.

TULANE GREEN WAVE

While most  CUSA West schools enjoy a smorgasbord of offense, Tulane struggles to get anything from the dollar-menu.  And, there is not a lot off of the Green Wave dollar-menu this season.

The top fantasy consideration for the Green Wave in 2010 is WR Casey Robottom (584 rec yds, 2 TDs), who should be the key target for probable starting QB Ryan Griffin (1382 pass yds, 9 TDs).  Robottom also returns punts, so he should get a few more touches on the ball

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE

Tulsa lost some of their big-offense luster last season when they dropped from 570 ypg in 2008, to 410 ypg in 2009.  Of course, most programs would be happy with 410 ypg offense….not Tulsa.

Do not blame QB G.J. Kinne for the demise.  Behind a young O-Line, Kinne still threw for over 2700 yards and 22 TDs, while leading the team in rushing with 393 yards (5 rush TDs).  With more experience on the O-Line this season, Kinne becomes one of the top fantasy QBs in 2010, as his numbers should improve.

Tulsa is still strong at WR, with Trae Johnson (311 yds, 8 TDs rec) and Damaris Johnson (1131 yds, 3 TD rec) returning.  Both are draft considerations.  The wild-card could be Jameel Owens, a highly-touted prep player who transferred from Oklahoma….if he gets eligibility he will be a sleeper pick with this offense.

The ground game was a little weak last season at Tulsa, but they still have a high-draft pick in FB Charles Clay, who had 12 total TDs last season, and is mainly used as a receiver.    RB Derrick Hall, a JUCO transfer, is one to watch for your free-agent/supplemental drafts.

UTEP MINERS

Continuing the trend of top fantasy players from CUSA (West) schools…the Miners have the nation’s  top returning fantasy RB from last season, Donald Buckram (1594 rush, 453 rec, 21 total TDs).  Buckram may not match his 2009 numbers in 2010…but he will get real close…and is worth a first round draft pick regardless.

The emergence of Buckram hurt the stats of four-year starting QB Trevor Vittatoe, who threw for only 17 TDs last season…however he still accumulated 3308 yards passing.  Vittatoe is a good late pickup, because he should better those stats in 2010, as defenses key more on Buckram.

WR Kris Adams had a big drop-off in 2009 (580 yds red, 2 TDs) from 2008, but is still the top receiving threat for the Miners.  As Vittatoe should improve….so should Adams.  Donovan Kemp is also a good late consideration, as he scored 4 TDs on only 12 catches last season….with over 23 yards per catch.

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Related posts:

1. CONFERENCE USA 2009 PREVIEW
2. MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE 2010 PREVIEW
3. SUN BELT CONFERENCE 2010 PREVIEW
4. Conference USA East 2011 Preview
5. Conference USA Start Sit for Week 5

Tags: Case Keenum, CUSA, DeAndre Brown, Donald Buckram, Houston, June Jones, SMU, Tulsa, UTEP