Going Deep: Who is the hot WR?
October 22nd, 2008 by Vince Mullins
When you watch a game on TV and the analyst/former player/ former washed-up coach talks about the “hot receiver”, it references which skill player is uncovered due to the defense blitzing an extra player. In fantasy college football, I like to use the term to see who is on a three-week hot streak.
Inspired by Drew’s article on the best RB performers of the past three weeks, I took a look at U-sports for some receivers trends also. Some tidbbits:
- #1 TE Rice James Casey owns the #10 receiver spot as well. Cool backstory here. TDs running, passing and receiving in the last three weeks.
- Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant is #1 WR with “only” 365 yards, but 5TD catches and a punt return TD.
- Most receptions in last three weeks? The Black Swan, Casey Fitzgerald of North Texas. PS – Is QB Giovanni Vizza still on your waiver wire? He is (was) in FCB Select so i grabbed him for the heck of it since the schedule sets up so nicely in the Sun Belt.
- SMU Emmanuel Sanders is looking up at his teammate Aldrick Robinson on the score sheet. Robinson has 200 yards more than Sanders and QB Mitchell may finally have figured out the scheme.
- DeAndre Brown finally has arrived – a preseason Top 50 had four TD last week in a Southern Miss win, a stinker against Boise and a quality start the week before. C-USA schedule is a gift of poor defenses, so kudos to you if you held on to him all season.
Let’s breakdown the best of the rest…
To the Permastarters:
Mike Crabtree, Texas Tech at Kansas (41) – here is where the Red Raiders get to prove their worth. I think it is fair to say that they are the worst of the undefeated teams in the bigger conferences. The offense has a lot of tape on Kansas shootout last week with Oklahoma, expect Crabtree to go nuts.
Jarett Dillard and TE James Casey, Rice at Tulane (87) – The game’s leading TD receiver in history and the #1 TE this season get a dome and a weak defense. Nice!
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State at Texas (26) – Longhorns can be thrown on, and Dez is as good as it gets on the flank. Missouri rolled too much coverage to him and the running game went wild as did WR2 Damien Davis. Texas can bring heat, expect at least one big play TD.
Jeremy Maclin, Missouri hosts Colorado (61) – Tigers and the BYU Cougars are likely the angriest teams this week, looking to avenge losses. I have a league where I am jonesing for a WR, i start Danario Alexander so I expect the Tigers to return to their 50 point ways.
Chris Williams, New Mexico State at Idaho (118) – I am personally looking for and needing badly a big game out of the CW. Dome game, Chase holbrook is on a roll, just need Williams in the EZ, something he is sorely missed this year.
Mike Thomas, Arizona hosts Southern Cal (1)- Quality start (100+, TD) while hosting Cal is a lot different than getting it done in the Rose Bowl. You would not hurt my feelings by sitting Thomas this week against the top defense in college football.
Austin Collie and TE Dennis Pitta, BYU hosts UNLV (108) – think the Cougars are on a mission after the national TV beatdown by TCU last week? Yes, Versus counts as national TV. Start of the week.
Brandon Banks, Kansas State hosts Oklahoma (36) – Josh Freeman is a ball hog and is ruining my playoff chances.
Erron Riley, Duke at Vanderbilt (22) – Jeopardy should conduct a tryout amongst the tailgaters.
Eric Decker, Minnesota at Purdue (72) – Golden Gophers are for real with a decent defense and a solid young set of skill players.
Percy Harvin, Florida hosts Kentucky (7) – Kentucky has been a great wall this season, as has their offense. As always, it is always about the injury story.
Emmanuel Sanders/Aldrick Robinson, SMU at Navy (90) – watch the weather on the coast for this one as winds could derail the Mustang air attack.
Mark Hafner TE Houston (idle) but playing next Tuesday
Casey Fitgerald, North Texas hosts Troy (46) – could be three catches and 20 yards, could be 20 catches and 300 yards. He should get a TD either way..
Bryan Anderson CMU – Taped the WMU at CMU game, that was a blast and Western Michigan should have scored 14 more. Anderson made a couple acrobatic catches with Brian Brunner at the helm, no ill effects from the shoulder injury. But no TDs and that dog don’t hunt in fantasy. If Brunner remains the QB with the LeFevour ankle injury, there is no need to downgrade Anderson
PINE TIME
Ryan Wolfe and Philip Payne of UNLV at BYU (13) – BYU will be very angry, and their conservative nature will make them even angrier against the team from Sin City. Sit them both.
Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green at Northern Illinois (15) – injuries will likely bench him, but the Husky D is one of the nation’s best and will lead to an ugly day for the Falcon offense.
EFENSE SPECIALS
(No D, get it?) (BlitzIndex ranks in parentheses)
Illinois (79) at Wisconsin (73)
Troy (46) at North Texas (120)
Central Michigan (86) at Toledo (106)
Southern Miss (97) at Memphis (99)
TOO MUCH DEFENSE
find spot starters elsewhere.
Auburn (6) at West Virginia (12)
Virginia (49) at Georgia Tech (2)
Virginia Tech (46) at Florida State (19)
Kentucky (7) at Florida (9)
Alabama (14) at Tennessee (16)
and the biggie…
Penn State (4) at Ohio State (9)
Related posts:
