As fantasy college football fans, we don’t necessarily care about the Heisman Trophy.  The won/loss records of most teams aren’t so interesting either.  In fact, do you even know how many wins Rice had?  Do you even care? This leads to the question that matters: Who is the Fantasy version of ”Most Outstanding” Player of The Year (FPOY)?

The official Heisman Trophy has been handed out in one of the tightest three man race in the history of the award. Sam Bradford beat out Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow to claim the award for the most ‘outstanding’ player in the nation.  As I broke down in my previous article, based on the criteria used by the Heisman committee, Bradford was indeed the most deserving of the award.

Many think this question is as easy as crowning the athlete with the most fantasy points(FP) on the season as the best fantasy player.  While FPs are ultimately the most important factor, I think it is often misleading.  Under most scoring systems, the QB position will almost always outscore all other positions.  Does that mean a non-QB will never be the top player?  The answer is obviously no and in fact I will argue that a QB, despite always outscoring the other positions, will have a more difficult time claiming the honor (I know, the picture gives it away).

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While the Sooners DB Dominic Franks misspoke that Tim Tebow was not the 4th best QB in the Big 12, statistics could support Mr. Franks trash talk. And since we care only about points and consistency in fantasy college football there were many QBs deserving attention for the Fantasy College Blitz 2008 Big 12 All-Fantasy Team.

Unfortunately there is only one slot, and you guessed correctly it (and the B12 Player of the Year) went to the Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford.

QB:  Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (3710 pass yds, 42 TD pass)  – the offensive line kept him upright, his tremendous coterie of wideouts and TEs got open, and he finished the seaosn with one of the highest efficiency ratings ever. Easy choice despite very good seasons from TTs Graham Harrell, Missouri’s Chase Daniel, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson. Read the rest of this entry →

Everybody, it seems, has their All-American teams…

Magazines, sports networks,  web-sites, your local bookie named Vito…everybody.

And, you can add the fearless crew here at Fantasy College Blitz.

However, one thing different with the FCB All-American Team:  We base it solely on production (and potential 2008 production).  It does not matter whether the player plays on a championship contender or at a "name" program.

This is one All-American team that will bring your fantasy team results.  And, championships.

Of course, I am sure our All-Americans, like Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour (pictured, thanks IconSMI ) are looking to bring championships to their schools, too.

Now, on to our Fantasy College Blitz All-American Team …

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Keeping with the theme found in the Wide Receivers article by Vince Mullins last week my list will be different than others rankings as I attempt to rank the running backs as they will rank in a few years.

1) Darren McFadden, Arkansas – JR – 6-1/211/4.33

McFadden (right, Icon SMI) has had some off-the-field issues leading up to the draft but I see it more as noise from teams hoping he slips in the draft. He should easily be the best back from this draft and will join Adrian Peterson as the next great running back tandem a la Barry Sanders / Emmitt Smith. I would be shocked if the Raiders passed on him at #4

2) Jonathan Stewart, Oregon – JR – 5-10/235/4.48

Stewart will not be the second back taken thanks to a toe injury that required surgery but should still sneak into the 1^st round. Stewart actually has a body and skills to be just as successful as McFadden if not more because he could easily find himself on a much better team. Of course the injury must be over-come but look for a team at the end of the first round like the Redskins, Steelers or Packers to take him.

3) Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois – JR – 5-10/225/4.45

I have been a fan of Mendenhall for a while and ranked him higher than anyone else this past season. I think his game will translate well to the NFL and should be the second back off the board with Carolina being a strong possibility at #13 or the Lions at #15.

4) Chris Johnson, ECU – SR – 5-11/197/4.24

There could easily be a few backs rank lower who turn out to be better than Johnson but they all carry risk. Johnson will have an impact in the NFL and while he may never be a great fantasy back he will certainly be valuable to his NFL team.

5) Matt Forte, Tulane – SR – 6-1/217/4.46

Forte gets the nod over a strong second tiered backs because his hard-nose running style that NFL coaches tend to fall in love with. Forte can be a work-horse on the NFL level and could be damn good on the right team.

6) Kevin Smith, UCF – JR – 6-1/217/4.48

Smith will not likely find himself in a starting role in 2008 which could prove to be good news as he tries shake off his record setting amount of carries last season. If Smith is given a chance to start on a NFL team I think you will see him be successful.

7) Felix Jones, Arkansas – JR – 5-10/207/4.47

I must admit I am a bit disappointed in the workouts of Jones as he just looked so much faster on the field. Can Jones be that home-run threat in the NFL has to be questioned and I am not sure he can be that work-horse type.

8) Ray Rice, Rutgers – JR – 5-8/199/4.44

Rice has seen his stock climb nicely heading into the draft and could go as early as the second round. However more than likely will come in as a third rounder and have to earn his opportunity.

9) Jamaal Charles, Texas – JR – 5-11/200/4.38

Charles is a perfect change-of-pace back that would nicely complement a back like Marion Barber in Dallas. Unlikely to ever be an every-down back in the NFL.

10) Anthony Alridge, Houston – SR – 5-9/ 170/4.36

Alridge is fast enough to have the ability to have a niche in the NFL but just lacks the size to be a consistent threat.

11) Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech – SR – 5-10/215/4.52

Choice has good size and has shown nice running ability at Georgia Tech so I would not be shocked if his name resurfaced down the road but lacks the explosiveness to have a long career.

12) Steve Slaton, West Virginia – JR – 5-9/1974.44

Slaton had a lot of hype during his college career but I just do not see his game translating to the pro game.

13) Cory Boyd, South Carolina – SR – 6-0/213/4.51

Boyd is someone that I consider a little bit of a sleeper for the backs taken in the second day. A great pass catcher who does the little things well can stick around if he practices well.

14) Thomas Brown, Georgia – SR – 5-8/204/4.55

Brown has talent but could never shake the injury bug which will cause him to be a late draft choice.

15) Jalen Parmele, Toledo – SR – 5-11/224/4.47

The size and speed jumps out as ‘wow’ why is this guy getting no love? Well that is because he never showed that kind of speed in game-time situations but who knows with the right conditioning maybe a NFL can get that to translate to the field.

Others:

Xavier Omen, NW Missouri ST – SR – 5-10/228/4.59

I know little of him but the experts seem to like him and what list is complete without have a small school no-name back on it.

Justin Forsett, California – SR – 5-8/194/4.45

Not fast enough for a small frame running back to like his chances.

Mike Hart, Michigan – SR – 5-9/206/4.67

A great college career who will likely never see the NFL field as he just lacks the explosiveness and speed for a NFL to take him serious enough to give him a shot.

Rafael Little, Kentucky – SR – 5-8/194/4.50

Does things that NFL teams like so he has a chance to hang around but could not take the abuse of the SEC and while some people in the south may argue, last time I check the NFL is tougher than the SEC.

Marcus Thomas, UTEP – SR – 6-0/213/4.60

I always thought Thomas was under-used in at the college rank that like Boyd does things that gives him a chance but just is not fast enough to ever be taken serious.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ole Miss – SR– 5-10/219/4.63

For some unknown reason my gut says we will see this name in the NFL box scores in a few years.

At Fantasy College Blitz, our All-American teams will differ form the most well-known and accepted lists – and we expect and embrace that every year. Our voting is transparent and open to praise and criticism – our teams are three deep, each with two QBs, three RBs and WRs, and one each TE, K, and D.

The NCAA recognizes five All-American teams – Football Coaches, The Sporting News, The Football Writers, Associated Press and Walter Camp. Our goal is for our awards to be as respected as those organizations that have been recognizing athletes for decades. Our goal is simply to highlight the most productive and consistent statistical performances in college football. We don’t care if it happens in Gainesville, Athens, Ypsilanti or Laramie – you put up the numbers and we will find you.

In that vane, we will announce a different position each day this week (QB, RB, WR, Others) and finish with our Player of the Year Award on Saturday.

Thursday means we announce the 2007 All-American Wide Receivers:
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