Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Breakout CFB Performances From Week 2 (2023)

Mike Marteny takes a look at 2023 breakout collegiate stars that will be available in your fantasy football dynasty drafts within the next year or two. Who shined in Week 2 of the 2023 season?

We had another fun weekend of college football. We had some performances that you had to see to believe. Nick Saban took the worst home loss of his Alabama tenure. Two FCS schools sniped FBS opponents. We still did not have that MAC team beat a Big Ten (14) team and they are running out of chances.

We are going to help you get acclimated with these college players earlier than many of your fantasy football league mates. We here at RotoBaller are all about giving you an advantage.

I will highlight one quarterback, one running back, and one wide receiver every week of the college season that put up some really big numbers. I'll let you know what it means for your dynasty leagues. Do these guys have NFL futures? You'll find out!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings
• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks

Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL) (21-30, 374 yards, 5 TD) vs. Texas A&M

Van Dyke showed out two years ago as a freshman, but the Hurricanes switched up offenses in 2022 and Van Dyke struggled because of it. Once again, the Hurricanes have a new offense. Unlike last year's, it lets him showcase his arm while relying on a few backs to move the ball as well.

Van Dyke's accuracy is a strength and he throws a great deep ball. Not only that, but Van Dyke is 6'4" and 230 pounds. If NFL coaches could make a quarterback in a lab, they would come out looking like Van Dyke. The 2023 class of quarterbacks is going to be a historically good one. So good that a guy like Van Dyke is hardly mentioned. There are many teams that will be glad to have him in the second round.

Honorable mention: Michael Penix, Washington; Max Brosmer, New Hampshire; Jacob Zeno, UAB

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (26 carries, 234 yards, 3 TD; reception, 10 yards) vs. Appalachian State

For the second year in a row, the Tarheels managed to escape against Appalachian State. Hampton was a big reason why. The true sophomore has already scored five touchdowns in the first two games of the season without having the backfield to himself. That means he has a nose for the end zone and fantasy players LOVE those guys.

Hampton is built like an NFL running back. He is 6' and 220 pounds with really muscular legs to move a pile. This was the first time that North Carolina has won a game without a passing touchdown since 2015. This coming from a team with a supposed Heisman contender at quarterback. This proved to scouts that Hampton could handle a huge workload and wouldn't break down. The big NFL brother is watching.

Honorable mention: Darius Taylor, Minnesota; Keith Willis, Louisiana Tech; Roman Hemby, Maryland

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers

Gage Larvadain, Miami (OH) (Eight receptions, 273 yards, Three TDs) at Massachusetts

When 99 of your yards come on one reception, you can just take the rest of the day off. Larvadain didn't. He found the end zone twice more for the Redhawks. Brett Gabbert threw for 302 yards in this game. Larvadain had all but 29 of those yards.

Larvadain is now firmly on NFL radars. He has the speed to be a slot receiver in the league and has good hands. But at 165 pounds, he's going to have to prove he can take hits from NFL defensive backs before a team invests any capital in him.

Honorable mention: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State; Xavier Weaver, Colorado; Evan Stewart, Texas A&M; Dylan Laube, New Hampshire

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends

Holden Staes, Notre Dame (Four receptions, 115 yards, Two TDs) at North Carolina State

Staes is staking his claim as the next great Notre Dame tight end. The sophomore only caught one pass as a freshman last year, but Michael Mayer was in town. You can't blame the guy. The Wolfpack did a good job of covering the receivers downfield, so Staes was a reliable safety valve for Sam Hartman.

Staes isn't going to set any land speed records, but he does have really good hands. From what I've seen in three games this year, he is a good run blocker and an extension of this excellent offensive line. He's not part wide receiver like Dalton Kincaid or Kyle Pitts. Staes holds his own, but he's going to need to be a good blocker to have an NFL future. So far he looks the part.

Honorable mention: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas; Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh

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