Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Top College Fantasy Football Players Week 3 (2024)

Mike Marteny takes a look at 2024 breakout collegiate stars who will be available in your fantasy football dynasty drafts within the next year or two. Who shined in Week 3 of the 2024 season?

Welcome back to another season of Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch, where I highlight the best and brightest performances from the college football week that was. There were some big performances again in Week 3, but they are meaning more now with most teams playing better competition.

We will introduce you to these college players earlier than many of your fantasy football league mates. We here at RotoBaller are all about giving you an advantage. If you had paid attention to this column last year, you would have known about Kimani Vidal and Xavier Worthy long before their performances at the NFL Combine.

I will highlight one quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end every week of the college season who 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!

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks

Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State (24-31, 396 yards, 5 TD, INT) at Tulsa

It's time to have a dialogue about Alan Bowman after Tulsa... ?

- 396 Passing Yards
- 5 Passing TD’s ?
- 78% Completion
- ~1,000 yards in 3 Games

Dark horse. Deserves respect. And is playing his role perfectly. ? pic.twitter.com/BEFNRchdMa

— Reagan Harris (OSU Mart) (@OKSTMart) September 14, 2024

Bowman led the Cowboys to their biggest true road win since 2020 in this game. Tulsa isn't a great opponent, but Bowman shone on a team that is usually known for its running backs. He is showing that maybe another quarterback can work his way into the discussion in another loaded class.

This shouldn't surprise anyone. Bowman slung it around for three years at Texas Tech but never broke through with Michigan. This is his seventh year of college (somewhere John "Bluto" Blutarsky is proud), so Bowman is a bit old (24) for an NFL prospect.

Arm strength has never been an issue for Bowman. It's usually his accuracy. He has eight touchdowns to only two interceptions in the early going. It will take a lot more of this (on a team that is committed to running the football) for Bowman to firmly establish himself on the radar. A solid pro day could earn him a late-round pick as a backup.

Honorable mention: Josh Hoover, TCU; Cam Ward, Miami (FL); Nicholas Vattiato, Middle Tennessee State

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (25 carries, 210 yards, 3 TD; reception, 6 yards) vs. North Carolina Central

Week 3 Leader in Rush Yards AFTER Contact:

⭐️ Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: 181 YDS@UNCFootball pic.twitter.com/BQPAsTlJkk

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 16, 2024

It's peculiar that the Tar Heels would run Hampton 25 times in a game in which they didn't need to. The rest of the team only carried the ball 16 times combined. That's a rarity in college football, especially on a team like Carolina. At any rate, it did give Hampton the chance to strut his stuff.

Hampton ran for 1,504 yards last season, so he has been on the NFL radar for a while. He's quick for his size (6 feet, 220 pounds) but big enough to run through tackles. The Tar Heels are making a conscious effort to have him more active in the passing game. He has good hands to go with a plethora of other skills.

Right now, he looks like a solid addition to any pro backfield. He can carry a big load and he has good enough hands that he can be used in any offensive package.

Honorable mention: R.J. Harvey, Central Florida; Kaleb Johnson, Iowa; Jaden Nixon, Western Michigan

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers

Nick Nash, San Jose State (17 receptions, 225 yards, 3 TD) vs. Kennesaw State

Nash doubled his reception total for the season with the huge game against Kennesaw State. The Nick Nash train isn't stopping anytime soon. He is already near last year's production (48 receptions, 728 yards, 8 TD) and it's only Week 3!

Nick Nash is a WR you should get familiar with after last Saturday

17 Rec ?
225 Yards ?
3 TDs ?

Leading SJSU to a 3-0 record ? pic.twitter.com/KBR35zIWKx

— 229 Sports (@229Sports_) September 17, 2024

Nash is tall enough (6-foot-3) to tangle with NFL corners, but teams will likely want him to put more muscle on his frame as he is only 195 pounds right now. Nash is also a former quarterback, so he pays attention to route running. He has great hands and while his speed plays in the Mountain West, it won't be a great asset in the NFL.

Nash can be a third or fourth receiver in the NFL. With more teams using three- and four-receiver sets, it could turn into a good career for him.

Honorable mention: Jack Bech, TCU; De'Zhaun Stribling, Oklahoma State; Omari Kelly, Middle Tennessee State

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends

Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt (9 receptions, 110 yards, TD) vs. Georgia State

A week after the former quarterback threw a touchdown against Alcorn State, Stowers had a career-best game in the loss to Georgia State.

Diego Pavia to Eli Stowers. The New Mexico State connection keeps #Vandy alive. pic.twitter.com/ZWeUTfijTp

— Billy Derrick (@billyderrick10) September 15, 2024

At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he's a little light for an NFL tight end. If Stowers has an NFL comp right now, it's Taysom Hill. He's never going to be a road-grader as a blocker, but if some team wants to use him more as a receiver or a trickster, he may carve out a role at the next level.

Honorable mention: John Copenhaver, North Carolina; Bryce Kennon, Charlotte

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