X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Ahead of The Game - College Devy Prospects (Week 4 Edition)

Matt Wispe looks at the top fantasy devy prospects for Week 4 of the college football season. Monitor these NCAA players for dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Week three was a bucket of joy from a fan perspective. There were one possession games, highly competitive matchups between ranked teams, and even major upsets. And it's a good time to hold onto those memories as we approach week four.

Week four is typically not the best slate of games from a competitive stand point. Traditional powers typically schedule a lower tier team in order to get a final tune up before conference play.

And for the most part that's the case, but for some of the more compelling prospects, there are competitive games this weekend. So today we'll feature a few unknowns, as well as two players in competition for the top spot at their respective positions.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller’s Dynasty content delivers year-round dynasty fantasy football rankings, trade advice, rookie analysis, and player outlooks. Build a title-winning roster with sleepers, stash targets, and our full dynasty fantasy football guide.

 

Quarterback

Drew Lock, QB Missouri

Week 4 - vs Georgia (9/22)

There was a case to be made that Lock could have left following his 2017 campaign, but with that class being relatively loaded, he opted to return for his final season of collegiate eligibility. By doing so, he could turn from a mid-pack QB prospect into the QB1 for the class.

Year G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int
2015 12 129 263 49 1332 5.1 4 4 8
2016 12 237 434 54.6 3399 7.8 7.9 23 10
2017 13 242 419 57.8 3964 9.5 10.2 44 13

Lock enters the week sixth in the nation in passing yard and tied for fifth in passing touchdowns. Lock has improved in nearly every statistical category each season

Year G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int
2018 3 78 113 69 1062 9.4 10.9 11 1

Lock's 10.9 AY/A start to the season is promising because it shows continued growth, but his completion percentage appears slightly unsustainable. Had Lock left school last season, he likely would have been drafted around the same position as Mason Rudolph and Kyle Lauletta. With this year's class much less top-heavy, there's a possibility that he'll be discussed with a first round pick, assuming he maintains his current numbers.

 

Running Back

Darrell Henderson, RB Memphis

Week 4 - vs. South Alabama (9/22)

It's somewhat rare to identify a member of a true committee as someone potentially special, but Henderson looks the part.

Darrell Henderson G Rush Att Rush Yds Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec. Yds Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2016 13 87 482 5.5 5 20 237 11.9 3
2017 12 130 1154 8.9 9 24 226 9.4 2

There are a few statistics that jump out when looking at Henderson's 2017 campaign. First is his 8.9 yards per carry which led to him breaking 1,000 yards on just 130 carries. Second is his 2.0 receptions per game with a nearly ten yard average. Lastly, is his 11 touchdowns on less than 160 total touches. Henderson appears to be highly efficient and that's translated this season, as well.

Darrell Henderson G Rush Att Rush Yds Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec. Yds Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2018 3 36 521 14.5 6 4 90 22.5 1

Henderson is slightly off his 2.0 reception per game average, but there's no slowing down his rushing and touchdown efficiency. Already at 7 touchdowns through 3 games, he appears to be a prolific scorer when he gets the ball in his hands. And while I expect his rushing yardage efficiency to regress, he's still likely to be above eight yards per carry at the end of the year and that will stand out in a crowd.  Henderson's size shouldn't be a concern, but his level of competition might be. If he chooses to declare for the draft, the postseason process will be critical. If his eye-popping stat lines turn into high level athleticism, he could find himself drafted and as a third round rookie pick in dynasty leagues.

Juwan Washington, RB San Diego State

Week 4 - vs Eastern Michigan (9/22)

San Diego State has been producing NFL prospects at the RB position for the past few seasons and they may have found another one in Juwan Washington. He won't have the career success of his predecessors, but if he can maintain his efficiency, he could generate similar excitement.

Juwan Washington G Rush Att Rush Yds Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec. Yds Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2016 12 55 441 8.0 6 3 72 24 1
2017 13 127 759 6.0 7 3 39 13 0

Washington doesn't have the ideal usage in the passing game, but consecutive seasons at or above six yards per carry helps minimize those concerns. In addition to his efficiency in the run game, Washington has spent some time returning kickoffs and his 24.9 yard average would indicate that he's athletic enough to become a viable option at the next level.

Juwan Washington G Rush Att Rush Yds Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec. Yds Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2018 3 87 452 5.2 5 5 47 9.4 0

Washington has one more year of eligibility remaining after this season. Based on early indications, it doesn't appear that he'd be highly coveted enough to make the leap a year early, but if he does, there could be some sneaky late-round value .   However, at only five-foot-seven, there will be real concerns about his ability to handle the same workload at the NFL level, but similar questions were raised about Philip Lindsay last season so there's reason to hope.

 

Wide Receiver

Greg Dortch, WR Wake Forest

Week 4 - vs Notre Dame (9/22)

Dortch may turn out to be my biggest preseason blind spot as he is playing like one of the top receivers in the country. If he continues to amass stats at his current pace, his size may not matter during his evaluation process.

G Rec Yds Avg TD MS Receiving Yards MS Receiving TDs Dominator
2017 8 53 722 13.6 9 0.20 0.28 0.24

Dortch didn't quite reach the ideal 0.30 dominator rating for the season, but his TD share is impressive considering his size. His 20 percent market share of receiving yards leaves a little to be desired, but he's already improved on that during his 2018 campaign.

G Rec Yds Avg TD MS Receiving Yards MS Receiving TDs Dominator
2018 3 28 336 12 1 0.40 0.17 0.28

Dortch is only a redshirt sophomore so while he's eligible to declare for the draft, it's not super likely that he will declare. But if he can produce enough to secure his position on late day two, there may not be a reason to return for another season. Dortch may fly under the radar in dynasty or devy leagues because of his stature, but his usage in 2018 would put him in an elite tier, if he can maintain. If he stays one more season, look to stash him on devy rosters. If he declares for the draft, don't forget about him at the end of round two of rookie drafts.

Penny Hart, WR Georgia State

Week 4 - vs Western Michigan (9/22)

A small receiver out of a non-traditional power. I'm starting to see where my blind spot lies. Hart has been one of the nation's best producing receivers when healthy.

G Rec Yds Avg TD MS Receiving Yards MS Receiving TDs Dominator
2015 13 72 1109 15 8 0.25 0.28 0.27
2016 2 8 61 7.6 1 0.02 0.06 0.04
2017 12 74 1121 15 8 0.35 0.51 0.43

Two 1,000 yard seasons is nothing to scoff at and there's reason to believe that he could have had another successful season during his missing 2016 campaign. Owning more than a 30 percent market share of yards puts Hart among the top dominators in the country and a third year over a 0.30 dominator rating would position him well to be a later-round selection in the 2019 NFL draft.

G Rec Yds Avg TD MS Receiving Yards MS Receiving TDs Dominator
2018 3 12 134 11 1 0.24 0.33 0.28

The biggest concern for undersized small-school prospects is the potential to not receive a combine invite. Historically, failing to receive a combine invite has been a major red flag for future success in fantasy. There's no reason to sound the panic alarms just yet because there's no indication that the NFL is ignoring him, but it's a thing to track. If Hart receives a combine invite, then he should be considered at the back end of rookie drafts.

 

Tight End

Noah Fant, TE Iowa

Week 4 - vs Wisconsin (9/22)

If you're already plugged into the devy community, then you've been waiting to see this name. And, in the interest of full disclosure, so have I. Fant entered 2018 as the clear cut top TE option for fantasy and we've reached a match up worthy of featuring him.

G Rec Yds Avg TD MS Receiving Yards MS Receiving TDs Dominator
2016 6 9 70 7.8 1 0.04 0.06 0.05
2017 12 30 494 16.5 11 0.20 0.40 0.30

Fant's status as the standout receiving TE in the class is tied to his touchdown prowess in 2017. A 40 percent share of TDs not only stands out among his position, but would be considered great at any receiving position.

G Rec Yds Avg TD MS Receiving Yards MS Receiving TDs Dominator
2018 3 12 140 11.7 2 0.22 0.67 0.44

Fant is almost guaranteed to be the top TE taken in rookie drafts in 2019. He's not the next Vernon Davis, but he's probably going to be considered in the same range as O.J. Howard.  And even in a WR-heavy draft class like 2019, he should be an option at the back end of the first round of rookie drafts.

More NCAA Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF