RADIO
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 14 of the 2024 season?
We had all 134 teams in action this weekend, so there were plenty of great performances to choose from. The last week of the college football regular season was a little less chaotic from a standings perspective, but it was chaos after games. We had six fights break out after heated rivalry games. One involved players being pepper sprayed. Even Arizona-Arizona State had a mascot fight. It's a good way for the regular season to go out.
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 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 huge 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
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana (23-of-31, 349 yards, 6 TDs) vs. Purdue
Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke finished the season with the BEST passer rating (181.4) in all of college football.
Rourke (11 games): 202-287 (70.4%); 2,827 yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs.
He had the nation's 8th best completion percentage, finished 27th in yards despite missing a game, 9th… pic.twitter.com/cjpcVeoKL1
— Justin Albers (@Justin_Albers) December 1, 2024
This could just as easily have been Shedeur Sanders, but we already know that he's a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and a first-round pick in dynasty drafts. You know what to expect from Sanders. You may not know much about Rourke.
That kind of efficiency will usually get looks from NFL scouts. If Rourke had done that at Ohio, few would have noticed. Rourke is now on NFL radars since he moved to the Big Ten (18) and did it in that conference.
Rourke is huge (6-foot-5, 223 pounds), so seeing over his line won't be an issue. He's deceptively fast for his size, but Indiana didn't run him like Ohio did early in his career. His NFL game won't be running the football. It's more to highlight that Rourke is elusive despite his size.
Rourke threw 16 interceptions in three years as a starter or co-starter at Ohio. His four this season at Indiana (with 27 touchdown passes) shows his decision-making abilities are already good enough for NFL teams to give him more than a cursory glance.
Rourke isn't one of the can't-miss prospects. He reads more like a Ben Roethlisberger type (who was also a MAC quarterback) who can sit for a year or two before ascending to a starting job. Drafted into the right situation, Rourke can be an NFL starter. I will likely take at least a year, though.
Honorable mention: E.J. Warner, Rice; Michael Alejado, Hawaii; Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (37 carries, 226 yards, TD) vs. Oregon State
Ashton Jeanty really had more yards after contact than anyone else had rushing yards this season ? pic.twitter.com/JFw2ZuoASu
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 3, 2024
Yes, it's this guy again. That should iterate what a historic season this has been for Jeanty. There is nothing I can say about him that I haven't already said in this space.
There are rumblings of some teams being concerned about the workload, but I doubt it. Jeanty was in a timeshare with George Holani for the last couple of seasons. He doesn't have great receiving stats, but he did last year. There aren't many (if any) holes in Jeanty's game. He is likely a first-round pick in both NFL and dynasty drafts.
Honorable mention: Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech; Bryson Washington, Baylor; Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers
LaJohntay Wester, Colorado (11 receptions, 175 yards, 2 TDs) vs. Oklahoma State
LaJohntay Wester’s name is starting to buzz in 2025 NFL Mock Draft’s?? pic.twitter.com/dEBE2HgKDF
— GUCCE??⬛ (@gucceCU) November 19, 2024
Those of us who watched Wester last year at Florida Atlantic knew that he was capable of games like this. He has been overshadowed by Travis Hunter while at Colorado. He's fast with great hands, but will still have to prove some things to NFL scouts.
Wester will likely project as a slot receiver in the NFL thanks to his lithe build (5-foot-11, 167 pounds). That limits the impact he can have on an NFL squad, but we have seen several slot receivers achieve fantasy relevance. Wester is electric enough to get a shot. The fact that his coach is an NFL Hall of Famer doesn't hurt. Deion still has connections.
Honorable mention: Elijah Sarratt, Indiana; Makai Jackson, Appalachian State; Coleman Owen, Ohio
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends
Holden Willis, Middle Tennessee State (6 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TDs) at Florida International
Holden Willis running free through the secondary!
60-YARD @MT_FB TOUCHDOWN!
?: @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/z15eKhgDQU
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 11, 2023
Willis put together another strong season at Middle Tennessee State, hauling in 53 passes for 871 yards and six touchdowns. He was the best receiver on the team by a long shot. The play above shows his two best attributes: hands and route running.
Those of us who watch the NFL know that Willis would have no chance of gutting an NFL secondary like that. He's undersized (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) for a tight end. He started his college career as a receiver, but MTSU needed the size on the line.
If Willis were to get a shot in the NFL, it would likely be as a backup. He's a tweener with no outstanding attributes. Willis knows football, has good hands, and runs good routes. It all depends on whether a team thinks it can bulk him up to a TE or if he's fast enough to be a receiver. His pro-day/combine drills will go a long way toward determining if and where he fits at the next level.
Honorable mention: Moliki Matavao, UCLA; Tyler Warren, Penn State; Jack Velling, Michigan State
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