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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 15 of the 2024 season?
The biggest stars usually shine brightest on the biggest stages. That would be conference championship week. The time before everything goes nuts with the transfer portal and opt-outs. There were only nine games last weekend. Which players showed out for the pro scouts?
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
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (22-32, 283 yards, 4 TD; 6 carries, 17 yards) vs. Penn State
Oregon QB, Dillon Gabriel (6’0”, 200 lbs),
is an interesting prospect. Prolific college career. Experienced, polished, and sneaky mobile. Weaknesses are age, size, and lack of high-end arm strength. Have him as a 4th round pick rn, but day 2 is possible pic.twitter.com/CdSpgfIZlc— Bobby Bishop (@_BobbyBishop) December 12, 2024
We haven't heard much about Gabriel this season, but he guided Oregon to the only unblemished record in FBS. His 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns are right in line with his career numbers at Central Florida and Oklahoma.
Gabriel has been on the NFL radar for a while. He's a bit undersized at 6-foot and 200 pounds, but he's elusive. His brand of elusiveness may not translate to the NFL. He's not Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts.
Being from Hawaii and left-handed, he draws the obvious comparisons to Tua Tagovailoa. He is smaller than Tua and his arm isn't as strong. Those aren't knocks on Gabriel. We're comparing him to a Pro Bowl quarterback.
So where does that leave Gabriel? He's a little undersized, but we've seen some smaller quarterbacks still find success in the NFL lately. Kyler Murray is the most obvious. Murray is probably the ceiling for Gabriel. Even that may be a stretch. Murray's arm is better and he's probably more mobile.
My comparison for him is Marcus Mariota. Mariota is still a solid quarterback at the NFL level, but he's better as a fill-in starter than an every-game starter.
Honorable mention: Parker Navarro, Ohio; Kevin Jennings, SMU; Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (32 carries, 209 yards, TD; 2 receptions, 14 yards) vs. UNLV
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.
Boise rode him to a playoff berth. Judging by how the Heisman has been doled out over the last decade, that should be the clincher for Jeanty. Jeanty still has an NFL future. His immediate impact will be determined by where he gets drafted.
Honorable mention: Tre Stewart, Jacksonville State; Cam Skattebo, Arizona State; Anthony Tyus III, Ohio
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers
Tez Johnson, Oregon (11 receptions, 181 yards, TD) vs. Penn State
I know Tez Johnson is greatly undersized and the hit rate for receivers of his size is generally very low. I don’t care. He’s not your normal 5-10, 165 pound WR. The kid is unguardable, runs every route, and creates after the catch. Day 2 guy for me.pic.twitter.com/Y38rZcFJV1
— Christian Zwick (@Zwick_Christian) December 8, 2024
Johnson's numbers regressed this year, but that's more a product of a more balanced team around him. He came up big when his team needed him.
Johnson is small (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) even by NFL slot receiver standards. That has led some scouts to shy away from him. Those who stick around notice that Johnson is a difference-maker.
Johnson has a sprinter's speed with good hands and is an excellent route runner. That will make him an NFL slot receiver as long as his body can take hits from linebackers and safeties in the NFL.
He could be like Wes Welker or Darren Sproles and last a decade or more. He could be like Percy Harvin and last a couple of years. At any rate, he deserves a look in the later rounds of your dynasty drafts.
Honorable mention: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson; Matthew Golden, Texas; Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends
Tyler Warren, Penn State (7 receptions, 84 yards; 2 carries, 2 yards) vs. Oregon
This game didn't change my view of Warren much. He still had a strong game against an undefeated team. You can bet that it didn't alter his rankings for NFL scouts, either.
This is another loaded TE class after we just had a good one go into the NFL last year. Warren isn't Brock Bowers, but he could be Trey McBride. You can use a guy like McBride on your fantasy team, right?
Honorable mention: Matt Lauter, Boise State
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