Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Top College Fantasy Football Players Week 8 (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 8 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. Georgia smashed Texas in Austin in a clash of titans and Tennessee dumped Alabama in the Tennessee River again. What else happened this week? Let's check it 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 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!

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Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks

Ethan Garbers, UCLA (32-38, 383 yards, 4 TD; 9 carries, 48 yards, TD) at Rutgers

Ethan Garbers is your @bigten Offensive Player of the Week ?

? 32/38 completions
? 383 yards
? 5 total touchdowns #B1GFootball x @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/PHlFy0DrYE

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 23, 2024

If you've paid any attention to UCLA football over the last four years, all you've heard about is how good Ethan Garbers will be. He was the guy who was going to take over for Dorian Thompson-Robinson seamlessly and UCLA wouldn't miss a step. That didn't happen. Garbers struggled, Chip Kelly fled, and the new regime took some time to get everyone on the same page.

Then this happens. All of those numbers are career highs for Garbers. What stands out the most to me is the four touchdowns without a turnover. There are dozens of reasons to believe that this is the outlier. Is that true?

Garbers is built like a quarterback (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and has a strong enough arm. His issue is and always has been decision-making. He'll miss wide-open receivers. Throw to the wrong route. Throw into triple coverage or worse. What changed?

We don't have an answer. However, Garbers wouldn't be the first quarterback to figure things out. Some progress more slowly than others. If he wants a chance at the next level, Garbers must prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is the new normal. Scouts have seen a lot more bad than good over the last four years.

Honorable mention: Chandler Morris, North Texas; Bryson Daily, Army; Tyler Shough, Louisville

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs

Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech (18 carries, 266 yards. 3 TD; reception, 20 yards, TD) vs. Boston College

HOKIE HISTORY TO CAP OFF A LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE FROM BHAYSHUL TUTEN

He hits 266 rushing yards on that play, breaking Darren Evans previous record of 253 yards

AN ABSOLUTE WRECKING BALL!!! pic.twitter.com/muc2N7TbJG

— Sons of Saturday Podcast (@SonsofSatVT) October 18, 2024

Tuten showed flashes of brilliance last year, but this year it has been on display the whole time. He already has more rushing yards than he did in 2023 and two more touchdowns. A good line in front of him helps, but Tuten is a special talent.

He's hard to bring down at 5-foot-11 and 209 pounds. He's stout but still possesses good breakaway speed. Tuten has 84 career receptions with nine of them going to the end zone, so he is active in the passing game as well. He is good enough to be an every-down back at the next level.

Honorable mention: A.J. Turner, Marshall; R.J. Harvey, Central Florida; Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers

Jalen Royals, Utah State (11 receptions, 188 yards, TD) vs. New Mexico

Jalen Royals we see you pic.twitter.com/JmL6d07jTL

— ????? (@CookedByDevyV2) October 19, 2024

Who would have ever thought that Spencer Petras would be the key to unlocking the potential of a guy like Royals? Better question: how bad is Iowa's offense that Petras couldn't get anything going over three years in Iowa City?

At some point, this isn't a fluke anymore. Royals has at least nine receptions and over 110 yards in each of the last four games. He's big enough (6-foot, 205 pounds) to hold his own against NFL corners. He's got the hands, he runs the routes, and he's capable enough in every aspect to make an NFL team and have an impact.

Honorable mention: Jaylin Noel, Iowa State; Tru Edwards, Louisiana Tech; LaJohntay Wester, Colorado

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends

Harold Fannin Jr. Bowling Green (10 receptions, 171 yards, TD) vs. Kent

Okay, yeah, Kent isn't going. We're not going to pretend like they are. However, Fannin has put up huge numbers against every team but Northern Illinois. Just ask Notre Dame about that defense.

At this point, Fannin is just adding to his highlight reel to give NFL teams more to look at. We know that he can do everything and more than NFL teams want as a receiver from the tight end spot. He's a bit undersized (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) to help much in an NFL run game. The NFL will find a place for Fannin. We're just waiting to find out where.

Honorable mention: Terrance Carter, Louisiana; John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming; Jack Endries, California

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