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

NCAA Prospects to Watch: Week 4

Eric Samulski identifies key offensive players to watch in Week 4 of the 2019 NCAA football season. These QB, RB, WR, and TE could be important prospects for dynasty and devy fantasy football owners to monitor.

Another Saturday means another chance to check out the next crop of potential fantasy football stars.

Some of the top teams have already started mixing in bye weeks, but there are a few interesting games throughout the day that intrepid fantasy football fans will want to tune into.

This series will cover players featured in nationally televised games who could likely emerge as fantasy assets after next year’s draft.

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

Week 3 Recap

 First, let’s look at how last week's featured players performed:

Anthony McFarland, Maryland – McFarland had a good game with 26 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. He still wasn’t targeted in the passing game, which raises concerns about his potential for three down usage at the next level.

Eno Benjamin, Arizona State – Benjamin had a rough day, totaling 38 yards on 11 carries. This was his chance to make a statement against a good defense and prove he could be one of the top backs drafted.

Cody White, Michigan State – White caught five balls for 39 yards. He wasn’t able to make any big plays and failed to distance himself from a massive pack of potential day three wide receivers.

Brian Lewerke, Michigan State – Lewerke was 24-38 for 291 yards with no TDs or INTs. He rushed 10 times for 25 yards. He didn’t make any mistakes, which is a positive sign after last year, but he also didn’t make many plays. He still projects as a back-up at the next level.

Lamichal Perine, Florida – Perine had only 27 yards on 14 carries, while adding 23 yards on three catches. Seeing him in the passing game is nice, but the rushing total leaves a lot to be desired and suggests he might not be a starting running back in the NFL.

Van Jefferson, Florida – Jefferson had seven catches for 93 yards, totaling over 13 yards per pass. He seemed able to get open regularly and is proving himself to be a consistent receiving option and a possible mid-day pick.

Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky – Bowden caught seven passes for 70 yards and rushed twice for one yard. While he didn’t break any big plays, he was used all over the field and was a chain-moving passing option against a good defense. Overall, a solid day.

 

Michigan - Wisconsin

Saturday 12PM ET on FOX

Shea Patterson – Senior, Quarterback, Michigan – Patterson supporters have long praised his high-level athleticism and strong arm. From an ability standpoint, there’s not much Patterson can’t do; he can make all of the throws you want from an NFL quarterback and his ability to make plays with his legs adds to his dynamic upside. The issue for him has always been consistency. Sometimes he makes bad decisions trying to find the bigger play, as evidenced by the fact that he’s already fumbled four times in Michigan’s first two games. If he can help Michigan’s offense move the ball while avoiding any turnovers, he could help assure scouts that he’s an NFL starting quarterback.

Nico Collins – Junior, Wide Receiver, Michigan – Collins is a dominating physical presence. At 6’4” 220 pounds, he has impressive strength and physicality to beat defenders to the ball. While not a dynamic athlete, he shows good ability as a route runner and a red zone threat. If Collins can continue to show growth on his route tree, and the ability to gain separation from consistent defensive backs, he has a chance to be a day two pick as a team’s physical chain-mover.

Jonathan Taylor – Junior, Running Back, Wisconsin – Taylor looks to be next in the line of impressive Wisconsin running backs. A powerful runner with an NFL frame and 4.4 speed, there isn’t much that Taylor can’t do. Perhaps most interestingly, he already has five catches on the season, after totaling eight in each other of his last two seasons. If Taylor can continue to show that he can carry the load and also help in the passing game, he could find himself in the first-round discussion come April.

 

Washington - BYU

3:30 PM ET on ABC

Jacob Eason – Senior, Quarterback, WashingtonA Georgia transfer, Eason is an imposing 6’6” 225-pound specimen. A high-level high school recruit, Eason has great awareness and anticipation and get good drive on his passes. In his first year as a starter at Washington, Eason has begun to show the touch people wanted from him for years; a trait that could make him an elite prospect if it becomes consistent. If he can continue to deliver on his raw tools, Eason could work his way into the first-round conversation, but it seems highly likely some NFL team gives him a chance to be its quarterback of the future.

Aaron Fuller – Senior, Wide Receiver, Washington – Fuller is the type of wide receiver who gets overlooked in the draft process but becomes a key cog in an NFL team’s offense. He is a strong route runner, who uses unique foot placement to throw cornerbacks off. He won’t wow anybody with his size, at 5’10” 190, but he can make catches in traffic; he won’t run a ridiculously fast time, but he’s still explosive with the ball in his hands. I expect Fuller to be a late day two or early day three pick who will over-produce his draft slot.

Ty’son Williams – Senior, Running Back, BYU The well-traveled running back is an extremely intriguing player. A high-level recruit, Williams played for UNC and South Carolina before transferring to BYU this year. When he’s on the field, Williams has shown strong ability as a rusher and effective hands as a receiver. We always hear about how good he is as an athlete, but the consistent results have never been there. If he can establish regular playing time with the Cougars, this might be the year we see that talent in action, and he could rocket into early day three conversations with not a lot of mileage on his legs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had a Chris Carson-style trajectory of a transfer-heavy back who was never a full-time starter but finds an NFL situation where his raw talent can flourish.

 

Notre Dame - Georgia

8:00 PM ET on CBS

Chase Claypool – Senior, Wide Receiver, Notre DameAt 6’4” 230 pounds, Claypool is a huge wide receiver. As one would expect, he’s very physical in his routes and is dominant on jump balls. He’s shown good hands and the ability to make big plays when quarterbacks trust him to go up and win a ball up top. The concern is that he doesn’t have the speed to be a more well-rounded receiver. Georgia is loaded with NFL talent on defense, so if he can show the ability to gain separation against elite-level athletes, it could go a long way to answering those questions and moving him up from his current late-round conversation.

Ian Book – RS-Junior, Quarterback, Notre DameIan Book came into this year as a possible draft pick with a future as an NFL back-up. At 6’1” 210 pounds he was simply thought of as being too small and average-armed to play quarterback at the next level. But the kid can play. He’s a strong athlete, who can extend plays with his legs and has shown enough arm to hit big plays. Book will be fighting an uphill battle because of his size, but this will be a good test to see if he can rise from the future back-up ranks into the conversation as a possible developmental starting quarterback.

Jake Fromm – Junior, Quarterback, GeorgiaDespite his big name, there are similar questions being asked of Jake Fromm. At 6’2” Fromm is also on the shorter side for a quarterback, but he also possesses the athleticism and pocket awareness to keep plays alive and set himself up to go through multiple reads. He has good arm strength and thrives in the middle of the field, but he has never shown consistency on the deep ball and has some scouts worried he’s more of a smart game-manager and natural leader than a quarterback who can sling the ball over the field in the modern NFL. He’s starting to push the ball downfield more early this season, so if he can connect on some deep balls against Notre Dame, he may show that he has the overall resume to be a first-round pick.

D’Andre SwiftJunior, Running back, Georgia – Swift is clearly the top offensive talent in this game. An aggressive runner with tremendous vision, Swift is simply fun to watch. He can make defenders miss, catch passes out of the backfield, lower his shoulder and run through somebody, or crack a linebacker on a blocking assignment. All of this puts him in the conversation to be the first running back drafted despite never carrying to full starter load at Georgia. He doesn’t likely have the speed to be a true home run threat, but he’s a talented all-around back who will likely go within the top 15 picks and could easily emerge as a fantasy star in today’s NFL.

Andrew ThomasJunior, Offensive Tackle Georgia - This is just a public service announcement to keep an eye on Thomas. He’s a likely top 10 pick with the versatility to play tackle or guard. He will immediately improve the line on whatever team drafts him and consequently improve the quarterback protection or running lanes for said team.

 

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

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF