Power Conferences
One week after his 166-yard rushing game against UCF, Kansas State RB Dylan Edwards finished Saturday’s matchup at Baylor with 26 rushing yards and a TD. I came away with the feeling that Edwards will not get 15–20 touches on a weekly basis.
Freshman Pitt QB Mason Heintschel impressed in his first career start, completing 30-of-41 passes for 323 yards and 4 TDs in the Panthers’ 48–7 rout of Boston College. I think we should temper expectations until the Week 7 matchup at Florida State.
Clemson RB Adam Randall has scored a TD in each of the Tigers’ first five games of the year.
Michigan RB Justice Haynes has rushed for at least 100 yards and a TD in all five games this season.
Wisconsin has 5 rushing TDs this season, and the only two scored by a running back have been by Dilin Jones.
Iowa State QB Rocco Becht has scored 6 rushing TDs in the Cyclones’ last three games. Becht has 7 of the team’s 13 rushing TDs this season. WR Chase Sowell is back on the radar after totaling 9 receptions for 204 yards and a TD in the last two games.
NC State RB Hollywood Smothers totaled 153 scrimmage yards and scored 2 TDs on just 6 touches in Saturday’s win against Campbell.
After scoring 15 TDs in 2024, Oregon State RB Anthony Hankerson has scored only 2 TDs in 6 games this season.
As I look back at Syracuse’s last three games, WR Johntay Cook is the only player producing with any consistency.
The Louisville backfield tandem of Isaac Brown and Duke Watson have not lived up to the preseason hype. Brown has not scored a TD in three consecutive games and has totaled only 104 rushing yards in that span, while Watson has totaled only 64 rush yards this season in four games played.
Alabama RB Jam Miller has logged 38 rush attempts in his first two games back, while WR Germie Bernard has caught a TD pass in four consecutive games.
I’ve been very critical of Texas QB Arch Manning, and while my opinion hasn’t really changed, it seems the offensive line is a major concern. Florida dominated the Longhorns up front, and not only did Manning have pressure all day, but the running game only produced 52 yards on the ground (Manning-37, Wisner-11, Niblett-4).
UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava passed for 166 yards and ran for 128 yards, accounting for 5 TDs in the Bruins’ upset win over Penn State. With matchups against Michigan State and Maryland in the next two weeks, Iamaleava could be an option, but I’m not buying.
Important to note that Oklahoma WR Deion Burks hasn’t been a fantasy factor in recent weeks. In Weeks 1–2, Burks totaled 14 receptions for 189 yards and 2 TDs, but in his last three games, he has 11 receptions for 86 yards and no TDs. However, in the Sooners’ last three games, WR Isaiah Sategna has totaled 20 receptions for 299 yards and 3 TDs.
Texas Tech RB Cameron Dickey has scored at least 1 TD in each of the Red Raiders’ first five games of 2025.
TCU WR Eric McAlister battled through a hamstring injury to catch 4 passes for 65 yards and 2 TDs against Colorado. McAlister was questionable earlier in the week but was able to play Saturday night. Unfortunately, there is a chance his hamstring issue makes him a weekly high-risk, high-reward option until he’s healthy. The Horned Frogs’ next bye is in Week 10.
Duke RB Nate Sheppard has posted at least 12 rush attempts in three straight games and has scored 2 TDs in back-to-back contests going into the Blue Devils’ Week 8 matchup against Georgia Tech following a bye. WR Cooper Barkate has caught a TD pass in each of the last three games.
Group of 5 Conferences
Western Kentucky QB Maverick McIvor has thrown only 4 TD passes in the last four games, and the Hilltoppers’ passing game isn’t what it looked like in Weeks 1 and 2. McIvor may still be on rosters for depth, but I wouldn’t argue against moving on for more upside.
Delaware QB Nick Minicucci has accounted for at least 3 TDs in three straight games (4 pass, 6 rush).
San Jose State WR Danny Scudero has totaled at least 130 receiving yards in four of five games this season.
New Mexico WR Keagan Johnson has totaled 18 receptions for 280 yards and a TD in the Lobos’ last two games.
Dewayne Coleman got the start at quarterback for Army against UAB, but it was Cale Hellums who sparked the offense with 81 rushing yards and 3 TDs. Stay away from the revolving door that is the Army QB situation.
Air Force QB Liam Szarka has become a must-start after his third straight game with at least 200 yards and 2 TDs passing, plus 100-plus rushing yards.
Navy RB Eli Heidenreich has scored a TD in each of the Midshipmen’s first five games.
One of the surprising results of the early window was Ball State’s win over Ohio. QB Parker Navarro has failed to account for more than one TD in four of six games this season. He accounted for 4 TDs in the opener at Rutgers and 8 TDs in the Bobcats’ last five games.
UTSA RB Robert Henry, who had scored at least 2 TDs in each of the Roadrunners’ first four games of 2025, was limited to 51 scrimmage yards and no TDs in the loss at Temple.
It’s probably time to move off Western Michigan RB Jalen Buckley after he failed to score in the Broncos’ 21–3 win at UMass. Buckley does not have a rushing TD this season, while QB Broc Lowry has 6 rushing TDs.
James Madison RB Wayne Knight has rushed for at least 80 yards and a TD in four of five games.
After catching 24 passes in the first three games, Appalachian State WR Jaden Barnes has caught only one pass in the Mountaineers’ last two games. RB Rashod Dubinion has rushed for at least 95 yards in all five games this season.
After back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, Miami (OH) RB Kenny Tracy left Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois after one rush attempt. QB Dequan Finn returned after missing a game following an injury in Week 4 against UNLV. If Tracy misses time, Jordan Brunson is the waiver target after carrying 20 times for 73 yards in the RedHawks’ 25–14 win.
Texas State RB Lincoln Pare has scored a rushing TD in four of five games this season, with the only blank coming in Week 3 at Arizona State.
The legend of Old Dominion QB Colton Joseph continues to grow after his 5-TD game in the Monarchs’ 47–7 win over Coastal Carolina.
South Alabama RB Kentrel Bullock has scored a TD in five of six games, with the blank coming in Week 3 at Auburn.
FAU WR Easton Messer has caught 9 or more passes in four of five games but only has one TD reception.
While there has been plenty of decision-making around the Memphis backfield, there’s been little second-guessing when it comes to QB Brendon Lewis, who has totaled 15 TDs (8 pass, 7 rush) in the Tigers’ first six games. Lewis is averaging 211 passing yards and 70 rushing yards per game.
If you stream DST, here are some early Week 7 options to consider:
- Fresno State @ Colorado State
- Toledo @ Bowling Green
- SMU v Stanford
- Ole Miss v Washington State
- Texas A&M v Florida
- San Diego State @ Nevada
