I cannot admit to watching every game, but I try to watch as many as I can, while reading into the numbers of every box score. These are my weekly notes and observations:
Power 5
- Syracuse WR Trebor Pena continued to impress by catching 10 passes for 101 yards against Stanford Friday night.
- Illinois WR Pat Bryant’s TD catch in overtime against Nebraska resulted in him catching at least 2 TD passes in three of the Illini’s first four games.
- Nebraska WR Isaiah Neyor has caught a TD pass in three of the Cornhuskers’ first four games.
- Washington State WR Kyle Williams has aught a TD pass in three of four games this year, and after a slow start, WR Josh Meredith has totaled 12 receptions for 200 yards and 2 TDs the last two weeks. QB John Mateer has been a fantasy gem, totaling 16 TDs (5 rush) in four games and racking up 425 rushing yards.
- We mentioned in the preseason how good Indiana’s non-conference schedule looked for fantasy potential, but the Hoosiers have spread it around. Six different players have scored a rushing TD, and three players have each scored 3 rushing TDs. Six different players have caught a TD pass, but not one receiver has more than 12 receptions, and five players have caught at least 7 passes.
- Kansas RB Devin Neal has started the season with four consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
- North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton has totaled 389 scrimmage yards and 6 TDs in his last two games.
- Maryland WR Tai Felton has caught at least one TD pass in all four games this season and has totaled over 150 receiving yards in three of four games.
- NC State WR KC Concepcion against FCS opponent Western Carolina: 9-121-3; against three FBS opponents: 18-113-0.
- After a bad showing in the season opener against Georgia, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik showed that his 7-TD game in Week 2 wasn’t a fluke, as he accounted for 4 TDs in the Tigers’ 59-35 win over NC State.
- Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith has caught a TD pass in all three games this year, while RBs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson have scored 2 rushing TDs in each of the Buckeyes’ last two games. I anticipate Judkins getting more work than Henderson when the competition stiffens up.
- Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins has caught a TD pass in each of the Cyclones’ first three games.
- Texas Tech WR Josh Kelly has caught at least 9 passes in three of the Red Raiders’ first four games. RB Tahj Brooks has started the 2024 season with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He has now rushed for at least 90 yards in 14 consecutive games.
- Arkansas RB Ja’Quinden Jackson has scored at least one TD in each of the Razorbacks’ first four games and has scored at least 2 TDs in three of four games. QB Taylen Green has rushed for at least 80 yards in three of four games this year.
- If Auburn can get the QB situation figured out, WR Keandre Lambert-Smith’s fantasy stock will go up, as he has caught a TD pass in three of four games. Five of his twelve receptions have resulted in a TD.
- Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai has scored at least one rushing TD in each of the Scarlet Knights’ first three games.
- Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten has scored at least one TD in each of the Hokies’ first four games and has scored two or more TDs three times.
- Pitt RB Desmond Reid did not play against Youngstown State, and head coach Pat Narduzzi mentioned in his post-game presser that Reid could have played, but was rested in favor of giving Derrick Davis and Daniel Carter the Week 4 workload.
- Not only was SC QB LaNorris Sellers held out of Saturday’s game against Akron, but RB Raheim Sanders left the game early in the first quarter and went to the locker room in a walking boot.
- Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard has run for 243 yards and 5 TDs in the Irish’s last two games.
- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier has passed for at least 300 yards in three of the Tigers’ first four games. I do not feel confident enough to have any LSU RB on my roster. They look as if they will struggle to run the ball all season long.
- Michigan RB Kalel Mullings has posted back-to-back 150-yard, 2-TD rushing games.
- Penn State’s defense limited Kent State to 2-of-13 passing for 18 yards. RB Nicholas Singleton has scored at least one TD in each of the Nittany Lions’ first three games. QB Drew Allar has accounted for at least 3 TDs in all three games this season.
- Duke QB Maalik Murphy has thrown 3 TD passes in three consecutive games and RB star Thomas has rushed for 233 yards and 2 TDs since Jaquez Moore’s injury.
- I think we can forget about RBBC in Utah, as Micah Bernard posted his third straight 100-yard rushing game.
- Oklahoma State WR Brennan Presley has caught a TD pass in each of the Cowboys’ first four games. Here is my line from last week about OSU’s running woes:
Could Ollie Gordon II’s struggles be attributed to the offensive line? In OSU’s first three games they have averaged 3.3 ypc vs. South Dakota State, 2.3 ypc vs. Arkansas, and 3.7 ypc vs. Tulsa.
On Saturday against Utah, the Cowboys averaged only 3.2 yards per attempt.
- Over the past two games Missouri RB Nate Noel has totaled 46 rush attempts for 320 yards.
- TCU WR Jack Bech has gone over 130 yards receiving against all three of the Horned Frogs’ FBS opponents. In the last two games, he has totaled 17 receptions for 366 yards and 3 TDs.
- Washington WR Denzel Boston has caught at least 1 TD pass in three of four games this year and he has five of the Huskies’ nine receiving TDs.
- The return of Cal RB Jaydn Ott likely makes Jaivian Thomas expendable now.
- Miami WR Xavier Restrepo has caught a TD pass in each of the Hurricanes’ first four games this season. RB Damien Martinez scored 3 rushing TDs in the win over USF, but he is only averaging 47.5 rushing yards per game.
- Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson has scored at least 2 TDs in all four games this year. He has scored nine of the Hawkeyes’ 15 offensive TDs this year and is averaging 171.3 rushing yards per game.
- Will Oklahoma make a change at quarterback? If so, Michael Hawkins, Jr. is worth an acquisition, because up until Week 4, the most valuable fantasy position on the Oklahoma roster is quarterback. From what I have seen, I just think the Sooners lack firepower to keep up with offense in the SEC. Their defense is good enough to keep them in games, but the offensive talent looks lacking in OC Seth Littrell’s. system.
- Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson has now scored in all four games this season, but Saturday’s game at Oklahoma was the first time this season Sampson failed to post multiple TDs, which is telling of how good a season he is having. Sampson now leads the FBS with 10 TDs.
- The Ole Miss trio of QB Jaxson Dart (22/31 382 yds 4 TD), RB Henry Parrish, Jr. (13-89-1), and WR Tre Harris (11-225-2) continue to produce impressive fantasy numbers.
- Colorado WR Travis Hunter has posted 100 yards receiving in all four games this season and has been targeted at least 10 times in each of the last three games.
- The more I watch Kansas State QB Avery Johnson, the more I feel he still has a ways to go in development. You can see the raw talent, but I don’t get a sense that he’s improving as the season progresses. The Wildcats need to throw it less and run it more with Johnson, Giddens, and Edwards.
Group 5
- South Alabama QB Gio Lopez has accounted for at least 3 TDs in each of the three games in which he has played this season. RB Fluff Bothwell has scored a rushing TD in each of the Jaguars’ first four games and has gone over the 100-yard mark and scored 2 rushing TDs in back-to-back games.
- Last year, Appalachian State QB Joey Aguilar threw 33 TD passes, but he has thrown only 6 TD passes through 4 games this season.
- In Week’s 1 and 4, San Jose State RB Floyd Chalk totaled 29 rush attempts for 181 yards and 4 TDs. In Weeks 2 and 4, he totaled 18 rush attempts for 35 yards and no TDs. Hopefully, in the weeks ahead, Chalk can provide some consistency to his fantasy owners. WR Nick Nash has been targeted 67 times in four games and has totaled 33 receptions for 377 yards and 5 TDs in the Spartans’ last two games. QB Emmett Brown has thrown at least 3 TD passes in three of four games.
- Tulane RB Makhi Hughes has scored a rushing TD in three of four games this year and is averaging 21 rush attempts per game over the last three games.
- Two weeks ago, James Madison was losing to Gardner-Webb 3-0 at halftime, but this week the Dukes were up 53-21 after two quarters at North Carolina.
- Ball State RB Braedon Sloan began MAC play with a solid outing, totaling 112 scrimmage yards and a TD in the Cardinals’ 37-34 loss at Central Michigan.
- Jaylen Royals finally produced for his fantasy owners, catching 10 passes for 112 yards and a TD against Temple. Royals’ two best games this season cam with Spencer Petras at quarterback. RB Rahshul Faison has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.
- Temple WR Dante Wright has totaled at least 99 receiving yards and scored a TD in each of the Owls’ last three games.
- Jacksonville State RB Tre Stewart has totaled 33 rush attempts, 149 rush yards, and 3 TDs in the last two games. QB Tyler Huff has rushed for at least 77 yards in each of the Gamecocks’ last three games.
- Navy QB Blake Horvath has become a serious fantasy option after totaling 304 passing yards, 333 rushing yards, and 10 TDs (7 rush) in the last two games.
- Memphis RB Mario Anderson, Jr. has scored at least 2 TDs in three of four games this year. In .5PPR leagues WR Roc Taylor nearly matched his yearly fantasy production in Week 4 (First 3 games: 11-164-0 = 21.9 FPts; Week 4: 6-100-1 = 19 FPts.
- Two weeks after winning at Notre Dame as a 28-point underdog, Northern Illinois dropped their Week 4 matchup at home as a 12.5-point favorite coming off a Week 3 bye. That’s college football! At least RB Antario Brown performed as expected (24-73-2).
- In the last two weeks, Troy WR Devonte Ross has caught 16 passes for 373 yards and 5 TDs. He has gone over 100 yards and caught a TD pass in three of four games.
- It took a 17-0 deficit for Liberty QB Kaidon Salter to jumpstart his fantasy season, as he tossed 4 TD passes in the Flames’ 35-24 win. I still have a little concern with Salter, but not enough to move on from him. I feel as if WR Reese Smith’s Week 4 performance is one-week thing. RB Billy Lucas’ relevancy did not last long with the return of Quinton Cooley, who ran for 105 yards and a TD.
- Last week’s blank aside, North Texas WR DT Sheffield is averaging ten targets and seven receptions per game.
- Tulsa RB Anthony Watkins has scored a rushing TD in three of four games this year, but is only averaging 46.5 rushing yards per game.
- Bowling Green TE Harold FanninJr., like CFF’s TE1 through three games after totaling 19 receptions for 282 yards and 2 TDs in the Falcons’ last two games at Penn State and Texas A&M. Fannin’s fantasy owners are ready for MACtion.
- A player like Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty doesn’t have the big games to impress Heisman voters, so he needs to stuff the stat sheet, which was disappointing that he hardly played against Portland State coming off a bye week.
- Last week, I referenced Hawaii QB Braden Schager’s poor completion percentage as a major contributing factor to Hawaii’s troubles on offense. On Saturday against Northern Iowa, Schager completed 35-of-43 passes for 374 yards and 4 TDs. Can he do that consistently in future weeks against FBS competition? I’m not too confident. WR Pofele Ashlock’s fantasy value is holding steady after posting at least 8 receptions and a TD in his third consecutive game.
Streaming DST to consider in Week 5:
- Syracuse v Holy Cross
- Nebraska @ Purdue
- Army @ Temple
- Oklahoma @ Auburn
- Boston College v W. Kentucky
- James. Madison v Ball State
- Eastern Michigan @ Kent State
- Ohio v Akron
