College Football Weekly Picks: Week 8
Week 8 of the college football season brings us the best set of pricing across all the sites so far this year. This also means you are going to have a harder time fitting the studs in this week. Most weeks you have been able to play the QB you want and pair him with a stud RB or WR and find plenty of value to make a good team.
This week, you have to make a decision if a couple of studs and a couple of gambles or mid-tier is the better way to go. Some of the usual top plays are off this week, so that makes it a little easier, but this is going to be the toughest week of the year to make a roster you are happy with.
This is a look at some of the guys I am going to be targeting this week.
Quarterback
JT Barrett (Ohio St) E – Barrett is quietly putting up stats equal to or greater than most of the QBs in the country. If you look at the QBs in the early slate, Barrett is actually averaging the most points per game. His salary isn’t in line with the production he is putting up, so take advantage before the salary rises. He is a great dual-threat QB and plays in a system designed for the QB to put up big numbers. He also has 14 passing TDs in the last three games. I think he will keep the good games rolling this week and put up another 30+ points.
Bryce Petty (Baylor) E – Petty is a guy you are going to have to strongly consider when constructing your lineup this week. Anytime you see an O/U sitting at 80, you need to find some exposure to that game. This week the Baylor/West Virginia game has hit the 80-point mark. Petty is a good cash game play, but pairing him with one of his top two WRs is a great move in a GPP. With Petty you always get that chance he could put up a 500-yard, five-TD game. I think Petty has both the highest floor and ceiling this week at QB — it is just a matter of if you want to pay up to get him or not.
Cody Fajardo (Nevada) L – Fajardo has 225 yards rushing and five rushing TDs the last three games. Those are good numbers to get from a RB, but he is doing that and usually throwing for 300 yards to boot. While I think Marcus Mariota is the better fantasy player in the late games, I will take the salary relief and roll with Fajardo. This is one of the few weeks where I am recommending guys like Fajardo over the real big name guys, because finding value is hard to come by. If you play Fajardo you know, barring injury, he will get you a decent score because of his running ability.
Other Options: Darell Garretson (Utah St), Brett Hundley (UCLA), Trevone Boykin (TCU)
Running Back
Jarvion Franklin (Western Michigan) E – Franklin isn’t available on all the sites, but wherever he is you should probably consider getting him into your lineup. Franklin already has four games this season with three TDs, and the matchup against Bowling Green is pretty juicy. Guys like Franklin are usually underowned as well, because the average player doesn’t even know who he is. Expecting another three-TD game might be asking a bit much, but I think 150+ yards and multiple scores is a realistic projection.
Shock Linwood (Baylor) E – Linwood has 28 and 29 carries the last two games while only scoring one TD. The one TD is keeping his salary down and makes him a great play this week. I almost feel if you choose not to play Petty at QB you almost have to play Linwood at RB. This game is just to scary to fade with the 80 point O/U. Anytime you have a chance to get a RB that will get 25 touches in a game with an 80 O/U, it’s a good play. More people will probably choose to go with the Baylor QB/WR combo in GPPs, so that might make Linwood more appealing in tourneys. I will be playing him in both cash games and tournaments.
Javorius Allen (USC) L – Allen is putting up numbers equal to any RB in the country and not getting near the attention as some of the other guys. USC always tries to limit his touches each week, but he is just so good they can’t help but give it to him 25 times. Allen always carves out a role in the passing game as well, which for fantasy purposes makes him all the more appealing. The only downside to him is USC might blow out Colorado, but I think even if that happens it will be after he goes over the century mark with multiple TDs. In the late slate, he is hands down my #1 RB.
Other Options: Justin Jackson (Northwestern), Nick Chubb (Georgia), Mark Weisman (Iowa)
Wide Receiver
Hunter Sharp (Utah St) L – Sharp is another one of those guys that most people have no clue who he even is. Don’t be the guy that overlooks him because he plays for Utah St. Since Garretson has been inserted into the starting QB spot, he has even been better than before. Pairing Sharp with Garretson is a great way to approach your GPP lineups, as other than Grinder members that combo will not be played very heavy. Sharp should easily get to 100 yards and get at least one score, and the upside is there for much more than that.
Corey Coleman (Baylor) E – I think Coleman is going to be a great low % play this week and I have no clue why. Antwan Goodley and Coleman are basically 1A and 1B when it comes to Baylor WRs, but everybody will be on Goodley and pay more to get him. Coleman has only played in three games so far this year, but has gone off in two of them. People are saying that Coleman is risky, but he is no more risky than any other Baylor player, and everybody will be on the other guys. Feel safe playing him, as the upside is unlimited.
Darius Joseph (SMU) E – Joseph has always been a high-volume receiver, and this week he gets to face an awful Cincinnati defense. If he finds the end zone, and I think he will, this play will be one of the better value plays of the week. You always need to find guys to free up salary, and this should be one of the guys you consider. He will get the targets — it’s just a matter of what he can do with them.
Other Options: Nelson Spruce (Colorado), Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma), DeVante Parker (Louisville-if he plays), Rashard Higgins (Colorado St)
Tight End
Tyler Kroft (Rutgers) E – Kroft was thought to be one of the better fantasy TEs coming into the season. Kroft was dealing with an injury, and Paul James was the focal point of the offense early this season. Since then, James has been injured and Kroft has gotten healthy. I think Kroft becomes a focal point of this offense, and from a TE in CFB that is all you can hope for.
Evan Engram (Mississippi) L – Engram is by no means a great fantasy option at TE, but you just don’t find them in the college game. I like Engram because he will probably get a look or two in the red zone, while adding around three catches. That doesn’t sound like much, but I am just hoping to get something out of the TE position and beat people with my other players.
Other Options: Hunter Henry (Arkansas), Wes Saxton (South Alabama)