BIG TEN FANTASY SNAPSHOT


ILLINOIS

Best Bet:  RB Mikel LeShoure
LeShoure finished the season on a high note, and looks to be the top back for the Illini this fall.

Sleeper Potential:  WR A.J. Jenkins
Jenkins had a strong spring and could be ready to emerge as the Illini’s top receiving option.  Caught 6 balls for 96 yards and a score in the spring game.

Big Fantasy Question:  Who will win the QB job?
Nathan Scheelhaase is expected to get the nod over Jacob Charest, but neither inspire fantasy confidence.


INDIANA

Best Bet:  WR Tandon Doss
Doss accounted for over 1100 yards of offense last fall, catching 77 balls and scoring 6 TDs.

Sleeper Potential:  RB Darius WIllis
As a freshman last fall, Willis showed signs of promise with three 100-yard games.

Big Fantasy Question: What is the ceiling for QB Ben Chappell?
Did he hit a statistical ceiling last fall by passing for 2,941 yards and 17 TDs?  If he can improve on those numbers (especially in the TD category), he’d make a decent QB3 in BCS-only leagues.


IOWA

Best Bet:  WR Marvin McNutt
McNutt was the Hawkeye’s big play guy last fall (34-674-8).  One would think the coaching staff will try to get the ball in his hands more often in 2010.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Ricky Stanzi
In larger BCS-only leagues, Stanzi actually might hold some fantasy value.  Hawkeye QBs threw for a respectable 2,900 yards and 19 TDs last year.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will anyone win the RB job?
Jewel Hampton, Brandon Wegher and Adam Robinson are all vying for carries in what looks to be a fantasy nightmare.


MICHIGAN

Best Bet:  TBD
RB Vincent Smith would fill this spot if he were healthy.  He seems to be the best of the RB bunch, but needs to get his knee in game shape

Sleeper Potential:  QB Denard Robinson
“Shoelace” had a nice spring and may have emerged as the leader for the QB job.  He is a dual threat who is said to have improved his passing this offseason.

Big Fantasy Question:  Is anyone worth drafting?
The QB and RB jobs are unsettled.  Pat White and Steve Slaton, these guys are not.  This is a complete fantasy mess as we head into fall camp.


MICHIGAN STATE

Best Bet:  QB Kirk Cousins
Cousins passed for 2,680 yards and 19 TDs last year while splitting time with Keith Nicol.  Nicol is now at WR and Cousins is the man in East Lansing.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Keshawn Martin
Martin is a big play threat who accounted for 630 total yards and 6 TDs last year on just 36 touches (18 rushes, 18 receptions).

Big Fantasy Question:  Will a RB emerge?
Larry Caper and Edwin Baker rushed for 468 and 427 yards last year, respectively.  If they continue to split carries at a 60/40 rate, only Caper holds fantasy value.


MINNESOTA

Best Bet:  RB Duane Bennett
We aren’t in love with Bennett as he figures to share carries with DeLeon Eskridge and the o-line has looked shaky, but it’s slim pickins for the Gopher prospects this fall.

Sleeper Potential:  QB MarQueis Gray
Adam Weber is the likely starter this fall, but should he falter he could get a quick hook.  Gray is a dual threat who could thrive if given the chance.

Big Fantasy Question:  How will the Gophers replace Eric Decker?
WRs Troy Stoudermire and Hayo Carpenter will need to step up and help fill a big void left by Decker.


NORTHWESTERN

Best Bet:  TE Drake Dunsmore
Dunsmore could be a Top 10 fantasy TE prospect this year in what looks to be a down year for the position nationally.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Dan Persa
Persa is a dual threat who could surprise when the matchup is right.

Big Fantasy Question:  Can Arby Fields become a feature back?
Fields led the team in rushing last year with only 302 yards.  With a new QB under center, coach Pat Fitzgerald will rely more on the running game and Fields needs to step up.


OHIO STATE

Best Bet:  QB Terrelle Pryor & WR DeVier Posey
Pryor will be overdrafted in most leagues due to his star power.  Don’t fall for that trap.  Pryor should be drafted more as a Top 15-25 QB in All-120 leagues.  Posey is a Top 30 WR who should enjoy a solid season.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Dane Sanzenbacher
Hard to label DeVier Posey as a sleeper since he is getting lots of hype this off-season, so we’ll go with his WR partner in crime, Dane Sanzenbacher.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will a feature back emerge in this offense?
Brandon Saine, Daniel Herron and Jamaal Berry will all compete for playing time. Pryor will also steal plenty of carries from this trio.


PENN STATE

Best Bet:  RB Evan Royster
Royster has rushed for 2,400 yards and scored 20 TDs over the past two years.  With a new QB and a revamped o-line, he’ll have his work cut out for him this fall.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Kevin Newsome
Newsome still needs to win the starting job, but if he does he could be a decent spot starter due to his running ability.

Big Fantasy Question:  WIll PSU have any kind of passing game?
Daryll Clark is gone and the guys in line to replace him (Kevin Newsome and Mike McGloin) looked lost most of the spring.


PURDUE

Best Bet:  WR Keith Smith
Hauled in an impressive 91 balls for 1,100 yards and 6 TDs last fall.

Sleeper Potential:  RB Al-Terek McBurse
With Purdue running back Ralph Bolden out with a torn ACL, sophomore Al-Terek McBurse is in line to become the Boilers’ feature back this fall.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will QB Robert Marve live up to the hype?
The much-ballyhooed Miami transfer has some big expectations from the Boiler faithful.


WISCONSIN

Best Bet:  RB John Clay & TE Lance Kendricks
Clay is hands down the best fantasy RB prospect in the conference.  Kendricks is the consensus top fantasy tight end in the nation.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Nick Toon
Toon quietly led the team in receiving last fall (54-805-4).

Big Fantasy Question:  Will Lance Kendricks become an elite fantasy TE?
The Badgers have churned out some quality TEs over the past few years and Kendricks appears to be next in line.