MAC SNAPSHOT

AKRON

Best Bet:  WR Jeremy LaFrance
Akron loses four of their top five receivers. LaFrance is the only player to return from that group, and his strong showing in the spring earned him the spring camp MVP award.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Patrick Nicely
Nicely will have a long way to go before he becomes a qality fantasy option, but he might be the best chance for another Akron player to emerge as a sleeper.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will running back Alex Allen finally make a fantasy impact?
Allen was granted a sixth year of eligibility after missing the majority of the 2009 season with hip injury. 2009 featured a RBBC situation but RB DeVoe Torrence have left the program. Star recruit Eric Howard has changed his commitment, and only junior Dale Martin and sophomore Broderick Alexander return.


BALL STATE

Best Bet:  RB MiQuale Lewis
Lewis was granted a sixth year of eligibility. After an amazing 2008 campaign, his stats last year took a dip due to a depleted offensive line and the loss of quarterback Nate Davis and head coach Brady Hoke.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Briggs Orsbon
Many fantasy experts saw Orsbon breaking out in 2009. If the play at quarterback can improve, then he has a good chance to final break into the fantasy landscape.

Big Fantasy Question:  Can Lewis regain his 2008 form?
Last year, Lewis was basically the only returning player on offense.  This year is an entirely differnent story.  The coaching staff will be in their second year.  The offensive line now has 92 career starts under their belt.  And the Cardinals won't be breaking in a new signal caller.  Kelly Page got valuable experience last year and should be much improved.


BOWLING GREEN

Best Bet:  RB Willie Geter
Geter was able to rack up 1113 total yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2009 when the offense was basically a pitch and catch clinic between quarterback Tyler Sheehan and wide receiver Freddie Barnes.  With those two fantasy monsters departing, the coaching staff will look to Geter as their offensive center piece.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Adrian Hodges
Hodges is the leading returning pass catcher from last season, and has the best chance to emerge as a possible go-to guy. But proceed with caution here, this one is far from being set in stone.

Big Fantasy Question:  Just how much will the offense lean on Geter?
The dynamic duo of seniors QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes have moved on, and now there are several holes to fill. With so much turnover in the passing game, the coaches will focus more on the running game.  But just how much will they lean on established running back Willie Geter


BUFFALO

Best Bet:  To Be Determined
Can you say “rebuilding year”?  The Bulls lost RB James Starks, WR Naaman Roosevelt, QB Zach Maynard, TE Jesse Rack and head coach Turner Gill.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Jerry Davis or Alex Dennison
These two are in a battle for the starting job.  New head coach Jeff Quinn, the former OC for Brian Kelly’s Cincinnati Bearcats, figures to feature the passing game.  Expect the Bulls' quarterback postition to be fantasy relevant again in the near future.

Big Fantasy Question:  Who will be the feature back?
It’s anyone’s guess at this point between Ike Nduka, Brandon Thermilus, Jeffvon Gill, and Branden Oliver.


CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Best Bet:  WR Kito Poblah
With Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown lost to graduation, Poblah becomes the new No. 1 target in the passing game.  He caught 53-681-4 last year playing third fiddle to Anderson and Brown.

Sleeper Potential:  TE David Blackburn
The old coaching regime disregarded the tight end position in the passing game. But new guy Dan Enos hails from Michigan State where the tight end is prominent catching balls.  Blackburn should benefit from the coaching change and could finally realize his potential coming out of high school (he was a big-time prospect for the Chips).

Big Fantasy Question:  Could CMU be a fantasy wasteland for the first time in a LONG time?
Sadly, this is a strong possibility.  The team turns over a coaching staff to go along with all of their skill position stars.  By mid-season, perhaps some fantasy options will emerge.


EASTERN MICHIGAN

Best Bets:  TE Ben Thayer & RB Dwayne Priest
Thayer is the team’s best receiving option, which isn’t saying much (29-261-2 last fall).  Still, in a down year for fantasy TE’s he is someone to keep an eye on during the season. Priest led the team in rushing last year with 633 yards and 7 TDs.  He’s had a couple big games against good defenses (17-127-1 vs. Northwestern, 27-91-1 vs. Michigan).

Sleeper Potential:  RB Ben Axon
Axon is a promising redshirt freshman who originally committed to South Carolina.  It's only a matter of time before this former 4-star prospect makes his mark in the MAC.

Big Fantasy Question:  Is anyone fantasy draftable from EMU?
Nope.  And it would be surprising if anyone emerged as a viable fantasy force during the season


KENT STATE

Best Bet:  RB Eugene Jarvis
The 5’5 dynamo returns for a 6th year of eligibility.  Still, he is now three years removed from his outstanding 1,669 rushing yard, 13 TD season.  Keep your expectations in check.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Tyshon Goode
As a freshman, Goode burst onto the scene with a solid 53-755-5 season.  However, most of those stats were piled up in a great 3-game stretch.  He’ll need to show more consistency to be a reliable fantasy threat this fall.

Big Fantasy Question:  Can Jarvis stay healthy for an entire season?
This one is obvious.  With his history of injuries, one would think the coaching staff will cut down his workload this season to keep him fresh.


MIAMI, OH

Best Bet:  QB Zac Dysert & WR Armand Robinson
With his ability to run, Dysert is one of the more intriguing fantasy options in the conference.  He should build off of a solid freshman campaign.  Robinson was Dysert’s top target last fall (67-788-4).  If he can get into the endzone more often in 2010, he’ll be a solid fantasy wideout.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Jamal Rogers
Rogers finished the season strong and seemed to establish a rapport with Dysert.  He makes a nice tandem with A-Rob.

Big Fantasy Question:  Is Dysert the best fantasy QB in the MAC?
He could be, but keep in mind this is a down year for quarterbacks in the conference.  No more LeFevour, Hiller, or Sheehan.


NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Best Bet:  RB Chad Spann
Meco Brown left the program, leaving the running game in the capable hands of Spann.  He rushed for over 1,000 yards and 19 TDs last fall and could build on those numbers this fall if he is fully recovered from a shoulder injury.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Chandler Harnish
Harnish made a splash as a freshman in ’08 with his ability to run the ball (539 yards and 4 TDs).  His sophomore year was full of ups and downs as he missed some time to injury.

Big Fantasy Question:  How is Harnish’s knee?
The reports this spring were mixed.  First, we were told he would have surgery on the knee.  Then, it was decided that surgery was not needed and that he would give it some rest and try to be ready for the season.

OHIO

Best Bet:  WR LaVon Brazil
Brazil posted a solid 53-702-6 statline last fall.  He’s also a threat in the running game (14-86-0).  With leading WR Taylor Price moving on to the NFL, Brazil is the new No. 1 target for the Bobcats.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Phillip Bates
Bates is an Iowa State transfer who’s got size (6’2, 218) and is a dangerous running threat.  With (expected) starting quarterback Boo Jackson’s injury history, Bates could be the man under center at some point this season.  Maybe even Game One.

Big Fantasy Question:  What’s the deal with Boo Jackson?
Boo needs to stay healthy.  After missing most of last year due to injury, he was granted another year of eligibility.  He did miss all of spring camp as he recovered from shoulder surgery.  When he returns this summer, he'll be the heavy frontrunner to win the starting gig over Bates.

TEMPLE

Best Bet:  RB Bernard Pierce
Pierce rushed for 1,361 yards and 16 TDs in what amounted to be only eight games as the starter.  With a full season to be The Man, Pierce should post even better stats this fall.

Sleeper Potential:  RB Matt Brown & TE Vaughn Charlton
Those who draft Pierce would be wise to handcuff him with Matt Brown.  With Pierce missing time last fall, the 5’5 speedster put up games of 156 and 172 rushing yards.  Charlton moves over from quarterback to tight end.  He has a unique skill set and could be used in a variety of ways in the passing game.

Big Fantasy Question:  Is Matt Brown a threat to steal carries away from Bernard Pierce?
We don’t think Brown will threaten Pierce’s chance to be an elite fantasy RB, but he will see his share of carries (as all No. 2's do).  Temple football needs a star to promote and generate energy for the program, and Pierce will be the face of the franchise.


TOLEDO

Best Bets:  WR Eric Page and RB Morgan Williams
As a true freshman last fall, Page exploded onto the fantasy radar and put up a 82-1,159-7 statline. Williams is the clear cut starter at running back after sharing the load the past few years.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Austin Dantin and WR James Green
Dantin is expected to win the starting quarterback job.  He finished last season with a sparkling 23-38, 326 yard performance against Bowling Green.  James Green is a former 4-star Tennessee commit who is a former teammate of Dantin's in high school. If he can keep his grades in order, look for him to make a splash for the Rockets in the coming years.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will the Rockets have a workhorse back in 2010?
Maybe.  The stage is set for Morgan Williams to carry the load.  But the coaching staff has hinted at utilizing a committee system.


WESTERN MICHIGAN

Best Bet:  WR Robert Arnheim
Arnheim led the team in receiving last fall (59-701-3).  Even without star quarterback Tim Hiller winging passes this fall, the coaching staff figures to draw up plenty of passing plays and Arnheim should be on the end of many of them.

Sleeper Potential:  RB Aaron Winchester & WR Juan Nunez
Winchester takes over the reigns from the reliable workhorse, Brandon West. Nunez has All-MAC potential if he can stay healthy.  He was leading the team in receiving before suffering a knee injury that kept him out of action for most of the season.

Big Fantasy Question:  Who will fill the shoes of Tim Hiller and is he fantasy-worthy?
His name is Alex Carder and yes, he does have fantasy potential.  He is a thick guy (6’2, 225) with a live arm and the ability to scramble.  He might need some time to figure things out, but the weapons are there around him to have a nice season.