MOUNTAIN WEST FANTASY SNAPSHOT

AIR FORCE

Best Bet: RB Jared Tew
Tew was the team's 2009 leading rusher (970-9).  He returns and should continue to produce for the Falcons.

Sleeper Potential: QB Tim Jefferson
He will have competition from Connor Dietz for the starting job, but should be the man under center to open the season. 

Biggest Fantasy Question: Can Air Force have two viable fantasy RB’s in 2010?
Jared Tew and Asher Clark both return and could both eclipse the 1000-yard mark if things fall right.


BYU

Best Bet: WR McKay Jacobson
Jacobson returns as the top receiving threat.  He'll need to  develop chemistry with whoever wins the quarterback competition.

Sleeper Potential: RB J.J. DiLuigi
The junior has some big shoes to fill with Harvey Unga withdrawing from school and entering the NFL Supplemental Draft.  He will compete with freshman Joshua Quezada for carries this fall.

Biggest Fantasy Question: Who will win the starting quarterback job?
Riley Nelson (Jr), Jake Heaps (Fr), and James Lark So) are all battling for the job.  Heaps is being hyped as the guy of the future, but he is not a lock to start as a freshman.


COLORADO STATE

Best Bet: RB Leonard Mason
Mason, the team's leading rusher, returns to a crowded backfield that includes veteran John Mosure, bruiser Chris Nwoke and UCLA transfer Raymond Carter.

Sleeper Potential: RB Raymond Carter
Carter was a highly touted recruit who could make a big splash in Fort Collins right out of the chute.

Biggest Fantasy Question: Who will be the Rams starting QB in 2010?
Freshman Pete Thomas and redshirt freshman Nico Ranieri are battling to land the job.


NEW MEXICO

Best Bet: The Lobos offense leaves much to be desired and doesn’t appear to have a best bet at the moment.

Sleeper Potential: RB Demond Dennis
The leading rusher returns for the Lobos and has some potential due to his speed.

Biggest Fantasy Question: Will the Lobos produce any viable fantasy options this season?
The pickings seem to be slim and might take a while to get better.


SAN DIEGO STATE

Best Bet: WR Vincent Brown
Brown was on fire before getting injured last season. If he can stay healthy, Brown should become an elite fantasy receiver this fall.

Sleeper Potential: QB Ryan Lindley
Lindley had a good season in '09 (3024 yards, 23 touchdowns) and could be on the verge of even bigger things this year.

Biggest Fantasy Question: Will the Aztecs rushing attack show any signs of life in 2010?
Brandon Sullivan, Ronnie Hillman, and Deonte Williams will try to revive the ground game in the fall.


TCU

Best Bet: QB Andy Dalton
Dalton always seems to fly under the fantasy radar.  Let's remember that Mr. Underappreciated rushed for 512 yards last fall while passing for 2,756 yards and 23 scores.  He should be able to better those numbers in 2010.

Sleeper Potential: RB Ed Wesley & RB Matthew Tucker
TCU loves to run the ball and these two characters will be a large part of the ground game this season.

Biggest Fantasy Question: Will one running back emerge as a go-to guy?
Probably not, barring injury.  The committee approach has worked in the past and with a talented group of runners returning, look for the Frogs to continue with that winning philosophy again this year.


UNLV

Best Bet: WR Philip Payne
Payne is a prototypical big receiver (6'3, 200) who is a monster in the redzone.  With No. 1 receiving target Ryan Wolfe moving on, Payne should become the new go-to guy.

Sleeper Potential: QB Omar Clayton
Clayton is not a sure bet to win the starting job with Mike Clausen still in the mix.  Keep an eye on fall camp to see if he can secure the job.  If he can, his dual threat talents make him a very interesting fantasy option.

Biggest Fantasy Question: What effect will the new coaching staff have on the offense?
Bobby Hauck comes over from Montana where he had an offensive juggernaut on his hands.  His system produced big numbers at every skill position.  At UNLV, Hauck has stated that he will try to get the power running game working.


UTAH

Best Bet: WR Jereme Brooks
Brooks caught 56 balls for 696 yards and 7 touchdowns a year ago.  With more experienced quarterbacks this fall, and leading receiver David Reed moving on, Brooks is poised for a big year.

Sleeper Potential: QB Jordan Wynn
Wynn and Terrance Cain combined for nearly 3,000 passing yards a year ago.  With a year under his belt, look for marked improvement from Wynn and the Utes' passing game.

Biggest Fantasy Question: How will the Utes RB situation play out?
Eddie Wide, Matt Asiata, Sausan Shakerin will all compete for carries in 2010. We wrote a story on this subject here.


WYOMING

Best Bet: RB Alvester Alexander
Alexander showed potential as a freshman in 2009 and looks to be the main man in the Cowboys backfield this season.

Sleeper Potential: QB Austyn Carta-Samuels & WR David Leonard
Carta-Samuels showed off his athletic ability last year and should be better in his first full year of starting. He fits the dual threat mold that fantasy owners covet.  Leonard is a wiley veteran who posted a quiet 77-705-3 statline last fall. 

Biggest Fantasy Question: How much improved will the Wyoming offense be in 2010?
With Austyn Carta-Samuels, Alvester Alexander, and David Leonard, the future fantasy prospects look bright for the Cowboys.