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Week 8: Sneaky Plays
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Contributed by:
Kevin Mount
Last Updated: Oct 19, 2011 10:28 AM |
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A very interesting Week Seven is in the books and now it is time to look ahead to the eighth week of college fantasy football and the “sneaky” plays it has in store for fantasy owners. Here is a look at some players who might fill in nicely for owners in need of a potential diamond in the rough.
QUARTERBACKS
Logan Thomas QB Virginia Tech vs. Boston College: Thomas was considered by many to be a “sleeper” coming into the season, but had not done much until the last two weeks. In those two games, he has accounted for 658 total yards and nine touchdowns. He may have turned the corner and looks to be ready to be a factor in the fantasy world. Thomas could be in for a big day in Week eight against a struggling Boston College defense that ranks 101st in the country against the pass. Expect another solid outing out of this talented Hokie.
EJ Manuel QB Florida State vs. Maryland: Manuel returned to the starting role last week versus Duke and did not disappoint. He accumulated 301 total yards and four scores and looked to be fully healthy and in charge of the offense. This dual threat quarterback could have another nice fantasy day against a Maryland team that may be hard pressed to stop Manuel and the Florida State offense. Fantasy owners can expect another 250-300 total yards and a couple of scores from Manuel this weekend.
Cody Fajardo QB Nevada vs. Fresno State: This freshman looks to be the next great fantasy quarterback to come out of the fantasy friendly pistol offense that Nevada employs. He is a true threat running the football and is becoming more comfortable throwing also. The immediate future looks bright with a poor Fresno State defense on the docket in Week eight. Fajardo is a good bet to post decent yardage totals and a few scores against Fresno State this week.
CJ Brown QB Maryland vs. Florida State: This sophomore has come in and wrestled the starting job right away from Danny O’Brien. He is a huge threat on the ground, rushing for 286 yards and two touchdowns over the past two contests. Brown has a tough matchup at least on paper this week versus Florida State, but the Seminoles do give up some big plays so he could have some success this week. Don’t expect huge numbers this week, but a score or two on the ground are very possible.
RUNNING BACKS
Edwin Baker RB Michigan State vs. Wisconsin: Baker was a top 10 to 15 running back heading into this season, but had not lived up to expectations until last week against Michigan. He returned to his 2010 form and tore apart the Wolverines for 167 yards and a score on 26 carries. The Spartans will likely have to use him often this week in a hard fought contest with Wisconsin. Expect to see another 20 plus carry game for Baker and possible a score or two as the Spartans try to control the clock in this prime time match up.
Devonta Freeman RB Florida State vs. Maryland: Florida State has been atrocious running the football this season, but may have found an answer to that problem in the form on Devonta Freeman. The freshman burst onto the scene last week with 109 yards and a score versus Duke. He figures to get a bunch more carries this week against a terrible Maryland rush defense that gives up 215 yards per game and over 2 touchdowns per game. Freeman could cement his hold on the starting job with another 100-yard effort this week.
Perry Jones RB Virginia vs. North Carolina State: Jones appears to have awoken from his early season struggles and has back to back 100-yard games to his credit. He has also shown his ability to catch the ball with 27 receptions through six games. This do it all back should have success this week against a weak NC State defense that struggles on a weekly basis. Fantasy owners should expect another 100 plus total yards out of Jones in Week eight and maybe a trip to the end zone to top it off.
Aaron Crawford RB Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma: Crawford was thrust into the starting spot last week with the season ending injury to Eric Stephens and responded with 124 total yards and a score versus Kansas State. He figures to see the bulk of the carries going forward and has shown he is capable of producing solid numbers. His match up with Oklahoma this week is not the greatest, but he should still see enough touches to put up a decent stat line. A game with 80 to 100 total yards and a score are a distinct possibility.
WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS
Jarrett Boykin WR Virginia Tech vs. Boston College: Much like his quarterback Logan Thomas, Boykin has been on a tear the past two weeks. He has 269 yards and two touchdowns during that time period. Boykin could be in store for a third straight huge performance when he faces the putrid Boston College pass defense in Week eight. Fantasy owners should feel good about having Boykin in their lineups this week, especially in BCS only leagues.
LaVon Brazill WR Ohio vs. Akron: Brazill has scored eight touchdowns on the season and is averaging five receptions per game. He is the primary weapon in the Ohio passing attack and has proved to be very consistent. The Akron pass defense has been solid so far this season, but Brazill should still find some open room this weekend. Expect another trip to pay dirt for Brazill against Akron.
Tavarese Maye UL-Monroe vs. North Texas: Maye has put up decent yardage totals, but his true value comes in PPR leagues as he has hauled in seven receptions in each of the last three games and averages almost 6 receptions on the season. He should once again be on the receiving end of quite a few passes this week versus an awful North Texas pass defense which yields almost 300 yards per game. Expect around seven or eight grabs and possibly a score this week for Maye.
Jermaine Kearse WR Washington vs. Stanford: Kearse is not putting up the nearly the numbers he did in 2010, but he still has six touchdowns thus far and seems to be coming on lately. He has twelve catches in his last two games and figures to be targeted often this week versus Stanford. The Huskies could look to do damage against a Stanford defense that is much more vulnerable against the pass than they are against the run. Kearse has a good chance of reaching the end zone again in Week eight.
Cooper Helfet TE Duke vs. Wake Forest: Helfet has consecutive games of 50 yards receiving and a touchdown, which is excellent production for the TE position in college fantasy football. He could be heavily involved in the passing game this week versus a suspect Wake Forest pass defense. He is a good bet to score for the third straight game this week.
SNEAKY D'S
Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State
Iowa vs. Indiana
Kansas State vs. Kansas
BYU vs. Idaho State
Oregon vs. Colorado
Follow @CFFGeek on Twitter
QUARTERBACKS
Logan Thomas QB Virginia Tech vs. Boston College: Thomas was considered by many to be a “sleeper” coming into the season, but had not done much until the last two weeks. In those two games, he has accounted for 658 total yards and nine touchdowns. He may have turned the corner and looks to be ready to be a factor in the fantasy world. Thomas could be in for a big day in Week eight against a struggling Boston College defense that ranks 101st in the country against the pass. Expect another solid outing out of this talented Hokie.
EJ Manuel QB Florida State vs. Maryland: Manuel returned to the starting role last week versus Duke and did not disappoint. He accumulated 301 total yards and four scores and looked to be fully healthy and in charge of the offense. This dual threat quarterback could have another nice fantasy day against a Maryland team that may be hard pressed to stop Manuel and the Florida State offense. Fantasy owners can expect another 250-300 total yards and a couple of scores from Manuel this weekend.
Cody Fajardo QB Nevada vs. Fresno State: This freshman looks to be the next great fantasy quarterback to come out of the fantasy friendly pistol offense that Nevada employs. He is a true threat running the football and is becoming more comfortable throwing also. The immediate future looks bright with a poor Fresno State defense on the docket in Week eight. Fajardo is a good bet to post decent yardage totals and a few scores against Fresno State this week.
CJ Brown QB Maryland vs. Florida State: This sophomore has come in and wrestled the starting job right away from Danny O’Brien. He is a huge threat on the ground, rushing for 286 yards and two touchdowns over the past two contests. Brown has a tough matchup at least on paper this week versus Florida State, but the Seminoles do give up some big plays so he could have some success this week. Don’t expect huge numbers this week, but a score or two on the ground are very possible.
RUNNING BACKS
Edwin Baker RB Michigan State vs. Wisconsin: Baker was a top 10 to 15 running back heading into this season, but had not lived up to expectations until last week against Michigan. He returned to his 2010 form and tore apart the Wolverines for 167 yards and a score on 26 carries. The Spartans will likely have to use him often this week in a hard fought contest with Wisconsin. Expect to see another 20 plus carry game for Baker and possible a score or two as the Spartans try to control the clock in this prime time match up.
Devonta Freeman RB Florida State vs. Maryland: Florida State has been atrocious running the football this season, but may have found an answer to that problem in the form on Devonta Freeman. The freshman burst onto the scene last week with 109 yards and a score versus Duke. He figures to get a bunch more carries this week against a terrible Maryland rush defense that gives up 215 yards per game and over 2 touchdowns per game. Freeman could cement his hold on the starting job with another 100-yard effort this week.
Perry Jones RB Virginia vs. North Carolina State: Jones appears to have awoken from his early season struggles and has back to back 100-yard games to his credit. He has also shown his ability to catch the ball with 27 receptions through six games. This do it all back should have success this week against a weak NC State defense that struggles on a weekly basis. Fantasy owners should expect another 100 plus total yards out of Jones in Week eight and maybe a trip to the end zone to top it off.
Aaron Crawford RB Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma: Crawford was thrust into the starting spot last week with the season ending injury to Eric Stephens and responded with 124 total yards and a score versus Kansas State. He figures to see the bulk of the carries going forward and has shown he is capable of producing solid numbers. His match up with Oklahoma this week is not the greatest, but he should still see enough touches to put up a decent stat line. A game with 80 to 100 total yards and a score are a distinct possibility.
WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS
Jarrett Boykin WR Virginia Tech vs. Boston College: Much like his quarterback Logan Thomas, Boykin has been on a tear the past two weeks. He has 269 yards and two touchdowns during that time period. Boykin could be in store for a third straight huge performance when he faces the putrid Boston College pass defense in Week eight. Fantasy owners should feel good about having Boykin in their lineups this week, especially in BCS only leagues.
LaVon Brazill WR Ohio vs. Akron: Brazill has scored eight touchdowns on the season and is averaging five receptions per game. He is the primary weapon in the Ohio passing attack and has proved to be very consistent. The Akron pass defense has been solid so far this season, but Brazill should still find some open room this weekend. Expect another trip to pay dirt for Brazill against Akron.
Tavarese Maye UL-Monroe vs. North Texas: Maye has put up decent yardage totals, but his true value comes in PPR leagues as he has hauled in seven receptions in each of the last three games and averages almost 6 receptions on the season. He should once again be on the receiving end of quite a few passes this week versus an awful North Texas pass defense which yields almost 300 yards per game. Expect around seven or eight grabs and possibly a score this week for Maye.
Jermaine Kearse WR Washington vs. Stanford: Kearse is not putting up the nearly the numbers he did in 2010, but he still has six touchdowns thus far and seems to be coming on lately. He has twelve catches in his last two games and figures to be targeted often this week versus Stanford. The Huskies could look to do damage against a Stanford defense that is much more vulnerable against the pass than they are against the run. Kearse has a good chance of reaching the end zone again in Week eight.
Cooper Helfet TE Duke vs. Wake Forest: Helfet has consecutive games of 50 yards receiving and a touchdown, which is excellent production for the TE position in college fantasy football. He could be heavily involved in the passing game this week versus a suspect Wake Forest pass defense. He is a good bet to score for the third straight game this week.
SNEAKY D'S
Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State
Iowa vs. Indiana
Kansas State vs. Kansas
BYU vs. Idaho State
Oregon vs. Colorado
Follow @CFFGeek on Twitter
