College Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 12 2017

By John Laub
John Laub

       

    
      College Fantasy Football


             The Scholar’s Surreptitious Starters

                          Week 12

 

   

 

Quarterbacks 

 

Jarrett Stidham, Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe: O/U 68

Ownership Percentage: 36%

It has taken longer than college diehards had expected, but Jarrett Stidham is finally living up to the lofty standards of the Tigers’ coaching staff and faithful. Auburn has an 8-2 record after defeating Georgia, the former number one-ranked team in the nation, and the sophomore signal caller has guided the offense to over 40 points in seven games this season. In the last three contests, Stidham has passed for over 600 yards and tossed six touchdowns. He also totaled 79 yards on the ground and scored twice. Las Vegas projects that the Tigers will score at least seven touchdowns, and Stidham will surely play an integral role in the scoring feast.

 

Manny Wilkins, Arizona State at Oregon State: O/U 59.5

Ownership Percentage: 17%

Recently, the Arizona State offense has dominated opposing defenses, scoring over 40 points in three consecutive games. Both defensive units are among the worst in the PAC-12, and the game could easily produce 11 combined touchdowns. For the season, Manny Wilkins has a 12-4 TD:INT ratio and averages over 250 passing yards per game. He also has 181 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Over the last two weeks, the Sun Devils’ leader ranks eleventh among fantasy quarterbacks, and Wilkins could easily finish in the top ten on Saturday.

 

 

Hayden Moore, Cincinnati at East Carolina: O/U 64.5

Ownership Percentage: 3%

In each of the last three games, Hayden Moore has produced over 20 fantasy points. The Bearcats’ dual-threat field general has passed for 654 yards, rushed for 166 and produced six total touchdowns. Cincinnati takes on the kindest defense in the FBS: The Pirates allow 45 points and 554 yards per game. Moore could eclipse 30 points for the first time since he played Central Florida in October.

 

Running Backs 

 

AJ Dillon, Boston College vs. UConn: O/U 51

Ownership Percentage: 35%

Coach Steve Addazio's ground game enjoys one of the foremost mismatches in the nation Saturday. The Eagles host the Huskies at Fenway Park, and UConn allows over 39 points and 175 rushing yards per game. Boston College prefers to pound the pigskin on the ground, and freshman AJ Dillon has recorded a 1,000-yard campaign. Over the last four contests, Dillon has 132 carries for 676 yards, averaging 5.12 YPA, and scored six touchdowns. The Huskies defense will not be able to slow down the 240-pound bulldozer, who likely garners another 30 carries and reaches the promised land twice.

 

 

Larry Roundtree, III and Ish Witter, Missouri at Vanderbilt: O/U 67

Ownership Percentage: 1% and 2%

The Tigers’ offense has steered the club to four consecutive victories while scoring 215 points during the winning streak. Nearly impossible to halt, Missouri deploys a deadly air-and-ground attack that bewilders opponents. While Drew Lock, J’Mon Moore and Emanuel Hall challenge defensive backs, Ish Witter and Larry Roundtree, III gash adversaries on the ground. Both runners rank among the top twenty fantasy ball carriers over the past two weeks The Commodores rank #114 versus the run, allowing 28 rushing touchdowns while yielding over 213 yards per game. Roundtree and Witter are worthy of starting in a flex position this Saturday.  

 

Boston Scott, Louisiana Tech at UTEP: O/U 50

Ownership Percentage: 2%

Astute college fantasy diehards are always probing for ball carriers against poor run defenses. Louisiana Tech facing UTEP jumps out amid upcoming games, and Boston Scott is in a good position to continue his recent success. In five of the last six games, the Bulldogs’ runner has eclipsed 14 fantasy points and scored seven times. The Miners have been pounded for 229.4 rushing yards per game and beaten for 28 touchdowns on the ground. If a fantasy manager needs a long shot flex starter, Scott should produce nearly 20 points.

 

Wide Receivers


Marquise Brown, Oklahoma at. Kansas: O/U 71

Ownership Percentage: 26%

Behind Heisman frontrunner Baker Mayfield, the Sooners' offense scores over 44 points and accumulates over 600 yards per game. A boom-or-bust fantasy player, Brown has recorded three games over 100 yards and five times produced less than 10 fantasy points. Two weeks ago versus Oklahoma State, the speedster set a school record with 265 yards receiving, including touchdowns of 84 and 77 yards. The Jayhawks will be fortunate to hold Oklahoma to less than 50 points as Mayfield and the aerial assault produce over 300 yards and four touchdowns. Brown is in a nice spot to score numerous fantasy points.

 

Felton Davis, Michigan State vs. Maryland: O/U 43

Ownership Percentage: 13%

Before the complete debacle against Ohio State last week, the Spartans’ offense had been playing well, and Davis became a viable fantasy starter. In back-to-back games versus Northwestern and Penn State, the junior snatched 20 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He leads Michigan State in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. Many college fanatics will be reluctant to play Davis, but astute owners will insert the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder into their lineups.  

 

Ryan Davis, Auburn vs. Louisiana Monroe: O/U 68.5

Ownership Percentage: 1%

The junior playmaker leads the Tigers in every receiving category with 52 catches for 516 yards and five touchdowns. In five of the last six games, Davis has manufactured over 12 fantasy points, and in five outings, he has made over six catches. In five games this year, the Warhawks’ defense has been burned for over 45 points, including three times over 50. The Tigers are in the hunt for the SEC title and a College Football Playoff invitation and will want to impress the voters this weekend. Davis is a worthy flex option as the Tigers easily score 50 points.

 

Defensive Rankings to Exploit

  Total Defense   Passing Defense     Rushing Defense  
  Team PTS/G Team P-YDS/G P-TDs Team R-YDS/G R-TDs
1 East Carolina 45 UConn 375.3 31 UCLA 302.3 27
2 San Jose State 43.9 East Carolina 305.3 25 San Jose State 292.9 36
3 Kansas 42.2 Kansas State 303.4 16 Tulsa 270.8 29
4 Ball State 42 Texas Tech 300 27 Air Force 260.8 27
5 Oregon State 40.7 Arizona 292.5 17 Tennessee 256.9 23
6 UConn 39.4 Texas State 285.1 15 Ole Miss 253.1 25
7 Louisiana 38.8 Oklahoma State 284.6 13 East Carolina 248.6 31
8 UCLA 38.6 Kentucky 282.3 18 Bowling Green 238.4 25
9 Coastal Carolina 38.4 Nevada 279.2 23 UTEP 229.4 28
10 Tulsa 38 Northwestern 278.9 18 Kent State 228.5 27

 

Highest Over/Under Totals

  Visitor Home O/U Total Favorite
1 SMU Memphis 74.5 MEM -13
2 Syracuse Louisville 73.5 LOU -13.5
3 Oklahoma Kansas 70.5 OKLA -37
4 Louisiana-Monroe Auburn 68 AUB -37
5 San Jose State Colorado State 66.5 CSU -32.5
6 New Mexico State Louisiana 65.5 NMSU -4.5
7 Cincinnati ECU 64.5 CIN -3.5