The Scholars Surreptitious CFF Starters Week 3 2018

By John Laub
John Laub

 

 

 

         The Scholar’s Surreptitious Starters

              College Fantasy Football: Week 3

 

 

Quarterbacks

Kellen Mond, Texas A&M vs. UL-Monroe: O/U 66 & Texas A&M -27
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 29%
After a great performance against Clemson with 430 passing yards and three touchdowns, Kellen Mond is now on the CFF radar. There were questions surrounding the starter in College Station to kick off the season, but Mond is now clearly atop the depth chart. Since 2000, he is only the third Aggie quarterback to throw five touchdowns without an interception in two games to open a campaign. Mond is a poised competitor, and the offense thrives off his skills and composure. The Warhawks have surrendered 51 points against lesser competition and will be hard pressed to keep the Aggies under 35. On Saturday, Mond sparkles again with three more touchdowns and over 300 passing yards.

 

 

Ty Gangi, Nevada vs. Oregon State: O/U 70 & Nevada -3
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 68%
While Ty Gangi is owned on many CFF teams, he has been a mid-level signal caller the first two weeks of the season. Gangi produced over 36 points versus Portland State to open the season, nevertheless, he is only the 46th ranked quarterback after facing a tough Vanderbilt squad on the road last week. I expect a bounce back against the Beavers at home. Las Vegas projects a close and high-scoring contest, and Oregon State ranks among the cellar dwellers on defense, allowing 102 points scored, over 300 yards passing per game and seven aerial strikes. Gangi finishes the day among the top 12 signal callers with over 30 fantasy points.

 

Armani Rogers, UNLV vs. Prairie View: O/U n/a
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 22%
It is a shame that Armani Rogers is not owned on more CFF squads: He should easily be on at least 50% of rosters. A dual-threat playmaker, the Rebels field general scored eight rushing touchdowns and passed for six as a freshman last year. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, the sophomore is an imposing presence on the gridiron and a challenge to slow down. Las Vegas welcomes FCS-opponent Prairie View to the dessert, and the Panthers have surrendered 96 points in three games, including a week 1 loss to Rice 31-28. In their last two games against FCS opponents (Howard and Jackson State), the Rebels have scored 103 points and should easily exceed 35 points on Saturday. It is a simple mathematical equation: Insert Rogers into your CFF lineups this week and points will be produced.

 

Additional Quarterbacks

Charlie Brewer, Baylor vs. Duke: O/U 49 & Baylor -6.5


Running Backs

Kevin Marks, Buffalo vs. Eastern Michigan: O/U 53 & Buffalo -5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 10%
Last year after two games, the Eagles A.J. Dillon had carried the football 20 times for 63 yards. Only the diehard college football fanatic knew who the freshman runner was at Boston College. By mid-October, Dillon became a waiver wire gemstone and led many CFF owners to a championship. Who is Kevin Marks? In high school, Marks broke a 47-year old school record and rushed for 2,364 yards and scored 36 times. He averaged 12.6 yards per carry and snatched 33 passes. Last week against Temple, Marks blasted off with 25 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns. At 6-foot-0 and 190 pounds, the redshirt freshman is an explosive runner who weaves through traffic and finds the open field. Allowing 264 yards per game, Eastern Michigan ranks 122nd against the run. Acquire Marks now off the waiver wire and enjoy the production on Saturday versus the Eagles. He could be a difference maker on CFF squads by the end of the season.

 

 

Tyrone Owens, New Mexico at New Mexico State: O/U 57 & New Mexico -5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 6%
With an abundance of injuries last weekend and game cancellations because of Hurricane Florence, many CFF owners will need to procure a ball carrier off the waiver wire. In 2016, Owens was a streaming option all season and finished with over 1,000 yards rushing while averaging eight yards per carry. During the right matchups, he provided my starting lineups with a much-needed boost. Unfortunately, Owens was inconsistent, scoring over 20 points three times and less than 10 in five games. In 2017, he did not reach expectations and gained only 770 yards and scored three times. The Lobos play in-state rival New Mexico State and the defensive data foreshadows a huge day on the ground. In three games, the Aggies have allowed 137 points and been bludgeoned for 293 rushing yards per game. Owens leads the team with 33 carries and will surely garner the majority of touches in the backfield this week. If you need a runner, Owens is a solid option. 

Cameron Scarlett, Stanford vs. UC Davis: O/U n/a
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 8%
Pre-season Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love will not play this week, and Cameron Scarlett is worth looking at for CFF teams in need of backfield assistance. In a small sample size last year, Scarlett gained 389 yards on 91 carries but he did score on eight of those touches. At 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds, the senior is a load to tackle and suits up against an FCS challenger. UC Davis defeated San Jose State two weeks ago and should be able to stay in the game long enough to keep the score close for three quarters. I expect Scarlett to harvest over 20 carries and surpass the century mark on the ground against the Aggies.


Wide Receivers

Marquez Stevenson, Houston @ Texas Tech: O/U 71 & Houston -1
Ownership Percentage: 24%

I want a piece of the action in Lubbock, Texas this weekend. And CFF diehards are clearly interested. Stevenson was only on 35% of rosters when I published Waiver Wire Gemstones. He has jumped to 66% ownership in three days. As a freshman, Stevenson suffered a broken collarbone and last season, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee. He is healthy now, and flying in the Cougars’ offense. I watched the entire Arizona-Houston blowout last week, and QB D’Eriq King is the real deal. His accuracy and poise in the pocket shined throughout the contest. Stevenson is a speedster, who gets open vertically, and King will take shots deep down the field. I project a huge afternoon for the electrifying home run hitter.

 

Antoine Wesley, Texas Tech vs. Houston: O/U 71 & Houston -1
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 2%
Give me more players in this wide-open scoring festival. If Stevenson is not on the waiver wire, pivot to Antoine Wesley of the Red Raiders. Looking at the rosters of available players on both teams, he stands out as wildly undervalued in the CFF community. Wesley leads the Red Raiders in receptions (10) and yards (152) and will surely be targeted often in an expected shoot out with Houston. At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, the junior has earned more snaps and opportunities this year. There is a good chance that Texas Tech throws the football over 50 times, and Wesley will surely corral his share of passes. He is a risky start but the return on investment could be huge.

Tyre McCants, USF at Illinois: O/U 59 & USF -10
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 9%

Last year, Tyre McCants recorded 36 passes for 686 yards, scored seven touchdowns and ranked 19th in yards per catch (19.1). The Senior did not appear on the Biletnikoff preseason watch list in July. The omission is glaring, and he wants to earn his recognition among the committee members by the end of the season. In two games, McCants has 16 catches for only 125 yards. An explosion in yardage is coming soon for the Bulls’ playmaker. With Blake Barnett commanding the offense and gaining confidence in the system, the South Florida passing attack is ready to launch. I would acquire McCants now before other CFF diehards awaken to McCants. Also, he is a great start this week against Illinois.  

 

Additional Wide Receivers

Kendrick Rogers, Texas A&M vs. UL Monroe: O/U 66 & Texas A&M -26


Defensive Rankings to Exploit

  Total Defense   Passing Defense   Rushing Defense    
  Team PPG/G Team P-YRDS/G P-TDS Team R-YRDS/G R-TDS
1 UConn 59.0 Ohio 484.0 3 UConn 348.0 7
2 Western Michigan 52.0 San Jose State 433.0 6 New Mexico 330.5 7
3 Bowling Green 51.5 UConn 387.0 9 Bowling Green 328.0 7
4 Oregon State 51.0 UL Monroe 371.5 6 Western Michigan 321.0 8
5 New Mexico State 45.7 Ole Miss 355.0 5 South Florida 302.0 6
6 Florida Atlantic 45.0 Nebraska 351.0 3 New Mexico State 293.7 9
7 SMU 44.0 Michigan State 349.5 1 Liberty 289.0 5
8 UTSA 43.0 Oregon State 343.0 7 Coastal Carolina 274.5 5
9 South Alabama 42.5 Florida State 341.0 4 Eastern Michigan 264.0 3
10 UTEP 41.0 Houston 336.5 3 Florida 262.5 2


Highest Over/Under Totals 

  Visitor Home O/U Total Favorite
1 Arkansas St. Tulsa 72 ARK -1
2 Houston Texas Tech 71 HOU -1
3 Alabama Mississippi 71 ALA -21
4 North Texas Arkansas 70 ARK -7
5 Oregon St. Nevada 70 NEV -3.5
6 San Jose Oregon 69 ORE -41