The Scholar's Surreptitious CFF Starters Week 6

By John Laub
John Laub

 

 

 

    The Scholar’s Surreptitious Starters


            College Fantasy Football: Week 6

 

 

Quarterbacks

Marcus McMaryion, Fresno State at Nevada: O/U 59.5 & Fresno State -12.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 20%
After my wife and I eat a nice Italian meal on our Saturday date night, we will enjoy a walk around downtown New Haven. When we return home, the Fresno State-Nevada contest will be the cherry on top of a perfect evening. The game kicks off at 10:30 ET, and I look forward to watching it. The Bulldogs will score many points as a road favorite. Leading the offense, Marcus McMaryion has recorded back-to-back 40-point outings with 638 passing yards and 10 total touchdowns. The Wolf Pack surrenders 259 yards and 36.6 points per game. McMaryion effortlessly registers another three touchdowns and over 275 yards passing.

 


Woody Barrett, Kent State vs. Ohio: O/U 70 & Ohio -13.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 8%
The MAC schedule is full throttle ahead, and every week, CFF diehards must examine all of the matchups. On Saturday, the Golden Flashes host the Bobcats, and Las Vegas projects the game as one of the highest-scoring on the docket. There is clearly risk involved in placing Woody Barrett into lineups, but the game script foreshadows a productive afternoon passing. Kent State is a huge home dog and more than likely playing from behind in the second half. The former JUCO competitor has attempted over 40 passes in three contests and scored over 17 points in each game, including a season-best 37 against Illinois on the road. A dual-threat athlete, the sophomore signal caller has thrown five aerial strikes and crossed the goal line three times this year. I expect Barrett to account for three touchdowns on Saturday.

Longshot of the Week

Josh Love, SJSU vs. Colorado State: O/U 64.5 & Colorado State -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 1%

Running Backs

Shakif Seymour, Toledo vs. Bowling Green: O/U 72.5 & Toledo -20.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 51%
Over the summer, many CFF prognosticators, including myself, really liked and endorsed Shakif Seymour as a sleeper to acquire in drafts. Unfortunately, he has not come close to expectations. While examining the matchups this week, the Rockets’ ground game stood out as a strong investment. Bowling Green employs the worst run defense in the nation, allowing over 340 yards per game, and surrendering 23 touchdowns. Last year, Toledo demolished Bowling Green 66-37 as Seymour rushed for five touchdowns on only 12 carries. While the carry-to-touchdown ratio will not be replicated, the sophomore should find plenty of open lanes in the Green Falcons’ defense. Do not leave Seymour on the bench this weekend. 

 

 

Jordan Cronkrite, South Florida at UMass: O/U 71 & USF -14.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 19%

In high school, Jordan Cronkrite was a four-star prospect by 247Sports and U.S. Army All-American. He enrolled at Florida and spent two seasons behind Kelvin Taylor and Jordan Scarlett at Gainesville. Transferring from the Gators, he redshirted last season at USF and impressed the coaching staff on the scout team. He did not earn a carry in the opening game against Elon, nevertheless, is the leading ball carrier for South Florida. Over the past two games, the 5-foot-11 and 205-pound junior has gained 265 yards and scored twice. Against East Carolina, Cronkrite scored the go-ahead touchdown when he scampered for 80 yards in the fourth quarter for the undefeated Bulls. "I really had the easy job. All I did was run straight," declared Cronkrite, who rambled for 129 yards on 19 carries. If the Bulls want to capture the AAC East, Coach Charlie Strong needs a solid ground game to support quarterback Blake Barnett and the air attack. The Minutemen are wretched against the run, and Cronkrite exceeds the century mark for the third straight game.

Longshot of the Week

Wesley Fields, Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama: O/U 55 Georgia Southern -13.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 8%

 

Wide Receivers

Papi White, Ohio at Kent State: O/U 71 & Ohio -13.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 53%

Overlooked by many CFF zealots, Papi White ranks fortieth among wide receivers. He opened the campaign with consecutive 100-yard receiving performances, and in three of four contests, White has scored over 22 points. For the season, he has 22 catches for 392 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 17.8 ypc. In 2015 & 2016, he often played in the backfield and earned 79 carries for 377 yards while scoring five times. Ohio averages 39.7 ppg. and is on track to break program marks for points in a season and per game. In the red zone, the Bobcats are incredibly efficient: In 23 trips, the offense has scored 15 touchdowns and kicked seven field goals. A redshirt senior, White will garner double-digit targets against Kent State and certainly accumulates over 17 points in ppr-scoring formats.

 

Easop Winston, Washington State at Oregon State: O/U 64 & Washington State -17.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 15%
A JUCO transfer, Easop Winston redshirted his first year at Washington State to improve his strength, conditioning and route running. During spring practices in April, Winston consistently illustrated his elusiveness, soft hands and work ethic. “Easop gets a lot of mop-up balls,” Coach Mike Leach said. “Something will break down and he keeps going and he keeps going and he’ll get a ball.” His determination and fortitude has carried over into the season. Over the last three weeks, Winston has produced double-digit points, and during the last two contests, he exploded for 10 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored the game-winning 89-yard touchdown vs. Utah last week. The 5-foot-11 and 190-pound “Z” wide out ranks among the best receivers in the Pac 12 and will surely break open for a couple of big plays against the porous Beavers’ secondary. 

Longshot of the Week

Kawaan Baker, South Alabama at Georgia Southern: O/U 55 & Georgia Southern -13.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 54%

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 53.4 Houston 389.0 9 Bowling Green 341.2 23
2 Bowling Green 47.8 Ohio 386.8 13 UConn 311.2 18
3 Oregon St. 45.2 San Jose 379.0 13 Oregon St. 303.4 15
4 South Alabama 44.0 UConn 351.8 17 Liberty 283.8 12
5 UMass 42.7 Kent State 325.8 11 Louisiana 263.8 13
6 Rice 42.4 Rice 310.8 18 New Mexico St. 262.8 15
7 New Mexico St. 39.8 Ole Miss 310.0 13 UMass 256.7 16
8 Florida Atlantic 39.8 Virginia Tech 304.0 6 Colorado St. 249.0 10
9 Louisiana 39.8 Texas Tech 301.2 11 South Florida 244.8 8
10 Colorado St. 39.6 UL Monroe 300.0 11 Arkansas St. 244.4 10


Highest Over/Under Totals

  Visitor Home O/U Favorite
1 UConn MEM 77 MEM -33
2 ULM Miss 75.5 Miss -22.5
3 SMU UCF 75 UCF -24
4 TOL BGSU 72 TOL -21.5
5 USF UMass 71 USF -15