The Scholars Surreptitious CFF Starters Week 9

By John Laub
John Laub

 



   The Scholar’s Surreptitious Starters

          College Fantasy Football: Week 9

 

 

 

Quarterbacks

Brock Purdy, Iowa State vs. Texas Tech: O/U 56 & Iowa State -4
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 24%
I want a piece of the action at Iowa State this weekend, and Brock Purdy remains available on many waiver wires. In the past two games before the bye week, the Cyclones’ signal caller passed for 572 yards, tossed seven aerial strikes and rushed for one touchdown, producing over 70 fantasy points. If you need a quarterback, Purdy is a solid starter who should easily record over 20 points.

 

 

Ian Book, Notre Dame vs. Navy: O/U 54.5 & Notre Dame -23
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 39%
Another team coming back off a week of rest, Notre Dame travels to Navy this weekend. In the four games before the scheduled break, Ian Book was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the nation. The Irish won four consecutive games with Book behind center as he averaged over 30 fantasy points per outing. He completed 10 touchdowns and passed for 1,138 yards. The Midshipmen are the 102nd ranked team against the pass in the FBS, allowing over 250 yards per game and 15 touchdowns. Book and the aerial assault should easily take flight against Navy.

Jawon Pass, Louisville vs. Wake Forest: O/U 65 & Louisville -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 29%
One of my biggest misses as a CFF analyst this season has been Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass. He has failed to even come close to expectations. Nevertheless, in the last three games, Pass has performed better with seven total touchdowns and 775 passing yards. Most CFF diehards have released the Cardinals’ dual-threat playmaker, and he is wildly available as a free agent. The Wake Forest secondary has been bludgeoned all season, ranking 117th in the country. Pass should record three touchdowns and pass for over 250 yards at home on Saturday.


Running Backs

Stevie Scott, Indiana at Minnesota: O/U 54 & Indiana -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 39%
Against Ohio State and Iowa, the Indiana ground game was subdued and Stevie Scott failed to produce double-digit points in either contest. Last week versus Penn State, Scott led the Hoosiers to a 33-28 upset behind a punishing rushing attack. The bruising ball carrier rambled for 138 yards on 26 carries with two touchdowns. Indiana travels to Minnesota and will clearly rely on their freshman runner to lead the club to victory. 

Trey Ragas, Louisiana vs. Arkansas State: O/U 67.5 & Arkansas State -3.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 59%
The Sun Belt kicks off its weekly slate on Tuesdays but there are plenty of contests remaining over the weekend. I am very interested in the Red Wolves at Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday night. The O/U is enticing and the point-spread indicates a close contest. Trey Ragas ranks among the top 30 CFF runners with 108 attempts for 680 yards and five touchdowns. He has surpassed the century mark in four of seven games and averaged 6.3 yards per attempt. As long as the game remains competitive in the fourth quarter, Ragas will likely see over 20 touches for just the second time all season. 

 


 

Travon McMillian, Colorado vs. Oregon State: O/U 63.5 & Colorado -24
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 61%
A transfer from Virginia Tech, Travon McMillian has become a viable weekly starter in CFF lineups. He leads Colorado in attempts (127) and rushing yards (646) while reaching the end zone four times. The Beavers have bled points to opposing runners all season: Oregon State is the 126th ranked rush defense, allowing 274.6 yards per game and 20 touchdowns. Also, the O/U foreshadows a clock-killing ground game in the second half, and the senior ball carrier should garner over 20 carries for the third time. 

Nico Evans, Wyoming at Colorado State: O/U 48 & Colorado State -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 79%
The Cowboys ball carrier is one of my personal favorite players this year in CFF. He is the thirty-first most productive runner (119 points in ppr-scoring formats) and is a must start against Colorado State. Do not leave Evans on the bench.


Wide Receivers

 
Riley Miller, Ball State at Ohio: O/U 64 & Ohio -10

Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 10%

In late September, Riley Miller exploded in back-to-back games against Western Kentucky and Kent State for 19 catches for 320 yards and a touchdown. Since then, Miller has slowed down with 14 catches for 143 yards and two scores in the past three games. The Bobcats surrender 31 points per game and have been burned for 17 touchdowns. Miller gets back on track against Ohio Thursday with over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. 

 

Miles Boykin, Notre Dame vs. Navy: O/U 54.5 & Notre Dame -23

Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 33%

In the Week 6 Waiver Wire Gemstones, I implored readers to acquire Miles Boykin as a free agent after a breakout performance against Stanford. Surprisingly, he still remains available in the majority of leagues. During the last three games, the senior has corralled 23 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, the Notre Dame playmaker has a physical advantage over the Navy secondary and easily hits paydirt twice.

 

Damon Hazelton, Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech: O/U 58.5 & Virginia Tech -3.0

Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 41%

Since Ryan Willis became the starter at quarterback, the Hookies passing game has flown to new heights with over 300 yards passing in two of the past three contests. Without question, Damon Hazelton deserves to be rostered in CFF leagues. He stands at #66 among receivers despite producing less than ten fantasy points twice. In the other four games, he has exceeded 100 yards three times and scored four touchdowns. Averaging over 17 yards per catch, Hazelton has totaled 515 yards on 29 receptions with five touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets pass defense cannot stop the Willis-Hazelton connection on Thursday night.

 

Tee Higgins, Clemson at Florida State: O/U 51 & Clemson -17

Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 48%

 

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 51.4 Houston 333.6 12 Bowling Green 332.9 34
2 Bowling Green 47.8 UConn 325.7 20 UConn 325.7 28
3 Oregon State 47.3 Ohio 311.0 17 Oregon State 274.6 20
4 New Mexico St. 44.3 Purdue 296.4 9 New Mexico St. 273.3 28
5 UMass 42.3 Virginia Tech 295.7 9 UMass 273.0 22
6 South Alabama 39.3 Kent State 292.6 14 Georgia St. 248.3 15
7 Rice 38.8 Illinois 288.4 17 Liberty 238.1 16
8 Old Dominion 38.5 Texas Tech 288.1 15 Old Dominion 235.9 21
9 Colorado St. 37.8 Missouri 287.4 15 Louisville 233.9 17
10 San Jose St. 37.7 UL Monroe 287.4 16 South Florida 229.4 15


Highest Over/Under Totals 

  Visitor Home O/U Favorite
1 Houston USF 74.5 HOU -7.5
2 Arkansas St. UL-Lafayette 70.5 ARK -3
3 UMass UConn 69 UMass -5
4 W. Michigan Toledo 68 W. MI -6.5
5 West Virginia Baylor 67.5 WVU -13.5