Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Top College Fantasy Football Players Week 9 (2024)

Mike Marteny takes a look at 2024 breakout collegiate stars who will be available in your fantasy football dynasty drafts within the next year or two. Who shined in Week 9 of the 2024 season?

Welcome back to another season of Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch, where I highlight the best and brightest performances from the college football week. Another running back adds his name to an already loaded class and a few quarterbacks showed out as well. Who were the best of the best?

We will introduce you to these college players earlier than many of your fantasy football league mates. We here at RotoBaller are all about giving you an advantage. If you paid attention to this column last year, you would have known about Kimani Vidal and Xavier Worthy long before their performances at the NFL Combine.

I will highlight one quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end every week of the college season who put up some really big numbers. I'll let you know what it means for your dynasty leagues. Do these guys have NFL futures? You'll find out!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings
• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks

Owen McCown, UTSA (30/50, 434 yards, 4 TD; 3 carries, -22 yards) at Tulsa

UTSA QB Owen McCown receives AAC Honorable Mention accolades this week. McCown completed 30-of-50 passes for a school-record 434 yards with 4 TDs at Tulsa. pic.twitter.com/5vdCMqOxQR

— JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) October 28, 2024

McCown's father (Josh) and uncle (Luke) both played in the NFL. His father Josh lasted in the league for 18 seasons, but he only started in at least half a season four times in those 18 years. Still, his father's longevity was because he was "built like a quarterback." Is Owen as well?

Owen is shorter (6-foot-1 to his father's 6-foot-4) and weighs a little less. Still, Josh wasn't that big when he went into the league. Owen will be able to bulk up a little. What scouts are looking for is his arm.

At times, McCown looks the part of a pro. He's still not efficient or consistent, which is troubling considering the quality of the competition. Frank Harris ran this offense smoothly at UTSA. McCown hasn't been able to do that yet.

NFL pedigree goes a long way with NFL front office people. Due to that, McCown will get a few more looks than his peers of the same skill level. He projects mostly as a backup in the NFL, but his father made a nice career out of that with solid success (Josh McCown was 102-76 as a starter). Owen could do the same, which means he's a fleeting fantasy option until someone gets hurt.

Honorable mention: Chandler Morris, North Texas; Garrett Nussmeier, LSU; Fernando Mendoza, California

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs

Jarquez Hunter, Auburn (23 carries, 278 yards. 2 TD; 4 receptions, 19 yards) at Kentucky

Jarquez Hunter vs. Kentucky:

? 278 Rush Yds
? 2 Rush TD

The most rushing yards in a game by any player this season? @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/g3SQ3MZ8mF

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 27, 2024

This performance came against a Kentucky defense that only allowed 107.5 rushing yards per game. Now Kentucky is giving up 132.4 per game. Hunter has had a few good games for Auburn over the years, but nothing close to this. He didn't suddenly get good - this has been brewing for a while. Some of it is coaching too. Auburn finally turned him loose.

Hunter is hard to bring down at 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds. He's stout but still possesses good breakaway speed. Hunter's four receptions were a career-high, so he's not that involved in the passing game. This is a loaded running back class and several of those backs have proven to be assets out of the backfield.

Hunter is solid enough across all facets of his game, but he's an early-down back in the NFL for now. That could change with a strong combine and Senior Bowl. Hunter has made himself known as another one to watch in this talented running back class. He will have success at the next level.

Honorable mention: Tre Stewart, Jacksonville State; Makhi Hughes, Tulane; Braylen Russell, Arkansas

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers

Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State (15 receptions, 183 yards, TD) vs. New Mexico

Brennan Presley made magic happen pic.twitter.com/ZdRKBWCgQ2

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 26, 2024

This is not the first game like this that Presley has put up over the years. He has been both the victim and the benefactor of Alan Bowman's gunslinging ways. The only thing that I know for sure is that Presley is the best Oklahoma State receiver since Dez Bryant.

Presley is small (5-foot-8, 175 pounds), so his only NFL job will be in the slot. That's fine. Julian Edelman and Wes Welker still have lucrative careers as slot receivers. Presley plays with heart, runs great routes, and catches just about everything. He knows that he needs to limit big hits, so he has learned to not take the big hit. He's shifty.

Presley's character and skills will at least get him an invite to an NFL camp even if he goes undrafted. It will be an uphill battle for Presley, but I think he'll make it. I've watched him long enough to know that he's the kind of player NFL people want on their rosters.

Honorable mention: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; Jerjuan Newton, Toledo; Corey Rucker, Arkansas State

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends

Houston Thomas, UTSA (6 receptions, 132 yards) at Tulsa

This performance came out of nowhere. Thomas had just 10 receptions for 101 yards coming into this season and had 14 receptions for 215 yards before this game in 2024. What changed? Thomas did. He is only a redshirt sophomore and was used sparingly last season. He has worked on his hands and getting open.

He has the size (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) to play tight end at the next level. He's still raw at this stage of his development. He's not a strong blocker yet, but if he keeps showing out like this for his quarterback, Thomas will get plenty of chances to prove himself on the field.

Honorable mention: Colston Loveland, Michigan; Caden Prieskorn, Mississippi; Brant Kuithe, Utah

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