Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Breakout CFB Performances From Week 3 (2023)

Mike Marteny takes a look at 2023 breakout collegiate stars that will be available in your fantasy football dynasty drafts within the next year or two. Who shined in Week 3 of the 2023 season?

We had another fun weekend of college football. We had some performances that you had to see to believe. Colorado and Colorado State captivated the nation well into the night on the East Coast. Sacramento State downed Stanford for the fourth FCS team to beat a FBS team this year. One of those teams that lost to an FCS team (Nevada) nearly picked off Kansas in Reno.

We are going to help you get acclimated with these college players earlier than many of your fantasy football league mates. We here at RotoBaller are all about giving you an advantage.

I will highlight one quarterback, one running back, one wide receiver, and one tight end every week of the college season that 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!

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Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks

Michael Penix, Washington (27-35, 473 yards, 4 TD) at Michigan State

Yep...it's this guy again. Make no mistake about it, Penix deserves to be mentioned among the great quarterbacks of this class. He has thrown for 1,332 yards in three games with 12 touchdowns and just one interception. If you watched Penix in his career at Indiana, he did a lot more running than throwing. There's a reason he has been in college since 2018. Penix has reinvented himself under the tutelage of Kalen DeBoer to have an NFL future.

At 6'3" and 213 pounds, Penix is sturdy enough to take a hit and elusive enough to gain yards on the ground even if he doesn't look to do it much anymore. I have seen a great improvement in his deep passes in his 15 months at Washington. Enough of an improvement that he can be a starting quarterback at the next level instead of some change-of-pace gimmick that he looked to be while at Indiana.

Honorable mention: Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma; Darren Grainger, Georgia State; Kaidon Salter, Liberty

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs

Trevor Etienne, Florida (23 carries, 172 yards, TD) vs. Tennessee

If the name sounds familiar, it should. His big brother Travis is the running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars. This Etienne is about 1.5 inches shorter than his brother, but the weight is about the same. Etienne has breakaway speed, yet still has the size to run on the inside. His breakaway speed won't be as obvious in the NFL, so his ability to run up the middle and still take a hit is essential.

Etienne still has one more year of college before he can go pro, which gives him time to work on his receiving skills. He only caught nine passes last year as a true freshman but is up to five already this season. As of now, Etienne doesn't look to be a high draft pick like his brother, but Travis really set himself apart in his junior and senior years. There is time left for Trevor.

Honorable mention: Nate Noel, Appalachian State; Kyle Monangai, Rutgers; La'Damian Webb, South Alabama

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers

Malik Nabers, LSU (13 receptions, 239 yards, 2 TD) at Mississippi State

Nabers has been touted as LSU's best receiver even when Kayshon Boutte was still on campus. Even in his 1,000-yard season last year, he didn't come anywhere close to this kind of game. Nabers has been considered one of the best route runners in college football, which bodes well for his pro prospects. His great hands won't hurt, either.

Nabers isn't huge like many outside receivers in the NFL are now, but at 6' and 200 pounds, he can still hold his own against corners. His already elite route running is what will set Nabers apart. Will that make him a first-round pick? Maybe not, but Nabers will still have a new home by Friday of draft weekend.

Honorable mention: Robert Lewis, Georgia State; Rome Odunze, Washington; Tory Horton, Colorado State; Nate McCollum, North Carolina

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends

Thomas Fidone, Nebraska (6 receptions, 55 yards, 2 TD) vs. Northern Illinois

Nebraska sure does love their tight ends! Fidone could have had an even better day had he not dropped a couple of passes. If the coaching staff elects to turn back to Jeff Sims once he is healthy, this might be the last we see of Fidone. He was the perfect safety valve for Heinrich Haarburg in his first collegiate start. He'll still have some red zone utility thanks to his size (6'6", 250 pounds).

Fidone isn't going to set any land speed records, but he does have really good hands. He's still maturing as a blocker but doesn't miss a lot of assignments. He is only a sophomore, so we likely haven't seen the best of Fidone yet. If Haarburg remains the starter, he could be in for a really good season.

Honorable mention: Mason Fairchild, Kansas; Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh

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