We have a new piece here at RotoBaller to highlight those college football players that are turning heads at the collegiate level that could be playing for your favorite team, and fantasy team, sometime very soon. You don't want the first time you hear of a player being their name called at the NFL draft, right?
We are going to help you get acclimated with these college players earlier than many of your fantasy football leaguemates. We here at RotoBaller are all about giving you an advantage.
I will highlight one quarterback, one running back, and one wide receiver in every week of the college season that put up some really big numbers and let you know what it means for your dynasty leagues. Do these guys have NFL futures? You'll find out!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks
Michael Penix, Washington (36-44, 516 yards, 4TD vs. Arizona)
Penix was mostly known as a runner in his time at Indiana because that's what the offense required. We always heard that he had a good arm but he seldom got the chance to prove it. His transfer to Washington and their pass-happy offense under former Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer has showcased his arm all season long.
Penix has at least 300 passing yards in every game in a Washington uniform and is catching a lot of NFL attention. Scouts knew he could run and had great escape skills. Now they know he can throw the deep ball and hit receivers in stride. Penix has the size and elusiveness to fit in the new schemes infiltrating the NFL.
Honorable mention: Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern; K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs
Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky (31 carries, 197 yards, 2TD vs. Mississippi State)
How do you beat a fast-moving run-and-shoot offense? Run the damn ball! Mark Stoops and his staff did just that against Mike Leach last week and Rodriguez had the lion's share of the carries. Rodriguez missed the first month of the season serving a suspension for an offseason incident, but he has wasted no time getting back into the swing of things.
Rodriguez will need to improve in the passing game to get significant playing time at the next level, but he can still fit in a lot of backfields because he is a solid blocker and he runs tough. No one wants to try to tackle a guy that is 5'11" and 225 pounds with the speed he has. The learning curve will be less for Rodriguez since Kentucky has run a pro-style offense for his entire college career.
Honorable mention: Devin Mockobee, Purdue; Blake Watson, Old Dominion
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (6 receptions, 207 yards, 5TD vs. Alabama)
Whenever a guy goes nuts on the Alabama secondary like Hyatt just did, people take notice. Hyatt's first five receptions were all house calls as the Vols knocked off Alabama and smoked stogies for the first time since 2006. Hyatt has had a couple of decent games in the absence of Cedric Tillman, the better NFL prospect, but this was his coming-out party. Will it matter?
The short answer is: yes. Or...probably. The Alabama defense consistently puts DB's in the pros and Hyatt just made them look silly. He has great hands, good speed, and the size to hang with most corners in the NFL. One game isn't going to make Hyatt's college career, but it means more against a team like Alabama.
Honorable mention: Trey Palmer, Nebraska; Tyrone Howell, Louisiana-Monroe
Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid, Utah (16 receptions, 234 yards, 1TD vs. USC)
Kincaid set the school record for receptions and yards by a tight end and had the most receiving yards for any Utah player since 1988 in this one. This is nothing new for Kincaid, who along with Brant Kuithe, forms the best tight end duo in the country. With Kuithe out for the season, Kincaid has put up some big numbers of late.
Kincaid's speed belies his size (he has returned kicks for Utah in the past) and he has great hands, but his skill set doesn't end there. He's a capable blocker and will fit well at the next level. He's not the electric player that Kyle Pitts is at tight end, but he could end up being a lot like a Tony Gonzalez-type player in the right offensive scheme.
Honorable mention: Caden Prieskorn, Memphis
Be sure to stay tuned all season long to see these coming attractions!
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