Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Top College Fantasy Football Players Week 1 (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 1 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 that was. Some of these guys will wind up in the NFL. Some of them might not. This is a good way to see the movers and shakers during the college football season.

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 had 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!

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Quarterbacks

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (26-34, 445 yards, 4 TD, INT; 6 carries, 17 yards) vs. North Dakota State

Shedeur Sanders is an unlucky man… ?pic.twitter.com/aRnc7xPtpG

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) August 30, 2024

I wanted to highlight that interception because it wasn't Shedeur's fault. That was the only thing "wrong" with his stat line. Sanders played a nearly flawless game and Colorado needed him to. That defense is still a mess.

We started hearing whispers about Sanders being the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft near the end of last season. This performance did nothing to quiet that. If anything, it made the buzz just a bit louder. Much was made of last year's QB class, but this one could rival it. Stay tuned!

Honorable mention: Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian; Jaxson Dart, Mississippi; Noah Fifita, Arizona

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Running Backs

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (20 carries, 267 yards, 6 TD; 3 receptions, 4 yards) at Georgia Southern

Ashton Jeanty’s 267 yard, 6TD performance was a great blend of well blocked plays and “GET OFF ME” freakshow runs.

h/t to the TE, LT, and LG here for moving folks here? pic.twitter.com/yNQuam84ai

— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) September 2, 2024

You've seen me discuss Jeanty in my college football pieces over the last couple of years. I knew he was really good, but he took it to another level here. Jeanty broke the school record for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in this game. This is just the beginning, folks.

A guy who is 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds isn't usually as shift as Jeanty. He's hard to see behind the line and has breakaway speed. That speed won't get him as far in the NFL, but Jeanty is sturdy enough to take some hits from linebackers and bounce back up. He likely won't be an every-down guy in the NFL, but he's a good receiver out of the backfield. Jeanty had 569 receiving yards in 2023.

Honorable mention: Anthony Tyus III, Ohio; Marquez Cooper, San Diego State; Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Wide Receivers

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (10 receptions, 304 yards, 4 TD) vs. New Mexico

Tetairoa McMillan of @ArizonaFBall is the first player in FBS history to have a game with:

10+ receptions
300+ receiving yards
30.0+ yards per reception
4+ receiving TD pic.twitter.com/JphN82ToxE

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 1, 2024

I thought McMillan might be the best receiver in college coming into the season. Now I know he is. His chemistry with Noah Fifita is a big part of his success, so some aren't sure about his ability to succeed at the next level. I think he'll be fine.

McMillan is huge (6-foot-5, 212 pounds) with great hands and is one of the better route runners in college. He'll be able to bump with NFL corners and has the size to get over them.

Honorable mention: Damon Ward Jr., North Texas; Tai Felton, Maryland; Corey Rucker, Arkansas State

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Tight Ends

Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse (7 receptions, 108 yards, TD) vs. Ohio

It's nice to see Gadsden back after an injury took away most of his 2023 season. Kyle McCord is the best QB Gadsden has had to throw to him, so we could see a big year out of the junior.

Gadsden is undersized as far as NFL tight ends go. At 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds, he's not going to be much of a blocker at the next level. I tend to think some team will find a use for him thanks to his receiving chops, but he'll likely never be an every-down player. Of course, that can change. Gadsden only has one full year of college experience.

Honorable mention: Max Klare, Purdue; Terrance Ferguson, Oregon

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