X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Top College Prospects - Dynasty League Scouting (Week 10 Edition)

Matt Wispe looks at the top fantasy devy prospects for Week 10 of the college football season. Monitor these NCAA players for dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Week 9 was a fun one. A few of the top 10 teams established their dominance and make a case for the college football playoff while two top ten teams were somewhat exposed and now appear to be on the outside looking in.

This week should be another fun one with a handful of meaningful matchups. The SEC has two games that will not only decide who plays in their conference title game, but also will help clear up the playoff picture. And the Big Ten will feature both of its division leaders taking on highly regarded teams at home.

And while that's all fun, we're here to scout players for the next level. This week we're going to take a look at the running back position. From a production perspective, the biggest factors are workload, efficiency, and usage in the passing game. And while their production is a big factor in both NFL draft and fantasy prospect evaluation, it's only one part because combine testing has been shown to have a correlation to fantasy success.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Scouting The Running Backs

Bryce Love, RB Stanford

Week 10 - at Washington (11/3)

It was a surprise when Bryce Love return for his senior season at Stanford.  He was projected as an early round selection with some scouts projecting him in the first round. But on January 16th, 2018, Love announced his intentions to return for his final season and graduate from Stanford. I can't blame any person for finishing out their studies, nor can I critique a player for wanting another college season. I can, however, state that this season hasn't positively influenced his draft stock.

Bryce Love G Att Rush Yds Avg Rush TD Rec. Rec. Yds Avg
Rec. TD
2015 14 29 225 7.8 2 15 250 16.7 1
2016 12 111 783 7.1 3 8 83 10.4 1
2017 13 263 2118 8.1 19 6 33 5.5 0
2018 6 93 419 4.5 3 12 58 4.8 0
Career 496 3545 7.1 27 41 424 10.3 2

The standout numbers from Love's stat line is his insane rushing efficiency. He outrushed now NFL superstar, Saquon Barkley, by more than 800 yards on just 46 additional carries. And through his first two seasons, in a secondary role, he averaged over seven yards per carry. And then you get to 2018. It's hard to know where the blame lies for such regression. Some regression was expected from over eight yards per carry, but to drop by 44 percent, it's more than expected regression to the mean. Some of the blame lies with the team who has struggled as a whole, but Love's decline is still noteworthy.

There's a strong argument that Bryce Love should have left for the NFL draft following his 2017 season because it was always going to be difficult to recreate that level of efficiency, but had he rushed for close to six yards per carry and demonstrated competence in the passing game, he could have remained in consideration for a first-round NFL draft pick. However, with this type of season, including some increased injury concerns, he'll need a strong end to the season paired with a good draft process to re-establish himself as the top RB in the class. The talent and athleticism are clear for Love and that alone should keep him in the first two days of the draft. For dynasty drafts, he's likely a first round pick, assuming he remains a top two round pick in the draft and if he lands in an ideal spot, he could be a top half of the first round pick.

 

Benny Snell, RB Kentucky

Week 10 - vs Georgia (11/3)

It's funny that this is my first time discussing Benny Snell because he's one of my favorite players in all of college football. One of the true workhorse RBs in college football, Snell is the primary offensive weapon for a team that is somewhat unexpectedly ranked in the top ten.

Benny Snell G Att Rush Yds Avg Rush TD Rec. Rec. Yds Avg
Rec. TD
2016 13 186 1091 5.9 13 2 39 20 0
2017 13 262 1333 5.1 19 10 72 7 0
2018 8 179 960 5.4 9 10 75 8 0
Career 627 3384.0 5.4 41 22 186 9 0

Snell's statistics aren't particularly exciting when compared to the prior seasons of Bryce Love or past NFL prospects, but his usage rates are the standout. Assuming a 13 games season, Snell is on pace for 291 carries and 16 receptions. Most notably, Snell's total combined yardage represents 35 percent of the total offense and his nine touchdowns (not including a passing touchdown against Murray State) is 36 percent of the team's total. In short, the offense runs through Snell. And when a coach leans heavily on one player, that's a positive sign.

At a glance, Snell appears to be a slightly less efficient Ronald Jones. Jones fell below the ideal six yards per carry during his heavy usage season, but, like Snell, was a major touchdown scorer. And both, while they demonstrated competence, were not heavily used in the passing game. Over the course of this season, Snell has begun to earn the reputation that he deserves, but he's still projected as a second tier RB prospect and, at best, a day two pick. From a dynasty perspective, this could be a positive if it drives his price down. Assuming that he performs above-average at the NFL combine, Snell has proven that he's capable of handling a big workload and if given the opportunity, he could be a useful NFL player. As of this moment, I'd expect Snell to be a mid-second round rookie draft pick, but that could rise easily with his draft stock. And the game this weekend will likely be one of the first things scouts point to during the evaluation process.

 

David Montgomery, RB Iowa State

Week 10 - at Kansas (11/3)

David Montgomery is the workhorse back that just constantly moves the chains for a plodding offense. He may be an explosive athlete, but his rushing lines are always somewhat capped by his overall efficiency.

David Montgomery G Att Rush Yds Avg Rush TD Rec. Rec. Yds Avg
Rec. TD
2016 12 109 563 5.2 2 13 129 9.9 0
2017 13 258 1146 4.4 11 36 296 8.2 0
2018 6 144 648 4.5 6 7 29 4.1 0
Career 511 2357 4.6 19 56 454 8 0

Montgomery lacks ideal rushing efficiency, but his 2017 usage jumps off the page. Nearly three receptions per game while maintaining over an eight-yard average goes beyond demonstrating competency and elevates him to being one of the better pass-catching backs in the college ranks. Along with 258 carries, Montgomery handled a large portion of the Iowa State offense.

And while I love a prospect that has proven an ability to handle a heavy workload, I'd be remiss if I didn't discuss his efficiency. An ideal rushing average for NFL prospects is above six yards per carry and Montgomery had yet to exceed 5.5 for any season, even with a smaller workload. Now, to be fair, some of that will fall of coaching and general offensive scheme, but if you're failing to be efficient against college athletes, why would you be expected to be better against NFL defenders?

Ideally, Montgomery would have improved upon his 2017 rushing efficiency, but the bigger concern is his limited usage in the passing game. Dropping all the way down to just over one reception per game with a sub-five average is concerning when that was considered to be one of his strengths. Per Bill Connelly's statistical profile, Montgomery has only been targeted nine times and has a 77 percent catch rate. With the lack of improvement in his efficiency, there's a chance that Montgomery returns for one more season, but I still expect him to declare. If he does declare and performs well in the draft lead up, he should get top three to four round consideration. Prior to the season, Montgomery was seen by some as the top RB in the class for dynasty purposes. With a somewhat lackluster 2018, to date, he looks more like an early second round pick than a top eight pick.

 

Devin Singletary, RB Florida Atlantic

Week 10 - at Florida International (11/3)

Coming off of a 32 rushing touchdown season, there were big expectations for Devin Singletary. So far, he's been very successful even though the team has taken a big step backward.

Devin Singletary G Att Rush Yds Avg Rush TD Rec. Rec. Yds Avg
Rec. TD
2016 12 152 1021 6.7 12 26 163 6 0
2017 14 301 1918 6.4 32 19 198 10.4 1
2018 8 166 837 5 15 5 31 6.2 0
Career 619 3776 6.1 59 50 392 8 1

It was never going to be easy to match his touchdown pace of 2017. And while he's just off of the pace, he's doing far better than most would have predicted. His 15 touchdowns represent 49 percent of the team's total for the season and his 868 yards is nearly one quarter of the total offensive yards. One moderately concerning trend is his reduced usage in the passing game each year. After starting with more than two receptions per game, he's fallen down to less than one per game. But with two seasons over one reception per game and a year with over 200 carries with over a six-yard average, Singletary is one of the more intriguing players in the class.

Singletary will be an interesting player to monitor when it's time for underclassmen to declare for the draft. With the building buzz about the 2020 RB class, he'd likely benefit from being compared to what's considered a weaker class. But if the team falls short of a bowl game, there's always the possibility that competitive drive pulls a player back to college. I still expect Singletary to be a part of the 2019 class and he projects as the top smaller school prospect in the class, but that's likely capped at a second-round pick following last year's draft.

More NCAA Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Griffin Conine

To Have Shoulder Surgery On Tuesday
Luke Keaschall

Twins Prospect Luke Keaschall Suffers Broken Forearm
Logan Gilbert

Leaves Friday's Start With Forearm Tightness

Vikings Select Tai Felton To Finish Day 2

Seahawks Select Quarterback Jalen Milroe With The 92nd Pick Overall

Browns Select Dillon Gabriel 94th Overall

Packers Pick Savion Williams At No. 87 overall

Steelers Snag Kaleb Johnson In Round 3

Broncos Select Wide Receiver Pat Bryant With The 74th Overall Pick

Texans Select Jaylin Noel With 79th Pick

Lions Select Wide Receiver Isaac TeSlaa With The 70th Overall Pick
Jack Leiter

To Start On Sunday

Patriots Add Wide Receiver Kyle Williams In Round 3

Browns Draft Harold Fannin Jr. With 67th Pick
Garrett Mitchell

Makes Early Exit
Luke Keaschall

Removed Early On Friday
Blake Snell

Likely Avoids Major Injury
Cole Ragans

Dealing With Mild Groin Strain

Broncos Add RJ Harvey To Backfield With 60th Pick

Raiders Select Jack Bech With 58th Pick

Chargers Add Wide Receiver Tre Harris In Round 2
Detroit Lions

Lions Acquire 57th Pick From Broncos

Seahawks Draft Elijah Arroyo 50th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Acquire 51st Pick From Broncos
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Snag Will Johnson At No. 47

Jets Add A Pass-Catcher With Mason Taylor At No. 42

Rams Select Terrance Ferguson With 46th Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Acquire 48th Pick From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

Saints Snag Tyler Shough At No. 40
Brenton Doyle

Out For Personal Reasons On Friday
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Brendan Donovan

Back In Action On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Coby Mayo

Getting On A Roll At Triple-A
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF