As the calendar passes Independence Day, the college football season is closer to kickoff. Let’s just hope that the majority of Americans listen to the scientific community, and we defeat Covid-19. If we win the war, colleges can reopen safely and bring students and athletes back on campus this fall.
I remain cautiously optimistic and have been watching film and researching running backs over the past week. I prefer a strong stable of runners on my roster when the season begins. My preferred approach is to grab three of my top 12 ball carriers in the first five rounds. I call my methodology the Talented Three team building. I want to monopolize the running back position and force my competitors to chase less valuable ball carriers, which allows me to find undervalued receivers.
College Fantasy Football provides alternative-reality zealots, NFL Draftniks, and Dynasty and Devy owners a competitive advantage against their opponents. What are you waiting for this summer? Get off the sideline and into the game on Fantrax. We guarantee that you will not regret playing in a CFF league this fall.
Implementing the Talented Three Approach
In the CFF Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft, I implemented the strategy by selecting Kenneth Gainwell, Jermar Jefferson and Journey Brown among my first four picks. Later, I drafted two of my favorite sleepers, John Emery, Jr. and Eric Gray, who provide huge upside production at a low coast. At least once this summer, I hope all my readers attempt the Talented Three approach.
For readers, I have placed the running backs in tiers—Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude—to provide flexibly for CFF managers based on their league’s scoring format, roster construction and starting lineup requirements. After eight years ranking CFF running backs, it is more appropriate to provide college fantasy footballers with player tiers. If you want a look at the player rankings, click on the link below.
Also check out John’s 2020 CFF Player Rankings!
Top 24 CFF Running Back Profiles
Summa Cum Laude
Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Even the most optimistic Cowboys’ fanatic did not foresee Chuba Hubbard’s 2,000-yard campaign last offseason. A redshirt freshman in 2018, Hubbard earned significant carries and experience when Justice Hill went down with an injury. He gained 740 yards, scored seven touchdowns and was named a finalist for the Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian NCAA student-athlete. In the four games as the primary ball carrier, Hubbard averaged over 100 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry.
In 2019, the Oklahoma State game-breaker led the FBS in rushing yards (2,094), rushing attempts (328), rushing yards per game (161.1) and 200-yard rushing games (4). For his labors, the accolades poured in from around the country: First Team All-American, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist, Doak Walker Award Finalist, and OSU Bob Fenimore Award (Team MVP). “I’ve just focused on winning. That’s all I’ve done my entire career here. I never thought about or worried about individual awards. Of course, it’s an honor to be considered for this. It’s a testament to the job our offensive line has done and everyone else around me. I know how special those guys are,” Hubbard stated in an interview with Justin Melo on draftwire.usatoday.com.
At 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, the redshirt junior possesses stupendous vision, exceptional patience, and swiftly accelerates out of breaks. Hubbard excels in tights quarters and utilizes track speed in the open field. Luckily for college football fans, Hubbard decided to return to Stillwater, OK for another season after receiving his draft grade from the NFL, which is sweet music to CFF fanatics.
Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
College programs recruited Jaret’s twin brother James, a linebacker, and largely ignored the running back in the family. Buffalo could not offer both siblings a scholarship in the fall of 2017 and suggested that Jaret delay enrollment until the spring of 2018.
Before attending school, James decided to wait for his brother on campus and enjoyed a Grayshirt season. “Staying together, working, closing out all the outside noise, and just stay focused. I wasn’t going to leave my brother, for anything. My family always taught us to stay together…I’m his keeper. He’s my keeper,” James said of the journey in the buffalonews.com before kickoff to the 2019 crusade. Bulls fans are delighted that Jaret and James both suit up for the program.
Last year, Jaret recorded the best rushing season in program history: He established single-season school marks for yards (1,799) and touchdowns (19). Patterson paced the MAC in rushing, earned First Team All-MAC, and finished fifth in the FBS in rushing yards. Against Bowling Green, he rambled for a single-game school record 298 yards and logged a MAC record six touchdowns. Patterson capped off the campaign as the Offensive MVP of the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl with 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Over the past two seasons, Patterson has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard crusades, eclipsed 100 yards in a game eleven times, snatched 20 passes for 271 yards and scored 34 touchdowns.
At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, the junior game breaker is a shifty runner who easily avoids tacklers, rapidly bursts upfield, and gains chunks of yards after first contact. Shrewd NFL scouts, Draftniks, and Devy owners already have identified Patterson as an under-the-radar prospect in 2021, and CFF owners are drafting the Bulls’ star among the top picks in fantasy drafts.
Travis Etienne, Clemson
Quarterbacks have captured nine of the last eleven Heisman Trophies; nevertheless, Travis Etienne is among the top contenders for the award in 2020 after back-to-back 1,600-yard crusades. Over the past two seasons, the Tigers’ star has rambled for 3,272 yards, crossed the finish line 49 times and snatched 49 passes for 510 yards.
In 2018, Etienne eclipsed 150 rushing yards five times, surpassed the century mark eight times, and scored in every game except two. He established school-records for rushing yards in a season, yards per carry (8.1), and rushing touchdowns (24). He earned Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in the ACC while being named First Team All-American by ESPN and The Sporting News.
In 2019, the senior tailback earned Second Team All-American, ACC Player of the Year (second straight season), and First-Team All-ACC. He posted a career-high 212 yards rushing against Wake Forest and eclipsed 200 yards versus Georgia Tech in the season opener.
After three seasons on campus, Etienne broke Raymond Priester’s Clemson record for career rushing yards, and became the first 4,000-yard rusher in school history and ninth all-time in the ACC. PFF quantified Etienne’s excellence “He’s always looking for the big play, and when he finds it, he’ll seize the opportunity…(he) was elite in 2018 and historic in 2019. If he matches that type of production in 2020, he’ll easily be one of the best players PFF College has ever seen and perhaps in the entire history of the college game.”
At 5-foot-10, the Senior has a stupendous combination of size, speed, and power: He excels at breaking tackles and can score from any distance on the field. Etienne runs well between the tackles, excels on the perimeter, and explodes up the field. He gains yards after initial contact and runs with authority. The tantalizing Tiger is my No. 1 Devy RB prospect, and he is a top-five college fantasy football asset in 2020.
Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
Over the past three seasons, the Tigers’ ground game produced some of the most electric runners in the nation: Darrell Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Jr., and Tony Pollard. Last year, Kenneth Gainwell rose to the forefront of the college fantasy football universe after rushing for 1,459 yards, snatching 51 passes for 610 yards and scoring 16 times. The redshirt freshman was named the AAC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-AAC.
Gainwell did not open the crusade as the starter in the backfield but inherited the driver’s seat after Taylor suffered an injury early in the season. At 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds, the Memphis tailback can change the course of the game anytime he touches the ball, averaging a healthy 6.3 yards per carry. A versatile playmaker, Gainwell owns an impressive skill set and lines up all over the formation, including wide receiver. He is elusive and slippery in the open field, making tacklers whiff. An explosive runner, he blasts through holes and hits a second gear in the secondary.
At Yazoo County High School in Mississippi, Gainwell started at quarterback. He logged incredible statistics as a four-year varsity starter: 8,412 total yards (4,730 rushing and 3,682 passing), 4,903 all-purpose yards, 24 100-yard rushing games, 75 rushing touchdowns, 32 aerial strikes and one kick return score, accounting for 108 career touchdowns.
There is trepidation scrutinizing the Tigers this year: coach Ryan Silverfield takes over for Mike Norvell, who left to coach Florida State. Silverfield spent four years on the Memphis staff but is not likely to change the offensive scheme after Memphis reached three consecutive AAC Championship Games. Draft Gainwell with confidence despite the coaching change.
Najee Harris, Alabama
Looking at the all-time rushing leaders at Alabama, Najee Harris is currently 14th in school history and remarkably, he is only 1,214 yards behind the leader in the clubhouse, Derrick Henry, who totaled 3,591 yards in three seasons. It has been a fascinating trip for Harris up the rushing rankings in Tuscaloosa.
Coming out of high school, he was tabbed the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation by many scouting services and the top-rated player in California. In 2017, Harris played in the Army All-American Bowl and named First Team Parade All-American after rushing for 2,776 yards and scoring 36 touchdowns. “Mr. Football” enrolled at Alabama in January 2017 and faced a daunting depth chart in the backfield with Damien Harris, Joshua Jacobs and Bo Scarbrough.
The Senior sledgehammer finally earned the starting role for the first time last year and rambled for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also corralled 27 passes for 304 yards and seven touchdowns. Harris was selected to the Second Team All-SEC and PFF honorable mention All-America honors.
During the offseason, he has trained with Brad Lester, a former Auburn ball carrier, and hungers to improve his nimbleness and athleticism. “He’s already a 4.4 runner. He runs hard. He’s hard to tackle one-on-one. You’re not going to be perfect, no one’s going to perfect. He may work on little things here and there, but overall, he’s going to be the best back in the country next year,” Lester stated on 247sports.com.
At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, the Crimson Tide battering ram churns his feet and fights until the whistle blows. He runs with anger and purpose and rarely goes down on first contact. An upright runner, he patiently runs behind his blockers and employs stiff arms, jump cuts, hurdles and spin moves to gain additional yardage. CFF diehards are ecstatic that Harris returns for another season, and he might conclude his tenure as the school’s all-time rushing leader.
Magna Cum Laude
Breece Hall, Iowa State
When the 2019 season kicked off, the Cyclones sought a replacement for David Montgomery in the backfield. In the first four games, Breece Hall netted only 18 carries for less than 100 yards. Finally, Hall ascended to the top of the depth chart, and in his first two starts against West Virginia and Texas Tech, he totaled over 70 fantasy points with 315 yards rushing, four catches for 78 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
A waiver wire gemstone last fall, Hall catapulted many college fantasy football teams, mine included, into the playoffs down the stretch of the regular season. He became a weekly starter for the remainder of the year, rushing for 897 yards, snagging 23 passes for 252 yards and scoring 10 times. Hall earned PFF First Team All-Freshman and Second Team All-Big 12 Coaches for his performance. “Whenever Breece touches the ball, especially when everyone’s blocking and makes blocks, he can do amazing things. To be able to stiff arm a guy and stay in bounds and take off like that is special,” quarterback Brock Purdy proclaimed after the victory over Texas Tech on desmoinesregister.com by Tommy Birch.
A four-star recruit in high school, Hall selected Iowa State over Baylor, Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska among interested schools. As a senior, he gained over 2,100 yards and crossed the finish line 29 times.
At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, the sophomore has a thick and compact built and gets upfield quickly. He rambles with good body lean and bounces off tacklers. The Cyclones lost four starting offensive linemen, but return QB Brock Purdy and TE Charlie Kolar to assist Hall moving the chains. The sophomore easily exceeds 1,100 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns in 2020.
Kobe Lewis, Central Michigan
In 2019, coach Jim McElwain, former head coach at Colorado State and Florida, took over at Central Michigan and led the Chippewas to an 8-6 record after the program won only one game the previous season. Central Michigan also captured the MAC West Division and an invite to the New Mexico Bowl against San Diego State.
The Chippewas dominated opponents on the ground with two 1,000-yard rushers: Jonathan Ward and Kobe Lewis. The teammates became the first duo in program history to surpass the 1,000-yard barrier in the same season. “As a pair, that was a goal we set for each other. At the beginning of the season, that was something he wanted to see me do and something I obviously wanted to see him do,” Lewis said in an interview on cmlife.com. Ward is now employed by the Arizona Cardinals. No longer a backup, Lewis will inherit the majority of snaps and touches.
The junior only started two games last year but played in all thirteen, earning 183 carries for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also recorded 23 catches for 164 yards and returned 13 kicks for 308 yards. Athlon Sports named Lewis to its Second Team All-MAC, and coach McElwain, and CFF diehards, have total confidence in Lewis.
Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
It is a fine line between zealousness and stubbornness. I’m not sure how to categorize my fascination with Jermar Jefferson. Last year, I invested heavily in the Beavers’ ball carrier, and he did not meet my expectations. Once again, Jefferson remains one of my favorite targets at running back.
As a freshman in 2018, Jefferson was named to numerous Freshman All-American teams (The Athletic, ESPN, USA Today, and the FWAA). He also earned the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year and All-Pac-12 honorable mention. Jefferson rushed for 1,380 yards, tallied seven 100-yard games, and scored 12 touchdowns. He added 25 receptions for 147 yards.
In 2019, Jefferson suffered an ankle injury against Hawaii on September 7 and missed three games. With the sophomore sidelined, senior Artavis Pierce stepped into the lineup and forced the coaching staff to give him carries as he surpassed 100 yards rushing against Stanford and UCLA. Jefferson never regained the backfield to himself and concluded the campaign with only 142 carries for 685 yards rushing.
At 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds, the junior stands atop the depth chart again and will compete with BJ Baylor for the majority of snaps and carries in Corvallis, OR this season. “We’re counting on (Jefferson) having a big year because he’s more than capable of doing it… I’m still a fan of having more than one back… we are creating this offense so Jermar can be featured, and not just handing it to him. He can catch the ball,” Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith stated in an interview with John Canzano of oregonlive.com.
Athlon Sports and Street & Smith’s magazine both named Jefferson to its preseason First-Team All-Pac-12, which provides insight into the clubhouse leader when training camp opens. I own many shares of Jefferson already and anticipate a bounce-back season.
Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
In June, Kylin Hill publicly stated that he would not play for Mississippi State this year if the state did not remove the Confederate flag from Mississippi’s flag. Finally, Mississippi lawmakers voted to remove the Confederate emblem, and the Governor signed the law. Afterward, Hill tweeted “Big salute to EVERY university in this State that helped…”
Like many college athletes in Generation Z, the scholars will not remain silent in the face of social injustice and are willing to speak loudly and take a stance. As a lifelong educator, I am very proud of Hill taking a public position. Now, CFF diehards can enjoy watching the junior wreak havoc on the gridiron in 2020.
In 2019, Hill dominated the SEC competition, rushing for 1,350 yards, seizing 18 passes for 180 yards, and accumulating 11 touchdowns. He earned First Team All-SEC (AP) and SEC Offensive Player of the Week (versus Arkansas) after rambling for 234 yards and three touchdowns on only 21 carries. Over the past two campaigns, Hill has totaled 2,034 rushing yards and scored 19 times.
At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Hill is a shifty and powerful runner who makes tacklers whiff and explodes upfield. My only reservation regarding his CFF ranking and production is the transition into Mike Leach’s Air Raid scheme. Over the past five seasons at Washington State, Leach’s lead back averaged only 110 carries for 593 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Will Leach call Hill’s number more often? The Bulldog’s coach would be professionally negligent if he did not hand the ball to his star over 175 times. Regrettably, I do not expect Hill to earn 200 carries, but he should see a significant increase in catches.
Journey Brown, Penn State
Time moves so quickly that I constantly remind myself to enjoy the journey. I can’t believe coach James Franklin has been at Penn State for six seasons already. I remember his back-to-back nine-win campaigns at Vanderbilt before moving onto the Nittany Lions.
Last year, Franklin directed Penn State to an 11-2 season and a Cotton Bowl victory over Memphis. More importantly, he found difference makers at quarterback, Sean Clifford, and running back, Journey Brown.
Without question, I am acquiring as many shares as possible of Brown. Last year, the redshirt junior shared snaps and carries in the backfield until November. Finally, he earned the majority of touches, rambling for over 100 yards in four of the final five games while scoring 10 touchdowns and averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
In high school, he excelled as a sprinter, breaking a 32-year old state record in the 100-meters in 2017. He is now turning the track speed into football stardom. “I told him early he was trying to learn football because he was playing like a track runner. He’s starting to figure this thing out that he can be a pretty good football player. Now he’s starting to understand what it takes to be a football player,” running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider proclaimed in the ncnewsonline.com by Elton Hayes. At 5-foot-11 and 207 pounds, Brown is a superb athlete who brings intensity, explosiveness, dedication, and commitment to the field every day.
Can Penn State knock off Ohio State in the Big Ten East Division? If so, the offense must take a leap forward in 2020. Penn State returns four starting offensive linemen, including center Michael Menet and right tackle Will Fries. While the unit did not pass block well last year, the O-line provided plenty of holes for the ground game. Brown will excel behind a veteran line that blasts open holes.
Justin Henderson, Louisiana Tech
I have followed the career of coach Skip Holtz since he took over the UConn program (a Division I-AA team) in the mid-Nineties. He led the Huskies to their first-ever Division I-AA playoff game in 1998 and afterward, joined his father at South Carolina. I followed his livelihood to East Carolina, South Florida, and eventually, Louisiana Tech.
When Holtz identifies a feature back, he feeds the player with a healthy plate of carries. In 2007 at ECU, Chris Johnson rushed for 1,423 yards and 17 touchdowns, and the Titans selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft. In 2014 and 2105 at Louisiana Tech, Kenneth Dixon garnered 451 carries for 2,372 yards, grabbed 63 passes for 849 yards and scored 54 touchdowns. When the Bulldogs’ coach has confidence in a ball carrier, the player becomes CFF gold.
In 2020, Justin Henderson is the next man up for coach Holtz. Last season, he did not take over the majority of carries until week four against Florida International when he exploded for 141 yards on only 15 carries. He surpassed 100 yards three more times and surpassed the 1,000-yard barrier. The redshirt senior also caught 24 passes for 200 yards and scored 16 times. He was named Second Team All-Conference USA and Independence Bowl Outstanding Player.
The Bulldogs have won six consecutive bowl games, longest in the nation, and have won 43 games in the past five seasons. The offensive line returns five upperclassmen (2 juniors and 3 seniors), and Henderson will be the charioteer of the ground game. Acquire Henderson with confidence in CFF drafts this summer.
Max Borghi, Washington State
Former coach Mike Leach packed his bags and took the Air Raid offense to Mississippi State. Nick Rolovich, former Hawaii coach, takes over the Cougars’ program. Rolovich, 40, posted a 28-27 record with the Rainbows and led the team to three consecutive bowl games.
How will Rolovich’s Run-and-Shoot offense employ its running backs? I looked back at his four seasons at Hawaii: The top ball carrier (Diocemy Saint Juste, Fred Holly, III and Miles Reed) averaged 182 carries for 973 yards and 5.5 touchdowns. In the passing game, Rolovich did not target his runners, who combined for only 47 catches for 306 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2020, CFF managers most tackle the Max Borghi Paradox: The Cougars’ junior recorded more receptions in his 2018 freshman season alone (53 for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns) than the Rainbows’ starting running back has in the last four years combined. Last year Borghi led all FBS running backs with 86 receptions for 597 yards and five touchdowns. Will Rolovich tweak his offensive scheme or will Borghi face a steep reduction in targets?
In two seasons, Borghi has also garnered 199 carries for 1,183 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the only Power 5 player with 800-plus rushing yards, 550-plus receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns last year. Borghi is the first player in WSU history with 10-plus touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.
If history provides insight at future outcomes, Borghi likely earns career-best carries but fails to replicate last season’s catches. The Washington State runner still provides CFF managers with a fascinating backfield option.
Cum Laude
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
When Joshua Corbin’s 2019 campaign ended after suffering a season-ending injury, Isaiah Spiller stepped into the starting lineup and earned SEC All-Freshman Team. He rambled for nearly 1,000 yards rushing, grabbed 29 passes for 203 yards and scored ten times. Over the final six games of the season, the sophomore gained 587 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Spiller is a downhill runner, who packs a punch, and is a capable pass catcher. I like the Aggies’ runner at his current ADP in the third round of early CFF drafts despite the six-month, show-cause order that keeps coach Jimbo Fischer sidelined.
George Holani, Boise State
For the past 11 seasons, the Broncos’ lead runner has accumulated over 1,000 yards rushing: Alexander Mattison, Jeremy McNichols, Jay Ajayi, D.J. Harper, Doug Martin and Jeremy Avery. Last year, George Holani became the seventh Boise State ball carrier to join the 1,000-yard club. He also snatched 26 passes for 206 yards and scored 10 times. He was voted Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Conference. I invest in systems, and the Broncos rank among the most consistent running games in the nation.
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who you got at RB among Power 5 teams in fantasy drafts?
Player, Team: Percentage of votes
- Javian Hawkins, Louisville: 25%
- Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota: 18%
- Trey Sermon, Ohio State: 51%
- Other: 6%
John’s Vote: Javian Hawkins
“Please stop making the price of Javian Hawkins increase. Thank you!” @Devy_Kane
“Jermar Jefferson isn’t being talked about enough.” @rstern33
“Javian Hawkins all day!” @brockretz
“I like Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma.” @UK_FF_Commish
Trey Sermon, Ohio State
In 2019, the Buckeyes dipped into the transfer portal and plucked QB Justin Fields, who became the first quarterback in Big Ten history with over 40 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season. During the spring, Ohio State once again bolstered its roster by acquiring Trey Sermon from Oklahoma. In three seasons, the graduate student rambled for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. With J.K. Dobbins in the NFL and Master Teague sidelined with an Achilles injury, Sermon steps into an idyllic offensive scheme to become a weekly starter in college fantasy football.
Brenden Knox, Marshall
In 1997, I’ll never forget when Marshall first came on the radar as a Division I (now FBS level) program in the MAC with QB Chad Pennington and WR Randy Moss. The future Hall of Fame receiver dominated college football, and I watched as many Thundering Herd games as possible. Fast forward to last year: RB Brenden Knox captured the 2019 C-USA Most Valuable Player award. He rambled for 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading Marshall to its third consecutive bowl game. At 6-foot-0 and 220 pounds, the redshirt junior will surely dominate opponents again.
Ronnie Rivers, Fresno State
Over the past decade, Fresno State has offered sneaky value for CFF managers. In 2020, one of the underrated running backs available after the fifth round is Ronnie Rivers of the Bulldogs. He earned Second Team All-Mountain West after rushing for 899 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. A three-down back, the 5-foot-8 and 183-pound senior also logged 43 catches for 352 yards and three additional touchdowns. Rivers is a stupendous third running back on CFF teams this year.
Javian Hawkins, Louisville
In order to win CFF championships, managers must master the waiver wire over the first month of the season. Javian Hawkins became one of the best pickups last year after the first two weeks. Against Notre Dame and Eastern Kentucky, he garnered 30 carries for 245 yards. By the end of the season, he eclipsed 100 yards rushing six more times, including a career-best 233 yards versus Syracuse. He totaled 1,525 yards rushing (a freshmen school record), scored nine touchdowns and named Second Team All-ACC.
Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming
As a CFF fanatic, I have enjoyed watching Wyoming football over the past five seasons. I invested deeply in RB Brian Hill and QB Josh Allen and often acquired the Cowboys’ team defense off the waiver wire in advantageous matchups. In 2020, my preferred target on the roster is RB Xazavian Valladay, who rambled for over 1,200 yards and six touchdowns last year. He earned First Team All-Mountain West and named to the AP All-Bowl Team after rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who you got at RB among Group of 5 teams in fantasy drafts?
Player, Team: Percentage of votes
- Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming: 13%
- George Holani, Boise State: 27%
- Re’Mahn Davis, Temple: 56%
- Other: 4%
John’s Vote: Xazavian Valladay
“George Holani gets more love but Xazavian Valladay ended the season WAY stronger.” @aceholesrule
“Jamale Carothers should be on the list.” @THEffVigilante
“Re’Mahn Davis will be the top running back in your group. He will have at least 1,300-plus rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, 700-plus receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns with 50-plus catches.” @PTownFillmoeent
Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma
Is the CFF community too low on ranking Kennedy Brooks? The redshirt junior starts in one of the most explosive offenses in college football, and a redshirt freshman, Spencer Rattler, will call signals for the Sooners. Will coach Lincoln Riley run the football more in 2020 to support Rattler? In two seasons, Brooks has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard crusades and scored 18 total touchdowns. The ceiling is incredibly high for Brooks, and he could be a league winner for astute CFF managers. I foresee new highs in carries, yards and touchdowns for the splendid Sooner.
CJ Marable, Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers made the leap to the Sun Belt Conference at the FBS level in 2017. CJ Marable began his college career at Presbyterian College and led the Big South in rushing. Afterward, he transferred to Coastal Carolina and has become a viable CFF starter. In two seasons on campus, he has rushed for 1,804 yards and scored 17 times. A good pass catcher, the senior has caught 53 passes for 475 yards and five touchdowns. I like the current ADP price of Marable in CFF drafts.
SaRodorick Thompson, Texas Tech
Coach Matt Wells took over the program last year after Kliff Kingsbury left for Arizona in the NFL. The new coach orchestrated a more balanced offense, running the ball 404 times for 1,795 yards. SaRodorick Thompson, a redshirt freshman, led the team in rushing with 765 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also grabbed an impressive 39 passes for 154 yards. The conference coaches named Thompson honorable mention All-Big 12. The 210-pounder grinds between the tackles, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. The Red Raiders’ ball carrier has a high ceiling and floor.
Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas
As an adjunct professor at a local community college, I respect the educators and administrators across the country helping young adults improve their lives. JUCO programs provide one more opportunity for many athletes to continue their education. Therefore, I had to watch Last Chance U on Netflix. In season three, I first surveyed Rakeem Boyd at Independence Community College in Kansas. He impressed me, rumbling for 1,211 yards and fourteen touchdowns. Boyd landed at Arkansas afterward and was the Razorbacks’ leading rusher the past two seasons with 1,133 and 734 yards respectfully. I own Boyd in a CFF Dynasty league and seeking shares in redraft leagues in 2020.
Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota
I adopted the Golden Gophers last year during their nine-game winning streak to open the season. Minnesota’s offense scored over 34 points and averaged 432 yards per game, providing many CFF starters. The ground game churned out over 178 yards per games behind Rodney Smith and Mohamed Ibrahim. Smith graduated, and Ibrahim will spearhead the rushing attack.
As a freshman in 2018, he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing and scored nine times. The redshirt junior could not duplicate his success as a sophomore with only 604 yards rushing. He owns two school records: Most Career Bowl Game Yards with 364 (2 games) and Freshman Single Game Rushing Yards with 224 against Georgia Tech. The entire offensive line returns, and Ibrahim easily logs a second 1,000-yard crusade.
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