In my humble opinion, Independence Day marks the kickoff of the college fantasy football season. It has been the unofficial start to the NFL fantasy football season for over 30 years, and I always buy my first fantasy magazine around this time of the summer.
Throughout the Nineties, I would start talking fantasy football with league mates at the annual July 4th picnic at my parent’s house on the lake. Over the past decade, my fandom and hobby morphed to the internet and social media.
Over the past weekend, I awoke early to research the best college fantasy football receivers and completed profiles of the Top 24. I also examined the rosters of my seven CFF teams so far. Three wide receivers appeared on four of my teams: Zay Flowers, Boston College, Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina and Rakim Jarrett, Maryland.
I am not stating that all three will be CFF All-Americans in 2002. I am high on the aforementioned players in my CFF WR rankings and find the ADP of each a great bargain. For me, compiling a pool of receivers on CFF rosters is dependent on ADP. There are always players who slide in drafts and become a value for CFF managers. Build around a Top 10 receiver and find the prime options available later in drafts.
CFB Wide Receiver Projections
| Player | Recs. | Rec. Yrds | TDs | Points | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 90 | 1600 | 14 | 334 | 27.8 |
| AT Perry | 75 | 1350 | 12 | 282 | 23.5 |
| Xavier Worthy | 60 | 1100 | 13 | 248 | 20.7 |
| Cedric Tillman | 70 | 1200 | 11 | 256 | 21.3 |
| Jordan Addison | 65 | 1150 | 8 | 228 | 19.0 |
| Nathaniel Dell | 72 | 1200 | 8 | 240 | 20.0 |
| Josh Downs | 85 | 1150 | 8 | 248 | 20.7 |
| Myles Price | 90 | 1300 | 8 | 268 | 22.3 |
| Quentin Johntson | 80 | 1100 | 10 | 250 | 20.8 |
| Jermaine Burton | 75 | 1150 | 9 | 244 | 20.3 |
| Kayshon Boutte | 65 | 1125 | 8 | 225.5 | 18.8 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr | 60 | 1050 | 8 | 213 | 17.8 |
| Jalen Cropper | 80 | 1000 | 11 | 246 | 20.5 |
| Zakhari Franklin | 75 | 1100 | 8 | 233 | 19.4 |
| Zay Flowers | 62 | 1020 | 8 | 212 | 17.7 |
| Dante Cephus | 70 | 910 | 9 | 215 | 17.9 |
| Dontayvion Wicks | 60 | 980 | 10 | 218 | 18.2 |
| Rashee Rice | 70 | 950 | 10 | 225 | 18.8 |
| Marvin Mims | 70 | 880 | 9 | 212 | 17.7 |
| Jayden Reed | 65 | 1000 | 8 | 213 | 17.8 |
| Stefan Cobbs | 70 | 950 | 6 | 201 | 16.8 |
| Puka Nacua | 60 | 1000 | 8 | 208 | 17.3 |
| Parker Washington | 75 | 1100 | 8 | 233 | 19.4 |
| Rakim Jarret | 70 | 980 | 7 | 210 | 17.5 |
| Mac Hippenhammer | 76 | 1120 | 8 | 236 | 19.7 |
CFF WR Tiers
I have placed the wide receiver profiles in tiers—Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude—to provide flexibility for CFF managers based on their league’s scoring format, roster construction, and starting lineup requirements. I have also provided fantasy projections for all the players.
As always after you’re done here please check out my full 2022 CFB Player Rankings.
Summa Cum Laude
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 45.7 ppg. (1)
Passing: 380.3 ypg. (3)
2021 Fantasy Points: 23.8 ppg. (Smith-Njigba)
I have watched Ohio State for nearly 40 years and witnessed so many amazing wide receiver performances: Cris Carter, Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, Santonio Holmes, Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson. Among all of the great playmakers, none had an afternoon like Jaxon Smith-Njigba produced last year against Nebraska.
The sophomore game-breaker exploded for a school-record 15 receptions for 240 yards and a touchdown. Previously, David Boston held the top two spots in the record books with 14 catches at Penn State (1997) and 13 catches at Indiana (1996). Smith-Njigba’s receiving yards rank behind only Terry Glenn, who logged 253 yards at Pitt (1995). The Buckeyes’ wideout cemented his name in the Ohio State record books for all-time.
When the season concluded, Smith-Njigba finished sixth in fantasy scoring among CFF wideouts with 309.6 points on 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 16.9 points per game. He established the Buckeyes’ records for receptions and yards in a season. Amazingly, two of his position teammates (Olave and Wilson) were first-round selections in the NFL Draft.
The game breaker set a Rose Bowl mark with 347 receiving yards and 15 receptions with three touchdowns and was named offensive MVP. The receiving yards were also an all-time bowl game record, school single-game mark, the second-most in Big Ten history, and the fifth-highest total in NCAA Division I history.
At 6’0” and 198-pounds, the Rockwell, Texas native received a five-star grade and Top 50 player in the nation by 247Sports. He was also named the Texas 6A State Player of the Year, and during his high school career, he compiled 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games. In 2022, Smith-Njigba is poised to smash opponents again and is worthy of a top-two pick in CFF drafts.
A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 41.0 ppg. (4)
Passing: 307.4 ypg. (12)
2021 Fantasy Points: 20.7 ppg. (Perry)
Coach Dave Clawson has guided the Demon Deacons among the top 20 programs in the country. In eight years, Clawson has led Wake Forest to a 51-48 record and the team has reached a bowl game for six consecutive campaigns. Last year, the Demon Deacons won 11 games for the first time since 2006 and top-10 ranking.
More importantly for CFF owners, offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero has orchestrated a unit that has scored more than 30 points per game every season since 2017. The Wake Forest aerial assault is going to soar again with QB Sam Hartman and A.T. Perry playing catch.
In 2022, the redshirt junior finished among the top 10 CFF wideouts, scoring 290.3 points. He secured 71 passes for 1,293 yards, averaging 18.2 yards per catch, and 15 touchdowns. He was a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist and First Team All-ACC.
He established the single-season record with 15 touchdown receptions, three more than any other play in the program’s history. Additionally, the yards were tied for the fifth-most in ACC history and the third-highest total since 1997. Against Syracuse in OT last year, Perry caught the game-winning touchdown, which was his third of the day. A dream came true for the Wake Forest wideout.
Graduating high school, Perry received only one offer from a Power 5 program and was motivated to prove the naysayers wrong. “I still have a chip on my shoulder when it comes to that. Playing against schools that showed interest but never offered…Every team I have a reason why. I want to go harder, look at coaches and be like, ‘You didn’t offer me.'” Perry stated last October (palmbeachpost.com).
At 6’5” and 206-pounds, Perry provides a huge target for Hartman and towers over smaller defensive backs. I love big, strong and motivated wide receivers on CFF rosters, and the Wake Forest home run hitter towers over the competition in 2022.
Xavier Worthy, Texas
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 35.2 ppg. (18)
Passing: 225.4 ypg. (72)
2021 Fantasy Points: 19.6 ppg. (Worthy)
Despite being a true freshman last year, Xavier Worthy took over as the alpha receiver for the Longhorns. He led the team in all major receiving categories with 104 targets, 61 catches for 981 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He was selected to the First Team All-Big 12 as well as both the Newcomer of the Year and Offensive Freshman of the Year in the Conference.
Against Oklahoma, Worthy was named PFF’s Freshman of the Week after accumulating nine receptions for 261 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Red River Showdown. Those numbers in a rivalry game, as a true freshman? He earned a four-star grade by 247Sports and was chosen to participate in the 2021 All-American Bowl. He was ranked as the No. 76 overall player nationally, the No. 12 wide receiver in the country, and the No. 7 player in the state of California as a prospect.
At 6’1” and 163-pounds, the Longhorns’ home run hitter stacks defenders in the blink of an eye and easily separates down the field. “Depending on who you ask, Xavier Worthy might be the fastest wideout in college football. No one runs the fly better than the Longhorns’ top threat and Big 12 coaching staffs are well aware of his exploits down the field and believe he’s the most terrifying player in the conference from a he-can-score-from-anywhere standpoint. He is Steve Sarkisian’s new DeVonta Smith, and the Texas braintrust will work to get him as many touches as possible this season in space,” Brad Crawford of 247Sports wrote in June (longhornswire.usatoday.com).
On the hot seat, coach Steve Sarkisian must get the ball into the hands of Worthy and Robinson as often as possible. Worthy will easily blow past corners and safeties throughout the season and help CFF owners earn a playoff berth.
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 39.3 ppg. (7)
Passing: 257.1 ypg. (40)
2021 Fantasy Points: 20.3 ppg. (Tillman)
I have watched coach Josh Heupel for over two decades: First, as a national champion quarterback at Oklahoma and second, as a coach climbing up the ladder across the nation. While at UCF, coach Josh Heupel guided the Knights to three consecutive top-ten finishes in total offense and points per game. In 2021, the Tennessee coach propelled the Volunteers’ offense among the top ten, averaging 474.9 yards and 39.2 points per game.
The Volunteers’ success can be attributed to the pass-catching duo of QB Hendon Hooker and WR Cedric Tillman, who found a bond on the gridiron: “When game time came around, it just translated. And all through camp, Cedric and I were just connecting, so just building that on the field and off the field. Our relationship was awesome,” quarterback Hendon Hooker stated while attending the Manning Passing Academy (knoxnews.com).
A physical wide receiver, Tillman is one of the top returning game-breakers in all of college fantasy football. Last year, the redshirt senior emerged as one of the premier playmakers in the nation and became Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Justin Hunter in 2012. Phil Steele named Tillman as Second Team All-SEC after snatching 72 passes for 1,205 yards and 14 scores.
After exploding during his first year in Heupel’s system, the Tennessee junior is the top statistical returning receiver in the SEC. He has tremendous hands and has a knack for making highlight-reel plays. Kicking off 2022, he owns the school record for consecutive games with a touchdown catch at seven, a streak that is still active. Obviously, CFF diehards are hoping the TD streak continues for at least the first month of the season. Tillman is a fantasy stud who can anchor any WR corps on CFF rosters.
Twitterverse on Fire!
At their current CFF ADP, who are you targeting at wide receiver in drafts this summer?
- Jermaine Burton, Alabama: 21%
- Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State: 30%
- Kayshon Boutte, LSU: 29%
- Myles Price, Texas Tech: 20%
“Jermaine Burton: 6’0” & 200-pounds, 26 receptions for 497 yards, 19.1 ypc and five touchdowns. Rare quick movement with elite footwork to create in tight areas, elusive shiftiness and top-notch, change-of direction skills. Plus going from meh Stenton Bennett to Heisman Bryce Young !!! Could have better numbers than John Metchie did last year.”
@NinoBrown_T2T
“Marvin Harrison leading this is strange to me. That’s the one option (barring injury to JSN) that I feel can’t be WR No. 1 overall.”
@copieps
“Myles Price for me. I think he will be the ‘system star’ this year.”
@aceholesrule
“This one was difficult for me, so I just went with the guy I think I have the most shares of: Marvin Harrison in the third round, every time!”
@CFF_Jared
“Interesting that before last season, probably a lot of people avoided (very talented) Ohio State receivers because the distribution was so even. One season is all it takes to change a narrative–feels a little risky, IMO.”
@atldan
Jordan Addison, USC
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 28.7 ppg. (65)
Passing: 298.3 ypg. (17)
2021 Fantasy Points: 26.6 ppg. (Addison)
After the returning Biletnikoff winner announced his intention to transfer to USC, writers and fans scrambled to answer the following questions: Why did he move west? Did he get a massive NIL deal? Did officials in the USC program illegally tamper by reaching out to Addison? Why did Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi call Lincoln Riley in anger?
According to the newest Trojans’ speedster, it was a football decision…nothing more. “I was looking for a great coach and a good football opportunity. A lot of people think like, you won a Biletnikoff, so how much can you get better? But they showed me that I have a lot of improvements to do within my game, how I need to get better and how to maximize my game,” Addison reflected in an interview with Paolo Uggetti on his transfer to USC (trojanswire.usatoday.com).
How great was Addison’s campaign last year? He recorded one of the most decorated sophomore campaigns in school history with 100 receptions for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. He became Pitt’s third winner of the Biletnikoff Award, joining Antonio Bryant (2000) and Larry Fitzgerald (2003). Addison earned consensus All-America status, and was the first sophomore to achieve that stature since Fitzgerald in 2003.
One of college football’s most impactful newcomers in 2020, he was named Freshman All-American, honorable mention All-ACC and ACC Rookie of the Year runner-up (behind Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams), catching 60 passes for 666 yards and four scores.
In high school, Addison played quarterback and defensive back in addition to receiver and earned a four-star grade by 247Sports as a prospect. Moving to Riley’s explosive scheme will provide Addison with more national exposure, and possibly, improve his draft stock. Will it increase his production and CFF fantasy points? I do not think so. Riley’s scheme spreads the ball around, and a dual-threat quarterback, Caleb Williams, will limit touchdowns for Addison. I do not expect the USC game-breaker to surpass last year’s totals.
Magna Cum Laude
Nathaniel Dell, Houston
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 35.9 ppg. (15)
Passing: 271.6 ypg. (23)
2021 Fantasy Points: 21.1 ppg. (Dell)
Last year, Cincinnati qualified for the College Football Playoff as the first G5 program since the postseason format began in 2014. In 2022, Houston dreams of becoming the second AAC school to make the four-team playoff. After posting a 12-2 mark, the Cougars are stacked on both sides of the ball, returning 11 starters.
Coach Dana Holgorsen kicks off his fifth season choreographing the Cougars’ offense, which finished among the best units in the nation last year. Houston QB Clayton Tuine was featured in my CFF quarterback previews, and Nathaniel Dell earned a Magna Cum Laude ranking in 2022. The QB-WR duo combined for 12 touchdowns in 2021.
A three-star prospect from Daytona Beach, Florida, Dell went the JUCO route out of high school, attending Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas. In 2019, he hauled in 52 passes for 766 yards and eight touchdowns and totaled 1,278 all-purpose yards for the Pirates.
The 5’10” and 155-pounder enrolled at Houston for the 2020 campaign and exploded on the national scene last year. He corralled 90 passes for 1,329 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per catch. He earned a spot on the First Team All-AAC and Dave Campbell All-State First Team. If the Cougars want a CFP berth, Tune and Dell must fly high once again, which foreshadows a plethora of fantasy points for both competitors.
Josh Downs, North Carolina
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 35.2 ppg. (19)
Passing: 255.7 ypg. (42)
2021 Fantasy Points: 21.7 ppg. (Downs)
In 2020, the Tar Heels employed an entertaining and high-scoring offense to watch with Sam Howell, Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome. Only Howell returned in 2021, and the unit failed to replicate the success of the previous season. Nevertheless, Josh Downs rose to stardom last year.
As a sophomore, Downs was named First Team All-ACC and Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist. The speedster set North Carolina single-season marks with 101 receptions and 1,335 receiving yards. He led the ACC, and ranked fifth nationally, in receptions. He posted eight or more catches in 11 of 13 games and logged a streak of scoring in eight-straight games.
An early enrollee, Downs was a four-star prospect, the nation’s No. 94 ranked player, the nation’s 17th-ranked wide receiver and the No. 13 player in Georgia by 247Sports. Both the DEVY and national scouts are very high on the Tar Heels’ receiver.
“Josh Downs caught 101 passes last year. Extremely productive. Small, but he’s the definition of a ‘sudden change’ player. He can change a game in a single play. Range as a catcher and has unique vision to create explosive plays as a ball carrier,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid noted in the Downs’ profile (ESPN.com).
The Tar Heels are unsettled at quarterback, and coach Mack Brown has rotated signal-callers in the past when he lacks a stud at the position. Obviously, CFF diehards would prefer one quarterback throwing the football all season. Does it matter? Either Drake Maye or Jacolby Criswell will certainly target Downs on a regular basis.
Myles Price, Texas Tech
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 30.2 ppg. (50)
Passing: 257.2 ypg. (39)
2021 Fantasy Points: 9.6 ppg. (Price)
After a nice campaign on campus, why is Myles Price ranked so high? System download and upgrade for the Red Raiders in 2022. Texas Tech hired Joey McGuire as a coach, and he immediately hired Zach Kittley as the offensive coordinator.
Kittley studied under Cardinals’ coach Kliff Kingsbury and earned a master’s last year at Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers finished second in total offense in the nation averaging 536.2 yards per game while scoring 44.2 points per game. Kittley made CFF stars out of QB Bailey Zappe, WR Jerreth Sterns and WR Mitchell Tinsley. In 2022, he begins working on his doctorate in Lubbock, Texas with a new cadre of playmakers.
The quarterback position is still undecided. However, CFF owners are seeking components in Kittley’s aerial attack. By far, Myles Price is the most fascinating wide receiver on the roster. A three-star recruit, the Colony, Texas native enrolled at Texas Tech over Houston, SMU, Mississippi and Oklahoma State. Price concluded high school with 3,884 total yards—1,606 rushing and 2,278 receiving.
As a freshman, he started three games and played in nine, recording 28 catches for 300 yards, rushing for 124 yards on 12 carries and scoring twice. Last year as a sophomore, the home run hitter finished the season with 643 all-purpose yards and nine catches of at least 20 yards, six of 30 yards and three at 40 yards or longer.
At 5’10” and 180-pounds, the junior is a dynamic and versatile playmaker with the football. “This Texas Tech receiving group is filled with potential, and the likely guy to take on that role (No. 1 WR) would be Myles Price. He has inside-outside versatility and is able to run the entire route tree, giving Tech a chance to put him wherever they please in order to get him the ball to force the defense to make him a priority,” wrote qb3qb3 (vivathematadors.com). Draft Price with confidence over the summer.
Quentin Johnston, TCU
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 28.7 ppg. (65)
Passing: 239.6 ypg. (60)
2021 Fantasy Points: 16.4 ppg. (Johnston)
After playing fantasy sports for over 30 years, occasionally I have been early on projecting breakout players. Last year, I drafted Quentin Johnston on at least four of my CFF rosters and featured him in my CFF All-American Sleepers column. It seems like I bought a ticket on the flight too early.
Johnston did not even come close to reaching my expectations from a fantasy perspective. He snatched only 33 passes for 634 yards and six touchdowns. He exceeded 100 yards receiving three times, all in the final five games, and versus Oklahoma, recorded a career best with seven receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns. Amazingly, he earned First Team All-Big 12 by the coaches in the conference for his performance on the field.
While the fantasy production has not been good, there is no denying the talent on the field. “Quentin is something else. There’s not many like him. He can run by you, he’s 6-4 and ultra-athletic. What’s unique about him is he works his butt off at all times and he’s a longer guy that’s actually really good with the ball in his hands. You throw him a curl or a stop and he usually makes the first guy miss somehow,” offensive coordinator Garrett Riley opined (TheAthletic.com).
It is the dawn of a new era in Fort Worth, Texas with Sonny Dykes replacing Gary Patterson. Dykes orchestrated one of the most electrifying offenses over the past three seasons at SMU. The new coach must decide who starts at quarterback–Max Duggan or Chandler Morris–in 2022. There is no question who the alpha dog is in the passing game.
At 6’4” and 212-pounds, Johnston has all the tools to impose his will over opponents on Saturdays. A four-star recruit, the junior was the No. 13 WR in his high school class and second highest-rated prospect in the Patterson regime. CFF owners can look forward to a 1,000-yard crusade and double-digit touchdowns in 2022.
Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 39.9 ppg. (6)
Passing: 338.2 ypg. (7)
2021 Fantasy Points: 8.8 ppg. (Burton)
There is no disputing the football intelligence of coach Nick Saban. One of his greatest attributes, however, is often overlooked: Saban’s ability to adjust as the culture and times change. He transitioned from a ground-and-pound run scheme to a wide-open passing attack over five years ago, and Alabama became a hotbed for CFF receivers.
While he is one of the stupendous recruiters in the country, Saban has also embraced the transfer portal to address holes on the roster. In 2021, he secured the services of WR Jameson Williams, who soared on Saturdays and ascended to a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
During the offseason, the coach once again uncovered a home run hitter to boost the passing game: Jermaine Burton moved west to Alabama from Georgia. It is difficult to doubt the talent. “Man, Jermaine is a problem. Kudos to Alabama for winning him over because they’re getting one heck of a player. I’m not a Bama fan, but I am a Jermaine fan, and he is going to be one heck of a player for them.” former teammate and current Minnesota Vikings S Lewis Cine stated at the NFL Scouting combine (si.com/college/alabama).
A four-star prospect out of California, Burton was ranked as the No. 15 WR prospect in the nation in 2020. In two seasons in a Bulldogs’ uniform, the junior caught 53 passes for 901 yards, averaging 17.0 yards per catch and eight touchdowns. As a member of the Crimson Tide, the 6’0” and 200-pound speedster will surely see more targets and post career highs in every statistical category with QB Bryce Young slinging the football.
Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 26.5 ppg. (80)
Passing: 254.5 ypg. (45)
2021 Fantasy Points: 23.8 ppg. (Boutte)
I just had a friend ask me who to draft with the sixth-pick overall in a C-2-C league, and I suggested Kayshon Boutte. I am still a believer after negative reports in the offseason and a disappointing campaign. The talent is far too great to ignore.
In the Summa Cum Laude draft in early June, I was stunned that Boutte fell to me with the final pick in the third round, and in the most recent CFF Best Ball league, the LSU glider lasted until the middle of the fourth round. Among all of the receivers in college football, Boutte is among a small group of players who could lead the nation in receiving, and possibly, win the Biletnikoff Award…He should not remain available that late in CFF drafts.
Is there a better program in the country recruiting, developing and coaching receivers than LSU? Alabama and Ohio State fans might disagree. Yet. Look at the top 20 NFL wideouts over the past decade, and Tigers’ players decorate the list. Boutte ranks among the best prospects who have worn the purple and gold.
At 6’0” and 205-pounds, Boutte graded out as a four-star prospect and rated as the No. 1 receiver in Louisiana by 247Sports. As a true freshman in 2020, he led the team in receiving yards with 735 and finished second with 45 catches and five touchdowns. In the season-finale against Mississippi, he set the SEC record for receiving yards in a game with 308 yards and crossed the finish line three times on 14 catches..
Last year, he played in only six contests after suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He secured 38 passes for 509 yards and nine scores. In March, he endured a second surgery on the ankle, which may be driving down his ADP. In June, he was cleared to begin working out again unimpaired.
”Boutte, when healthy, has proven to be one of the top receivers in the country. Heading into his junior campaign, he’s a projected first-round pick by a number of mock drafts, setting expectations high for what could be his final season in Death Valley,” wrote Zack Nagy (FanNation-LSU Country). Astute CFF owners will not pass on the dynamic Baton Rouge playmaker in drafts.
Cum Laude
Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 45.7 ppg. (1)
Passing: 380.3 ypg. (3)
2021 Fantasy Points: 10.7 ppg. (Harrison)
After two decades in the classroom, it is always a revelation of the advance of time when I see a former student at work or with children. Makes one feel old for sure. When I saw the name Marvin Harrison, Jr. on the recruiting rankings, I immediately flashed back to the early Nineties watching his father play at Syracuse. Was it really over 25 years ago that his Dad played for the Orange?
A four-star recruit, Harrison, Jr. was the No. 91 player in the nation and the top-ranked wide receiver in Pennsylvania. Posting 144 career catches, he concluded high school with 2,625 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns, both of which were Philadelphia Catholic League records.
As a freshman last year, he caught 11 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 12.6 yards per catch. In the Rose Bowl, he started and secured six passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns. “Surprised? No. Definitely I’m grateful and blessed to be able to do that in the Rose Bowl, which is one of the biggest bowl games in college football history, but I think it was all just confidence, believing in myself going into the game,” Harrison reflected during the spring (buckeyescoope.com).
NFL first-rounders Olave and Garrett are both gone and there are plenty of opportunities available in the prolific Buckeyes’ aerial assault. Harrison steps into an ideal situation with a huge ceiling in CFF leagues. I do not know if he reaches heights similar to his father’s last season at Syracuse, but I am not betting against it.
Jalen Cropper, Fresno State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 33.4 ppg. (26)
Passing: 326.7 ypg. (9)
2021 Fantasy Points: 20.5 ppg. (Cropper)
Over the past two seasons, Jalen Cropper has been one of the most productive CFF receivers. In 19 games, he has latched onto 122 passes for 1,419 yards, averaged 11.6 yards per catch, and totaled 16 touchdowns.
Last year, he finished 15th among CFF receivers scoring 266.5 fantasy points, averaging 20.5 points per game. His totals were bolstered by 19 carries for 76 yards and two scores. How high is Cropper’s ceiling? Against then-No. 13 UCLA, he recorded a season-high 141 receiving yards, leading the Bulldogs to a 40-37 upset and scoring the game-winning touchdown as time expired. His 14 receptions versus the Bruins tied for the fourth-most in a game in school history.
At 6’0” and 172-pounds, he earned Second Team All-Mountain West last year after being selected honorable mention All-MW in 2020. Coach Jeff Telford takes over the program for a second stint on campus, inheriting an offensive unit that finished 26th in total offense and the passing game ranked ninth in the nation. Without question, Cropper is quarterback Jake Haener’s top target and the Bulldogs receiver should garner First Team All-MW honors in 2022.
Zakhari Franklin, UTSA
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 36.9 ppg. (11)
Passing: 255.5 ypg. (43)
2021 Fantasy Points: 19.6 ppg. (Franklin)
Over the past two campaigns, Zakhari Franklin has recorded numbers that rank him among the top 30 CFF receivers. He has scored 416.9 fantasy points on 130 receptions for 1,721 yards and 17 touchdowns. Last year, he earned First Team All-C-USA after securing 81 passes for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Since arriving on campus in 2019, the lanky playmaker has flourished on the field. As a true freshman, the 6’1” and 185-pounder emerged as one of the Roadrunners’ leading receivers, hauling in 38 passes for 491 yards and three touchdowns.
Coach Jeff Traylor has commanded UTSA to a 19-7 record, including a C-USA Championship over Western Kentucky, 49-41, last year. The Roadrunners return senior quarterback Frank Harris, their top three receivers and four starters along the offensive line. There is no reason not to expect another fine season from Traylor’s offense, and Franklin will shine again.
Zay Flowers, Boston College
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 24.7 ppg. (93)
Passing: 184.8 ypg. (106)
2021 Fantasy Points: 12.9 ppg. (Flowers)
I know that I am on a deserted island for my faith in Zay Flowers as a college fantasy football asset. The sleek speedster is among my top 20 CFF receivers. I have drafted Flowers on nearly all of my teams so far: In my past two drafts, I acquired the Eagles’ playmaker in the sixth round with the 66th and 61st overall picks. I will continue selecting Flowers at his current ADP.
In 2020, Flowers was named First Team All-ACC, becoming just the second Boston College receiver to be awarded the honor in school history. In 11 games, he registered 56 receptions for 892 yards and nine touchdowns. The yardage total ranked 18th in the country and second in the ACC.
Last year, Flowers and the Eagles’ passing game started well but fell off the cliff without QB Phil Jurkovec, who missed eight games with a wrist injury. The 5’10” and 172-pounder concluded the campaign with 44 receptions for 746 yards and five scores. With a new offensive coordinator, John McNulty, and the return of Jurkovec firing passes, Flowers is in a prime position to surpass the 1,000-barrier.
Twitterverse on Fire!
Among the Group 5 wide receivers, who is the player that you target in College Fantasy Football leagues at current ADP?
- Rashee Rice, SMU: 34%
- Dante Cephas, Kent State: 24%
- Zakhari Franklin, UTSA: 25%
- Stefan Cobbs, Boise State: 17%
“Dante Cephus for me. He has tremendous upside. At 6’1 & 178-pounds, I’d like to see him add 10 pounds. His numbers were elite in 2021: 82 receptions for 1,240 yards, 15.1 yards per catch and 9 touchdowns….If he improves, Biletnikoff talk.”
“Rashee Rice for me. This is actually the point of the draft that I tend to wait and see if any of these four guys, or receivers like them, fall.”
@aceholesrule
Dante Cephas, Kent State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 33.0 ppg. (30)
Passing: 249.5 ypg. (57)
2021 Fantasy Points: 18.6 ppg. (Cephus)
After a slow opening to the 2021 campaign against tough competition, Dante Cephas blasted off against Maryland in the fourth game with 10 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. For the remainder of the season, the Golden Flashes’ receiver catapulted himself among the apex of college fantasy football receivers.
Cephas posted another six 100-yard performances during the team’s final 10 games. Against Buffalo, he latched onto a season-best 13 passes for 186 receiving yards and three touchdowns. For the entire campaign, he recorded 82 receptions for 1,240 yards and nine touchdowns. He secured First Team All-MAC honors and was the first Kent State receiver with over 1,000 yards since 1997.
There is turnover at quarterback with Dustin Crum graduating. Nevertheless, coach Sean Lewis is prepared at the position. Junior Collin Schlee takes over the offense and expectations are high that he keeps the offense flying. At 6’3” and 218-pounds, Schlee is a barrel-chested, dual-threat signal caller. “He’s (Schlee) done a really nice job working hard with [football performance coach Jeff] Sobol, just quietly working in the dark. Then when his opportunity presents itself, he’s physically ready to do it,” Lewis stated (record-courier.com).
At 6’1” and 178-pounds, the speedy home run hitter was a consensus three-star recruit from Pittsburgh and selected Kent State over Bowling Green and Toledo in the MAC. The redshirt junior is the top receiver returning to the MAC and should easily govern opponents once again. Cephas will continue to produce fantasy points in abundance with Schlee calling signals.
Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 34.6 ppg. (21)
Passing: 392.6 ypg. (2)
2021 Fantasy Points: 19.3 ppg. (Wicks)
It seems like every season that at least one receiver rises from obscurity to college fantasy football luminary. In 2021, Dontayvion Wicks went from waiver wire wonder to a weekly star, and eventually, league winner. During his first two years on campus, he grabbed only three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown as a freshman in 2019 and did not play in the 2020 season.
Wicks opened the campaign with two nice outings against William & Mary and Illinois. Against North Carolina in the third game, the junior caught the attention of astute CFF minds. He secured seven passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. In the next game against Wake Forest, Wicks dominated again with eight catches for 114 yards and a score.
For the season, he recorded 57 receptions for 1,203 yards and nine touchdowns. In the game versus Virginia Tech, his 19-yard catch established a school single-season receiving yardage mark, surpassing Herman Moore’s record of 1,190 yards in 1990. He earned honorable mention on Pro Football Network’s All-America Team and First Team All-ACC honors.
A three-star recruit from Louisiana, Wicks has justified the coaching staff’s decision to give him a football scholarship. While Wicks is not likely to average 21.1 yards per catch again, the 6’1” and 206-pounder will carve up secondaries in the ACC once again despite the coaching changes at Virginia.
Rashee Rice, SMU
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 38.4 ppg. (9)
Passing: 304.5 ypg. (14)
2021 Fantasy Points: 15.4 ppg. (Rice)
I’m old enough to remember the Pony Express backfield with Eric Dickerson and Craig James, and when the NCAA imposed the Death Penalty on SMU for paying players in 1987 (which seems so nutty by today’s standards). After two seasons without a team, the Mustangs returned in 1989 and spent the early Nineties and turn of the century losing games. By 2009, coach June Jones guided SMU to a winning record, and CFF players have benefited from weekly production ever since.
Since 2016, the Mustangs have produced some of the best CFF receivers: Courtland Sutton, James Proche II, Trey Quinn, Reggie Roberson, Jr., and Danny Gray. In 2022, Rashee Rice, a senior, stands atop the pecking order in Dallas, Texas. He has been named to the preseason First Team All-AAC by Athlon Sports and Second Team All-AAC by Phil Steele.
As a high schooler, Rice was a three-star recruit and received offers from Washington State, Houston and Texas Tech. Committed to SMU and immediately made an impact in the passing game. In 2019, he tallied 25 receptions for 404 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games.
Over the past two campaigns, Rice has 112 catches for 1,353 yards and 14 scores. He led the team in receptions last year with 64 and tied with nine receiving touchdowns. At 6’3” and 206-pounds, Rice is on the periphery of NFL prospect rankings and could propel himself up draft boards with an outstanding crusade. The SMU playmaker will challenge the 1,000-yard barrier and record double-digit scores for CFF managers.
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 39.1 ppg. (8)
Passing: 263.5 ypg. (33)
2021 Fantasy Points: 10.3 ppg. (Mims)
A consensus four-star prospect, Mims is the Texas high school record holder for receiving yards in a career (5,485) and in a season (2,629). He concluded his senior year with 32 touchdowns on 117 catches. He committed to Oklahoma over Stanford in 2020.
Since arriving in Norman, Oklahoma, Mims has lived up to expectations. In 2020, he was the first wide receiver in Sooners’ history to earn Freshman All-America (FWAA). He also was appointed to the Second Team All-Big 12 squad. Mims led Oklahoma with 610 yards and nine touchdowns on 37 receptions, averaging 16.5 yards per catch. The nine touchdowns tied for the Big 12 lead and established a program freshman mark.
Last year, the junior was named honorable mention All-Big 12 and earned Academic Second Team All-Big 12. Mims paced the team with 32 receptions for 705 yards and had five scores, ranking second on the club. He led the Conference, and ranked fourth nationally, with 22.0 yards per reception. A special teams contributor, the 5’11” and 179-pounder returned 10 punts for 69 yards and had two kickoff returns for 51 yards.
It has been painless to forecast the Sooners’ stars and their fantasy production over the past decade. In 2022, coach Brent Venables takes over the program for Lincoln Riley, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel now commands the offense after transferring from UCF. It is more challenging to project the production in the Oklahoma offense; nevertheless, Mims is surely in line to amass the most targets on the roster.
Jayden Reed, Michigan State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 31.8 ppg. (38)
Passing: 253.7 ypg. (47)
2021 Fantasy Points: 18.7 ppg. (Reed)
In 2018, Jayden Reed was named Freshman All-American (FWAA) and Second Team All-MAC (PFF) at Western Michigan. He posted four 100-yard games and latched onto 56 passes for 797 yards and eight touchdowns. Afterward, he transferred to Michigan State and sat out the entire 2019 campaign due to archaic and draconian NCAA rules.
In 2020, Reed finally suited up for the green and white but did not match his outstanding freshman season. Last year, coach Mel Tucker guided the Spartans to a 12-2 record, and Kenneth Walker and Reed were a deadly duo for opponents. In 13 games, the slick receiver nabbed 59 passes for 1,026 yards, averaging 17.4 yards per catch, and scored ten times. The accolades were numerous: First Team all-purpose All-American (AFCA), named Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Paul Hornung Award Finalist, and Third Team All-American (PFF).
The Michigan State wideout is also a potent returner: He has returned 41 kicks for 821 yards and 25 punts for 467 yards and three scores during his college tenure. At 6’0” and 185-pounds, Reed has garnered draft buzz and bypassed the NFL Draft last winter to return for a fifth season, seeking to improve his draft grade. In CFF leagues, the redshirt senior is one of the highest-floor players but has a limited ceiling in a run-based offense.
Stefan Cobbs, Boise State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 29.2 ppg. (58)
Passing: 260.6 ypg. (37)
2021 Fantasy Points: 14.1 ppg. (Cobbs)
With Khalil Shakir in Buffalo, Stephan Cobbs is slated to start as the Z-receiver in the Broncos’ offense in 2022. At 6’0” and 187-pounds, the Texas native has the size and tools to become a reliable playmaker in Boise, Idaho. Yet. He needs to remain healthy and on the field after playing in only 14 games in three seasons.
A three-star prospect, Cobbs was unanimously chosen as the Texas 3-6A All-District MVP as a senior in which he seized 67 passes for 1,332 yards and 24 touchdowns. He redshirted as a freshman in 2018 and saw limited action the next two seasons. Last year, Cobbs played in a career-high eight games and hauled in 34 passes for 421 yards and five touchdowns. He garnered Second Team All-Mountain West for his efforts.
New offensive coordinator Tim Plough has implemented an up-tempo, high-flying scheme, and so far, the reports from Broncos’ players were enthusiastic during spring practice sessions. In the spring game, Cobbs caught two passes for 53 yards and teammates and coaches spoke glowingly of the redshirt senior. On the Blue Turf, Cobbs will reach new heights as a fantasy producer in 2022.
Puka Nacua, BYU
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 33.1 ppg. (29)
Passing: 264.1 ypg. (31)
2021 Fantasy Points: 14.5 ppg. (Nacua)
In 1984, BYU finished the regular season undefeated in 12 games, and Cougars’ QB Robbie Bosco tossed 33 touchdowns and passed for over 3,800 yards, which were out-of-this-world statistics during the era. BYU played Michigan in the Holiday Bowl in a game that I remember watching glued to the television screen. The Cougars won 24-17, concluding an incredible season and being voted National Champion in both the AP and Coaches polls. Since that memorable campaign, I have always surveyed BYU teams.
Over the past two seasons, I have witnessed many Cougars games, and WR Puka Nacua flashed across my screen at times. In high school, he earned the 2018 Polynesian Bowl Player of the Year, Utah Gatorade Football Player of the Year, USA Today’s All-Utah Offensive Player of the Year, and Utah’s “Mr. Football” by the Deseret News. He broke state records for career receptions (260), yards (5,226), and receiving touchdowns (58). He also won the 2019 All-American Bowl Offensive Player of the Year.
A four-star recruit, Nacua committed to Washington in 2019, and in two seasons, he caught 6 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He transferred before the 2021 season and exploded in Provo, Utah. With Jaren Hall slinging the ball, the 6’2” and 205-pounder established career-best across the board with 43 catches for 805 yards and six touchdowns. He continually is available in double-digit rounds of CFF drafts and is a fantastic fourth or fifth receiver on a roster.
Parker Washington, Penn State
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 25.0 ppg. (90)
Passing: 268.5 ypg. (26)
2021 Fantasy Points: 13.2 ppg. (Washington)
When ranking the elite programs for CFF receivers, Penn State does not immediately come to mind. During the past six seasons, the Nittany Lions have suited up some of the top fantasy options at the position: Chris Goodin scored 224.5 points in 2016, KJ Hamler produced 198.7 in 2019 and Jahan Dotson recorded 290.7 last year.
After two solid seasons, Parker Washington is the next man up at College Station. In two years, he has logged 100 catches for 1,309 yards and 10 touchdowns. At 5’10” and 212-pounds, the third-year competitor is a crisp-route runner and tracks the deep hall well.
“Washington’s target volume will definitely increase in 2022 as he becomes Penn State Football’s No.1 wide receiver and becomes more comfortable in the second year of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s system,” writer Alex Whitaker forecasted (victorybellrings.com). CFF managers hope that Whitacker’s proclamation is a clairvoyant projection of targets and catches in 2022.
Mac Hippenhammer,Miami, Ohio
Team Offense (Rank)
Scoring: 28.9 ppg. (62)
Passing: 278.6 ypg. (21)
2021 Fantasy Points: 9.1 ppg. (Hippenhammer)
Obviously, betting on systems is the preferred method to identify rising playmakers in college fantasy football. The Redhawks are one of the overlooked passing attacks in the country. Coach Chuck Martin returns for his ninth season and QB Brett Gabbert leads the offense. Last year, the junior signal caller completed 26 touchdowns with only six interceptions in 10 games.
Jack Sorenson led the team with 76 receptions for 1,406 yard and 10 scores. Sorenson is now on the Bengals, and Mac Hippenhammer walks into the lead role for Martin and Gabbert. A former Nittany Lion, Hippenhammer earned Academic All-Big Ten in 2019 and posted seven career catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.
At 5’11” and 182-pounds, Hippenhammer snagged 48 passes for 786 yards and five touchdowns playing second fiddle in the offense last year. In 2022, the redshirt senior is likely the prime playmaker for Gabbert, and clever CFF owners are acquiring Hippenhammer.