This July is one of the biggest months in the history of College Fantasy Football: EA Sports College Football 25 came out and a national CFF Best Ball tournament just kicked off. It appears that our stupendous hobby is finally reaching heights not seen before.
The CFF Fantrax team has been providing analysis all year, which supplies gamers and CFF enthusiasts an in-depth picture of the player pool across the FBS landscape. Below, I profile the Cum Laude tier (13-24) of CFF wide receivers to target in drafts.
CFF Wide Receiver Rankings, Profiles, and Projections
Cum Laude
Eugene Wilson, III, Florida
Team Offense (Rank): 409 ypg. (46)
Passing Yards: 259 ypg. (40)
Points Scored: 28.4 ppg. (57)
2023 FPPG: 15.6
Fantrax ADP: 33.9
Coach Billy Napier begins his third season in Gainesville, FL and he is on the hot seat to produce a winning campaign after posting a 11-14 record over the past two years. With a difficult schedule, the Gators will likely be playing from behind often and relying on their aerial assault in the second half of games. It might shock readers to learn that Florida has one of the more dynamic pass-catching duos in the nation with transfer Elijah Badger and sophomore Eugene Wilson, III.
In high school, Wilson was a four-star recruit in 2023 from Tampa Bay, Florida, and selected the Gators over the Crimson Tide. He was the No. 16 receiver in the nation, No. 27 player in the state and No. 109 recruit in the nation. Wilson earned an invite to the 2023 Under Armour All-American Game and played on both sides of the ball as a junior. His Dad earned two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots.
Against Vanderbilt in early October, Wilson became the target magnet in the passing game with 46 catches in the next six games. For the season, the true freshman corralled 61 passes for 538 yards and six scores, garnering Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American. Early breakout performers in the SEC will always grab my attention and respect. Based on projected win-loss record and potential game scripts, Wilson will be targeted heavily by QB Graham Mertz and garner over 100 passes thrown in his direction in 2024.
Scouting Notebook: “Ricky (Pearsall) was a professional in terms of the way he approached the game (last year), and that’s contributing to what we see there (today). It’s a product of a lot of hard work. I think (Eugene) did today what I’ve been watching him do all spring. He has great practice habits, mature. We’re going to get our money’s worth out of Wilson. I can promise you that,” coach Billy Napier said in April (gainesville.com).
Kevin Concepcion, North Carolina State
Team Offense (Rank): 350 ypg. (91)
Passing Yards: 194 ypg. (100)
Points Scored: 26.1 ppg. (74)
2023 FPPG: 19.5
Fantrax ADP: 34.0
Coach Dave Doeren is the winningest coach in program history with 81 victories in 11 seasons. Yet, North Carolina State has never bought a ticket for the ACC Championship Game and not won nine games in back-to-back regular season campaigns since 1991 and 1992. In the offseason, the Wolfpack upgraded the quarterback position by acquiring former Coastal Carolina signal caller Grayson McCall in the portal, and Doeren believes that the team can accomplish both of the aforementioned challenges in his twelfth season leading the program.
Doeren will feature sophomore receiver Kevin Concepcion prominent in the passing game. In high school, he was tagged as a three-star competitor, ranking as the No. 23 prospect in North Carolina and the No. 97 receiver in the nation. As a junior and senior, he caught 65 passes for 977 yards and 12 touchdowns in high school.
Last year, Concepcion immediately made an impact on the gridiron. He earned the ACC Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Freshman All-American (all-purpose player) and finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. He established a program freshman record for receptions (71) and receiving touchdowns (10) and logged 839 receiving yards. Not since Bo Hines in 2014 had a true freshman receiver begun the season opener for the Wolfpack, and Concepcion was the first to lead the team in receiving since Hines. During the offseason, North Carolina State signed additional receivers to upgrade the aerial assault. Nonetheless, the sensational sophomore will earn targets, rousing fans and CFF managers.
Scouting Notebook: Concepcion inked a NIL deal with Savage Wolves Collective. ”KC is going to be the glue that puts together what I believe will be the most impactful group of athletes to come to NC State in our history. He takes pride in being a local homegrown talent and wants to be an evangelist for athletes to stay. I would expect to see some significant butterfly effect,” Savage Wolves co-founder Tom Livolsi declared (packpride.com).
Tre Harris, Mississippi
Team Offense (Rank): 462 ypg. (13)
Passing Yards: 286 ypg. (19)
Points Scored: 35 ppg. (16)
2023 FPPG: 16.7
Fantrax ADP: 45.3
After a dozen CFF drafts, Tre Harris is my most rostered receiver: He is on nine teams so far. The Mississippi stack with QB Jaxson Dart and Harris is one of my preferred pass-catching combos to build a roster around. I am a little surprised that the Rebels’ receiver remains on the board well into the fourth round of drafts this year.
Harris has already overcome two hurdles along his trek to a professional career: He succeeded at Louisiana Tech (a G5 program) and excelled last year against SEC opponents at Mississippi. The fifth-year wideout returns to Oxford, MS for another season against the top defenders and hopes to propel himself into the first-round of the upcoming draft.
At Louisiana Tech, Harris was named First Team All-Conference USA (2022) and Second Team All-Conference USA (2021). After transferring to Mississippi, Harris paced the Rebels in yards with 985 and receiving touchdowns with eight on 54 receptions while averaging 18.2 ypc. last year.
Entering the 2024 season, Harris stands among the nation’s leaders in career receptions (160), receiving yards (2,512) and YPC (17.2). He has met every new challenge with success and is one of the top CFF receivers to target in drafts this summer.
Scouting Notebook: “Everybody knows, really, that (the) big goal is a national championship. That’s sitting in the back of everybody’s heads. Everybody is not necessarily feeling the pressure, but more so embracing it,” Harris stated in the offseason when asked about the team’s goals (si.com)
Twitterverse on Fire!
Among the receivers below, who will score the most CFF fantasy points in PPR formats?
- Demeer Blankumsee, Memphis: 26%
- Cam Camper, Boise State: 6%
- Kobe Hudson, UCF: 34%
- Kamdyn Benjamin, Tulsa: 34%
Scholar’s Selection: When I posted the poll, I had a difficult time deciding between Kobe Hudson and Kamdyn Benjamin based on ADP. It appears that the voters did also. Hudson has an ADP of 112 and Benjamin has one of 147. When two players are close in potential production, I will draft the one at a better value; therefore, I will be selecting Benjamin often until the gap closes between the two receivers.
“I like Demeer Blankumsee. I like him and Rock Taylor in the Memphis offense with Seth Henigan slinging the rock. I’m in on the Tigers’ offense this season.” @jtorange
“I went with Kamdyn Benjamin. Tulsa has one of the easier schedules in 2024. He is also the clear cut No. 1 on the team. Benjamin led the team in target share in 2023 with 23%. Their next top 3 WRs transferred out. Opportunity is a knockin’” @ProbascoLuke
“I’d choose Demeer Blankumsee because he has an established and legit QB in Henigan. Obviously, he has Roc Taylor also getting a ton of targets, but I don’t trust Tulsa as much with Kirk Francis or Cardell Williams at QB.” @NCAANation247
Roc Taylor, Memphis
Team Offense (Rank): 459 ypg. (14)
Passing Yards: 307 ypg. (10)
Points Scored: 39 ppg. (6)
2023 FPPG: 15.5
Fantrax ADP: 50.1
One of the best performances that I witnessed at the Rent was by Memphis’ receiver Anthony Miller versus UConn in 2017. Miller snagged 14 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns. I will never forget watching the Tigers’ playmaker that night. Last year, Roc Taylor also left a lasting memory with an outstanding performance against South Florida, catching five passes for 159 yards and two scores. For the season, the senior recorded over 100 yards receiving six times but scored only two other touchdowns.
A three-star recruit and the No. 15 overall prospect in Alabama, Taylor registered 52 receptions for 1,014 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior in high school. On National Signing Day, he chose Memphis after previously committing to Tennessee. During his first two seasons on campus, Taylor learned his craft among a robust wide receiver corps: He had 27 catches for 342 yards and a touchdown.
In 2023, Taylor finally showed his skills on the field. He logged 69 receptions for 1,083 yards and four touchdowns. He earned Second Team All-AAC, becoming just the fifth player in program history to amass 1,000 receiving yards in a season. His receptions ranked ninth on the school’s single-season charts. Taylor is poised to record back-to-back 1,000-yard crusades for the Tigers and CFF diehards.
Scouting Notebook: Before the 2023 season kicked off, Taylor stopped eating sweets and worked with QB Seth Henigan. “I learned from Calvin (Austin III) that it doesn’t matter if it’s bad, good, just keep working, never stop working. And from Javon (Ivory), just the mental part, control what you control and just have fun with it,” the Tigers’ receiver said (commercialappeal.com).
Xavier Restrepo, Miami
Team Offense (Rank): 431 ypg. (31)
Passing Yards: 258 ypg. (42)
Points Scored: 32 ppg. (38)
2023 FPPG: 17.7
Fantrax ADP: 25.6
Early in the CFF draft season this year, I did not identify Xavier Restrepo as a top-flight option. As the research process advanced, the Miami speedster slowly rose up my rankings. It is now clear that Restrepo will yield outstanding CFF production in 2024.
At 5’10” and 198-pounds, the fifth-year competitor was a three-star recruit in high school who joined the Hurricanes in 2020. He only caught one pass as a true freshman. Over the course of the next two seasons, Restrepo’s snaps increased, and he snatched 45 passes for 613 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2023, Restrepo achieved one of the top seasons by a wideout in program history, earning First Team All-ACC honors while starting all 13 games. He established the Miami single-season record with 85 catches and registered 1,092 yards—the sixth 1,000-yard season by a pass-catcher in school history—and six touchdowns.
Scouting Notebook: In March, Restrepo impressed everyone watching, including himself, with his pass-catching abilities. “Mishael (Powell) had great defense, nothing better he could do. It was just an absolute dime by Cam (Ward). Threw it in the air and let me do what I do best: Catch the ball…That’s not the first time I’ve made that (kind of) catch, you know? Behind the scenes work (helps). Great ball, great defense, just made a play,” the Hurricanes’ gamebreaker recalled after a spring practice (on3.com).
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Team Offense (Rank): 407.9 ypg. (47)
Passing Yards: 269.1 ypg. (30)
Points Scored: 30.5 ppg. (44)
2023 FPPG: 11.9
Fantrax ADP: 36.0
An old scouting adage that is imperative to follow proclaims “Do not scout the uniform.” While there is truth in the axiom, CFF coaches cannot ignore coaching staffs, offensive schemes and the football culture in which a prospect suits up. It is so hard not to be glassy-eyed while scouting Ohio State wide receivers: Over the past three seasons, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxson Smith Njigba and Marvin Harrison all produced prodigious fantasy numbers and were first-round picks in the NFL.
Emeka Egbuka is the next man up for the Buckeyes, who have one of the best track records manufacturing CFF playmakers under the tutelage of WR coach Brian Hartline. At 6’1″ and 205-pounds, Egbuka returns to campus after a disappointing season in 2023. In 2022, he snatched 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 scores. He earned Second Team All-Big Ten and was named Finalist for the Paul Hornung Award. In 2021, he was a Freshman All-American (PFF). In CFF, Egbuka provides a massive floor with an enticing ceiling in fantasy.
Scouting Notebook: “During my time thus far at Ohio State I have grown and learned more than I thought possible. These last three years have come with trials and tribulations but overwhelming joy as well,” Egbuka declared on his return to the Buckeyes this year (thelatern.com).
Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
Team Offense (Rank): 432 ypg. (30)
Passing Yards: 276 ypg. (25)
Points Scored: 29.6 ppg. (53)
2023 FPPG: 18.1
Fantrax ADP: 41.7
For years, coach Mike Gundy’s offense delivered All-American pass catchers who scored a plethora of fantasy points—Dez Bryant, Justin Blackman, James Washington, and Tylan Wallace. Last year, Brennan Presley ascended among the Cowboy’s greats after a 100-catch campaign.
In 2023, teammates voted Presley as team captain, and he shined on the field and in the classroom. He accumulated 991 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 101 receptions, earning Second Team All-Big 12 and First Team Academic All-Big 12. In 2021, Presley was named Second Team All-Big 12 as a returner after recording 12 kick returns for 392 yards, averaging 32.7 yards and bringing one to the house.
A fifth-year playmaker, Presley begins the campaign with some of the best career numbers all-time at Oklahoma State, ranking fourth in catches (225), seventh in receiving yards (2,548) and twelfth in receiving touchdowns (16). He is also fifth in kickoff return yards (1,219), sixth in kickoff returns (50) and is just outside the top-10 in all-purpose yards (4,108). I am all in on the Cowboys’ electrifying offense, and Presley will continue climbing the charts in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Scouting Notebook: “I saw him (in high school) continually be productive in big moments. We like guys in high school that can produce. We said it’s worth taking the shot, and obviously we were right. He could run full speed under a coffee table and not hit his head. He would get bounced around like a ping pong ball (as a freshman), but he would always get back up,” coach Gundy said in March (stwnewspress.com).
Will Pauling, Wisconsin
Team Offense (Rank): 381 ypg. (69)
Passing Yards: 220 ypg. (69)
Points Scored: 23.5 ppg. (91)
2023 FPPG: 15.0
Fantrax ADP: 38.6
It is shocking to rank a Wisconsin receiver in the Cum Laude (or any other) tier. I do not remember placing a Badgers’ wideout this high before. All of my memories of Wisconsin receivers occurred before I started playing CFF. Lee Evans, the all-time Badgers’ receiving leader, Al Toon, a first-round pick of the Jets in 1985, and Chris Chambers, a second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2001, all flourished in Madison for the Badgers. Will Pauling deserves recognition as he climbs the charts in Wisconsin history.
In 2023, Pauling started every game in the slot and earned his first varsity letter at Wisconsin. He paced the team with 74 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns. At the school, the catches ranked fifth all-time, and the yards ranked fourteenth in history. Since 2009, the redshirt junior logged 27 third-down catches, which were the most in the Big Ten. In offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s scheme, the slot receiver is heavily targeted, and Pauling garners over 100 targets in 2024.
Scouting Notebook: “(Will) has done a phenomenal job within that group (WRs) of stepping up and continuing to be a leader each and every day,” coach Luke Fickell stated (si.com).
Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama
Team Offense (Rank): 440 ypg. (24)
Passing Yards: 268 ypg. (32)
Points Scored: 33.1 ppg. (27)
2023 FPPG: 14.8
Fantrax ADP: 41.2
A walk-on at South Alabama, Jamaal Pritchett sprouted in his second season in a Jaguars uniform. He corralled 57 passes for 883 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the club. He was named honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference. Against Louisiana, the 5’8” and 175-pounder had a career outing with 11 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns. In the 68 Ventures Bowl, he caught eight passes for 127 yards and two scores in the 59-10 victory over Eastern Michigan.
Coach Major Applewhite takes over the program after Kane Wommack jettisoned in-state for the defensive coordinator position at Alabama. Applewhite led Houston to a 15-11 mark in two campaigns and was promoted from offensive coordinator for the Jaguars. Applewhite knows Pritchett’s abilities and will surely design plays for the senior playmaker in 2024.
Scouting Notebook: “Jamaal Pritchett is a warrior as far as I’m concerned. I’ll be honest with you, it’s unfortunate that he had to be a walk-on, but I try to encourage him because that’s the path I had to take. The guy is an exceptional wide receiver, an even better person (who) loves playing football and just continues to master his craft…he’s a big-time player,” wide receiver coach Michael Smith vocalized (al.com).
Germie Bernard, Alabama
Team Offense (Rank): 393 ypg. (56)
Passing Yards: 220 ypg. (68)
Points Scored: 34 ppg. (23)
2023 FPPG: 7.5
Fantrax ADP: 55.3
At Alabama, the runway is abandoned, and Germie Bernard is in a fantastic position to take flight in new coach Kalen DeBoer’s passing game. It is Bernard’s third team in the past three years—Michigan State in 2022 and Washington in 2023. He followed his former coach for the Huskies to Alabama after playing behind Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk last year.
In high school, Bernard was the No. 239 prospect and No. 38 receiver in the nation. A four-star recruit, he was the fifth-rated prospect in Nevada, and selected as the Silver State’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.
In 2023, Bernard recorded 34 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns. The top three pass-catchers on last year’s team did not return to Tuscaloosa, AL, and DeBoer believes that Bernard can be an instant-impact receiver. Bernard will take off as a CFF gamebreaker in Crimson and White this year.
Scouting Notebook: “Bernard has been a guy that’s been waiting for this opportunity. He played a significant role on our team last year at Washington. He’s ready for this moment. (Germie) had a great spring. He loves everything about the process, all the work it takes to get to where you want to be. He’s got big goals,” new coach DeBoer stated (rollbamaroll.com).
Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Team Offense (Rank): 365 ypg. (79)
Passing Yards: 245 ypg. (49)
Points Scored: 26.2 ppg. (70)
2023 FPPG: 14.4
Fantrax ADP: 86.7
Last year, freshman quarterback Rocco Becht took the reins of the offense and performed well above expectations for the Cyclones. From a CFF perspective, Becht raised the bar for two Iowa State receivers—Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins finished the campaign as CFF WR41 and looks likely to conclude much higher this season.
At 6’4” and 210-pounds, the senior played two seasons at Eastern Kentucky (FCS) and accumulated 87 receptions for 1,151 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2022, he flourished with 58 receptions for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns and moved to Iowa State afterward.
In his first season with the Cyclones, Higgins caught 53 passes for 983 yards, averaging 18.5 ypc., and six scores. He recorded three 100-yard games, and in the Liberty Bowl against Memphis, caught nine passes for 214 yards, both career highs. In school history, the yards were the second-most in a game and the most-ever in a bowl game by a Cyclone. In the seventh round of a CFF draft, Higgins is an easy selection to make building a WR corps.
Scouting Notebook: “I never felt like (Higgins) was overwhelmed. As a staff, we felt like every day he got better. He is one of those dudes, when you’re around him, you know that the right things matter to him, matter to his family,” former Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase observed last season (iowastatedaily.com).
Malachi Fields, Virginia
Team Offense (Rank): 369 ypg. (76)
Passing Yards: 251 ypg. (105)
Points Scored: 23.3 ppg. (93)
2023 FPPG: 14.1
Fantrax ADP: 80.3
Last season, Virginia WR Malik Washington was the most valuable waiver wire gemstone among all receivers in college football. After his Week 3 performance, the Cavaliers’ playmaker appeared on less than 5% of CFF rosters. When the season ended, Washington had clutched 110 passes for 1,426 yards and nine scores, becoming a must start on CFF teams. In 2024, Malachi Fields steps up in the pecking order for offensive coordinator Des Kitchings in the passing game.
As a high schooler, Fields played quarterback and cornerback and collected All-Jefferson District first-team honors at quarterback and kick returner. In 2019, he gained 700 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and threw for 1,027 yards and four scores.
At 6’4” and 220-pounds, the senior did not earn many opportunities his first couple of years on campus. In 2023, Fields finally garnered more snaps and touches: He caught 58 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns, being named honorable mention All-ACC. Heading into the upcoming crusade, Fields has lofty aspirations, shooting for 1,000 receiving yards and First Team All-ACC, which is music to the ears of CFF fanatics. Unlike his former teammate, Fields will not be featured in a future waiver gemstones column this fall.
Scouting Notebook: “I heard a quote from Victor Franklin. ‘Between stimulus and response, there’s a space… And in that space, there’s the power to choose. And in that choice lies our growth,’” Fields genuflected in April (29news.com).
CFF Wide Receiver Projections
| Player | Recs. | Rec. Yrds | TDs | Points | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene Wilson III | 80 | 1,020 | 9 | 236 | 19.67 |
| Kevin Concepcion | 85 | 1,050 | 11 | 256 | 21.33 |
| Tre Harris | 72 | 1,170 | 11 | 255 | 21.25 |
| Roc Taylor | 75 | 1,100 | 7 | 227 | 18.92 |
| Xavier Restrepo | 78 | 1,000 | 9 | 232 | 19.33 |
| Emeka Egbuka | 70 | 1,070 | 9 | 231 | 19.25 |
| Brennan Presley | 95 | 1,000 | 10 | 255 | 21.25 |
| Will Pauling | 85 | 930 | 8 | 226 | 18.83 |
| Jamaal Pritchett | 74 | 970 | 9 | 225 | 18.75 |
| Germie Bernard | 80 | 1,060 | 7 | 228 | 19.00 |
| Jayden Higgins | 72 | 1,100 | 8 | 230 | 19.17 |
| Malachi Fields | 65 | 1,050 | 10 | 230 | 19.17 |