Last week I brought you 2024 CFF: Top 5 G5 RBs Outside of the Top 24 Rankings. This week, I want to talk about my Top 5 G5 WRs who are Outside John Laub’s Top 24 Players. My friend, John Laub, wrote an article, First Down: 2024 College Fantasy Football Rankings. In my introductory piece for Fantrax, I wrote about my love for the G5. Heck, I co-host a podcast called the G5 Hive. In this article, we’ll talk about my Top 5 G5 WRs who can be difference-makers for your teams and who are outside John Laub’s Top 24.
Top G5 WRs Outside John Laub’s Top 24
Note: The wide receivers below will be listed in the order of John Laub’s rankings and include each player’s Fantrax CFF ADP and June C2C ADP. C2C ADP is courtesy of Campus2Canton.com. Any PPG talk is assuming 1 point per reception (PPR) leagues.
(#26) Steven McBride – Hawaii (78.86/222.7)
Steven McBride had 105 targets in 2023. He caught 63 of those for 1,024 yards and 9 TDs (16.6ppg). He had 7 games with over 15 points. In 2023, Hawaii ran 68.2 plays per game which was 76th in the nation. He led the team in receiving yards in 5 of 13 games last year. He averaged 4.8 receptions per game for an average of 78.8 yards. This is a sheer volume play here. Last year they threw the ball 41 times per game, good for 4th in the G5. By the sounds of it, that playbook is a tough one to master, so Brayden Schager being in that Run-N-Shoot offense for another year should help. Heck, maybe they run even more plays in 2024.
(#43) Kole Wilson – Texas State (109.36/233.1)
In 2023, Kole Wilson averaged 5.1 receptions and 57.5 yards per game. That is good for a floor of ~10 ppg. They brought in Jordan McCloud, from James Madison. McCloud was the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2023. Last year, Texas State passed the ball, on average, 33 times per game and averaged 36.7 points. With that kind of volume, I like the odds for Texas State to have 2 viable fantasy options in 2024.
(#56) Kaedin Robinson – Appalachian State (93.07/282.1)
Kaedin Robinson was WR20 (15.5ppg) last year. He had 68 receptions on 92 targets for 905 yards and a Sun Belt-leading 10 TDs. Robinson will be moving into the slot in 2024. What does that mean? Well, in the very soggy Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl game, he moved to the slot and had 8 receptions for a career-high 118 yards. Robinson could see the ball even more than he did last year! My co-host, Justice, and I interviewed Robinson. We talked to him about this transition. That interview will drop on Saturday, July 6. Check it out on our YouTube page or via podcast (Apple/Spotify).
(#85) Amare Thomas – University of Alabama Birmingham (145.64/286.3)
As a freshman in 2023, Thomas had 53 catches for 437 yards and 3 TDs. Those 53 receptions set the UAB freshman reception record. That was also good for the 7th most in a single season. In a game v #1 Georgia, he had 9 receptions for 60 yards and 1 TD. AS A FRESHMAN! Those numbers equate to 4.4 receptions and 36.4 yards per game. However, in fantasy, you need to project. They threw the ball 35.6 times and scored 29.9 points per game last year. Given those numbers, I am projecting Thomas to take that next step and be a target magnet in 2024!
(NA) Mario Williams – Tulane (164.36/303)
I will admit, this one is a straight vibes pick. But at this value, who can blame me? Mario Williams was originally at Oklahoma. He transferred to USC and now to Tulane. Tulane brings in a new coaching staff from Troy. In 2023, Troy averaged 29.6 points per game and 32.6 pass attempts per game. This will be the same system at Tulane in 2024. Tulane is again poised to make some noise in the G5 this year, and Mario Williams will be a key target for Oregon transfer Ty Thompson. According to my sources, Williams practiced 3 or 4 times in the spring before the staff shut him down. They did not need to see any more. He even started coaching other wide receivers in that room. At this value, give me Mario Williams.
There you have it. Those are my Top 5 G5 WRs outside John Laub’s Top 24. College Fantasy Football (CFF) and Campus2Canton (C2C) drafts are starting up. There is only one place to do your college fantasy football drafts, and it’s FANTRAX! Knowing G5 players can help give you edges in your drafts. The return on investment can be HUGE! Now, go use this information you learned here and crush your drafts in 2024! CFF and C2C leagues, to the moon baby!