The names in this article will help you Win Your College Fantasy Football Drafts in 2024. In NFL fantasy football they say you can’t win your draft with your first pick, but you can lose your draft with your first pick. In College Fantasy Football, I believe you can win your leagues in the back half of your draft. We will focus on rounds 25-30 and some UnDrafted Free Agent (UDFA) guys you should take with your last pick or at least be keeping an eye on for an early waiver claim. ADP is based on Fantrax ADP. When I mention points per game (ppg), I am assuming a 12-team league that uses 6-point passing TDs and 1 point per reception (PPR).
Win Your CFF Draft In Rounds 25-30
Running Back CFF Draft Value
Anthony Watkins – Tulsa (APD: 303.18)
In 2021, Anthony Watkins shared the backfield with Deneric Prince (now with the Kansas City Chiefs) and Shamari Brooks. Tulsa beat reporter, Cayden McFarland, mentioned he thought Watkins was a better runner than Prince in the 2021 season. In that season, he had 634 yards rushing on 86 attempts and 4 touchdowns. Fast forward to 2023, Watkins led the team in rushing with 889 yards and 4 touchdowns. He accounted for ~37% of the rushing attempts and had ~16 rushing attempts per game. Overall, I do not view Tulsa’s schedule to be very difficult in 2024, and I believe we will see a lot of Anthony Watkins.
Quarterback CFF Draft Value
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi – Colorado State (APD: 317.83)
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi was not the starter heading into the 2023 season; however, he became the man early on. Fowler-Nicolosi has had an entire offseason to prepare as the #1 QB. I expect big things out of him and the Rams this year and other schools do too! Reports are that he turned down $600k to hit the transfer portal. In 2023, he averaged 19.8 fantasy ppg and was QB 41. He threw for 3,460 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. It wasn’t too long ago we saw Carson Strong, under Coach Norvell, passing for 366 yards per game and winning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors. In 2021, we saw Strong average 28.85ppg, and that was being pulled down by his -1.73 points from the rushing department each week. At this point in the draft you are looking to round out your roster. Take Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi in the 27th round of your drafts.
🎯Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (CSU)
✅Potential to be one of the top QBs in the Mountain West & the whole G5 in 2024
✅Showed a lot of positive things. Limiting INT’s is his next step in development
✅Great vs the blitz though: 9tds-0ints, 8.5ypa
✅Expect a big year pic.twitter.com/LlOkNgqT5p
— QB Spotlight (@QBspotlight) July 12, 2024
Wide Receiver CFF Draft Value
Omari Hayes – Florida Atlantic (APD: 347)
Tom Herman’s system, loves to target the slot wide receiver. Historically, ~50% of the wide receiver targets go to the slot. In 2023, the Owls threw 388 times and slot wide receiver, Lajohntay Wester, had 152 of those targets. Wester is off to Colorado, so Tom Herman is looking for a new slot guy. Omari Hayes had a huge spring game! He had a first half line of 7 receptions for 55 yards and 1 TD. That is good for 18.5 fantasy points at the half! That is a STEAL in the 29th round.
#FAU 2024 Spring Game 1st Half Stats 🔽🔽🔽 Starks with a solid showing under center. Omari Hayes 55 yards receiving. pic.twitter.com/Gs59BdlRMH
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 13, 2024
Win Your CFF Draft with UDFAs
Running Back CFF Draft Value
CJ Campbell – Florida Atlantic (APD: NA)
CJ Campbell is 5’10” and 202lbs. He transferred to FAU via Florida State in January. He was also added to the preseason Doak Walker Award Watch List. The G5 Hive interviewed FAU beater reporter, Robbie Lastella, and he had this to say about Campbell, “CJ Campbell made his name known in the spring game for sure. He started the day with a 75-yard tote to the house in that one.” The Tom Herman offense is known for its passing, but I like what Campbell has to offer. If you missed out on running backs early in your draft, take a shot on CJ Campbell.
Wide Receiver CFF Draft Value
Chris Hilton – LSU (APD: NA)
This take is moreso on the Tigers than Chris Hilton, so hear me out. As camp has gone on, Hilton continues to impress. LSU averaged 45.5 points per game and 31.6 pass attempts per game in 2023. Garrett Nussmeier is no Jaden Daniels with his legs, so I believe the passing attempts will go up this year. This defense did not make any huge changes in terms of talent, so I will take the shot that this defense is similar to what it was in 2023, 82nd of 133 teams allowing 28 points per game. This means they will be throwing the ball to keep up in these matchups. High passing volume + Bad defense = Points. They have the University of Southern California (USC) in Week 1, and I anticipate some fireworks in that one. Keep an eye on Chris Hilton. Grab him with your last pick or be ready on the waiver wire. The choice is yours.
The #LSU Practice Report:
– Ashton Stamps added another INT on Garrett Nussmeier. He’s been dominant.
– Ka’Morreun Pimpton (TE) with a big day.
– PJ Woodland + JK Johnson at 2nd Team CB.
– Kylin Jackson + DaShawn Spears at 2nd Team S.
– Chris Hilton impressed again.Big day. pic.twitter.com/sRovyyT6pT
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) August 5, 2024
Qua’Vez Humphreys – Sam Houston (APD: NA)
People are drafting Noah Smith from this receiving room (ADP of 50), but the name you need to know is Qua’Vez Humphreys. Humphreys missed the entire 2023 season with a broken foot. The G5 Hive interviewed Ben Sorrells, the COO of The Kat Fund. Ben mentioned Humphreys as being the wide receiver #1 in this offense and his offensive breakout player for the Bearkats in 2024. Noah Smith was WR18 and averaged 18.1ppg in 2023. You can’t always lean on outcomes, so let’s look at the process. If we expect Humphreys’ role in 2024 to be what Smith’s was in 2023, we could be looking at an undrafted wide receiver who is getting more than 100 targets! Humphreys’ upside is worth a last pick in your drafts.
Quarterback CFF Draft Value
Hunter Watson – Sam Houston (APD: NA)
I do not suggest drafting Hunter Watson, but keep an eye on him. This is a straight gut call, but I need to have it in writing before the season starts. If I don’t? Nobody will believe me! Sam Houston will be running a run-pass option (RPO) offensive here in 2024, so the quarterback needs to be mobile. They brought in a transfer from Central Michigan, Jase Bauer. In six games (1 start) at CMU, Bauer ran for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns. They also brought in another transfer quarterback, Hunter Watson. Watson transferred in via Iowa Western Community College, where he ran for 717 yards and 8 touchdowns in a full season. In that same interview with Ben Sorrells, Ben states, “If Watson plays the way he did during the Spring, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up possibly being the starter.” I believe we will have to wait before we get to see Watson under center. Week 3 is against Hawaii. At this point, the world will get to meet Hunter Watson!
It is important to remember that College Fantasy Football is a different kind of beast than NFL fantasy football. While in NFL fantasy they say you can’t win your draft with your first pick, but you can lose your draft with your first pick. In College Fantasy Football, I believe you can win your leagues in the back half of your draft. I gave you seven names to take fliers on at the end of your drafts. Or at the very least, I gave you four names to watch on the waiver wire. If you missed Part I or II of this series, Top College Fantasy Football Values in Rounds 10-16 and Mid/Late Round Draft Values in College Fantasy Football, I would encourage you to go back and check them out. Don’t just win your draft at the end, crush your league mates throughout your draft!