As a fellow CFF dynasty league player, I’m always looking for freshmen that will come in and make their contributions in year one. I managed to secure a few of those guys last year and now the focus turns to what players are coming in this year. The 2019 Class was undoubtedly defensive heavy, but there are many Offensive guys coming in that are hungry to make a name for themselves. There are a few guys that could make a splash in year two, but this piece is looking for the guy that comes in and plays right away.
Year One CFF Dynasty Plays
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Quarterbacks
Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
So this one could be seen as a bit of a stretch considering the Sooners brought in Jalen Hurts in the offseason. Hurts was one of the bigger named transfers on the market but does his skill set really mesh with what Lincoln Riley wants to do. Hurts has the legs and running ability of an NFL running back but doesn’t quite have near the arm that Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray had before him. Rattler brings a strong arm and great mobility to the table and if he can make strides then Hurts might find himself in a very familiar situation by the end of the season. Ratter ranks as the top overall quarterback in the 2019 class and Barton Simmons of 247Sports said that he could be transcendent at the college level given his mobile ability and accuracy throwing the ball. Whether or not he’s the guy this year or not, you’re still going to have to take him in the first round.
Bo Nix, Auburn
So, unsurprisingly, I have both of the five-star quarterbacks from the 2019 class on this list and with a good reason for both. Bo Nix enters Auburn with an open competition at quarterback following the departure of Jarrett Stidham. Nix is an instinctive passer with some mobility. His lack of an overpowering arm is made up for in his creativity as a playmaker. Nix has the talent and size to go right away and could potentially make a splash in the NFL given his skill set. He will have to come in right away and make a strong impression with the offensive staff if he wants to beat out Malik Willis who has waited patiently for his shot in the spotlight.
Jayden Daniels, Arizona State
One of the most underrated quarterbacks in his tenure with the Sun Devils was Manny Wilkins. Wilkins threw for 3,000+ yards and 20 touchdowns twice and increased his numbers on the ground with every year he started. Although Wilkins had the ability to run well, he always looked to make a play with his arm and Jayden Daniels is no different. Daniels has some serious talent in his legs. His mobility and athleticism allow him to extend out plays but it’s his passing mentality that makes him interesting. He always has the option to take off running but you can see in hi fil that he would rather make a pass. The only thing that I find wrong with him as of now is his slender build but some time in the Sun Devil weight room should fix that right on up.
Sam Howell, North Carolina
Sam Howell surprised many when he switched his commitment at the last second from Florida State to North Carolina, but I dig it. Howell is a runner, plain and simple. At 6-foot, 220, Howell isn’t about to outrun anyone but he’s elusive and very very strong. Some have compared Howell to Baker Mayfield but Howell runs with more power that Baker did and Baker has a better arm. He needs to work on his accuracy but he could be the top guy immediately after the Spring due to a lacking in talent quarterback room in Chapel Hill. I should also mention that Phil Longo is his OC, the guy who developed Jordan Ta’Amu at Ole Miss.
Isaiah Williams, Illinois
I know it’s Illinois, but this kids tape is insane. He’s incredibly mobile and actually has a half-way decent arm. He enters a team that wants to run their quarterback and go up-tempo, which Williams wants to do. And lastly, Rod Smith, who served as a co-offensive coordinator under Rich Rodriguez in the past couple seasons, is the OC at Illinois and could make something special out of this kid in the long run. I was almost hesitant to put Williams in here because other guys in my dynasty league read my content.
Others to Consider
Hank Bachmeier, Boise State; Ryan Hillinski, South Carolina; Graham Mertz, Wisconsin; Peter Parrish, LSU
Running Backs
Trey Sanders, Alabama
As a disclaimer, Trey Sanders won’t be the number one guy out the gate. Najee Harris (a guy who most thought would take the top spot sooner) is the top dog this year and the departure of Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs leave room for Sanders to pick up some snaps early on. Sanders is your typical, big-bodied, Alabama running back and will have as much success as most Alabama backs have in their careers.
John Emery Jr., LSU
I’m much more excited to talk about John Emery Jr.’s freshman year than I am Trey Sanders’. LSU had two capable backs last season in Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Nick Brossette. Neither Edwards-Helaire nor Brossette provided that explosiveness that we’ve seen out of Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice. Emery is one of the more explosive players in the 2019 class and should have no problem topping the four yards per carry that Brossette and Edwards-Helaire finished with last season.
Wandale Robinson, Nebraska
The addition of the top-all purpose back in the 2019 class seems huge now for Nebraska. Robinson still would’ve been solid in his first season with Maurice Washington in the way but it seems as though he might end up starting with Washington’s legal trouble. Robinson isn’t the biggest of backs, but he has sub-4.4 speed and has the skill to play as a slot receiver. If Washington is suspended, the dividends for drafting Robinson will pay-off early.
Zach Charbonnet, Michigan
Zach Charbonnet is a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder out of California. He’s a one-cut back with strong legs. He’s good when running straight at the defense and can wear down linebackers as the game progresses. Michigan loses Karan Higdon to graduation and 2018 leading-rusher is having some trouble getting academically eligible as of late. Charbonnet has excellent drive and character on top of his incredible running abilities that could drive him right to the top of the depth chart.
Austin Jones, Stanford
Stanford is on the lookout for playmakers in 2019. The Cardinal are losing Bryce Love and Cameron Scarlett leaving a huge hole in the rushing game on top of them losing JJ Arcega-Whiteside in the passing game. Austin Jones comes off a senior season where he finished 33 yards short of 2,000 yards. He’s not the fastest, but he’s a patient runner that waits for holes to develop and has really good hands. He could come in right away and go for Stanford and anyone who plays CFF knows how good Stanford backs are.
Jamious Griffin, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is in a bit of an overhaul after changing from Paul Johnson’s triple-option to Geoff Collins’ ground-and-pound offense. We know that Tech won’t be passing the ball too excessively this season, so the addition of Griffin over Louisville and NC State was huge for Collins. Considering this was the guy Collins went after hard, I’d expect him to see snaps out the gate and he certainly brings in a pedigree of producing good fantasy backs at Temple.
Others to Consider
Jirehl Brock and Breece Hall, Iowa state; Kenny McIntosh, Georgia; Deondrick Glass, Oklahoma State; Jordan Wilmore, Utah; Zonovan Knight, NC State, King Doerue, Purdue
Wide Receivers
Jadon Haselwood, Oklahoma
When you see that a top-flight receiver is choosing between Oklahoma and Georgia, it’s nice to see him go out west. Jadon Haselwood signed with the Sooners earlier this year and I expect him to go right away. Hollywood Brown’s departure gives CeeDee Lamb his shot at the top of the depth chart. Haselwood is sure to take over Lamb’s previous role as the No. 2 guy and might steal away the top role if all goes well. Haselwood makes plays using elite ball skills rather than by creating space with speed. He has strong hands and is aggressive in jump ball situations. If he can build up some more muscle in the offseason, he’s golden.
Bru McCoy/Jordan Whittington, Texas
Sam Ehlinger comes in as my No. 2 or 3 quarterback before the Spring of 2019 and with good reason. Texas brings in plenty of talent at wide receiver but the two that stand out the most are Bru McCoy and Jordan Whittington. McCoy transferred over from USC after signing his LOI in the early signing period in 2018.
McCoy is my favorite to take over the void left by Lil’Jordan Humphrey. He played on both sides of the ball and made the hardest of catches seem routine. He has good body control and is fast enough to beat out some corners as well. He’s the obvious apparent to the job, but is he eligible?
If not, Texas also brings in Whittingham. Whittingham is a very different player from McCoy but incredibly talented nonetheless. He’s very much a Ty Montgomery-esque player that plays wide receiver but could be a running back. He’s more dangerous with the ball in his hand than most receivers in this class considering his running back-like mobility and shifty skill set. Whittingham will likely get time with or without McCoy, but his production will certainly spike with him out a year.
Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Several years ago, Chad Morris took over at SMU and took an unknown receiver in Courtland Sutton and turned him into a stud. A season later, he did the same thing with LSU-transfer Trey Quinn in his lone productive college season. Morris needed bodies at Arkansas this season and Treylon Burks comes in as one of the best. He’s the size of a linebacker with the speed of a receiver. He’s got great hands and athleticism that makes him difficult to cover and he is incredibly difficult to take down.
There’s always a receiver that pops up at an under the radar school and makes a name for himself early. Rondale Moore, Leviska Shenault, Anthony Johnson, AJ Brown, and Courtland Sutton. Who’s to say that Burks isn’t that guy?
Darren Jones, Utah
I’m not selecting Jones as an early impact guy because Utah has an elite quarterback. I’m not selecting him because he is a transcendent athlete. I am putting him on this list because he’s 6-foot-8. Jones is thin enough to keep his speed and long stride useful and he’s incredibly long making him just that much harder to cover.
Jones selected Utah over Florida, Georgia, and Nebraska and joins the Utes who return plenty of talent at quarterback. Tyler Huntley may not be the most accurate of passers, but with close to seven-foot worth of target all you have to do it get it close.
Nolan Groulx, Wake Forest
Greg Dortch was a revelation under Dave Clawson and his departure leaves an open void in the Demon Deacons offense. Groulx enters with a similar size and skill set and was told by the coaching staff that there’s a good chance that he gets the first shot at Dortch’s role. Groulx is the highest rated recruit Wake has ever had and it’s not hard to see why given his speed, elusiveness, and an impressive 36 inch vertical from a 6-foot tall human.
Others to Consider
Garrett Wilson, Ohio State; Kyle Ford, USC; Elijah Higgins, Stanford; Mycah Pittman, Oregon; Puka Nacua, Washington; Khafre Brown, North Carolina; La’Vontae Shenault, Colorado
Tight Ends
Baylor Cupp, Texas A&M
Anyone who listens to the CFF: OnCampus knows how much I loved Jace Sternberger last season. With Sternberger gone, I was wondering who would replace him then Jimbo brought in Baylor Cupp.
Baylor Cupp is one of the very few tight ends who I’ve ever seen run the 200-meters in track and field as well. He’s a fast athletic tight end with a great frame. He’s got plenty of room to grow into his 6-foot-6 frame and has one the most beneficial offenses in college football for a pass-catching tight end. I will target Cupp heavily in my Dynasty drafts and will likely pick him up in some standard drafts as well.
Patrick Herbert, Oregon
Nepotism isn’t always the greatest of routes to the top but it will certainly work for Patrick Herbert. Herbert’s brother Justin passed up on going in the first round of the NFL to return to school for one last ride. One of the reasons for this was so that he could get the opportunity to play with his brother before he starts the next chapter of his life.
Patrick is much more of a pass-catcher than a blocker which bodes well for his fantasy upside as a red-zone target. He has soft hands and great body control that make him difficult to defend. Oregon returns Jacob Breeland who has spent much time injured and saw his numbers slip last season despite receiving more targets. Herbert could come in and show off his abilities and steal time early on.
Others to Consider
Keon Zipperer, Florida; Austin Stogner, Oklahoma; Ryland Goode, Georgia; Jaelyn Lay, Clemson; Jahleel Billingsly, Alabama; Michael Martinez, UCLA
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