John Laub presents the Scholar’s Surreptitious Starters, a look at the top college fantasy football sleepers for Week 3 of the NCAA Football season.
Week 4 College Fantasy Football Sleepers
Quarterbacks
Cornelious Brown, IV, Georgia State at Charlotte: O/U 58 & Georgia State -3.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 4%
Georgia State-Charlotte game postponed: See sleepers below.
Last Saturday, I watched the Sun Belt matchup between Louisiana and Georgia State. I wanted to scout the Ragin Cajuns running back Elijah Mitchell (plus, he was rostered in my DFS lineup).
While Mitchell surely impressed, I also could not keep my eyes off redshirt freshman quarterback Cornelious Brown. A dual-threat signal-caller, Brown passed for 196 yards, rushed for 64, and scored a rushing and receiving touchdown.
The long-limbed playmaker (6’5” and 200-pounds) won the competition in training camp as the starter. “Brown has got a little better understanding of the offense than the other quarterbacks…He’s got the tools to run the ball, and he’s got a big, strong arm. And Quad’s (Brown) got a lot of confidence,” coach Shawn Elliott stated before kickoff against Louisiana (ajc.com).
Las Vegas projects four touchdowns for Georgia State against Charlotte, and Brown will surely be instrumental in moving the chains. If you need an emergency starter, the Panthers’ playmaker is still available on the vast majority of waiver wires in CFF leagues.
Terry Wilson, Kentucky at Auburn: O/U 49.5 & Auburn -7.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 14%
It appears that the Twitterverse CFF Diehards disagree with my assessment for a quarterback sleeper this weekend. In my weekly polls (see results below), I voted for Terry Wilson while the masses preferred Phil Jurkovec and Frank Harris. Please allow me to make my case.
Boston College is a huge favorite, and Jurkovec’s snaps might be limited in a blowout. UTSA hosts the winless Middle Tennessee squad that has surrendered 89 points in two games. Again, Harris might not play in the fourth quarter.
The game script foreshadows the Wildcats playing from behind on the road in the second half. I do not mind starting upperclassman quarterbacks away from home, and the Kentucky dual-threat will not be overwhelmed by the road trip south.
In 2019, Wilson only played in two games after enduring a season-ending torn patellar tendon. He did not suit up for spring practice before the Pandemic began, but arrived on campus healthy for training camp in the summer.
Two years ago, the senior signal-caller scampered for 547 yards and four touchdowns. He added over 1,800 yards in the air and tossed 11 touchdowns. If you are a risktaker like myself, Wilson provides a high floor with his ability to produce fantasy points on the ground.
Honorable Mention
QB Frank Harris, UTSA vs. Middle Tennessee: O/U 60 & UTSA -7.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 30%
QB Brennan Armstrong, Virginia vs. Duke: O/U 46 & Virginia -5.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 18%
QB Jarret Doege, West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State: O/U 51.5 & WVU +6.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 22%
Twitter on Fire!
Who is the top sleeper on the waiver wire at QB for Week 4?
- Terry Wilson, Kentucky: 15.5%
- Frank Harris, UTSA: 43.7%
- Phil Jurkovec, Boston College: 35.2%
- Other, please post below: 5.6%
“Jurkovec had a surprising 300-yard game in his first start vs. Duke last week. He gets Texas State this week. Hopefully we can see the dual-threat skills this week that we have been hearing about all summer.” @JustinNottingh6
“Love what I saw from the new Boston College offense. Phil-Ling good about Jurkovec.” @aceholesrule
“I lean UTSA’s Frank Harris in this sleeper QB poll, although Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec is close.” @FBSFantasyFoot
“Jurkovec is a great one, but Frank Harris has had such a run of great games and MTSU clearly isn’t what they were a year ago. Harris could rush for another 2-3 TDs again this week.” @CFFInsiders
Running Backs
Lopini Katoa and Tyler Allgeier, BYU vs. Troy: O/U 61 & BYU -14
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 29% and 20%
Some of my best ideas and thoughts arise at the strangest times. While driving to get cat food for our kitten on Tuesday, I started thinking about my CFF sleeper running backs for Week 4. For some reason, BYU’s 55-3 trouncing of Navy sprang to the forefront of my musings.
Why are college footballers not discussing the Cougars’ ground game dominance on September 7? BYU rushed for 301 yards and scored five touchdowns. Lopini Katoa and Tyler Allgeier combined for 212 yards and crossed the finish line five times.
“The lanes that the O-line was opening up for us to run through were amazing. We could run the ball where we wanted to. You don’t always see your hard work payoff like you want it to. I think it showed our preparation that we’ve put in through the uncertainty. All our hard work paid off and it showed in the game today,” Katoa stated after the victory (byucougars.com).
Troy notched an easy victory on the road against Middle Tennessee last week, but have a much greater challenge in Provo, Utah on Saturday. The Cougars’ offensive line ranks among the elite in the country and will blast holes against the Trojans’ defensive line. Both Katoa and Allgeier are start-worthy flex options.
Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis, Florida at Mississippi: O/U 57 & Florida -13.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 38% and 9%
Last season’s starter Lamical Perine now plays in New York and CFF diehards waited all offseason to discover who would tote the pigskin for the Gators in 2020. Earlier this week, Florida released its depth chart and listed Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis as co-starters in the backfield.
A junior, Pierce seems most likely to earn the first carry in Saturday’s game. He is the more experienced of the two ball carriers with 123 attempts for 729 yards and six touchdowns. He also has logged nine receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. During the offseason, Pierce returned home to Bainbridge, Georgia. He set two goals—improvement as a route runner and pass catcher—while working out with family and friends.
A redshirt junior, Davis suffered season-ending, lower-body injuries in 2017 and 2018. Last year, he appeared in all 12 games and totaled 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground. As a freshman and sophomore, Davis sparkled as a pass-catcher with 10 catches for 91 yards, and last year, hauled in six passes for 41 yards. He has shined throughout training camp and observers assert that he is back to full strength.
The Gators are favored to capture the SEC East Division and the offense should rank among the best in the conference. Both runners earn carries against Mississippi and produce fantasy points for prudent CFF owners who need backfield assistance. The Florida ball carriers are available on the vast majority of waiver wires this week.
Honorable Mention
RB Darius Pinnix, Jr., East Carolina vs. UCF: O/U 77 & UCF -27.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 7%
RB Destin Coates, Georgia State at Charlotte: O/U 58 & Georgia State -3.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 37%
Twitter on Fire!
Who are you targeting as a flex starter at running back in CFF lineups this weekend?
- John Lovett, Baylor: 21.3%
- Lopini Katoa, BYU: 38,3%
- Leddie Brown, West Virginia: 31.9%
- Other, please post below: 8.5%
“Lovett has to be the most intriguing one. So many unknowns though.” @CFFInsiders
“Auburn RB Shaun Shivers, if and when Gus Malzahn can stay with a running back and make him the bell cow, oh boy, watch out.” @JustinNottingh6
“Always like Leddie Brown. Happy to see him start the season strong.” @CFBWinningEdge
Wide Receivers
Jaylon Robinson, UCF at East Carolina: O/U 77 & UCF -27.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 5%
While many CFF enthusiasts will flock to the SEC and Big-12 matchups this weekend, I am sky-high to watch the AAC contests. The UCF-East Carolina game has the highest O/U projection on the weekend slate and will produce many fantasy points.
Heading into the game, UCF wideout Tre Nixon is listed as questionable after landing hard in the end zone and leaving last week’s contest in the second quarter. Jaylon Robinson stepped into the lineup and recorded six catches for 105 yards, averaging 17.5 ypc.
In high school, Rivals rated Robinson as a four-star recruit and 247Sports identified him as the 46th best athlete in the nation. Originally enrolling at Oklahoma, the redshirt sophomore transferred to UCF and worked with the scout team last year. “I thought it was a good fit for me. [I saw] their speed on offense and I’m a speedy guy, so I wanted to be where the speed is. They’re very explosive and I like the way they run their routes,” Robinson said in March (orlandosentinel.com).
The Knights employ one of the elite aerial assaults in the country, and Las Vegas expects UCF to score seven touchdowns against East Carolina. Even if Nixon suits up, Robinson is worth picking up on CFF rosters and inserting into lineups as a flex option this weekend.
Tre Turner, Virginia Tech vs. NC State: O/U 57 & Virginia Tech -7
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 36%
I am bullish on Hookies QB Hendon Hooker and a covet pass catcher in the Virginia Tech aerial assualt against North Carolina State. Last week, the Wolfpack surrendered 42 points to the Demon Deacons and allowed the opposing receivers to corral 21 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown.
Tre Turner has logged 60 receptions for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns during his first two campaigns on campus. The junior is in a terrific position to smash this week for the Hookies and looks forward to opportunity. “I think it’s the same as the first game, second game, we’re all ready to play. I don’t think anyone is not wanting to play. I think everyone is ready to get on the field and see what we look like as a team,” Turner proclaimed (wsls.com).
With three games already postponed at press time, CFF diehards may need an emergency starter. Turner is still available on many waiver wires and worth adding into lineups Saturday.
Honorable Mention
WR Joshua Moore, Texas at Texas Tech: O/U 70.5 & Texas -18
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 32%
John Metchie III, Alabama at Missouri: O/U 57 & Alabama -27
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 41%
I love to play CFB Cash Games on DraftKings and will provide a Fantastic Four of options to anchor your roster construction each week on the Saturday main slate.
Twitter on Fire!
On CFF waiver wires, there are still many outstanding playmakers who are under 50% rostered. Who Ya Got on Saturday?
- Rashee Rice, SMU: 14.3%
- Marlon Williams, UCF: 50%
- Zay Flowers, Boston College: 35.7%
“I will take Flowers because he is clearly the No. 1 option at BC, but you are right, so many solid wide receivers available.” @aceholesrule
“Rice from SMU, I love everything about that offense and want a piece of that on all my fantasy teams.” @JustinNottingh6
I love to play CFB Cash Games on DraftKings and will provide a Fantastic Four of options to anchor your roster construction each week on the Saturday main slate. Enjoy the games this weekend!
Last Week’s Fantastic Four: 105.5 points scored
Fantrax was one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites of 2019 and we’re not letting our foot off the pedal now! With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan – sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com.