The College Fantasy Football season is in full swing. In College Fantasy Football, matchups can be the deal breaker on who to Play and who to Fade from week to week.
This week is especially interesting. With all the conference realignment, we are getting a lot of rivalry games in Week 3, which are usually reserved for one of the season’s final games. This makes things pretty interesting this week.
Now is the time in the CFF season when we have to stop guessing who will be good and go with the players that are producing. I will try to point you in the right direction for Week 3. Let’s get to it.
QUARTERBACKS
Play Recommendations:
Chandler Morris, North Texas – vs Texas Tech
Morris has lit it up in the first two weeks of the college season. Morris has thrown for 737 yards in two games with seven touchdowns. He did throw three interceptions in Week 2, but now he faces a Texas Tech team that has got worked over the first couple weeks of the season.
The Red Raiders gave up 506 yards and three TDs in Week 1 to Abilene Christian QB Maverick McIvor – yes you read that right – who sounds like the coolest kid to ever go to a Texas High School in a Hollywood football movie.
Then, in Week 2, Texas Tech let Washington State QB John Mateer run for 197 yards and throw for 115 yards, with two total touchdowns.
This is an absolutely ripe matchup for Morris. I wish I had him in every league this week.
Avery Johnson, Kansas State – vs Arizona
In the battle of the Wildcats, these two top 25 teams should put on a show. This should be a really competitive game, but what makes me really pinpoint Johnson for a big performance is what happened to Arizona in Week 1.
They faced New Mexico and dual-threat QB Devon Dampier, who helped lead New Mexico to 39 points. Dampier filled the stat sheet, throwing for 260 yards and three TDs while also rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
This should be an excellent opportunity for Johnson to breakout with his biggest performance of the season.
Fade Recommendations:
Thomas Castellanos, Boston College – vs Missouri
Castellanos has a lot of skill, but I’m avoiding him this week. He needs to run for a lot of yards to score well or shine passing the ball, which is something he hasn’t done a lot of in his career.
The Tigers have shut out their first two opponents. Missouri has given up a total of 83 passing yards in two games. Teams have completed 13 of 35 passes this season. The Tigers haven’t played the best competition, but those numbers are nasty.
Castellanos is a no-go for me this week.
Danny O’Neil, San Diego State – vs California
I like what the true freshman has shown in his first two games as a starter, but he still has a long way to go to be a fantasy-relevant quarterback.
The Aztecs were shut out by Oregon State in Week 2, and now they face a California team that just picked off Payton Thorne four times in an upset win at Auburn.
New Head Coach Sean Lewis will get things going for the Aztecs, but for now, I’m avoiding pretty much every SDSU offensive player until I see them put it all together.
RUNNING BACKS
Play Recommendations:
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa – vs Troy
A lot was expected from Johnson last season, and he didn’t have the type of season anyone was happy with. So far this year, Johnson has impressed, rushing for 306 yards on 36 carries with four TDs.
He is the focal point of the Hawkeyes offense and should continue to be against Troy’s 126th-ranked defense. The Trojans have given up over 100 yards to back-to-back starting running backs with an average of almost nine yards per carry.
It isn’t Thanksgiving just yet, but that shouldn’t stop Johnson from feasting on the Troy defense.
Quentin Cooley, Liberty – vs UTEP
Liberty has struggled a little more than people would have expected to start their season, but they are still 2-0. Now they get a UTEP team that just gave up 183 yards on 20 carries and two TDs to Southern Utah RB Targhee Lambson.
Cooley has been extremely efficient to start the year with 110 and 111 yards on 16 and 12 carries and three combined TDs in the first two games of the year.
I think the Liberty offense gets right this week, and Cooley goes off in this one.
Fade Recommendations:
Oklahoma RBs – vs Tulane
I don’t know what is going on with the Oklahoma backfield, but I’m not playing any of their RBs for the foreseeable future.
They don’t have any running backs with more than 75 yards rushing on the season with one combined rushing TD.
I need to see the Sooners put it together on offense before I can trust anyone on this offense.
Chez Mellusi, Wisconsin – vs Alabama
The Badgers have not been impressive in their two wins and now they get Alabama at home as a three-score dog. I think the Crimson Tide put it to Wisconsin, which is going to force them to play from behind.
That doesn’t bode well for Mellusi getting a lot of carries in this one, and he needs them. Mellusi is only averaging a paltry 3.8 yards per carry this season. Ugh.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Play Recommendations:
Nick Nash, San Jose State – vs Kennesaw State
The Spartans fought through a tough, low-scoring game against Air Force last week, but Nash still had seven catches for 90 yards and one touchdown.
Kennesaw State has not done much to slow down its opponents this season. San Jose State is my pick of the week to dominate this week. Nash already has 27 catches for 260 yards and three TDs this season.
Nash should lead the charge with another big game.
Malachi Fields, Virginia – vs Maryland
Fields has gotten off to a hot start, and he should keep it going against the Terps. Fields has 16 catches for 248 yards but no TDs this season.
That should change this week. Maryland just gave up eight catches for 194 yards and one TD to Nick Marsh of Michigan State, which is not a great offense.
Fields has an absolute field day in this one.
Fade Recommendations:
Luke Grimm, Kansas – vs UNLV
The Runnin’ Rebels defense has been really good to start the season. They shut down Donovan Smith and the Houston offense in Week 1.
No wide receiver has been able to put together a good game against them yet. Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels has had turnover issues with four interceptions already.
I can see Kansas leaning on RB Devin Neal more than they have the first couple of weeks of the season. That means fewer opportunities for Grimm, who has 15 catches for 151 yards and two TDs on the year.
I don’t see that type of output continuing this week.
Luke Floriea, Kent State – vs Tennessee
Sometimes you get lucky, and a player crushes in garbage time, but I don’t think that’s the case this week for Floriea and Kent State.
The Volunteers just crushed NC State in a battle of top 25 teams, and completely shut down the Wolfpack passing attack in a 51-10 win.
Kevin Concepcion was held to five catches for 53 yards in the loss. That gives me little hope that Floriea can put together a decent game.
I’m passing on him this week.
TIGHT ENDS
Play Recommendations:
Colston Loveland, Michigan – vs Arkansas State
I know, I know… this is the most obvious play ever at TE. But with five of the top six CFF TEs on bye and the seventh one being one of my fades below, I’m taking Colston.
He has 20 targets with 16 catches and 157 yards in two games. He is the Wolverines’ best offensive player.
Jack Bech, TCU – vs UCF
The Horned Frogs and Knights could put up some offensive fireworks in Week 3. I expect this to be a high-scoring game.
Bech had a monster Week 1 with six catches for 139 yards and one TD. He was held to two catches for 11 yards in Week 2, but it was an absolute blowout that saw the reserves play most of the game.
Give me some Bech action this week.
Fade Recommendations:
Brant Kuithe, Utah – vs Utah State
It’s not that I don’t like this matchup for Utah against in-state rival Utah State, but the issue is that Utes QB Cam Rising is hurt once again, and his status is in question for Saturday.
This game screams take the under. I think it will be low scoring and ugly. The Utah defense should shutdown the Aggies, which should result in a conservative gameplan.
Kuithe only had one reception for five yards in Week 2. If you have a better option at TE, I would take it.
Alex Bauman, Tulane – vs Oklahoma
If you read my CFF waiver-wire article earlier this week, then you saw that I said to possibly take a flyer on Bauman, who only has four catches this season, but three of those have gone for TDs.
While I like him to continue to increase his targets throughout the year, I don’t think it will happen this week. Oklahoma has been really good on defense and that should continue on Saturday.
If you picked up Bauman, sit him this week, then get him back into your lineup starting in Week 4 against the University of Louisiana – Lafayette.
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