The college fantasy football season is in full swing, and as we head into Week 2, some high-profile players might be worth fading, while a few surprise candidates have emerged as weekly starters—cough Devin Dampier cough.
Excuse the hoarse voice; I’ve been yelling at my TV a bit too much lately. In this article, I’ll break down who you should consider fading this week and which players deserve a spot in your lineup. Unlike NFL fantasy football, the college season can end quickly if you’re not making the right moves. So, let’s dive into some key players and their potential roles for this week.
QUARTERBACKS
Play Recommendations:
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt – vs. Alcorn State
Pavia, securing the upset in overtime against Virginia Tech, picked up right where he left off from his 2023 season. A dual-threat QB, Pavia passed for 2 touchdowns and 190 passing yards. Additionally, he rushed the ball 26 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. He ranked as QB5 in rush attempts last year at New Mexico State, and there is a very good chance he finishes in the top 5 again this season.
This week, he draws an FCS opponent in Alcorn State, who allowed UAB to average 5.6 yards per carry on 53 attempts. UAB’s QB, Jacob Zeno, carried the ball 5 times for 37 yards while passing for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. A stat line that fits Pavia’s playing style. Expect another heavy dose of rush attempts; Vanderbilt would be foolish not to stick with the game plan.
Ethan Vasko, Coastal Carolina – vs. William & Mary
When Vasko was named the starter, CFF players knew his upside came from his legs. In Week 1 vs. Jacksonville State, he rushed 13 times and found the end zone. He also had a decent day through the air with 249 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, good for 27.8 fantasy points.
This week, he gets the Tribe from William & Mary, a premier public research university. As always, I’m starting a quarterback who is up against an inferior opponent. With William & Mary losing two key defensive pieces, Vasko is set up to have another big week.
Fade Recommendations:
Byrum Brown, USF – @ Alabama
This is strictly a matchup-based decision. You drafted Brown with early capital to start him week in and week out, but this is Alabama, in Alabama, at night. Although he is dangerous with his legs, shown by his Week 1 output, his numbers through the air won’t be sufficient to trust in Tuscaloosa. He barely threw for over 150 yards vs. Bethune-Cookman and finished as the overall QB73.
Don’t worry about Byrum, though—his best matchups are yet to come. Brown’s last 5-6 games are where you’ll want to plug him into your lineup. If he has another bad outing or two and someone drops him or wants to move on for cheap, swoop in and stash him for the stretch.
Joey Aguilar, App State – @ Clemson
For the same reasons Carson Beck was a fade for me last week, Joey Aguilar falls into that category as well, though he doesn’t play for the Bulldogs. The App State offense can be explosive against similar or lower-tiered opponents, but the Clemson defense is still stout. Beck, who the Tigers played last week, ended the day with two touchdown passes and 278 yards but wasn’t able to complete a deep pass.
Aguilar does possess rushing upside—he ran for two scores in Week 1—but the App State offense isn’t expected to do much. The over/under is currently set at 52.5, with Clemson favored by 17.5. While I am projecting Aguilar to have a decent day and keep the Mountaineers in it, I don’t see him being worth a fantasy play.
RUNNING BACKS
Play Recommendations:
Justin Marshall, Colorado State – vs. Northern Colorado
Justin Marshall walked out of Week 1 in Texas as the focal point of the Rams’ offense. Of the team’s 32 rush attempts, Marshall accounted for a staggering 78% of the carries. We didn’t get a touchdown, as Colorado State didn’t find paydirt once, and he wasn’t involved in the passing attack, which is a negative. However, seeing him rush for 100+ yards, without a big chunk run, against a Texas defense that was top-three in the nation last year in defending the run, Marshall is wheels up from here on out.
This week, he faces the Northern Colorado Bears, an FCS team that CSU should have no problem beating. In their Week 1 matchup against Incarnate Word, the Bears allowed a healthy 7+ yards per attempt to IWC’s top rusher, who also found the end zone twice. The matchup and game script are all there for Justin Marshall to be a top performer in Week 2.
Jonah Coleman, Washington – vs. Eastern Michigan
The staff, QB, WRs, and much of the team may have been gutted since last year’s run to the National Championship, but the Huskies wanted to come out and make a statement. A team that averaged 27.4 rush attempts per game last year drove the ball upfield 33 times in Week 1, a decent increase. Of those 33 attempts, Coleman was responsible for 16. On top of seeing all that volume, his efficiency numbers were terrific: 7.9 yards per carry, 5.63 yards after contact. His explosiveness was evident with 7 runs over 10 yards, and 2 of them over 15. Coleman was nearly creating a fantasy point per touch. Oh, he also had three touchdowns, no big deal.
This week, he faces Eastern Michigan, a matchup for the ages (the dark ages). In Week 1, App State averaged 5.6 yards per carry, exposing the defense’s vulnerabilities. Eastern Michigan should be no match for Washington, and Jonah Coleman should not only see full touches but a positive game script as well.
Fade Recommendations:
Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma – vs. Houston
Starting Sawchuk this weekend left you exposed to a vulnerability in your lineup, and it’s not easy to make up for. The waiver wire at the position isn’t navigable when trying to replicate the projected production of Gavin Sawchuk in the Sooners’ rush attack. Week 1 wasn’t good at all. In a game where he should have walked out as the leader in the room, he did end up with the most attempts, but in terms of production, he averaged only 2.5 yards per carry and didn’t record a single broken tackle. Every next man up behind him looked better in every way.
This week, Oklahoma plays the Houston Cougars, who held the UNLV Rebels to 4.9 yards per carry on over 40 attempts. While it may seem like a decent spot for Sawchuk, you’re sitting him this week and possibly beyond due to the committee that will emerge in Oklahoma’s backfield.
Donovan Edwards, Michigan – vs. Texas
It took Justin Marshall 20+ carries to hit the 100-yard mark against Texas, and that’s a number I don’t see Donovan Edwards hitting in terms of volume in this week’s matchup. Additionally, Kaleel Mullings looked like the better back between the two in their game against Fresno State. Mullings ended up being the touch leader out of the room, and Donovan Edwards averaged only 2.5 yards per attempt.
Texas’ defense is just too good, and Michigan doesn’t have the passing attack to support their running game down the field. This doesn’t bode well for Edwards, who doesn’t see the volume in the first place. The fact that he wasn’t able to do much with the little opportunity he had against an inferior opponent, and his backup was better in nearly every statistical category, makes Edwards a fade.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Play Recommendations:
Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville – vs. Jacksonville State
The injury to the projected WR1 for the Louisville offense during fall camp initially suggested Chris Bell would step up, but it was Brooks who ended up being the go-to guy. In camp, it was noted that Brooks was building a bond with Shough, and Week 1 reflected that bond on the field. Brooks finished the day with 8 targets, 83 yards, both team highs, and 1 receiving touchdown, good enough for 17.8 fantasy points and a top-60 wide receiver finish.
In Week 2, he gets Jacksonville State at home, a team that just allowed Coastal Carolina to drop 50 points on them. The same should happen with the Cardinals this week and their high-flying offense. Feel comfortable playing Brooks, whether you’re looking for a bounce-back or a 2-0 start.
Devin McCuin, UTSA – @ Texas State
With De’Corian Clark still dealing with a knee injury, McCuin has taken full advantage of being the Roadrunners’ WR1. Fourteen targets in Week 1 resulted in 25.4 fantasy points, good enough for a WR20 finish, which is fantastic in college fantasy football. Breaking down his usage, six of McCuin’s targets came behind the line of scrimmage, which isn’t part of Clark’s role in the offense. The Roadrunners are scheming touches for McCuin, and that’s what you want from your fantasy wide receivers in the college game.
This week, UTSA gets Texas State, and in Week 1, the Bobcats allowed Lamar’s Kyndon Fuselier to tally over 100 yards through the air. I’m expecting a shootout in Texas, and so is Vegas, with the game opening at a 64.5-point total. With UTSA being a 1.5-point underdog, both teams are projected to put up 30+ points each. Given McCuin’s role in the offense, he’s a must-start in Week 2.
Fade Recommendations:
Isiah Bond, Texas – @ Michigan
Bond walked out of Week 1 as the go-to target for Ewers, and while I expect that role to continue, this week against Michigan he’s a fade for me. I’m expecting a close game, despite the Wolverines’ offense not looking great overall, and the Longhorns’ offense putting on a clinic. Both defenses looked solid and should slow down the other side of the ball. The game total is 44.5 points, which doesn’t offer much upside for fantasy.
Now, looking at how Fresno State’s Jalen Moss found success in Week 1, it was on deep targets, over 20 yards downfield against Michigan. Bond was only targeted deep once in Week 1, and last season, Texas didn’t excel at deep passing with Ewers. 35% of Moss’ targets came on deep routes, which accounted for 51 of his 90+ yards. Bond is a fade this week because he won’t find that same success—Texas just doesn’t do it well enough.
Sean Atkins, South Florida – @ Alabama
This goes hand-in-hand with the fade of QB Byrum Brown. The fact that there wasn’t much passing volume against inferior opponents means there will be even less opportunity against Alabama. The only hope for fantasy managers is that the game script works in Atkins’ favor and USF has to throw to catch up. The question is, how efficient will Brown be?
These two teams played in Week 3 last year, and the Bulls totaled just 87 passing yards, with Atkins recording 6 catches for 42 yards. Alabama is simply too good defensively for USF to do much through the air. The top WR for the Hilltoppers in Week 1 had only 27 receiving yards. With better options available, fade Atkins this week.
TIGHT ENDS
Play Recommendations:
Bauer Sharp, Oklahoma – vs. Houston
Key contributor Jalil Farooq is down with a foot injury, which is devastating news for the Sooners’ lead slot receiver. However, this opens up opportunities for Bauer Sharp to get more targets in the middle of the field. Farooq went down in the second quarter of Week 1, and Sharp took over as the second option in the passing attack, catching 5 of 6 targets for 47 yards and a touchdown. Sharp’s output shouldn’t decrease in Week 2.
He faces Houston this week, and the UNLV Rebels—a G5 school—put up 27 points on them at home. While the Rebels weren’t prolific through the air, Houston is a lower-tier opponent compared to Oklahoma. The Sooners should dominate on both sides of the ball, which bodes well for Sharp’s fantasy output. In Week 1, he was targeted twice in the red zone, once as a secondary target and once as the primary target, where he secured a touchdown. His role as a mismatch against opposing linebackers in tight situations will be key to his success.
Boden Groen, Rice – vs. Texas Southern
Although Rice’s offense struggled, scoring only 14 points against Sam Houston, Groen tied in targets with WR Braylen Walker. RB Dean Conners was the overall leader, but among pass catchers, it was Groen and Walker leading the charge. Groen lined up in the slot for the second-most snaps, which is ideal for a tight end with fantasy potential and highlights his involvement in the offense.
Rice gets Texas Southern this week, an FCS opponent that should allow Rice to produce offensively. With Groen’s role and target volume, there is potential for him to find the end zone this week. Rice is favored by 30 points, with the over/under set at 52.5 total points. Texas Southern has lost their last 19 road games, and everything points to Rice having a great day in the end zone.
Fade Recommendations:
Luke Lachey, Iowa – vs. Iowa State
While Luke was a highly-targeted player in the Iowa offense in Week 1, the volume might be there this week against Iowa State, but anything after that is doubtful. This game is set to be a stale matchup, with a total line of 35 points, and Iowa is only a slight favorite. I’m not buying into the 40 points Iowa dropped on Northern Illinois in Week 1—their passing offense, led by Cade McNamara, isn’t that great. His average depth of target was eight yards, and they didn’t push the ball downfield. Despite a healthy number of targets, Lachey is a fade this week.
Holden Willis, Middle Tennessee – @ Ole Miss
Willis was a highly sought-after fantasy target in CFF this season, mainly due to his dual designation. However, Week 1 was disappointing. Two receptions on three targets for just over 30 yards is a day to forget, especially against Tennessee Tech, an FCS team where Middle Tennessee dropped 32 points. Looking at where Willis lined up primarily, 57% of the time, he was used inline. In 2023, he lined up in that position on only 7.1% of his snaps. It’s only one game, but if this becomes a trend, it’ll be panic button time.
This week, they face a much more formidable opponent in Ole Miss, a top-25 ranked team that dropped 76 points on Furman. Furman managed only 146 yards on 25 attempts, and we don’t expect Middle Tennessee to do much more. Willis is a fade for Week 2 and possibly beyond if his role doesn’t improve.
Wheels are up for week two and I am looking forward to the weekend that is going to be full of football. I might have to “pull” my back to make sure I don’t miss a minute of it. Good luck this week and after this week we are on to Cincinnati. Thanks for reading! For more weekly CFF Plays and Fades, click here.
