Yahoo! Sports announced the launch of it’s College Fantasy Football League. We take a look at Louisville Football’s top ranked players at each position.
This week, Yahoo! Sports announced the launch of it’s brand new yearly college football fantasy league.
The concept of college football fantasy leagues is not anything new, but it is unique and exciting given the ruling banning sites like Fan Duel and Draft Kings from doing weekly games involving your favorite college teams.
Yahoo’s league will consist of all 64 Power Five teams, and Notre Dame, and will operate like a typically NFL fantasy football league.
They also took the liberty of putting out their preseason rankings to help you gauge what the best picks will be for your team. We have all of the Louisville players that are ranked, and what players we think might be missing.
Quarterback
23. Jawon Pass
This is probably more than fair to start the season. Pass only played clean-up duty last year, and takes over a Louisville offense the national media has not seen him run. Would I have ranked him higher? Absolutely. But, given the circumstances, a No. 23 ranking for a guy who has not started a game is out of respect for Bobby Petrino and his offensive genius.
Don’t count out Pass’s ability to make things happen on the ground, as well. Pass could bring a ton of value if he has 40-50 rushing yards a game, or scores on the ground a few times throughout the season.
Wide Receiver
5. Jaylen Smith
40. Dez Fitzpatrick
59. Seth Dawkins
This is remarkably accurate again from Yahoo. These are clearly the three best receivers for the Cards going into the season, and I think that they are ranked about right. If you look back at these rankings after the season, I think that Dez Fitzpatrick might be ranked higher than Smith. Dez had 8 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman, and it primed for even more going forward. Smith is obviously going to receive a lot of love because of his incredible 2017 season, but don’t overlook Dawkins either, who has the surest hands on the team.
Missing from the list: The wide receivers are listed 1-115. Barring injury, I don’t think anyone on team will have more fantasy points than the “big three,” but I think one of Corey Reed or Josh Johnson will make the top 115 by the end of the season. The two saw playing time on a crowded depth chart in 2017, and I think they will both nab a few touchdowns before things are said and done.
Running Backs
70. Colin Wilson
Like with Pass, I get it. But there aren’t 69 running backs that are going to put up more fantasy points than whoever Louisville’s most successful back winds up being. Wilson will likely make a big splash this season coming off of a lower extremity injury early in 2017. He is built to be an every down type of back, and is probably the most likely to lead the Cards in rushing yards, and lead backs with receiving yards (looking at you, PPR guys and gals).
Missing from the list: I like to see that Yahoo actually put time and thought into this list, and didn’t just throw Dae Williams onto the list because he is the leading returning rusher. BUT, Dae Williams should easily be on the list somewhere. Williams returned from a torn ACL mid-season, and was extremely solid late for the Cards. Wilson will probably lead the Cards in yardage on the ground, but Williams or Trey Smith may lead the Cards in rushing touchdowns.
Tight Ends
13. Micky Crum
I mean… thank you (?) Yahoo. This is something, for sure. Crum is definitely a guy with a ton of promise. He has battled tons of injuries, and hasn’t really been able to contribute much of anything since his redshirt freshman year. Now a fifth-year senior, Crum hasn’t scored a touchdown since 2015. That isn’t to say that he couldn’t explode onto the scene this season. I expect really good things from him. He has a lot of speed for a tight end, which can create solid mismatches, and has been known to lay some soul crushing hits. 13 is certainly a welcomed surprise, though.
Missing from the list: If we are being honest, I would expect Kemari Averrett or Jordan Davis to make this list before Crum. Both have incredible size, and had promising seasons last year. I expect one of the three tight ends to emerge, and am hoping it will be Crum, but don’t count out the other two players.
Insider tip: All three tight ends are value picks for Louisville this year. Petrino has spoken highly of all three, and is likely to put all three on the field at the same time in some formations. More PT means more catches all around for a tight end unit that lacks in depth, but that Petrino loves to utilize.
Bonus- Defense:
Louisville’s D ranks 30th out of 75 on Yahoo’s list which, all things considered, is great! I think that the guys at Yahoo value the potential for the Cards to turn the opponent over a lot, and expect them to improve under new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.
Louisville’s defense is a good one to keep on your bench and bring them out in games against Illinois State, Western Kentucky, and Kentucky.