It's starting to get awfully difficult to figure out who is going to show up from week to week. We fell in love with the Georgia Bulldogs running backs, led by Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno. Well, Brown totaled all of 20 yards on six carries with a long of five and Moreno followed suit with a long of five and 30 total yards. So much for season statistics, past performances and common sense. This is the 2007 college football season and nothing is making much sense anymore.
Hey, at least we told you not to start the Southern California quarterbacks last weekend against the 41-point underdog Stanford Cardinal!
Anyway, we are focusing primarily on the Mid-American Conference this weekend. There are some mind-boggling numbers being tossed up in the little conference that could. The defense has been, well, not so good ... so consider avoiding any of the MAC teams for Fantasy purposes. However, the offense has been Arena Football-like lately. Central Michigan sophomore QB Dan Lefevour finally awakened from his early season slumber for 360 passing yards and five touchdowns at Ball State. That was in addition to his team-leading 146 rushing yards and touchdown on the ground.
Check out what the Western Michigan offense did last weekend. QB Tim Hiller went for 375 passing yards and three touchdowns, while his star wide receiver Jamarko Simmons posted 10 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. That's the third time Simmons has gone for more than 144 yards this season, and that happened in games against West Virginia, Indiana and Akron. Not too shabby. If you're looking for super sleepers, you know by now that we always talk up the little guys.
On a sad note, Oregon State WR Sammie Stroughter will miss the remainder of the season due to a bruised kidney. Stroughter left during the preseason due to personal reasons and it was uncertain for a while whether the star receiver would return to the team or not. He did, but then was immediately injured. His 2007 season was a bust, but that's not important right now. Hopefully, physically, as well as mentally, this great kid can get back to 100 percent and get back on the football field where he shined in 2006. Just ask the Southern California defense, who he single-handedly beat last season in one of the season's best upsets. Stroughter will apply for a medical redshirt to re-gain the year of eligibility. Hopefully the NCAA shows they have a heart.
Five units to start
Akron WRs: In the past, a good strategy in College Fantasy Football has been to start offensive units that are squaring off against Temple, a perennial doormat. While the Owls have improved, the same thing holds true this season. Former QB Jabari Arthur racked up 223 receiving yards and three touchdowns last weekend against Western Michigan. You might also want to give QB Chris Jacquemain a look after his 389-yard, four-touchdown performance.
Ball State QBs: The Cardinals offense will be on display against a Broncos defense that allowed those staggering offensive numbers to Akron last weekend. In fact, Western Michigan has allowed 1,368 passing yards and 232 points so far in just six games. This week, it is time for Nate Davis to shine after a bit of a struggle last weekend against Central Michigan, which broke a string of four straight games with three touchdown passes or more. Look for Davis to start another streak this weekend.
Buffalo RBs: James Starks racked up an outstanding 183 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Ohio a week ago and Brandon Thermilus also found the end zone to give Buffalo's running backs a solid 45 Fantasy points, which was good for sixth overall in CBSSports.com leagues. This weekend, the Bulls will be taking on a very forgiving Toledo defense that has allowed 43.3 points per game this season, including 213.7 yards per game on the ground. If you are looking for a deep sleeper, the Bulls running backs should be on your radar.
Northwestern QBs: The Minnesota Golden Gophers have been pounded for 3,095 total yards this season, the most of all 120 Division I-A teams. Those awful totals make their fans want to go underground, too. The Northwestern offense came alive last weekend, led by QB C.J. Bacher, by posting 48 points. Bacher led the way with an insane 520 passing yards and five touchdown strikes. Fantasy owners have to be licking their chops to see what Bacher can do for an encore.
Virginia Tech WRs: If there was ever a time for the Virginia Tech offense to do anything, it is this weekend. The Hokies have struggled mightily to find much rhythm on offense, but they are facing a Duke defense that has allowed 1,559 passing yards this season. Look for the Hokies to put up some decent yardage totals and find the end zone at least three times through the air. However, the Hokies should be treated as a one-week sleeper only.
Five units to avoid
California RBs: Justin Forsett and the Cal offense will put their No. 2 ranking on the line this weekend at Berkeley against an Oregon State team with a rather average offense. However, the Beavers have had it on lockdown on the defensive side of the ball, giving up just 260 rushing yards in six games this season. In fact, in five of their six games, they have allowed 35 or fewer rushing yards. That's unthinkable. UCLA has been the only team to get through for big gains, rolling up 133 rushing yards, more than half of the season total allowed.
Duke WRs: You might be searching through the free agents and see the Duke wide receivers amassed 276 receiving yards and four touchdowns against Wake Forest last week in a loss. That performance was phenomenal, as Eron Riley was outstanding with 143 yards and two scores. However, look for the Blue Devils to return to their normal form and struggle against a Virginia Tech defense which is still very good despite what LSU did to them early in the season.
Kentucky QBs: Speaking of LSU, Heisman Trophy candidate Andre Woodson will lead his Wildcats into Baton Rouge looking to bounce back after getting drummed in Columbia by South Carolina last Thursday. Woodson stumbled against the Gamecocks, tossing for just 227 yards and two touchdowns. Don't expect the production to be much better against the No. 1 team in the nation on the road.
Oklahoma DST: The Sooners DST has been phenomenal more often than not. However, Colt McCoy was able total 324 passing yards and two touchdowns last weekend in the annual Red River rivalry. This week, it doesn't get any easier for the Oklahoma defense, as they'll have to contend with Chase Daniel. The Tigers were led by Daniel last weekend, as they thrashed Nebraska in Columbia. Not only did Daniel lead the Tigers through the air with 401 yards and two touchdowns, but he led them on the ground, too, with 72 yards and a pair of scores.
UCF RBs: The Golden Knights have been tremendous on the ground this season, with Kevin Smith averaging 172 yards per game on the ground. He has also rolled up 11 rushing touchdowns. However, he will have his hands full this weekend trying to find open running spaces against a suffocating South Florida Bulls defense that is yielding a meager 115.4 yards per game on the ground. UCF has emerged as a No. 1 option this season, but you might want to consider them a No. 3 this week.
