The Campus2Canton writing staff will cover all of the conferences from now until the beginning of the college football season. To view previous conferences, click one of the links below:
- Independents
- Sun Belt – East West
- Mountain West – Mountain West
- MAC – East West
- AAC – Part 1 Part 2
- C-USA – East West
- Pac-12 – North South
- SEC – East West
The Big 12 conference is in for some changes in the near future. They still have some great schools with an abundant number of fantasy football players you’ll want to roster on your CFF and C2C teams. For this preview, we will look at five Big 12 teams that will be listed in alphabetical order. These teams include Kansas, Texas, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. We will discuss which players to target and avoid in these categories:
- Fantasy Relevant
- Roster Fillers
- Stashes
- Players to Avoid at Cost
Kansas
Kansas has struggled to put together a winning season in over a decade. They haven’t won more than three games since 2009. They also haven’t won more than one conference game since 2014. Kansas is betting on Lance Leipold to turn the program around. Known chiefly for turning Buffalo into a top program in the MAC, he won eight national championships in division three.
Fantasy Relevant
Devin Neal, RB- Neal’s patience as a runner was on display last year as he had multiple impressive weeks for fantasy. Neal averaged 12.49 fantasy points per game last year. Leipold’s offense should feature Neal heavily, and based on the past success; he should be a worthy fantasy asset every week.
Roster Fillers
Jalon Daniels, QB- Daniels came on in the last three games of the season in 2021 and was impressive. He averaged over 200 passing yards and multiple passing touchdowns a game. In those games for fantasy, he averaged 32.13 fantasy points per game. While that won’t put him in the top 12 range, it’s good enough to be a starter for most teams.
Luke Grimm, WR- Grimm is poised to be the top receiver for Kansas this season. As we moved towards November last year, Grimm was sporting a 19.00% weighted dominator. With the hope that Daniels will take another step forward in this offense, Grimm should benefit from that.
Stashes
Daniels and Grimm could also be considered stashes in this offense, but I believe they have some fantasy value.
Players to Avoid at Cost
All of Kansas’s players are priced appropriately.
Texas
Hopes were high for the Longhorns last season after they hired Steve Sarkisian. Many began to proclaim, “Texas is back” after only winning ten games once since 2019. With the transfer of a high-profile quarterback, paired with the fact that the Texas offense was top 30 in the nation in most categories. Many are now seriously asking the question heading into the 2022 season: Is Texas back?
Fantasy Relevant
Quinn Ewers, QB- Ewers has been a point of contention for many in the fantasy community. While most agree the talent is there, he hasn’t thrown a pass in a live game in two years. He joins an offense with loaded weapons at receiver and running back but lacks a proven and deep offensive line. Ewers will have weeks that he struggles. However, with the play-calling by Sark and the weapons around him, it’s hard not to see him prevailing most weeks as a fantasy starter.
Bijan Robinson, RB- There isn’t much to say about Bijan, except he’s currently the best running back in college. He possesses every trait you’d want in a top player. Outside of injury (knock on wood), Bijan should be a top asset all season long.
Xavier Worthy, WR- Worthy broke out for the Longhorns as a freshman and was one of the highlights of a bad season in 2021. With likely an improved passing game and additions to the receiving room around him. Worthy should be poised to have another excellent season. He averaged 19.79 points a game, and there is a realistic argument that increases this year.
Roster Fillers
Jahleel Billingsley, TE- With how stacked the receiver room is and some better options at tight end, Billingsley is likely more of a roster filler than fantasy relevant player. Billingsley transfer from Alabama is looking to get more solidified playing time in Texas. While he may be the starter in name, he does not appear to be the best tight end on the roster.
Jordan Whittington, WR- Whittington will likely be the third option on most plays but does possess some upside. His value should increase if one of the top receivers sits due to injury or other factors.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE- is widely considered the best tight end on the roster for the Longhorns. Sanders possesses a high-end athletic profile that excites fantasy owners. Speed, smooth route runner, and good hands. While Sanders likely won’t be the starter this season, he’s a player you’ll want to have on your roster when he does breakout.
Stashes
Isaiah Neyor, WR- Neyor was an excellent deep threat for the Wyoming offense last season. He transferred to Texas and was the name everyone kept talking about throughout the spring. He averaged 16.47 fantasy points per game in 2021. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury this week and we won’t see him complement Worthy until 2023. With a legitimate top receiving threat opposite of him in Worthy, Neyor should be able to get some single coverage to help him dominate.
Jaydon Blue, RB- Blue was among the more exciting young high school running backs in the 22 recruiting class. He decided to sit out his senior year of high school but saw some action in the spring game. Blue is the likely one-for-one replacement of Bijan in his running attack once he goes to the NFL. While Blue may not dominate like Bijan, he displays all the top qualities you want in a three-down workhorse.
Jonathon Brooks, RB- Brooks got the most positive public praise during the spring for the Longhorns this year. Brooks was a four-star running back in his class and possesses some good rushing upside. Whether he ends up splitting time with Blue or transferring out, Brooks is a player worth stashing solely due to his upside.
Players to Avoid at Cost
It may be crazy, considering three of the top Texas players are within our top 10 drafted players, but none of these fantasy players on the Longhorns are at a cost not worth paying for. You could make an argument for Ewers, who again hasn’t thrown a pass in a live game. At the end of the season, though, his draft and fantasy status will likely match up. Agiye Hall is the major receiver and player to avoid here. With off-field concerns and no clear path to playing time, his name and recruiting pedigree to seem to keep him afloat. His current ADP is 58.7 (WR18), which is nowhere near where he should go.
TCU
TCU under Gary Patterson had 15 winning seasons out of his 20-year run with the school. At the end of October, Patterson and TCU agreed to part ways after an incredible run. After finishing 5-7 last year, they hired an offensive head coach from SMU, Sonny Dykes. Dykes brings back some excitement to the Fort Worth area.
Fantasy Relevant
Kendre Miller, RB- Miller was highly productive in his limited snaps last year. While only getting 83 carries, Miller amassed 623 rushing yards at a 7.5 average. Miller seems poised to take over as the unquestioned starter. If he gets the receiving work, he should perform well in Dykes’ system.
Quentin Johnston, WR- Johnston seems to be the big winner on the Dykes hiring. Dykes ability to get the best out of his receivers and target them heavily is a gold mine for fantasy points. With all the physical traits you’d want in a wide receiver paired with the Dykes system, Johnston has top 5 CFF upside this season.
Roster Fillers
Chandler Morris, QB- Morris has the chance to be a usable fantasy asset in the Horned Frogs’ offense. Dykes’ propensity for passing typically leads his QBs to have start-able fantasy weeks. Morris should be no different. The main holdup for Morris is he isn’t the starter just yet. He’s currently in a battle with Max Duggan, and even if he wins it, we could see them split at times. Morris is a roster filler until we know how Dykes values this room.
Emani Bailey, RB- Bailey was receiving a ton of positive buzz out of camp with his receiving ability. The transfer from UL should be mixed in at times with Kendre Miller. Miller has the chance to head to the NFL after this season, possibly leaving this backfield for Bailey. The usage of Ulysses Bentley at SMU for two seasons should encourage you to roster the TCU running back.
Stashes
DJ Allen, WR- Allen is a favorite of the Campus2Canton crew. The definition of an offensive weapon, he can be used all over the field. Enrolling early may have hurt him in getting some early reps, but the talent should see him on the field sooner rather than later. Allen has the chance to be the top WR in this offense, and as detailed earlier, that’s a player you want to roster.
Players to Avoid at Cost
All of TCU’s players are fairly priced in drafts. Therefore, I wouldn’t avoid any of them currently.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech has been known for its high-flying offense and exciting games over the past few years. Yet those days seem to be a distant memory. However, hope is on the horizon. Joey McGuire seems a natural fit for Texas Tech. He’s coached high school football in Texas and knows how to recruit. He’s seen success being the assistant head coach at Baylor. The main reason everyone is excited, though, is bringing over offensive Coordinator Zach Kittley, who has powered some of the more fun offenses from Houston Baptist to Western Kentucky’s record-setting season last year.
Fantasy Relevant
Tyler Shough, QB- You want the quarterback in a Zack Kittley offense. While there are concerns about what Shough’s upside could be, As long as he is the starter in this offense, he should produce weekly for CFF purposes.
Tahj Brooks, RB- Brooks was good in limited work last year, working behind SaRodorick Thompson before Thompson was injured. Brooks has the upside as a receiver as well. While the receivers have more upside in this offense than the running backs, Brooks brings a nice blend of both and should be usable most weeks.
Myles Price, WR- Price was starting to make a name for himself late last season. Going into November, he had about a 10% weighted dominator. With his performance, many thought he would take a step forward in 2022. Then the Red Raiders added Kittley as their offensive coordinator. His offense historically targets the slot receiver. Price’s stock has shot way up, and he should be one of the more productive players on this offense in 2022.
Roster Fillers
Both Jerrand Bradley and Loic Fouonji are wide receivers I would be willing to add to the roster just in case they hit. While, as mentioned above, Price will be the likely winner of the offensive scheme switch, Bradley and Fouonji have a chance to hit.
Stashes
Both backup quarterbacks, Behren Morton and Donovan Smith, are worth stashing for this year and the future. With the assumption and hope that Kittley could be here for a few years, you’ll want to be invested in the offense’s quarterback. Shough is the current projected starter but likely has a very short leash. While Morton seems to be the better fit for the offense, Smith showed flashes last year. Whether you stash both or one of them, they are solid bets to make.
Players to Avoid at Cost
Earlier in the season, Donovan Smith was highly-priced. However, since the shift in the narrative to Shough, no player is at a point or cost that I would avoid in drafts.
West Virginia
Head coach Neal Brown has struggled since taking over West Virginia, putting together just an 18-17 record in three seasons, and has failed to win more than four games within conference play. After losing starting quarterback Jarret Doege to the transfer portal, the offense will be betting on transfer J.T. Daniels. The Mountaineers’ offense was 75th last year in offensive SP rankings, so they hope the former five-star in Daniels can lift them there.
Fantasy Relevant
Kaden Prather, WR- Prather may arguably be the best receiver on the roster. With all five offensive linemen returning and an upgrade at quarterback, Prather looks poised for a breakout season. Add in the new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell and air raid disciple. The air raid system has shown us you want the wide receiver one in that offense, and I’m going to take the bet on Prather being that player.
Roster Fillers
JT Daniels, QB- behind an experienced offensive line and an air raid offense, Daniels could be a sneaky good fantasy quarterback this year. However, you have to factor in his injury history. I wouldn’t draft Daniels as an everyday starter, but he could quickly end up there by the end of the season.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR- Wheaton is the returning starter and the receiver with the most receiving yards from last season still on the roster. You want to roster the top receiver with the switch to an air raid offense. While Prather has more upside, if Wheaton is the top receiver, you’ll want to roster him.
Stashes
With the possibility that this coaching staff is gone after this season, there are no players I would stash at this time.
Players to Avoid at Cost
West Virginia and their offense are being widely discounted in drafts. If anything, all the Mountaineers players are values in drafts.
