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
The Pac-12 is currently in flux with conference realignment rumors buzzing about. However, the conference is home to three (potentially four) teams that all have a strong case for being included in Conference Championship discussions. In the Pac-12 South, we’ll dissect how these teams stack up from a fantasy perspective and how we’re targeting their players in C2C leagues as we bucket them into the following categories:
- Fantasy Relevant
- Roster Fillers
- Stashes
- Players to Avoid at Cost
All teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Wildcats
Fantasy Relevant
For years now, the Arizona Wildcats have been a team to avoid when it comes to looking for fantasy production. However, with many new faces on campus, Jedd Fisch hopes to put together a team that can contend in the Pac-12. First, this team needs to prove they are the best College Football team in Arizona, and for the first time in a while, that may be the case. The new additions in the WR room appear to be the most important pieces to this team from a fantasy perspective.
Former UTEP standout Jacob Cowing appears to be the alpha for 2022. Last season, Cowing was 9th in the nation in receiving yards (1,354) and should provide a consistent target for Jayden de Laura this season. Fisch’s offense was 89th in Neutral Game Script Pass Rate last season (40%), so there are some concerns in investing too heavily. Though, Fisch’s experience as a QB coach suggests there might be some flexibility in his scheme. If you’re drafting Cowing in the sixth round (as current ADP would suggest in a 12-team league), then you’re banking on Fisch’s ability to tailor his offense to the strength of his team.
Roster Fillers
Anytime you see a true freshman crack the starting lineup, their talent should make you take notice immediately. That’s the case for WR Tetairoa McMillan this season. McMillan has a ton of potential based on his profile (#5 WR in the 2022 class according to On3’s recruiting rankings) and should have every opportunity if Fisch’s offense opens up the play calling in season two. There’s a chance McMillan might belong in the Fantasy Relevant section of this breakdown; however, the fact that Cowing projects as the alpha and the track record of last year’s pass rate provide enough question marks to give me just a bit of pause for this season.
Stashes
The future is bright for this Wildcat team, and there is a bevy of stashes to consider moving forward. Four main options jump out for the time being. The first is QB Noah Fifita. Fifita has been earning high praise from the coaching staff all Spring. Fisch has said that the early enrollee already has “great command of the offense” and “great control of the huddle” as Fifita “knows exactly where to go with the ball.” In an ascending offense, grabbing the next QB can be extremely valuable. At worst, Fifita sits behind de Laura and has another shot at the job next season. Still, the rave reviews suggest Fifita could see actionable playing time sooner rather than later.
Moving to RB, the Wildcats have two very intriguing freshmen. RB Rayshon Luke is currently the one that I’m most willing to hitch my wagon to at the moment after hearing the rave reviews from camp. Coach Fisch has referred to Luke as “special,” saying he could be used as a slot receiver as well as RB and returner. The possibility of manufactured touches bumps his immediate value above his fellow RB Jonah Coleman, in my opinion. Coleman, a three-star out of Stockton, California, provides thunder to Luke’s lightning. Listed at 5’8” and 216lbs, Coleman should be a strong contender for the between-the-tackle carries.
The last guy that intrigues me on this offense is TE Keyan Burnett. He was the TE7 in On3’s 2022 recruiting rankings and a 4-star talent from Anaheim, California. He’s already splitting time in the starting lineup and pushing Alex Lines for full control of the starting job. That kind of athleticism and physical dominance is something worth paying attention to and suggests he’ll be a lot more expensive this time next year.
Players to Avoid at Cost
None
Arizona State Sun Devils
Fantasy Relevant
I consider only three players to be fantasy relevant in this offense, and betting on them is really an all-or-nothing proposition because if one of them finds legitimate fantasy success, I think the others will. However, all of this should be prefaced with the warning that this offense has the potential to be one of the worst in the country. I’m betting on the run-game to move the ball enough to keep these guys relevant.
Florida transfer QB Emory Jones should see ample opportunity to utilize his legs and move the ball downfield. Last season Jones struggled a bit, averaging an interception a game, but with a bit of a reprieve in terms of the level of in-conference defenses he’ll face, it isn’t a stretch to think that Jones could find his groove in Tempe this year.
At RB, it’s looking like a timeshare. However, last season’s Sun Devil team handed it off 316 times to Rachaad White, Chip Trayanum, and Daniyel Ngata last season, so with similar volume this year, there are more than enough carries to go around for Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay and Daniyel Ngata. There’s yet to be a definitive starter announced at the moment, but reports from camp suggest a two-back system is well in play. Even if this is an even split if Jones can keep the Sun Devils’ offense afloat, both of these backs have potential startability in your lineups.
Roster Fillers
None.
Stashes
None. Too many unknowns with Herm Edwards on the hot seat to try and project future production.
Players to Avoid at Cost
None.
Colorado Buffaloes
Fantasy Relevant
None
Roster Fillers
Last season, this Colorado offense was anemic. They ranked 129th out of 130 teams in the nation last year in yards per game (246.1) and had zero must-plays from a fantasy perspective. This year, I expect growth, but not enough growth to bring any players to must-haves in the fantasy arena. RB Alex Fontenot had a timeshare in 2021 with Jarek Broussard and sputtered. This season, he should have full control of the backfield and looks to return to his 2019 form, where he put up 996 yards from scrimmage in 11 games. There are worse lottery tickets to invest in than Fontenot this season as he’s the lead back in an offense with a Neutral Game Script Pass Rate of 37% over the last two seasons.
Despite this low pass rate, the Buffaloes’ win total line is currently at 3.5. This means they’ll be underdogs in most of the games they play this year. So Brendon Lewis will have to throw to someone. Enter Baylor transfer, WR RJ Sneed. Last season, Sneed played second fiddle to Tyquan Thornton but still put up 573 yards on 46 receptions and is looking to play the alpha in a new system. This is a fringe play at best, but if this offense is playing from behind, Sneed’s role in garbage time this season could be useful to your roster, especially in deeper best-ball formats.
Stashes
None.
Players to Avoid at Cost
None.
UCLA Bruins
Fantasy Relevant
Campus2Canton’s ADP for RBs in CFF places Zach Charbonnet as the ninth RB off the board this season, and for a good reason. Last season Charbonnet eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark despite splitting touches with Brittain Brown. The RB-room was in a 2-to-1 carry ratio in favor of Charbonnet, but with Brown in the NFL, Charbonnet’s carries should get a bump for this season as the RB2 for the Bruins is Keegan Jones, who measures in at 5’9” and 175lbs, leaving the between the tackles workload to Charbonnet.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been all over the place in terms of C2C rankings during his career at UCLA. Early in his career, there were thoughts that he might be a potential high-end devy asset at one point though that idea seems to be in the past. That being said, DTR possesses the dual-threat ability that is so tantalizing for fantasy QBs at any level. Last season he threw for 2,409 yards and 21 touchdowns while running for 609 yards and nine touchdowns. Know what you’re getting in DTR, though. Don’t expect production at the next level, but the CFF season you get from him this Fall should be worth the squeeze.
Roster Fillers
Last season, DTR supported Kyle Philips and Greg Dulcich as viable fantasy options and propelled their stock to reach the NFL. This season, Jake Bobo joins the Bruins from Duke and has one season of eligibility left to try and make his mark as the possession receiver in this offense. He put up 794 yards on 74 receptions last season at Duke, and he’s positioned in a much better offense this season. If he’s the true WR1 in this offense, he is worth a roster spot.
The TE in Chip Kelly’s offenses after returning to college football has been worthwhile pieces in C2C leagues. Greg Dulcich in 2020 and 2021, Devin Asiasi before him – the scheme produces TEs that yield NFL interest. That brings us to Michael Ezeike – this is a system play, as Ezeike’s production last year was only three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. However, the scheme has boosted production in the past, and it’s okay to take a shot on players that fill productive roles.
Stashes
The Bruins have QB Justyn Martin, a four-star recruit out of Inglewood who received offers from USC, Oregon, Ole Miss, and others. Martin projects as the heir apparent and is definitely worth your consideration towards the end of your C2C drafts.
Players to Avoid at Cost
None.
USC Trojans
Fantasy Relevant
When Lincoln Riley comes to a team, their offensive weapons become instantly important to any fantasy conversations. The guys familiar with Riley’s scheme are QB Caleb Williams and WR Mario Williams (no relation). These are the guys we’ve seen be productive in the system and have some baseline to compare them to. Mario has a few more hurdles on his way to an explosion spot now that last season’s Biletnikoff Award Winner is also on the team. These two should see massive production, though, as USC’s defense is not projected to be towards the top of the conference, and there is a strong likelihood that they will see their fair share of shootouts.
That said, Lincoln Riley’s Neutral Game Script Passing Rate is likely not as high as you’d expect – 46.9% over the past three years. He’s produced a 1,000+ yard rusher in his seasons except for the Covid-Affected Season in 2020. For these reasons, I think it would be foolish to overlook Travis Dye. Earlier this offseason, I had some worries about how crowded this backfield looked, but it seems that Dye should have the lead role and likely be spelled by Stanford transfer Austin Jones.
Courtesy of Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times
Roster Fillers
None.
Stashes
The Trojans’ most recent recruiting class saw Raleek Brown and C.J. Williams sign, and they are guys that become very interesting when considering the trajectory of USC. Assuming Malachi Nelson remains committed for next year’s class, this offense should continue progressing under Riley’s leadership. These four-stars should be targeted in C2C leagues for their future production.
Players to Avoid at Cost
With the game scripts expected to bump the passing volume up a significant amount, WR Gary Bryant Jr. becomes an intriguing option this season, but Campus2Canton ADP has him currently going as WR21, and outside of the best ball, I don’t think he’ll be a consistent enough option to take over guys like Jacob Cowing, Dontayvion Wicks or standout freshmen WRs like Adam Randall, DJ Allen, or Shazz Preston.
Utah Utes
Fantasy Relevant
As with most of the recent Utah teams, we want the lead back in Salt Lake City, and this year RB Tavion Thomas fits the bill. Last season, Thomas landed on the Utes after transferring in from Cincinnati, and he erupted with production gaining 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns. Even with some expected scoring regression, Thomas’s upside is undeniable and worth taking a chance at his current RB32 ADP.
It’s always hard to pin down the TE position and how prospects will project at the next level, but this is a scheme fit, and TEs Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid have talent that puts them in the conversation for the NFL Draft. On top of that, Kuithe and Kincaid put up strong receiving seasons last year, as Kuithe led the team in receiving yards (611) and second in receptions (50). Kincaid wasn’t far off as he put up 510 yards off of 36 receptions. This utilization of TEs in this system makes them valuable in CFF.
Courtesy of Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Roster Fillers
After returning from injury last season and earning the starting role, QB Cam Rising took this offense to new heights. Rising, from a fantasy perspective, shows promise. The sophomore put up almost 2,500 yards passing in 13 games with a run-first offense last season. His rushing upside is there as he gained 499 additional yards on the ground.
Stashes
As alluded to in the Fantasy Relevant section, we want the starting RB in the Utah offense. Within the next year, we could easily see RB Jaylon Glover ascend to that level. Getting him on your roster now should be much cheaper than acquiring him next year.
Players to Avoid at Cost
None.
