The college playoffs are here, and if you are in a college fantasy or Campus2Canton league, it’s time to get some help for the playoffs. The players in this article are ones you should target and shouldn’t cost a ton, yet could bring you what we are all seeking. The Championship.
When trading for these players, to me, all are going to be players with minimal NFL future prospects. I don’t recommend offering more than a third- or fourth-round pick in either format, as most players are in their final year of eligibility or close to it. Some of the ones farther down in each section should probably get no better than a sixth or seventh rounder. Or maybe a freshman or an injured player.
Don’t be afraid to offer those picks up, typically past the first few rounds, they are dart throws or college production types. Time to win that title!
Quarterbacks
Byrum Brown, South Florida
Playoff Schedule: Navy, UAB, and Rice
Brown has to be the top target if you need Quarterback help. He’s the QB1 in scoring, isn’t going to be an asset in the NFL, and has a beautiful playoff schedule. He’s been on a tear over the last five weeks, too, finishing as a top 10 QB every week.
If going after Brown, prepare to offer a fourth- or fifth-round pick, or maybe a talented younger QB like Drew Mestemaker. Brown is a set-and-forget player for the playoffs, and he’s got the upside to win a week alone.
Alonza Barnett, JMU
Playoff Schedule: App. State, Wash. St., Coastal Carolina
Another player on a tear, Barnett has been phenomenal over the past five weeks and faces games with massive shootout potential. He’s been a monster on the ground and is also dangerous as a thrower.
Being a ‘junior’, Barnett may cost a little more, but he’s a player with zero NFL upside realistically, and has QB1 upside if he stays at James Madison another year. Expect to offer a tiny bit more if you want Barnett in your lineup.
Anthony Colandrea, UNLV
Playoff Schedule: Utah St., Hawaii, Nevada
Maybe a more inexpensive option, Colandrea also has another season or so left, and he’s playing well as of late. Hawaii and Nevada are ‘better’ defensively versus the pass, but each game could devolve into high-scoring matches. He’s scored nearly identically in the last four weeks, just shy of 40 points every game.
With eligibility left, he may cost a bit more, but I still wouldn’t go crazy with an offer for him. Colandrea has value at UNLV, but could get squirrely and try to move up, which would be a death blow to his value.
Blake Horvath, Navy
Playoff Schedule: South Florida, Bye, Memphis
That dang bye in the middle sucks, but if you can weather it, the other two matchups could win you a matchup. I wouldn’t be surprised if he scores 50+ points in each with huge scoring potential. And a lingering injury concerns also make him cheap. I’d offer a 10th-round pick to see if you can get an owner to bite!
Running Backs
Cameron Cook, Jacksonville State
Playoff Schedule: Kennesaw State, Florida Int., Western Kentucky
There’s a good chance you have Cook if you made the playoffs; he’s been a massive boon for fantasy owners. But with a phenomenal stretch heading into fantasy playoffs, Cook will be on a lot of championship-winning rosters.
He does have more eligibility and was a four-star prospect when he entered college, so an astute owner may want a bit more for Cook. He’s got the potential to win you a title this year, but I also foresee a jump back to a bigger school, and this may be the best fantasy-producing year for the young back.
Lincoln Pare, Texas State
Playoff Schedule: Southern Miss, UL Monroe, South Alabama
Pare is a back who feels like he’s been around for a half-decade and has always been fantasy-relevant for stretches. Texas State is consistently getting him 20+ touches, and he has a low game occasionally, but I love the schedule heading into the playoffs.
The Bobcats will score points, allowing a positive game script to keep Pare involved, and he should be an inexpensive target. Chuck an eighth or ninth round pick at the owner, and enjoy a steady back in your playoff run.
Kejon Owens, Florida International
Playoff Schedule: Liberty, Jacksonville St., Sam Houston
Owens is coming off a few down games and was likely a back picked up on waivers, so he should be an attainable target. I love his matchups down the stretch. Liberty is a tiny bit stronger against the run, but I still forecast Owens getting his. The Golden Panthers will feed him down the stretch, and he’s never had a game under 60 yards. Find the owner, and throw a late pick at him.
Clay Thevenin, Louisiana Tech
Playoff Schedule: Wash. St., Liberty, Missouri St.
You may be able to grab Thevenin off the waivers; he’s only 9% owned, but if a team has claimed him, target him with a trade. He’s got a pretty sweet schedule for the last three weeks and has become a focus for the Bulldogs. He’s averaging over 25 points a game the last four weeks, and Thevenin will continue to get his. So get yours with Clay.
Wide Receivers
Beau Sparks, Texas State
Playoff Schedule: Southern Miss, UL Monroe, South Alabama
As you can tell, I really like the Bobcats’ main weapons down the stretch. Sparks has more eligibility, but I still see him as a player you should target. There is minimal upside for the next level, and he’s going to stay involved in this offense.
The playoff trio of games should all be high-scoring despite Southern Miss and South Alabama being a bit better against the pass. But they don’t face too many offenses like Texas State and Sparks. Target him and offer up a mid-round pick, see if you can work out something, and reap the rewards.
Jacob De Jesus, Cal
Playoff Schedule: Bye, Stanford, SMU
The Week 12 bye is less than ideal. But I trust that your team has options if you have made it this far. And that first week bye can make him very AFFORDABLE. De Jesus has been phenomenal the last four weeks, with one meh performance tucked in there. But it’s hard to ignore the games with 19 and 23 targets. That’s OBSCENE.
De Jesus should cost next to nothing, and while he may have another year, it’s improbable he sees the targets he’s seeing ever again. Offer a late pick up to the owner, and they will likely bite.
Chris Bell, Louisville
Playoff Schedule: Clemson, SMU, Kentucky
Clemson on the schedule used to be daunting, but it’s not what it once was, as they are ranked 107th versus the pass. The only fear is that it’s a sludgefest and not many points are scored. The Cardinals have thrived mostly on the pass, with Isaac Brown out, especially.
Bell hasn’t put up massive fantasy numbers, but is averaging over 11 targets a game over the past five weeks. While he may not get 30+ every week, he did versus Miami, and it’s always a possibility due to his target share. And Bell shouldn’t cost much either. I would offer a fifth or sixth-rounder at most.
Demarcus Lacey, Marshall
Playoff Schedule: Georgia State, App State, Georgia Southern
Lacey has cooled off a bit over the past few weeks, as far as ‘production’ goes, but he’s still had 11 and 12 targets. And look at that playoff schedule… whew… It’s sexy. Lacey won’t cost a ton, and he could be a title winner. Seek out the Lacey owner and make it happen.
Anthony Smith, East Carolina
Playoff Schedule: Memphis, UTSA, Florida Atlantic
It feels like Smith is the forgotten player in the Pirates and offense, but fantasy owners know who he is. He’s quietly averaging 25+ over the past four weeks and has great playoff matchups. East Carolina will be scoring, and expect Smith to be a massive help to your fantasy teams. And psst… he’s likely to come relatively cheaply.
Camden Brown, Georgia Southern
Playoff Schedule: Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Marshall
Brown isn’t as explosively productive as many on this list, but I love the consistency and his involvement in the Eagles’ offense. He’s always going to see targets and should be a lock for 18-20 points in the final three weeks, and Brown shouldn’t cost much to obtain.
Tight Ends
Tanner Koziol, Houston
Playoff Schedule: Bye, TCU, Baylor
If you can survive that bye, Koziol has a great two-week stretch and has been phenomenal over the past month. The last two games of the season should be high-scoring, and Koziol will have TE1 weeks in each. I’d be offering a later-round pick and would be willing to go as high as 6-7 (I know) rounders.
Michael Trigg, Baylor
Playoff Schedule: Utah, Arizona, Houston
The first matchup is a bit daunting; Utah has been shutting down the TE throughout the season. While Trigg has cooled some, he’s still got tantalizing fantasy upside each week and has the upside to drop 30+ in a week. And if that happens, you will be very happy donning that championship belt. Go get some Trigg.
Chamon Metayer
Playoff Schedule: West Virginia, Colorado, Arizona
Another veteran TE, Metayer, has flourished since Jordyn Tyson has missed the last three weeks, and I would be surprised if Tyson plays again this season. The Sun Devil offense needs playmakers, and Metayer has seen 6, 7, and 7 targets (again with the 6-7, I have a teen, I’m sorry) over the past three weeks. He should be really cheap to acquire as well. Grab him if you need TE help!
