This article outlines the top-performing college players each week. There is a table for each position organized by draft eligibility and, below each table, I’ll note things I find interesting.
P5 Performances
QUARTERBACKS
The best metrics for year-over-year correlation at the QB position are QBR, EPA/Play, AYA, and Completion %.
Chance Nolan – He is putting together a string of good games. Impressive numbers across the board. QBR is opponent-adjusted, but I’d still like to see how he performs against better competition.
Payton Thorne – I wanted to see how he’d perform against ranked competition and I got my answer. He’s good.
JT Daniels – He had a solid day but his AYA and EPA/Play are really lacking.
Will Levis – Had an underwhelming performance this week against… Chattanooga and fell out of the top 10. Meh.
Spencer Rattler – Decent QBR, but that EPA/Play and AYA is brutal. For the potential #1 pick in the class, he needs to pick his game up.
Sam Howell – Finally clawed his way into the top-10 after his putrid week one performance. He’s looked really good the last two games and has a 34% rush yds share to boot.
Matt Corral – Sitting at a QBR of 75. I’m surprised he didn’t get back onto the top 10 after this week’s performance with seven total TDs, but it also wasn’t the toughest competition.
Tanner McKee – With good games against USC and Vandy I’m keeping my eye on him now.
Bryce Young – Maybe he’s just not going to rush as much as we originally thought? His passing numbers are looking good though.
C.J. Stroud – Stroud seems to be a tale of two stories with film and metrics. His metrics are very impressive but everything I hear is that he looks flustered on the field. This will be interesting to see if he ever settles in and can match his film with his numbers.
D.J. Uiagalelei – Still not looking good. It might be time to worry.
Small sample size galore.
Jaxson Dart – Came into the game after Kedon Slovis was injured and tore it up. I doubt Slovis will get his starting spot back from here on out.
RUNNING BACKS
The best metrics for RB’s are Yards per Team Play which is a measure of volume and efficiency, Backfield Dominator Rating which is the share of the backfield production, rushing and receiving, that an RB earns, Dominator Rating which is the share of the total team rushing and receiving production, and Reception Share which tells you how big of the reception pie the RB earned.
Kenneth Walker III – Another great week from Walker and he’s in the top-3 RB talk now. I want to see more receiving work from him first.
Christopher Rodriguez Jr. – That BDR is a thing of beauty. The coaches really trust him.
Rachaad White – A Chris Moxley favorite. He makes his debuts on the top 10 on the back of a big day in both the rushing and receiving game.
Tyler Goodson – First day in the top 10.
Zach Charbonnet – Falls out of the top 10 after a lackluster six carries for 19 yds and two TDs. The TD’s saved his butt but they don’t count in the YPTP column.
Sean Tucker – He’s the workload king. Efficient, productive, and receiving upside to boot.
Blake Corum – Absolutely dominating in all aspects of the position. I can’t even say there’s anything I’d like to see him improve on. He’s good.
Bijan Robinson – After his quiet week last week he blew up. 13-137-3! I’d still like to see a little more receiving work from him. That first game is carrying him there.
Tank Bigsby – As the teams get tougher his BDR keeps rising. He’s a top prospect, but Jarquez Hunter is stealing a lot of his work.
Zach Evans – Didn’t play this week.
TreVeyon Henderson – He just keeps getting better. 75% BDR as a freshman!!!
Jarquez Hunter – He’s still earning snaps away from Bigsby, even in a close game. Auburn is set after Bigsby moves on.
Will Shipley – He was Clemson’s featured RB this week and he didn’t disappoint posting a 21-88-2 rushing line. This Freshman class is starting to show up.
AJ Green – Looks like the rookie to have in that backfield so far due to his receiving work and higher BDR.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The most important stats for a WR are their Reception Yards per Team Pass Attempt and their Weighted Dominator Rating. Generally, over two is good and three is great for RYPTPA, and over 20% is good and 30% is great for Weighted Dominator.
Erik Ezukanma – He came back to earth this week but still has great numbers on the season. I do expect him to fall out of the top 10 at some point this season though.
Wan’Dale Robinson – Just top-notch numbers here. Over 30% WDom, over 3 y/tpa, he’s hitting the numbers I really like to see.
Zay Flowers – Only 10 yards this week. Maybe his injury was still affecting him?
Josh Vann – Surprise newcomer to the top 10. Posting a big league WDom and RYPTPA.
Treylon Burks – Welcome to the top 10 on the back of a massive game!
David Bell – Fell out of the top 10. Also ended the day injured. Hopefully he’s ok and back next week.
This 2023 WR class is amazing.
Josh Downs – Wow. Just Wow. 203 yards and two TDs. He’s making his push for a top-3 receiver in the class.
Quentin Johnston – Jumped up to the #2 receiver this week due to other receivers falling. He was on bye.
Marvin Mims – Bust of a day and ended up dropping out of the top 10.
JSN – Back to what I expected of him with a 2-33-0 receiving line. His top-10 status is riding off of his big game last week.
Daniel Jackson – Impressive RYPTPA and Weighted Dominator Rating. He’ll end up being one of the more underrated players in the class.
Jordan Addison – A 6-124-3 line. Have yourself a day and welcome to the top 10.
Xavier Worthy – He was to go to receiver for Texas this week earning a 7-88-1 receiving line.
Jaden Bray – Dropped to #2 this week but that’s because Worthy showed out and passed him.
Adonai Mitchell – Welcome to the top 10 on the back of a 4-77-1 day.
Deion Smith – Welcome to the top 10 as well! 5-135-2 receiving. He went off this week.
TIGHT ENDS
Greg Ducich – Fell out of the top-10. Hasn’t done much outside of his one blowup game.
Sam LaPorta – Looking productive and efficient.
There is a lot of production in this group based on 2 or 3 receptions.
Brock Bowers – TE #2 in all of college football? Yes.
G5 Performances Included
QUARTERBACKS
Grayson McCall – The small school darling is dominating by every metric. We’ll see if he can blow up enough to work himself into draft capital.
Malik Willis – Takes a commanding lead of the group this week. Dominating in every aspect.
Bailey Zappe – Still dominated with a 20% rush share and a good AYA and EPA/Play.
Michael Pratt – Looking like the only 2023 G5 QB to write home about. Hi EPA/Play and Comp % are a little concerning, though.
Tyler Buchner – Stats are based on four passes and ten rushes.
RUNNING BACKS
Kyren Williams – Looking good from a DR and Rec Share perspective. I’d like to see him earn more of the backfield work, though.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jaivon Heiligh – Over 90 yards and one TD in each of his first three games. His RYPTPA and WDom are a thing of beauty.
Calvin Austin and Jacob Cowing – Posting almost identical advanced stat lines and both killing it for their C2C teams.
Micah Davis – Whew. Air Force doesn’t throw much, but when they do, Davis is taking full advantage.
TIGHT ENDS
Trey McBride – Might be my #3 or #4 TE in all of college.
Michael Mayer – Still VERY good.
