Week 3 was an absolute doozy. Some of the scoring marks were insane. We saw Omar Cooper catch all ten targets for 207 yards and four TDs. Angeli, Mendoza, and Sorsby all had six TDs. Meanwhile, Arch struggled to complete passes against UTEP. Let’s see what Week 4 has in store for us.
Mad Props
Da Youngstas were a 90s hip-hop group that sang, “Mad props is what I be out for. How you like me now? We getting busier.” It’s time to give some props to these three RBs that have quietly been the real deal so far in 2025. Two of which were not even being drafted in most leagues.
Hollywood Smothers, NC State: Averaging a ridiculous 4.54 yards after contact/carry. All games have been against FBS programs, and two have been against ACC teams, yet still fifth in the country in forced missed tackles. This guy should be on NFL radars. Must see TV.
Micah Ford, Stanford: We can’t overstate how impressive it is to have 291 yards in three games for this Stanford team. Yeah, he is only averaging 5.3 yards/carry, but he is also averaging 5.13 yards after contact/carry. That means he’s getting hit on basically every snap at or even behind the LOS. He’s 4th in the country in missed tackles forced.
Raleek Brown, Arizona State: Brown has come on strong the last couple of weeks with Kyson Brown dinged up. It looks like he may not give this job back, given his 275 yards combined against Mississippi State and Texas State. He’s got a 59% breakaway rate and is 6th in the country in missed tackles forced with 19 on just 35 carries.
My Bad, Ya’ll
I have to man up when I am wrong, and there are two clear areas where I put my foot in my mouth this offseason, based on the first three weeks of this season.
Tennessee Vols Offense: I did not see 53 PPG, and 41 points with 500 yards against UGA, coming when I wrote a scathing team breakdown on this offense in the C2C CFF Guide. While it’s not your Hooker’s (Hendon, that is) veer-n’-shoot offense, it has still been far more dynamic than expected. Aguilar still has his WTF were you thinking moments, but I’ll be damned if he hasn’t made Brazzell and Staley viable CFF options.
Mario Craver: Go on with ya bad self, Mario. I was as high on Craver as a recruit for the Jeff Lebby system as Craver was when he was arrested shortly after his transfer to the Aggies. He landed on my Pre-Spring Stock Down article, given the lack of production Collin Klein has historically had from his WRs, but it appears Craver and Marcel Reed have something special cooking.
Buy Low on Arky State
Arkansas and Iowa State are in the rear-view mirror. The Fun Belt is now closer than they may appear. I watched every snap of the Red Wolves’ matchup with the Cyclones over a dark Kolsch in a Parkville, MO brewery last Saturday while everyone else cheered on the KC Royals, and I came away pleasantly surprised by what I saw.
Raynor has attempted 32+ passes in all three games and has 13 and 11 non-sack rush attempts in the last two weeks. He appears to be a much more willing runner this season. This buy-low strategy also applies to Corey Rucker, who has been a huge disappointment so far. The snaps are still there, he’s not dropping the ball, and he had a couple of clunkers in his 2024 non-con campaign. Look for him also to get it going over his next three against Kennesaw State, ULM, and Texas State.
Them G5 Beans Don’t Burn on that P4 Grill
Nelly once sang about moving up to the big leagues in the song “Batter Up”. Yeah, it was mostly about smoking pot, but the lyrics still apply here to G5 running backs making the move to the P4.
The sample size is tiny—just three games or less. However, we must admit that it has been a successful season for this group. If you drafted Makhi Hughes, then you’re likely spitting mad and don’t care to hear what I’m about to say. But let’s zoom out a bit and look at the group as a whole.
League Winner: Ahmad Hardy
Weekly Starters: Mike Washington, Seth McGowan
Provided Solid Weeks: Kevorian Barnes, Dean Connors, Wayshawn Parker, NaQuari Rogers, Eli Sanders, Fluff Bothwell
To Be Determined: Jaden Nixon, Rahsul Faison, Kanye Udoh, Harrison Waylee, Terion Stewart
Busts: Makhi Hughes and CJ Campbell
That’s it. If you weren’t in on Hughes or taking Campbell way too early in spring drafts, then you really aren’t too upset about the draft capital you spent on any of these guys.
Welcome to B12 Championship Week
Not really. But it seems very obvious to me that, outside of maybe TCU, the two best teams in the Big12 are facing off this week when Texas Tech travels to Utah. The Utes currently sit as a 3.5 point favorite, but the fantasy implications of this game are massive. Neither of these teams have been tested as Utah’s average win margin is 37 points and Tech’s is 46 points. The weather in SLC is expected to be great. Fantasy gods, please give us all the magic with this one. We deserve it.
Cheers to Week 4 and good luck!
