One weekend away and all heck breaks lose in college football. Thankfully, our weekend at the waterpark ended early Saturday night, and I caught the end of the Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Miami games.
The upsets ruled in college football for Week 6, and the NFL followed up with more insane scores and some fantasy studs, plus a few big ‘ol fat duds. I promised to talk more about middling and winning team strategies this week, and you will not be disappointed.
The College Beat
Five top-15 teams lost, and none was larger than Vanderbilt taking down Alabamas in the program’s first win EVER versus a top-5 school. Shout out to Travis May, a Vandy alum. It was an excellent win for the school, and Travis was directly responsible for getting me into college fantasy via Devy.
Check out Jared Palmgren’s article for waivers if you need college production.
Stuck in the Middle With You
The toughest teams to handle in terms of strategy are your teams that are 2-4, 3-3, or 4-2. Often, the record doesn’t indicate what the team truly is and can give you a false sense of value. I want to look at a few teams in my leagues and give you an idea of what I mean.
Team 1 (3-3)
Team 1’s roster includes quarterbacks Alonza Barnett and Jordan McCloud. Key RBs are Henry Parrish Jr., Darius Taylor, Quinton Cooley, Makhai Hughes, and Anthony Tyus. Tai Felton, Joey Hobert, and Brennan Presley highlight WRs. The only TEs I have are Luke Lachey and RJ Maryland. The team is 3-3 and fifth in scoring, but has won the last two and features some of the top-scoring QBs and RBs, but the WR depth is lacking. The NFL team is 1-4 with only a few tradable vets and some young talent like Javonte Williams, Kenneth Walker, Jayden Reed, Jameson Williams, and Isaiah Likely.
It’s a tough team to devise a plan, and I love the college scoring assets I have. If I sell any NFL guys, my NFL team will be in purgatory for years. I like my team better than a few guys above me in the standings and think I have a good shot at the NCAA championship. But I think I will sell to get some guys with a shot at NFL stardom.
From a future NFL standpoint, my best players are Evan Stewart, TJ Moore, Justice Haynes, and Luke Lachey. Not world beaters, and my NFL pipeline looks bleak. I wish I had a successful NFL team; it would be an easy choice.
I’m taking my college assets and seeing what I can get for them. The guys I am targeting are Carson Beck, Devin Neal, CJ Baxter, Quinton Martin, Kameron Davis, Zachariah Branch, Carnell Tate, Micah Hudson, Perry Thompson, and Cam Coleman. These are the top “devy” assets—players with a strong NFL future who aren’t producing elite numbers for C2C teams.
It’s tempting to hold and see what I can do, but I don’t feel like my team is locked in as a legit contender. My team feels like a mirage, and the college assets I have give me some good trade value.
Team 2 (3-3)
Team 2’s roster is highlighted by QBs Will Howard, Haynes King, and Chandler Morris. The RBs of note are Mario Anderson and Lee Beebe – not a deep RB room. The WRs are deep with Ryan Williams, Ja’Corey Brooks, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Tet McMillan. The team has Eli Stowers and Joe Royer at TE. The NFL squad is 1-4 but has Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Ja’Marr Chase.
This is not one of my teams but represents a different build. I am leaning toward selling on the college side again. The college team is scoring well and has some really strong NFL assets and elite pieces to build around. I would be targeting some of the same players and looking to move most of my college-performing assets.
I am looking for young NFL prospects and guys who may get to the NFL quicker. Burrow and Mahomes will give you a quarterback room that will be set for years. It may be tempting to break down the NFL side and even trade one of them, as they each hold great value—this league starts two QBs. I could see making that move if the right deal came along.
Team 3 (3-3)
Team 3’s roster has good QBs, Josh Hoover, Kyron Drones, and multiple guys averaging over 20 points a game. There are RBs with production and NFL upside, like Omarion Hampton, Phil Mafah, Nick Singleton, and Damien Martinez. The WR corps has Tre Harris, Jamaal Pritchett, Tory Horton, and Omari Kelly. He’s got depth, and his NCAA-to-NFL pipeline is loaded. But he will need most of it. His NFL team is 1-4, and QBs are abysmal. There are pieces to move, though, like Kyren Williams, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle.
This is another team that isn’t mine but presents an interesting situation. The team is good, not far off from the top-scoring teams, but it could use some help. I am gutting the NFL team in this situation; it’s terrible, and holding off for other talent will be fruitless.
By the time all of the pipeline help gets there, it will most likely be too late, and the vets will be even more vet-y. So why not supplement the pipeline while winning a college title in the process? Move those vets for some college producers, and if you can get some with NFL upside, that would be even better.
The Winning Squads
I promised more about what to do with the winning teams, but I don’t want to go into as much depth this week. Realistically, you need to step back and get a birds-eye view of your teams.
Some teams I have seen are 6-0 or 5-1, and they are getting by, beating teams that coincidentally have bye weeks or key injuries. Check out your scoring in each matchup and how you compete against other teams.
Conference schedules also mean tougher matchups and a decrease in scoring, especially among players who aren’t elite assets. RJ Harvey is your RB2 overall in college fantasy but faces tough matchups and has a nasty Week 12 bye. Brashard Smith is your RB7 and faces nasty defenses in the final three weeks. Makhi Hughes is the RB13 and has Navy in Week 12 but a Week 13 bye. Tre Harris is WR2 yet if your playoffs start in Week 11, he has Georgia, then a Week 12 bye. Denzel Boston is the WR8 overall but has Penn State in Week 11, then a bye in Week 13.
You are going to have to assess your team. If you are winning but don’t have much depth and have multiple players like those above, you may not be as strong as you think you are. I’m not saying you should say “F-it” and have a fire sale. I’m just cautioning you not to spend a lot trying to buy college producers and don’t gut your NFL roster or dump pipeline players.
Week 7 Look Ahead
Key Bye Weeks: Auburn, Baylor, Boston College, Duke, Florida St., Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Miami, Michigan, Michigan St., Navy, Nebraska, Oklahoma St., SMU, South Alabama, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Troy, Tulsa, UConn, and Virginia Tech
Ugh. I don’t even like typing Week 7; we are halfway through the college season! It will be hard to top last week, but at least five days of college football this week to try.
It’s Red River “Rivalry” Shootout this weekend, but it doesn’t seem to have the aura it has had in recent years. That typically doesn’t matter! These teams hate each other, but it’s always a fun game.
Penn State travels to USC in another test for the Nittany Lions, and the Trojans are dangerous, in wounded possum mode. Washington faces a big test at Iowa; they could be in for a setdown after dispatching Michigan. And Ole Miss faces LSU at Death Valley. It’s a great matchup weekend.
The only game I HAVE to watch this weekend is #2 Ohio State’s trip to Eugene to battle #3 Oregon. Both teams will undoubtedly be ready to show what they are capable of, and it’s a massive game in the Big Ten. Each team has displayed slow starts and periods of play in which they haven’t looked inspiring, and that can’t happen if they want to win this weekend.
The NFL Beat
And now we head over to the drama-free NFL, where the boring teams keep winning, and nobody upsets anyone, ever. It does feel much less entertaining at times!
After a 20-36 record as head coach, Robert Saleh is out as the New York Jets head coach. It won’t solve the Jets’ problems, but hey, they are doing something, right? He will be a highly sought-after defensive coordinator—I hope my Bengals are paying attention—and likely won’t be unemployed long.
That’s it. Have a great week! Alright… I will tackle NFL squad construction!
My Team in the Middle
Once again, let’s look at a few squads mired in the middle, but after five weeks of NFL action, you have more time to react. Or overreact. There is more time to right the ship, and it’s critical not to bail too early.
Team 1 (2-3)
Team 1’s roster features Justin Herbert and Justin Fields at QB, and his RBs are Brian Robinson, Rachaad White, and Cam Akers. The WRs are loaded, with Justin Jefferson and Marvin Harrison leading the way with good depth. Brock Bowers leads the way at TE. The NCAA team is 2-4 and has a few pieces with NFL upside like Travis Hunter, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Warren, and solid young assets too.
This team is pretty easy to figure out a path; the WR room makes me want to push for a championship. Any time you can win an NFL title, you want to. And this team can get better on the NFL side while not destroying his pipeline.
Players like Will Howard, Garrett Greene, and Caden Veltcamp are good college-producing QBs with value. And this team could move all of those and still have talented young QBs like LaNorris Sellers, Demond Williams, and Sam Leavitt to continue his college production.
He’s also got Cameron Skattebo, Darius Taylor, and Ja’Corey Brooks to move. Those three, along with the quarterbacks, will allow him to navigate well in the trade market.
Some veterans I locked in on amongst the NFL teams in the bottom few teams are Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, Deebo Samuel, Stefon Diggs, Tyler Lockett, Travis Kelce, and George Kittle. Those veteran players would give this team much-needed depth and set him in an excellent position to turn the corner on the NFL side without gutting the NCAA-to-NFL pipeline.
Team 2 (2-3)
Team 2’s team is better and highlighted by QBs Josh Allen and Anthony Richardson. The RB room has JK Dobbins, Alexander Mattison, Josh Jacobs, and Chase Brown. He’s got Nico Collins, Jaylen Waddle, Chris Olave, and the injured duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. The TEs are Dallas Goedert and David Njoku. There is some young talent also. His NCAA squad is 3-3 and amongst the top-scoring teams. He’s got a good pipeline with players like Devin Neal, Quinshon Judkins, Kyren Lacy, and some really strong college producers.
These teams are my absolute favorite to work with. He’s got a realistic shot of winning both sides, but both teams will need some help. And he’s got the ammunition to pull it off if he wants to.
His most enticing piece is Nacua, a young wideout who could likely garner some interest and be attractive to non-competing teams. With Collins on the IR, he’s also an attractive piece, but I would move Nacua first.
There are pieces on non-competing teams that stand out. Tyreek Hill, Darnell Mooney, Devin Singletary, Saquon Barkley, and D’Andre Swift are all on the bottom four teams. And each would be attainable. It’s likely for Nacau or some college production if the owners’ college team is doing well. You have a lot of options when acquiring NFL veterans.
His college team has young guys like Luke Kromenhoek, LJ Martin, Cameron Cook, Nitro Tuggle, and Caleb Odom, who could be moved for college production, and it would barely affect his pipeline.
This team has excellent options on both sides and if he decided to go in on one side or the other, his options would be significantly increased. This team could go all-in for the NFL and not affect his college future.
Team 3 (2-3)
Team 3’s roster has Kirk Cousins and Joe Flacco at QB, only Austin Ekeler at RB, and veteran WRs Davante Adams, Mike Evans, and Jakobi Myers are movable options. Travis Kelce should be gone too. His college side is 2-4 with solid pieces for his pipeline like Jalen Milroe, Jeremiah Smith, and quite a few strong freshman options.
This roster needs to move veterans to stock the NCAA-to-NFL pipeline. It’s scoring decent and may appear to be better than it is, but the bottom will fall out quickly without more players coming up.
Cousins, Flacco, Adams, Evans, Myers, and Kelce should fetch decent amounts in trades. I’d be looking for underperforming or injured NCAA assets like Evan Stewart, Nick Singleton, or CJ Baxter. Freshmen and college supplemental picks are typically the easiest for people to give up.
It’s tough to keep setting lineups, especially when both teams are stinking. But now is the time to fix your future. Even if you are moving for a young NFL player, ask for a supplemental thrown-in. Keep those chances to fix your team alive. You can build a strong college team with a chance to compete in one draft.
The Winning Squads
Again, I am not going to say much about the winning teams you have on the NFL side. I typically am not making a ton of moves if I am winning and I’m not the most confident in my squad.
But it’s tough not to try to acquire veterans inexpensively. Yesterday, I traded Evans to a strong NFL team and received three NCAA scoring assets to help a good college team.
Gauging value in C2C leagues is a tricky endeavor, and some people will try to overcomplicate it. At times, you will ‘lose’ a trade in a C2C league, but if it gets you what you want, take it! An NFL elite producer is always the most valuable and a college player who scores well with a bright NFL future is right behind that in value. But if you can get three strong college-scoring players for an NFL veteran like Evans, go get that ring!
Week 6 Preview
Teams on bye: KC Chiefs, LA Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings
Both of our undefeated teams are on byes and even though there are only four teams, a lot of fantasy stars are on these teams.
Tonight, the reeling 49ers travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. It should be another good Thursday night game, but it will be tough to top last week’s battle.
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders take on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. It should be one of the most fun games of the weekend. Take advantage by starting every fantasy option in those lineups.
The Sunday night game is Cincinnati vs. the New York Giants. Good job on that one, NBC. Where’s your flex powers? Monday night is the Bills versus the Jets, and interim coach Jeff Ulbrich gets a tough test immediately. I want to see how Aaron Rodgers and the team responds.
Remember This…
It’s never too early to make moves. I always caution against overreacting, but you don’t want to be left holding the bag. If your team is on the verge and you hold too long, those teams in front of you may trade for players before you are ready to sell.
You have to be honest and look at players, scoring, schedules, depth, and what your leaguemates have. I’ve been 3-3 and scoring well, thinking I had a great shot, then I pulled up the teams ahead of me. To find several monstrous rosters lurking at the top. With scoring players and the depth to weather a storm if five players were on bye.
And if you are ready to sell or buy, be aggressive. Take Mr. Pink’s advice to heart.
“If I gotta get out that door, and you’re standing in my way, one way or the other, you’re gettin’ outta my way.”
