It’s that time of year — time to take a look at the best fantasy players the bowl games had to offer. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown.
Quarterbacks
Quinton Flowers, USF
Fantasy Points: 43
For most leagues, Quinton Flowers was a top-five pick this season, and when he was on, he certainly looked the part. In the bowl matchup against Texas Tech, Flowers turned it on in the second half and pretty well did whatever he wanted against a weak Texas Tech defense. On his way to a victory, Flowers threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns and added 106 yards and a score on the ground in the final game of his collegiate career.
Alex Delton, Kansas State
Fantasy Points: 39
Bill Snyder made a game-changing call in the first quarter by swapping in Alex Delton for a struggling Skylar Thompson. Delton took advantage of UCLA’s horrid rush defense and ran for 158 rushing yards and three scores while passing for 52 yards and a touchdown. The quarterback battle between Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton coming this spring will certainly be one to watch, especially with Delton’s stellar performance, which should give him the early edge.
Second Team: Zach Abey, Navy – 38; Kenny Hill, TCU – 38
Third Team: John Wolford, Wake Forest – 37; Jason Driskel, FAU – 36; Keytaon Thompson, Miss. St – 36
Running Backs
Sony Michel, Georgia
Fantasy Points: 54
Sony Michel’s performance against Oklahoma was one to be remembered. Michel was absolutely unstoppable in the CFP Semifinal. He torched the Sooner defense for 181 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and four receptions for 41 yards and a score through the air. Without Michel in the game, it is likely that Georgia would have missed out on a shot at the National Title, as he played a huge part in the third-quarter comeback that tied the game. Michel will likely be ranked under counterpart Nick Chubb in the upcoming draft, but he will likely still be drafted.
Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Fantasy Points: 46
Expectations were high for Rashaad Penny after taking over for Donnel Pumphrey this season. He responded to them by shattering Pumphrey’s single-season rushing record. Penny delivered week in and week out this season and sealed 2017 with 221 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Army. Penny will leave for the draft this season, but not before rightfully earning his spot on the All-Bowl team.
Second Team: Dorian Brown, Ohio – 39; Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma – 32
Third Team: Devin Singletary, FAU – 31; Jalin Moore, App. State – 30
Wide Receivers
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Fantasy Points: 36
With a run-first offense and a young quarterback for most of the season, Christian Kirk was still able to top 900 yards this season. In the most entertaining non-CFP bowl, Kirk caught 13 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Wake Forest. Kirk has declared for the draft and is a projected first-rounder, according to most draft experts. He leaves Texas A&M third all-time in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Cedrick Wilson, Boise State
Fantasy Points: 28
Cedrick Wilson was the silver lining in an otherwise horrendous game by both Boise State and Oregon. Wilson was able to catch 10 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown against what most thought was an improved Oregon defensive unit. Wilson finished 2017 with 83 receptions, 1,511 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Wilson has graduated and is a projected day three pick in the NFL Draft.
Second Team: Gregory Phillips, Wake Forest – 26; Auden Tate, FSU – 26
Third Team: Damion Willis, Troy – 25; JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford – 24; Keke Coutee, Texas Tech – 24
Tight Ends
Deon Yelder, Western Kentucky
Fantasy Points: 23
Deon Yelder took full advantage of his five receptions against Georgia State by taking them for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Yelder finished his senior season with the second most yards by a tight end behind only Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews. Deon Yelder finished the season second in receiving yards for the Hilltoppers and will enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
Tommy Sweeney, BC
Fantasy Points: 19
Boston College wasn’t really known for their passing attack this season (especially with the rise of AJ Dillon), but Tommy Sweeney played big in a loss to Iowa. Sweeney finished the game with 137 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions with an incredible 19.6 yards per catch. Sweeney finished the season as the receiving leader for the Eagles and will likely be back next season.
Second Team: Cam Serine, Wake Forest – 17; Roger Carter, Georgia State – 14
Third Team: Jaylen Samuels, NC State – 12; Ryan Yurachek, Marshall – 12
Kickers
Jonathan Barnes, LA Tech
Fantasy Points: 15
Jonathan Barnes finished off the year as a top-10 fantasy kicker in most formats. LA Tech’s high powered offense has landed Barnes in the top-10 for the past two seasons, and it was LA Tech’s defense that contributed to Barnes’ success against SMU. Barnes hit three of his four field goals, with his longest from 43. He also went a perfect six-for-six on extra points.
Jimmy Camacho, Fresno State
Fantasy Points: 15
Fresno State capped off their 2017 season with a win over Houston to put them at 10 wins for the first time since 2013. Jimmy Camacho tied Jonathan Barnes for first in points for kickers during bowl season with 15. He finished the Hawai’i Bowl with four of five field goals made and went three-for-three on extra points. Camacho finished 10th in fantasy points for kicker overall and will be eligible to enter the draft in April.
Second Team: Quinn Nordin, Michigan; Cooper Rothe, Wyoming; Mike Weaver, Wake Forest – 13
Third Team: Ricky Aguayo, FSU; Matt Amendola, OK State; Rodrigo Blankenship, UGA; Matt Gay, Utah; Austin Seibert, Oklahoma – 12
Defense/Special Teams
Louisiana Tech
Fantasy Points: 40
LA Tech’s defense played absolutely lights out against SMU in the Frisco Bowl. Amik Robertson and Darryl Lewis both took interceptions into the end zone for six, and the defense as a whole was able to force six total turnovers. SMU had to play without former-coach Chad Morris, which likely led to their downfall. The Bulldogs held the Mustangs under 300 yards and dominated Ben Hicks all game long.
Wyoming
Fantasy Points: 35
Wyoming’s defense has been a top-40 unit all season long and really showed out against Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Carl Granderson picked up a fumble and took it 58 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Cowboy’s defensive unit also forces eight total turnovers and held Central Michigan to 275 total yards and 14 points.
Second Team: App State – 32
Third Team: Ohio State – 28