John Laub presents the Scholar’s Surreptitious Starters, a look at the top college fantasy football sleepers for Week 11 of the NCAA Football season.
College Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterback
Dan Ellington, Georgia State at UL-Monroe: O/U 75.5 & Georgia State -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 65%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: #107 (259.5 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 38.6 ppg.
The Panthers are on the prowl, and Dan Ellington has leaped on unsuspecting opponents all season. He is the twenty-first most productive CFF quarterbacks, scoring 229 fantasy points and averaging over 28 points per game. A dual-threat signal-caller, the senior has passed for 1,771 yards, rushed for 512 yards and totaled 22 touchdowns.
He posted a season-high 46.7 fantasy points against Furman in Week 2 and has only once produced less than 15 points in eight games. His consistency has been incredible for CFF diehards. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Ellington is among the favorites for the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, but more importantly, he yearns to bring a Conference championship trophy back to campus. “The bowl game wasn’t really our goal. It feels good knowing we’re going to get an extra game, but the Sun Belt championship is our goal,” Ellington stated after the Panthers won their fourth consecutive game and clinched a bowl invite on ajc.com by Stan Awtrey.
By far, the matchup with QB Caleb Evans and the Warhawks is one of the most interesting games on the schedule for CFF footballers like myself. I look forward to the shootout between Ellington and Evans on Saturday and want a piece of the action in my lineups. How is the Panthers’ signal-caller not owned in every league this year?
Skylar Thompson, Kansas State at Texas: O/U 58 & Texas -7.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 27%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: #127 (305.4 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 31.5 ppg.
Have you watched Texas play defense and attempt to tackle opponents? The Longhorns are wretched at both. While the numbers indicate that the best way to attack Texas is through the air, the run defense is not sturdy either. QB Skylar Thompson is prolific with his legs and just proficient enough throwing downfield to challenge the weak Texas secondary.
I have ridden the Thompson Express for the past two weeks and am jumping on board again. In three consecutive games, he has produced over 29 fantasy points, and I foresee another productive afternoon for the Wildcats’ dual-threat playmaker.
Additional QB Sleepers:
- Jayden Daniels, Arizona State vs. USC: O/U 56.5 & Arizona State -1.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 24%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: # (242.7 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 28.3 ppg.
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who Ya Got? Identify the most enticing under-the-radar QB to place into starting lineups in Week 11.
- Holton Ahlers, ECU at SMU: 38%
- Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati vs. UConn: 27%
- Dan Ellington, Georgia State at UL-Monroe: 21%
- Donald Hammond, Air Force at New Mexico*: 14%
John’s Vote: Holton Ahlers
“I can’t believe I am saying this but H. Ahlers. He had been a major disappointment this year, but he has been putting a couple monster games together. Mr. November again?” @JustinNotting6
“Ahlers is showing signs that he might live up to some of his preseason hype and Ridder has a tasty matchup against the UCONN defense, but I am surprised that Ellington, a consistent high performer and dual-threat, continues to be undervalued. Great matchup this week too.” @KrazyCeltic
College Fantasy Football Sleepers: Running Back
SaRodorick Thompson, Texas Tech at West Virginia: O/U 60 & Texas Tech -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 26%
Opponent Defense vs. Run: #87 (177.7 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 31.4 ppg.
For years, the Red Raiders attacked opponents with 4-receiver sets and tossed the football all over the field, forcing secondaries to cover every nook and cranny…no longer. Coach Matt Wells loves to pound the pigskin on the ground and has slowly adapted the Texas Tech offense to mirror his offensive philosophy.
In the past five games, SaRodorick Thompson has been far more prevalent in the game plan. He has toted the football 13, 12, 28, 10 and 20 times. He has rushed for 455 yards and crossed the finish line five times. The redshirt freshman is also utilized in the passing game with 16 receptions for 45 yards. At 6-foot-0 and 210 pounds, Thompson is a patient runner, who makes good cuts to find open lanes. He also bounces off tacklers and maintains balance throughout contact.
The Red Raiders have not produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 2014 when DeAndre Washington scampered for 1,492 yards and scored 14 times. If Thompson reaps nearly 20 carries a game down the stretch, he will be the next ball carrier at Lubbock, TX to eclipse the 1,000-yard barrier. His journey to greatness continues against West Virginia as he surely exceeds 100-yards rushing and scores for the fourth consecutive contest.
Lamical Perine, Florida vs. Vanderbilt: O/U 48.5 & Florida -26.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 41%
Opponent Defense vs. Run: #107 (202.5 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 32.4 ppg.
The Gators have lost two of their last three games. With a young quarterback, the best way to end a losing skid is to run the football. Vanderbilt has been one of the more disappointing teams in the nation and is a slump-buster for opposing runners. Lamical Perine, a senior, will likely be featured in the game plan against the Commodores on Saturday.
The Gators’ ball carrier has not found many holes over the past five games. He has been held to single-digit fantasy points in three contests, but he fashioned a season-best 22.5 against Auburn at home four weeks ago. Perine rises to the occasion in his second to last game in the Swamp before his campus tenure is over.
Additional RB Sleepers:
- Treyvon Hughes, UTEP vs. Charlotte: O/U 57.5 & Charlotte -12.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 16%
Opponent Defense vs. Run: #105 (201.2 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 37.1 ppg.
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who Ya Got? Identify the overlooked running back to place into starting lineups in Week 11.
- Lamical Perine, Florida vs. Vanderbilt: 22%
- Michael Warren, Cincinnati vs. UConn: 52%
- Tra Barnett, Georgia State at UL-Monroe: 15%
- Elijah Collins, Michigan State vs. Illinois: 11%
John’s Vote: Tra Barnett
“M. Warren vs UConn, no brainer, he should have 150-3, no problem.” @JustinNotting6
“I had a dream E. Collins scored TWICE!!” @aceholesrule
College Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide Receiver
C.J. Johnson, East Carolina at SMU: O/U 70 & SMU -22.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 30%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: #119 (279.7 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 30 ppg.
One of the few remaining secrets in college fantasy football is no longer hidden in the shadows. On Sunday, C.J. Johnson was owned in only 3% of leagues when we published our Waiver Wire Gemstones column. As I complete my research, the Pirates’ home run hitter is now retained on over 30% of clubs. He also dominated the vote in my weekly Twitterverse poll (results below). Consider yourself enlightened and now is the time to grab Johnson for the playoff stretch.
Over the past five weeks, the freshman is second in the nation with 51 targets, totaling 33 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns. He has earned a 35% target share and averaged 11.3 yards per target. Johnson leads the team in all receiving categories with 44 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns. He averages 15.5 yards per catch with a long of 75 yards. “He has really worked hard to develop himself. I mean the improvement that kid’s made since the beginning of the year is pretty impressive. Just the understanding of the offense, some of the nuances and some of the things we’re doing,” Coach Mike Houston stated on theeastcarolian.com by Daniel Shepard.
After a slow start, quarterback Holton Ahlers (Mr. November) has played better over the past month, trusting Johnson in the passing game. At 6-foot-2 and 229 pounds, the big-bodied receiver will be a challenge for the Mustangs’ secondary. The over-under and the game script foreshadows a second-half passing bonanza by the Pirates, and Johnson will flourish as ECU abandons the run and throws on nearly every down in the final quarter.
Tre Walker, San Jose State at Hawaii: O/U 76.5 & Hawaii -7.0
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 35%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: #74 (231 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 36 ppg.
Every week, I look at the incredible numbers Tre Walker continues to post for the Spartans and am shocked that he is not owned in over 60% of leagues. Is it because he missed the first two games of the crusade? Is it because he has scored only one touchdown? Neither answer explains the lack of interest by CFF fanatics in the junior playmaker.
He is nearly a one-man show in the San Jose State aerial assault: He has secured 49 passes for 758 yards and a touchdown in only seven games. Over the last five weeks, Walker is seventh in the FBS with 35 targets and has garnered a 25% target share. He has corralled 31 passes for 528 yards and one TD. In the red zone, he has been targeted 10 times but only scored once.
Touchdowns are very unpredictable—and fickle—and progression to the mean will occur by the end of the season. Any player with so many opportunities to produce fantasy points must be rostered and started. All of the stars are aligned in Walker’s favor for another productive evening in Hawaii. Plug the Spartans’ luminary into your lineups this week with confidence.
Additional WR Sleepers:
- John Hightower, Boise State vs. Wyoming: O/U 48 & Boise -12.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 64%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: #121 (288.8 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 17.6 ppg. - Tre Turner, Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest: O/U 63.5 & Wake Forest -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 27%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: # (244 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 24.6 ppg. - Kendall Hinton, Wake Forest at Virginia Tech: O/U 63.5 & Wake Forest -2.5
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 8%
Opponent Defense vs. Pass: #110 (262.1 ypg.)
Opponent Points Allowed: 28.5 ppg.
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who Ya Got? Identify the sleeper wide receiver to place into starting lineups in Week 11.
- Romeo Doubs, Nevada at San Diego State: 10%
- Siaosi Mariner, Utah State at Fresno: 15%
- C.J. Johnson, East Carolina at SMU: 68%
- Geraud Sanders, Air Force at New Mexico*: 7%
John’s Vote: C.J. Johnson
“To be honest, I didn’t even know who ECU’s Johnson was before last week, I do now.” @JustinNotting6
*Air Force-New Mexico game postponed until November 23.
Also, be sure to check out Justin Heisey, The Gridiron Scholar John Laub, and InThisLeague’s Scott Bogman’s podcast CFF: On Campus for weekly College Fantasy Football news and analysis on Apple Podcasts or Spreaker.
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