The college football season kicks off in less than a month. With 12 College Fantasy Football (CFF) drafts in the books, I have four more scheduled in August, including the first ever Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) and the CFF King’s Classic League in Canton, Ohio remaining. The CFF hobby is growing dramatically, and it is the year for fantasy enthusiasts to jump into a league.
I love this game and want to assist CFF managers learning the player pool and building better rosters. For the tenth season, my College Fantasy Football All-American sleepers column assists readers to uncover undervalued players.
CFF championships are won in the later rounds and on the waiver wire every season in my opinion. Therefore, I dug into CFF ADP from Fantrax to reveal 10 players who can provide a nice return on draft capital in 2023.
2023 College Fantasy Football Sleepers
QB Davis Brin, Georgia Southern
Team Offense (Rank): 465.9 ypg. (18)
Passing Yards: 329.2 ypg. (4)
Points Scored: 32.7 ppg. (33)
2022 FPPG: 21.3
Fantrax Overall ADP: 117
In CFF, high-scoring offensive systems are so incredibly valuable, and coach Clay Helton orchestrates one of the best. Helton posted a 46-24 record at USC with 12 victories over Top 25 teams, including three against Top 5 opponents, four versus Top 10 programs, and a Rose Bowl victory in 2016.
In 2022, he guided Georgia Southern to a 6-7 mark and soared to new heights during his first year in Statesboro. The Eagles’ aerial assault finished among the elite programs in passing yards per game behind quarterback Kyle Vantrease, who broke numerous school and Sun Belt passing records in his one-and-only year on campus.
Helton dipped into the transfer portal, and pulled QB Davis Brin from Tulsa to command the Eagles’ offense in 2023. During the past two seasons on the Golden Hurricanes, Brin passed for 5,407 yards and recorded a 35-24 TD:INT Ratio in 22 games. Not a threat on the ground, Brin is an idyllic candidate to succeed in Helton’s passing scheme, and he is currently available after 100 players are selected in CFF drafts.
Notebook: “The stars were the stars out there. You can see Davis Brin came out and played really poised at quarterback. We had long fields a few times and he put us in a position to score and had a touchdown pass and moved the offense downfield every time he had the ball,” coach Helton stated after the Blue-White spring game (statesboroherald.com).
2023 Projections
Passing Yards: 4,000
Rushing yards: 25
Total Touchdowns: 26
FPPG: 23.4
QB Preston Stone, SMU
Team Offense (Rank): 472.8 ypg. (14)
Passing Yards: 316.7 ypg. (7)
Points Scored: 37.2 ppg. (12)
2022 FPPG: 7.6
Fantrax Overall ADP: 104
In 2017, Rhett Lashlee coached at UConn under Randy Edsall as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The next year he jettisoned to SMU for two seasons before moving to Miami in 2020. Last year, he took over the Mustangs program after Sonny Dykes went to TCU. At 40 years old, Lashlee has quickly ascended up the coaching ranks as an offensive mastermind.
In his first assignment as a head coach, Lashlee guided the Mustangs to a seven-win season with an offense that passed over and through opponents. Last year’s starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai jettisoned north to Wisconsin and sophomore Preston Stone takes over the reins of the Ponies’ offense.
A four-star prospect in 2020, Stone redshirted his first year on campus and saw limited action last season in Dallas. He attempted 48 passes and completed 28 for 388 yards and two scores. A dual-threat playmaker, the 6’1” and 219-pounder scampered for 63 yards on 14 totes and scored twice. Despite losing WR Rashee Rice to the NFL, SMU replenished the receiver corps in the transfer portal, and the offense has enough playmakers for Stone to easily out-produce his current CFF ADP.
Notebook: “I’m just trying to be the most genuine person I can be and work as hard as I can for my teammates. I’ve had to change my game just a little bit with the speed increasing so much. I’m just incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I’m ready to have a great year,” Stone proclaimed in the spring (247Sports.com).
2023 Projections
Passing Yards: 4,000
Rushing yards: 100
Total Touchdowns: 31
FPPG: 24.8
QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
Team Offense (Rank): 330.6 ypg. (108)
Passing Yards: 169.2 ypg. (119)
Points Scored: 25.5 ppg. (81)
2022 FPPG: 18.5
Fantrax Overall ADP: 253
While Tulane and UConn gained national attention for their turnarounds in 2022, first-year coach Jerry Kill and the Aggies deserved more headlines, posting a 7-6 record after a three-year stint in which New Mexico State logged a 5-21 mark (2019-21). The Aggies also captured their second bowl victory since 1960, defeating Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Diego Pavia concluded the 2022 crusade by earning the Quick Lane Bowl MVP with 167 passing yards, 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Last year, the senior signal caller made eight starts and helped the Aggies turn around their season after losing their first four games. He finished the campaign with 1,450 passing yards, 508 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns. A three-sport athlete in high school, Pavie enrolled at New Mexico Military Institute and led the school to the NJCAA National Championship in 2021.
In 2023, the Aggies are members of C-USA, which is one of the most fantasy-friendly conferences in the country. In 12 drafts, the 6’0” and 200-pound dual-threat is rostered on seven teams. Pavia is on the waiver wire or an afterthought in most leagues.
Notebook: “The offensive line is the most improved. They’re looking great this offseason, and I can’t compliment them enough. We got Shiyazh Pete and Canaan Yarro leading the way up front…Canaan is so smart at center that it helps me just because he’s checking before I even had to check anything. It just makes it easy on me and I trust those guys,” Pavia stated at C-USA media day (abgjournal.com).
2023 Projections
Passing Yards: 2,250
Rushing yards: 670
Total Touchdowns: 26
FPPG: 23.1
Twitterverse on Fire
Based on recent ADP, identify the quarterback you want to select in CFF drafts:
- Jack Plummer, Louisville: 34%
- Tyler Buchner, Alabama: 10%
- Will Howard, Kansas State: 46%
- Brady Cook, Missouri: 10%
“Jack Plummer. Jeff Brohm coached quarterbacks have a track record of success in college fantasy football. Plummer proved competent at UC Berkeley. I would expect that his stats take a big boost after the transfer. Worth the speculation for my fourth QB.” @BigWormPerm
“Louisville’s Jack Plummer is intriguing because of the Jeff Brohm connection, but I’d roll with Will Howard. He looked pretty good in limited action last year, and he feels like a pretty safe floor guy with nice upside. Even though the writing seems to be on the wall, we still don’t know whether Tyler Buchner is the starter, and there’s a similarly murky situation at Mizzou. Even if Buchner and Brady Cook start week one, it’s not unlikely they get replaced soon after.” @VolumePigs
“Gimme Brady Cook. The Tigers have Luther Burden now with one-year experience and added Theo Wease through the transfer portal. Cook was close to 65% last season in his first year starting with 2,700 yards and 14 touchdowns, including eight in the last four games. Plus, they bolstered the OL for Cook.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Jack Plummer is in for a big season. But (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) Will Howard looked excellent last season and his rushing upside is what I like best. Hard to advocate for Tyler Buchner or Brady Cook (right now) despite their potential to out produce the others.” @InsiderCff
“Jack Plummer has been our guy all offseason.” @CFFLists
“I like both Will Howard and Jack Plummer this year. I’ll take Howard based on the way he finished last season and the seamless transition into 2023. I have concerns that Buchner and Brady Cook may be in QBBCs.” @FabFalco
“I voted for Jack Plummer strictly because of the offensive system.” @CffDfs
Power 5: Preseason CFF All-American Team
- QB Caleb Williams, USC
- QB Bo Nix, Oregon
- RB Quinshon Judkins, Mississippi
- RB Raheim Sanders, Arkansas
- WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State
- WR Rome Odunze, Washington
- WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
- TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
- Flex Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
RB Kimani Vidal, Troy
Team Offense (Rank): 359.9 ypg. (94)
Rushing: 117 ypg. (106)
Scoring: 25.6 ppg. (80)
2022 FPPG: 13.3
Fantrax Overall ADP: 175
Troy has an old-school approach to winning games: run the football and play defense. Last year, the Trojans won 12 games and finished the season with an 11-game winning streak. Coach Jon Sumrall’s team shut down two explosive offensive units in the Sun Belt Championship Game (Coastal Carolina, 45-26) and the Cure Bowl (UTSA, 18-12) to close out the campaign.
Kimani Vidal earned Second Team All-Sun Belt after becoming the eleventh 1,000-yard rusher in school history. He scampered for 1,132 yards and 10 touchdowns on 231 carries. In the Conference, he finished third in rushing and fourth in touchdowns. Vidal also topped the 200-yard mark in a pair of games: 242 yards against ULM and 208 yards at Arkansas State.
The 5’8” and 218-pound junior is also used in the passing game. In 2022, he snatched 26 passes for 140 yards, and during his tenure, he has recorded 74 receptions for 499 yards. Considering his CFF ADP, Vidal is one of the best values in drafts this summer.
Notebook: “I think you have to acknowledge that complacency is real. It’s human nature for some people to relax. I’ve reminded these guys and their teammates quite a bit that the 2023 version of Troy football is 0-0. So everything we get, we will earn,” coach Sumrall stated at the Sun Belt Football Media Day (al.com).
2023 Projections
Rushing yards: 1,300
Receptions: 30
Total yards: 1,550
Total Touchdowns: 12
FPPG: 21.4
RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Team Offense (Rank): 251.5 ypg. (129)
Rushing: 94.9 ypg. (123)
Scoring: 17.7 ppg. (122)
2022 FPPG: 9.7
Fantrax Overall ADP: 100
If a CFF player decides to place all Hawkeyes on their ‘do not draft’ list, I totally understand. Iowa trotted out one of the worst offenses in college football last year. The stats were dreadful, but watching the offense was even worse. Why do I like Kaleb Johnson despite the obvious concerns about playing in Iowa City?
First, the Hawkeyes return four starters along the offensive line. Second, Iowa dipped into the transfer portal and acquired former Michigan signal caller Cade McNamara to upgrade the unit. Third, tight end Erick All, another former Wolverine, joined the team in the offseason. It is reasonable to project an uptick in efficiency and production with the offensive changes.
Therefore, Kaleb Johnson is in a nice position to succeed in 2023. As a freshman last year, he scampered for 778 yards, a freshman record for the program. At Purdue, he ran for 200 yards, which was the second-most in a game by a freshman at Iowa. He earned honorable mention Freshman All-America by College Football News and Big 10 coaches and media. Johnson is a picturesque third or fourth runner on a CFF roster in 2023.
Notebook: “Johnson just keeps improving. I know that. He’s done a nice job. He’s grown each week and has a great attitude. That’s been consistent since we got going. He enjoys playing. You can see that when you watch him and he enjoys practice, too,” coach Kirk Ferentz said last year (hawkeyeinsider.com).
2023 Projections
Rushing yards: 1,100
Receptions: 20
Total yards: 1,250
Total Touchdowns: 10
FPPG: 17.1
RB Marquis Crosby, Louisiana Tech
Team Offense (Rank): 392.0 ypg. (62)
Rushing: 124.8 ypg. (98)
Scoring: 29.0 ppg. (60)
2022 FPPG: 12.5
Fantrax Overall ADP: 177
Identifying value is one of the advantages of drafting many CFF Best Ball teams early in the season. A running back who remains on the board far too long is Marquis Crosby. It appears that CFF owners are concerned in regard to the transfer RB Craig “Sqwirl” Williams from Baylor and coach Sonny Cumbie’s Air Raid scheme…I am not.
A high school record-breaker, he redshirted in 2021, seeing limited action. Last year, he tallied 918 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on only 183 attempts. Among all freshmen, he ranked sixth in rushing and fourth among C-USA running backs in yards per rush (5.0). Crosby also surpassed the 100-yard barrier four times—accentuated by a 197-yard effort versus Stephen F. Austin.
At 5’10” and 201 pounds, the redshirt sophomore should lead the Bulldogs in touches out of the backfield. With the addition of QB Hank Bachmeier, the offense will showcase growth and efficiency, which means more opportunities for the playmakers, especially Crosby.
Notebook: “After breaking the Mississippi single-season (high school) rushing record with 3,678 yards as a senior in high school, Crosby played in just one game but didn’t register a carry as a college freshman in 2021. Then he enjoyed a breakout season in 2022. The Bulldogs’ runner will be exceptional once again in 2023,” declared Colton Pool, who ranked Crosby as the top returning RB in C-USA (herosports.com).
2023 Projections
Rushing yards: 1,200
Receptions: 15
Total yards: 1,300
Total Touchdowns: 11
FPPG: 17.6
Twitterverse on Fire
Based on recent ADP, identify the running back you want to select in CFF drafts.
- Jawhar Jordan, Louisville: 28%
- Kimani Vidal, Troy: 15%
- Marquis Crosby, Louisiana Tech: 18%
- Trevor Etienne, Florida: 39%
“Marquis Crosby in the fifteenth round (ADP 190) is seeming like a bigger bargain as we get closer to the season.” @CFFLists
“Trevor Etienne for me. If Florida wants to win games this fall, they are going to need to get a ton of work from the ground game. 700 rushing yards and 6.1 yards per carry as a freshman in the SEC last season. Sign me up.” @BigWormPerm
“Marquis Crosby has the most favorable offense and situation. I love Trevor Etienne’s talent, but he’s not going to be a bell cow. Crosby just might.” @InsiderCFF
“Not gonna lie, I have a closet man crush on Marquis Crosby. I see him having a big year this upcoming season for Louisiana Tech. He set all kinds of records in high school, time to see that translate to the college game.” @JustinNottingh6
“I’ll throw out my love for Jawhar Jordan. He finished the final five games of 2022 with four 100-yard performances, and Louisville has on paper one of the easiest schedules in 2023, which could result in great rushing-game scripts.” @FabFalco
“I would hope that this isn’t a decision I’d be faced with in an actual draft, and my answer depends on the format. In a best ball, Trevor Etienne is probably going to have some massive games but it’ll be hard to predict, making him a value. In a standard re-draft, for reasons others have mentioned, I’d probably take a swing on Marquis Crosby.” @VolumePigs
Group of 5: Preseason CFF All-Americans
- QB Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
- QB Frank Harris, UTSA
- RB Rasheed Ali, Marshall
- RB La’Damian Webb, South Alabama
- WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
- WR Tory Horton, Colorado State
- WR Matthew Golden, Houston
- TE R.J. Maryland, SMU
- Flex Kevorian Barnes, UTSA
WR Jeremiah Hunter, California
Team Offense (Rank): 364.6 ypg. (88)
Passing Yards: 268.0 ypg. (31)
Points Scored: 23.9 ppg. (95)
2022 FPPG: 15.5
Fantrax Overall ADP: 188
In 2023, my fantasy teams are more dependent upon the success of the California aerial assault than I would like to admit. Over the offseason, coach Justin Wilcox hired Jake Spavital, who will instill an up-tempo Air Raid, to command the offense. Wilcox tapped Sam Jackson, V, formerly at TCU, as the new signal caller. I expect a more explosive passing game this season.
With WR J. Michael Sturdivant at UCLA, Jeremiah Hunter assumes the lion share of targets in Berkeley this season. The 6’2” and 200-pound junior established a career-best 965 receiving yards in 2022, while also setting new marks with 65 catches and five touchdowns: He was named Second Team All-PAC-12.
A dynamic playmaker, Hunter also garnered Second Team All-PAC 12 as a punt returner by Phil Steele. He returned 19 punts for 205 yards. The Bears are projected as a bottom-feeder in the Conference, and Hunter should benefit from a negative game script more often than not. He is simply a great value at his current ADP.
Notebook: “This past season was Hunter’s breakout campaign at the collegiate level…He is a player that possesses great hands, developing speed after the catch, and is a shifty receiver to cover, especially in the red zone. Hunter is set to be a key player for the Golden Bears’ offense that looks to finish its rebuilding process,” Michael Hanich penned while ranking the top returning receivers in the Pac-12 (lastwordonsports.com).
2023 Projections
Receptions: 72
Receiving yards: 1,000
Total Touchdowns: 7
FPPG: 17.4
WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
Team Offense (Rank): 378.1 ypg. (73)
Passing Yards: 211.8 ypg. (91)
Points Scored: 24.2 ppg. (94)
2022 FPPG: 14.1
Fantrax Overall ADP: 209
When I started my CFF Best Ball research months ago, Isaiah Williams caught my attention. The Illini playmaker finished as the CFF WR No. 73 in PPR scoring formats with 184 points. I decided to look at his game logs and noticed that he eclipsed 25 points three times and added a 23-point outing for a total of four games of fantasy gold. Williams was wildly inconsistent. Yet, he offers an enticing fantasy ceiling.
A four-star prospect, Williams played quarterback in high school and ranked as the No. 5 athlete in the nation by 247Sports. He earned Missouri Offensive Player of the Year twice and received an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals. In 2019, he redshirted, and the following season, he started four games at quarterback, passing for 393 yards, rushing for 389 yards and totaling five touchdowns.
In 2021, Williams changed positions and played wide receiver, snatching 47 passes for 525 yards and four scores, leading the team in receptions and yards. Last year, his teammates named him team captain, and he collected All-Academic Big Ten. He registered career highs across the board with 81 receptions for 709 yards and five touchdowns on 104 targets. When deep in CFF drafts, I like to acquire elite athletes with a potential high ceiling, and Williams fulfills the requirements at a very low ADP.
Notebook: “Williams pops off the screen immediately because of his incredible athleticism…which includes good speed, footwork, short-area quickness, and elusiveness. Williams is a great route-runner for a guy who’s very new to the position. He has all of the tools necessary to create separation from defenders early in his route, then uses good hands to haul in passes away from his frame and sprinkles on some elusiveness after the catch to tack on extra yardage,” Jack McKessy noted in his scouting report (DraftNetwork.com).
2023 Projections
Receptions: 85
Receiving yards: 890
Total Touchdowns: 8
FPPG: 18.5
WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Team Offense (Rank): 501 ypg. (5)
Passing Yards: 295.8 ypg. (15)
Points Scored: 41.1 ppg. (5)
2022 FPPG: 13.4
Fantrax Overall ADP: 215
The Bulldogs’ narrative centers around a ground-and-pound offensive scheme. While there is historical truth to the account, Georgia has become a much more effective passing team over the past two seasons. Big changes occurred over the winter with offensive coordinator Todd Monken moving to Baltimore and Stetson Bennett going to Los Angeles in the NFL. I often find value in opposing a popular narrative, and the Bulldogs’ aerial assault provides a fascinating opportunity.
Ladd McConkey finished as the CFF WR No. 40 last year with 58 receptions for 762 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added 134 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. In four games, he produced over 20 fantasy points, including a season-best 31.1 versus Mississippi State, and eight times, scored double-digit points.
Throughout the past two months, McConkey has garnered praise from the NFL scouting complex. Also, it has become apparent that QB Carson Beck can lead this offense and be a productive passer. McConkey is available so late in drafts that there is almost zero risk, and I believe in scooping up value.
Notebook: “The 6’0” and 185-pound fourth-year junior produced in a run-first Bulldogs offense in 2022 and has shown elite hands and route-running ability. With more opportunities in 2023, those numbers should explode. I have him in the Round 3 range right now, but things could change quickly if he sees more targets this year,” ESPN’s Draft Analyst Matt Miller illustrated in his spring report (dawgnation.com).
2023 Projections
Receptions: 70
Receiving yards: 945
Total Touchdowns: 9
FPPG: 18.2
TE Mason Taylor, LSU
Team Offense (Rank): 453.1 ypg. (28)
Passing Yards: 269.3 ypg. (29)
Points Scored: 34.5 ppg. (23)
2022 FPPG: 6.9
Fantrax Overall ADP: 156
Coach Brian Kelly knows how to develop and use tight ends in his offensive scheme. While at Notre Dame, Kelly managed a quartet of future NFL tight ends: Tyler Eifert, Durham Smythe, Cole Kmet, and Michael Mayer. Last year, he uncovered another fine prospect at the position, Mason Taylor.
A freshman in 2022, Taylor is an outstanding football player, who made an immediate impact. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, he does everything well: easily makes catches, devastating pile driver and intimidating downfield blocker when Jayden Daniels scrambles.
A four-star recruit, Taylor is a massive human being at 6’6” and 255 pounds. Kicking off his sophomore season, he is one of the nation’s top tight ends after earning Freshman All-SEC honors. He corralled 38 passes for 414 yards and three scores. I’ll bank on Kelly’s track record at tight end, and pluck Taylor off the board in double-digit rounds in all drafts.
2023 Projections
Receptions: 50
Receiving yards: 620
Total Touchdowns: 5
FPPG: 11.8
Twitterverse on Fire
Based on recent ADP, identify the wide receiver you want to select in CFF drafts:
- Devin Voisin, South Alabama: 35%
- J. Michael Sturdivant, UCLA: 40%
- Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt: 9%
- Jalon Calhoun, Duke: 16%
“The upside of Devin Voisin is a clear tier above all the others on this list.” @CFF_Jared
“I voted for Devin Voisin for the same reason as @CFF_Jared.” @CffDfs
“I really like Sheppard but as Riley Leonard soars, so will Jalon Calhoun. He averaged 14 ypc. last season and totalled 334 YAC out of his 801 yards: Just get him the ball and watch him work. Plus, he split reps out wide and in the slot. He is a perfect security blanket for Leonard.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“J. Michael Sturdivant for me. Superior talent on a team that will throw more than they have in quite some time.” @aceholesrule
“Of this group Devin Voisin. But none of these guys really excite me. South Alabama is going to be a good team in the ‘Fun Belt’ this year, so he will have a lot of opportunities.” @JustinNottingh6
“Give me Devin Voisin. @MBainbridgeCFF recently posted offenses which feature their WR No. 1, and South Alabama’s system features the top WR on 29% of targets.” @FabFalco