NCAA Football Roundup
As we inch closer to the 2007 season and begin looking ahead at our preview, it?s time to take a look at a few of the spring storylines. Spring football doesn?t always answer all the questions we have about players or teams, but it?s a good measuring stick of how things may go. Quarterback battles are clearly the most watched aspect of spring practice and fantasy owners should keep a close watch on those. From Air Force to USC, there have been some big tidbits of offseason news ? which may shake up the depth chart in the fall. For those fantasy owners starving for news and updates to shake up your postseason boards or look ahead to the season, then you?ve come to the right place.
Changes at Air Force?New head coach Troy Calhoun has made a few tweaks to the offense and the Falcons will no longer be a triple option team. Calhoun will look to throw the ball a little more, which decreases the fantasy value of quarterback Shaun Carney. Carney is still a nice option, but he won?t rack up the rushing yards he did in previous years. In addition to changing the offensive scheme, Calhoun has moved running back Chad Hall to a different role. Hall was potentially one of the top running back options in the conference, but he will play more of a receiver role. Fantasy owners should take notice of these changes, especially since it has a big effect on Carney and Hall in 2007.
Fantasy Stock ? Carney holding steady, Hall looking cloudy.
Notre Dame QB Battle?Charlie has paired down the quarterback field and three players are in the mix. As we said in last week?s column, the smart money says Demetrius Jones and Jimmy Clausen will be the two guys getting most of the snaps, but Jimmy Clausen will win.
Fantasy Stock ? Jimmy Clausen is a top 50 fantasy quarterback, but he?ll struggle early.
MAC Quarterback Battles?Fantasy owners are well aware of the value MAC quarterbacks can provide, but several teams are having a tough battle for the tough spot. Western Michigan has three candidates vying to replace Ryan Cubit and Bowling Green could have an upset in the making. Junior Anthony Turner has yet to impress and the coaches are looking at starting Tyler Sheehan this season. Additionally, Miami, Ohio and Toledo may still have a situation to sort out. The Rockets have young and improving Aaron Opelt as the likely number one, but Clint Cochran is close in his tracks. The Redhawks have experienced Mike Kokal as their number one guy, but incoming freshman Clay Belton may have something to say about the starting nod.
Fantasy Stock ? Bowling Green quarterbacks don?t appear to have as much fantasy value as previous years, so don?t value Turner or Sheehan too high. Watch the battle at Western Michigan very closely.
ACC Quarterbacks...Without a doubt, the ACC is light on fantasy quarterbacks for 2007. However, fantasy owners can still find value for their leagues. Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett could be the top fantasy quarterback in the conference, while Boston College?s Matt Ryan is a consistent force. If Florida State could ever sort out their issues at the position, Drew Weatherford or Xavier Lee will have value too.
Fantasy Stock ? Bennett and Ryan are conference?s best fantasy options at quarterback, Weatherford or Lee could become a factor.
Raising Arizona?With new offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes calling the shots, watch out for the Wildcat offense. Dykes has the footballs flying around Tucson and the fantasy value of Tuitama shot through the roof this spring. Assuming he can stay healthy, fantasy owners should like Tuitama as the number two fantasy quarterback in the Pac-10.
Crowded USC Backfield...When the Trojans take the field this year, roll the dice or take a guess on the starting running back ? it could be a handful of players. For fantasy value, returning starter Chauncey Washington has the most immediate value, but watch freshman Joe McKnight. McKnight comes to Southern California with all the accolades and the backfield could use a little spice. Don?t count him out of the starting mix this year.
Fantasy Stock ? Washington will start, McKnight becomes big factor by end of year.
Dodgeball?Considering the Mean Green of North Texas used to be a power running team, airing out 40 times a game is a huge switch. New coach Todd Dodge is going to throw it around and throw it some more. Dodge still has a quarterback battle to deal with, but Daniel Meager stepped it up in the spring. Meager has been a dismal quarterback in his first two years on campus, but he could be a top 50 option this year. Be cautious with his value on draft day, but he?s still worth a look.
Fantasy Stock ? Meager is nothing special, but he?ll toss it around a ton and should finish just behind fellow Sun Belt quarterback Omar Haugabook in passing yards.
Minnesota and Ohio State Searching For Quarterback?Spring practice closed in Minnesota with no clear front-runner, but Ohio State appears to have Todd Boeckman out in front. Boeckman doesn?t have much fantasy value, but he?s a name worth watching in select matchups this year. With the Golden Gophers, Adam Weber could become a dual-threat candidate, but has to hold off Tony Mortensen in the fall. Look for the Golden Gophers battle to come down until the week before the season starts.
Fantasy Stock ? Don?t take Boeckman or Mortensen/Weber as a top 50 candidate, as they aren?t worth a pick at this point.
Rising Fantasy Players?Here?s a look at some of the players who watched their stock rise during spring practice ? Hawaii running back Kealoha Pilares, Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas, Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper, UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe and Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama.
[More
at www.profantasysports.com]
