Each season, we in the dynasty community get a wonderful preview of the talent that’s about to enter the NFL. College football is one of the most entertaining sports because it combines the exciting thrill of the game we all know and love with a type of rivalry and pageantry that the NFL simply cannot match. Once upon a time, College Football was the far more marketable product.
We here at Dynasty Nerds want to provide our readers with a preview of the players they will see in their rookie drafts over the next couple of years. The best dynasty managers are the most prepared. To that end, we will bring you a series of articles that highlight some of the biggest names in the college game. Each article will focus on four players whose stock is up, and four who have seen a dip. Our hope is that you will get to know these players throughout the process and be lightyears ahead of the competition when it comes to your future rookie drafts.
Stock Up
Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado
The son of legendary cornerback Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders entered the 2024 season as one of the top QBs in the nation. Despite his obvious talent displayed on the field, Sanders has garnered some serious debate within the dynasty and NFL community. Some believe he is a true prospect for the next level while others are dubious. I must be honest and tell you I selected him no. 2 overall in a prospective 2025 dynasty-way-to-early draft. The early returns from my point of view were encouraging.
Shedeur Sanders tonight:
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) August 30, 2024
26/34 Passing
445 Passing Yards
4 Passing Touchdowns pic.twitter.com/gFxYid9l94
The Colorado defense certainly looked suspect against the FCS powerhouse North Dakota State squad, but Sanders was able to bail his father and the Buffaloes. The road will not get easier for Sanders, but he has the tools and weapons to make a legitimate play for the Heisman Trophy and end up as a high-end draft pick in next season’s draft. His stock is pointing straight up at the moment.
Travis Hunter | WR | CB | Colorado
Next on my stock-up players is Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter. At this point, it is hard not to be impressed by the playmaker out of Colorado. He is a two-way player starting at both WR and CB. His performance in his team’s Week 1 victory was inspiring. His 7 receptions for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns were certainly impressive. His best play was probably the ridiculous catch you see below.
Another angle of this INSANE TD Catch by #Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter. 🔥🔥
— The Fantasy Football Know It Alls (@FF_Know_It_Alls) August 30, 2024
pic.twitter.com/MAjYDDy9UH https://t.co/XI7apFag0G
Hunter is a name to keep in mind as the college season progresses. If you get a chance to check out a Colorado game, be sure to pay extra close attention to this player. He looks like a surefire 1st-round pick in next season’s NFL draft. It will be fun to watch him duke it out with the opposing teams’ playmakers on both sides of the ball. Enjoy watching this kid because we don’t get this type of talent very often.
Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona
Of all the performances in the first two weeks of the CFB season, Tetairoa McMillan’s this past week might be the most impressive. The 6’5″ Junior exploded against New Mexico for a ridiculous 10/305/4 state line! For those of you who haven’t been introduced, you’re in for a treat. His BIg-12 Offensive Player of the Week nod might be the first of many this year.
#Big12FB Offensive Player of the Week: Week 1⃣
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 2, 2024
Tetairoa McMillan | @ArizonaFBall pic.twitter.com/Xujq0bZH1d
McMillan is on the shortlist for a number of different awards this season. When it comes to dynasty this dynamic playmaker will almost assuredly end up as a high-end 1st-round pick in both the NFL and your home leagues next spring. It is going to be extremely fun to watch the matchup against Travis Hunter and the Colorado Buffaloes later this fall. Get your popcorn ready for that one.
Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State
You can’t get through a college football week without seeing some unbelievable performances from the running back position. This past week you couldn’t find a better performance than the monster game had by Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. He went absolutely bonkers by rushing for 249 yards and 6 TDs on 19 carries.
Ashton Jeanty (Jr) Boise State had a monster day, game-breaking speed combined with vision and a willingness to lower the shoulder, some of his best plays from the day here. pic.twitter.com/MM1dDL3lfw
— Pigskin Prospector (@TheNFLPig) September 1, 2024
NFL teams will be smitten with the type of physical and speedy runner Jeanty is. However, what they will love even more is his work in the passing game. Last year he managed to pull in 43 receptions for 569 yards and 5 TDs as a receiver. While he only managed to gain 4 total yards, he still managed 3 catches in Week 1 as well. You will typically find Jeanty in the top-10 RBs eligible for the 2025 NFL draft. He is creeping up my draft board currently looking like a 2nd-round dynasty pick.
Stock Down
Chez Mellusi | RB | Wisconsin
Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi entered the 2024 season with a massive opportunity in front of him. The Badgers have been known for producing some of the top RBs in recent memory. Many expected Mellusi to shoot out of the blocks in a big way against a Western Michigan squad that gave up an average of 158.8 yards per game last season. However, despite the TD you see below, Chez struggled.
TOUGH RUNNING 😤
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 31, 2024
Chez Mellusi gets his first TD of the season for @BadgerFootball 💥#B1GFootball on @FS1 📺 pic.twitter.com/Q08G2RxBX8
I don’t want to condemn the Wisconsin RB to the dustbin, but when you struggle on 19 carries to gain 74 yards and 1 TD, it raises some red flags. Add in the fact he was not involved in the passing game and I would consider his stock to be down at this point of the college football year. In an extremely deep RB class that is not a place you want to find yourself.
Mitchell Evans | TE | Notre Dame
Mitchell Evans is considered one of, if not the top tight end prospect in all of college football. The Fighting Irish starter is coming off of a season-ending injury in 2023 after tearing his ACL last October.
Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans was back on the practice field in a limited capacity after suffering an ACL injury on October 28th. Marcus Freeman expects Evans to be cleared and ready to go for Texas A&M.
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) July 31, 2024
Evans recorded 29 catches for 422 yards and 1 TD in 2023 (7 games). pic.twitter.com/84MTPb3a9s
Evans was recently cleared by the Irish coaching staff. He played only 10 snaps against Texas A&M despite the fact that the no. 5-ranked Notre Dame was in a tight contest on the road. The one encouraging sign was that Evans played most of those snaps on 3rd down. Give him a little more time before a full-on panic but his stock certainly dipped for me.
D.J. Uiagalelei | QB | Florida State
No team in the nation has struggled more at this point of the year than the Florida State Seminoles. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is no exception to that struggle. Through his back-to-back season-opening losses, the Seminoles QB has thrown just one single TD. Things got so bad that the fans began chanting for him to be benched in his last home game.
ICYMI: During Last Night’s Matchup Against Boston College, #FSU Fans Break Out A “We Want Brock” Chant After The Eagles Take A Two-TD Lead👀🔊#FSU QB DJ Uiagalelei Recorded 21/42 For 272 Yards A TD & A INT Against BC
— LetsGoNolez (@lets_go_nolez) September 3, 2024
Should #FSU Make The Switch At QB Moving Forward⁉️👀 pic.twitter.com/gZt5YE5Mdf
This has all the markings of a full-blown implosion in Tallahassee. The entire FSU offense is struggling and after a devastating home loss to Boston College, it is going to be extremely difficult to right the ship. Uiagalelei is down on my board to the point he will need a drastic turnaround to even be on the board come next spring.
Cade Klubnik | QB | Clemson
Cade Klubnik is yet another highly touted ACC QB who is off to a difficult start. The Clemson starter was on the receiving end of one of the worst beatings of the week. The Clemson offense only generated 3 points against the no. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Despite throwing for a measly 142 yards, 0 TDs, and an interception, I’m not sure this one was all on Klubnik.
Cade Klubnik dropped this one in a BUCKET. 😳
— theScore (@theScore) August 31, 2024
(🎥: @ACCFootball)pic.twitter.com/WugdeLtkJN
Clemson still has time to turn the ship around. Unlike his former teammate, Uiagalelei, Klubnik lost to one of the top teams in the nation. Clemson still has some decent talent even if they aren’t on the same level as the Bulldogs. The former ACC Championship MVP’s stock is down after his first game, but I am willing to reserve judgment on this one.
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