Surprise College Fantasy Players of the Week

Two years ago I started a weekly blog that included my surprise fantasy picks for each week of the college football season. Each week I picked the players that were flying under the radar and I am pleased that I finished my first year at a very successful 83-29-7 (74%). Last year I had another successful year with a winning week every week and an overal 103-45-17 (70%) record.

This year I will again be giving you the surprise fantasy picks each and every week in my Thursday daily blog and here are my picks for Week 10. Keep in mind you will not find players like Andrew Luck, Denard Robinson, LaMichael James or Justin Blackmon in my picks. These are strictly surprise picks of players who are flying under the radar. Last week I went 6-4. I am currently 81-41-10 (66%) on the picks so far this season and the last 6 weeks I am 51-18-1 (74%).

QUARTERBACKS:

My QB of the Week: Tyler Tettleton, Ohio

Tyler Tettleton, Ohio-While his opponent in this game (Chandler Harnish, NIU) will get most of the publicity and deservedly so, Tettleton has quietly put up outstanding numbers this season completing 64% of his passes for 2,842 yds and a 26-7 ratio. He has also added 547 rush yds (4.2) and 8 TD’s. NIU’s Defense comes in at just #98 in my D rankings and my computer calls for the Bobcats to top both 200 yds rushing and passing and look for Tettleton to have a big day.

RUNNING BACKS:

My RB of the Week: Chris Nwoke, Colorado St

Chris Nwoke, Colorado St-Nwoke has put up unbelievable numbers in the past four weeks gaining 717 rush yds (7.5) including two games with 230+ yds! This week he takes on a Wyoming D that is all’g 227 rush ypg (5.1) which ranks #114 in the NCAA. My computer calls for 244 rush yds and I think Nwoke easily tops the century mark here.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

My WR of the Week: De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon-With the amount of quality RB’s Oregon has this year Thomas was too talented to keep off the field and HC Kelly decided to put him in a hybrid RB/WR position. Thomas leads the Ducks with 38 rec (14.4) and 9 TD’s and has 313 rush yds (6.7) and 4 more TD’s. This week he takes on a UCLA D that allows 412 ypg total D (#84). My computer calls for the Ducks to have 543 total yds and expect Thomas to get 100 combined rush/rec yds in this one.

DEFENSES:

My Top Defenses of the Week: Pittsburgh and Kansas St

Pittsburgh vs Syracuse-The Pittsburgh D has been playing much better as of late all’g just 307 ypg the L/6 games after allowing 414 ypg the first 5 games. The D has been able to get pressure with 22 sks in the L/5 gms and this week take on a Syracuse offense that is avg just 15 ppg the L/4 games. My computer calls for just 273 yards for the Orange and 13 points as the Panthers achieve bowl eligibility.

Kansas St vs Iowa St-Kansas St as a team has been undervalued all year and their defense has been a big part of their success. They did allow 50+ pts in 3 str weeks but that was against 3 of the best offenses in the country in Oklahoma, Oklahoma St and Texas A&M and keep in mind the A&M game went into 4 OT’s. This week they take on an Iowa St team that should be commended for their recent success gaining 400+ yds in three of their past 4 weeks but don’t overreact as they were held to just 254 yds and 6 pts LW to an Oklahoma that had given up 525+ yds in 3 of their previous 4 gms. My computer calls for just 14 pts and 303 yds and if that happens expect the Cats to get to 10 wins for the first time since 2003.

UPSET OF THE WEEK:

Michigan St over Wisconsin

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. A rematch of the B10’s most exciting 2011 gm as both tms rallied from a 14 pt deficit before Sparty won it on a 44 yd Hail Mary TD which barely found the EZ on the last play of regulation. The Badgers finished with 23-18 FD and 443-399 yd edges. Despite clinching the Legends Div with 1 gm left, MSU kept their foot on the gas with a 31-17 win over NW. Two key 2Q plays gave the Spartans the lead as NW fmbl’d at the MSU3 which Sparty converted into a 97 yd TD drive and MSU then added a 57 yd PR TD to take a 17-3 HT lead. MSU has their all-time TD pass leader in Cousins (228, 64%, 21-6 TY) and rec in Cunningham (1125, 16.8). Surprisingly the run gm is last in the B10 (139, 3.9) behind a reshuffled OL (only 15 sks all’d). Spartans rank #1 B10 in ttl D (267), rush D (103, 2.9) and sks (38). Keep in mind that 6’7” All-B10 DE Gholston (59 tkl, 11 tfl) DNP in the 1st gm due to a susp. After being burned by late long TD passes in B2B wks in losses to MSU and OSU Wisky regrouped in a dominating 4-0 Nov in which they outscored their foes 177-54 and outgained them by 274 ypg to take the Leaders title. After PSU’s early long TD strike UW scored the gm’s L/45 pts as the Badgers had 27-12 FD and 450-233 yd edges. FBS pass eff leader QB Wilson (224, 73%, 28-3) got the early Heisman love but FBS scoring leader RB Ball (#1 B10 w/1622, 6.5, 34 TD) could earn a trip to NY as he’s 5 away from tying Heisman winner Barry Sanders’ FBS TD record (39). Badgers D is #4 FBS in scoring (15 ppg). UW has the off edge (#8-39) while the Spartans have the stronger D (#10-23). MSU also has the ST edge (#61-95) with a 2Q blk’d P TD key in the Oct 22nd meeting. MSU was shut out of a BCS bowl despite finishing with 11 wins incl one over the Badgers LY and look for this one to go down to the wire yet again.