College Fantasy Football: Examining the Top Players in the SEC for 2013
College fantasy football drafts will be heating up over the next few months and Athlon Sports has teamed with the college fantasy football site to provide in-depth coverage for 2013.
Here's a look at the best of the best for SEC in terms of fantasy options for 2013:
All draft values are based on a 12-team, 20-round draft using the following scoring system:
Passing—25 pass yds = 1 point, Passing TD = 4 points, INTs = -1 point
Rushing—10 rushing yards = 1 point, Rushing TDs = 6 points
Receiving—.5 points per reception, 10 receiving yards = 1 point, Receiving TDs = 6 points
Kicking—Extra Point = 1 point, FG 0-39 yards = 3 points, 40-49 yards = 4 points, 50+ = 5 points
Defense/ST—Defense, KR, and PR TDs = 6 points, Safety = 2 points, Fumbles and INTs = 3 points, Sack = 1 point, Points allowed (0 = 15 points, 2-6 = 10 points, 7-10 = 7 points, 11-13 = 5 points, 14-21 = 4 points, 22-28 = 2 points, 29-24 = 0 points, 35+ = -2 points)
Starters
QB—Johnny Manziel, So. (Texas A&M)
Last season: Passing—3,706 yards, 26 TD-9 INT; Rushing—1,410 yards, 21 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 8-9-10; Auburn, Vanderbilt, UTEP
Fantasy Draft Value: We don’t know how Manziel will top last year’s numbers, but his chances are good enough to make him the preseason No. 1 overall pick.
QB—Bo Wallace, Jr. (Ole Miss)
Last season: Passing—2,994 yards, 22 TD-17 INT; Rushing—390 yards, 8 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 9-10-11-12; Idaho, BYE, Arkansas, Troy
Fantasy Draft Value: It speaks highly of Wallace’s fantasy potential that we have him ranked above Georgia’s Aaron Murray, but the junior quarterback’s dual-threat ability gives him the slight edge.
RB—Todd Gurley, So. (Georgia)
Last season: Rushing—1,385 yards, 17 TD; Receiving—16 rec. for 117 yards; 243 return yards, TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 11-12-13; App. St, @ Auburn, Kentucky
Fantasy Draft Value: Keith Marshall will get a share of carries in 2013, but another 200-plus carry season should yield similar results. Gurley may be one of the safest first round picks, especially given the fact that the Bulldogs return five starters on the offensive line.
RB—T.J. Yeldon, So. (Alabama)
Last season: Rushing—1,108 yards, 12 TD; Receiving—11 rec. for 131 yards, TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 4-5-6 Colorado St, Ole Miss, Georgia St
Fantasy Draft Value: Yeldon did his damage on the ground last season with just 175 carries. In 2013, expect the sophomore running back to get 200-plus carries and post numbers worthy of a first-round pick.
RB—Mike Davis, So. (South Carolina)
Last season: Rushing—275 yards, 2 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 5-6-7; @ UCF, Kentucky, @ Arkansas
Fantasy Draft Value: We believe the sophomore running back is worth a fourth-round pick over other SEC running backs like Mississippi State’s LaDarius Perkins, LSU’s Alfred Blue, and Ole Miss’ Jeff Scott.
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WR—Jordan Matthews, Sr. (Vanderbilt)
Last season: Receiving—94 rec. for 1,323 yards, 8 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 4-5-6; @ UMass, UAB, Missouri
Fantasy Draft Value: Matthews led the SEC in receptions last year and is a top-10 fantasy receiver headed into the 2013 season. The all-conference receiver is a solid WR1 and may not make it out of round 3.
WR—Mike Evans, So. (Texas A&M)
Last season: 82 receptions for 1,105 yards, 5 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 8-9-10; Auburn, Vanderbilt, UTEP
Fantasy Draft Value: Evans should be even more dangerous now that he has a year of experience under his belt. We’re hopeful that he will utilize his 6’5” frame and produce more red zone scores this season, which would make the sophomore receiver a nice fourth- or fifth-round pick.
WR—Amari Cooper, So. (Alabama)
Last season: 59 receptions for 1,000 yards, 11 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 4-5-6Colorado St, Ole Miss, Georgia St
Fantasy Draft Value: Cooper had a sensational freshman season, but he wasn’t much of a fantasy factor until Week 5 last year. Expect the sophomore receiver to start much faster in 2013 and legitimize our fourth- to fifth-round projection.
WR—Donte Moncrief, Jr. (Ole Miss)
Last season: 66 receptions for 979 yards, 10 TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 9-10-11-12; Idaho, BYE, Arkansas, Troy
Fantasy Draft Value: Moncrief caught at least six passes in 8-of-13 games last season, but finished five games with fewer than 40 yards receiving. The junior receiver should be a little more consistent in 2013 and projects somewhere between rounds 6-8.
FLEX—Ben Malena, Sr. (Texas A&M)
Last season: Rushing—808 yards, 8 TD; Receiving—18 rec. for 111 yards, TD
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 8-9-10; Auburn, Vanderbilt, UTEP
Fantasy Draft Value: We believe that Malena may be one of the toughest players to project heading into 2013. If the senior running back is utilized as a true RB1, he will be worth a third-round pick in that potent Aggies offense. However, given the talent that exists at the running back position in College Station, we are not convinced Malena will earn much more than 150 carries, which makes him more of a sixth- to seventh-round selection.
K—Taylor Bertolet, So. (Texas A&M)
Last season: 13-22 FG; 106 points
DEF—Alabama Crimson Tide
Schedule Sweet Spot: Weeks 4-5-6 Colorado St, Ole Miss, Georgia St
Fantasy Draft Value: Eight starters return on a defense that ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense.
Follow Joe DiSalvo on twitter (@theCFFsite)
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