WEEK 4
I feel pretty strongly about the last couple of audio shows being a step in the right direction. If you have any comments about that, let me know. If you disagree, let me know. If you mostly read and do not listen, I would encourage you once again to give it a try just because it is a product that I intend to continue to improve.
On the Audio Version Today:
32 Questions/Notes for 32 NFL Teams headed into Week 3
Positional Notes: Rookie TEs, College QB Breakouts, and RB Prospect Traits and Size
Times are in Eastern. Players without years are eligible for the NFL Draft. Years are when players are first eligible.
For Saturday, it seemed to work out that each major time slot had a game that stood above the rest, so those games are highlighted as the top games below. At the bottom, I included a section that may be used for QBs like D.J. Lagway and Arch Manning who are not starting for their team but could start for a game. If Ewers is out for a single game, that makes the game much more intriguing as a feature for Arch Manning.
EARLY GAMES
Friday
Stanford @ Syracuse on ESPN at 7:30
Key Players: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford ; Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse
There should be a decent amount of passing in this one. For Syracuse, TE Oronde Gadsden II was a highly productive true sophomore in 2022, but missed almost all of 2023 with injury. So far in 2024, Gadsden is averaging 100 Receiving Yards and 1.5 Receiving TDs per game. On the Stanford side, Elic Ayomanor is one of my personal favorite WRs in the mid range of this class. Ayomanor shows the size and length necessary for a big-time outside receiver at the NFL level, and possesses the necessary long speed to be dynamic in that role. Ayomanor has had mixed success so far this year, though his box score numbers are usually limited by the overall passing environment of Stanford.
Illinois @ Nebraska on FOX at 8:00 PM
Key Players: Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska (2027) ; Kaden Feagin, RB, Illinois (2026)
A huge spotlight performance for a young and hyped prospect, Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola goes up against Illinois in a primetime Friday night match-up. Raiola is a freshman, meaning he was both in high school last year and will not be eligible until 2027, but Raiola has already impressed with a win over Colorado. While Colorado may have a bigger media presence, it is likely that Illinois will be a tougher test for Raiola, as this is a secondary that has gotten a few turnovers so far this season. For Illinois, Kaden Feagin looks to get back on track in the 2024 season. Feagin gets mentioned for his size and raw size-adjusted-speed for a RB so young. Feagin is listed at 6’ 3”, 250 lbs.
TOP GAME
Saturday
N.C. State @ Clemson on ABC at Noon
Key Players: Kevin Concepcion, WR, N.C. State (2026) ; Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson ; Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson ; Bryant Wesco, WR, Clemson (2027) ; T.J. Moore, WR, Clemson (2027)
The Clemson offense has looked much improved recently, and it is fair to say at this point it is hard to say what they will look like against a more “neutral” opponent who is neither Georgia nor a lower tier opponent. Most of the NFL talent comes from the WR room spread across multiple classes. Antonio Williams saw his stock fall after injuries in 2023, but he is a player who showcases the kind of inside-outside versatility that can lead to high volume in PPR leagues. While they will not be in the NFL anytime soon, Clemson also features some dynamic freshman WRs Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore, who have both already gotten some playing time for Clemson. RB Phil Mafah is probably more of a Day 3 RB at best, but I do think he profiles as someone with the explosive ability to make that claim. N.C. State may not have nearly as much talent, but WR Kevin Concepcion has been one of the most productive players in the 2026 class so far in their early careers. Concepcion is not physically imposing, but he has showcased strong ability as a versatile and run-after-catch receiver.
USC @ Michigan on CBS at 3:30 PM
Key Players: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan ; Miller Moss, QB, USC ; Zachariah Branch, WR, USC (2026) ; Duce Robinson, WR, USC (2026)
While this game is a major match-up for College Football, it actually does not feature the highest volume of players for our game, particularly if you’re focused on 2025. Michigan in particular is light on depth when it comes to Dynasty-related talent, but they do probably have the biggest name between the two teams in the 2025 class, Colston Loveland. TE is a particularly frustrating position, but Loveland seems to be ranked as the TE1 and mocked in the First Round with the highest degree of frequency. It is worth noting that Michigan’s change in QB to the more run-friendly Alex Orji does not spell positive signs for Loveland’s receiving profile. The major reason this game is still a big deal for our game though is that Michigan’s defense allows us the opportunity to see if particularly QB Miller Moss can keep his hot start to the season going. Moss was superb against LSU, but being a short-term starter with non-ideal traits, Moss will need to be consistently superb to make real NFL Draft waves. More likely to make the NFL as a highly drafted player would be his receivers, particularly Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson. Branch is the smaller, quicker, and more explosive player while Robinson has fantastic size. These are also just two of the many talented WRs for USC who could make an impact at the next level should they start to breakout, like Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon.
Tennessee @ Oklahoma on ABC at 7:30 PM
Key Players: Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee (2026) ; Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee ; Jackson Arnold, QB, Oklahoma (2026) ; Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma via Purdue ; Taylor Tatum, RB, Oklahoma (2027)
For our game, this is the match-up that I have been anticipating the most within these first four weeks. No, it will not make the biggest difference for the 2025 class, but Nico Iamaleava and Jackson Arnold are the two QB prospects at the top end of the 2023 HS class who are starting for their original teams. Arch Manning will get there eventually it seems, and these two have not been perfect, but this is an excellent game to showcase two potential talents that at least have the potential to rise to the very top of the 2026 NFL Draft. Iamaleava is the taller, more prototypical of the two, but he has shown himself to be an adept scrambler. Arnold has to do better with working consistently and within structure, but he adds a major element for Oklahoma as a dynamic rusher that should be on full display against Tennessee. While this game is most important for the 2026 class, we do have at least one prospect on each side of significant note with Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson and Oklahoma WR Deion Burks. Sampson turned 20 years old last Saturday, and is in the midst of a major breakout campaign. Burks, the former Boilermaker, has caught plenty of TDs so far this year, but he hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations Oklahoma set for him in the off-season as a dynamic playmaker. Oklahoma rotates three RBs who all have some NFL traits, but the most intriguing at this point would be the true freshman, Taylor Tatum, though we won’t see him in the NFL until 2027 at the earliest.
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OTHER GAMES
Saturday
Kansas @ West Virginia on ESPN2 at Noon
Key Players: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas ; Jahiem White, RB, West Virginia (2026)
While the Kansas Offense has been lost, Devin Neal has remained consistent, with at least 100 Rushing Yards in each game this season. West Virginia has a few intriguing backs, but Jahiem White has been the most productive since the middle of last season, his true freshman season.
Arkansas @ Auburn on ESPN at 3:30 PM
Key Players: Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn (2027) ; Perry Thompson, WR, Auburn (2027) ; Luke Hasz, TE, Arkansas (2026) ; JaQuinden Jackson, RB, Arkansas via Utah
Auburn is a mess right now, and we haven’t seen too much of freshman duo Cam Coleman & Perry Thompson yet, but these are players who Auburn will likely be leaning on soon if they have any hope of sticking in games. Arkansas TE Luke Hasz may not be a household name, and his stats may not seem to fly off the page, but he is one of my favorite early picks to be the #1 TE of the 2026 class. Hopefully the goose egg against UAB is just an anomaly. RB Ja’Quinden Jackson has many ideal physical traits and is hoping he can prove himself to be a potential NFL RB against SEC competition throughout the year.
Utah @ Oklahoma State on Fox at 4:00 PM
Key Players: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma St. ; Brant Kuithe, TE, Utah
Utah has many good players like Brant Kuithe the TE, but I’m not sure any of them really fit this list. This game is a major spotlight for one player: Oklahoma St. RB Ollie Gordon II, who has been bottled up in consecutive games and now plays a tough Utah team. If Gordon wants to maintain premium draft capital, he’ll need to have big games against tough fronts, and that opportunity starts back up this weekend.
Iowa @ Minnesota on NBC at 7:30 PM
Key Players: Darius Taylor, RB, Minnesota (2026) ; Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
Similarly to the note above on Ollie Gordon II though to a less extreme extent, Darius Taylor is the feature player here as I want to see what the Minnesota RB does against tougher competition. Most of Taylor’s career has been spent either injured or against lower division opponents like the Nevada team he ran over last week. A good performance against Iowa will go a long way. Iowa TE Luke Lachey has been mentioned in the fallers a couple times at this point either directly or in passing, but there is still time particularly at TE to turn this season around.
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Arch Manning Watch: UL Monroe @ Texas on ESPN+ at 8:00 PM
If Ewers does play, I would comfortably ignore this game.
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That’s all I have for content this week! We’ll be back at it Tuesday with our Big Review Show #3. No idea for any specific topics– maybe a 2025 Rookie Mock Draft– but I’m sure we’ll talk NFL Week 3 and College Football Risers Week 4.
Thanks,
C.J.
(#48) When to Buy College QB Breakouts, RB Size & Traits + NFL Wk 3 Preview and CFB Schedule