WEEK 9
On the Audio Version Today:
Rapid Fire Notes for NFL Week 8
2025 2-Round 12-Team Superflex Mock Draft
Brief Review of Early 2024 Big Board (Before 2025 Big Board nxt wk)
Further Notes on CFB Games
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Times are in Eastern. Players without years are eligible for the NFL Draft. Years are when players are first eligible.
While the Week 7 & 8 slates were two of the best we’ve seen this season, we are taking a slight step back this week, particularly for the purposes of this article. However, there are still some phenomenal games and some games like Friday’s Boise St. / UNLV that are a bit unique to this slate. So while this week does not have a Georgia / Alabama, Ohio State / Oregon, Georgia / Texas, or Ohio State / Penn State (next week), we do have quite a few good games here.
THURSDAY/TODAY
Syracuse @ Pittsburgh on ESPN at 7:30 PM
Key Players: Desmond “Dez” Reid, RB, Pittsburgh via Western Carolina ; Eli Holstein, QB, Pittsburgh via Alabama (2026) ; Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse ; Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse
If you’re looking for a bit of football before the Thursday Night Game gets started, or potentially even an alternative to the Thursday game, an undefeated Pittsburgh lead by transfers Dez Reid and Eli Holstein start off the night. Reid has poor NFL size, but has been dynamic this year including as a receiver with 835 Total Yards across 5 Games. Unlike Reid, Holstein has excellent size, but he is still developing as a QB overall. The QB across from him, Kyle McCord, is a much more seasoned and polished QB prospect, though he is also more likely in the late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 conversation at best. Syracuse also features players like TE Oronde Gadsden II, who had a dynamic 2022 season before suffering a season ending injury in 2023, and RB LeQuint Allen, who is a solid RB who absorbs a large share of Syracuse’s workload.
FRIDAY
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS – Boise St. @ UNLV on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM
Key Players: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St. ; Ricky White III, WR, UNLV
As things currently stand, the winner of this game is likely a playoff team in most brackets. Now it isn’t over after this week obviously, but the winner here would be the presumptive favorite for the G5 berth. That context raises the stakes for potential NFL players like RB Ashton Jeanty and WR Ricky White III. Obviously Jeanty is having a legendary season and is currently projected in the 1st Round of the NFL Mocks, but this game will be perhaps his most crucial outside of Oregon and the potential for a playoff game late in the season. For UNLV, White has 36 Receptions, 488 Yards, and 6 TDs since a QB change, and it will require a massive game from White to off-set the likely explosion from Ashton Jeanty.
Rutgers @ USC on FOX at 11:00 PM
Key Players: Makai Lemon, WR, USC (2026) ; Zachariah Branch, WR, USC (2026) ; Duce Robinson, WR, USC (2026) ; Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC (2026) ; Woody Marks, RB, USC ; Quentin Joyner, RB, USC (2026) ; Miller Moss, QB, USC ; Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
A late night game with no clear top prospect, but Makai Lemon was a massive riser on my list this week, as someone stringing together even a couple of good weeks in this 2026 Early Declare class shows a significant amount of momentum. If you want to sell the other side, perhaps this motivates Zachariah Branch to new heights himself, as Branch (now the #2 Slot WR for USC) was once the #1 HS WR in the 2026 class. Duce Robinson still is my favorite WR of the bunch physically, and so while there is not a singular good profile here, there is a lot to like. For Rutgers, Kyle Monangai has not added to his 2023 as of yet, but there is still time for explosive performances against more quality teams and catching passes, he just has to do those things.
SATURDAY
BIG GAMES
Missouri @ Alabama on ABC at 3:30 PM
Key Players: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama ; Justice Haynes, RB, Alabama (2026) ; Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama (2027) ; Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
While there are not many games on the list here, there are at least three players who have the potential to be true top end talents, and maybe all four on this list. Milroe has taken a massive leap backwards over the last two weeks, but the Georgia game alone probably leaps his stock an extra round as teams will look at that and wonder “How can we get him to do that more consistently.” If he plays at all, he has fantasy upside. Burden has similarly struggled to start 2024 particularly when it comes to his overall production, but there are still some positive efficiency signs, and he still forecasts as being an upper-tier playmaker at the NFL level. The biggest name prospect on this list though is Alabama’s Ryan Williams, the super-freshman who is on pace for over 1,100 yards and had an FBS-leading near-20 targets in his previous game. And finally, while he has not quite lived up to the billing yet, Justice Haynes is a contender to be the #1 RB in the 2026 class. So while it is looking very unlikely for most of these players individually, each player in this core four has a potential to be in the highest tier of their position in their class.
LSU @ Texas A&M on ABC at 7:30 PM
Key Players: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU ; Caden Durham, RB, LSU (2027) ; Kyren Lacy, WR, LSU ; Mason Taylor, TE, LSU ; Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M ; Le’Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M ; Noah Thomas, WR, Texas A&M ; Terry Bussey, WR/ATH, Texas A&M (2027)
The best QB match-up we have this weekend is between Garrett Nussmeier and Conner Weigman. Nussmeier has performed very well this year, and particularly shows an uncanny ability to avoid pressures turning into sacks. His play for a one-year starter is a bit too inconsistent for me to normally project he goes into the NFL, but this class may force him into 2025. Weigman on the other hand has very little shot of entering in 2025 at this point, as he had another terrible game against Mississippi St., so while Weigman looked phenomenal against Missouri, he has looked far, far worse in two of his three games against relevant competition. Both teams have intriguing players in the WR/RB rooms, but it is the freshman on each side that possesses the most fantasy upside. Caden Durham has been electric since taking over a bigger role in the LSU backfield and possesses skills for all three downs, but it is the “Athlete,” Terry Bussey, who needs more coverage. Bussey’s Devy potential took a massive hit when it appeared he was going to focus on the defensive side of the ball at Texas A&M, but Bussey was the team’s leading receiver against Missouri. If Bussey focuses his attention at WR, he is yet another potential dynamic profile for the 2027 WR Class.
TIER 2 GAMES
Nebraska @ Ohio State on FOX at Noon
Key Players: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State via Ole Miss ; TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State ; Emeka Egubka, WR, Ohio State ; Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (2026) ; Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (2027) ; Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska
Many of these games this week are a bit lopsided, and the opening here is no exception. What I’m watching for the most is how Dylan Raiola responds to some bad performances. The expectations are frankly fairly low in this game, but if he can respond well even just with his poise, confidence, and avoid playing disastrous football, that may be very encouraging.
Oklahoma @ Ole Miss on ESPN at Noon
Key Players: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss ; Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss ; Jackson Arnold, QB, Oklahoma
In the pre-season, this game would’ve seemed like a tier 1 game, but with Arnold being benched earlier in the season and the Oklahoma WRs being constantly injured, there isn’t too much to say on that side of the ball, other than to keep an eye on the injury reports for if OU ever gets their WRs back. Dart has struggled greatly in SEC play, and so while Oklahoma has been disastrous on offense, the defense is still a roadblock that we want to see Dart overcome.
Illinois @ Oregon on CBS at 3:30 PM
Key Players: Jordan James, RB, Oregon ; Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon ; Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon ; Pat Bryant, WR Illinois ; Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
The biggest fantasy storyline for Oregon will be the continued consistency or lack of consistency from Evan Stewart. He followed up his explosion against Ohio State with another solid performance against Purdue, and while the competition level wasn’t the same there, these two games represent one of the most productive two game stretches of Stewart’s career. For Tez Johnson, the question comes down to role. Among the top 100 most targeted WRs in College Football, Johnson’s ADOT is 100th.
Michigan State @ Michigan on Big Ten Network at 7:30 PM
Key Players: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan ; Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan ; Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan ; Aidan Chiles, QB, Michigan St. via Oregon St. (2026) ; Nick Marsh, WR, Michigan St. (2027)
I’m not sure what is best for Michigan, but Jack Tuttle is clearly the right option to funnel the ball to Colston Loveland, and so if the starter is not Alex Orji, you have to feel pretty solid about at least the proportional role Loveland will play in this offense. For Michigan State, Aidan Chiles needs to continue to remove negative plays from his game, and Freshman WR Nick Marsh looks to put up another strong performance against a tough Big Ten defense as he did last week against Iowa.
Auburn @ Kentucky on SEC Network at 7:45 PM
Key Players: Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn (2027) ; Perry Thompson, WR, Auburn (2027) ; Malcolm Simmons, WR, Auburn (2027) ; Dane Key, WR, Kentucky ; Barion Brown, WR Kentucky
Auburn’s Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons may not be near Jeremiah Smith or Ryan Williams individually, but the tandem is one of the best freshman duos on a single team. Coleman possesses the any-time big-play ability that coaches and scouts love to see, while Simmons is far more subtle, playing from the inside/slot. For Kentucky, we also have a duo that was once themselves an intriguing freshman pair. Key has taken substantial steps forward to be a consistent producer for this offense, and while Brown has not done that, he has continued to showcase the kind of explosive ability that aligns with likely Round 3 or better draft capital as a KR/PR and gadget WR at the very least.
Kansas @ Kansas St. on ESPN2 at 8:00 PM
Key Players: Avery Johnson, QB, Kansas St. (2026) ; DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas St. ; Dylan Edwards, RB, Kansas St. via Colorado (2026) ; Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
The week before his disastrous BYU game, Avery Johnson was highlighted as a riser, and it was unclear if he should have truly been on that list. Now, three games later, and the BYU game is the only game in the last 5 where Johnson did not perform at least well as a passer. He had his first three career 200+ Passing Games in his last three games, and both his TD:INT and BTT:TWP ratios are on the best stretch run of his career. It is also notable that last week, his best passing performance, came when he did not run and when D.J. Giddens struggled to find rushing lanes himself, and so this game is a potential bounceback spot for Giddens. Devin Neal has seen increased receiving work the last two weeks, and so I’ll be looking to see if that continues.
QB GAMES
(Cam Ward) Florida State @ Miami (FL) on ESPN at 7:00 PM
(Drew Allar) Penn State @ Wisconsin on Peacock at 7:30 PM
(Shedeur Sanders) Colorado @ Cincinnati on ESPN at 10:15 PM
RAPID FIRE GAMES
Washington @ Indiana on FOX at Noon
Key Players: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana via James Madison ; Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington via Arizona
No Kurtis Rourke as he heals from a thumb injury. Coleman and the Huskies will look to pull off what is now considered an upset against an undefeated IU.
Notre Dame @ Navy on ABC at Noon PM
Key Players: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame ; (non-NFL note) Blake Horvath, QB, Navy
Jeremiyah Love continues to be impressive and showcase 3-Down skills. Horvath is just one of the most fun to watch players in College Football.
Texas @ Vanderbilt on SEC Network at 4:15 PM
Key Players: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas ; Arch Manning, QB, Texas (2026) ; Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas via Alabama ; Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas (2027) ; Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas ; Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt has struggled against the easiest teams on their schedule enough that even after beating Alabama and Kentucky there are some doubts, but that game showcases why this is still a spot to see if Quinn Ewers can get out of the funk that has plagued him against Oklahoma and Georgia.
West Virginia @ Arizona on FOX at 7:30 PM
Key Players: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona ; Jahiem White, RB, West Virginia (2026)
While some of his production woes are not fully on him, this is a bounceback spot for potential top 10 pick Tetairoa McMillan as well.
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SF Gut Reaction Mock Draft – 2 Rounds (Distribution: 4 QBs, 2 TEs, 9 WRs, 9 RBs)
ROUND ONE
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St.
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State via Ole Miss
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon via Texas A&M
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia via Florida
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
ROUND TWO
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Jordan James, RB, Oregon
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma St.
As always, Travis Hunter would be in that top 3-4 players.
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That’s all I have for the week. Should be back Tuesday with another big review show, likely just a bit shorter than last week, but we shall see.
Thanks,
C.J.
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