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(#62) Bryce Young Shows Signs of Life, Rookie QB Breakdown, & an updated 2-Rd SF Mock Draft
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(#62) Bryce Young Shows Signs of Life, Rookie QB Breakdown, & an updated 2-Rd SF Mock Draft

On today's episode of FFR, we walk through our weekly NFL and CFB previews before diving deeper into the Rookie QBs, Bryce Young, and a 2-Round SF Mock Draft.

WEEK 11

On the Audio Version Today: 

  • NFL Weekly Schedule Preview

  • Bryce Young + Rookie QB Deeper Discussion

  • 2026/2027: Market versus Players

  • 2-Round SF Mock Draft

  • Further Notes on CFB Games

Make sure to follow the Fantasy for Real Twitter account if you use X/Twitter: 

https://x.com/FFBForReal

Times are in Eastern. Players without years are eligible for the NFL Draft. Years are when players are first eligible.

SATURDAY

BIG GAMES

Georgia @ Ole Miss on ABC at 3:30 PM

Key Players: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia ; Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia ; Nate Frazier, RB, Georgia (2027) ; Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss ; Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss 

While this may not be a College Football Show, the context of the playoff situation could play a big factor in these first two games. For Ole Miss in particular, a loss could spell doom for playoff hopes, and so they will need to put the pressure on Carson Beck and hope he throws a few more of those INTs. That does seem to be the way to get to Beck right now: pressure. Georgia also features two very intriguing RBs in 2025’s Trevor Etienne and potential 2027 RB Nate Frazier. For Ole Miss, if Tre Harris plays, this game will become a great opportunity for the potential draft stocks of Dart & Harris. 

>>>>GAME OF THE WEEK>>>> Alabama @ LSU on ABC at 7:30 PM

Key Players: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama ; Jamarion Miller, RB, Alabama ; Justice Haynes, RB, Alabama (2026) ; Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama ; Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama (2027) ; Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU ; Caden Durham, RB, LSU (2027) ; Kyren Lacy, WR, LSU ; Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU ; Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

The two teams in this game may not have top 5 rankings next to their name, but this game has as much single game potential as any game we’ve seen this year. The top two battles we have here are the QBs and the Freshman. Jalen Milroe was a massive riser after the Georgia game, but he has failed to find his footing since in a major way. On the opposite side, Garrett Nussmeier has gotten some hype as even a possible QB1, but I do not personally see the performance that usually correlates with someone leaving college early for the NFL. Nussmeier could be that first QB, but I find it more likely he is involved in the 2026 class. The most impressive players on this field though may be the freshman: WR Ryan Williams and RB Caden Durham. It is not normal for freshmen to become such focal points for SEC teams, but both of these players have done just that. This will be one of their toughest tests, but so far they have been extraordinary players. 

Washington @ Penn State on Peacock at 8:00 PM 

Key Players: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State ; Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State ; Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State ; Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State ; Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington ; Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

A bounceback spot for Penn State, while the score on paper Saturday wasn’t too bad, the offense essentially scored 0 or 6 points depending on how you count it. Washington doesn’t have the personnel to shut down Penn State in quite the same way, but even if Allar is not coming out to the NFL for the 2025 NFL Draft, it would be nice to see growing consistency from within the pocket. Nicholas Singleton has shown some growing warts as a rusher, but his pass catching work has become increasingly intriguing at the same time. 

TIER 2 GAMES

Florida @ Texas on ABC at Noon

Key Players: (early Doubtful) D.J. Lagway, QB, Florida (2027) ; Eugene Wilson III, WR, Florida (2026) ; Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas ; Arch Manning, QB, Texas (2027) ; Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas ; Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas (2027)

D.J. Lagway’s injury does not appear as serious as it initially appeared, though I’m also not sure we see Lagway in this game. If Lagway does not play, Florida will be down to their 3rd QB, and it seems unlikely they will be able to pull off the upset in Texas. In terms of the Texas players, if Quinn Ewers has first round aspirations, I believe he needs to play a bit better in higher difficulty areas of the game. 

Michigan @ Indiana on CBS at 3:30 PM

Key Players: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan ; Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan ; Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan ; Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana ; Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

Michigan’s offense is consistently lethargic, but the passing game still highly features Colston Loveland, at least proportionally to the rest of the passing game. Kurtis Rourke is a player that I need to watch a bit more closely with an eye on his NFL future. 

Oklahoma @ Missouri on SEC Network at 7:45 PM

Key Players: Jackson Arnold, QB, Oklahoma (2026) ; Taylor Tatum, RB, Oklahoma (2027) ; WR Injuries ; Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri 

Although he was benched earlier in the season, Jackson Arnold is still a potential early declare QB that is worth monitoring. While getting benched is not ideal, it is also important to mention that Oklahoma has had substantial injuries at OL/WR this year, including their top 4-5 WRs being injured for most of the season. Hopefully we can see a few explosive games from Luther Burden III before the season is over. 

QB GAMES

(Cam Ward) Miami (FL) @ Georgia Tech on ESPN at Noon

RAPID FIRE GAMES

Minnesota @ Rutgers on NBC at Noon

Key Players: Darius Taylor, RB, Minnesota (2026) ; Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers 

Iowa State @ Kansas on Fox Sports 1 at Noon

Key Players: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa St. ; Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa St. ; Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

Duke @ N.C. State on ACC Network at 3:30 PM

Key Players: Kevin “K.C.” Concepcion, WR, N.C. State (2026) ; Noah Rogers, WR, N.C. State (2026) ; Maalik Murphy, QB, Duke ; Jordan Moore, WR, Duke

Oklahoma St. @ TCU on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 PM

Key Players: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma St. ; Savion Williams, WR, TCU ; Jack Bech, WR, TCU

Maryland @ Oregon on Big Ten Network at 7:00 PM

Key Players: Jordan James, RB, Oregon ; Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon ; Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon ; Tai Felton, WR, Maryland ; Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland 

//

2-Round SF Mock Draft

ROUND ONE

  1. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

  2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St. 

  3. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri*

  4. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

  5. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

  6. Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State

  7. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

  8. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

  9. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado 

  10. Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

  11. Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon

  12. Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

ROUND TWO

  1. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

  2. Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

  3. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

  4. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

  5. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State 

  6. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

  7. Jordan James, RB, Oregon

  8. Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

  9. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

  10. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

  11. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

  12. Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)

More player specific notes can be found on the audio version of the show, but to breakdown what is most important this week:

-Ashton Jeanty is still awesome, but the efficiency dip is noteworthy given his reputation and competition level.

-Quinshon Judkins has moved up by hasn’t moved tiers. This has a lot to do with what I perceive as a priority towards Judkins.

-Nicholas Singleton is at a new low, and I do have some concerns about him between the tackles. That said, the passing game usage continues to provide an excuse for these issues.

-Cam Ward has still greatly improved from the previous season, but I’m growing continuously concerned about the lack of clean play from Ward, who is regressing in areas of “clean play” like avoiding sacks and TOs.

-Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren are creeping up my list, but given my own beliefs on TEs, this is potentially just an indication that I’m not loving those early-2nd and even late-1st profiles.

-Omarion Hampton has significant upward mobility even just from the Draft alone. He does have many of the traits I seek out, and so if the Draft Capital can reduce the concern for floor, that will cause a large jump in value for Omarion Hampton.

-As mentioned on the previous show, though it may not have made the substack post, my fallers this week are Carson Beck and Antonio Williams, two players I have been defending, but are becoming hard to defend so constantly. Plus, both could be increasingly likely “return to school” candidates.

//

Thanks,

C.J.

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