Week Four of the College Football Season was a college fantasy football special. As I and my friends in green were mocked pretty heavily leaving Camp Randall Stadium, we just wanted to head back to the hotel and see some better contests. But things didn't improve much. However though we were treated to blowout after blowout in person and on the tube for much of Saturday, the fantasy players in all of us had plenty to digest and enjoy.
As one who was watching Ohio State smother Illinois, Alabama smash Ryan Mallett and Arkansas and Virginia Tech humble Miami, I was also stunned while checking in on Oregon's dismantling of Cal. And later I'd witness Florida putting on one of the most dominating first quarters I've ever seen, while the ESPN camera seemed to take a sadistic glee in showing every shell-shocked Kentucky fan in the stands.
So while it seemed that every game was decided early in the third quarter, the fantasy fireworks provided by those providing the beatings made for some very nice fantasy days. Owners desperate for ANY type of tight end production saw Ed Dickson dominate Cal and Garrett Graham befuddle Michigan State. Ryan Williams again posted outstanding numbers against another stout foe. Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman got it done, and so did G.J. Kinne in Tulsa's laugher. And of course the six-score performances from Jerrod Johnson (our computer's #1 quarterback going into the week) and Dan LeFevour made for many happy college fantasy footballers.
Whether it's expected or whether one team just doesn't show up, the college football laugher is always a cause for concern among fantasy owners. After all it's hard to accumulate too many points when wearing a baseball cap and a smile. But this week those that were already thinking about the evening's plans were doing so after posting acceptable numbers. And hopefully with the nation fully entering the conference portion of the schedule next week we'll get back to the best of both worlds: fantastic finishes highlighted by great fantasy performances.
Saturday Standouts
Just when we were about to give up on Tulane's Andre Anderson, he goes out and gives us an Andre Anderson performance. 199 yards and four scores is just what the doctor ordered, and with injury woes, a flu scare and some tough opponents behind him, look for one the nation's top fantasy running back selections to build on yesterday's breakout performance of 2009.
Jerrod Johnson now has 13 scores in three games, and he's thrown zero interceptions. Who does he think he is, Russell Wilson? The foes will get tougher for A&M, but there can't be too many more confident quarterbacks in the country.
Arizona's Nick Foles sure didn't look like he was making his first collegiate start. The strong-armed lad went into Corvallis and picked apart the Beaver defense to the tune of 254 yards and a score. And we have another Pac-10 fantasy quarterback emerging, and in Arizona we have a team that doesn't look like much fun to play against.
Case Keenum (435 passing yards and two scores) again showed the college football world what we fantasy guys have known for a while, that he's one of the best around. Operating with incredible poise and efficiency, Keenum led the Cougars down the field and knocked off another Big XII foe, this one before a raucous home crowd that included Hakeem Olajuwon. And it's looking like Houston may be in for their own "dream" season.
Owners of Utah State's Robert Turbin don't care that hardly any football fan would know who he was even if he came up to him and said, "Hello, I'm Robert Turbin." We'll take his 220 yards from scrimmage and three scores and keep on checking his box scores.
Ricky Dobbs of Navy now has 12 scores on the season, and starting him is no longer a bad idea.
There aren't many combinations better than Tony Pike to Mardy Gilyard, and each is becoming a must-start for a team whose momentum is really beginning to snowball.
Just when Washington reentered the top-25 and began thinking of bowl destinations they received a dose of Touchdown Toby Gerhart, whose 27-200-1 leaves him with over 500 yards and five scores on the young season.
Don't look now but Greg McElroy is doing more than just managing games for the Tide. Eight total touchdowns through four games may not cause owners to race to the waiver wire, but those in SEC-heavy leagues could do a lot worse.
Lost Weekends
Jahvid Best and his Bears simply ran into a buzz saw in Eugene, and suddenly the showdown with USC has lost a little luster.
Terrelle Pryor, Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn are three of the Big Ten's biggest names, and each is struggling to find his rhythm. In fact each is becoming one to sit on a regular basis, in Big Ten leagues.
It doesn't get much easier for Rich Brooks and Kentucky. The Wildcats, who looked scared to punt the ball yesterday, now get a "break" and welcome the Crimson Tide to town.
With an opening slate that featured Akron, Temple and Syracuse owners were expecting much more from Evan Royster, who was held out of the end zone by Iowa. While he's certainly not one to throw back, he's no longer a must start by any means.
Innnnnnnnteresting Tidbits
I can't imagine that another DVD copy of Field of Dreams will ever be sold in Happy Valley. State College and Iowa City are separated by about 800 miles, and I'm not sure any Nittany Lion fan will ever want anything to do with the State of Iowa.
Colt McCoy's owners can go ahead and admit it. They liked it better when he was the leading rusher for the Longhorns. Who do Tre Newton and Vondrell McGee think they are anyway?
Jeremiah Masoli is going to do that to us all year. Just when we think he's about to be yanked...
Auburn's trip to Knoxville next week is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing matchups of this early season. Two SEC foes that have made wholesale changes of late will meet, and it will provide Lane Kiffin a chance for an early signature win.
Really nice to see the injury-plagued Danario Alexander blow up on Friday night. After so much trouble just staying healthy here's hoping for continued health and production in 2009.
Looking for some help on the waiver wire? Here are the top available performers from last week.