Conference Preview: Sun Belt Breakdown

Some might have a tough time naming the teams in the Sun Belt considering the significant changes the conference went through the last couple years. However, don't be fooled by the anonymity because the conference has a number of impact players. Four of the top-15 fantasy running backs and a top-10 quarterback reside in the Sun Belt. Don't sleep on the conference, which Georgia Southern shockingly won in its first year in FBS in 2014.

Top-5 Fantasy Stars

1. Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

The reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year has the most fantasy upside in the conference. Last season, McGuire turned 211 touches into 1,767 yards and 16 touchdowns. He did this all while seniors Alonzo Harris and Terrance Broadway shared the rushing load. McGuire scored a touchdown in nine consecutive games to end the season and only lost one fumble. With a new quarterback in junior Brooks Haack, the Cajuns likely will give the ball plenty to their most explosive player and let him use his athleticism in space.

2. Marcus Cox, RB, Appalachian State

The Mountaineers know how to score, and Cox was a big reason the FBS newbies exploded for 35.7 points per game in 2014 (27th in the nation). Appalachian State ranked 18th in the nation in rushing behind Cox's 1,415 yards and 19 touchdowns. He topped 100 rushing yards in eight games and ended the season on a streak of seven consecutive games with a touchdown. Four offensive linemen return for a team that is likely to again be run-first all the way, as it lacks effective receivers for quarterback Taylor Lamb to target.

3. Teldrick Morgan, WR, New Mexico State

Morgan burst on the scene in Week 3 last year with an eight receptions for 202 yards against UTEP. He finished the season with 75 catches, 903 yards and seven touchdowns. The Aggies aren't a great team, yet they have an explosive offense with running back Larry Rose III and gun-slinging quarterback Tyler Rogers. Their defense won't keep them in a lot of games, so expect Morgan to be one of their only chances to fight every Saturday.

4. Fredi Knighten, QB, Arkansas State

The Red Wolves were another of the Sun Belt's high-scoring teams last season, ranking 19th in FBS with 36.7 points per game. Knighten accounted for the vast majority of those points with 24 touchdowns through the air and another 11 on the ground. The most surprising aspect of Knighten's game was his development in the passing game as he spread the ball around to many weapons. Skill players Michael Gordon, Johnston White, J.D. McKissic, Tres Houston and Dijon Paschal return for Knighten to have another big year.

5. Joel Ruiz, TE, Georgia State

Georgia State's offense benefited tremendously from adding offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski last year. They ranked 27th in passing as Jagodzinski looked to throw on nearly every down. That benefited Ruiz, who developed a strong rapport with junior college transfer quarterback Nick Arbuckle, cathing 39 passes for 478 yards and three touchdowns. It's not easy to find a consistent tight end in college football, but Ruiz is a dependable asset.

Sleepers

1. J.D. McKissic, WR, Arkansas State

The emergence of freshman Dijon Paschal and deep threat Tres Houston has caused slot receiver McKissic to fall into the shadows a bit. But Arkansas State's dynamic offense is still a good fit for McKissic, who can rack up catches as a safety valve for Fredi Knighten. McKissic missed a few games last season and still managed to be the team's second-leading receiver with 52 catches, only one behind Houston.

2. Kevin Ellison, QB, Matt Breida, RB, Georgia Southern

The Golden Eagles were 10th in the nation in scoring at 39.1 points per game last season as they shredded defenses on the ground (first in the nation in rushing) en route to a conference title. Georgia Southern runs an option or a run fake on nearly every play, which bodes well for Ellison. Both he and Breida eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns in 2014. Expect much of the same this season as none of the Sun Belt defenses again will have trouble stopping the unique and crafty version of the option offense.

3. Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State

Davis underwhelmed a bit last season with only two touchdowns, but that may be a product of bad luck on an offense that's pretty darn good at passing. The silver lining is that Davis still led the team with 97 targets and is the team's best pure receiver. Expect Davis to see the end zone a lot more this season and at a much cheaper fantasy price.

4. Rashon Ceaser, WR, Louisiana-Monroe

Ceaser has some serious barriers to success as both quarterback Pete Thomas and leading rusher Centarius Donald both graduated. However, if the team's quarterback battle creates at least a competent thrower, Ceaser should be well on his way to duplicating the 112 targets he saw last year. Ceaser ended the season on a torrid streak with 25 catches and three touchdowns in his last three games.

5. Michael Gordon, RB, Arkansas State

Gordon provides a lot of value as an explosive running back in an offense that puts up plenty of points. He averaged an absurd 6.9 yards per carry on his way to 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014. Both J.D. McKissic and Gordon are sleepers for the Red Wolves because they are the seniors who will be featured over talented young guys like Johnston White and Dijon Paschal.

Busts

1. Taylor Lamb, QB, Appalachian State

Lamb is experienced after completing 64 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2014, but the Mountaineers remain a run-first team. Even when Marcus Cox was mowing down opposing defenses last year, Lamb was nothing more than mediocre as a passer. A big problem is the lack of talent at receiver with no player recording more than 600 receiving yards last season.

2. Tyler Rogers, QB, New Mexico State

Rogers will throw a ton, evident from his 436 attempts last season. The only problem is that he throws far too many interceptions. He had two or more picks in nine games last year. There are plenty of quarterbacks in college football that will not get anywhere near 23 interceptions this season.

3. Jamal Robinson, WR, Louisiana-Lafayette

Robinson is a talented player who was granted a fifth year of eligibility after missing most of last season with meniscus and foot injuries. His 6-foot-4 frame was useful when departed senior Terrance Broadway was chucking him the ball. However, the quarterback now is Brooks Haack, who has limited experience. It also doesn't help that UL-Lafayette returns five of last year's top seven wideouts. There's far too many weapons on this team, including stud running back Elijah McGuire, for Robinson to have a huge impact in his fifth year.

Team-By-Team Fantasy Stars (Overall positional ranking listed parenthetically)

Appalachian State Mountaineers

RB Marcus Cox (6), QB Taylor Lamb (39), RB Terrence Upshaw (130), RB Ricky Fergerson (147)

Arkansas State Red Wolves

QB Fredi Knighten (6), TE Darion Griswold (33), RB Michael Gordon (35), RB Johnston White (123), WR Dijon Paschal (132), WR Tres Houston (148), WR J.D. McKissic (151)

Georgia Southern Eagles

RB Matt Breida (27), QB Kevin Ellison (60)

Georgia State Panthers

TE Joel Ruiz (11), QB Nick Arbuckle (50), WR Robert Davis (65), WR Donovan Harden (74)

Idaho Vandals

TE Deon Watson (14), WR Dezmon Epps (30), RB Elijhaa Penny (48), QB Matt Linehan (66)

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Canjuns

RB Elijah McGuire (2), WR Jamal Robinson (25), QB Brooks Haack (67), WR Devin Scott (83)

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

WR Ajalen Holley (60), WR Rashon Ceaser (67), QB Garrett Smith (71)

New Mexico State Aggies

RB Larry Rose III (16), WR Teldrick Morgan (18), QB Tyler Rogers (64), WR Gregory Hogan (98)

South Alabama Jaguars

None

Texas State Bobcats

RB Robert Lowe (11), QB Tyler Jones (33)

Troy Trojans

None