This article is part of our FantasyAces College Football series.
My strategy this season has been to spend big on quarterbacks, try to stack wide receivers with them and go cheap on running backs. That has been hit or miss, but in recent weeks, budget runners have been more difficult to find. This week I'm flipping the script and spending up on running backs, while going full sleeper mode with pass catchers. To be honest, I like the results.
QUARTERBACK
Seth Russell, Baylor (vs. West Virginia) - $6,300
Baylor is a steamroller. Like Trevone Boykin of TCU, it's really hard to set Russell's salary too high, and $6,300 is not prohibitive, as I will still manage to roster several other studs this week. I faded Russell slightly last week due to a weak opponent, and while he was able to rattle off 246 yards and three scores, backup Jarrett Stidham finished the blowout win under center. This week should be much more competitive versus West Virginia, so I expect a full throttle run-and-throw attack from Russell and the Bears. Anything less than 300 yards and four total scores will disappoint. There aren't many players you can say that about.
Luke Falk, Washington State (vs. Oregon State) - $5,800
Falk has a ton of value at this price, coming off a 500-yard, five-touchdown performance in an overtime victory at Oregon. His opponent this week, Oregon State, ranks 24th in passing yards per game allowed, but most of that is due to teams not finding it necessary to throw the ball versus its 111th-ranked run defense. Sure, Falk likely won't attempt 74 passes again this Saturday, but Mike Leach is still the head coach in Pullman and they are not built to pound the rock. Falk has never thrown fewer than 41 passes as a starter, and he sports a 15-to-1 touchdown advantage in 2015 over his leading rusher Gerard Wicks. The Cougars throw for points.
Others to consider:Trevone Boykin, Anu Solomon
RUNNING BACK
Sony Michel, Georgia (vs. Missouri) - $5,250
Nick Chubb's unfortunate injury opens the door for Michel, who is a dynamic runner in his own right. He rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries after Chubb went down last week and has averaged 6.7 yards per carry so far this season. Chubb, and Todd Gurley before him, are exceptional talents, but the Georgia offensive line should get some credit for the string of successful backs they continue opening up holes for. Michel is next in line and is a raging bargain at $5,250. Get it while it's hot, because he won't be cheap for long.
Shock Linwood, Baylor (vs. West Virginia) - $5,800
I didn't have the budget to stack Corey Coleman with Russell, but I do have the ability to add another Bear to my RB-heavy lineup in week 7. Baylor's record-setting offense is averaging 357.6 rushing yards per game over the first five games. Linwood has surpassed 130 yards in four consecutive games, with two-plus scores in those games and is gaining almost 10 yards per carry on the season.
Others to consider:Leonard Fournette, Devontae Booker, Aaron Green
WIDE RECEIVER
KaVontae Turpin, TCU (at Iowa State) - $4,450
Turpin burned me two weeks ago when I chose his teammate Desmon White over him and the freshman blew up for four touchdowns. It's clear Turpin is the big-play receiver of choice for TCU when they need to manufacture plays away from Josh Doctson, as the star receiver gets more and more attention from opposing defenses. Turpin is a dynamo, and his touches should increase while Ty Slanina and Kolby Listenbee are sidelined with injuries.
Darreus Rogers, USC (at Notre Dame) - $3,500
I haven't experienced a ton of success with my sleeper picks the last couple weeks, but I love these receivers. Steven Mitchell been all but ruled out against Notre Dame, which puts Rogers squarely in the No. 2 role across from Juju Smith-Schuster.
Others to consider:Josh Doctson, Corey Coleman, Nelson Spruce
TIGHT END
Jake Butt, Michigan (vs. Michigan State) - $3.600
I expect a slugfest in this rivalry game for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Butt averages 6.2 targets per game, which is a solid number for dearth of tight ends in college football. I expect a game that is constricted on offense, for both sides, lending itself to a guy like Butt, who does a lot of work close to the line of scrimmage.
Others to consider:Jordan Leggett, Kody Kohl
FLEX
Derrick Henry, Alabama (at Texas A&M) - $5,700
I have a surprising amount of cash left after opting for extreme value plays at wide receiver, which allows me draft another stud runner. Henry is just about automatic for 100 yards and a score each week. In fact, the 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior has found the endzone 10 consecutive games dating back to last year, so it's surprising his salary remains somewhat muted week after week.
Dare Ogunbowale, Wisconsin (vs. Purdue) - $4,450
This could really be an all-name team, but I swear I'm picking guys for the point scoring potential. Taiwan Deal's situation needs monitoring before kickoff, but he left the Nebraska game with an ankle injury and remains in doubt for Saturday. That leaves Ogunbowale with a bulk of the touches out of the Badgers backfield versus a Purdue defense that ranks among the worst in the country stopping the run.
