This article is part of our Start vs. Sit series.
PLAYERS TO START
Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford (vs. Oregon)
Stanford is still a team based around running the ball, but Hogan is part of that, especially recently. He has rushed for at least 37 yards in each of his last three games, including a 112-yard effort against Washington State, and he has three rushing touchdowns in his last two games. He's done reasonably well throwing the ball, too, and more importantly this is a bad defense that Hogan is going up against. It's unlikely he's going to manage a huge game through the air, but if he has a nice game passing, and adds a little bit on the ground, it should be a strong fantasy day.
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State (vs. New Mexico)
Rypien has thrown for five passing touchdowns over his last two games, and he has three games with three touchdowns and zero interceptions this year. New Mexico is giving up 26.3 points per game and over 400 yards per game, although a lot of that has been on the ground. However, Rypien's play since taking over as the Broncos' quarterback indicates that he's capable of taking advantage of a matchup like this one.
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (vs. Maryland)
The Spartans are coming off a bad loss, but that's more due to bad officiating and defensive miscues, not Cook's play. Cook has 21 touchdowns to three interceptions on the season. Maryland's defense is giving up 250 yards per game through the air and 33.4 points overall. This is a great chance for Michigan State to bounce back, and Cook should lead the way offensively.
Jalen Hurd, RB, Tennessee (vs. North Texas)
Hurd started the season with three 100-yard outings in four games, but he hasn't topped 100 yards since and he's only scored twice during that span. However, he's rushed for at least 90 yards in three of those games, and his 11 touchdowns overall are still impressive. Most importantly, North Texas is terrible. Tennessee is going to run all over them, figuratively, and probably literally. That bodes well for Hurd.
Aaron Green, RB, Texas Christian (vs. Kansas)
TCU suffered their first loss last week, but that won't be replicated this week against lowly Kansas. TCU's offense still played well in the loss to Oklahoma State - outside of the turnovers - and they will name their score against the Jayhawks. While the Horned Frogs are known for passing the ball, Green does have nine touchdowns rushing, and he has three games with at least 120 yards. Green should have an easy day against Kansas.
Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina (vs. Miami (FL))
Hood only rushed for 69 yards last week, but he scored three touchdowns in that time and he has 11 touchdowns overall. He's a dynamic runner who only had one real "off" game, and it was a light day of work against Delaware. Miami's faced some good offenses, which has hurt their defensive numbers, but there is still little reason for Hood to fear much from the Hurricanes, especially with Marquise Williams to keep them honest.
Davonte Allen, WR, Marshall (vs. Florida International)
Allen struggled to start the season, but he's really come on over the last two games, totaling 20 catches, 344 yards, and two touchdowns, and he's scored five touchdowns this year. FIU does not have a good defense, which is the case with a lot of Conference USA teams to be fair, so there's a good chance Allen's hot run will continue.
Shaquille Washington, WR, Cincinnati (vs. Tulsa)
Thanks to the excellent play of Gunner Kiel, the Bearcats are up to fifth in the nation in passing yards per game, and Washington has emerged as the leading receiver for the team. He has three touchdowns over his last two games, and earlier this year he had a three-game stretch in which he gained over 100 receiving yards in each contest. Games against Tulsa tend to be shootouts, so Washington has a great opportunity for success here.
Zach Pascal, WR, Old Dominion (vs. Texas-El Paso)
Pascal got off to a slow start this year, but a change at quarterback seems to have helped him find his form. It started with a 231-yard, three-touchdown game, and since then he has had two more 100-yard games. Lowly UTEP is giving up almost 300 yards a game through the air and almost 37 points per game, so it would not be surprising to see Pascal keep up his newfound level of play. Plus, in a pinch, he's been known to run the ball with some success.
PLAYERS TO SIT
Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon (at Stanford)
Adams has four passing touchdowns in his last two games, but those games were against Arizona State (in triple overtime) and Cal. He also threw three picks in those games. The Stanford defense, a longtime bugbear of the Ducks, will be a much more difficult proposition to overcome. The ceiling is probably something like Adams' game against Washington, when he finished with 272 yards and two touchdowns.
Anu Solomon, QB, Arizona (vs. Utah)
Though Solomon contributed a bit on the ground earlier this year, he has just 10 rushing yards in five games since he returned from a concussion. He did throw for 352 yards and three scores against USC last week, but he's been up-and-down in the passing game as well this season. Utah's defense will be a tough task to take on for Solomon, so it's unlikely that this will be one of his better games.
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State (vs. Alabama)
We've all seen Prescott carry the Bulldogs for years now. We also just saw Alabama's defense completely shut down Leonard Fournette, something that would have seemed unthinkable before the game began. This is perhaps the best defense in college football, and for as good as Prescott is, the Crimson Tide may limit him to one of his worst games of the season.
Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas (at Louisiana State)
Aside from being shut down by the Crimson Tide, Collins has been on a tear for the bulk of the season. It's been an excellent season, but there haven't been many notable defenses on Arkansas' schedule. LSU did have some issues with Derrick Henry last week, but Henry is a truly excellent back, and it could have been just one off week for the Tigers. If nothing else, Collins is going to have to work harder than most of the best backs in college football this week.
Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois (vs. Ohio State)
Ferguson returned from his shoulder injury last week, rushing for 133 yards on 12 carries and also netting six catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. However, that was against Purdue. Ohio State's defense is much more formidable than Purdue's. With some lingering questions about his shoulder, this is not the time to put Ferguson back in your lineup.
Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana (vs. Michigan)
Last week, Howard was on this list due to his matchup against Iowa. It made sense. Then, he rushed 22 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Nevertheless, this is a double down. Michigan has allowed fewer than 100 yards per game on the ground, and their defense is very tough. Maybe Howard will make us look foolish again, but it's still a tough matchup in a week where you will find few of those for your top-of-the-line running backs.
D.J. Foster, WR, Arizona State (vs. Washington)
Foster leads Arizona State with 45 receptions, and the former running back has even chipped in with 36 carries. However, he only has three total touchdowns, and three games with fewer than 20 yards receiving. Meanwhile, the Huskies' defense is allowing 18.8 points per game and a mere 215.8 yards per game through the air. The Sun Devils have a good offense, but that has been the case even with Foster's occasional lackluster performances. It's unlikely this will be a good game for him.
KD Cannon, WR, Baylor (vs. Oklahoma)
The first game with true freshman Jarrett Stidham was encouraging, but also not quite as dynamic as usual for the Bears. That was against the shaky Kansas State defense, but Oklahoma is allowing just 178.6 yards per game passing. This is a real tough test for Stidham, and it would be risky to trust him in this matchup, which extends to his wide receivers. Teammate Corey Coleman is too good not to trust, but Cannon, the least of Baylor's top three receivers, is a different story against Oklahoma.
Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State (at Air Force)
Sharp missed the first couple games of the season and still hasn't found his form. He has four touchdowns, but he's still looking for his first 100-yard game this year. A matchup with Air Force, who has a better defense than you probably realize, certainly doesn't seem like it will lend itself to a breakout game for Sharp.
