CFF Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em – Week 4
In a College Fantasy Football move that will go down in history as nothing short of monumental, Volume Pigs and Purple Reign have combined their CFF “mega powers” to form an unstoppable team.
Each week this heavyweight duo will outline College Fantasy Football players to start and sit at each position, and answer questions submitted on X (Twitter) from our readers.
QUARTERBACKS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
Maalik Murphy (Duke) at Middle Tennessee
I love the volume I’ve seen out of Murphy this year as he is averaging 40.7 pass attempts/game. In the last two weeks he has thrown for 3 TDs in each game. Middle Tennessee’s defense is poor against the run and the pass, but Duke is awful rushing with a #127 rank for fantasy points scored which means this offense will keep leaning on Murphy’s arm. Middle Tennessee’s pass defense is #133 for fantasy points allowed, providing a juicy match-up for Murphy to possibly hit 4 passing TDs this week.
Blake Shapen (MissSt) vs Florida
After a red-hot start of the season Shapen has taken a step back the last two weeks. Against Arizona State and Toledo he has been held to 2 passing TDs in each those games. His fantasy numbers haven’t been high in those games so why call out to start Shapen? He gets a Florida team that is falling apart at the seams. Just like I mentioned with Maalik Murphy above, Mississippi State does not have a strong running game and the coaches lean heavily into the passing game for production. Shapen will match-up with a Florida pass defense that is ranked #101 for fantasy points allowed and despite the last two lackluster performances by Shapen, the Bulldogs’ passing offense is #29 for fantasy points scored.
Volume Pigs
Brenden Lewis (Nevada) vs. EWU
This feels like the type of game that Lewis can thrive in. Just forget about what we saw last week vs. Minnesota, that game isn’t relevant. The rush usage remains strong and against an FCS opponent, I think Lewis will be able to pass the ball effectively this week. We saw what he could do vs. GaSo a few weeks ago, and it would not surprise me to see a similar output vs. EWU.Skyler Locklear (UTEP) vs. CSU
I’m shooting from deep yet again. Look, you probably don’t need me to tell you start Cam Ward vs. USF, or Jaxson Dart vs. GaSo (seeing his old coach btw). So here we are with Locklear. The case Lock is simple: just look at the usage. I know the efficient end of the equation hasn’t been there two out of three times now, but the matchup have been tough. CSU’s defence is more forgiving. The head coach seems to be all in on Locklear from the press conferences I’ve seen.
QUARTERBACKS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
Jackson Arnold (Okla) vs Tennessee
In the last two games against Houston and Tulane, Arnold has scored a total of just 3 passing TDs. He has yet to hit 175 passing yards in a game this season too. Arnold is going to need to step up his game big-time when Tennessee comes to town. Tennessee has the #3 rush defense and #6 pass defense for fantasy point allowed but Oklahoma is the most talented team that Tennessee has faced. I think Jackson will do okay, but I don’t see him elevating the #62 pass offense for fantasy points scored enough to “hang in there” with the Vols.
Haynes King (GATec) at Louisville
King has been on a nice run these last three weeks as the coaches have featured his arm more than I was expecting to see. Georgia Tech’s pass offense is #48 in fantasy points scored, but they are traveling to face a Louisville pass defense that ranks #13 in fantasy points allowed. These two teams match-up better on the ground with Tech’s rush offense ranked #22 and Louisville’s rush defense ranked #26. As I mentioned, the key to King’s recent success is the passing numbers and this game will provide a pass defense match-up that will cause King’s passing number to regress.
Volume Pigs
Brenden Sorsby (CINC) vs. Houston
Sorsby’s production has waned each week since the opener and most troubling to me is that he ground game production has been non-existent since he scored twice against Towson. Houston stymied OU’s offence a few weeks ago, which admittedly maybe isn’t saying all that much, but still. This is an avoid for me.
RUNNING BACKS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
Kaytron Allen (PSU) vs Kent State
This looks to me like a game where the RB2 should bust off some big plays in a blowout. Last week against Bowling Green, Allen ran the ball 14 times for 101 yards but failed to reach the end zone. Bowling Green’s rush defense is #89 in fantasy points allowed, but Kent State’s rush defense is #134. This looks to be a game where Allen should maintain the 14 carries like last week and finally reach the end zone.
Sire Gaines (Boise) vs Portland State
This is another selection of a back-up running back against a cupcake opponent. Ashton Jeanty will tear through this defense for 3 fast TDs then it will be Gaines’ time to shine. I believe Gaines is a lock for 75 yards and 1 TD, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he scores 2 TDs. This selection is just that simple and Gaines will likely outscore many RB1’s this week.
Volume Pigs
Henry Parrish (MISS) vs. GaSo
I alluded to this game earlier mentioning that this is Jaxson Dart’s chance to face his old coach from USC. This game is probably going to get out of hand quickly, but we saw last week that the Lane Train doesn’t mind leaving in his guys to the end just to rub salt in his opponent’s wounds. Parrish has been the designated work horse for two weeks in a row now and so I’m thinking it’s safe to say he’s the guy at RB.Demie Sumo (UK) vs. Ohio
It’s not often that the stars align in CFF but here we are in week 4, and Kentucky’s Demie Sumo appears to have emerged as the lead dog in the backfield with a lucrative matchup on deck. Jaison Patterson will return eventually (maybe even this week), but Sumo proved vs. UGA that he’s got some fire in his belly. I like the matchup and while I expect Kentucky will workshop some ideas on offence in this one, I think Sumo will be a big contributor on Saturday. Or they’ll wrap him in bubble wrap and get him prepared for Ole Miss the next week, who knows. But keep in mind that Ohio pushed Syracuse in week one, so it’s not out of the realm of possibly that this is a competitive game to the end.
RUNNING BACKS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
Tahj Brooks (TxTch) vs Arizona State
Brooks appeared to be fully healthy last week as he ran for 109 yards and 1 TD against North Texas. He will now face Arizona State who is surprisingly stingy on run defense, ranked #12 in fantasy points allowed. This is just part of the story. Texas Tech’s match-up to exploit in this game will be their #5 pass offense in fantasy points scored versus Arizona State’s #92 pass defense in fantasy points allowed. I can see Brooks getting a smaller workload and have a less productive (but not bad) day. Don’t be afraid to put him in your line-up if you’re hard-up for playable RBs though.
Elijah Young (W Ky) vs Toledo
Young is not a mainstay on fantasy rosters but for those of you in deeper leagues this might apply. This game looks to be a high scoring close affair. As long as a team doesn’t fall two-scores behind they will want to try and maintain some run/pass balance in their play calling. Young helms the #100 rush offense while Toledo has the #27 rush defense. Like I highlighted in the Brooks selection, the favorable match-up in this game is Western’s #26 pass offense versus Toledo’s #103 pass defense.
Volume Pigs
Roman Hemby (MAR) vs. Vill
Not loving what I’m seeing in terms of touch distribution in Maryland’s backfield. They have a cupcake opponent this week and it wouldn’t surprise me if the RB2, Nolan Ray, ends up out-producing Hemby on the day.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
Junior Vandeross (Toled) at Western Kentucky
As of now Vegas is calling for Toledo to win this game 30-29. My gut tells me these two teams score more points than what Vegas is calling for. Toledo’s pass offense is ranked #14 in fantasy points scored and Western Kentucky’s pass defense is #110 for fantasy points allowed. Vandeross could crass the 100-yard mark for the second time this year, and a very good chance to get 10 targets and 2 TDs for the first time.
Makai Jackson & Kaedin Robinson (App) vs South Alabama
This is another game that looks to have plenty of scoring, with Vegas calling for App State to score 36 points. Neither team is relatively strong in the running game so I don’t see a bunch of time-eating drives occurring. South Alabama’s pass defense ranks #111 in fantasy points allowed and the Mountaineers are #45 in passing fantasy points scored. Jackson has been the fantasy point and TD leader in this WR core, but Robinson is the leader in targets. Robinson hasn’t reached the end zone yet but I believe that changes this weekend. Jackson has scored in two of the last three weeks and should be good for a TD again this week.
Volume Pigs
Andrew Armstrong (ARK) vs. AUB
Since coming back from injury, Armstrong has kicked off his 2024 campaign with bang after bang. I’m loving the volume he’s seeing, and I don’t see an end in sight vs. a fledgling Auburn this week.
Devin McCuin (UTSA) vs. HBU (FCS)
I know he’s had a down couple of weeks, but this matchup vs. an FCS opponent feels like just what the doctor ordered for McCuinn to get back on track. The last two weeks were blowouts and he still saw solid volume. I would expect he’ll be closer to his week one output in this one than the last two weeks.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
LaJohntay Wester (Colo) vs Baylor
I had been calling to cut Wester from your roster the last several weeks stating that he is getting too many underneath routes and it being too hard to tell when he will “go off” from week to week. Maybe my articles were locker room material for Wester as he went out and scored 2 TDs on 5 receptions for 80 yards. I don’t see that happening again for him, especially with this week’s match-up. Baylor fields the #1 pass defense for fantasy points allowed. While this game is in Boulder I have a hard time seeing him “go off” again against this good of a pass defense.
Malik Rutherford (GATec) at Louisville
Vegas is calling for Louisville to win this game by two-scores, which should be good for a Georgia Tech’s WRs to get some fantasy points. I’m having a hard time seeing it as I explained earlier with my Haynes King sit selection. Rutherford has hit 9 targets twice this season against Georgia State and Syracuse, but Louisville is a different animal. Louisville’s pass defense is #13 in fantasy points allowed, but Georgia Tech’s pass offense ranks #48 in fantasy points scored. Rutherford won’t be terrible, but I see him scoring less than his average fantasy point level.
Volume Pigs
Roc Taylor (MEM) vs. Navy
Taylor is in the doghouse for me until he proves that he’s going to be a productive CFF asset again this year.
TIGHT ENDS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
Max Klare (Pur) at Oregon State
Klare is looking like the target leader for this Boilermaker offense, averaging 5.5 targets/game. Vegas thinks this will be a close but low scoring game. I like competitive games for TE production and Klare should be leaned on heavily again. Purdue’s pass offense ranks #43 in fantasy points scored and Oregon State’s pass defense is ranked #82 in fantasy points allowed. If there’s an area for Purdue to exploit Oregon State it would be through the air.
TIGHT ENDS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
Justin Joly (NCSt) at Clemson
Joly was averaging 6 targets/game through the first two weeks of the season but last week those targets dropped once starting QB Grayson McCall left the game due to injury. McCall will not be playing this week and Clemson does not have a tough pass defense. But Vegas is calling for NC State to only score 15 points which means there’s probably not much in the way of scoring opportunities for Joly in this one.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Mark Holman @umassgrad92
Pick 1 RB: J. Blue (Tex), M. Feagin (Ill), T. Henderson (OSU), or S. Gaines (Boise) to go along with Jeanty?
Purple Reign: Its probably best to diversify your choices so I’d skip Gaines. If Blue does play he’ll probably have a small workload to ensure he doesn’t reaggravate his injury. I’m not a fan of Feagin’s match-up as Nebraska’s rush defense is #7 in fantasy points allowed. That leaves Henderson as my choice. Both he and Judkins should have a good day, and Marshal’s pass defense is tougher than their run defense.
Volume Pigs: I actually like the idea of cornering the market on BSU’s RBs this week vs. an overwhelmed opponent. It might look ugly for Gaines in the first half, but he’ll do his work in the fourth quarter.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Andrew Bracht
QB Start 2: G Greene (WVU), A. Johnson (K St), A. Colandrea (UVA) or waiver pick-ups B. Morton (TxTch), and E. Holstein (Pitt)?
Flex Start 1 (2 PPR): RB M Sherrod (Fres) @ NM, WR X. Restrepo (MiaFL) @ USF, or D Burks (Okla) vs TN? I’m leaning Sherrod.
Purple Reign: QB: I see Morton as the hands-down best option this week. Jordan McCloud (TxSt) threw for 4 TDs against Arizona State last week and Morton should have a big day. I see Holstein, Colandrea, and Salter as pretty comparable. Holstein could get pulled early against an FCS school. I think you could flip a coin between Colandrea and Salter, but if I had to pick one I would roll Salter out there hoping he finally wakes up from his hibernation. FLEX: I’m not a big fan of how Oklahoma matches-up to Tennessee. Restrepo could be a good play its just really tough guessing how many receptions he’ll get in this one. Sherrod faces the #132 rush defense for fantasy points allowed and I agree with your assessment – I’ll roll with him.
Volume Pigs: I know Greene has been surprisingly up and down to start the season, but I still have faith in him this week. I know Kansas has a stingy defence, but their offence is also turning the ball over a lot which should mean short fields for WVU. At RB, Sherrod would be my pick due to matchup and the stability of a RB vs. a WR in the FLEX.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Brooks Fossett
Pick 1 WR (0.5 PPR): D. Stribling (OkSt) or A. Anderson (LSU)?
Purple Reign: Vegas is calling for the LSU/UCLA game to be a blowout, and the Oklahoma State/Utah game to be close and competitive but lower scoring. If Anderson was the WR1 for LSU I would say go with him but he’s not. Stribling will be competing with Presley for targets, but I’m willing to bet that Stribling gets more touches than Anderson does. Also, this Big XII game could be one that goes into overtime. Go with the competitive game instead of the blowout and give me Stribling.
Volume Pigs: With similar reasoning to Joe, Stribbling is my bet to get more targets than Anderson and is a borderline WR1 in that offence, whereas Anderson is more like WR3 at LSU (WR4 if you count the TE).
READER SUBMISSIONS
Gerrit-Jan van der Perk
RB start 2: P. Mafah (Clem), C. Porter (NW), or M. Hughes (Tul)?
Purple Reign: Mafah is your clear #1 of this group. When looking at Porter and Hughes, the rush offense to rush defense match-ups are both extremely similar in my rankings. Hughes is averaging more fantasy points than Porter, and Vegas is calling for Tulane to score 29 points compared to Northwestern scoring 16 points. Both of those last two items has me leaning Hughes in this one.
Volume Pigs: Wouldn’t overthink Mafah, this will probably be his CFF breakout game. I viewed Porter more as a one week rental for last week, I trust Hughes more given his prior production and the system. NW vs. UW could get ugly.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Andrew Marro
RB pick 1: Damiem Martinez (MiaFL) or Kaden Feagin (Ill)?
WR pick 1: DeZhaun Stribling (OkSt) or Devin McCuin (UTSA)?
TE pick 1: Bryson Nesbit (UNC), Seudou Traore (MissSt), or Drake Dabney (TCU)
Purple Reign: RB: I’m not a fan of Feagin’s match-up. First road game of the year and against the #7 rush defense for fantasy points scored. Martinez has been splitting carries and getting vultured, but I’d still ride with him this week. WR: I would recommend reading my response to Brooks Fossett’s reader submission. The one difference with your question is that McCuin is the #1 top dog in his offense. I wouldn’t be surprised if McCuin is fed the ball 13 times like in Week 1 as the coaching staff tries to get this passing game working again. I’d probably still go with Stribling for the overtime potential here. TE: Neither Traore or Dabney do much, so by default I’d go with Nesbit.
Volume Pigs: A triple header, huh? I’d rather take the shot with Martinez because I think Miami will score a lot vs. USF whereas Illinois may struggle to score vs. Nebraska. I like both WRs this week but would probably roll with Stribling of those two options. TE by default is Nesbit—do you really not have any better options?
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