Quarterback Rankings

Deserves a second look
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame (@ Washington)
For three straight weeks, Clausen has set his career high for passing yards (283, 351, 377). He has thrown at least two touchdowns in all but one game this season, so the downside is limited. Especially when he is going up against the nation's least effective pass defense.  The winless Huskies rank 115th in rush defense, 117th in total defense, 98th in pass defense, 115th in scoring defense and 119th (last) in pass efficiency defense.

Adam Weber, Minnesota (@ Purdue)
It has recently surfaced that Weber had knee surgery two weeks ago. He is supposed to be 100% this weekend against Purdue. While Weber's fantasy mediocrity the past few weeks is now understandable, there is no excuse now. The Boilers rank 96th in total defense and Weber put up nice fantasy numbers last season against Purdue (237 yds, TD, 63 rush yds, TD)

C.J. Bacher, Northwestern (@ Indiana)
The Wildcat offense is coming off its best performance of the season against Purdue and Bacher was is no exception. In his best performance of the '08 campaign, Bacher threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 41 yards on the ground and a score there as well. Indiana hasn't stopped anyone this season and it won't start this weekend.

A few others we like:
Tony Pike, Cincinnati (@ UConn)
Levi Brown, Troy (@ North Texas) (No, not the PSU offensive lineman)
Joe Ganz, Nebraska (Baylor)

Better think twice
Terrelle Pryor v. Daryll Clark (PSU @ OSU)
Two of the best and most complete defesnes in the nation square off in the Horseshoe Saturday. Both teams have great linebackers, both teams put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and both have solid secondaries to take advantage of mistakes created by the front seven. Upside here is very limited for both.

Willie Tuitama, Arizona (USC)
His stats in two career starts against USC: 403 yards, 0 TD, INT. Those are ugly numbers. This should be his best game against the Trojans but to expect more than 200-2 would be entirely too optimistic.

Omar Clayton, UNLV (@ BYU)
All of us here at Athlon love the future of Omar Clayton. Just not this weekend. The Cougars are allowing only 184 passing yards per game and a paltry 13 points per game. UNLV has averaged only 1.6 touchdowns per game against BYU over the last three years and have been outscored 131-35 over that span.

Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (@ Vandy)
In his only road start of 2008, Lewis threw for only 97 yards and no touchdowns in a 27-pt shutout loss to Georgia Tech. Vandy is second in the SEC and second nationally with 13 interceptions thus far (Tenn, UNC, Iowa - 14). Look for Reshard Langford and D.J. Moore to reek havoc on Lewis passes all game long.

Running Back Rankings

Deserves a second look
Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State (@ San Diego St)
The words pathetic come time mind when talking about the Aztec run defense. They are allowing an NCAA worst and very appalling 292 yards rushing yards a game. In last week's 70-7 loss to New Mexico, the Aztecs allowed Rodney Ferguson 149 yards and four touchdowns (84 yds, 3 TD in the first half alone). Look for the Rams to run early and often.

DeLeon Eskridge, Minnesota (@ Purdue)
The freshman continue to impress up in Minneapolis. Eskridge is averaging 118 yards of total offense since taking over the starting job. He has scored seven touchdowns in that span as well. The 96th ranked Boiler defense should have a tough time slowing the 6-1 Gopher attack. 

Jake Sharp, Kansas (Texas Tech)
In his last three games, Sharp has averaged 141 yards of total offense and scored all six of his touchdowns this season. It wasn't Slappy State that he was playing either as two of those games came against Colorado and on the road against Oklahoma. Look for Sharp to be a big part of the passing attack this weekend.

Chris Brown, Oklahoma (@ Kansas St)
Yes, DeMarco Murray should be in your line-up. But so should Brown this week. Murray and the rest of the Sooner offense should put up huge numbers against the woeful (105th) KSU defense. As a back-up tailback, Brown has reached double-digit carries in all but one game and scored seven times. Against the 100th ranked rush defense, Brown could see 20 carries in the second half alone.

A few others we like:
Collin Mooney, Army (La. Tech)
Tarrion Adams, Tulsa (UCF)
DuJuan Harris, Troy (@ North Texas)
Brandon Minor, Michigan (Michigan St)
John Clay, Wisconsin (Illinois)
Jared Hawkins, Vandy (Duke)

Better think twice
Evan Royster v. Chris Wells (PSU @ OSU)
This is not really a call to bench either of these fantasy studs. Its more of a tempered expectations warning. Both could reach 100-1 and but huge fantasy days from either would be unexpected as each defense is great against the run. Ohio St and Penn St rank one and two in the Big Ten against the run.

Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State (@ Texas)
The Horns are allowing a ridiculous 48 yard rushing per game and rank second in the nation in that category. Although not the starter last year (696 yards rushing as the back-up last season), Hunter had his worst game of the season with only two yards rushing on five carries.

Ian Johnson, Boise State (@ San Jose St)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Johnson is averaging only 60 ypg rushing this season. Last season he musted only 33 yards on 12 carries against the Spartans. Since being married (July 28th, 2007), Johnson is averaging only 73 yards rushing per game. Prior to tying the knot, he averaged 131 yards per game. Advice from love doctor Gall: You stay single Boise.

P.J. Hill, Wisconsin (Illinois)
The chronically injured Hill has yet to finished an entire season healthy. 2008 will be no different. Hill is questionable this weekend against Illinois but even if he plays, he isn't likely to put up numbers. In two career games against the Illini, Hill has rushed for a total of 133 yards and one touchdown.

Nicolas Grigsby, Arizona (USC)
Not only does USC have a great defense, Grigs is having trouble holding onto the football. There is no quicker route to the bench than fumble avenue as he found himself watching last week's upset over Cal from the sideline. He fumbled on his first carry and freshman Keola Antolin reaped the benefits with a stellar three touchdown performance. The leash will be short from now on for Grigs.

Wide Receiver Rankings

Deserves a second look
Jerrel Jerrigan, Troy (@ North Texas)
UNT ranks 119th in scoring defense and 112th against the pass.

Damaris Johnson, Tulsa (UCF)
Someone has to score those 56 points per game.

Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma (@ Kansas St)
No Manuel Johnson means plenty of chances against terrible KSU defense.

Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M (@ Iowa St)
Leads the team in yards and receptions per game.

Michael Floyd / Golden Tate, Notre Dame (@ Washington)
Could be Floyd's coming out party on primetime TV slot.

Eric Peterman / Ross Lane, Northwestern (@ Purdue)
Huge games last week and Elaine isn't around to slow production.

Better think twice
Derrick Williams and Co., Penn St (@ Ohio St)
There seems to be a theme developing with this game.

Eron Riley, Duke (@ Vandy)
See Thaddeus Lewis above.

Greg Orton, Purdue (Minnesota)
Everyone not named Sheets on this offense has underachieved.

Julio Jones, Alabama (@ Tennessee)
John Parker Wilson is still the quarterback at Bama right?

Tight End Rankings

Defensive Rankings