Alabama and Vanderbilt are playing the biggest game of the weekend. One of the other biggest games features Virginia and Louisville. Either the Cavs or Cards is going to emerge as a true threat to make the ACC title game (especially since the Cavaliers' loss to NC State wasn't actually a conference game). Speaking of the ACC, Clemson vs. North Carolina essentially means nothing. That's the sort of stuff that happens by Week 6. We have seen what these teams are this season, which is what fuels my recommendations for players to start and sit when it comes to your fantasy college football needs.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Noah Short, RB, Army at UAB
Short doesn't have a touchdown yet, but he intrigues me. He's averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and he's an Army running back with 12 catches for 119 yards through four games. You can run all over the Blazers, who have allowed a woeful 222.8 rushing yards per game. However, they have also given up 259.3 passing yards per contest, so Short's role in the Army offense stands out to me. All he needs to do is finally get in the end zone, which should happen eventually.
SIT
Dominic Richardson, RB, Tulsa at Memphis
Richardson has substantial numbers, but he has two games with over 140 yards. One was against an FCS team, and the other was against Oklahoma State, a defense that was akin to an FCS team. When Richardson
Alabama and Vanderbilt are playing the biggest game of the weekend. One of the other biggest games features Virginia and Louisville. Either the Cavs or Cards is going to emerge as a true threat to make the ACC title game (especially since the Cavaliers' loss to NC State wasn't actually a conference game). Speaking of the ACC, Clemson vs. North Carolina essentially means nothing. That's the sort of stuff that happens by Week 6. We have seen what these teams are this season, which is what fuels my recommendations for players to start and sit when it comes to your fantasy college football needs.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Noah Short, RB, Army at UAB
Short doesn't have a touchdown yet, but he intrigues me. He's averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and he's an Army running back with 12 catches for 119 yards through four games. You can run all over the Blazers, who have allowed a woeful 222.8 rushing yards per game. However, they have also given up 259.3 passing yards per contest, so Short's role in the Army offense stands out to me. All he needs to do is finally get in the end zone, which should happen eventually.
SIT
Dominic Richardson, RB, Tulsa at Memphis
Richardson has substantial numbers, but he has two games with over 140 yards. One was against an FCS team, and the other was against Oklahoma State, a defense that was akin to an FCS team. When Richardson had to face Tulane last week, he was held to 48 yards on 14 carries. Memphis has what seems to be the best run defense in the AAC, allowing only 91.4 rushing yards per game.
ACC Starts and Sits
START
Romello Brinson, WR, SMU vs. Syracuse
Brinson's numbers are bolstered by seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown against East Texas A&M, but in every game against an FBS team, he has at least four catches and at least 51 yards. Syracuse has given up 290.6 passing yards per game. Additionally, while the loss of quarterback Steve Angeli doesn't directly impact the defense, it seemed like Syracuse was wholly deflated last week against Duke, and such a loss will likely only further deflate the team.
SIT
Tommy Castellanos, QB, Florida State vs. Miami (FL)
Has the time come to sell on Castellanos? After all, things were always a mixed bag at Boston College, and last week he had two turnovers and completed 53.8 percent of his passes. He did have a passing score and a rushing score, but he also fumbled, but just happened not to lose it. Among ACC teams, Miami is second in passing yards allowed per game and rushing yards allowed per game, and first in points allowed per game. The Hurricanes will be even trickier than the Cavaliers for Castellanos.
Big Ten Starts and Sits
START
Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State at UCLA
Time for the Nittany Lions to do what they do best: Beat up on overmatched competition! How do they do against top teams? Hey, look over there! The Bruins have allowed 232.8 rushing yards per game! Allen shares the backfield with Nicholas Singleton, but he's still totaled 327 rushing yards and scored a touchdown in every single game.
SIT
Drake Lindsey, QB, Minnesota at Ohio State
You may have seen that Lindsey threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns against Rutgers last week and thought, "Huh, that's interesting." Indeed, it was, and the redshirt freshman seems to have some real potential. Potential doesn't get it done against the Buckeyes, though. It's time for a reality check for Lindsey. Ohio State has allowed 5.5 points per game. It has the best defense in the nation. I feel confident in that assertion.
Big 12 Starts and Sits
START
Ismail Mahdi, RB, Arizona at Oklahoma State
Mahdi has not handled a heavy workload with the Wildcats, but he had 900-yard and 1,300-yard seasons with Texas State. The one time Arizona gave him over 15 carries, he ran for 189 yards on 22 attempts against Kansas State. It would be wise for the Arizona staff to give Mahdi the ball at least 20 times in this matchup. The Cowboys have allowed 213.0 rushing yards per contest, and the team just fired its defensive coordinator.
SIT
Dean Connors, RB, Houston vs. Texas Tech
Connors stayed in town but went up a level, moving from Rice to Houston. Unlike Mahdi, there have been no questions about workload, as the only time he had under 17 touches, he ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns against his former team in Rice. Texas Tech is not Rice, though. The Red Raiders' deep-pocketed backers (and mostly one backer, from what I can glean) threw a lot of money at improving this roster, and it seems to have panned out. Though Texas Tech doesn't have a history of defensive success, this year it has allowed only 11.3 points and 56.3 rushing yards per game.
Conference USA Starts and Sits
START
Jo'Nathan Silver, RB, Delaware vs. Western Kentucky
Conference USA programs apparently stick together, as only five teams in the conference aren't on a bye in Week 6. Maybe because Delaware is new to the conference (and to FBS football) it didn't get to be part of that? Silver was eased into Delaware's lead role, and he's no workhorse. He did turn 15 carries into 179 yards and two touchdowns against UConn, though. Western Kentucky has given up 210.8 rushing yards per game, so Silver could have his second 100-yard game as an FBS back.
SIT
Kyre Duplessis, WR, Delaware vs. Western Kentucky
Inversely, the Hilltoppers have allowed 176.0 passing yards per game. Duplessis' receiving numbers are almost entirely owed to facing an FCS team in Delaware State and, hey, UConn. The Blue Hens can just focus on running the ball against the Hilltoppers. Oh, and a slight bonus recommendation from this conference: FIU is playing UConn.
MAC Starts and Sits
START
Broc Lowry, QB, Western Michigan at Massachusetts
I was starting to get an itch about getting a quarterback recommended, and fortunately, it worked out for the MAC. The numbers aren't remarkable for Lowry, but Western Michigan played three tough out-of-conference opponents. He hasn't thrown the ball a ton, or well, but he's rushed for 227 yards and five touchdowns through five games. In addition to allowing 270.3 passing yards and 39.5 points per game, UMass has allowed 185.3 rushing yards per contest.
SIT
Dontae McMillan, RB, Eastern Michigan at Buffalo
The Eagles would be wise to give McMillan more carries, given that he has allowed 6.7 yards per carry. That being said, he only has two touchdowns this season, and both came against Long Island University. I will grant you that Buffalo's schedule has been quite easy, but McMillan will be on the road facing a defense that has only given up 125.8 rushing yards and 19.6 points per game. That still gives me pause.
Mountain West Starts and Sits
START
Jack Layne, QB, New Mexico at San Jose State
Ho hum, I guess I'm recommending quarterbacks left and right now. With Layne, an Idaho transfer, the numbers may give pause on the surface, but all three of his interceptions came in the season opener at Michigan. That's still not good, but it's also less concerning than the idea of consistent issues against lesser competition. In Layne's last game, against New Mexico State, he threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns. San Jose State has given up 277.0 passing yards per game against an easy schedule, where the best quarterback it has faced is the unremarkable Arch Manning.
SIT
Latrell Caples, WR, Boise State at Notre Dame
This game is essentially an elimination game from a playoff standpoint. In each of Boise State's last two games, Caples has had five catches and over 80 yards. I know the Fighting Irish haven't looked as good defensively this year, but Marcus Freeman is still the head coach, and playing on the road in South Bend is still playing on the road in South Bend. Notre Dame still has enough in the secondary to keep Caples in check.
SEC Starts and Sits
START
Tory Blaylock, RB, Oklahoma vs. Kent State
Conference play is going full steam ahead, big games are happening in the SEC, and Oklahoma is facing what has consistently been one of the worst programs in the FBS. The Golden Flashes have been no different this season. Kent State has allowed 257.8 rushing yards and 44.0 points per game. Blaylock is a true freshman, and while he's been a mixed bag, he did have 100 yards and two touchdowns against Temple. Kent State? Even worse than Temple.
SIT
Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida vs. Texas
I said that Ohio State has the best defense in college football, but Texas is also in the mix. The Longhorns have only ceded 60.8 rushing yards and 7.8 points per game. Baugh impressed as a true freshman, and he started this year strong against easy competition. However, he had 46 rushing yards against both LSU and Miami.
Sun Belt Starts and Sits
START
Jaden Barnes, WR, Appalachian State vs. Oregon State
It's time for Barnes to bounce back in a big way. Boise State held him without a catch, but he still has 24 catches for 337 yards and three touchdowns on the year. Last season with the Mountaineers, Barnes had 1,083 yards and nine scores. Oregon State needs the Pac-12 back so that it can salvage its program. The Beavers are 0-5 and have given up 281.6 passing yards and 36.6 points per game.
SIT
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State vs. James Madison
Hurst gets fed the ball, and he has 25 catches on 44 targets through four games. He's played well against Memphis and Vandy, but 172 of his yards and both of his touchdowns came against Murray State. The Dukes remain the best defense in the Sun Belt, and they have allowed 118.8 passing yards and 15.3 points per contest.
