'Tis the season for fantasy football drafts, which means we are getting dangerously close to being able to watch actual, real live football on an almost daily basis. Many of us have likely engaged in some sort of virtual draft already. If you have not, then there's still a few weeks left for that to happen.
If you are like me, you've never participated in a fantasy league that concentrates on college football. Personally, I've considered it many times but have yet to take the plunge.
Today we look at the Big Ten as a whole and how the first round of a 10-team league could unfold.
1. J.T. Barrett • Quarterback • Junior (RS) • Ohio State
As the general manager of an NFL fantasy team, it's generally a good rule to avoid a quarterback in the first round; let alone in the early portion of the round. Passing touchdowns are typically only worth four points whereas all others are worthy of the standard six. Quarterbacks usually get a single point for every 25 passing yards while all other positions get a point for every 10.
Well, this isn't the NFL and there aren't any Urban Meyer offenses in said professional league. Barrett is one of the few experienced members of what is likely to be the conference's top offense. It also doesn't hurt that he will rack up plenty of rushing yards and touchdowns as well.
A return to the J.T. of 2014 is expected, and those numbers are worthy of the top spot.
2015 stats: 992 yards passing, 11 TDs, 4 INTs // 682 yards rushing, 11 TDs
2014 stats: 2834 yards passing, 34 TDs, 10 INTs // 938 yards rushing, 11 TDs
2. Saquon Barkley • Running Back • Sophomore • Penn State
Saquon Barkley didn't win the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year in 2015 because the Jabrill Peppers hype train already left the station and moved at an absurd pace after the redshirt freshman amassed a whopping 151 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Couple that with his 45 tackles and his stats were obviously way more impressive than Barkley's 1,237 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns.
Fortunately for Saquon, he gets to take home an even greater honor: Getting selected second overall in a mock draft put together by someone who writes about Ohio State. #stayblessed
2015 stats: 1,076 yards rushing, 7 TDs // 161 yards receiving, 1 TD
3. Justin Jackson • Running Back • Junior • Northwestern
Coming off a second-team All-Big Ten selection selection a year ago, Northwestern's Justin Jackson is now responsible for more than 1,000 rushing yards in each of his two seasons in Evanston. In 2015, he carried the team on offense thanks much in part to a putrid passing game. The Wildcats finished 119th in America in passing yards per game. Despite being the focus of opposing defenses, Jackson still amassed some respectable numbers.
This year, the Wildcats are expecting an improved passing game which should open things up a bit for the junior. He's on pace to finish his career as Northwestern's all-time leading rusher.
2015 stats: 1,418 yards rushing, 5 TDs // 162 yards receiving
2014 stats: 1,187 yards rushing, 11 TDs // 201 yards receiving, 1 TD
4. Corey Clement • Running Back • Senior • Wisconsin
At the 2015 version of Big Ten Media days, Wisconsin's Corey Clement stated he wanted to rush for no less than 2,000 yards during his junior campaign. He finished the season about 1,800 yards shy of that lofty goal. The struggles stemmed from a nagging groin injury which ultimately led to sports hernia surgery being done by a specialist in Germany.
An ankle injury also knocked him out of the bowl game against USC which he later said had been lingering for a few months. The big question for 2016 is certainly going to be whether or not the senior can stay healthy. Also, how much of a timeshare will the backfield feature with one-time cornerback Dare Ogunbowale also getting some carries?
2015 stats (4 games): 221 yards rushing, 5 TDs
2014 stats: 949 yards rushing, 9 TDs // 119 yards receiving, 2 TDs
5. Mitch Leidner • Quarterback • Senior • Minnesota
Probably happy that Joey Bosa has moved on.
Mitch Leidner's name is being tossed around as one of the top quarterbacks available for the 2017 NFL Draft. If I am an NFL team who needs a quarterback after this season, then that is a terrifying thing. No offense to the Gophers' senior signal-caller, but that really says a lot about what next year's Draft class looks like.
Leidner is another guy who is highly valued because of his legs. He may not accumulate a ton of yardage on the ground, but he absolutely finds the end zone. In his three years at Minnesota, he's rushed for 23 touchdowns.
The Gophers open the season on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 9 p.m. against Oregon State on the Big Ten Network.
2015 stats: 2,701 yards passing, 14 TDs, 11 INTs // 270 yards rushing, 6 TDs
6. L.J. Scott • Running Back • Sophomore • Michigan State
Confession: I love watching L.J. Scott run the football. I have loved watching him do so since his high school days and was mildly devastated when Ohio State elected not to pursue him early on in the 2015 recruiting cycle. Alas, I am happy for the Ohio native as he seems to have found a nice landing spot in East Lansing.
Truth be told, if the Spartans weren't implementing a bit of a three-headed backfield, Scott could be pushing for one of the top three picks. He will be sharing carries with junior Gerald Holmes and sophomore Madre London, but there's little doubt that Scott has the brightest future of the three.
If there were such a thing as a college keeper league (perhaps there is?), then L.J. Scott would absolutely be someone to keep.
2015 stats: 699 yards rushing, 11 TDs
7. Mike Weber • Running Back • Freshman (RS) • Ohio State
One month ago, it may have been difficult to include any Ohio State tailback on this list. The dismissal of Bri'onte Dunn, however, has made the running back picture a lot more clear for the Buckeyes.
Weber was off to a hot start last summer, earning the nickname "Baby Los" from his coaches and teammates, but a meniscus injury ultimately led to a redshirt inaugural season for the Detroit product. A year later and the 5-foot-10, 212-pounder is set to take over a talented but incredibly young Buckeye backfield.
Anyone expecting the position not to skip a beat after losing one of the best running backs in program history is probably going to be a bit disappointed. However, the offense has clearly shown how the position can thrive and we expect big things from the redshirt freshman.
8. Jehu Chesson • Wide Receiver • Senior • Michigan
Michigan has question marks at quarterback right now, but Jehu Chesson looks to be one of the conference's top wideouts for a second-straight season. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver was a relative unknown for his first three seasons in Ann Arbor. He burst onto the scene a year ago en route to earning All-Big Ten honors. He suffered a torn PCL in the Citrus Bowl against Florida, but he's now back competing at 100 percent in practice.
Chesson graduated in May, but with one year of eligibility remaining, he made the decision to enter grad school and spend another season with the Wolverines.
2015 stats: 764 yards receiving, 9 TDs // 155 yards rushing, 2 TDs
9. Tommy Armstrong Jr. • Quarterback • Senior • Nebraska
It seems like Tommy Armstrong has been at Nebraska forever, yet he hasn't really developed as a passer. He threw 16 interceptions a year ago and has now thrown 36 in his career in Lincoln. That is not a good thing for Mike Riley and Co.
Despite his woeful accuracy, Armstrong is extremely athletic and has also been known to put up some gaudy stats. He's a dual-threat so he's certainly going to get it done with his legs as well. He's accounted for a total of 69 (nice) touchdowns dating back to 2013.
A guy you want to play quarterback for your favorite NFL franchise? Absolutely not. But a guy who can help you out in a fantasy league? Without question.
2015 stats: 3,030 yards passing, 22 TDs, 16 INTs // 400 yards rushing, 7 TDs
10. Noah Brown • Wide Receiver • Sophomore (RS) • Ohio State
Noah Brown's story is pretty well-known by now. He was poised to make an impact in 2015, but that all changed when he suffered a devastating leg injury late last August. Brown spent the 2015 season on the mend, and is now back and ready to lead a young group of Buckeye wide receivers.
Brown entered college at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds and was looked at as a potential tight end or H-back, but he's now down to 218 pounds and has settled in at wideout. While he's only hauled in one pass thus far in his career, his quarterback hasn't shied away from some high praise.
"He has like suction cups for hands," Barrett said. "Throw it around Noah and he'll go get it.
The sophomore should see a ton of targets this season and could be a monster in a point-per-reception league. More importantly, we're just glad he's healthy and looking forward to seeing him back on the field.
