Fantasy College Football: Power Rankings #2

They're hot off the press! That's right... the second round of FCF Power Rankings. This edition is Halloween themed, so read at your own risk! Here's the rundown for the five categories: Trick... a player who has done everything within his power to cripple a franchise. This underachiever has been the franchise's biggest blemish thus far. Treat... a player who has exceeded expectations, or come out of nowhere and become a stud. Either way, this player should continue his trend of scary good play. Shocker... a player who has surprised the league, for better or for worse. Coaching grade... a letter grade associated with each coach's ability to manage his squad. Is he getting the most out of his players, or has he completely lost control over them? Overcome your fear of... something that seems to be holding you back from success. Conquering this inner demon could be the first step towards the title! Now it's time to swallow your pride, show your bravery and read on - if you dare... Mwahahaha!

Team #6: Dez it really matter
Trick: Jake Sharp, Kansas... The Salina speedster has been MIA since Week 4, due to an undisclosed calf injury. Remarkably, Sharp remains in the Top 25 in overall scoring, and ranks 5th among running backs despite playing in only 2-1/2 games. Dez it really matter needs Sharp to return ASAP, which would give this team a much needed shot in the arm.

Treat: Zac Robinson, Oklahoma St... The Cowboy signal caller has had to deal with an overflow of drama. Injuries, suspensions... you name it, it has happened to Dez it really matter. Nevertheless, Robinson has stayed the course and shouldered the load, currently ranking 3rd among quarterbacks. While surrounded by fallen teammates, look for Robinson to turn on the jets and put up some big numbers in the coming weeks.

Shocker: Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St... No one saw this coming. Bryant was cruising along at the beginning of the season, averaging 19.34 points over his first three starts. Then disaster struck, as the NCAA ruled Bryant ineligible for lying to investigators about his contact with Deion Sanders over the summer. He is appealing the ruling, and is scheduled to meet with the NCAA officials tomorrow. If Bryant gets the proverbial "axe", this franchise might not be able to recover.

Coaching grade: This franchise is in complete disarray. The egos have clearly made it difficult on Dez it really matter. I'd hate to say "I told you so", but right now your quarterback is the only one with his head in the right place... C-

Overcome your fear of: Future uncertainty... There is still plenty of time to right the ship. Losing Bryant and Sharp for extended periods were tough pills to swallow. Now is the time to coach up your available players, because the cupboard isn't bare. If Dezmon Briscoe and Niles Paul continue their hot streaks, this franchise could pull off an unlikely miracle.

Team #5: The Real McCoy
Trick: Malcolm Williams, Texas... Clearly Williams isn't ready to contribute at the collegiate level just yet. He was a stretch of a pick in the third round. With zero touches last week, Williams has done nothing disprove my "potential bust" prophecy.

Treat: Daniel Thomas, Kansas St... A dandy of a pickup in free agency, Thomas has been the engine to the Wildcat offense this year. As their primary playmaker, he'll continue to see the majority of touches continue his way. But after sustaining an undisclosed knee injury last week, The Real McCoy's stable of running backs is pretty nicked up.

Shocker: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma... Before his injury in Week 5, a hairline fracture in his left shoulder blade against Miami, Broyles was the best receiver in the league. After an initial diagnosis of a month for recovery, the Sooners' no. 1 receiver might play this weekend. That would be some pleasant news for The Real McCoy, who has been grabbing at straws for wide receivers since Broyles went down.

Coaching grade: The pickup of Thomas was key, but letting Niles Paul go after one bad game was a critical mistake. It's important to be active in free agency, but you have to ensure every roster change is an upgrade in productivity... C+

Overcome your fear of: Change... After leading the league in scoring during Weeks 2 and 3, The Real McCoy has been in a slump. If Colt McCoy can regain his form, then you can never count this franchise down for the count. A tragic flaw, this team clearly failed to adjust in the face of adversity. The league's lowest scoring team needs to do whatever is necessary to get some "pop" back into the starting lineup.

Team #4: A Stuckey Situation

Trick: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M... The Aggies' go-to wideout has averaged less than 10 points over four starts for A Stuckey Situation. Drafted for his big play potential, Tannehill has only broken the 100-yard barrier once on the year. It will be interesting to see if he can crack the starting lineup again.

Treat: Todd Reesing, Kansas... "Sparky" has lived up to his nickname recently, averaging 32.50 points over his last three starts. He's been the league's highest scorer thus far, with plenty more to come. Don't look now, but Reesing appears to have hit his stride.

Shocker: Brandon Banks, Kansas St... Thus far, Banks has had a disappointing senior campaign. His playmaking ability does not mesh very well with Bill Snyder's heavy reliance on the running game. The undersized receiver has trouble sustaining blocks downfield, and his playing time has significantly decreased because of it. With only one receiving touchdown on the year, Banks' ineffectiveness has been one of the biggest surprises this season.

Coaching grade: I'm impressed with this team's ability to hang tough. They don't have much flash, but this roster is blue collar from top to bottom. This team is still one or two players away from contention. But much like their quarterback, I think their best days are ahead of them... B

Overcome your fear of: Rejection... It's time to make your move. Take a chance through free agency, or put some players on the trading block to generate some interest. As it stands, you don't have the depth to compete with the big dogs. What's the worst that could happen?

Team #3: Whoooaaa Nelly

Trick: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St... It's been a disaster of a season for the reigning Big XII's leading rusher. Hunter has been out of action for a month now, and his future is still a big question mark. Mike Gundy denied plans for Hunter to redshirt. But until he steps onto the field, the rumors will continue to swirl.

Treat: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri... Whoooaaa Nelly was rewarded for preparing for the worst: an injury to Robert Griffin. Gabbert stepped into the limelight and has looked sensational for the most part. A rough outing in tough conditions against Nebraska led to an injury of his own. But Gabbert has been back at practice this week, and is ready to put his last start behind him.

Shocker: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma... It's not like Murray has been disappointing so far, as he currently ranks #14 overall (#4 running back). He's had his share of big play moments, but his consistency has lacked from the beginning. With Sam Bradford returning to the starting lineup, maybe some lanes will open back up for Sin City's flashy playmaker.

Coaching grade: Nabbing Gabbert and handcuffing Keith Toston ended up paying huge dividends. No team has been more prepared to overcome obstacles than Whoooaaa Nelly. When injured players return to full strength, they will be among the league's best... B+

Overcome your fear of: Making decisions... Whoooaaa Nelly should be commended for navigating through treacherous waters. But will they be able to make the tough roster decisions when it matters most? They are still a wide receiver short of becoming a contender, but do they have the guts to risk it all?

Team #2: I'm a man - I'm forty

Trick: Derrick Washington, Missouri... The Tiger offensive line took a big step back in the running game so far. Washington has only broken the 100-yard barrier once, and has only two touchdowns on the year. Whoooaaa Nelly is hoping that Missouri will turn to Washington more and more during conference play.

Treat: Kerry Meier, Kansas... The resurgence of the Jayhawk offense usually hinges on the effectiveness of Ole Reliable. No one will likely catch more passes this season in the Big XII. And with multiple touchdowns in each of his last two starts, Meier is turning it on at the right time.

Shocker: Alexander Robinson, Iowa St... Who would've thought the #1 ranked running back would come out of Ames, IA? I'll to you who... absolutely no one. But that is the case, as Robinson has gained 115+ total yards in all but one start: injured vs. Kansas St. The Cyclones probably would be winless if it wasn't for the tough running of Robinson. Look for a steady workload for the Minneapolis workhorse the rest of the way.

Coaching grade: I am impressed with I'm a man - I'm forty's roster management. The receiving tandem of Shipley & Meier is unmatched. They might be kicking themselves for sending Toben Opurum packing, but if they can get some consistency out of their current running backs, it's a moot point... A-

Overcome your fear of: Conflict... I know it will be tempting to throw Bradford back into the starting lineup. But let's face facts: he's gotta earn it. You went after Austen Arnaud for a reason, and he's putting up big numbers. Let the quarterback controversy work itself out before you start panicking.

Team #1: Any Given Saturday

Trick: Taylor Potts, Texas Tech... The Red Raider gunslinger has been a roller coaster this season. And that's not what you're looking for out of a Texas Tech quarterback. Potts never proved himself effective at maneuvering within the pocket, and now appears to have lost his starting spot to backup Steven Sheffield for the time being.

Treat: Roy Helu Jr, Nebraska... The Husker feature back leads all running backs with 3+ games, averaging 17.85 points per start. He has proven himself to be ultra durable, playing through injury and sickness. When he returns to full strength, Nebraska's might end up relying on Helu even more.

Shocker: Steven Sheffield, Texas Tech... Any Given Saturday pulled a rabbit out of the hat, snatching up the Red Raiders' backup QB immediately. Disaster was avoided temporarily, and Sheffield is more than keeping the seat warm for Potts. I'm expecting Sheffield to make Potts earn his way back into the starting lineup, especially of Texas Tech can string some wins together.

Coaching grade: The future looks bright for Any Given Saturday. Perhaps it's the coach's aggressive attitude, I'm not sure. But this squad has been focused since their hiccup in Week 3. If one of their Red Raider receivers becomes a go-to guy, then this squad will have the tools to win it all. Scoring Sheffield through free agency was a huge win as well... A-

Overcome your fear of: Commitment. You stuck to a plan, now you have to follow through. Your blueprint for success was to load up on Red Raiders, and ride them to victory. Make sure you go all out, because you never want to leave points on the bench. Take the leap!