Fantasy College Football: Power Rankings #3

We're only two weeks away from the end of the regular season. But every team still has plenty to play for: the league championship, new contracts (keepers) and most importantly... pride! So in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, here is the final round of Fantasy College Football Power Rankings. Here's the rundown for the five categories: Feast... The "meat and potatoes" of the team's scoring. Famine... This player consistently left food on the table, and his owner wanting more. Potential keeper... The most worthy player of getting franchise tagged. Franchise grade... A letter grade for how well each owner performed over the long haul. Crystal ball prediction... Thoughts on the last two weeks of the season - and beyond. So go right ahead and dig in, pig out, and completely stuff yourself on these Power Rankings. But just like on Thanksgiving, you'll probably feel the effects afterwards. Bon Appétit!


Team #6: Dez it really matter
Feast: Zac Robinson, Oklahoma St... As the fifth quarterback taken in this year's draft, Robinson did a marvelous job of silencing his critics. He overcame the loss of his No. 1 target for the majority of the year, and has consistently been ranked in the top ten in league scoring.


Famine: Jake Sharp, Kansas... The Jayhawks have not had a shortage of disappointing senior seasons, and Sharp is Exhibit A. He never fully recovered from his undisclosed injury, and Mangino's refusal to decrease his workload made his teammate, Toben Opurum, useless for Dez it really matter.


Potential keeper: Robert Griffin, Baylor... With all of the chaos Dez it really matter endured this season, picking up Griffin might be just what the doctor ordered. He'll be able to start with a fresh slate next season, in hopes that Griffin can regain his form after coming off ACL surgery last season.


Franchise grade: Giving the reigns to wide receivers never works. The egos spiraled out of control early in the season, and the team never could recover. It was painfully obvious that losing Dez Bryant would keep this team in the cellar for good... D+


Crystal ball prediction: After showing a lot of promise early in the year, Dez it really matter lost control of his team. The lack of depth cost this team big time, and a potential lack of pre-draft preparation might be the root of the problem. This team needs to do some heavy offseason evaluations if they expect to compete next year.


Team #5: Any Given Saturday
Feast: Todd Reesing, Kansas... The Jayhawk signal caller has been less than spectacular this year. With an abundance of mental mistakes, Reesing does not look like the same quarterback we've come to know and expect. But despite his subpar season, he is tops in league scoring, and provided some stability at the quarterback position down the stretch for Any Given Saturday.

Famine: Taylor Potts, Texas Tech... The Red Raider experiment should be classified as an obvious failure. For the first time in a long time, Lubbock was home to a quarterback controversy. It didn't matter how many quarterbacks Any Given Saturday plucked out of free agency. They all fell flat on their face eventually, with Potts leading the way.

Potential keeper: Roy Helu Jr... You have to like Helu's production down the home stretch of the season. He got nicked up in the middle of the year, but notched four 100-yard games and scored nine touchdowns for an anemic Nebraska offense. With another year under his belt, Helu will likely take it to the next level for his senior campaign.

Franchise grade: Losing Gresham was unfortunate, but the Red Raider roster overload led to your demise. Roster uniformity leads to peaks and valleys, but usually ends in disappointment. And that is clearly the case for Any Given Saturday... C-

Crystal ball prediction: Helu should be one of the elite players for next year. He'll be a great centerpiece to build around, and as long as you incorporate some diversity in the draft, good things will happen. With a heavy involvement in free agency each week, the effort was certainly there.


Team #4: A Stuckey Situation
Feast: Danario Alexander, Missouri... In a pass-happy Big XII, with so many established QB/WR connections, no one could have seen this coming. Alexander was instrumental in grooming Missouri's first-year starting quarterback, while leading all wide receivers in fantasy points. With the numbers he's put up, Alexander very well might have played himself into this year's NFL draft.


Famine: Brandon Banks, Kansas St... The exact opposite can be said for the undersized Wildcat wideout. Though he was a terror on special teams, Banks was a nightmare for A Stuckey Situation everywhere else. He clearly wasn't a fit for Bill Snyder's offensive scheme, and was a huge disappointment after recording a 1000-yard season a year ago..


Potential keeper: Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M... With all of the preseason hype for the big name Big XII quarterbacks, Johnson got lost in the shuffle. He was underutilized all season, but put up great numbers when given the chance to start. The Aggie offense showed the ability to put points on the board, and Johnson was the focal point. If given the chance to run the show, Johnson could end up leading the league in points.


Franchise grade: A Stuckey Situation was about one legit player short of competing for the title this year. Trading Cyrus Gray for Derrick Washington turned out to be a wash, but the only relevant player currently on the roster taken after the second round: Danario Alexander. That's far too many mistakes to make during a draft, which should have built the backbone of a championship squad... C+


Crystal ball prediction: With a relatively firm grasp on fourth place, A Stuckey Situation should finish "in the money". But that's all they can expect, with any further movement up the ladder looking unlikely. This team played it safe for most of the year, and rightfully finished in the middle of the pack.


Team #3: Whoooaaa Nelly
Feast: Keith Toston, Oklahoma St... Not much more needs to be said about Toston. He made nearly everone forget who Kendall Hunter was for most of the season, and finished as the third ranked running back in the league.

Famine: Detron Lewis, Texas Tech... Red Raider receivers are typically explosive, but unreliable. Not the case with Lewis, who never broke 20+ FCFP on the year. Originally thought to be Tech's go-to-receiver, Lewis battled injuries and Leach's doghouse throughout the season. Aside from Malcolm Williams (Texas), Lewis was the biggest early round bust at receiver as far as production goes.

Potential keeper: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri... After a rebuilding season, the future looks bright in Columbia. With a bowl game berth and a month of extra practice, expect Gabbert to play like a cagey veteran next year.

Franchise grade: No team overcame adversity like Whoooaaa Nelly. Losing your starting quarterback and stud running back to injury typically spell disaster. But that was not the case, as Whoooaaa Nelly is still in a dogfight for second place. Hats off this owner, who tweaked this lineup to perfection week after week... B+

Crystal ball prediction: I am amazed at the determination of this squad, transforming from league laughingstock to a top finisher. Though time is running short on their comeback, they still could pull a rabbit out of the hat. I know I'm rooting for this team the rest of the way, because they stuck to their guns and gave it everything they had.

Team #2: The Real McCoy
Feast: Colt McCoy, Texas... Texas' quest for another National Championship looks probable, thanks to a great season from Colt McCoy. The top pick in this year's draft has been at the top of the player rankings each week, and is one of the main reasons The Real McCoy finds themselves in second place.


Famine: Jay Finley, Baylor... Finley has combined for less than 15 points over his last four starts, which is a perfect ending for his disappointment of a season. He has been hampered by a nagging ankle injury, but the loss of Robert Griffin is the logical reason for his statistical dropoff.


Potential keeper: Daniel Thomas, Kansas St... This Juco quarterback turned "Wildcat" feature back has been running circles around nearly every opponent this year. Thomas is currently the #2 overall scorer and should have another productive season in store for his senior campaign. Consider Thomas the league's player of the year if The Real McCoy can pull out a first place finish.


Franchise grade: The best recipe in fantasy college football is to get your hands on the best quarterback and running back. This was the case for The Real McCoy. With a lineup that was solid from top to bottom, rarely did adjustments need to be made. You can't teach this kind of stuff... A-


Crystal ball prediction: The Real McCoy has a legitimate chance to finish as the league champion. But I don't think they have enough left in the tank to regain the lead. A bye in Week 13 for Daniel Thomas looms large, but never count out The Real McCoy's will to win.


Team #1: I'm a man - I'm forty
Feast: Alexander Robinson, Iowa St... The number six. This is how many 100-yard rushing games Robinson recorded in ten starts. Unfortunately, it was also the last week he scored a TD on the ground (@Kansas 10/10). He's been a workhorse for the Cyclones, but he must make a statement in his regular season finale against Missouri this weekend.


Famine: Kerry Meier, Kansas... Like a broken record, Meier's senior season for the Jayhawks has been disappointing. He racks up the receptions, but has lost two fumbles over his last three games. It's also been more than a month since Meier scored a touchdown.

Potential keeper: Landry Jones, Oklahoma... Sam Bradford's replacement got off to a shaky start, but looks more comfortable running the show each week. Aside from his debacle in Lincoln two weeks ago, Jones continues to mature within the Sooner offense, and let his playmakers do what they do best. Keep in mind, Jones is only a redshirt freshman, so he has huge upside as a long term investment.

Franchise grade: I'm a man - I'm forty is another squad who overcame apparent quarterback trouble. But they didn't panic under pressure, and leaned heavily on their fantastic defense to pick up the slack. Travis Lewis and Roddrick Muckelroy could end up as the unsung heroes who ensure I'm a man - I'm forty walks away with trophy in hand... A

Crystal ball prediction: It's not over yet, but I'm a man - I'm forty should be able to keep the rest of the league at arm's length. Having Jordan Shipley counter Colt McCoy's production has to make you feel warm and fuzzy. Barring a last minute meltdown, the title appears to be in good hands. Just make sure it stays that way...