Week 5 of the college football season featured plenty of on-field drama and a couple of career-altering devy performances. #1 Georgia, #8 USC, #7 Washington, and #11 Notre Dame all scrapped by with seven-point wins, while #20 Ole Miss had a thrilling 55-49 victory over #13 LSU in what could be the Game of the Year.
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Devy Risers & Fallers
If you’re not familiar, devy (developmental dynasty league) is a type of fantasy football league that goes a bit deeper. In this format, you draft and stash potential NFL prospects years before they enter the league. Scott Fish, the creator of the massively popular Scott Fish Bowl tournament, is also credited with creating devy back in the 1990s, and the format has gained popularity ever since.
When we talk about risers, we refer to players whose perceived value has increased based on their on-field performance. However, when we talk about fallers, we consider several factors, such as on-field performance, injuries, playing time, and even some extenuating circumstances (Free Tez Walker), which can impact a player’s value.
Risers
Tyler Brown (WR – Clemson)
With wide receiver Antonio Williams missing his second consecutive game, the Clemson offense needed someone to step up in his place. True freshman wide receiver Tyler Brown took that assignment personally.
The 18-year-old from nearby Greenville, SC, has shown flashes of greatness all season, but his true breakout came in Clemson’s 31-14 victory over the Syracuse Orange. After entering the contest with 163 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the season, Brown racked up 151 receiving yards on eight receptions in Saturday’s contest.
Brown has a smaller frame — he’s listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds — but he brings a different dynamic to this Clemson offense. Unlike others in the wide receiver core, Brown’s speed and quickness allow him to separate from defenders, and he’s a natural playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Omarion Miller (WR – Colorado)
One week after a humbling 42-6 defeat to the Oregon Ducks, Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffs were handed their second consecutive loss to USC on Saturday. It wasn’t for lack of effort on the part of Colorado wide receiver Omarion Miller, though.
The true freshman exploded onto the college football scene with seven receptions, 196 yards and one touchdown reception in Colorado’s frantic comeback attempt. Not bad for a player with zero career receptions entering Saturday’s contest.
Is this the ultimate fluky performance or the beginning of something special? It might be too early to say, but it’s an encouraging start for the former four-star recruit. With Travis Hunter‘s return to action currently unknown, Colorado is desperate for another playmaker like Miller to step into a full-time role.
Fallers
Conner Weigman (QB – Texas A&M)
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman has seen his sophomore campaign cut short due to injury. After being labeled as day-to-day earlier this week, further tests revealed a foot fracture that will knock Weigman out for the remainder of the season.
Injuries are the worst. We wish we could turn them off like we can in video games. They’re an unfortunate reality of sports — especially football — that must be accounted for in his column. Foot fractures tend to linger, and there’s a high re-injury rate, but this shouldn’t massively impact Weigman’s long-term value in devy leagues.
Weigman is a former five-star prospect who showed enough in three and a half games to merit those lofty expectations. He threw for 979 passing yards, had an 8-2 TD-INT ratio, and completed 68.9% of his passes in those contests. LSU transfer Max Johnson will take over the starting quarterback position in his absence, but Weigman should return to the starting lineup next season.
Ja’Corey Brooks (WR – Alabama)
Entering the season, many people predicted a breakout season for highly touted Alabama wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks. Instead, he’s been a no-show for the Crimson Tide.
Brooks’ shaky season started with a half-game suspension in Alabama’s opener against Middle Tennessee State University, and the wide receiver has yet to leave Nick Saban’s doghouse. Brooks only has two receptions and five receiving yards on the season.
You never give up on talented players in devy, but the vibes are low for Brooks supporters right now. Here’s hoping we see an uptick in volume as the season progresses, but Jalen Milroe and Alabama’s run-first offense will likely hold these wide receivers back all season.
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