Devy Fantasy Football Primer: Quinn Ewers, Shedeur Sanders, Ashton Jeanty (2024)

Week 2 of college football is set to deliver some high-stakes action, headlined by No. 3 ranked Texas traveling to ‘The Big House’ to take on No. 10 ranked Michigan on Big Noon Kickoff. In the prime time window, we have Colorado at Nebraska. With top NFL prospects, intriguing devy assets and potential season-defining moments on the line, these games are set to be pivotal in shaping the rest of the season. I also look ahead to two of the most talked about players from Week 1 and the early Heisman Trophy race.

Devy Fantasy Football Primer

Games of The Week

No. 3 Texas (-7.5) @ No. 10 Michigan — Noon EST on Fox

The biggest matchup on the slate occurs at The Big House in Ann Arbor with a monster game between the B1G and SEC. Lots of devy names to keep an eye on in this one led by Texas QB Quinn Ewers going against a stout Michigan defense on the road. The key matchup I am looking forward to is the top Texas WRs Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden going up against arguably the top corner in the 2025 draft class — Will Johnson. Jaydon Blue will have a tough task running up the middle against two of the top interior defensive linemen in the nation — Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Blue had seven missed tackles forced vs. Colorado State, per PFF (Pro Football Focus). The Texas defense is no slouch either and looks to make it a rough day for Michigan RB Donovan Edwards. Surprising to most, Edwards did not lead Michigan in rushes or rushing yards in Week 1 against Fresno State. He did, however, catch a touchdown pass from Alex Orji on the goal line. We should see Edwards perform better in the big game.

With the loss of many playmakers on the Michigan offense and breaking in a new QB, this one could get away from them if they cannot keep up with Texas’ high-powered offense.

Colorado @ Nebraska (-7.5) — 7:30 PM EST on NBC

Anytime Colorado is playing on a national stage you know there will be plenty of hype surrounding the game. Last year’s matchup was entertaining and played in a hostile environment in Boulder. This year the game is in the great Memorial Stadium in front of a crowd starved for a revived Cornhusker program. We get a great matchup at QB with potential 2025 number-one overall pick Shedeur Sanders and five-star freshman Dylan Raiola, who looked very impressive in his first collegiate start, posting 238 passing yards and two touchdowns. We can’t forget about do-it-all-all ironman Travis Hunter and the impact he will have on the game on both sides of the ball.

Colorado was in a tough game against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) dynasty North Dakota State last week, giving them a battle-tested team heading into Lincoln. Raiola has a plus-matchup against a bad Colorado defense that could make for an up-tempo high-scoring game down to the wire. Sanders and Hunter look to build on their monster performances while Raiola aims to shine under the bright lights in his second start.

Devy Spotlight

Ashton Jeanty (RB – Boise State) – 2025

Coming off the best week at the running back position in the entire country with 271 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns, Ashton Jeanty has catapulted into the early Heisman Trophy conversation. This week he will face a much stingier defense in the Oregon Ducks on the road in the Autzen Zoo. In three games in 2023 vs. Power Four teams, he averaged 81.3 rush yards and 74.3 receiving yards per game to go along with three touchdowns. The Ducks’ defense in 2023 was the 12th-best rushing defense in the nation, only allowing 97.5 rushing yards per game. This will be an early season prove-it game for Jeanty.

Ashton Jeanty to the house! It’s a 77-yard TD and Boise State takes a 7-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/hy6MgHzQzv

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) August 31, 2024

Jeremiah Smith (WR – Ohio State) – 2027

What a debut the freshman phenom had in the Horseshoe, snagging six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns. He led the Buckeyes in all three categories and was the most targeted receiver. Jeremiah Smith looks to replicate his success against another MAC opponent in Western Michigan. Most assumed Smith would have an impact at some point this season but surely not immediately in Week 1. It will be interesting to see if this is the type of role we can expect all season or if he takes a step back to Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate.

FIRST OF MANY FOR JEREMIAH SMITH????

pic.twitter.com/obV44VLzR7

— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 31, 2024

Heisman Trophy Race

The current top five Heisman Trophy favorites (FanDuel Sportsbook) are:

Dillion Gabriel (QB – UCF) (+850)
Jaxson Dart (QB – Ole Miss) (+850)
Cam Ward (QB – Washington State) (+850)
Carson Beck (QB – Georgia) (+900)
Jalen Milroe (QB – Alabama) (+1000)

Most notably outside the top five are Travis Hunter (+2500) and Ashton Jeanty (+7500). Out of the above-mentioned players Hunter, Milroe and Ward seem primed to increase their odds in the coming weeks. Hunter (@ Nebraska in Week 2) and Milroe (@ Wisconsin in Week 3) have the benefit of notable matchups on the national stage. Ward will get the chance to put up big numbers against Florida A&M and Ball State over the next two weeks.

After a big game vs. USC could see Garrett Nussmeier (+3000) rise over the coming weeks as well. Tetairoa McMillan (+6000) put up video game numbers and is another name to keep your eye on.