Devy Risers & Fallers: Phil Mafah, Jaydn Ott, Kurtis Rourke (2024)

Week 11 of the college football season featured big games, massive upsets and some terrific player performances across the nation.

Below, we look at the fallout from the weekend’s action. Who are the week’s biggest devy risers & fallers from the world of college football?

The devy format was first created in the 1990s by Scott Fish of Scott Fish Bowl fame, and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular formats in fantasy football. Devy is often referred to as a “dynasty league on steroids” because you draft and stash collegiate players before they even declare for the NFL Draft.

Devy fantasy football requires a bit more research and projection than your normal dynasty league, but we’ll be here to guide you along the way. Each week, we’ll bring you the biggest risers and fallers from the previous weekend of NCAA football action and its impact moving forward.

Regarding 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 other factors, such as injuries, playing time and even some extenuating circumstances, which can impact a player’s value.

Devy Fantasy Football Risers & Fallers

Devy Risers

Phil Mafah (RB – Clemson)

It’s flying under the radar a bit, but running back Phil Mafah is quietly having a terrific senior season down in Clemson, South Carolina. One week after racking up 171 yards and two touchdowns against Louisville, Mafah was back at it again with 128 rushing yards in Clemson’s 24-14 victory at Virginia Tech. He’s rushed for 100+ against six separate opponents in 2024 and is on pace to finish with more than 1,100 yards on the ground this season.

Some NFL coaches could typecast Mafah as an early-down grinder on the next level, but he’s more athletic than most running backs his size. The 230-pounder is a smooth, upright runner who almost glides across the playing surface. Draft capital and situation mean everything to running backs, but his playing style is reminiscent of Rhamondre Stevenson and Brian Robinson II coming out of college.

Kurtis Rourke (QB – Indiana)

Indiana is 10-0, ranked in the top five nationally, and preparing for a potential program-altering showdown with #2 Ohio State in Week 13. While many deserve praise for the Hoosiers’ remarkable season, quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been the catalyst behind the turnaround.

On Saturday, Rourke had another solid outing in Indiana’s 20-15 victory over the Michigan Wolverines. He completed 17-of-28 pass attempts for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He did toss one ill-advised interception early in the contest and took a season-high four sacks, but he also made a couple of sensational throws that highlight his arm talent.

Rourke won’t be mistaken for the QB1 in this draft class, but he’s seen his stock rise significantly throughout this season. His age (24 years old) will be held against him in the dynasty/devy community, but a relatively weak quarterback class could result in Day Two draft capital.

Devy Fallers

Jaydn Ott (RB – Cal)

Entering this season, Cal’s Jaydn Ott was mentioned in the same breath as Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and other top running backs in the nation. After a disastrous junior campaign, Ott is now the forgotten man in college football.

One season after putting up 1,305 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns, Ott has struggled through injuries and inconsistency in 2024. He only has 169 total rushing yards in five starts and has seen his yards-per-carry plummet from 5.3 in 2023 to a paltry 2.4 this season.

Looking ahead, it’s unclear how the running back handles this unforeseen drop in production. If Ott enters the 2025 NFL Draft, his value will be at an all-time low. If he returns to Cal (or transfers elsewhere) for his senior season, he risks being labeled an older prospect in 2026. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Johntay Cook II (WR – Texas/TBD)

Wide receiver Johntay Cook II is a perfect example of how high school star rankings do not always translate into immediate collegiate success. While many of us assumed Cook II would eventually find his way under Steve Sarkisian, it hasn’t fully clicked yet for the DeSoto, Texas product.

Through 1.5 seasons at Texas, Cook II has a pedestrian 16 receptions and 273 receiving yards in his career. He had fallen behind Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, and DeAndre Moore (among others) in the wide receiver pecking order before this week’s “mutual decision” to leave the program.

This disappointing two-year stay at Texas isn’t a death blow to Cook II’s NFL future, but it’s certainly a speedbump in the present. We’ve seen similar highly-touted wide receiver prospects like Jacorey Brooks transfer and excel elsewhere, so here’s hoping it works out similarly for Cook II at his next destination.