Devy Risers & Fallers: Omarion Hampton, Micah Hudson, Barion Brown (2024)

Week 14 of the college football season featured big games, massive upsets, and terrific player performances nationwide.

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 called a “dynasty league on steroids” because you draft and stash collegiate players before they even declare for the NFL Draft.

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

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

Omarion Hampton (RB – North Carolina)

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty deservedly gets most of the attention, but there is no shortage of impressive running backs set to enter the NFL Draft over the next few seasons. One of those is North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.

While running backs like Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon and Cal’s Jaydn Ott have seen a major drop in production this season, Hampton has gone the other direction. The North Carolina running back has set career highs across the board, finishing the regular season with 1,660 rushing yards, 373 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns.

Hampton’s improvement as a pass-catcher, combined with a body type made for the wear-and-tear of the NFL, makes him a very intriguing asset moving forward. No one is competing with unicorn Jeanty for RB1 in this class, but Hampton has the skillset to be next in line.

Jayden Higgins (WR – Iowa State)

Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins is one of the most underrated players in college football. Despite improving every season, he’s often seen as an afterthought in dynasty rookie rankings. Expect that to change.

As one of the top senior wide receivers, Higgins has already accepted an invitation to the 2025 Senior Bowl. Based on his tape, Higgins won’t take long to turn heads in Mobile. Currently projected as a Day Two 2025 NFL Draft selection, Higgins can cement that over the pre-draft process.

Devy Fallers

Micah Hudson (WR – Texas Tech)

Last offseason, the incoming freshman wide receiver class was hyped up as one of the most talented groups we’ve seen in a long time. For the most part, those players have outplayed expectations. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama’s Ryan Williams are regarded as two of the best wide receivers in the nation. Meanwhile, Auburn’s Cam Coleman and Clemson teammates Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore have also had moments of brilliance this season.

One player missing from that list is Texas Tech wide receiver Micah Hudson. The Red Raiders’ true freshman was ranked a half-tier below Smith and Williams coming out of high school, but he was expected to make a similar immediate impact in Lubbock. However, he was never given much of an opportunity. Hudson finished the regular season with a paltry eight receptions, 123 receiving yards and zero touchdowns.

Luckily for Hudson, he’s playing in the transfer portal era of college football. Instead of continuing to waste away at head coach Joey McGuire’s program, Hudson has already announced his intentions to transfer elsewhere. Expect the former five-star recruit to land at a powerhouse college football program after the Texas Tech experience blew up in his face.

Barion Brown (WR – Kentucky)

Not too long ago, Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown looked like an ascending star. He finished his freshman season with 50 receptions, 628 receiving yards, and four touchdown receptions and was mentioned in the same breath as Missouri’s Luther Burden.

Unfortunately, Brown’s impact has plummeted since that first season in Lexington. His receiving production dropped (43-539-4) as a sophomore and fell even further this season. He finished this season with 29 receptions, 361 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.

On the bright side, Brown’s rushing numbers have improved each season, and he remains one of the top returners in college football. There’s still much to like about Brown’s upside in the NFL, but his lack of production will be a talking point for media and NFL decision-makers.