Day 1: Here goes nothing!

I decided to make Thursday a test drive of sorts. Being a relatively short slate, with only a few games of interest, and mostly involving SEC schools anyway, I threw together a quick and dirty lineup. 

I used players almost exclusively from 4 games: A&M-South Carolina, Miss-Boise,  WSU-Rutgers, and ASU-Weber St.

The 3 running backss and Halliday seemed like must-plays as they project to get heavy workloads in high scoring games, and I just tried to fit around their salaries. Hopefully it works out.

Week 1 write-ups - ACC, Sean

Summary:

Week one in the ACC features a lot of freshman starters and a handful of games against the SEC and PAC-12 (actual games). So finding quality players matched up against garbage wasn’t exactly the easiest of tasks. My top pick is highlighted in yellow for each position, and individual player analyses are below.  I think, and hope, this will become easier as the weeks progress….

Quarterbacks:

Player	Team	FPPG	Cost	Analysis
Chad Voytik	PITT	0.2	5000	A first year PITT starter and Florida transfer. Not the best numbers at Florida, but, for the price, he might be worth looking at if there isn’t anything better. Pitt is up against a Delaware team that should be able to attempt to keep up offensively, so I think we will see an elevated number of attempts.
Anthony Boone	Duke	14.4	5800	A little more expensive than Voytik, but at least there are some numbers to support Boone. Duke is up against Elon in week one, and based on last year’s success, coupled with little player turnover, it should be an easy win. I don’t see Boone being pulled in this game, as he was still a work-in-progress for most of last season (broken collarbone and INTs). I look for him to step it up this season, and to produce top-level numbers at a mid-level price in week one. He might be the best value at QB in the ACC, week 1.

Running Backs:

Player	Team	FPPG	Cost	Analysis
Kevin Parks	UV	21.9	5200	As the 5th most FPPG for RBs on Saturday’s lineup, Parks’ cost is more than 1,000 less than other RBs with similar FPPG.  The value seems high, but playing for VA, against UCLA might keep his numbers lower than other options for the price.
T.J. Logan	UNC	12.3	4900	As a sophomore, Logan looks to see his first season as a featured back. Last season he scored 4 TDs in 9 games as an RB and asses 2 more TDs on special teams. His avg FPPG are lower than Parks’ but UNC is playing a much weaker opponent, and I would look to see better numbers from Logan.

Receivers:                        

Player	Team	FPPG	Cost	Analysis
Bryan Underwood	NCST	15.5	4,600	Underwood seems to be by far the best value at the WR position. He is coming of a season that ended a month early because of a collarbone injury, but there is no evidence to say that will be a hindrance to his production this season.  In his last complete season, Underwood scored 10 TDs in the first 8 games, including at least 1 TD in each of those games.  I think the cost-benefit here is worth a go.
Kevin White	WV	11.8	4,000	White is earning a mention in that he is the only WR in his price range that seems to have consistent yardage per game. He averages 10+ YPC, and 7 RPG. He also has the most TDs of the WRs in his range. The downfall here is that West Virginia plays Alabama, which could be spun as a positive or a negative, depending on how you look at it.

Tight Ends:

Player	Team	FPPG	Cost	Analysis
Ben Koyack	ND	10.7	2700	From a cost-benefit standpoint, Koyack seems to be the only TE worth mentioning this week. He has a high FPPG when compared to other TEs in the ACC and is cost is a bit lower. With the return of Golson at QB, and a relatively easy matchup against Rice, I see Koyack as the best available option.

Aside from this being a pain in the ass to convert to blogger because of how you played with the margins, well done, Sean.

Week 1 write ups: Big 12, Carlos

Quarterback

Davis Webb, Texas Tech, Price: $9000

·       The returning starter last year for the Red Raiders.  He posted 4 games of over 400 yds passing and  6 games of over 300 yds passing, in 9 games started last year.  The Red Raiders attempt nearly 50 passes per game and that should remain consistent this year. FBS opponent Central Arkansas, should post no threat to Texas Tech in Week one. 

·       Projected Pts:

◦      27 pts

Jake Waters, Kansas State, Price: $6500

·       He is the returning starter from last years Wildcats team.  He also has his favorite target Tyler Lockett returning.  K-State is facing a dreadful Stephen F Austin team who finished 3-9 last year in the Southland Conference (FCS).  Although K-State's offense is run heavy and they only averaged 224 passing ypg last year, he should be hitting his favorite target early and often in week one.  He also averaged about 10 carries per game on the ground last year. Waters should provide great bang for your buck this week.

·       Projected Pts:

◦      21 pts

Running Back

Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray, Texas, Price: $4900, $4500

·       This duo should be a good play in week one against the North Texas Mean Green.  Texas is breaking in a new QB and this duo should be heavily relied on this week while he gets acclaimated.  Another thing that should be a factor is the Texas OL, they vastly outweight the UNT Defensive Line and should push them around all day long.  This should lead to big holes for both of these guys to run through.  Based on last years numbers, they are a 60(Brown)/40 (Gray)split in touches.

·       Projected Pts:

◦      Malcolm Brown: 20 pts

◦      Jonathan Gray: 14 pts

Keith Ford, Oklahoma, Price: $4600

·       Oklahoma lost their top three rushers from last years team which leaves Keith Ford as the RB with the most experience from last year.  As it stands, Ford sits atop the depth chart for the Sooners, and stands to get the majority of carries this year.  The Sooners will run over, through, and around Louisiana Tech.  Ford should be the primary beneficiary of this in his breakout game as the starting RB. 

·       Projected Pts:

◦      20 pts

Wide Reciever

Tyler Lockett, Kansas State, Price: $6400

·       K-State's leading reciever returns for his senior season. He also has the benefit of his favorite signal caller returning.  As mentioned above in Jake Waters preview, they face a poor Stephen F Austin team.  Lockett averaged a 105 ypg in K-State's run heavy offense last season but I expect Lockett to exceed his average in week one against the Lumberjacks.

·       Projected pts:

◦      28 pts

Antwan Goodley and Levi Norwood, Baylor, Price: $6800, $4000

·       Baylor's aerial attack will be alive and well this year with the return of senior QB Bryce Petty. Goodley was the leading reciever last year with 71 receptions for 1339 yds and Norwood was third with 47 targets for 733 yds.  The injury bug has hit hit Waco, TX with two of their other top receiving targets marked as doubtful for this weeks game.  Long gone are the days of the Pony Express and the Mustangs will not put up much of a fight this week against the Bears. 

·       Projected Pts:

◦      Antwan Goodley: 32 pts

All of these games are on the Saturday night slate except for Baylor. Good work, Carlos!

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Week 1 Salaries!

Week 1 salaries are up. Download the file for Thursday's games here and Saturday's games here. Keep in mind games start a week from today: Thursday, August 29, so try and have your picks in by next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Click the link, and then use the download option once Google docs opens.

I did it as an excel file and you should be able to sort by name, position, game they are playing in, and points per game from last year (will be replaced by this year when we have data). Let me know if the format is a problem.

Also, do we want to play the Thursday slate or just shoot to debut on Saturday? I'm up for whatever you guys want to do.

Happy researching, boys!