Football season has just about arrived, but before things officially kick off, millions of people are looking to create their own fictitious teams. If you're like me, then you're probably preparing for your own fantasy draft (or two, or three) in hopes of assembling a special squad that will take down all of your friends, coworkers, and family members.
The NFL version certainly continues to be the most popular, but college football fantasy leagues seem to be gaining steam each year.
It shouldn't come as any surprise given the talent, but our conference draft has a very heavy East Division flavor to it. And thanks to virtually all of the Big Ten's top receivers moving onto the NFL, it's riddled with quarterbacks and running backs.
In case you're looking to try your hand with a college league – or if you're just curious about the conference's top playmakers – we once again have arranged our own mock first round —starting with the offense.
1. Saquon Barkey • Running Back • Junior • Penn State
Penn State tailback Saquon Barkley has topped 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in Happy Valley. He's a Heisman frontrunner for good reason and may be the best tailback in America. Last year he was more of a factor in the passing game, notching over 400 yards receiving and four scores.
The Nittany Lion offense is in good hands with Joe Moorhead at the helm, and Barkley should put up huge numbers against non-conference opponents like Akron and Georgia State. A home contest versus the Wolverines and trips to Columbus and Iowa City will obviously present more of a challenge for the junior.
2016 stats: 1,496 yards rushing, 18 TDs // 402 yards receiving, 4 TDs
2. J.T. Barrett • Quarterback • Senior (RS) • Ohio State
Drafting a quarterback in the early rounds of a typical fantasy draft is mostly frowned upon, but when focusing on just the Big Ten, it's not a crazy move.
Barrett enters his final season in Columbus as another one of the Big Ten's Heisman candidates. The 2016 season had its ups and downs, but a new quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator could help the senior return to his 2014 form. The majority of his stats have failed to live up to the bar that was set during his redshirt freshman season, but 2017 could be a resurgent year for the Buckeye offense.
After 205 carries a season ago, expect that number to go down as the rest of the Buckeye backfield handles a bigger portion of the work. Still, Barrett continues to be one of the country's premier dual-threat quarterbacks.
2016 stats: 2,555 yards passing, 24 TDs, 7 INTs // 845 yards rushing, 9 TDs
3. Trace McSorley • Quarterback • Junior (RS) • Penn State
To say that Trace McSorley had a breakout season in 2016 would be a vast understatement. In his first season as a starter, the Nittany Lion signal-caller set program records for total offense, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.
Chris Godwin is gone at wideout, but the team returns the likes of DaeSean Hamilton, Mike Gesicki, and Saeed Blacknall. Penn State has plenty of weapons and another impressive season seems on the horizon. There may be no player in the country who has benefited more from a coaching change. Moorhead and McSorley appear to have a great thing going.
2016 stats: 3,614 yards passing, 29 TDs, 8 INTs // 365 yards rushing, 7 TDs
4. Mike Weber • Running Back • Sophomore (RS) • Ohio State
Ohio State's starting tailback has been nursing a sore hamstring ever since the start of camp. While some may view that as an ominous sign – especially with the emergence of J.K. Dobbins – this seems to be more precautionary in nature.
Mike Weber may very well be entering his final season in Columbus. He's not as explosive as the Ezekiel Elliotts of the world, but he runs with authority and is a capable enough pass-catcher out of the backfield. The biggest question mark entering this season may be how the carries will be distributed between Weber, Barrett, Dobbins, and Demario McCall.
2016 stats: 1,096 yards rushing, 9 TDs // 91 yards receiving
5. Justin Jackson • Running Back • Senior • Northwestern
Northwestern tailback Justin Jackson has seen his stats improve every year since enrolling in Evanston, and now he's on pace to go down as the Wildcats' all-time leading rusher. He's already tallied over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and should end his career with over 1,000 carries.
Road trips to Wisconsin and Nebraska as well as home games against Penn State and Iowa will present the stiffest challenge for the Wildcat offense.
2016 stats: 1,524 yards rushing, 15 TDs // 219 yards receiving
6. Clayton Thorson • Quarterback • Junior (RS) • Northwestern
Clayton Thorson enters the 2017 season as one of the conference's top quarterbacks and is actually being mentioned by some NFL Draft analysts as one of the top underclassmen at the position. Perhaps it's an ominous sign that Minnesota's Mitch Leidner was in a similar discussion – though as a senior – a year ago and ended up going undrafted, but Thorson is a much different player.
The junior improved immensely from his redshirt freshman to sophomore seasons, nearly doubling his passing yardage and improving on his efficiency. Still, he's been plagued by poor offensive line play and that remains perhaps the biggest issue for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats.
2016 stats: 3,182 yards passing, 22 TDs, 9 INTs // 98 yards rushing, 5 TDs
7. Chris Evans • Running Back • Sophomore • Michigan
De'Veon Smith is gone, but that's not going to be too big of a blow to the Michigan running game. The backfield is extremely talented and it will be interesting to see how the carries are distributed this season. Sophomore Chris Evans looks like the guy to watch in 2017, though.
Evans is an explosive player, so much so that he likely could have played tailback, wideout, or corner coming out of Indy's Ben Davis High School. He coveted the Ohio State offer, but the Buckeyes didn't come calling until late in the process. He can catch passes out of the backfield and is a threat to score every time he touches the football.
Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac also will contribute at running back, and former Ohio State commit Kareem Walker looks to be fourth or fifth on the depth chart right now.
2016 stats: 614 yards rushing, 4 TDs // 87 yards receiving
8. Rodney Smith • Running Back • Junior (RS) • Minnesota
I feel like Minnesota is a forgotten team heading into 2017. The Gophers were 9-4 last season and actually gave Penn State all it could handle while taking the Nittany Lions to overtime in State College.
P.J. Fleck is now leading the way and the Gophers will likely rely heavily on their running game, especially junior tailback Rodney Smith. Smith rushed for 16 scores last season, and that was good for second in the conference behind only the aforementioned Saquon Barkley. With a new starter under center, Smith – along with Shannon Brooks – are expected to lead the Minnesota offense yet again.
2016 stats: 1,158 yards rushing, 16 TDs // 188 yards receiving
9. L.J. Scott • Running Back • Junior • Michigan State
Michigan State football isn't in a very good place right now. The recent sexual assault scandal is still hovering over the program and Mark Dantonio is coming off a putrid 2016 season. Hubbard, Ohio's L.J. Scott and the Spartan running game looks to be the best thing going in East Lansing at the moment.
Michigan State will feature three running backs in Scott, Gerald Holmes, and Madre London. Scott may not have the speed of the others, but he's likely the most complete back on the roster. He's coming off a pair of shoulder surgeries and appears ready to go for 2017. There's no doubt that all three will see action, but Scott should be the featured back.
A very young offensive line will likely tell the tale for the Michigan State offense this year.
2016 stats: 994 yards rushing, 6 TDs // 147 yards receiving, 1 TD
10. Tanner Lee • Quarterback • Junior (RS) • Nebraska
The acquisition of Tanner Lee was quietly a huge move for Nebraska, and could have quite the impact on the Big Ten's West Division. Lee spent two seasons as Tulane's starting quarterback where he was sacked a total of 51 times in 2014 and 2015. After sitting out a season ago, he's ready to take over in Lincoln.
After seeing @HuskerFBNation QB Tanner Lee spin it yesterday, he will be a top NFL prospect for '18 or '19. Size, arm talent, intangibles.
— Phil Savage (@SeniorBowlPhil) August 11, 2017
Lee's numbers at Tulane weren't all that impressive as he threw for 23 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in two seasons, but he wasn't exactly surrounded with top-tier talent. Despite the sacks and interceptions, his name is already being thrown out there as a top Draft prospect.
Mike Riley has done a solid job on the recruiting trail, and some talented receivers and much better offensive line play is surely a welcome sight for Nebraska's new quarterback.
2015 stats: 1,639 yards passing, 11 TDs 7 INTs // -162 yards rushing (yikes), 0 TDs
