Some of these 16 stats from Week 9 are just for trivia, but most are good to know as you look at fantasy trends/leaders across the season or for specific positions or teams. Since teams have played such an uneven number of games, this week I have a few conference-specific stats.
Ohio State QB Justin Fields has accounted for as many TDs this season, 7 (6 passing, 1 rushing) as he has incompletions this season, 48/55 passing, 87.3%.
The only Big Ten QB to pass for 300+ yards in each of their team’s first two games this season? – Rocky Lombardi, Michigan State. He passed for 323-3 last weekend after throwing for 319-3 in the season opener.
Prior to last weekend there had been five 200-yard receiving games, then in week 9 there were five total – UNC’s Dyami Brown (11/240-3), Nevada’s Romeo Doubs (6/211-1), San Jose State’s Bailey Gaither (10/208-1), Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore (14/238-3), and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith (11/203-4). Smith was the first player this season to have 200 yards and 4 TDs receiving in a game.
Last weekend San Jose St WR Bailey Gaither had 10/208-1 receiving, while Nevada’s Romeo Doubs had 6/211-1. They are the only two Mountain West receivers to have two 100 yard receiving games this season.
Seven QBs are averaging 10 yards a passing attempt this season – Mac Jones, Alabama (12.4), Graham Mertz, Wisconsin (11.8), Zach Wilson, BYU (11.2), Justin Fields, Ohio State (10.8), Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (10.7), Sam Howell, UNC (10.5), and Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma (10.0). Because you were wondering, Dillon Gabriel, Kyle Trask, and Trevor Lawrence are all averaging 9.6.
Since volume is huge in fantasy (you are going to get at least one stat a week about rushing attempts) – only four players have four games with 20+ rushing attempts – Spencer Brown (UAB), Breece Hall (Iowa State), Chuba Hubbard (Oklahoma State), and Asher O’Hara (MTSU).
How are Memphis receivers doing since WR Damonte Coxie opted out? Memphis WR Calvin Austin has been thriving in his last 3 games – 9/151-2, 6/184-1, 7/121-0 for an average of 7.3/152-1 a game.
Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa had 26/35-394-3 passing and 8/64-2 rushing in week 9. He was the first player to reach 390-3 and 50-2 this season, with only 2 players hitting those stats in a game last season – Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) and Brick Purdy (Iowa State).
Only two players in the nation are averaging 150 rushing yards a game – Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota (173.5) and Breece Hall, Iowa State (150.17). Ibrahim set the season high for rushing attempts with 41/207-4 last weekend, and is one of only two players in the nation averaging more than 25 attempts a game (33.5), Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming is next averaging 27 a game.
Elijah Moore, Ole Miss had 14/238-3 receiving last weekend. Moore is the only receiver in the nation with 4 games of 10 receptions and 100 yards this season. Jaelon Darden (North Texas), Marlon Williams (UCF), and DeVonta Smith (Alabama) all have 3.
North Carolina QB Sam Howell threw for 23/28-444-4, an 82% completion rate, in a 44-41 loss to Virginia on Saturday. A stat-line of 400-4-80% in a loss had only happened two other times since 2000, Luke Falk, Washington State (2016) and Giovanni Vizza, North Texas (2007).
Arkansas WR Treylon Burks caught 7/117-2 last weekend. Only four SEC receivers have 3 or more 100+ yard receiving games this season, the other three are Elijah Moore & Jaylen Waddle with 4 apiece, and Burks and DeVonta Smith with 3 each.
Nevada QB Carson Strong threw for 21/27-350-2 in week 9. Including games going back into last season, Strong has thrown for 350+ yards in his last 4 games, for an average of 380.75 yards passing a game.
Mississippi State passed for 146 yards last weekend, the lowest ever for a Mike Leach-coached team. In 19 years Leach’s teams had been held to less than 200 yards passing only 3 times. (credit Ben Portnoy). Not to pile on, but Alabama WR DeVonta Smith had 203 receiving yards Saturday against Miss. State, more than Miss. State’s total yards (200).
Only one Mountain West player had 100+ yard rushing games in each of their first two games so far this season – Greg Bell, San Diego State rushed for 22/157-1 last week after putting up 19/111-1 in the opener.
The Big 12 QB averaging the most passing attempts per game? West Virginia’s Jarret Doege is averaging 38.7, next is Texas’ Sam Ehlinger with 36.5, and third is Baylor’s Charlie Brewer with 35.3.
Bonus Stat – 47 QBs have 1000 yards passing this season, but only one has not thrown an interception, Sam Hartman of Wake Forest. Interestingly, in the 1000 yard passing club Hartman is tied with two others for the fewest TDs thrown with 4, Connor Bazelak (Missouri) and Gavin Hardison (UTEP).
