Freshman Keelon Russell, now an upper-echelon, Heisman-contending gunslinger, lit up South Carolina in Week 4, racking up 40.1 fantasy points with 365 passing yards and four touchdowns. That monster performance solidifies his incredible ascent after he posted 36.4 points against Kentucky in Week 3, making his earlier 12.6-point Week 2 outing feel like a distant memory.
Russell’s Pocket Comfort and Kienholz’s Ground Game Explosions
Russell’s transformation from a promising, Elite 11-winning freshman to a top-tier QB has been electric. He was absolutely surgical against South Carolina, completing 21-of-27 passes, and before halftime, he was 13-of-15 for 234 yards and four scores! Alabama’s HC Kalen DeBoer is already praising Keelon’s increasing comfort operating out of the pocket, and it shows. This kid is the perfect conductor for Alabama’s talented skill players, with the Tide averaging 9.5 yards per dropback, which is ninth in FBS, and 24% of their completions generating 20+ yards, good for 20th nationally. Get ready, because Russell is poised to blow up the stat sheet again this weekend in what should be a QB showcase against Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State.
Meanwhile, Lincoln Kienholz is also making waves, defying early reports that suggested the Cardinals would lean more on the run game. Those spring rumors hinted he was struggling to connect with his new receiving corps, and last weekend’s upset loss to Wake Forest saw their primary runners, Isaac and Keyjuan Brown, manage only 81 yards on 21 carries. Instead, Kienholz has been performing at a higher level than previous starter Miller Moss, unleashing 36 passes while averaging 8.1 yards per dropback. He’s now strung together his fourth straight game with at least 25+ fantasy points! Kienholz has already thrown for over 300 yards twice, but it’s his ground-based utility that’s been crucial, producing a whopping six rushing touchdowns and fueling his early-season breakout. The only worry? Kienholz was banged up last weekend and is currently considered a game-time decision for their matchup at NC State. His absence would be a major depth blow, especially with Week 5 featuring several prominent signal-callers on bye.
Fluff Bothwell’s Streak and Bishop’s Unfortunate Turn
You know we couldn’t resist that NWO Buff Bagwell nod, but Fluff Bothwell’s fantasy relevance is absolutely soaring, right alongside the rest of the Mississippi State offense under the tutelage of rising star QB Kamario Taylor. Bothwell has now smashed through three consecutive 100-yard games! He also just became only the sixth NSU RB to accrue 120+ rushing yards and 50+ receiving yards in the same contest. Fluff is averaging a commendable 3.9 YAC and a 54% success rate, with 18% of his rushes gaining 10+ yards. He’s currently the fantasy RB12 and could climb even higher if he keeps that 100-yard streak going against Alabama this weekend.
On the flip side, things were looking great for Tennessee RB DeSean Bishop in Week 2, where he racked up 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries during a 45-24 destruction of Georgia Tech. But then, everything proceeded to go sideways when he sustained an injury against Kennesaw State in Week 3, which unfortunately limited his output…
This weekend is shaping up to be a wild one! Keep your eyes peeled for Russell’s potential QB showcase against Kamario Taylor and Fluff Bothwell looking to extend his 100-yard streak against Alabama. Don’t forget Kienholz’s status, either, because that game-time decision against NC State could seriously shake things up. Get ready for some fireworks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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