Quaid Carr, a guy who logged a paltry 14 yards on just four carries during his freshman season, is now leading the running back room for the Washington Huskies. Seriously, go check your notes, because if you blinked, you missed his unexpected takeover. This isn’t just a fantasy football footnote, this is a massive shake-up for our Dawgs as Week 1 looms and it’s got everyone scratching their heads.
Unlikely Kings and Rising Stars Ready to Tear Up Week 1
Forget what you thought you knew about these backfields, because some new faces are absolutely dominating. Over at Arkansas, Sutton Smith has officially snatched the starting running back job. He missed some camp time, which had everyone thinking Braylen Russell, a holdover from the Sam Pittman era, would get the first crack. But Smith is the man, and that’s a big deal considering the Hogs were top in the nation last year for rushing success rate and yards per carry. New HC Ryan Silverfield, straight from Memphis where his rush-first philosophy led to a fourth-overall ranking in EPA per rush, is gonna lean on him. Smith is your preferred CFF play, though don’t count Russell out for some carries.
Then there’s Duke Watson for UCF. Preseason hype was all around redshirt freshman Taevion Swint, who didn’t even sniff a carry last season. Wild, right? But Watson, a transfer from Louisville, came in with a serious track record. This dude was incredible in 2024, racking up 597 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns. We’re talking a gaudy 8.9 yards per carry and a 43% broken tackle rate! He played second fiddle a bit last year, but now he’s the unquestioned starter in Scott Frost’s second year. That’s a huge value pick right there. And don’t sleep on USC’s freshman wide receiver, Trent Mosley. The buzz about the freshman WR/TE class started in spring and just kept building during fall camp. He absolutely blew up against San Jose State with seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, plus an explosive punt return. With the uncertain status of NC State transfer Terrell Anderson and 2025 starting WR Tanook Hines, Mosley could be the most important freshman in the country for your fantasy squad if he locks down a starting role. This kid’s gonna be electric.
The Dawgs’ Backfield Shocker and a Bearcat Nightmare
But let’s get back to our own Emerald City’s team. The Washington Huskies. Quaid Carr’s rise is just wild. After Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed, the top two rushers, left, the door was wide open. Jordan Washington, with his 233 rushing yards and sparkling 8.6 YPC last year, was the leading returner. Oregon transfer Jayden Limar also brought experience. So, for Carr, with his meager freshman stats, to lead the competition out of spring? That’s what you call a surprise. Our Dawgs have the 44th-ranked schedule, which is one of the most favorable in the Big Ten. Plus, our offensive line is straight-up excellent, averaging 3.4 yards before contact, good for 10th in FBS. If Carr can keep his hold on that starting job, he could become a major CFF contributor for the purple and gold. This is something every Husky fan needs to be watching closely.
Now for a fantasy headache: Cincinnati. They averaged 5.7 yards per carry last year and are bringing back three All Big-12 offensive linemen. Sounds promising, right? Wrong. Their depth chart has a rare four-man “OR” designation at running back. A four-way committee? Are you kidding me? Beat writers have zero clarity on carry distribution. Notre Dame transfer Gi’Bran Payne is maybe, *maybe*, a slight leader, but good luck figuring that out for Week 1. That’s a definite faller in your rankings for sure.
Week 1 is officially here, people! Will Quaid Carr prove he’s the real deal and cement his spot for our Huskies? Can Trent Mosley become the freshman sensation everyone’s whispering about? And for the love of fantasy football, will Cincinnati ever get a clear running back? Get ready, because the action is about to kick off, and we’ll be watching every single snap.
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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