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College Fantasy Football Preview: Pac-12 TEs

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Austin Hooper #84 of the Stanford Cardinal scores a touchdown pass in the 1st overtime against the Utah Utes at Stanford Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Palo Alto, California. The Utes won the game in double overtime 20-17. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Pac-12 Conference

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TE Stephen Anderson – California Golden Bears

Let the outcry officially begin to free Anderson and UCLA TE Thomas Duarte from the misclassification as wide receivers in fantasy formats. While the California Bear Raid uses the versatile playmaker in various roles, College Football Focus player participation reports recorded Anderson's usage at tight end to be greater than 50 percent of 2014 plays. At 6’3”, 230 pounds, Anderson joined the Golden Bears as a walk-on in 2011, and has developed enough to lead the team in receiving yards/game (66.1) last season.

Considering that the fastest TE-Y 40-time of all 2015 incoming high schoolers was clocked at 4.70, Anderson's elite size:speed ratio (4.59) places him into mismatch-territory on a per snap basis. He earned a +5.2 receiving-specific CFF grade by using an elite high-pointing faculty (30.5” vertical) and securing 46/50 catchable targets. If Anderson had been classified as a tight end, his 1.85 YPRR would have placed him just below the foremost results in the nation. Targeted on six total throws at 20-plus yards (9.0 20+T%), Anderson sheltered every catchable pass (3), and produced two for TDs.

Bottom Line: Anderson is classified as a tight end on the official California Athletics website and DFS platforms should follow that accurate description. His blocking (96.4 PBE) is adequate enough to avoid snap limitations and was gifted a healthy 17.1 percent of his total targets out of the slot (1.57 YPRR). Should he be listed as a tight end in your format, Anderson instantly catapults into the top-ten options at the position, and should be drafted accordingly.

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