Wyoming Fantasy Buzz
In 2011, The Wyoming Cowboys should provide for a more improved set of fantasy football options with the evolution of Gregg Brandon’s spread offense finally being unleashed. The loss of Austyn Carter-Samuels, a two year starter at quarterback, is definitely going to hurt but with several freshman candidates and an experienced running back in Alvester Alexander, the growing pains should be eased early on for the Cowboys in 2011.
Alvester Alexander, Junior, Running Back
As a sophomore, Alexander rushed for 792 yards and 14 touchdowns. With a 4.19 yard average per carry and averaging over a touchdown per game in 2010, look for Wyoming to rely on Alexander heavily as they break in a freshman quarterback to carry their offense in the early going especially. Also, Alexander’s durability should make him an excellent later round value play when filling out your fantasy football squad.
Chris McNeill, Junior, Wide Receiver
The opportunities should be plentiful for McNeill in 2011. After catching just 28 passes in 2010, McNeill will have every opportunity to double or triple those totals as the number one wide receiver coming into the season especially if he can take advantage of what should be a short quick passing game approach by the Cowboys. Also, I would suspect that his touchdown total should definitely jump up significantly from just three in 2010 to probably six or more in 2011. Then his value should only increase for fantasy football players as the season goes along making him a sleeper pick in the later rounds.
Josh Biezuns, Senior, Defensive End
If you play in a league that gives you extra points for big plays on defense from individual players, than Josh Biezuns is a guy to watch. Biezuns had 6.5 sacks in 2010, and leads a defensive line that returns intact for Wyoming and should, with an improved performance by the offense, allow for him to get more opportunities to go after the quarterback as the defense should not wear down as easily late in games as was the case in 2010.
The Quarterback Battle: Brett Smith vs Adam Pittser.
These two promising freshmen are poised to have a very hard fought battle come fall camp in August. Pittser comes in as a pretty highly touted prospect who came from a very run oriented offense in high school so this should be an interesting transition to a wide open spread offense attack for him at Wyoming. Brett Smith gave redshirt freshman Emory Miller all he wanted competition wise in spring practice but was unable to wrestle control of the starting position. Look for this battle to go down to the week of the first game against Weber State and probably beyond. Both quarterbacks should play early against Weber State and Texas State at home giving both guys a chance to stake a more permanent claim to the position for the duration of the season.
Read the in-depth football preview for this team
