The Hot Sheet - Sept 22nd, 2025
The best individual performances of the week, weighted by opponent strength and translatable dynasty traits.
How We Pick ‘Em
Opponent strength first. Ranked teams, elite defenses, rivalry pressure.
Dynasty lens second. Accuracy/processing for QBs, three-down indicators for RBs, separation/red-zone craft for WRs.
Production matters—but empty calories get dinged.
Quarterbacks
Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana) — 6'5"/225
Stat line: 21/23, 267 Yards, 5 TD, 0 INT
Opponent: #9 Illinois
Mendoza dismantled a ranked, defense-first unit with anticipation and ball placement, not gimmicks. He threw into tight windows, handled disguise without flinching, and kept negatives off the sheet. In NFL terms, he’s a rhythm/timing point guard for WCO/RPO structures; 2026-likely with a Day-2 (R2–R3) path if this efficiency holds, sitting SF rookie Rd 2 (2.03–2.10) with late-1st upside only if true Round-1 buzz materializes.
Demond Williams Jr (QB, Washington) — 5'11"/190
Stat line: 16/19, 298 Yards, 4 TD | 13 Carries, 88 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Washington State
Five total TDs on 84% completions in a rivalry is real control. He layered throws, protected himself as a runner, and never let tempo outrun poise. Built for spread/RPO looks as a calibrated dual-threat; not a 2026 name—watchlist for 2027, where he can force his way into the top cluster if he stacks high-volume games vs ranked defenses.
Dylan Raiola (QB, Nebraska) — 6'3"/230
Stat line: 30/41, 308 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Opponent: #21 Michigan
Worked the intermediate middle and stayed on schedule against a ranked front, resetting his base instead of bailing under heat. That’s modern pocket play with functional mobility; 2027 and projected near the top of the class, with Round-1 expectations if the explosives keep climbing.
Aidan Chiles (QB, Michigan State) — 6'3"/225
Stat line: 12/21, 212 Yards, 3 TD | 10 Carries, 35 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: #25 USC
Four TDs on modest volume screams situational mastery—cashed leverage, used legs as a weapon (not a crutch), and avoided the back-breaker. Toolsy distributor for play-action/condensed-split families; 2026-likely still a Day-3 pick until consistency tightens, landing roughly SF late-2nd/early-3rd right now.
Jayden Maiava (QB, USC) — 6'4"/230
Stat line: 20/26, 234 Yards, 3 TD | 4 Carries, 31 Yards, 2 TD
Opponent: Michigan State
Efficient, ruthless finishing—five total TDs (three passing, two rushing) on just 26 passing attempts. Structure-first distributor with red-zone keeper value; 2026-likely and tracking early Day-2 (R2) if the rushing share and on-schedule efficiency persist, late-1st to early-2nd in Superflex builds.
Josh Hoover (QB, TCU) — 6'2"/200
Stat line: 22/40, 379 Yards, 5 TD, 1 INT | 8 Carries, 27 Yards
Opponent: SMU
Rivalry heat and he kept firing—intermediate/vertical aggression without the meltdown. NFL question is turnover management as volume scales; 2026-likely with R3–R4 range until the clean sheets stack, SF early/mid-3rd with room to improve if draft capital beats expectations.
Trinidad Chambliss (QB, Ole Miss) — 6'1"/200
Stat line: 17/27, 307 Yards, 2 TD | 14 Carries, 112 Yards
Opponent: Tulane
Structure on schedule, controlled chaos when needed—designed-run value with enough downfield shots to stress rules. Timeline unclear (2026–27 window) and not on boards yet; for now he’s a watchlist profile who needs high-attempt games to establish a draft lane.
Running Backs
Jonah Coleman (RB, Washington) — 5'9"/228
Stat line: 12 Carries, 59 Yards, 2 TD | 6 Catches, 104 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Washington State
Won real routes (angle/option), finished through contact, and handled short-yardage—checks the three-down boxes without fluff. Scheme-versatile for gap or zone, with pass-pro good enough to stay on the field. 2026-likely, tracking Round 2 if the receiving role holds; SF mid-1st in RB-needy builds.
Dylan Riley (RB, Boise State) — 5'10"/190
Stat line: 19 Carries, 171 Yards, 4 TD | 2 Catches, 84 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Air Force
Vision/tempo created creases and he finished forward; the long catch wasn’t a freebie. G5 and small-sample caveats keep the brakes on until he repeats this vs better fronts. 2026-likely Day 3 (R4–R5) today; SF late-2nd/early-3rd thanks to the receiving pop.
Waymond Jordan (RB, USC) — 5'10"/210
Stat line: 18 Carries, 157 Yards | 2 Catches, 25 Yards
Opponent: Michigan State
Decisive tracks, one-cut burst, and zero wasted motion; controlled the middle quarters and closed with power. Frame/tempo fit outside-zone and duo; 2027 watchlist pending proof of a locked-in workload against top fronts.
Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) — 6'0"/214
Stat line: 19 Carries, 157 Yards, 2 TD
Opponent: Purdue
Feet and balance bailed out imperfect blocks; finished runs without losing speed, and showed functional receiving. That’s an every-down template, not a gadget. 2026-likely, pushing R1/R2 if targets stick; SF top-4 outcomes are in play.
Justice Haynes (RB, Michigan) — 5'11"/210
Stat line: 17 Carries, 149 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Nebraska
Pro tracks, pro body—took the free yards and ripped explosives without dancing. Receiving sample is light, but nothing here hurts an every-down projection. 2026-likely with firm R1–R2 buzz; SF top-6 profile if usage holds.
Robert Henry (RB, UTSA) — 5'9"/205
Stat line: 21 Carries, 144 Yards, 1 TD | 2 Catches, 76 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Colorado State
Early-down hammer plus explosive YAC when schemed into space—game-script proof. Age/G5 context keeps rooms conservative, but the role translates. 2026-likely Day 3 (R4–R5) with SF early-to mid-2nd appeal and spike-week upside.
“Hollywood” Smothers (RB, NC State) — 5'11"/195
Stat line: 17 Carries, 123 Yards, 1 TD | 5 Catches, 41 Yards
Opponent: Duke
Early downs, two-minute, and closer reps—coaches trust him. Not a long-speed outlier, so value leans volume and targets. 2026-likely Day 3 right now; SF 3rd right now, but could climb into the 2nd.
Adam Randall (RB, Clemson) — 6'2"/235
Stat line: 16 Carries, 130 Yards | 7 Catches, 44 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Syracuse
Ground volume plus real routes and short-yardage utility—clean three-down signal. Power/zone offenses will like the fit. 2026-likely Day 2 track; SF round-2 anchor with TD-driven RB1 path if GL work sticks.
Pass Catchers
Eric McAlister (WR, TCU) — 6'3"/205
Stat line: 8 Catches, 254 Yards, 3 TD
Opponent: SMU
Alpha takeover—stacked corners vertically, finished above the rim, and added YAC on in-breakers to close the door. Market today: mid-round Day 3 to fringe Day 2 (R3–R5). Path to ceiling: stack explosives vs ranked opponents, keep drops down, show press-win/route detail, then validate mid-4.4s and dominate a Senior Bowl week.
Jacory Barney Jr (WR, Nebraska) — 6'0"/170
Stat line: 6 Catches, 120 Yards, 2 TD
Opponent: #21 Michigan
Speed showed up vs a ranked defense and the nuance is coming—stacked late, found the ball without drifting. Market today: 2027 watchlist, not a 2026 name. Path to ceiling: add functional mass, expand the route inventory, and keep producing against Big Ten secondaries → sets up real capital next cycle.
Makai Lemon (WR, USC) — 5'11"/195
Stat line: 8 Catches, 127 Yards, 1 TD | 2 Carries, 11 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Michigan State
Inside-out usage with steady separation and red-zone involvement—defenses have to account for him every snap. Market today: real R1/R2 buzz (some outlets have him as an early Day-2 type; others tout him as a top WR in 2026). Path to ceiling: keep per-route efficiency elite vs top corners, add more outside wins, and he stays in the Round-1 lane.
Isaiah Sategna (WR, Oklahoma) — 5'10"/182
Stat line: 9 Catches, 127 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: #22 Auburn
High-volume chain mover with legit track speed; pacing creates clean separation. Market today: Day 3 profile until the explosives show up consistently in SEC play. Path to ceiling: stack 20-yard gains vs ranked opponents, add return value, and verify long speed → pushes toward R3.
Omari Kelly (WR, Michigan State) — 6'0"/188
Stat line: 6 Catches, 133 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: #25 USC
True vertical separation with late hands and boundary control—these were real chunk wins, not busts. Market today: late Day 3 (R5) special-teams/vertical role player. Path to ceiling: broaden the intermediate tree and sustain target share against top DBs → move into R4 conversation.
On the Radar
Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
Stat line: 6 Catches, 107 Yards, 2 TD
Opponent: Washington State
Cade Klubnik (QB, Clemson)
Stat line: 37/60, 363 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Opponent: Syracuse
Darian Mensah (QB, Duke)
Stat line: 19/28, 269 Yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Opponent: NC State
Malik Washington (QB, Maryland)
Stat line: 265 Yards, 2 TD | 1 Rush TD
Opponent: Wisconsin
Mark Fletcher Jr (RB, Miami)
Stat line: 24 Carries, 116 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: Florida
Leshon Williams (RB, Kansas)
Stat line: 19 Carries, 129 Yards, 1 TD | 1 Catch, 39 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: West Virginia
Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana)
Stat line: 9 Catches, 92 Yards, 2 TD
Opponent: #9 Illinois
Ian Strong (WR, Rutgers)
Stat line: 8 Catches, 151 Yards
Opponent: Iowa
Cam Coleman (WR, Auburn)
Stat line: 3 Catches, 88 Yards, 1 TD
Opponent: #11 Oklahoma
TJ Moore (WR, Clemson)
Stat line: 8 Catches, 92 Yards
Opponent: Syracuse
