Leonard Fournette Heisman Watch: Week 7

Week 6 rolled on by with a few stunning upsets (*pokes OU with a stick) and some breakout performances. Did any new candidates crack the board? Is Fournette still running away, literally, with this race?

Fournette Is As Fournette Does

Last Week: 20 Carries, 158 Yards, 7.9 YPC, 1 TD, 3 Catches, 25 Yards
Season: 119 Carries, 1022 Yards, 8.6 YPC, 12 TDs, 5 Catches, 41 Yards

How about you expand the resume a bit by adding in some receiving capability, young man? This was, by far, Fournette's least impressive outing of the season and he still ripped off an 87-yard TD. At the end of the day, it's a good, quality stat line from afar. No one will remember he was 19 for 71 the rest of the day. Only one TD this week, the first week he hasn't put it into the EZ multiple times. He came out midway through the 3rd quarter, but much like his performances vs. everyone but State, he could have played more and racked up garbage time numbers.

Bovada Odds: 5/11
Next Week: Florida

The Main Contenders

Seth Russell, QB, Baylor

Last Week: 18/27, 246 Yards, 66.7%, 3 TDs, 0 INT, 5 Carries,  6 Yards, 1 TD
Season: 83/130, 1,527 Yards, 63.8%, 22 TDs, 5 INT, 27 Carries, 178, 4 TD

Pros:

Another 4 TD game for Russell, which is the FEWEST he's scored in a game this season. That's insane. No turnovers, which has been an issue for him in other games.

Cons:

Well, it's against Kansas. And also, can you not play a JV team so we can maybe tell if you are really good? This was a more modestly good game, rather than the video game numbers he put up previously.

Bovada Odds: 13/2
Next Week: West Virginia (a real test...?)

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Last Week: 21 Carries, 106 Yards, 5.0 YPC, 2 TDs, 6 Catches, 47 yards
Season: 121 Carries, 835 Yards, 6.9 YPC, 10 TDs, 16 Catches, 110 Yards

Pros:

These are numbers good enough to keep Ohio State's running back right near the top of the leaderboard, especially with Ohio State limping along and him carrying the offense. He's the best player on the "best" team in the country. That will keep him front and center in the minds of voters.

Cons:

Elliott turned in a good performance and it still pales in comparison to what Fournette did. Fournette rushed for more yards than Elliott gained in totality, on seven fewer touches.

Bovada Odds: 12/1
Next Week: Penn State

Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU

Last Week: 20/30, 66.7%, 301 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 11 Carries, 124 Yards, 2 TDs
Season: 139/218, 2103 yards, 21 TDs, 5 INTs, 64 Carries, 366 Yards, 4 TDs

Pros:

Boykin's got a true dual threat stat line and he's heading toward 4,000 yards passing and 700 yards rushing, which is a silly amount of total yardage. He's got the best QB numbers in the nation, to date and his team is right near the top, keeping him in the spotlight.

Cons:

Well, TCU is barely sneaking by some average teams, so are his numbers so good because he's having to play so much while Russell, his closest counterpart, is sipping Gatorade for most of the 2nd half. Would that be held against him? Also, seems like the loser of Baylor/TCU will then lose out in Heisman votes to the respective QB for the winner.

Bovada Odds: 19/2
Next Week: @Iowa State

The Best of the Rest

Dalvin Cook, RB, FSU

Last Week: 22 Carries, 222 Yards, 10.1 YPC, 2 TDs, 3 Catches, 47 Yards, 1 TD
Season: 88 Carries, 792 Yards, 9.0 YPC, 8 TDs, 7 Catches, 71 Yards, 1 TD

Pros:

Cook is flashy and exciting to watch. He's got a pair of 200 yard games and plays for an undefeated team with a shot to win their conference.

Cons:

His numbers simply aren't as good as Elliott's much less Fournette's. Florida State kinda sucks, even though they keep winning.

Bovada Odds: 18/1
Next Week: Louisville

Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

Last Week: 27 Carries, 95 Yards, 3.5 YPC, 1 TD
Season: 120 Carries, 665 Yards, 10 TDs, 7 Catches, 51 Yards

Pros:

Well, he almost broke 100 yards last week! He plays for Bama!

Cons:

His numbers are marginal as hell for a Heisman "contender." He's not even top 10 nationally in rushing yardage... how the hell is Bovada giving him such good odds?

Bovada Odds: 20/1
Next Week: Texas A&M

Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Last Week: 21/30, 70%, 265 Yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 6 Carries, 16 Yards
Season: 89/129, 69%, 990 Yards, 11 TDs, 5 INT, 45 Carries, 202 Yards, 1 TD

Pros:

His team is quickly becoming a playoff favorite and he'll get the intangible "leadership" votes. Those votes will double down if they stay undefeated because they somehow beat "Clemsoning."

Cons:

His numbers are modest, especially when stacked up against Russell and Boykin.

Bovada Odds: 20/1
Next Week: Boston College

Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

Last Week: 8 Catches, 155 Yards, 2 TDs
Season: 50 Catches, 877 Yards, 10 TDs

Pros:

Poseur told me to put him on here.

Cons:

He's not even the best player on his own team. He's a WR.

Bovada Odds: 40/1
Next Week: @Iowa State

Kyle Allen, QB, Texas A&M

Last Week: 25/41, 61%, 322 Yards, 2 TDs, 12 Carries, 65 Yards
Season: 89/139, 64%, 1,274 Yards, 13 TDs, 2 INTs, 40 Carries, 136 Yards, 2 TDs

Pros:

Allen has a chance to make a big statement this week by putting up big time numbers vs. Alabama, which is sure to rocket him to the top of the rankings, judging by the media reaction to beating Bama. Also, if he's able to keep the Aggies undefeated through the rigors of the SEC, he'll get some votes. Also, Johnny Manziel gets a vote.

Cons:

Well, his numbers are good, but other QBs are better. Also, he plays for Texas A&M.