News / heisman watch week 2 2016

Two weeks into the season and we have had some major moves within the Heisman Watch list.

1) Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville - After a dynamic 8 touchdown performance in week 1 Jackson followed it up with 5 touchdowns vs Syracuse and over 600 total yards (411 passing, 199 rushing).  Action Jackson's electrifying performance on national television Friday night caught the eyes of the nation and the Heisman committee.  This hurdle for a TD run will be on Jackson's Heisman reel...

2) Deondre Francois, QB, FSU - While his rushing stats were pathetic (-3 yards on 6 carries) Francois made up for it with his passing (78% completion percentage with 3 TDs) in a beat down of a depleted and suspended Charleston Southern squad.  Francois will go against current #1 Heisman Watch leader Lamar Jackson this week in Louisville.  Good chance whomever gets the W in the ACC showdown will be the quarter season Heisman watch leader.

3) Deshone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame - QB1 for Notre Dame only completed 83% of his passes and accounted for 3 touchdowns in a performance vs Nevada that actually felt like a letdown only because we have to expect Kizer to be perfect.  Kizer moves up 2 spots from last week.  He will get a chance to have another primetime performance this week vs a top 10 Michigan State program under the lights in Notre Dame stadium.

4) Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford - Mr. Do-It-All drops one spot only because the Cardinal were off last week (seriously who schedules a BYE 2nd week of the season?).  McCaffrey will get plenty of touches vs PAC 12 rival USC this Saturday in front of the home Stanford crowd.

5) Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State - Talk about bringing back memories of Marshall Faulk in the Aztec red and black, Pumphrey went off on Cal last week rushing for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns in a big win.  With the big performance Pumphrey surpassed Faulk to become the all-time San Diego St. rushing leader.

6) Greg Ward, QB, Houston - Ward falls down 4 spots because he didn't play last week vs Lamar because of a shoulder injury.  The shoulder shows no structural damage and Ward will have a chance to move back up the list with a big primetime national television performance vs Cincinnati Thursday night.

7) Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State - When you score an NCAA record 8 touchdowns in a game on only 15 touches it gets you on the Heisman Watch top 10 list fast.  The junior RB was running a clinic in the "Wildcat" formation and will get another chance to pad his stats this weekend vs UTSA.

8) J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State - Barrett falls 4 spots from week 1 because frankly he struggled in the first 3 quarters vs Tulsa.  He didn't drop out of the top 10 because Ohio State won big (48-3) and he scored 2 touchdowns on the ground.  He will have his chance this week vs Oklahoma to have some "Heisman moments."

9) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech - Mahomes stays at the great 8 position despite the Red Raiders losing a shootout against Arizona State.  Mahomes did all he could throwing for 540 yards and accounting for 6 touchdowns.  Granted it's early but he's on pace for 72 touchdowns.

10) Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia - No way to sugar coat Chubb and the Dawgs performance vs lowly Nicholls in a 2-point win Saturday.  Chubb goes from Heisman watch leader to hanging in the top 10 by a thread after a pedestrian 80-yard rushing performance.  Chubb and UGA will get a chance to redeem themselves this week vs Mizzou, a defense giving up over 200 yards rushing per game.

Dropped out: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson; Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Matt Fairchild grew up a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons.  In other words he has a sports team problem on top of his drinking problem.  Displaying a loyal, never-ending-love for his teams despite their consistent struggles to return to their "glory days" only shows the insane ramblings that permeate his controversial sport writings.  Fairchild started SportsCrack.com in 2005 where you can find great t-shirts and sports merchandise.  See more of his work at UHND.  He can be reached at matt@sportscrack.com or on Twitter @sportscrack