ESPN

New this year, ESPN's College Football Challenge has something for everyone. With a separate leaderboard for each conference, you can follow the national scene or just concentrate on your favorite team's league. Whether you're a veteran NFL fantasy player or a college fan who's new to fantasy football, the Challenge is sure to provide lots of options and lots of fun.

Each week we'll profile 20 players or units that should be on Challenge owners' radar, whether they're proven commodities, emerging stars, breakout performers, even those who might need a week off due to an injury or unfavorable matchup. In the spirit of inclusiveness, we'll always have at least one player from each of the 11 conferences.

Cream of the crop

Joe Webb, QB, UAB: Two scores each by land and air and 415 total yards versus Rice was a good start for Webb, who could be even more valuable this week against an SMU team that allowed nearly 400 passing yards to Stephen F. Austin in a lackluster win.

Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati: Judging from the team's offensive performance against Rutgers, the leading returning receiver in the Big East is headed for another big year catching balls from all-conference triggerman Tony Pike. Gilyard racked up 89 yards on eight catches in the Garden State; the upcoming matchup with Southeast Missouri will yield more big plays this week.

Jahvid Best, RB, California: The leading rusher in the Pac-10 last season, Best ran for 137 yards and two scores on just 10 carries in the rout of Maryland. While he may find the bench even earlier this week, it's safe to say Eastern Washington won't be able to stop him.

Taylor Potts, QB, Texas Tech: The new Red Raiders signal-caller threw for 405 yards and a touchdown on 34-of-48 passing in the opener against North Dakota State, spreading the ball to 10 different receivers. Potts also ran for two scores, and could have had more through the air if not for three interceptions. The Texas Tech attack could produce Potts' first 500-yard game against Rice this week.

Evan Royster, RB, Penn State: Royster is by far the leading returning rusher in the Big Ten. He draws a Syracuse defense that hasn't allowed fewer than 187 yards per game on the ground in six seasons.

Team Defense, Alabama: The Tide held half of its opponents under 200 total yards last season, but none gained fewer yards than Virginia Tech did last Saturday in the Georgia Dome. Bama won't yield much ground this week against a Florida International team that's much improved under rising coaching star Mario Cristobal but is still a five-touchdown underdog.

Jake Locker, QB, Washington: The Washington offense looked totally reborn in coach Steve Sarkisian's first game, rolling up 478 yards against LSU. Locker threw for 321 yards and accounted for another 51 on the ground. He'll have another big day this week as the Huskies break their 15-game losing streak against Idaho.

Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame: Clausen has now thrown more touchdowns than incompletions in his past two starts. Michael Floyd grabbed most of the yardage against Nevada, but Golden Tate and tight end Kyle Rudolph are ace targets for Clausen as well, especially against a young Michigan secondary that allowed 263 yards through the air to WMU's Tim Hiller.

Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska: Helu's 153 yards and three scores on 16 carries against Florida Atlantic solidified his status as the Huskers' primary ball carrier. Helu's encore comes Saturday against another Sun Belt entrant, Arkansas State.

Opportunity knocks

Team Kicking, Cincinnati: The Bearcats showed that the offense is going to be even better than last season's explosive unit, romping for 47 points in a big win at Rutgers. Junior Jake Rogers is one of only two Big East kickers on the Groza watch list this year, and he'll be busy all day against Southeast Missouri State .

Frank Goodin, RB, ULM: Goodin managed a respectable 60 yards and a score on 15 carries versus Texas, and this week the opposition softens considerably for the Warhawks' junior tailback, who led the team in rushing last season. One of the Sun Belt's best offensive lines will pave Goodin's way to a big day against Texas Southern, which was trounced 83-10 last season by fellow Sun Belt member Arkansas State.

Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois: Harnish is second only to CMU's Dan LeFevour among MAC dual-threat quarterbacks. He was unsurprisingly held in check by Wisconsin last week, but the Huskies' line is solid, and this week's tilt against Western Illinois should be a breakout day for Harnish and the offense.

Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State: The Aztecs' leading returning receiver, Brown caught five balls for 139 yards against UCLA. He'll keep producing for a San Diego State offense that lacks a running game but boasts a solid quarterback in Ryan Lindley. Southern Utah is on tap this week.

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State: Moore is off to a good start, following up his 3,486-yard freshman campaign with a solid performance against Oregon. This week he faces the worst defense in the MAC in a Miami (Ohio) team that was utterly dominated by Kentucky last week.

On the shelf

Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: Ingram is the main man in what looks to be a very potent Tide rushing attack. He'll play against Florida International, but the stocky sophomore has been suffering from the flu this week, and will share more of the load than usual with Roy Upchurch and freshman Trent Richardson.

Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois: The Illini offense was clearly deflated after losing Benn to an ankle injury in the first half of Saturday's blowout loss to Missouri. Benn hasn't been ruled out for Saturday's game with Illinois State, but it's unlikely he'll be asked to contribute much.

Fresh faces

Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech didn't generate much offense against Alabama, but Williams -- who accounted for 71 yards and two scores -- clearly separated himself in the three-way competition to replace injured tailback Darren Evans. Williams should have a big year for the ground-oriented Hokies, and could pay dividends this week against Marshall

Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: No Chase Daniel? No problem for the Tigers, who destroyed Illinois as sophomore Gabbert passed for 319 yards in his first start. Eight different receivers caught balls against what was supposed to be a decent Illini defense. Gabbert's encore comes against Bowling Green in the Tigers' home opener.

Ralph Bolden, RB, Purdue: Bolden ran for 234 yards on 21 carries against Toledo. He'll still have to share some time with Jaycen Taylor, but his performance in the Boilers' lid-lifter makes Bolden worth a look against Oregon and beyond.

Andrew Brewer, WR, Northwestern: The only senior in a receiving corps that lost its top four pass-catchers from a year ago, Brewer hauled in six balls for 145 yards against Towson, staking his claim as the go-to guy in the Wildcats' retooled offense. The opportunity for a repeat performance is there this week against a soft Eastern Michigan defense.

Will Harris is a fantasy college football analyst for ESPN.com.