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Houston vs. Utah game preview: College fantasy football breakdown for key Week 8 matchup

Houston arrives in Salt Lake City with a 6-1 record, fresh off a 35-32 win over Oklahoma State, while Utah is 5-2 after a tight 27-24 victory over Colorado. The Cougars boast the nation’s top offensive success rate at 54.9%, an 87% down‑set conversion rate, and rank second in points per drive (3.72) and third in yards per drive (46).

Their offense rarely stalls, going three‑and‑out on just 9.5% of possessions and converting 61.4% of third‑down attempts, though their rushing explosiveness is modest, ranking 122nd in yards per successful rush. Quarterback Conner Weigman has thrown for 1,771 yards with 26 touchdowns and only two interceptions, posting a 56.8% passing success rate and averaging 8.5 yards per dropback, while adding 260 rushing yards, 115 of them on 14 scrambles.

Utah’s defense, ranked sixth nationally in success‑rate allowed (33%) and first in plays stopped for zero or negative yards (41.4%), will test Houston’s passing game, which has struggled against strong secondary play. The Utes limit opponents to a 49% completion rate and a 33.6% passing success rate allowed.

Tight end Patrick Overmyer emerges as a key target for Houston, with 56 catches for 432 yards and seven touchdowns, a 59.6% success rate and 58% of his receptions earning first downs. Wide receiver Amare Thomas remains a vital piece, accounting for 26% of targets and averaging 7.5 targets per game, contributing 14.7 points per game.

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