10. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Paxton Lynch will have a tough time making a push for the Heisman due to not being a Power 5 player, but he is one of the best quarterbacks in college football. He has led Memphis to an 8-0 record with a signature win over Ole Miss. Lynch has completed 70.2% of his passes to go along with 2709 yards and 18 touchdowns, and only one interception. The junior faces an uphill battle with his Heisman hopes, but he definitely has a chance.
9. Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy
Keenan Reynolds has a strange stat profile for a Heisman candidate quarterback. He has thrown for only 431 yards and 2 touchdowns. What makes Reynolds a bona fide star is his ability in the running game. Through seven games this season, Reynolds has rushed for 753 yards and 13 touchdowns. The unique game that Reynolds plays makes him one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
8. Christian McCaffery, RB, Stanford
If you want to talk about someone that nobody was looking at coming into 2015, look no further than Stanford star Christian McCaffery. McCafferey leads the 7-1 Cardinal with 1060 rushing yards, and he has looked impressive doing it. The sophomore is not only a rushing threat, but a receiving threat out of the backfield, catching 25 passes for 310 yards. Do not be surprised if you see McCaffery near the top of list come December.
7. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Watson may not be the passer Lynch is or the runner Reynolds is, but he leads the number one team in the country, and he deserves some Heisman consideration for it. Watson has 24 total touchdowns the year, and 2322 total yards. He also had a 23 yard punt. The important thing is Watson is completing over 70 percent of his passes, and he is productive and critical to his team's success.
6. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Dalvin Cook is the reason that FSU has been able to remain in the Top 25. He is an absolute beast, rushing for 1037 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season. The most staggering stat is his 8.2 yards per carry. He also has 181 receiving yards. The dominant force that Cook has been for the Seminoles is one that will carry them as far as they will go.
5. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Derrick Henry is just the next stud back for Bama, following Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, and T.J. Yeldon. Henry has been a workhorse, rushing for 1044 yards and 14 touchdowns for the fourth ranked Crimson Tide. Anyone who has watched Henry has seen him bowl over defenders and into the end zone time and time again. Although Henry has been spectacular, he still has a ways to go if he wants to win the Heisman.
4. Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
Thought Cook's stats and Henry's stats looked good? The face of the College Football Playoff has better stats. He has rushed for 1130 yards and 13 touchdowns for the undefeated Buckeyes. He has not missed a step since running over Alabama and Oregon in the CFP last year, looking every bit as strong as he did then. Elliot looks to lead the Buckeyes back to the title, and he wants to win a Heisman as well.
3. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
Everyone knew coming into the year that Boykin is the best quarterback in college football, and he has lived up to that hype. The senior has 2927 pass yards on the year and 28 passing touchdowns, but he also has 524 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Boykin has been the best quarterback in the nation so far, but he has work to do to get his No. 8 Horned Frogs to the Playoff.
2. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
It has become very uncommon to see a receiver this high on a Heisman ranking, but Coleman has earned it. The Baylor junior has been absolutely ridiculous this season, catching 58 passes for 1178 yards and 20 touchdowns through only eight games. The potential for more touchdowns in Baylor's high-powered offense makes Coleman look like he could be the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991.
1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Let's not sugarcoat anything here: Leonard Fournette is by far the best player in college football. The running back has 1352 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he has only played seven games. He also is making contributions in the special teams game, as he has returned 25 kicks, including a 100-yard touchdown return. No defense has had any hope of stopping Fournette this season, and that helps LSU's overall success. For anyone else to win the Heisman, they will have to go through Fournette.
