Saturday was one of the toughest college fantasy football afternoons that I can remember. CFF stud runners TreVeon Henderson, Mohamed Ibrahim and Braelon Allen either did not play or were ineffective while receivers Kayshon Boutte, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jermaine Burton continued to play like duds. At quarterback, Bryce Young, Malik Cunningham and Dillon Gabriel all left the field with injuries while C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson continued their up-and-down campaigns.
Despite all of the roster challenges and disappointing performances, clever CFF players have diligently used the waiver wire to accumulate top-shelf talent: Austin Reed, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Khalan Laborn, Aidan Robbins, Charlie Jones, De’Corian Clark and Tyrin Smith. Week 6 represents the halfway mark of CFF regular season leagues and upcoming byes are going to provide an additional strategic challenge over the next four weeks.
Do not lose any sleep…if you require assistance to navigate all of the constant challenges, Ryan Cobbett, @ryancobbsj22, and I have identified the premier players to target on the college fantasy football waiver wire.
Enjoy my fellow CFF diehards!
Week 5 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Max Duggan, TCU (Cobbett)
Fantrax Ownership: 19%
Yards Per Attempt: 10.6
P-TD%: 11.7%
Hard to think there was a QB battle at the start of the season at TCU. But if you followed my content during the offseason, the winner of the TCU QB battle was featured in my Can’t Miss Players article. Well, Max Duggan has prevailed, as I thought, and he has not disappointed.
Through four games this season, Duggan has already neared 50% of last year’s production, and he has only started three games. In his three starts, he has averaged 323 passing yards per game, tossed 3.6 touchdowns per start without an interception, completed 75% of his throws and added two rushing scores.
The senior is a dynamic signal caller, who can get the job done both in the air and on the ground. There is talent all around Duggan on this offense and they play in the Big 12, which stands for little defense. The Horned Frogs quarterback could be a starter for your fantasy team. Grab him if you aren’t too late.
Jayden de Laura, Arizona (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Yards Per Attempt: 8.2
P-TD%: 7.0%
For the second consecutive week, Jayden de Laura established a career-best with 484 passing yards versus Colorado after throwing for 401 against California. He also tossed eight touchdowns and rushed for 41 yards in those two outings. The Wildcats’ signal-caller cannot be disregarded in the CFF community any longer. He is more comfortable in the offense, producing an abundance of fantasy points.
“Jayden is continuing to get better. He has been here for five games. He has been in this offense only since January. He has not ever played in an offense like this before. If he can continue to make jumps like he’s been making, then we’re gonna have a really good offense,” coach Jedd Fisch proclaimed after the victory (tucson.com).
For the season, de Laura ranks among the top 24 CFF quarterbacks with 14 aerial strikes and over 1,600 yards passing. Arizona faces a gauntlet of difficult Pac-12 opponents (all of which are ranked) over the next five games, starting with Oregon this Saturday. With all of the bye weeks in the near future, the Arizona quarterback provides a solid bench player capable of big numbers in your starting lineup.
Chase Cunningham, Middle Tennessee (Cobbett)
Fantrax Ownership: 5%
Yards Per Attempt: 7.8
P-TD%: 4.5%
Chase Cunningham has quietly had a good season for MTSU and a substantial last two games. Against Miami, he threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, and this last weekend against UTSA, he passed for 368 yards and a score.
Aside from his first game, Cunningham has averaged 314.5 YPG, two touchdowns, and completed 72.3% of his passes. He has been very consistent and is seeing steady improvements. The Blue Raiders travel to Birmingham to take on UAB, but after that, they face cupcake defenses. Cunningham is a good guy to monitor on the waiver wire moving forward.
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
John Paddock, Ball State
Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Yards Per Attempt: 6.6
P-TD%: 4.7%
Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
Fantrax Ownership: 17%
Yards Per Attempt: 8.8
P-TD%: 8.5%
Running Backs
Miyan WIlliams, Ohio State (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Scrimmage Yards: 523
Touchdowns: 8
Total Fantasy Points: 104.3
My good friend Felix Sharpe at Campus2Canton.com has been praising Miyan Williams for a while now. With TreVeon Henderson on the Buckeyes’ roster and many of my CFF teams, I did not take the sage advice in regard to the Ohio State backup. Clearly, not listening to Felix–or running backs coach Tony Alford–was a mistake.
“He (Williams) does a great job of accelerating into contact, and that’s not natural. It’s like driving a car where contact’s going to be made with another car. Usually you hit the brake to slow down. He speeds up. He’s a violent player,” Alford stated (dispatch.com).
A three-star prospect, the 5’9” and 225-pounder ranked as a top 15 recruit in Ohio after rushing for 5,823 yards and 68 touchdowns and being named the runner-up for Ohio Mr. Football as a junior in 2018. Last year, he earned OSU Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Watching the game between the Buckeyes and Scarlet Nights, Williams was impossible not to notice with Henderson sidelined. He rambled for 189 yards and five touchdowns in the 49-10 victory. In Buckeyes’ history, he became just the third player to score five rushing touchdowns in a game: Pete Johnson versus North Carolina (1974) and Keith Byars against Illinois (1984) were the others.
In the past two games, the third-year runner has surpassed 100 yards rushing each outing and produced over 22 fantasy points. He now leads the Buckeyes’ backfield in carries (64), yards (497), average per carry (7.8) and touchdowns (8). There is no official date for Henderson’s return after a pregame scratch versus Rutgers. Williams warrants the highest bid remaining in your FAAB budget and top priority on the waiver wire this week.
Kendre Miller, TCU (Cobbett)
Fantrax Ownership: 45%
Scrimmage Yards: 421
Touchdowns: 5
Total Fantasy Points: 76.1
If you happened to miss my Can’t Miss Players and RB Sleepers articles, then Kendre Miller is not likely on your roster. He was featured as one of my sleeper ball carriers because the runner is awesome. He was in Zach Evans’ shadow (despite being more productive) last season, but now Miller owns the spotlight and leads the TCU running back room.
Miller has averaged 12.75 carries per game, 96.5 YPG on the ground, and has five rushing touchdowns. In his past two games, Miller has really made a huge impact as he ran for 142 yards against SMU and 136 against Oklahoma. Yes, TCU does have a committee of talented backs, but he has breakout potential and has managed to score in every game this season. Get him while you can.
Dae Dae Hunter, Liberty (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 22%
Scrimmage Yards: 549
Touchdowns: 6
Total Fantasy Points: 101.9
I play in a PPR league with 16-teams all starting 10 players, including 3 or 4 running backs each week. Needless to say, it is difficult to find ball carriers on the waiver wire. Three weeks ago, I needed to unearth a sleeper as a Flex starter and plucked Dae Dae Hunter. I never imagined he would ascend to a waiver wire gemstone and weekly stater status.
Since Hunter has been in my lineup, the Liberty playmaker has scored 24.3, 17.8 and 39.1 fantasy points respectfully. The former Hawaii ball carrier has scampered for 332 yards on 51 carries and scored four times on the ground. In addition, he corralled eight passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Against Old Dominion on Saturday, Hunter totaled 181 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches and scored three touchdowns. “Dae Dae is a football player. He played really well. We had a good plan in the second half to highlight him, and he happened to have the explosive plays,” coach Hugh Freeze proclaimed after the game (aseaofred.com).
For the season, he is the seventeenth-ranked CFF runner with over 100 fantasy points, averaging over 20 points per game. In the next two weeks, the Flames travel to UMass and host Gardner Webb, which bodes very well for continued fantasy production from Hunter.
Quinshon Judkins, Mississippi (Cobbett)
Fantrax Ownership: 45%
Scrimmage Yards: 572
Touchdowns: 6
Total Fantasy Points: 95.2
Speaking of Zach Evans, many thought he would be the lead back for Ole Miss when he transferred to Oxford, but it has been Judkins who has been the leader of this Rebels’ running back room. Judkins has averaged 17 carries, 107 yards, 6.82 YPC, and six scores on the ground. He leads the Rebs in carries with 17 more than Zach Evans as well as yards (535) and touchdowns (6). In this run-first offense, the freshman is worth a look for your team.
Honorable Mention Running Backs
Jalen White, Georgia Southern
Fantrax Ownership: 49%
Scrimmage Yards: 529
Touchdowns: 7
Total Fantasy Points: 102.9
Wayne Taulapapa, Washington
Fantrax Ownership: 6%
Scrimmage Yards: 451
Touchdowns: 4
Total Fantasy Points: 77.1
Twitterverse on Fire!
CFF Waiver Wire Battles: Week 5
Who Ya Got at Quarterback?
- Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose: 9%
- Jayden de Laura, Arizona: 26%
- Max Duggan, TCU: 57%
- John Paddock, Ball State: 8%
“Over 40 passing attempts in every game and 58 yesterday. Give me John Paddock and those MAC defenses plus UCONN the rest of the season.” @copieps
“Max Duggan! Three straight games of 70% plus completion. No INTs and just playing out of his mind. No game too big, when you expect him to flop, he has been lights out: 23-for-33 for 302 yards, three touchdowns for a HUGE upset win vs. Oklahoma. All this with minimal help from Quentin Johnson to boot!” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Chevan Cordeiro for me, but I will be in the minority. This guy has scored under 25 one time this year and that was against Auburn. There are no more Tigers on the schedule.” @aceholesrule
“I was an early believer in Max Duggan and ‘the system’ so fortunately won’t need to head to waivers to find him!” @CFFonIG
Who Ya Got at Running Back?
- Dae Dae Hunter, Liberty: 16%
- Kendre Miller, TCU: 23%
- Miyan Williams, Ohio State: 51%
- Carson Steele, Ball State: 10%
“Carson Steele for me! Three 100-yard games then drops 77 yards and three scores vs. Northern Illinois for the comeback win: mostly in the second half and first OT. Steele is completely underrated.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Dae Dae Hunter for me. The offense is working every week, and Dae Dae gets a little better each week.” @aceholesrule
“Carson Steele: 22-plus carries in the last four games. Over 100 yards in 4-of-5 games. Plus, he has UConn and MAC defenses to go against the rest of the way.” @travisty13
Who Ya Got at Wide Receiver?
- Jake Bobo, UCLA: 30%
- C.J. Johnson, East Carolina: 35%
- Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina: 22%
- Brian Cobbs, Utah State: 13%
“Jake Bobo is a dawg! Broke out at the right time! Six receptions for 142 yards and two scores and 23.7 YPC. At 6’5” and 205-pounds, Bobo knows how to use his body versus defenders and has a natural knack for getting open and will be a headache to take down for defensive backs.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Jared Brown for me: young, explosive, great quarterback and nice offense. What’s not to like?” @aceholesrule
Wide Receivers
Jake Bobo, UCLA (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 16%
Targets: 26
Team Target Share: 15%
Total Fantasy Points: 74.3
I am crossing my fingers that the Bruins and Trojans remain undefeated until the two programs meet on November 19 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Both teams are on fire after five games and boast fantasy-friendly offenses. I am old enough to remember when UCLA-USC commanded the PAC 12 and dominated the college football landscape in the late Seventies and Eighties.
In the offseason, Jake Bobo moved west from Durham, North Carolina, and got off to a slow start in the City of Angels with only six receptions in the first two games. In the last three weeks, he has 15 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns, scoring 61.4 fantasy points.
On Friday night, I stayed up far too late watching the Bruins upset the Huskies, and Bobo showed off his fantasy upside. He secured six passes for 142 yards and two scores, finishing as the eighth most productive CFF receiver for the week.
“…for Jake [Bobo] to step up like he did today and become a matchup problem, that was big for us. We can get the ball distributed to the perimeter, and if you have to cover the perimeter, it opens up some holes for Zach [Charbonnet] in the middle of the field,” coach Chip Kelly stated after the game (uclabruins.com).
Over the past three years, I have been critical of Kelly’s program at UCLA. Finally, it appears that the coach has the team headed in the right direction. Bobo leads the Bruins in yards and touchdowns among receivers and should not remain on the waiver wire any longer as the PAC 12 schedule is in full swing.
Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina (Cobbett)
Fantrax Ownership: 7%
Targets: 26
Team Target Share: 18.9%
Total Fantasy Points: 82.7
The Coastal Carolina underclassman has been really productive in his last two games. Jared Brown has totaled 268 yards on 10 catches in those two games with three touchdowns. He now leads the Chanticleers in receiving yards (392), is tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns (3), and is second in the team in receptions (19). I like Brown as a depth piece as he has proven he can have these breakout performances and of course, we all know how good his quarterback is in Conway, South Carolina.
Derwin Burgess, Jr., Georgia Southern (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 11%
Targets: 62
Team Target Share: 26%
Total Fantasy Points: 91.1
Volume and opportunity are the key to producing fantasy points from the wide receiver position. It is shocking that a player with so many targets in a high-volume passing game would be available in nearly 90% of leagues. As a community this week, let’s end this madness.
Coach Clay Helton’s aerial assault has attempted the fourth most passes (235) and totaled the sixth highest number of completions (142) in the nation. Also, Georgia Southern has produced the thirteenth most yards (1,574) and tossed 10 touchdowns…Yum!
Derwin Burgess paces the team in receptions (32), yards (401) and touchdowns (3). At 5’11” and 185-pounds, the sophomore from Riverdale, GA has earned the respect of teammates, coaches and opponents.
“Burgess is a guy, you give him an inch, he’s going to make the catch. He has supreme confidence in his abilities. The play is just never over. With some guys, you can win at the line of scrimmage, but him, from start to finish, you have to be locked in because he has great ball skills and great body control,” teammate and defensive back Derrick Canteen, who competes against Burgess in practice, asserted (savannahnow.com).
Why has Burgess not earned similar respect and adulation in the CFF community? The sophomore is the No. 32 ranked receiver in PPR formats, averaging 18.2 FPPG. The Eagles have a healthy plate of Sun Belt opponents in the next month, and Burgess should be able to eat all he wants.
C.J. Johnson, East Carolina (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 10%
Targets: 27
Team Target Share: 15%
Total Fantasy Points: 100
In 2019, I had the pleasure of seeing C.J. Johnson in person when the Pirates visited the Huskies at the Rent in West Hartford. He caught four passes for 85 yards, but more impressively, he towered over the UConn defensive backs at 6’2” and 222-pounds. The following summer, I drafted the East Carolina playmaker on many teams. Unfortunately, he did not meet my expectations over the past two years.
The three-year letterman returned to CFF prominence with a breathtaking performance against South Florida. He was the top fantasy wideout for the week with 50.7 fantasy points on seven receptions for 197 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson’s four scores covered 9, 14, 60 and 74 yards and tied the single-game school and AAC record, giving him 17 career touchdowns.
The outing moved the junior eligible playmaker among the top 24 fantasy receivers. “I would take CJ [Johnson] against anyone in one-on-one coverage. He’s a big body, he has great body control, and really strong hands. Just the combination of all those things. When you get into those 50-50 balls, he’s going to win most of them,” coach Mike Houston revealed (underdogfantasy.com). Johnson needs to be added on CFF rosters this week.
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
Brian Cobbs, Utah State
Fantrax Ownership: 44%
Targets: 44
Team Target Share: 26%
Total Fantasy Points: 76
Devontez Walker, Kent State
Fantrax Ownership: 8%
Targets: 30
Team Target Share: 26.8
Total Fantasy Points: 76.1
CFF All-Americans: Week 5
- QB Jayden de Laura, Arizona: 48.2 points
- QB Max Duggan, TCU: 47.6 points
- RB Miyan Williams, Ohio State: 50.2 points
- RB Sean Tucker, Syracuse: 44.7 points
- WR C.J. Johnson, East Carolina: 50.7 points
- WR Dante Cephas, Kent State: 43.6 points
- WR Jimmy Horn, Jr., South Florida: 39 points
- TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State: 27.9 points
- Flex Harrison Waylee, Northern Illinois: 42 points