College Fantasy Football: Week 5 Waiver Wire Gemstones

I woke up on Sunday morning and was a little shocked at some of the holes I need to fill to have a starting lineup for my College Fantasy Football teams this week. Many readers are in a similar situation as they head into Week 6. With so many teams on a bye, it is time to take a deep look at rosters. I will be working the waiver wire hard all week, as I’m sure readers will also. Chris Battistel and VolumePigs collaborated with me to uncover the preeminent players in the free agent pool… Let’s Go!

Week 5 Waiver Wire Gemstones

Quarterbacks

Drake Lindsey, Minnesota (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 12%
Total Fantasy Points: 93.4
FPPG: 23.4
PFF Grade: 90.8

While watching the CFF Tailgate show on Saturday morning, Mike Vallerie featured Drake Lindsey on his DEVY segment of the program. Always listening to wise analysts, I needed to get some eyeballs on the Minnesota quarterback. Luckily, the Big Ten Network aired the Golden Gophers’ game against Rutgers, which provided a wonderful opportunity to see the young man.

Without any reservation, Lindsey dazzled me with his quick delivery, processing acumen, and pinpoint passes. The redshirt freshman completed 75.6% of his passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. He produced 33.5 Fantasy Points (FPs), which was his highest total of the campaign. At 6-5 and 230 pounds, Lindsey is a classic pocket passer who beats opponents with his arm and football IQ. As a recruit, he was a three-star prospect from Arkansas and led his team to an undefeated record and state championship as a senior. He passed for 3,941 yards while completing 69% of his throws and tossed 54 touchdowns against just three interceptions.

The upcoming schedule is navigable with Ohio State, Purdue, Nebraska, and Iowa on the horizon in October. On a positive note, Minnesota concludes the season with enticing games against Northwestern and Wisconsin during the CFF playoffs in Weeks 13 & 14. Lindsey’s fantasy ceiling is limited without the ability to score points on the ground. Nevertheless, he can exceed 25 FPs with his arm in any given matchup in coach P.J. Fleck’s scheme.

Notebook: Senior Sports Illustrated writer Will Ragatz penned: “If it wasn’t already clear, P.J. Fleck and the Gophers have found themselves a quarterback. Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey played the best game of his young career in his first Big Ten start. Lindsey was decisive and accurate all day long, and he consistently delivered on third down when his team needed it.” (si.com)

Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall (VolumePigs)

Fantrax Ownership: 3%
Total Fantasy Points: 108
FPPG: 27.0
PFF Grade: 76.8

Carlos Del Rio Wilson has scored 25-plus FPs in every game where his opponent wasn’t the Georgia defense. That is pretty good in my mind, and likely to be a trend that continues in Marshall’s conference slate. Over the past two contests, the Thundering Herd’s dual-threat manufactured 84 FPs with 519 passing yards, 103 rushing yards, and eight total touchdowns. Rio-Wilson is on a bye this week, so hopefully CFFers can go stealth mode and acquire him for cheap in FAAB leagues.

In Stride ‼️💨@QBCarlosDelrio ➡️ @DemarcusLacey11 pic.twitter.com/56Y617VnGz

— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) September 28, 2025

Brendon Lewis, Memphis (Battistel)

Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Total Fantasy Points: 151
FPPG: 30.3
PFF Grade: 82.5

Injury scare and all, Brendon Lewis showed up for fantasy managers in Week 5. Guiding the Tigers to a perfect record so far, Lewis has averaged over 30 FPPG this year and nearly 33 in his last three games. The cause? It’s been the increased usage of his legs that has made Lewis a priority at the position. Averaging 15.3 carries and doubling his rushing touchdowns over the past three weeks, Lewis walks into Week 6 with a succulent matchup against Tulsa.

The Golden Hurricanes have been a team that has allowed fantasy relevance to opposing quarterbacks: CFF signal callers are averaging 22.7 FPPG against Tulsa. Blake Horvath—the one true dual-threat signal caller the Golden Hurricanes faced—posted 159 rushing yards while scampering for 7.6 ypc. Logan Fife (New Mexico State) had his best outing. Zane Flores (Oklahoma State) produced his only game of fantasy relevance, and Horvath nearly hit 30 FPs. Lewis will cause fits for the Tulsa defense and the opponent who lost the waiver cycle. Lewis, who is currently ranked CFF QB17, has a great schedule ahead and should be considered a week-to-week starter.

Notebook: “There’s big shoes to fill (at Memphis), and it’s a great opportunity. It gives me confidence knowing great quarterbacks have played here, and I have the opportunity to join them. You see the things coaches Ryan Silverfield and Tim Cramsey have done at Memphis (that) are incredible, and it’s something I wanted to be a part of, especially with this being my last year of college,” Lewis stated in the summer (gotigersgo.com).

Honorable Mention Quarterbacks

• Liam Szarka, Air Force
  Fantrax Ownership: 8%
  Total Fantasy Points: 103
  FPPG: 25.8
  PFF Grade: 90.1

Notebook: Sophomore QB Liam Szarka set a new school record with 417 yards of total offense (278 passing and 139 rushing). He is the first (Air Force) quarterback with 100 or more yards passing and 100 or more rushing in back-to-back games since Chance Harridge in 2002. (goairforcefalcons.com)

CFF Diehards on Fire!

With so many teams on bye this week, who is the preferred waiver wire acquisition at quarterback?

• Chandler Morris, Virginia: 36%
• Liam Szarka, Air Force: 11%
• Brendon Lewis, Memphis: 42%
• Conner Weigman, Houston: 11%

“Conner Weigman. I love the schedule for the rest of the season, and he seems to be running in a Tuddy every week!” @aceholesrule

Running Backs

Fluff Bothwell, Mississippi State (Battistel)

Fantrax Ownership: 41%
Total Fantasy Points: 85
FPPG: 16.9
PFF Grade: 80.6

Fluff Bothwell is everything we wanted Makhi Hughes to be for the Oregon Ducks—both backs transferred from the G5 to P4 level of competition in the winter. After Davon Booth carried the rock 16 times in Week 1, it has been Bothwell’s backfield since Week 3, out-touching Booth 56-27. At this point, CFF diehards should cut the Fluff and change his nickname to Deebo Bothwell, the way he took the job. Since Week 3, he has averaged 21.1 FPPG and firmly placed himself as CFF RB11 over that span of time. His catch rate hasn’t been great, but his nine targets show some promise from Bothwell in the passing game.

Week 6 brings a big matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies: A team that has seen some dogs at the RB position through four games. Running backs are averaging 22.1 FPPG against the Aggies, but taking out the outlier in last week’s game against Auburn, who just couldn’t do anything on the ground, running backs are averaging an astonishing 27.8 FPs. It’s a great spot to start Fluff, and his usage is very promising. He may be another one of those big-game trade candidates because of his upcoming schedule.

Caleb Hawkins, North Texas (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 10%
Total Fantasy Points: 94.0
FPPG: 23.5
PFF Grade: 92.5

I picked up Caleb Hawkins on four teams last week—regretting that I started the Mean Green runner on only two in the Flex position. He smashed against South Alabama with 218 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches. He also scored three times (2 rushing and one receiving) and totalled 40.8 FPs. In the past two weeks, Hawkins averaged 8.2 ypc and reached the promised land seven times. 

Coming out of high school last year, Hawkins was a three-star recruit who played on both sides of the ball. As a senior, he accumulated 1,602 rushing yards on 204 carries with 28 touchdowns and corralled 17 passes for 407 yards and three scores. On defense, he logged 90 tackles, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles. 

At 6-2 and 200 pounds, Hawkins excels between the numbers with good vision, quick feet, and nice contact balance. He is clearly too talented in this system to remain on the waiver wire any longer. The North Texas team—currently undefeated—has a fantasy-friendly schedule in the American Conference after the upcoming bye week.

Writer’s Note: I highlighted Hawkins in the weekly CFF sleepers show on the Rookie Big Board, which airs every Tuesday night.

Notebook: After the victory, QB Drew Mestemaker stated, “(Caleb) is actually insane. I’ve never seen someone run the ball like that. No one can tackle him. I told him every time he scored today that he’s that guy and no one can mess with him. Having him on the offense and having him break out is a great thing for this offense.” (meangreensports.com)

.@CalebHawk2025 just shrugging off defenders 💪#GMG🦅 https://t.co/DnS9LAXllM pic.twitter.com/4sLyD67g8J

— UNT Football (@MeanGreenFB) September 27, 2025

Wayne Knight, James Madison (VolumePigs)

Fantrax Ownership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 66.7
FPPG: 22.2
PFF Grade: 78.6

Wayne Knight has been the benefactor of injuries in the Dukes’ backfield. On Saturday, James Madison was without starter George Pettaway, and Aye Adeyi was also withheld from action. The result was a steady diet of Knight through the air and on the ground.

Against Georgia Southern, Knight carried the pigskin 19 times for 151 yards and a score. He has eclipsed 20 FPs in back-to-back games. He gets another positive matchup this week versus Georgia State, but you’ll have to monitor the health of the other ball carriers on the team. It sounds like Pettaway will be gone a while, but these situations are always fluid.

Notebook: “You have to be confident in life regardless of whatever it is, football and things outside of football. I think just my character and how I carry myself in everyday life. To bring confidence just translates to the field. Just being able to be sure and knowing exactly what I got to do for the team,” Knight voiced after the Dukes’ victory (dnronline.com).

Raleek Brown, Arizona State (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 46%
Total Fantasy Points: 92.3
FPPG: 18.5
PFF Grade: 73.5

I stayed up far too late on Friday night watching the TCU-Arizona State game. I wanted to scout QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordan Tyson, and QB Josh Hoover. Throughout the evening, Raleek Brown also roused my interest. He grossed 21 carries for the second consecutive week and dashed for 134 yards and corralled all nine targets for 50 yards, scoring 27.4 FPs without reaching the end zone.

In 2022, Brown was the No. 42 overall prospect in the nation and signed with USC. He played two seasons in Los Angeles, and after a promising freshman campaign, the Trojans’ coaching staff wanted Brown to move to receiver. He took a redshirt in 2023 and subsequently entered the transfer portal, with the intention of signing with a program that would allow him to return to running back. The Sun Devils’ staff committed to the backfield, and Brown is rewarding the promise made to him.

In the second game of the year, Brown earned a career-high (at the time) of 18 attempts against Mississippi State and gained 110 yards. The following week, the former Trojan rushed for 144 versus Texas State. For the season, Brown has scampered for 506 yards, averaging 6.6 ypc, recorded 19 catches for 107 yards, and scored twice. The Sun Devils have a bye this week. Nevertheless, Brown should not be available in over 50% of CFF leagues at this point in the season.

Notebook: “(Raleek) is a diamond that people forgot about. He made the kind of jump that receiver Jordyn Tyson (JT) made last year…he put in the work, just like JT did. Everybody forgets about you when you transfer somewhere and don’t play for a year. He’s worked his butt off. I mean, he’s focused, he’s dialed (in), he’s competitive,” coach Kenny Dillingham said after the win over Texas State (arizonasports.com).

Honorable Mention Running Backs

• Nate Sheppard, Duke
  Fantrax Ownership: 5%
  Total Fantasy Points: 76,2
  FPPG: 15.2
  PFF Grade: 83.8

There goes Nate Sheppard! 👀 pic.twitter.com/4mMicjRdOY

— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) September 27, 2025

• Michael Allen, Marshall
  Fantrax Ownership: 1%
  Total Fantasy Points: 55.9
  FPPG: 14.0
  PFF Grade: 71.6
• Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
  Fantrax Ownership: 36%
  Total Fantasy Points: 73.8
  FPPG: 18.4
  PFF Grade: 79.4

Notebook: “A lot of people don’t realize that JD (Jadarian Price) is one of the best running backs in the country. He creates explosive runs, like any point in the game if JD shows up he’s going to show up. In pass pro, he’s going to show up. Out in space, he’s going to show up…I’ve looked up to him ever since I’ve been at Notre Dame,” Notre Dame teammate Jeremiyah Love stated (wind.com).

CFF Diehards on Fire!

Surprisingly, there are some interesting running backs available on the waiver wire who can help CFF coaches navigate the upcoming bye week.

• Turbo Richard, Boston College: 44%
• Nate Sheppard, Duke: 26%
• Wayne Knight, James Madison: 15%
• Jadarian Price, Notre Dame: 15%

“Nate Sheppard for me. Hard to ignore the explosive plays.” @CffDfs

“Wayne Knight for me. Since George Pettaway got banged up, Knight has been a MONSTER!” @aceholesrule

Wide Receivers

Lewis Bond, Boston College (Battistel)

Fantrax Ownership: 44%
Targets: 47
Fantasy Points: 71
FPPG: 17.8
PFF Grade: 68.2

Look, full disclosure here, I had Reed Harris as the WR No. 1 for Boston College going into draft season. But it has been Lewis Bond who has caught the eye of transfer quarterback Dylan Lonergan. Another criminally under-owned fantasy asset that is seeing double-digit targets in every game played. The Eagles’ receiver has yet to score a touchdown on 47 targets, which hasn’t really hurt his fantasy production as a whole because of his heavy usage—when he does finally reach the end zone, it is only going to bode well for his fantasy production.

Bond and Boston College are looking to shake the Panthers in Pittsburgh this week. Bond, primarily a slot receiver, is going to take advantage of this matchup. Slot receivers have fared well against the Panthers, averaging 13.8 FPPG. In Week 1, FCS WR Joey Isabella put up 120 receiving yards on eight catches, and in Week 5, Caullin Lacy put up 17.7 FPs on twelve targets. With how Lewis is being used and how much success the slot wideouts have had against Pittsburgh, it’s a smash spot for Bond, not only here, but as a plug-and-play receiver the rest of the season.

Notebook: The Eagles’ playmaker discussed his improved performance in a recent interview: “You just come out and work. During the bye week, I practiced every day. I didn’t miss a practice. So just coming out there [and] working, showing them that yeah we’re 1-2, but we got a long season left and just showing up to work every day.” (si.com)

Kyri Shoels, San Jose (VolumePigs)

Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Targets: 30
Fantasy Points: 61.9
FPPG: 15.5
PFF Grade: 65.8

We all know about Danny ’15 targets per game’ Scudero by now, but how about his wingman, Kyri Shoels? The 6-0 and 182-pound junior is coming off a 12-target performance versus Stanford. He corralled 10 of the passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. In two out of his last three appearances, Shoels has double-digit targets for the Spartans. San Jose doesn’t seem to rotate the receivers much, and that has its benefits for CFF coaches.

Cortez Braham, Memphis (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 3%
Targets: 30
Fantasy Points: 84.2
FPPG: 16.8
PFF Grade: 82.0

Despite changing coaches, Memphis has consistently been one of the top programs in providing CFF All-Americans over the past decade. Once again, the Tigers are flying high at 5-0 and have one of the more electric offenses in the nation, averaging 448 ypg and 39.6 ppg. It is clear that Cortez Braham has become the go-to guy in the passing game and should be scooped up immediately on the waiver wire this week.

Coming out of high school, Braham enrolled at Hutchinson Community College (JUCO) and played three seasons for the Blue Dragons. Afterwards, he travelled to West Virginia for two years (2022 & 2023) and suited up with Brendon Lewis at Nevada last year. As a member of the Wolf Pack, he concluded the campaign with 56 receptions for 724 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

In 2025, the seventh-year player has jelled in the Tigers’ aerial assault with Lewis. He is CFF WR24 for the season with 22 catches for 382 yards and four scores while averaging 17.4 ypc. In the past two weeks, he has secured 13 of 19 targets for 292 yards and three touchdowns, accumulating 53.9 FPs. Memphis hosts Tulsa this week before the bye and enjoys tempting matchups against UAB and South Florida afterwards. Braham will continue to soar with Lewis throwing the ball.

Notebook: “(Cortez) does have great intelligence and a great work ethic…we have high expectations for him that we’re going to hold him to. How can we continue to get him better? Obviously, he’s got a good rapport with Brendon Lewis,” coach Silverfield said in August (wreg.com).

Honorable Mention Wide Receivers

• Ja’Cory Thomas, Old Dominion
  Fantrax Ownership: 1%
  Targets: 24
  Fantasy Points: 64.7
  FPPG: 16.2
  PFF Grade: 84.1
• Emmanuel Henderson, Kansas
  Fantrax Ownership: 32%
  Targets: 34
  Fantasy Points: 90.9
  FPPG: 18.2
  PFF Grade: 76.2

Notebook: After Henderson’s 200-yard performance against Cincinnati, coach Lance Leipold stated: “The first play of the game was exciting. Obviously, he had another big play in the second half that got us going. He’s played some really good football for us, and he and Jalon (Daniels) make a good combination.” (kuathletics.com)

CFF Diehards on Fire!

Need a bye week replacement at receiver? Who Ya Got on the waiver wire?

• Cortez Braham, Memphis: 23%
• Emmanuel Henderson, Kansas: 36%
• Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati: 32%
• Kyri Shoels, San Jose: 9%

“Emmanuel Henderson! He is the clear WR No. 1 for KU.” @CffDfs

“Kyri Shoels for me. In PPR, Shoels has been getting the looks and seems to be a good sidekick to the Scud Missile!” @aceholesrule

CFF All-Americans: Week 5

• QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt: 59.9 FPs
• QB Sawyer Robertson, Baylor: 46.3 FPs
• RB Caleb Hawkins, North Texas: 40.8 FPs
• RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: 39.2 FPs
• WR Emmanuel Henderson, Kansas: 37.1 FPs
• WR Makai Lemon, USC: 34.6 FPs
• WR Demarcus Lacey, Marshall: 32.9 FPs
• TE Randy Pittman, Florida State: 20.9 FPs
• Flex Gregory Desrosiers, Memphis: 38.4 FPs

CFF Player of the Week: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia in Week 5:

⚓️ 26/34
⚓️ 400 Total Yards
⚓️ 6 Total Touchdowns@VandyFootball pic.twitter.com/cDZ9aJ9VQl

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 27, 2025