College Fantasy Football: Week 8 Waiver Wire

Living in the Northeast, I love late October as the leaves change color and fall off the trees. It is a great metaphor for college fantasy football management. Rosters look very different now than they did in August and need careful management until championship weekend.

Unlike the NFL waiver wire, CFF leagues still have difference makers available. Just last week, our column featured QB Jackson Gutierrez (52.1 FPs), RB Cardae Mack (41.6 FPs), and WR Isaiah Myers (47.2FPs ), all of whom earned a spot on the CFF Week 8 All-American Team. Anderson Brookhart, Steve Jackson, and Thomas Johnson join me to assist CFF coaches in finding impact players on the waiver wire… Let’s Go!

Week 8 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire

Quarterbacks

Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, Ohio State (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 11% and 24%
Total Fantasy Points: 20.2 and 8.9
FPPG: 5.1 and 4.4
PFF Grade: n/a

Against Indiana two weeks ago, Julian Sayin left the game with an injury, and the team announced during the week that he would be out indefinitely. At 6-1, the Buckeyes can still reach the CFP this season if the team can identify the next man up behind center. Luckily, Ohio State had a Week 8 bye before traveling to USC on Halloween, and the staff had time to prepare the starter for the road trip. Unfortunately, Coach Ryan Day won’t name who is directing the offense in advance, leaving college fantasy football coaches trying to identify Columbus’ next signal caller.

Before the Indiana matchup, Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair were second and third behind Sayin on the depth chart. Fahey replaced Sayin against the Hoosiers but attempted only 2 passes late in the game. In Week 1, St. Clair faced Ball State, attempted 6 passes, and threw a touchdown in the win.

Four-star prospect Fahey, a freshman from Mission Viejo, CA, was a Top 25 QB recruit last year and threw for over 7,000 career yards as the starter over three seasons in high school. At 5-11 and 206 pounds, Fahey has quickly learned the playbook and adjusted to the speed of college football. He has a quick arm and electric feet, making him a dual-threat playmaker.

St. Clair, a five-star recruit from Ohio, is a 6-4 and 235-pound sophomore. In 2024, he was a finalist for Ohio Mr. Football and passed for over 10,000 yards and 100 aerial strikes in high school. He was invited to the 2024 Elite 11 and competed against Bryce Underwood (Michigan) and Keelon Russell (Alabama), winning the accuracy competition. He is also a dual-threat playmaker with a big arm.

Coach Day and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith assessed both quarterbacks over the bye week to decide who will call signals. I don’t expect a decision until next Saturday, to keep the USC coaching staff guessing. Reading the tea leaves, I will bet on Fahey and seek to acquire him this week. Nevertheless, you can make a case for bidding on either player. Ohio State is still favored to make the CFP, and whoever throws the pigskin for the Buckeyes benefits from All-American WR Jeremiah Smith, making the new Ohio State field general an intriguing prospect down the stretch.

Notebook: Day addressed the media and the quarterback battle last Monday: “We’re going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win. Going into the last few games, Luke’s been ahead of Tavien in terms of what we’ve seen, but now that we have a bye week, these guys are both going to get a lot of reps, and we’re going to start to put together a plan on how we’re going to move forward. We’re going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win.” (ohiostatebuckeyes.com)

Keyone Jenkins, UCF (Brookhart)

Fantrax Ownership: 3%
Total Fantasy Points: 141.6
FPPG: 20.2
PFF Grade: 72.2

Keyone Jenkins took over as starter after Alonza Barnett went down with a hamstring injury, and he’s done everything UCF could have asked for over his last two starts. After throwing for 265 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma State, Jenkins followed it up with another huge performance against No. 2 BYU, throwing for 293 yards and three touchdowns while adding 35 rushing yards and a score in a massive upset.

Across those two games, Jenkins has accounted for 606 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns. His passing production is impressive on its own, but his rushing ability makes him particularly appealing for college fantasy. The Knights’ signal caller has shown he can contribute on the ground while maintaining the passing volume needed to put up big numbers, giving him multiple ways to produce fantasy points each week.

The timing couldn’t be much better, either. UCF has a favorable schedule for the rest of the season, giving Jenkins a chance to build on his recent performances. He’s already proven he can produce against quality competition, and now he can take advantage of softer matchups. With Barnett sidelined and Jenkins playing the best football of his season, he should be firmly on the radar as a potential high-end fantasy quarterback down the stretch.

Baylor Hayes, Tulsa (@CFF_Jacko)

Fantrax Ownership: 9%
Total Fantasy Points: 132.7
FPPG: 22.1
PFF Grade: 63.5

We’ve spent two months hunting breakouts, injury replacements, and depth-chart changes. That was September and October. November is different. The waiver wire is no longer just about winning next week. It’s also about starting your boys against Charlotte when money is on the line.

Hayes isn’t coming off an amazing Week 8 performance. His PFF grade isn’t worth writing home about. I don’t care. Tulsa’s fantasy playoff schedule is pure filth:

• Week 11: Florida Atlantic
• Week 12: Charlotte
• Week 13: UTSA

Those three defenses are allowing an average of 37 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, the softest complete Weeks 11–13 QB schedule on planet Earth. Florida Atlantic is coughing up more than 42 points per game, the worst in the country. Charlotte isn’t far behind at 38.

Hayes isn’t just some random warm body we’re tossing into favorable matchups and praying. We’ve already seen the ceiling. Against North Texas, he threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more, finishing with 39 FPs—5 touchdowns from a mobile quarterback. And now we’re going to give this playmaker Florida Atlantic and Charlotte in consecutive playoff weeks? Yes, please. Hayes is only 9% rostered. You don’t have to start him tomorrow. You don’t even have to like him particularly. You’re buying November before your league mates realize November is for sale.

Tyler Hughes, Wyoming (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 7%
Total Fantasy Points: 172.8
FPPG: 21.6
PFF Grade: 72.3

I have to admit I didn’t know much about Tyler Hughes before the last couple of weeks. The senior played four seasons for William & Mary before transferring to Laramie, WY.  His ascent to the G6 didn’t look promising in the first five games of the campaign: He produced only 65.7 FPs, averaging 13.1 FPPG. The Cowboys also lost three of the contests.

Wyoming’s fortunes changed, and the offense began to kick into a higher gear three games ago, winning all and raising its record to 5-3. The team’s reversal coincided with Hughes getting more comfortable in the offense and posting more explosive runs. In the past two outings, he has scampered for 329 yards and 5 touchdowns. He has also passed for 306 yards and 2 scores, producing 50.1 and 37.1 FPs in back-to-back games.

After a Week 9 bye, the Cowboys travel to UNLV and UTEP, both of which are defensively challenged against the run. Running quarterbacks are the CFF cheat code, and Hughes could be a difference maker in the CFF playoffs.

Notebook: “Coach Jay Sawvel and offensive coordinator Christian Taylor, they’ve always believed in me, along with my teammates. I’ll never lose faith in myself, either. Games like (the NIU game) are needed. It’s good to go out there and do that, but it’s also good to show my teammates I’m willing to do anything it takes to win,”  Hughes stated last week (wyomingnews.com).

Honorable Mention Quarterbacks

Trey Owens, Arkansas State

Fantrax Ownership: 16%
Total Fantasy Points: 188.6
FPPG: 23.6
PFF Grade: 76.5

CFF Diehards on Fire!

After 8 weeks, who is the CFF MVP?

• WR Jesse Legree, Oregon State: 40%
• QB Michael Hawkins, WVU: 24%
• WR Malachi Toney, MIA: 24%
• RB Nate Sheppard, Duke: 12%

“Jesse Legree for me. He was likely a Week 1 or 2 pickup and has been the best. Hard not to find him on every playoff team.” @aceholesrule

“Michael Hawkins for me. In a down year for QBs, he’s lapping the field. In a 4-point passing TD league, he has 50 more points than the next guy. In a ½-point ppr., receivers Jesse Legree, Malachi Toney, and Jeremiah Smith are all within 15 points.” @_RandUniversity

“Malachi Toney was a first-round pick: sometimes 1st overall. The uber-elite WRs have held their draft capital. That’s hard to do.” @CFF_Jacko

“Yup, Jesse Legree. Easy for me. Sheppard and Toney are doing what first-rounders are supposed to do. Legree is doing the unfathomable as a freshman waiver claim from an Oregon State team that was a fantasy wasteland last year. CFF playoff schedule: Boise State (47th vs WR), Utah St (92nd), and flex opponent.” @brachta

Running Backs

Connor Lair, Missouri State (Brookhart)

Fantrax Ownership: 3%
Total Fantasy Points: 52.9
FPPG: 7.6
PFF Grade: 74.5

Connor Lair moved from tight end to running back ahead of the 2026 season, and after barely getting involved early on, he has started to carve out a role in the Missouri State offense over the last two weeks.

Lair has totaled 29 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games, while adding 6 receptions on 8 targets for 30 yards. Last week, he handled 15 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns, plus three catches for 11 yards. The increased workload is encouraging, especially with Lair getting involved both on the ground and through the air.

Lair’s biggest appeal is what his role means for fantasy lineups. A running back getting 15 carries and three receptions per game is already a solid workload, but getting that production from a player with tight end eligibility is a massive advantage. Most tight ends rely almost entirely on targets and receptions to produce, making it hard to find consistent volume at the position. Lair offers a completely different profile, with legitimate rushing volume and the added opportunity to score touchdowns on the ground.

The key is whether Missouri State continues to give him this type of workload after his recent emergence. If these last two weeks indicate his role moving forward, Lair’s running back usage and tight end eligibility could make him one of the most dominant positional advantages in college fantasy football.

RB Connor Lair has TE eligibility on Fantrax.

This dude IS* the TIGHT END 1 for the remainder of the season. https://t.co/g8Uu8ivrKv

— Felix Sharpe (@sharpereview) October 21, 2026

Cyncir Bowers, UConn (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Total Fantasy Points: 111.3
FPPG: 15.9
PFF Grade: 83.5

One of my esteemed colleagues wrote up Cyncir a few weeks back, but here we are. UConn’s bell cow is still rostered in only 20 percent of leagues. I am here to repeat what we shared a few weeks back. PICK. HIM. UP. At the end of September, his carries dropped off, but over UConn’s last 3 matchups, he hasn’t had fewer than 15 carries a game. Last week, he went for 131 yards on 15 carries, and that was against a UMass defense that has been stout against the run all year (top 30 before playing the Huskies on Friday). Cyncir is the 22nd-ranked back in EPA, so the advanced metrics back up his recent performances. Snag up Bowers now before it’s too late.

Javian Mallory, Miami (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 27%
Total Fantasy Points: 92.6
FPPG: 13.2
PFF Grade: 83.2

Is there a changing of the guard in the Miami backfield? In the past two weeks, freshman Javian Mallory has outproduced senior Mark Fletcher. Mallory has outgained Fletcher 155 to 107 and scored 4 touchdowns to 2. The freshman has scored 39.5 FPs in the last 2 games.

The answer is a bit more complex when you look at PFF numbers. Mallory has earned 20 carries on 24 run snaps, while the senior has garnered 29 carries on 31 run snaps. Nevertheless, the freshman is far more explosive with 6 runs of 10+ yards and 5 carries of 15+ yards. Fletcher has logged only one explosive run over 10+ yards. Conclusion: Miami has a much-dreaded time share with Mallory as the upside ball carrier.

Two weeks ago, Mallory collected the Co-ACC Rookie of the Week honors after rushing for 108 yards on 13 carries with two scores. On Saturday, his number was called 7 times for 47 yards and 2 touchdowns. He produced 22.8 and 16.7 FPs in the two outings and has scored over 13 FPs in 4 of the last 6 games.

Mallory stepped onto campus with expectations of making a significant impact. A four-star recruit, he chose Miami over Alabama, Clemson, and Indiana after an impressive high school career. At 5-11 and 210 pounds, the rising freshman has the skills, confidence, and determination to succeed and make an impact for the Hurricanes and CFF coaches over the next five weeks.

Notebook: Coach Mario Cristobal said that “Since the moment he got here, he’s just a very physical runner. You almost underestimate him. You expect him to be really good. That’s why we recruited him. But when he takes people on, the collisions and the force that he generates on contact and his contact balance are really impressive.” (si.com).

TOUCHDOWN HURRICANES! 🔥

Javian gets it done on the ground 🙌 https://t.co/V4uB0qYaSY

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 24, 2026

Ahmad Miller, Syracuse (@CFF_Jacko)

Fantrax Ownership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 66.4
FPPG: 11.1
PFF Grade: 76.7

When a 5%-rostered running back gets 30 carries in a single game, I click “Add” and ask questions later.

Last week, Syracuse gave Miller 18 carries against Louisville. He responded with 123 yards and a touchdown. Apparently the coaching staff’s response was, “Cool. How about 30?” Miller took those 30 attempts for another 125 yards and a score against North Carolina. That’s 48 carries, 248 yards and two touchdowns in two weeks.

This isn’t some career backup who fell ass-backwards into a workload, either. Miller led the SWAC in rushing last season at Jackson State after missing most of 2024 with an injury. He topped 1,000 yards and earned first-team All-SWAC honors. The heavy workload is new. The production is not.

Syracuse has spent the season playing musical chairs in the backfield, but Miller may have stolen the final seat. Tylik Hill’s workload has fallen from 23 carries against Virginia to 11 against Louisville and 10 against North Carolina. Miller has gone the other direction: 6 → 18 → 30. Maybe the music finally stopped. Miller is 5% rostered. Five! I don’t need Syracuse to give him 30 carries every Saturday. Twenty will do just fine.

Durell Robinson, Colorado State (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 20%
Total Fantasy Points: 108.3
FPPG: 15.5
PFF Grade: 74.5

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet. Durrell’s ceiling by the end of this season is most likely RB 25-30. He won’t be a league winner, but he will provide consistent fantasy points because of the explosive offense he’s in. Over his last 4 games, he hasn’t gone for less than 17, even in contests where he saw reduced opportunities. Any leading running back on a team that has generated over 15 fantasy points in four games in the last month is a must-roster down the stretch on CFF rosters.

DJ Murray, Georgia State (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Total Fantasy Points: 73
FPPG: 14.6
PFF Grade: 82.9

This is my deeper league/speculative add for the week, and it hinges more on his production as a receiver than as an RB. Don’t get me wrong, 7 rushes for 66 yards is impressive and certainly shows Murray’s explosiveness. But what really caught my eye? The 4 targets he received from Cam Brown, which he turned into 58 yards. His targets and rush attempts show that the staff and Brown want him involved, and the only reason he hasn’t really popped off the page for fantasy owners is that he hasn’t found the end zone in almost a month. If you need an add in a deep league, Murray is involved enough in the offense to provide a 10-point floor. The question is whether he can start turning his touches into touchdowns. If he can, getting him at this point will make you look like a genius.

Honorable Mention Running Backs

Cardae Mack, Arizona State

Fantrax Ownership: 23%
Total Fantasy Points: 93.9
FPPG: 13.4
PFF Grade: 85.3

Mack was featured in last week’s waiver wire column.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Russell, Syracuse (Brookhart)

Fantrax Ownership: 22%
Targets: 25
Total Fantasy Points: 43.6
FPPG: 10.9
PFF Grade: 69.3

Calvin Russell was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, and it is easy to see why Syracuse was so excited to get him on campus. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed his development, but now that he is healthy and getting back into football shape, Russell is starting to show what he can be in college.

Over the last two weeks, Russell has hauled in 14 of 19 targets for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He started with 6 catches for 53 yards and a score, then followed up Saturday with 8 catches for 86 yards and another touchdown on 11 targets. The jump in volume and production is encouraging, especially as he continues getting comfortable in the offense. He is becoming a major part of the passing game, and his recent numbers suggest plenty more room to grow as a chain mover.

Russell’s emergence is also great news for Umari Hatcher. With two legitimate receiving threats on the field, opposing defenses will have a much harder time dedicating extra coverage to either one. If defenses choose to double Hatcher, Russell can make them pay, and vice versa. Both receivers should benefit from the additional opportunities, creating a situation where one player’s success can help open things up for the other. With Russell finally healthy and finding his footing, Syracuse has a dangerous receiving duo for the rest of the season.

Caden High, Stanford (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 9%
Targets: 48
Total Fantasy Points: 97.6
FPPG: 13.9
PFF Grade: 75.5

Stanford hired Coach Tavita Pritchard last November and is in the midst of rebuilding the program. While the record might not pop off the page, the team is playing better football and just received a historic $50 million donation. After seven consecutive losing seasons, the Cardinal are 4-4. So far, so good in 2026. The program is headed in the right direction, and savvy college fantasy football players have been watching closely. The offense centers around RB Micah Ford and WR Caden High.

While Ford is rostered in most CFF leagues (63%), High is still available in over 90%. He leads the Cardinals in receiving with 30 catches for 440 yards and 4 touchdowns in 7 games, missing the opening contest against Hawaii. He has surpassed 25 FPs twice this year and reached double-digit FPs in two other outings. Regrettably, the senior pass catcher scored fewer than 10 FPs in his other 3 games.

Against North Carolina State on Friday, High secured 9 passes for 103 yards and a score on 14 targets, producing 25.3 FPs. Over the next month, the Cardinal will travel to Louisville, Virginia Tech, and California, all interesting matchups for High and the passing game.

Davis Warren finds Caden High just before the half 💯

@StanfordFball | @GoStanford | #GoStanford https://t.co/VRS73cV31j

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) October 24, 2026

Wayne Harris, Kent State (@CFF_Jacko)

Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Total Fantasy Points: 115.6
Targets: 63
FPPG: 14.4
PFF Grade: 73.6

Harris saw 17 targets Saturday. He saw 15 the last time Kent State played a MAC opponent. Thirty-two targets in his last two conference games. Looking ahead, I see… additional MAC opponents. Malachi Toney never saw 32 targets in a two-game span. Neither has Jeremiah Smith, Jesse Legree, or KJ Duff. Those big-name receivers obviously aren’t sitting on the waiver wire. Harris is.

Friday night, Harris faces Sacramento State, 0-5 against the MAC, and the team has lost those games by an average of 25 points. Kent State’s newest target hog could hardly have asked for a better encore. Dru DeShields just threw for 294 yards and four touchdowns against Akron. Harris caught nine passes for 156 yards and 3 scores. I’m not chasing the three touchdowns. I’m chasing 17 targets. And 15 before that. Harris is 2% rostered. Just keep throwing him the damn ball.

Rodshaun Dorsey, Georgia State (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 17%
Targets: 36
Total Fantasy Points: 113.8
FPPG: 16.3
PFF Grade: 76.4

Sometimes, a receiver comes along with a nose for the endzone. Normally, it’s critical to focus on target share, yards per route run, and other key metrics that strip away the noise a hot TD streak can add to a receiver’s stat line. But at this point, it is undeniable that Dorsey and Cameran Brown (who is a name to look out for to make the leap to the P4 next year) have a special connection that results in 2 things: explosive plays and plenty of touchdowns.

Georgia State’s profile backs it up, with a pass game ranked 10th in the nation in PPA and top 20 in passing success and explosiveness. It gets even better on passing downs, with PPA and success rate both top-5 in the country. This offense is excellent at passing the ball, and if you need a gap filler with bye weeks coming up, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more consistent fill-in than Dorsey. Over his last 5 games, he has averaged 20 FPPG, with his lowest total at 14.7. Consistency is an underrated quality in CFF, where the rogue Zero spot can cost you a league title.

Honorable Mention Wide Receivers

Isaiah Mizell, Arizona

Fantrax Ownership: 28%
Targets: 34
Fantasy Points: 106.3
FPPG: 15.2
PFF Grade: 79.5

Mizell was featured in last week’s waiver wire column.

CFF Diehards on Fire!

On the CFF waiver wire, who are you targeting this week?

• WR Isaiah Mizell, Ariz: 37%
• RB Cardae Mack, ASU: 44%
• RB Durell Robinson, ColSt: 5%
• WR Cataurus Hicks, Pitt: 14%

“Cataurus Hicks. You’re my boy, Blue!” @CFF_Jacko

“Isaiah Mizell for me. De facto No. 1 WRs on passing offenses don’t come up in late October very often.” @aceholesrule

“For me, Cardae Mack for my CFF Dynasty team, likely losing Sheppard, White, Haynes, and Newberry to the draft/eligibility. I also like Javian Mallory as a consolation prize.” @brachta

CFF All-Americans: Week 8

• QB Gael Ochoa, Rice: 59.1 Fantasy Points
• QB Jackson Gutierrez, Navy: 52.1
• RB Cardae Mack, Arizona State: 41.6
• RB Jahiem White, North Texas: 39.2
• WR Easton Messer, Florida Atlantic: 54.0
• WR Malachi Toney, Miami: 53.4
• WR Isaiah Myers, Missouri State: 47.2
• TE Eli Finley, Louisiana Tech: 28.8
• Flex Wayne Harris, Kent State: 42.6

CFF Player of the Week: Easton Messer, Florida Atlantic

Easton Messer today:

3 rush, 18 yards, 2 TD
12 rec., 162 yards, 2 TD
1 return, 82 yards, 1 TD

That’s 16 touches, 262 yards, 5 TDs https://t.co/bD4gMlBcB7

— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 24, 2026