For the past 15 years, the end of the first marking period at school has coincided with the end of the college fantasy football regular season. I submitted my grades this week for all five of my classes, and in all my CFF leagues, I am ready for the postseason with six playoff spots clinched in seven leagues, hoping to earn a seventh berth this weekend.
I have identified six players (plus 1), who are possibly available in your season-long CFF leagues (less than 50% rostership), to consider in lineups. CFF fanatics in the Twitterverse provide insight and analysis for potential starters.
Enjoy my fellow CFF diehards!
Scholar’s CFF Serendipitous Starters
QB Darren Grainger, Georgia State vs. Louisiana-Monroe
O/U 58.5, Georgia State -13.5
Opponent Defense: 242.2 PYPG and 15 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 24%
In the past two seasons, I have had a love-hate relationship with Darren Grainger. He is often available on the waiver wire, and I have picked him up during bye weeks and/or as an injury replacement. Unfortunately, he is inconsistent and has not scored the number of fantasy points that I projected. In seven games since 2021, Grainger has surpassed the 30-point threshold and produced less than 20 points seven other times, including three outings in single-digits.
A dual threat, the senior has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last two games and scored 31.6 and 30.2 fantasy points. Grainger is in a good matchup versus Louisiana-Monroe at home…start him with confidence.
QB MJ Morris, North Carolina State vs. Boston College
O/U 41, NCSU -19
Opponent Defense: 369.8 Total YPG and 29.8 PPG
@Fantrax Ownership: 6%
While the defensive numbers do not look terrible, the Eagles are playing much worse over the past month. I saw Boston College play against UConn at the Rent and was not impressed with the defense at all. The Eagles have lost four games in a row and surrendered 31, 43, 13 and 38 points in the past month. I do not expect the defense to suddenly correct the ship and slow down the Wolfpack on the road. I highlighted MJ Morris in Monday’s column and expect another productive fantasy afternoon for the true freshman signal caller this weekend.
RB Elijah Green, North Carolina at Wake Forest
O/U 77.5, North Carolina +3.5
Opponent Defense: 141.7 RYPG and 8 R-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 2%
The Tar Heels are the eighth-ranked offense in the nation, averaging 496.8 yards and 40.6 points per game. Regrettably, CFF managers have not been able to count on a ball carrier in one of the most productive units in the country. Four different players have led the team in rushing this year–Omarion Hampton, Caleb Hood, Drake Maye, and Elijah Green. Hood is out for the season, and Hampton’s carries have fallen drastically over the past two weeks. Green led the team in carries last week with 22 and yards with 91.
In 2022, Green has moved up the depth chart from scout team to starter with hard work: “It’s a testament to never giving up and how much you can control different things and play to your strength,” Green stated (northcarolina.rivals.com). Is Green going to be the main runner for the remainder of the campaign in Chapel Hill? Starting the sophomore tailback in a matchup expected to produce 11 touchdowns is clearly worth the risk this week.
RB Kevorian Barnes, UTSA vs. Louisiana Tech
O/U 68, UTSA -18
Opponent Defense: 234.2 RYPG and 23 R-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 5%
I featured Kevorian Barnes in the Week 7 Waiver Wire Gemstones column as a deep pickup. Last week, the redshirt freshman scampered for 114 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. It was the second time in three games that Barnes eclipsed 100 yards on the ground.
For the season, he has averaged 6.1 YPC and secured four passes for 51 yards. It is now clear that Barnes is the best option in the Roadrunners’ backfield. Louisiana Tech is the worst run defense in the nation, and Barnes will blast through plenty of open lanes, surpassing the century mark for the third time.
WR Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee vs. Charlotte
O/U 67, Middle Tennessee -11
Opponent Defense: 292.1 PYPG and 28 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 17%
In their last three games, the 49ers’ pass defense has been bludgeoned by opposing receivers: Malachi Corley, WKU (32.3 FPs), Bradley Rozner, WKU (27.5 FPs) and Tyrese Chambers, FIU (24.3 FPs). Jaylin Lane is the next man in line to feast on the Charlotte secondary. In three of the past five games, Lane has surpassed 20 fantasy points and for the season, he has produced 137.8 points, averaging 15.3 FPPG. I will continue to place receivers in my CFF lineups against Charlotte the remainder of the season.
WR Bradley Rozner, Rice at Western Kentucky
O/U 60.5, Rice +13
Opponent Defense: 235.5 PYPG and 15 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 20%
While researching for this week’s CFF Cheat Sheet column, I noticed the matchup between the Owls and the Hilltoppers. I thought about featuring QB T.J. McMahon, but noticed that the leading receiver on Rice is not Luke McCaffrey. It is Bradly Rozner, who has 65 more receiving yards than McCaffrey. I was shocked.
The 6’5” and 204-pound senior has five touchdowns on 33 receptions, averaging 22.1 YPC. He has also surpassed 100-yards receiving in five games this year. Love the projected game script for the Rice aerial assault, and Rozner is in a prime position again after scoring the game-winning touchdown versus UTEP last week.
WR Tajh Washington, USC vs. Colorado
O/U 66, USC -34
Opponent Defense: 250.7 PYPG and 21 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 16%
Without Jordan Addison and Mario Williams in the lineup in the past two games, Tajh Washington has posted alpha-type numbers for the Trojans. Against Arizona, he earned 10 targets and logged seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. Versus California, he was targeted 11 times and secured seven passes for 118 yards and two scores. His 55 fantasy points rank as the CFF WR5 in PPR-scoring formats. Washington is a nice Flex option against one of the worst teams in the PAC 12.
Editor’s Note: Just before publishing reports indicated that Addison will play, and Williams is a GTD. CFF diehards must watch reports from the sidelines Friday night before kickoff.
Twitterverse on Fire!
CFF Positional Battles for Week 11 Matchups
Who Ya Got at Quarterback?
- Darren Grainger, Georgia State: 17%
- T.J. McMahon, Rice: 23%
- MJ Morris, North Carolina State: 51%
- Robby Ashford, Auburn: 9%
“MJ Morris all day! 475 yards and six touchdowns in two games with two wins with one being a comeback victory. And he is a freshman! Boston College has been terrible this season–I see 300 yards and three scores for the young Wolf.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“T.J. McMahon for me. Western Kentucky is due for a shootout, and the QB from Rice has shown he is up to the task.” @aceholesrule
“Checkout the remaining schedule for Rice and T.J. McMahon. It is a chef’s kiss.” @CFF_Jared
Who Ya Got at Running Back?
- Kaytron Allen, Penn State: 51%
- Edward Saydee, Temple: 16%
- Kevorian Barnes, UTSA: 22%
- Trey Benson, Florida State: 11%
“The Nittany Lion here. Kaytron Allen is fresh off a three-touchdown performance and has averaged 5.4 YPC over the last three games with 239 yards on the ground. Two weeks ago versus the Buckeyes, he had 76 yards, and three games ago, he totalled 77 against the Golden Gophers’ stout defense. All while splitting time with Singleton. Allen is the pick for me!” @NinoBrown_T2T @aceholesrule
“Kaytron Allen for me. I have been on Allen and not Nicholas Singleton the entire season. Allen is a special back and getting carries.” @aceholesrule
Who Ya Got at Wide Receiver?
- KeSean Carter, Houston: 12%
- Tyrone Howell, UL-Monroe: 21%
- Moose Muhammad, Texas A&M: 35%
- Tahj Washington, USC: 32%
“Moose Muhammad! 15 receptions for 213 yards, a touchdown, and 14 YPC for the Aggies over the last two games against Ole Miss and Florida. Moose has been a perfect compliment to Evan Stewart on the other side of the formation. Question remains, will both be Aggies next season?” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Tahj Washington with me. Kinda the last man standing in the USC WR room. Washington gets yardage in bunches so 100 yards and a score is likely.” @aceholesrule