Week 1 is in the books! I am here to help you identify 8 Group of Five (G5) waiver wire gems AFTER your league waivers have been processed. I am looking for individuals who are 30% owned or less. You are SMART because you are reading this article. Your league-mates on the other hand…well they MISSED on these guys! Let’s go digging for those G5 waiver wire GEMS!
G5 Waiver Wire Recommendations
Quarterbacks
Mikey Keene, Fresno State
Fantrax Rostership: 24%
Total Fantasy Points: 14.8
Fantasy Points Per Game: 14.8
Mikey Keene is a redshirt Junior who needs to be on your team. Last year was his first year with the Bulldogs, as he transferred in from the University of Central Florida (UCF). He won’t add you any points in the rushing game but in 2023, he averaged 35 pass attempts per game. Fresno State averaged 30.5 points per game. He was QB 39 and averaged 20 points per game. Come the end of the year, I look for Fresno State to be in the Mountain West Championship talk.
Saturday, Keene was 22/36 for 235 yards passing and 1 touchdown. unfortunately, he also added 2 interceptions. Sure, it was Michigan. I wasn’t expecting much last week. However, sometimes the waiver wire is about looking ahead. The only other game on their schedule that worries me is in late November, against UCLA. Keene is in his 2nd year under this offensive scheme, and I saw enough to be optimistic for the rest of the season. Others will see the stats from Week 1 and pass, but not you! Pick up Mikey Keene this week. It may be the cheapest you will be able to get this G5 Waiver Wire Gem.
Owen McCown, University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA)
Fantrax Rostership: 15%
Total Fantasy Points: 41
Fantasy Points Per Game: 41
Owen McCown is my next G5 waiver wire gem. McCown currently ranks 7th in passing attempts (39) and 4th in passing yards (336) for the G5. Why do I highlight these numbers? Attempts = Opportunity and Yards = Fantasy Points. Sacks not included, he also added 6 rushes for 33 yards. The average time for a G5 passer thus far is 2.71 seconds. McCown currently has 2.38 seconds. If he can get some more time in the pocket, I would expect him to be close to the top in passing yards for the entire G5.
Running Backs
Jevon Jackson, University of Texas El Paso (UTEP)
Fantrax Rostership: 24%
Total Fantasy Points: 3.2
Fantasy Points Per Game: 3.2
Jevon Jackson is a 5’8” 205lbs transfer running back from Austin Peay. Jackson had a tough Week 1 against Nebraska; however, he commanded 10 of the 16 rushes from the running back room. Now he only amassed 32 yards on those 10 rushes, but I am going to trust history. Why do I care so much about the past? UTEP has a new Head Coach in 2024, Scotty Walden. Where does Coach Walden come from? You got it! Austin Peay! Jackson had 78.5% of the running back rushes for the 2023 Austin Peay team. I am going to follow my gut here and recommend picking up Jevon Jackson before his cost is too high!
Jalen John, University of Massachusetts (UMass)
Fantrax Rostership: 2%
Total Fantasy Points: 20.5
Fantasy Points Per Game: 20.5
Luke, A UMass running back?!?! You Bet! Jalen John had 19 touches in Week 1 against Eastern Michigan. He had 14 rushes for 53 yards and 5 receptions on 5 targets for 42 yards. He also added a rushing touchdown. I like to follow the opportunities, and 19 is a good start. His opportunities rank T-7th in the G5, and his 95 yards ranks 22nd in the G5. Workhorse running backs are tough to find, and this has the potential to be a nice G5 Waiver Wire Gem!
Wide Receivers
Luke Wysong, New Mexico
Fantrax Rostership: 29%
Total Fantasy Points: 42.4
Fantasy Points Per Game: 21.2
Luke Wysong is 5’10” and 184 lbs. He is tied for 22nd in targets (9) and 9th in average receiving yards per game (112) in all of the G5. He has an Averaged Depth of Target (ADOT) of 11.3 yards. You like to see that! He is demanding 33.3% of the targets. On the G5 Hive’s Worker Bee Series, Ryan Tomari tabbed Luke Wysong as his 2024 breakout player for the Lobos. Wysong currently sits at WR4 in all of college football. New Mexico has a bye this week, so make that sneaky move and scoop up this G5 waiver wire gem NOW!
Coleman Owen, Ohio
Fantrax Rostership: 13%
Total Fantasy Points: 23.7
Fantasy Points Per Game: 23.7
Coleman Owen is a graduate transfer from Northern Arizona University. He is 5’11” and 191 lbs. In 2023, he was 2nd Team All-Big Sky. He is T-3rd in all of the G5 for targets (14) and 6th in receiving yards, with 137. He is also T-3rd in the G5 in receptions with 10! Like Luke Wysong, Owen has a nice ADOT, 11.4 yards. Owen is currently sitting at, an eye-popping, 55.6% target share for the Bobcats!
Tight Ends
Grayson Barnes, Northern Illinois
Fantrax Rostership: 27%
Total Fantasy Points: 20.5
Fantasy Points Per Game: 20.5
Grayson Barnes had a heck of a Week 1 performance against Western Illinois. He caught 5 of 6 targets for 95 yards and 1 touchdown. His 6 targets are tied for 3rd and his yardage is 1st in the G5, amongst tight ends. Those 6 targets lead the Huskies going into Week 2. When searching for tight ends on the waiver wire, it can be tough in the streets. Barnes may end up as a top two option in this offense, behind Trayvon Rudolph. Barnes has all the makings to be a top tight end and a G5 waiver wire gem.
Boden Groen, Rice
Fantrax Rostership: 13%
Total Fantasy Points: 9.3
Fantasy Points Per Game: 9.3
I have been a Boden Groen fan this offseason. There is a lot to like about this Rice team, and Groen is one to know. It sounds like the Owls anticipated wide receiver #1 may miss a few games. Thus, I anticipate we will see more from Groen in the coming weeks. He is tied for 1st in the G5 in targets (8) and has a respectable 6.3 yard ADOT. While Groen won’t be a top option for Owls in 2024, he could be a solid option for you in the coming weeks!
There you have it! I identified 8 G5 Waiver Wire Gems! Your league-mates whiffed on these guys. If your league utilizes a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB), I bet you can get away with a small bid for any of these individuals. I am here to turn over every stone to help YOU find those G5 waiver wire GEMS! If you are looking for other additions, be sure to check out John Laub’s article, Waiver Wire: Week 1 Gemstones.