Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year—turkey, football and time off is the perfect trifecta in life. Over the long weekend, I will spend countless hours on my recliner watching gridiron action. I am thankful that I reached the CFF championship game in one league and hope all our readers get to enjoy the same thrill as me this week.
Luke Probasco and Volume Pigs join me in pinpointing players in the free agent pool. Good luck to all of our readers who have reached the CFF summit. And Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers.
Week 14 College Fantasy Football Sleepers
Quarterbacks
Parker Navarro, Ohio vs. Ball State (Laub)
FPPG: 19%
O/U 51.5, Ohio -11.5
Fantrax Rostership: 19%
Opponent Passing Defense: 289 P-YDS/G & 30 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 76.3
I have watched a lot of MAC football this season and enjoyed the return of offensive fireworks in the conference. Since November, Parker Navarro ranks among the Top 10 CFF QBs with 89 Fantasy Points (FPs). An explosive runner, the Bobcats’ signal caller rushed for 759 yards and 11 scores while surpassing 100 yards four times this year. If a CFF diehard needs a starter, Navarro is likely available on the waiver wire.
Notebook: “We just executed and got it done up front. I think we were just more physical,” Navarro stated after last week’s 24-7 victory over Toledo in which he recorded his second straight 100-yard rushing performance (wpub.com).
Braylon Braxton, Marshall at James Madison (Probasco)
FPPG: 24.4
O/U 52.5, Marshall +3.5
Fantrax Rostership: 10%
Opponent Passing Defense: 206 P-YDS/G & 13 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 83.0
If a CFF owner needs a DEEP quarterback to play, look at Braylon Braxton. Marshall has James Madison and the Dukes have surrendered 319 yards rushing and five touchdowns via the ground over the past two weeks. Braylon Braxton is an absolute weapon with his legs. He is coming off a game in which he ran for 140 yards on the ground. Braxton has averaged 47.2% of the rushing attempts for the Thundering Herd over the last two weeks. Marshall looks to position themselves in the Sun Belt Conference Championship game, and I look for the offense to lean heavily on the dynamic playmaker.
Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers at Michigan State (Volume Pigs)
FPPG: 20.7
O/U 46.5, Rutgers +1.5
Fantrax Rostership: 7%
Opponent Passing Defense: 212 P-YDS/G & 19 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 79.4
Rutgers’ passing game has come alive by necessity with Kyle Monangai’s health being in question the last few weeks. Athan Kaliakmanis is coming off his best game of the season as he is hitting his stride with Dymere Miller and co. rounding out a strong WR corps. The Scarlet Knights get a vulnerable Michigan State team this week.
Running Backs
Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo vs. Kent State (Probasco)
FPPG: 14.8
O/U 52.5, Buffalo -22.5
Fantrax Rostership: 13%
Opponent Rushing Defense: 266 R-YDS/G & 33 R-TDs
PFF Grade: 76.6
Over Al-Jay Henderson’s last five games, he has seen 21 opportunities each outing. With those touches, he has averaged 23.52 FPs on 138 total yards and six touchdowns. Buffalo plays a team, Kent State, searching for their first win of the season. The Golden Flashes have allowed 1,168 yards rushing yards and twelve touchdowns on the ground over their last four games, allowing 292 yards and three touchdowns per game. A league winner, Al-Jay Henderson is served up on a silver platter in CFF Championships.
One-play scoring drive.#UBhornsUP🤘 | #BullMarket📈 pic.twitter.com/DuVrLev6c0
— UB Football (@UBFootball) November 21, 2024
Kelley Joiner, South Florida at Rice (Laub)
FPPG: 25.1
O/U 52.5, South Florida -5.0
Fantrax Rostership: 40%
Opponent Rushing Defense: 163 R-YDS/G & 14 R-TDs
PFF Grade: 79.3
I highlighted Kelley Joiner last week in my CFF sleeper’s column on the Rookie Big Board, and he helped my team reach a CFF Championship Game with 25.1 FPs. He qualifies at two positions, and I started him at receiver. Since QB Byrum Brown went down against Tulane in late September, the offense has relied on the ground game, and Joiner has been a CFF All-American the past five games. He has sprinted for 477 yards on 54 carries, averaging 8.83 ypc. and scoring seven times. The good times keep rolling for the Bulls and Joiner on the road against Rice this weekend.
Aaron Young, Old Dominion at Arkansas State (Volume Pigs)
FPPG: 12.3
O/U 58.5, Old Dominion -4.0
Fantrax Rostership: 3%
Opponent Rushing Defense: 210 R-YDS/G & 28 R-TDs
PFF Grade: 76.5
Aaron Young continues to get a steady workload each week, the question of whether he has a good day or not seems to come down to the opponent. The good news is they get Arkansas State, who rank fairly low in defense versus the run.
Twitterverse on Fire!
If you needed an emergency starter at running back in CFF Championship Games, Who Ya Got on the waiver wire?
- Nate Frazier, Georgia: 28%
- Kelley Joiner, South Florida: 19%
- Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo: 47%
- Aaron Young, Old Dominion: 6%
“Al-Jay Henderson’s consistency makes him the pick. He’s had 24-plus points in four of the last five games. As a bonus, he plays against a horrible Kent State defense, which is dead last in yards rushing with 266 given up per game!” @CFFLists
Wide Receivers
Joseph Williams, Tulsa vs. Florida Atlantic (Laub)
FPPG: 10.9
O/U 57, Tulsa +1.5
Fantrax Rostership: 11%
Opponent Passing Defense: 228 P-YDS/G & 23 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 79.2
While many freshmen have contributed to their team’s offensive fireworks, the Golden Hurricanes’ playmaker has been overlooked by the CFF community. Since October 28, Joseph Williams has been CFF WR7, totaling 82.7 FPs.
The 6’2” and 195-pounder opened eyes against UAB with a six-catch, 112-yard outing with a touchdown. Two weeks later, he scored 38.8 FPs versus East Carolina and recorded his third consecutive 100-yard outing against South Florida last Saturday. He has averaged 23.3 ypc. and scored five times during the three-game stretch. The true freshman has outproduced senior Kamdyn Benjamin recently and is worthy of starting in an intriguing matchup versus the Owls.
Yamir Knight, James Madison vs. Marshall (Probasco)
FPPG: 11.4
O/U 52.5, James Madison -3.5
Fantrax Rostership: 1%
Opponent Passing Defense: 204 P-YDS/G & 13 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 70.3
Yamir Knight has led the Dukes in receptions and receiving yards each of the last three games. He is averaging five receptions on six targets for 82 yards and 0.6 touchdowns during that hot stretch. Those stats are good for 17.87 FPPG. Over that same three games, the Dukes averaged 221 yards and two touchdowns. James Madison hosts Marshall, and the Thundering Herd defense surrenders an average of 248 yards and one touchdown through the air. I expect the Dukes and Knight to have success in Week 14.
Cam Coleman, Auburn at Alabama (Laub)
FPPG: 12.4
O/U 52.5, Auburn +13.5
Fantrax Rostership: 55%
Opponent Passing Defense: 192 P-YDS/G & 11 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 66.8
The Iron Bowl is one of my favorite rivalry games each season. Over a lifetime of watching Auburn battle Alabama, I have learned that records are meaningless and anything can happen in the Iron Bowl. I can’t wait to see Cam Coleman versus fellow freshman Ryan Williams. The two SEC playmakers will get to highlight their electric skills for the entire country and CFF managers. In the past two games, Coleman, a 5-star recruit, has exploded on the national stage with 15 catches for 228 yards and five touchdowns, producing 67.8 FPs. Start the 6’3” and 197-pound gamebreaker with confidence as both teams battle for the 89th time.
Notebook: Before last week’s game, coach High Freeze hinted that Coleman might be targeted more often down the stretch: “I would love to answer that and say, ‘Absolutely, we’re throwing it to him eight times.’ But I don’t get to dictate the coverage. Yes, we could design a play to take a shot to him, but it’s really hard to design a play that you guarantee he is going to get a short route thrown to him because I don’t know, man. They could be in cover two or they might be tight man coverage. So, it’s really hard” (on3.com).
can't guard that man @CamColeman12 pic.twitter.com/siKsa4h8nc
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 24, 2024
Emmett Mosley V, Stanford at San Jose (Laub)
FPPG: 14.2
O/U 54.5, Stanford +1.5
Fantrax Rostership: 14%
Opponent Passing Defense: 231 P-YDS/G & 15 P-TDs
PFF Grade: 65.7
In the 127th Big Game between Stanford and California, freshman Emmett Mosley once again exhibited the abilities that piqued the interest of the Cardinals’ staff. He snatched six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
In the past two games, Mosley has surpassed Elic Ayomanor on the aerial attack target tree, earning 22 targets compared to 16 for Ayomanor. The 6’2” and 205-pounder has caught 19 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns against Louisville and California, producing 66.8 FPs. I like the matchup for Mosley against San Jose on Friday, and he will continue to be relied upon in the aerial assault.
Notebook: “We had been recruiting Emmett for a long time. When Emmett made the commitment to us, we knew he was a special player. He’s got unbelievable skills, his resiliency, his toughness. He really rose to the occasion (against Louisville). Not surprised at all. We expect him to be—I thought since he’s been here, since he committed, that he had a chance to be one of the better guys in the entire country,” coach Troy Taylor affirmed after Mosley’s breakout game two weeks ago (stanfordrivals.com).
Twitterverse on Fire!
If you needed an emergency starter at wide receiver in CFF Championship Games, Who Ya Got on the waiver wire?
- Yamir Knight, James Madison: 7%
- Emmett Mosley V, Stanford: 30%
- Joseph Williams, Tulsa: 41%
- Cam Coleman, Auburn: 22%
“The true Frosh Joseph Williams is the WR we’ve been waiting for in Tulsa’s offense for the two-years Kevin Wilson has been there. He has garnered 9-10 targets per game in the last three, with 100-plus yards in each and five total touchdowns. He runs routes against FAU, which is tenth worst in passing touchdowns allowed (23).” @CFFLists
CFF All-Americans: Week 13
QB Bryson Barnes, Utah State: 48.8 points
QB John Mateer, Washington State: 43.6
RB Devin Neal, Kansas: 56.7
RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech: 52.8
WR O’Mega Blake, Charlotte: 43.5
WR Eli Pancol, Duke: 41.8
WR Markus Allen, Eastern Michigan: 33.7
TE Dorian Fleming, Georgia State: 31.5
Flex Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State: 40.7
CFF Player of the Week: Devin Neal, Kansas
Legendary game. Legendary name pic.twitter.com/HiKluEgA5w
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) November 24, 2024