I love that College Football has Labor Day Weekend to itself without the NFL to compete for viewers and fans—I spent far too many hours sitting in my chair watching football over the weekend. It is also one of the most important weeks for the College Fantasy Football waiver wire. Depth charts have changed and touches may be different than anticipated. After an amazing three-day slate, it is time for CFF diehards to hit the waiver wire.
I am honored to be joined by Luke Probasco and Volume Pigs each week to assist in identifying the preeminent players in the college fantasy football free-agency pool… Let’s Go!
Week 1 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Behren Morton, Texas Tech (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 24%
Total Fantasy Points: 48.4
Watching a plethora of games simultaneously on Saturday, I could not stop being intrigued by the Texas Tech-Abilene Christian score. The Red Raiders narrowly escaped with a 52-51 overtime victory over Abilene Christian, an FCS program. How bad was the Texas Tech defense? I know that this is a CFF waiver wire column; nonetheless, a poor defense foreshadows a lot of fantasy production on both sides of the ball.
Regrettably, for the past two seasons, coach Joey McGuire and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley’s pass-happy scheme has disappointed CFF diehards. Is season three the charm? I have waited for Behren Morton to be a CFF luminary and have added and cut the fourth-year junior many times in the last three years. He ended the 2023 season on a high note being named the Outstanding Player in the Independence Bowl. Can he stay healthy and on the field? Against Abilene Christian to kickoff the upcoming crusade, he hurled five touchdowns (a career high) on 30 completions for 378 yards. It is worth the risk in the Red Raiders’ high-flying aerial assault to acquire Morton.
Notebook: “(Behren) got the ball out on time, and he limited the times that he got hit. A lot of it’s the offensive line, but some of it’s the quarterback, too. I just thought his timing getting the ball out was really big. He checked us into some good runs whenever we needed to and, man, he made some big throws,” coach McGuire commented after the game (lubbockonline.com).
Kirk Francis, Tulsa (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 3%
Total Fantasy Points: 40.6
It’s been a guessing game all offseason, and even leading up to the first kickoff, who’d lead Tulsa in passing in Week 1. The head coach intimated that Francis would get the first snaps, but was ‘not the starting QB’. Yeah…OK coach Kevin Wilson. How are four passing touchdowns in essentially three quarters for you? I would think it’s significant.
Kirk Francis is a local kid who (I believe) walked onto the program a few off-seasons ago. Proceed with caution because we still don’t know what the deal is, but Tulsa’s schedule is very generous this year, and Francis has some nice weapons around him. The Hurricanes play Arkansas State next, which is a team that was pushed to the brink by an FCS program last Saturday. Let’s keep the good times rolling.
Devon Dampier, New Mexico (Probasco)
Fantrax Rostership: 20%
Total Fantasy Points: 80
I mentioned Devon Dampier in my article earlier in the summer. In nine games of action last year, Dampier averaged three pass attempts, 35 yards passing, and 34 rushing yards per game. 2024 is off to a hot start: Dampier averages 34 pass attempts, 216 yards passing, two aerial strikes, 82 yards rushing and 1.5 touchdowns on the ground.
Ryan Tomari, co-founder of The Pit Press New Mexico, had this to say on the G5 Hive’s Worker Bee Series, “I think I’ve heard Vince Young. I don’t think he is as tall as Vince Young. The accolades and the skill set are probably the first thing that comes to my mind.” Dampier is CFF QB1 and the No. 1 overall player in fantasy. I know he has an extra week of stats, but he has been producing. New Mexico is relying heavily on Dampier this season and CFF diehards can too.
Ethan Vasko, Coastal Carolina (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 23%
Total Fantasy Points: 34.3
When seeking CFF quarterbacks on the waiver wire, it is important to look deeper among the free agents than just the players who scored the most points the previous week. Ethan Vasko finished as CFF QB #36 during Week 1 of the season, producing 34.5 fantasy points (FPs). He passed for 249 yards, scampered for 39 yards, and totaled three touchdowns in the Chanticleers victory at Jackson State Thursday night.
Behind center this year, Vasko replaced Grayson McCall, who endured a head injury in late October last year and transferred to North Carolina State in the offseason. In 2023, the redshirt sophomore started four games and played in eight. A dual-threat signal caller, he rushed for 318 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 580 yards and four scores. In the next two weeks, Coastal Carolina hosts Williams & Mary (FCS) and travels to Temple before the bye week. Vasko will likely be overlooked by many CFF diehards and grabbing Sun Belt quarterbacks is usually a good gamble.
Notebook: “I feel like Ethan has had an advantage (over Noah Kim) because he knows the system. He’s a guy that showed up [last] summer and all of a sudden tried to figure out what to do. We had to learn who he was and be able to figure him out. We’ve been able to spend time with him, work on the things he needs to work on to get better and also accentuate his strengths,” Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck stated over the summer (myhorrynews.com).
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
Fantrax Rostership: 26%
Total Fantasy Points: 43.6
.@Brendan_Sorsby2 earns @Big12Conference Newcomer of the Week after leading the Bearcats to 658 YDs of offense. The most of any Big 12 team this season and the 10th most in school history. pic.twitter.com/xEioKkdKDZ
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) September 2, 2024
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the top quarterback target on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Behren, Morton: 16%
- Taylen Green, Arkansas: 32%
- Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati: 26%
- Gio Lopez, South Alabama: 26%
“All great options, but I will go with Gio Lopez. Sometimes reports of bad springs are precursors to a bad year, Lopez bucked the trend. Report after report of his struggles pushed his ADP down. If he is on the waiver wire, nab him!” @aceholesrule
“It has to be Gio Lopez. But if you have been following the Fantrax CFF crew, you would already have him on your team!” @ProbescoLuke
“Brendan Sorsby was a player I identified back when he transferred as one of ‘my guys’ for this year. Kinda felt like a proud papa watching him shred it up” @Rand_U_
Running Backs
Anthony Tyus, III Ohio (Probasco)
Fantrax Rostership: 10%
Total Fantasy Points: 34.6
Anthony Tyus is a name worth grabbing off your waiver wire this week. Ohio has a rich tradition of having great running backs: Will Anthony Tyus be the next? He is a graduate transfer from Northwestern and is a robust 6’1” and 226 pounds.
Syracuse was the Week 1 matchup for the Bobcats. Typically, you do not like to see the G5 vs. P4 matchup, but Tyus cut through that defense like butter. He racked up over 200 yards and two scores on 16 attempts. He also caught both his targets for three yards. It is 18 touches in Week 1. Running backs, who are workhorses, are tough to find and the Bobcats’ bruiser is just chillin’ on the CFF waiver wire.
Sources told me Coach Albin said he played the hot hand this week. If you decide to use a waiver pick-up on Tyus, I wouldn’t spend a huge amount. I would feel comfortable spending around 30% of your budget.
Notebook: “Ohio’s WR Anthony Tyus, III was simply electric. He came into the contest with a career stat line of 119 carries for 503 yards, 4.2 yards per carry and two rushing touchdowns at Northwestern. Tyus III finished the contest tonight with 16 carries for a 12.7 yard per carry average,” noted Keith Gregorski in post-game recap (hustlebelt.com).
Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 9%
Total Fantasy Points: 24.6
Playing CFF demands knowledge of the entire player pool across the nation. Late last week, Pittsburgh announced that RB Rodney Hammond is ineligible to play in 2024, and I promptly went to the Panthers’ depth chart to see who is the next man up. Desmond Reid, formerly at Western Carolina (FCS), would be the lead runner for Pittsburgh and a CFB DFS value.
Selecting Reid in CFB DFS lineups proved to be an astute decision as he returned a punt 78 yards for a score within the first five minutes of the game against Kent State. When the afternoon concluded, the Panthers’ new starter scored 24.6 FPs (if returns count like in DFS, he exceeded 30 FPs) on 14 carries for 145 yards, three catches for 11 yards and a touchdown, finishing the day with 245 all-purpose yards. At 5-8 and 175 pounds, Reid is an electric playmaker, who will continue to earn touches for the Panthers.
Notebook: Answering a question about Reid, Pittsburgh freshman quarterback Eli Holstein stated, “…that is definitely a normal day for Desmond. He’s had some better days in practice honestly. He’s one of the most explosive players I have ever seen. It’s unreal what he can do. I handed that ball off at the 45-yard line, and as soon as I handed it off, I was like, oh he’s scoring…it was awesome,” (pittsburghpanthers.com).
.@fastboidez likes the @AcrisureStadium end zones!
📺 @ESPNU#H2P » #WeNotMe pic.twitter.com/cv7acaHPao
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) August 31, 2024
Floyd Chalk, San Jose (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 10%
Total Fantasy Points: 23.4
I don’t want to declare Floyd Chalk as a designated pig yet, but the pig signal appeared to be lit in SJSU’s game vs. Sacramento State on Thursday night (18 carries, 87 yards, two scores). Jabari Bates is a small player, and this presents problems in pass pro and in terms of withstanding a heavy workload. Chalk has no such problems. He’s worth a shot this week but only a truly mad man would take a gamble on starting him vs. Air Force.
Honorable Mention Running Backs
Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas
Fantrax Rostership: 46%
Total Fantasy Points: 26.1
Brashard Smith, SMU
Fantrax Rostership: 32%
Total Fantasy Points: 40.1
Anthony Hankerson & Jamious Griffin, Oregon State
Fantrax Rostership: 20% & 12%
Total Fantasy Points: 27.5 & 31.1
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
At running back, who is the top target on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh: 36%
- Quali Conley, Arizona: 18%
- Floyd Chalk, San Jose: 20%
- Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas: 26%
“Floyd Chalk for me. I have him in more than a couple of leagues, and he is a great mix of talent, opportunity, and system.” @aceholesrule
“Gimme Floyd Chalk, IV with 19 opportunities in Week 1.” @ProbescoLuke
Wide Receivers
Damon Ward, North Texas (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 32%
Targets: 15
Fantasy Points: 47.0
As the draft season commenced in the summer, Damon Ward became one of my favorite late-round targets. In my column on the Rookie Big Board, I identified Ward as a Week 1 sleeper. I never imagined that he would be the CFF WR2 for the opening weekend.
Against South Alabama, the Mean Green offense exploded for 52 points and the aerial assault recorded 446 yards and three scores. With WR Ja’Mori Maclin moving to Kentucky, Ward moved to the outside of the formation and inherited the target-hog role in the passing game. At 5-11 and 204 pounds, the senior lit up the Jaguars’ secondary for 230 yards on 12 catches and crossed the finish line twice.
Coach Eric Morris previously coached at Incarnate Word (head coach) and Washington State (offensive coordinator), and his offenses were some of the most exciting in the nation. With transfer QB Chandler Morris throwing the pigskin in Morris’ scheme, Ward will continue to earn a plethora of targets in Denton, Texas. Did I mention that North Texas plays in the defensively-challenged AAC? The North Texas’ schedule is very tasty for continued fantasy production.
Notebook: “(Morris and I) are comfortable together. This was our first outing. It was good to see what we did in the spring and summer come to fruition,” Ward said after his smashing performance (Dentonrc.com).
too easy!#AmericanWay x @MeanGreenFB pic.twitter.com/0Mj7BOYhA9
— The American (@American_Conf) August 31, 2024
Nick Nash, San Jose State (Probasco)
Fantrax Rostership: 34%
Targets: 16
Fantasy Points: 46.3
San Jose State brought in new head coach Ken Niumatalolo. He is known for running the triple-option, but the former Navy coach mentioned he’d leave the triple-option in Annapolis. His offensive coordinator hire couldn’t have been further from a triple-option type coach, Craig Stutzmann. Coach Stutzmann is known for his “Spread-N-Shred” offense, and last year at Texas State, the Bobcats threw the ball 429 times.
Within the Spread-N-Shred offense, CFF fanatics want the slot wide receiver. Who ran from the slot in Week 1? Nick Nash. According to PFF, he ran 36 routes from the slot (next closest was six). Nash had 10 receptions on 15 targets for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a 26-yard passing touchdown, putting up 46.3 points in Week 1.
Now, I wouldn’t expect a passing touchdown each week. Still, that is 39 points from receiving production. When looking at the schedule, there is not much to fear in terms of him being sat early or being locked down by a dominant P4 team. Do not let Nash remain available on the waiver wire any longer…Spread-N-Shred this waiver selection.
Notebook: “When this offense is in sync, you see glimpses of what we could be. It looked beautiful out there at times and I’m excited when we really start clicking,” Nash reflected after the victory (mwconnection.com)
Savion Williams, TCU (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 18%
Targets: 17
Fantasy Points: 26.2
Every year, without fail, I drop a player in my home league before they’ve even played, who ends up going nuclear in Week 1. Last year, it was Dallin Holker. This year it looks like it’ll be Savion Williams. The converted QB was targeted a staggering 17 times, and he notched a score on the night.
His hands need work, and I’ll remind the reader of performances like Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson seeing 15 targets last year to calm enthusiasm before blowing the whole FAAB budget. TCU does rotate a lot of receivers in-and-out throughout the game, and Williams wasn’t the only one to go off for the Horned Frogs.
Notebook: “Williams is a freak of nature athletically. He has the strongest arm on the team and looks like a Create-A-Player on Madden at 6’5” and 225-pounds. He’s big. He’s strong. He’s fast. There is not a physical limitation in Williams’ game,” noted Mike Craven in July (texasfootball.com).
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
Tai Felton, Maryland
Fantrax Rostership: 10%
Targets: 9
Fantasy Points: 38.7
Harrison Wallace, Penn State
Fantrax Rostership: 10%
Targets: 9
Fantasy Points: 28.7
Trayvon Rudolph, NIU
Fantrax Rostership: 25%
Targets: 4
Fantasy Points: 33.1
Tight Ends
Bauer Sharp, Oklahoma (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 4%
Targets: 6
Fantasy Points: 15.7
I’m kicking myself again here as Sharp was a name that intrigued me early on when he transferred up from the FCS to Oklahoma. I then just forgot about him amongst the deluge of transfers we witnessed this year. Against Temple, the Sooners moved Sharp around all over the field, and he was a staple of the gameplay virtually all night. He finished with five catches on six targets for 47 yards and a score.
Jack Bech, TCU (Laub)
Rostership: 14%
Targets: 9
Fantasy Points: 26.6
Jack Bech is a TEITO (Tight End In Title Only) according to my good friend and Fantrax teammate Eric Froton. He is a priority waiver wire pickup this week. Bech was the CFF TE3 last week against Stanford, scoring 26.6 FPs. A tight end with nine targets is always valuable and one with dual eligibility (WR/TE) makes Bech an even better pickup.
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the top target at receiver on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Tai Felton, Maryland: 24%
- Trayvon Rudolph, NIU: 9%
- Nick Nash, San Jose State: 19%
- Damon Ward, North Texas: 48%
“Damon Ward for me. The combo was talked about early on and this offense has shown that it can produce fantasy weapons.” @aceholesrule
“Nick Nash for me. I can’t give you all the reasons here, so read my waiver wire profile above.” @ProbescoLuke
CFF All-Americans: Week 1
QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi: 59.6 points
QB John Mateer, Washington State: 59.1
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State: 66.1
RB Marquez Cooper, San Diego State: 38.3
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: 64.4
WR Damon Ward, North Texas: 47
WR Nick Nash, San Jose: 46.3
TE Brant Kuithe, Utah: 28.9
Flex Kevin Concepcion, NCSU: 38,9
CFF Player of the Week: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
📺 ESPNU#BleedBlue | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/IfgJCmTqku
— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) August 31, 2024