I am so lucky to be a member of the college fantasy football industry. I needed a relief pitcher with my teammate JD Yonke at a wedding over the weekend and Jared Palmgren, @CFF_Jared, agreed to take the mound, joining me to pinpoint the top college fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
It is playoff time in many CFF leagues across the nation. In the inaugural CFF King’s Classic League both JD and Jared qualified for the postseason while I am sidelined after a disappointing 3-7 campaign…Ugh! I am going to pretend that it is my redshirt season to explain my poor performance versus the best in the business.
With a championship on the line, do not get too risky setting starting lineups over the next three weeks. I often pick up players to prevent my competitors from playing them against me. I will start my studs in nearly all circumstances–unless they play Georgia–and use my flex positions for potential upside performances in the postseason. Jared and I have identified the potential game-winners to acquire on the college fantasy football waiver wire this week.
College Fantasy Football provides alternative-reality zealots, NFL Draftniks, and Dynasty and Devy owners a competitive advantage against their opponents. What are you waiting for this summer? Get off the sideline and into the game on Fantrax. We guarantee that you will not regret playing in a CFF league this fall.
Week 10 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Will Levis, Kentucky (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 16%
Yards Per Attempt: 7.3
TD%: 6.7%
Total Fantasy Points: 204.5
I cannot believe that another “Connecticut Yankee” makes the weekly college fantasy football waiver column. Yet. Here we are after 10 weeks. While researching CFF quarterbacks on Sunday, two items jumped out to me and screamed to profile Will Levis: Kentucky’s remaining schedule (at Vanderbilt, New Mexico State, and at Louisville), and over the past two weeks, he ranks among the Top 12 most productive CFF signal-callers with nearly 50 fantasy points.
A three-star recruit from Connecticut (my home state) by 247Sports, Levis was the No. 2 player in the state and No. 24 pro-style quarterback nationally among recruits. As a senior captain at Xavier High School, he earned second-team Walter Camp all-state honors and was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Top 25 list after breaking school records for passing yards (2,793), passing touchdowns (27), and completions in a season. He also earned the Hartford Courant’s Offensive Player of the Year honors.
The Wildcats’ quarterback originally enrolled at Penn State and redshirted as a freshman in 2018. After three seasons on campus, Levis transferred to Kentucky as a graduate student and won the job over the summer. “Kentucky being one of the first schools I talked to, I was really, really excited about that and kind of didn’t even look back from there. I realized how incredible that opportunity was for me there and how much they wanted me and how much they believed in me,” Levis stated last February (centredaily.com).
In the first game of the season, it looked like a good decision for Levis and Kentucky. He got off to an impressive start against Louisiana-Monroe, scoring over 28 fantasy points. Despite the early optimism, Levis could not remain hot: He has been wildly inconsistent this year. In three of nine games, he has produced over 28 fantasy points. Unfortunately, he has also scored less than 10 points in three other contests. Against Tennessee on Saturday, he passed for 372 yards, rushed for 47 yards, and totaled five touchdowns, finishing among the CFF QB leaders.
At 6’3” and 232-pounds, Levis has scampered for 231 yards with five scores and passed for 1,848 yards and 17 aerial strikes this year. In advantageous matchups, the dual-threat playmaker has done well, and the final three games all foreshadow high-scoring matchups for Kentucky and Levis.
Aidan O’Connell, Purdue (Palmgren)
Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Yards Per Attempt: 7.7
TD%: 4.4%
Total Fantasy Points: 138.8
Before the season began, there were several quarterback battles where we knew once they were settled, they would be incredible fantasy options (SMU, Mississippi St, etc). Some of these competitions raged on throughout the season, and the Purdue quarterback battle between Aidan O’Connell and Jack Plummer was one of these cases. O’Connell has locked down the starting job for Purdue since taking over for season-starting quarterback, Jack Plummer, in their game against Illinois.
In that time, O’Connell has amassed 2,087 yards passing on the season with 12 touchdowns. In the games started, he has averaged 343 yards passing a game, and his performances only keep getting better. O’Connell has a plethora of receiving weapons around him in this Boilermakers’ offense including pre-season CFF WR No. 1 David Bell, TE Payne Durham, RB King Doerue, as well as up-and-coming CFF prospects such as WR Milton Wright and WR TJ Sheffield. There will never be a time where O’Connell won’t be without a legitimate option in the aerial assault.
As the championship and playoff weeks approach, O’Connell has shown he can perform in the toughest of matchups. His highest-scoring game came against then #2 Iowa, and this past weekend against former #3 Michigan State, scoring 28.8 and 32.14 points in those games respectively.
This week, he faces Ohio State, which may seem like a tough matchup, but the Buckeyes have shown susceptibility to passing attacks, as they are ranked 92nd in passing defense. From there, O’Connell finishes out the season with Northwestern and Indiana–two programs that have become a stomping ground for better Big Ten clubs, ranking 21st and 97th against the pass respectively. O’Connell is an excellent addition for anyone looking to solidify their playoff spot this week or wants a QB to keep in their pocket for championship week!
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who Ya Got at quarterback as the playoffs kickoff?
- Tyler Van Dyke, Miami: 46%
- Will Levis, Kentucky: 17%
- Clayton Tune, Houston: 29%
- Other, post below: 8%
“Tyler Van Dyke has crushed it since taking over. These are all good pickups, but Van Dyke is the one!” @aceholesrule
“I voted for ‘other’ because I’m going Devin Leary. 300-plus yards the last three weeks and upcoming is Wake, Syracuse, and UNC. I have seen enough of those defenses to know Leary will do fine.” @copieps
CFF All-Americans: Week 10
- QB Sam Hartman, Wake Forest: 51.7 points
- QB Will Levis, Kentucky: 44.1 points
- RB Ty Chandler, North Carolina: 49.3 points
- RB Deuce Vaughn, Kansas: 47.2 points
- WR Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois: 62.9 points
- WR Jack Sorenson, Ohio: 54.3 points
- WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State: 53.2 points
- TE Ryan Jones, Temple: 28.2 points
- Flex Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State: 45 points
CFF Player of the Week: Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
Running Backs
Blake Watson, Old Dominion (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 11%
Scrimmage Yards: 724
Touchdowns: 4
Total Fantasy Points: 99.4
After posting weekly college fantasy football polls over the past three weeks, Old Dominion fans posted Blake Watson comments on my Twitter feed. I appreciate the passion and dedication to highlighting the Monarchs’ playmaker, who deserves a waiver wire profile after an outstanding game on Saturday.
Watson surpassed the century mark on the ground for the fourth consecutive game, rushing for 158 yards and scoring twice against Florida International. He has also earned over 22 carries in each of the four contests. Since September 25, the redshirt sophomore has posted over 14 fantasy points five times in six games. For the season, Watson now has scampered for 709 yards and scored five touchdowns. He is the third leading rusher in C-USA, trailing only Sincere McCormick, UTSA, and DeAndre Torrey, North Texas.
In 2019 as a freshman, he paced Old Dominion with 828 all-purpose yards and led C-USA with a 26.4 yards per kick return, earning C-USA All-Freshman Team kick returner. After a productive campaign two years ago, Watson did not play football in 2020 as the Monarchs remained sidelined during the Pandemic.
The Monarchs are 3-6 this year, and Watson is the key component in the turnaround. “After not having a season last year, we’re coming back. We’re doing what I knew we could do, and I’m loving it right now,” Watson noted after the victory over FIU (odusports.com).
At 5’9” and 193-pounds, Watson was a two-sport athlete who earned All-American honors in track-and-field in high school. Coming out of Green Hope High School, he only garnered two stars as a gridiron prospect and landed at Old Dominion. Do not overlook the dynamic runner any longer in CFF leagues. As an added bonus, he qualifies as running back and wide receiver on Fantrax and provides nice roster flexibility down the stretch drive with games against C-USA opponents Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Charlotte.
Twitterverse on Fire!
With CFF championships on the line: Who Ya Got in the free-agent pool at running back?
- Marquez Cooper, Kent State: 15%
- Alton McCaskill, Houston: 43%
- Hassan Haskins, Michigan: 36%
- Other, post below: 6%
“A healthy Alton McCaskill is an incredible asset for your CFF team! I’ll throw love Marquez Cooper’s way as a legitimate piece of that Kent St offense!” @CFF_Jared
“Hate to say it, but being objective, I’d add Hassan Haskins at running back.” @SpartyOn21
“Marquez Cooper for me. Give me all the MAC guys down the stretch.” @aceholesrule
Jevyon Ducker, Northern Illinois (Palmgren)
Fantrax Ownership: 9%
Scrimmage Yards: 579
Touchdowns: 2
Total Fantasy Points: 69.9
For all the love that #MACtion gets from the CFF community, there’s a MAC running back currently going under a lot of people’s radar, at only 9% rostership. For a while, it seemed like Harrison Waylee was set to be the next up in line for the NIU starting in the backfield, a favorite among long-time CFF players. However, injuries ended that wonderful dream. Next up was true freshman Antario Brown, who saw a bell-cow role in two games before being injured in the game against Bowling Green. Once again, it was the next man up and that competitor is Jay Ducker.
After Brown went down in the Bowling Green contest, Ducker immediately saw bell-cow work, recording 33 carries on the day. The next week against Central Michigan, he once again topped 30 carries. This past week against Kent State, he only saw 19 carries, but still put up 101 yards and recorded his first two touchdowns of the season. The cut in carries likely came from NIU needing to rely on the pass to keep up with Golden Flashes’ on-fire offense.
Regardless of the game situation, Ducker’s number is consistently called while Waylee and Brown recover. Until they return, Ducker has averaged 27 carries, 164.7 yards as a starter and nothing indicates he’ll slow down. The final three games of the season come against three more MAC opponents, in Ball State, Buffalo, and Western Michigan. Expect all those games to be close and fantasy goldmines, with Ducker at the center of it all. He’s an incredible addition to your roster this late in the season!
Wide Receivers
Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois (Palmgren)
Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Targets: 48
Team Target Share: 21%
Total Fantasy Points: 123.1
For my first wide receiver waiver pick, I’m going to double dip from the Northern Illinois offense and take WR Trayvon Rudolph. Many in the offseason rightfully tagged Tyrice Richie as the wideout to own for this offense, but the rise of Rudolph has changed all that, as they get into the heart of #MACtion play.
John has named Rudolph the CFF player of the week and it’s not hard to see why. Trayvon Rudolph has been on the rise the last couple of weeks, which reached a zenith last Wednesday when he exploded for 14 catches for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Over his last three games, Rudolph has produced 15, 32.7, and 55.9 points respectively in half-point, PPR-formats.
Rudolph’s situation sets him up to be even more productive down the line. He’s clearly become a favorite target for QB-name-hall-of-fame candidate Rocky Lombardi. The team he plays for consistently finds themselves in shootouts and or catching up from behind, which is where receivers often thrive.
Throw in the fact that NIU concludes their schedule with Ball State, Buffalo, and Western Michigan; there’s not a matchup left where Rudolph won’t thrive. Add in the fact that Tyrice Richie is expected to be an outgoing forward, and Rudolph is the epitome of why CFF is so great: a breakout player this late in the season and a must-own performer as the season draws to a close!
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 30%
Targets: 47
Team Target Share: 18%
Total Fantasy Points: 137.8
I have watched Ohio State for nearly 40 years and witnessed so many amazing wide receiver performances: Cris Carter, Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, Santonio Holmes, and Michael Thomas. Also, have closely studied Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson over the past two campaigns. Among all of the great playmakers, none had an afternoon like Jaxon Smith-Njigba produced against Nebraska on Saturday.
The sophomore gamebreaker exploded for a school-record 15 receptions for 240 yards and a touchdown. Previously, David Boston held the top two spots in the record books with 14 catches at Penn State (1997) and 13 catches at Indiana (1996). Smith-Njigba’s receiving yards rank behind only Terry Glenn, who logged 253 yards at Pitt (1995). The Buckeyes’ wideout cemented his name in the Ohio State record books for all-time.
Smith-Njigba earned the opportunity to start when Wilson did not travel with the team for undisclosed reasons. He clearly took advantage of his chance to illustrate his skills to the nation. “I just try to be there when they need me. I’m just a small piece. With C.J. (Stroud), we have a nice little chemistry going. With offensive line protection, he can just give me the ball. It’s been working out,” Jaxon Smith-Njigba said (dispatch.com). It sure did against the Cornhuskers.
At 6’0” and 198-pounds, the Rockwell, Texas native received a five-star grade and Top 50 player in the nation by 247Sports. He was also named the Texas 6A State Player of the Year, and during his high school career, he compiled 5,346 yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games. With Olave and Wilson leaving campus after the season, Smith-Njigba is the next All-American in Columbus, and he must be rostered on CFF teams for the playoff run.
CFF Waiver Wire Honorable Mention
- QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
Fantrax Ownership: 17%
Yards Per Attempt: 9.6
TD%: 7.7%
Total Fantasy Points: 159.8 - QB Chandler Morris, TCU
Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Yards Per Attempt: 10.6
TD%: 5.3%
Total Fantasy Points: 64.1 - RB Tavion Thomas, Utah
Fantrax Ownership: 28%
Scrimmage Yards: 749
Touchdowns: 14
Total Fantasy Points: 158.4
RB Jaylan Knighton, Miami
Fantrax Ownership: 42%
Scrimmage Yards: 628
Touchdowns: 7
Total Fantasy Points: 110.3 - WR Tay Martin, Oklahoma State
Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Targets: 62
Team Target Share: 25%
Total Fantasy Points: 116.7 - WR Ryan O’Keefe, UCF
Fantrax Ownership: 36%
Targets: 78
Team Target Share: 30.2%
Total Fantasy Points: 143.1 - TE Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
Fantrax Ownership: 26%
Targets: 82
Team Target Share: 26.8%
Total Fantasy Points: 103.5
Charleston Rambo, Miami (Palmgren)
Fantrax Ownership: 48%
Targets: 85
Team Target Share: 26.6%
Total Fantasy Points: 144
I’ll be the first one to pat myself on the back when it comes to receiver Charleston Rambo at Miami, as he was one of my favorite sleepers this summer. Last year, Rambo played for the Oklahoma Sooners and was perceived as being one of the heir apartments to Ceedee Lamb, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and many other great CFF Oklahoma receivers. That didn’t come to fruition as Oklahoma saw a drop-off in QB play from Jalen Hurts to Spencer Rattler. The emergence of young receiver Marvin Mims, as well as Rambo just not being as talented as Lamb or Brown, eventually led to him taking his talents elsewhere, where he landed with the Hurricanes.
Many were set on Mike Harley returning to his No. 1 receiver status at Miami, however reports out of camp said that Rambo was building a repertoire with all three quarterbacks (D’Eriq King, Tyler Van Dyke, and Jake Garcia). Once the season started, King’s passing limitations held Rambo’s upside in check, but after his injury and the emergence of a more consistent passer in Van Dyke (another great waiver wire add this week, btw), Rambo has taken off! Over the last seven games, Rambo has led the club in receiving five times and hit 99-plus yards in six outings.
Rambo and the Hurricanes end the season with Florida State, Virginia Tech and Duke which rank 62nd, 20th and 124th against the pass. The matchup with the Hokies obviously isn’t great, but Rambo has shown he’s talented enough to feast on most defenses with Van Dyke throwing the football. Regardless, that matchup with Duke is a gift-wrapped opportunity during championship week. Rambo has come into his own on this hurricane squad and is now the WR No. 1 many expected him to be at Oklahoma. A great addition this week!
Twitterverse on Fire!
Need a home run hitter for the CFF playoffs: Who Ya Got on the waiver wire?
- Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois: 24%
- Charleston Rambo, Miami: 26%
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Ohio State: 47%
- Other, post below: 3%
“You cannot go wrong with ANY of these guys! My heart is always with my guy, Charleston Rambo, tho!” @CFF_Jared
“With Tyrice Richie out, I will take Trayvon Rudolph here. MACtion almost guarantees high-scoring games.” @aceholesrule
“If Garrett Wilson comes back, that changes my outlook on Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Trayvon Rudolph doesn’t have the QB play the others have, but I love MACtion. Tyler Van Dyke looks like a STUD, and the ACC is looking a lot like the MAC these days (ACCtion). So pick your favorite taste and go eat!” @CFF_Legend
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