John Laub and Eric Froton are all over the College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire after Week 3 of the College Football season. College Fantasy Football is back!
College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Tyler Vitt, Texas State (Froton)
Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Tyler Vitt took over quarterbacking duties for Texas State last October. After getting his feet wet for a couple of games, Vitt put together a promising final four games of the 2019 season, throwing at least 33 passes in every game while passing for at least 263 yards in three of those four games while tallying eight total touchdowns.
In Texas State’s first game this year, Vitt was held out due to pandemic related concerns. In his stead, coach Jake Spavital turned to QB Brade McBride to lead the Bobcats against SMU. He performed pretty well completing 21 of 39 passes for 227 yards and a 2:1 TD:INT Ratio in a close 31-24 loss to a 10-win SMU team. However, shortly after the game, McBride allegedly tested positive for COVID and had to sit for the next two games.
Coincidentally Vitt exited COVID-protocols just as McBride tested positive, as Vitt went on to start the last two games. In those two games, Vitt completed 40 of 61 passes for 602 yards and a 6:2 TD:INT Ratio while also rushing 22 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He delivered CFF performances of 31.7 and 37 points while leading Texas State to an average of 43 PPG.
Second-year coach Spavital has turned this offense around and is poised to put some serious points on the board against their Fun Belt opponents this season. Vitt is my pick to keep the job, but you should be prepared to pivot to McBride if Vitt is displaced.
Malik Willis, Liberty (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 22%
If I held grudges, Malik Willis would not be identified as a waiver wire target this week. I bet on Western Kentucky against Liberty and lost some cash on Saturday. Nevertheless, my job is to assist readers in building stronger rosters and winning championships.
Coming out of high school, Willis enrolled at Auburn and played in 15 games during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns. A dual-threat signal caller, he rushed for 309 yards, passed for 69 yards, and totaled three touchdowns while a member of the Tigers’ program.
After Auburn signed Bo Nix, Willis decided to transfer to Liberty and sat out all of last season. In his first start, the 6’1” and 215-pounder rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 133 yards, leading the Flame to a 30-24 upset on the road.
“For his first start in a college game, I’m pretty pleased. He made some mistakes that we can correct, but we knew he was athletic, knew we could do some things in the run game with him. I thought he was efficient in throwing the football. We really could have thrown it some more, but I probably started trying to run the clock out a little too early,” coach Hugh Freeze said after the victory (aseaofred.com).
Shrewd CFF diehards never bypass running quarterbacks, and Willis is a top-shelf pickup before kickoff this week.
Twitter on Fire!
The SEC kicks off the 2020 season on Saturday.
Who are you most excited to see behind center?
- Kyle Trask, Florida: 20.3%
- Mac Jones, Alabama: 37.5%
- Bo Nix, Auburn: 28.1%
- Other, post below: 14.1%
“Mac Jones: I’m a believer.” @DevyDeepDive
“Honestly, all of the above! But, if I have to choose, it’s Bo Nix. I still haven’t quit his potential.” @Matty_S@S
Running Backs
Ulysses Bentley, IV, SMU (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 34%
Two weeks ago, Ulysses Bentley impressed me with his performance against Texas State when he scored twice. However, T.J. McDaniel led the team in carries and yards. I tempered my expectations for Bentley in an offensive scheme that projects as a dreaded committee.
I am a believer that talent and production force coaches to readjust their rotation and depth charts. After two games, Bentley continues to sway the coaching staff, and undoubtedly, deserves more touches.
Against North Texas, the redshirt freshmen earned 19 attempts and exploded for 227 yards and three touchdowns, including an 84-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. “…Bentley is a young player who redshirted last year that we think has a chance to be a really good player as well,” coach Sonny Dykes stated in the post-game interview (247Sports.com).
Bentley leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with five and ranks second in rushing yards with 276. Among running backs in all fantasy football scoring formats, he stands atop the competition in points scored. I anticipate that the Mustangs’ playmaker will be rostered on over 50% of leagues by kickoff next Saturday.
Oscar Adaway, III, North Texas (Froton)
Fantrax Ownership: 27%
A 6’0” and 222-pound thumper who was ranked as the 110-best runner from the 2019 recruiting class, Oscar Adaway redshirted his freshman year, logging only four carries for 42 yards last season. Heading into 2020, Adaway had several ball carriers with more seniority ahead of him in the pecking order, as Tre Siggers, DeAndre Torrey, Loren Easly and Nic Smith all had more playing experience than Adaway.
On the team’s initial depth chart, Adaway was listed third in line for carries at running back, well behind co-starters Siggers and Torrey. However, in North Texas’ 57-31 victory over Houston Baptist Adaway made the most of his five carries by rushing for 118 yards, a 23.6 ypc. and two touchdowns in a reserve role. I don’t care if he was playing a high school JV team, 23.6 ypc. is going to raise eyebrows.
Accordingly, Adaway saw an expanded role last weekend in a 65-35 loss to SMU. He rushed 20 times for 104 yards and a 5.2 ypc., his second consecutive 100-yard showing in as many games. Siggers (5’8” & 200 pounds) and Torrey (5’7” and 191 pounds) are smaller in stature than the thickly-framed Adaway. While this backfield is potentially in a state of transition, Adaway is well worth a speculative pickup in case he wrests the starting job in the Mean Green backfield.
Twitter on Fire!
Four freshmen impressed college football diehards over the weekend.
Who Ya Got on the Waiver Wire at running back?
- Tyjae Spears, Tulane: 4%
- Ulysses Bentley, SMU: 42.1%
- Jaylan Knighton, Miami: 12%
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech: 42.1%
“I am driving a Bentley! Bentley seemed much more talented in the opening game and continues to produce on a very potent offense.” @aceholesrule
“Has to be Jahmyr Gibbs… but Ulysses Bentley was really exciting as well.” @CFBWinningEdge
“I believe Ulysses Bentley got dinged up Week 1 and left the game or his numbers would have looked even better. I’m buying.” @CavenderCorey
“RB Ulysses Bentley gets my vote, running for 227 yards and three touchdowns on 19 attempts. SMU consistently puts up better running stats than many realize.” @FBSFantasyFoot
CFF All-Americans: Week 3
QB Shane Buechele, SMU: 44.1 points
QB Malik Willis, Liberty: 41.4 points
RB Ulysses Bentley, IV, SMU: 44.8 points
RB Gerrid Doaks, Cincinnati: 32.4 points
WR Tim Jones, Southern Mississippi: 30 points
WR Jeremiah Haydel, Texas State: 29.2 points
WR Marlon Williams, UCF: 27.4 points
TE Brevin Jordan, Miami: 18 points
Flex Kenneth Walker, III, Wake Forest: 31.8 points
Wide Receivers
Zay Flowers, Boston College (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 25%
For seven seasons, college fantasy footballers could forecast the Eagles’ offensive scheme and running game production under former coach Steve Addazio. Draft the starting running back at Boston College while bypassing the quarterback and wide receivers. In the offseason, Addazio transferred to Colorado State, and the program hired coach Jeff Hafley, who was the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State.
During the offseason, QB Phil Jurkovec transferred to Boston College, and the NCAA granted the former Notre Dame signal caller permission to play for the Eagles in 2020. Coming out of high school, Jurkovec ranked ninth among dual-threat recruits and No. 129 overall. In his first start, the sophomore dramatically impacted the Eagles’ aerial assault.
Jurkovec detonated for 300 passing yards, and WR Zay Flowers opened eyes across the country with an outstanding performance. The elusive playmaker snatched five passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. “To be a part of this offense, I get to show what I can do now, instead of just taking handoffs the whole year. I get to actually run routes now and show everybody that I can run routes and I’m just not a jet sweep guy,” Flowers proclaimed after the contest (boston.com).
At 5’8” and 178-pounds, Flowers was a three-star recruit from Florida and originally committed to Nebraska before coming north to Boston. As a freshman, he logged 22 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns. With a full season of experience, the coaching staff expects the sophomore to take a big leap forward, and CFF diehards look forward to continued improvement and production this season from Jurkovec and Flowers in the passing game.
Jeremiah Haydel, Texas State (Froton)
Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Apparently, it’s Texas State Week here at Fantrax, as the unheralded Sun Belt institution of higher learning is a cesspool of under-ownership in 2020. The lack of large-scale ownership is understandable, as TSU’s offense has not averaged over 20 ppg. since the Obama administration was still in the White House. Yet, in 2020, Texas State returns eight offensive starters and 71 offensive line starts to go with their starting two starting-caliber quarterbacks, another two highly-touted runners in Brock Sturges and Calvin Hill, and four of their top-six wide receivers.
The results for former West Virginia offensive coordinator and second-year coach Spavital were instantaneous as the Bobcats have averaged 43 ppg. over their last two contests. Front and center to TSU’s resurgence is WR No. 1, Jeremiah Haydel. In 2019, Haydel started slowly as he specialized in the return game early in the year before catching 12 of 20 targets over his last three games. As the season began, Haydel assumed the mantle of TSU’s No. 1 WR by catching 9 of 17 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown while also returning a kick for a touchdown against UTSA.
While productive in his first two games, it was nothing compared to what Haydel had in store for ULM last Saturday. He caught six-of-seven passes for 152 yards, a 25.3 ypc. and two touchdowns in a 38-17 evisceration of the Mohawks. Haydel displayed elite elusiveness as he averaged a whopping 14.7 YAC while breaking off a 75-yard touchdown reception. With Texas State airing it out more often under Spavital, you can expect to see more explosive performances from Texas State’s top wideout.
Twitter on Fire!
CFF Diehards must always search for playmakers on the waiver wire.
Who Ya Got this week at wide receiver?
- Jeremiah Haydel, Texas State: 13%
- Marlon Williams, UCF: 43.5%
- Zay Flowers, Boston College: 37%
- Other, post below: 6.5%
“I am a Flower(s) Child, Baby! I think Boston College is going to continue to be balanced and Flowers will be a consistent producer.” @aceholesrule
Honorable Mention Waiver Wire Gemstones:
- QB Frank Harris, UTSA
Fantrax Ownership: 26% - QB Bailey Hockman, North Carolina State
Fantrax Ownership: 1% - RB Kenneth Walker, III, Wake Forest
Fantrax Ownership: 46% - WR Joshua Cephus, UTSA
Fantrax Ownership: 6%
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