For those like me who prefer College Fantasy Football over the more popular NFL game, Luke Probasco and Volume Pigs joined me each to uncover the preeminent players on the college fantasy football waiver wire… Let’s Go!
First, I am going to make a bold statement that many people will disagree with, but it is so true. College football on Friday evenings is so much better than NFL Thursday night action on Apple Prime. It is not even close. The NFL games are usually uninteresting with poor matchups or fantasy impact.
As an example last Thursday, the Jets and Patriots games put millions of people to sleep, including myself. The Jets captured an easy and boring 24-3 victory. The next evening, college football provided three unbelievable games: Stanford-Syracuse, Illinois-Nebraska, and San Jose-Washington State. The three college contests were decided by a combined 11 points and two went into overtime. And the action on Saturday continued to dazzle College Fantasy Football fanatics.
Week 4 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Emmett Brown, San Jose (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 12%
Total Fantasy Points: 131.4
FPPG: 32,8
PFF Grade: 77.8
In the offseason, lots of changes occurred in the San Jose State football program. The Spartans hired former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, who had overseen a triple-option offense for 15 seasons, posting a 109-83 record. In 2023, he spent the season on the UCLA coaching staff. What offensive scheme would the three-time AAC Coach of the Year implement at San Jose State?
The coaching staff hires and offseason reports indicated that Niumatalolo’s team would play a more pass-happy and wide-open attack. Yet, who would be calling the signals for the Spartans? A former walk-on at Washington State, Emmett Brown transferred to San Jose when it was evident that it was an open competition at quarterback. A quarterback battle would ensue at the position, and by the end of the summer, Brown had earned the starter’s job over three other candidates.
Since taking over the position, Brown has become a fantasy star. He has passed for 1,297 yards and logged a 13:4 TD-INT ratio. The redshirt sophomore has scored 26.6, 22.9, 37.7 and 44.1 Fantasy Points (FPs).
Against Washington State on Friday night, Brown recorded his best outing of the season in the 54-52 loss on the road. He completed 35-of-54 throws for 375 yards and four aerial strikes, adding a fifth score on the ground. After a bye week, San Jose welcomes Nevada and Wyoming and visits Colorado State in between the two home games. Brown is a must-add CFF signal caller.
Emmett Brown takes it himself to give the Spartans the lead!
Tune in on the @TheCW!
SJ 31 | WSU 24#AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/fxjkMQIISf
— San José State Football (@SanJoseStateFB) September 21, 2024
Blake Horvath, Navy (Probasco)
Fantrax Rostership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 127.4
FPPG: 42.5
PFF Grade: 92.9
It has been a while since the Midshipmen provided a fantasy viable competitor. After a month, Blake Horvath is CFF QB13 and the overall 16th CFF scorer. The gridiron admiral is a name CFF diehards need to know heading into Week 5. He led Navy to a huge 56-44 win over Memphis, passing for 192 yards and two aerial strikes. But more importantly, he scampered for 211 yards and four scores.
Heading into the game against Memphis, Horvath had only 155 yards and three touchdowns with his feet. In the air, he flung three scores and passed for 220 yards. The 6’2” and 195-pound junior has propelled his team to a 3-0 record and contention in the AAC.
The Navy has a nice upcoming schedule with UAB and Charlotte in the next three battles. And during the playoff stretch, the Midshipmen play Rice, South Florida, and Tulane in Weeks 10-12.
Notebook: “I hope we have some believers now. I am sure with Temple and Bucknell, people were not 100-percent sure what our offense could do. We knew what we could do the whole time. Coming into this game, we didn’t want to be overzealous, but we had a lot of confidence in ourselves,” said Horvath after the victory (navysports.com).
Alonza Barnett, III, James Madison (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 2%
Total Fantasy Points: 104
FPPG: 34.7
PFF Grade: 85.7
Barnett’s performance against North Carolina this past weekend was absolutely bananas. Five passing scores and another two on the ground was good for about 60 points in CFF, which represents a marked improvement from his prior two outings. Hard to know what to make of Barnett at the moment, but the Dukes and Barnett get another good opponent in Ball State this week to see what he’s made of. The 6’0” and 207-pound redshirt sophomore is a dual-threat signal caller so there is fantasy goodness in his skill set.
Notebook: “Barnett, III had a career afternoon, becoming the first player in (program) history to record seven total touchdowns in a single game, passing for a career-high five while rushing for two more. He finished the game 22-of-34 for 388 yards with no interceptions, while rushing for a career-best 99 yards on 13 carries.” (jmusports.com)
Tyler Huff, Jacksonville State (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 104.1
FPPG: 26.0
PFF Grade: 76.0
I have been watching and rostering coach Rich Rodriquez’s quarterbacks in CFF since his days at West Virginia with Pat White. The Gamecocks’ coach might have another CFF luminary behind center. After playing three years at Presbyterian and two seasons at Furman, Tyler Huff arrived on the Jackson State campus over the summer. As a Paladin in 2023, Huff was a team captain and the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year. A dual threat, he completed 184-of-301 passes for 1,869 yards and 10 touchdowns and scampered for 591 yards and six scores.
In 2024, Huff got off to a good start to the season while leading Rodriquez’s dynamic offense. He is CFF QB31, rushing for 269 yards, passing for 880 yards and totaling seven touchdowns. He has exceeded 30 FPs in three consecutive games and sprinted for over 75 yards in each contest. As a member of C-USA, the Gamecocks, and Huff, have an enticing schedule ahead after a bye this weekend.
Notebook: “I think (Huff) has played really well, particularly for his first few games in our system. He wasn’t here in spring practice…he had the summer, which was limited, and then basically fall camp and three games. So, you know, every week I see more and more of him being comfortable with what we’re doing. And that’s a good thing,” coach Rodriguez stated (annistonstar.com).
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
Drew Allar, Penn State
Fantrax Rostership: 26%
Total Fantasy Points: 96.9
FPPG: 32.3
PFF Grade: 82.2
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Fantrax Rostership: 9%
Total Fantasy Points: 68.6
FPPG: 22.9
PFF Grade: 67.5
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the top waiver wire target at quarterback in CFF leagues after Week 4?
- Emmett Brown, San Jose: 20%
- Cade Klubnik, Clemson: 32%
- Drew Allar, Penn State: 16%
- Alonza Barnett, James Madison: 32%
Scholar’s Selection: So many interesting choices in this week’s poll. I highlighted Emmett Brown above because I cannot ignore a Top Ten CFF QB on the waiver wire. Also, he slings the pigskin in the Mountain West with so many tasty matchups on the schedule ahead. If I do not acquire Brown, I will cross my fingers that Alonza Barnett finds a place on my roster.
“Alonza Barnett for me. I thought the James Madison QB would be dynamic and now that the good part of the schedule is upon us, this Duke will turn into a King.” @aceholesrule
Running Backs
Noah Short, Army (Probasco)
Fantrax Rostership: 11%
Total Fantasy Points: 46.9
FPPG: 15.6
PFF Grade: 79.2
As I mention each week, running backs are tough to find on the CFF waiver wire. Noah Short could be just the guy CFF managers are looking for this week. The 6’0” and 182-pound slot playmaker has running back and wide receiver eligibility, which can come in handy in PPR-scoring formats.
Short’s performances have produced 15.9, 16.0 and 15.0 FPs. He is an offensive weapon, and Army is looking to get him the ball any way they can. When I sat down with Army beat reporter Sal Interdonato in the offseason, he mentioned Short as his 2024 Offensive Breakout. With Temple and Tulsa up next, CFF fanatics can pick up and start Short with confidence.
Notebook: “If we can get a lead, then I think that, one (touchdown), gives us some confidence, and two, I think puts some pressure on the other team…To get the first score, we got that one pretty quick, and Noah made a really nice catch off of an excellent throw from the quarterback (41-yard touchdown to open the scoring), and then the next drive—really, that to me is Army football,” reflected coach Jeff Monken (goarmywestpoint.com).
Micah Bernard, Utah (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 28%
Total Fantasy Points: 64.2
FPPG: 16.1
PFF Grade: 74.7
Over the past decade, CFF managers have sought running backs in coach Kyle Wittingham’s offense. Without clarity on the Utes’ starter in the offseason, Micah Bernard was drafted in only 14% of CFF leagues. After four games, the senior is the key playmaker in the backfield.
Bernard has recorded three consecutive games over 100 rushing yards with 118, 123, and 182. He has scored 20.2, 20.6, and 20 FPs and is now CFF RB38 for the campaign. He has scampered for 456 yards on 66 carries, averaging 6.9 ypc. Despite scoring only once, he should be a weekly starter in CFF lineups.
A senior, Bernard missed 11 games last season due to injuries and is now healthy. In 2022, he played in all 14 games with six starts, recording 106 carries for 533 yards, seizing 34 catches for 314 yards and scoring five times. He also returned three kicks for 79 yards. The 6’0” and 206-pounder gets Arizona and Arizona State over the next three weeks with a bye sandwiched in the middle. Do not allow Bernard to linger on the waiver wire any longer.
Notebook: “(Bernard) has been instrumental to our success this whole season. We’ve got to be careful. He’s not—as I’ve said many times—he’s not a 25 carry a game back…That’s probably about five carries more than we would have chosen, but he’s so good, he’s a terrific running back. But it’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint. So, we’ve got to try to make sure we give him the reps accordingly,” coach Whittingham stated after the victory over Oklahoma State (ksl.com).
Freddie Brock, Georgia State (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 8%
Total Fantasy Points: 35.2
FPPG: 11.7
PFF Grade: 74.4
Georgia gets Georgia Southern this week in a cross-state rivalry. The Eagles have been run over on the ground by the likes of Ashton Jeanty and Henry Parrish thus far this season and Brock is beginning to establish himself as the leader in the clubhouse for the Panthers. He’s more like the RB1A of the backfield split rather than an actual bellow, but this week’s matchup feels like it could be really productive for the Panthers, and even beyond this game Brock should be good for some big games.
If CFF fanatics ignore the blowout loss to Georgia Tech, Brock is averaging 16 touches per game. We saw what he can do if they feed him last year in the bowl game, so let’s see what happens this week versus a porous Eagles run defense. Seriously—how did the Eagles become so bad on run D? I thought it was a crime in South Georgia to not be able to stop the run…Sheesh.
Honorable Mention Running Backs
Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama
Fantrax Rostership: 35%
Total Fantasy Points: 77.3
FPPG: 19.3
PFF Grade: 93.5
Fluff‼️ https://t.co/rdwkPozN9c pic.twitter.com/v16StyqWMK
— South Alabama Football 🏈 (@SouthAlabamaFB) September 23, 2024
Damien Taylor, Troy
Fantrax Rostership: 6%
Total Fantasy Points: 46.2
FPPG: 11.5
PFF Grade: 79.6
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
After one month of the season, who is the biggest surprise in CFF?
- WR Tai Felton: 18%
- QB Eli Holstein: 30%
- WR Nick Nash: 30%
- RB Kaleb Johnson:22%
Scholar’s Selection: It is an easy selection for me: I did not even consider Pittsburgh QB Eli Holsten as a viable CFF starter over the offseason, and he is the fourth-most productive signal caller after four games.
“Eli Holstein for me. After being a part of a dozen or so best balls, season long, and mock drafts; I never remember hearing anyone utter, ‘Man, that is one fine bovine!’” @aceholesrule
“With Zero starts/games played to his stat line, for Eli Holstein to start the season with almost 1,200 yards passing and 12 touchdowns is a surprise to say the least. Then to add 180-plus yards on the ground with two more scores is the biggest surprise so far!” @JGoody77
Wide Receivers
Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 27%
Targets: 24
Fantasy Points: 69
FPPG: 17.2
PFF Grade: 71.9
My Rookie Big Board teammate Matt Hicks identified Isaiah Neyor as a CFF Gemstone on our Week 1 Waiver Wire show after the newest Nebraska receiver opened the season with a 24.1 fantasy performance. In the following two games, Neyor only registered nine targets and scored 18.6 FPs.
Last Friday, I sat down to watch the Illinois-Nebraska game and wanted to scout freshman QB Dylan Raiola closely. It became evident early in the contest that Neyor was his favorite target. Raiola threw the ball to Neyor seven times, and the senior from Fort Worth, Texas snatched four of the passes for 90 yards and two scores. For the season, Neyor is CFF WR35 with 16 catches for 277 yards and four touchdowns.
Neyor began his collegiate journey at Wyoming in 2020 and garnered Second Team All-Mountain West in 2021 with 44 receptions for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. Afterward, he transferred to Texas. Grievously, he endured a season-ending injury in 2022 and played in only one game last year. Neyor moved again and appears to have regained his form from three years ago at Wyoming. CFF diehards should add the Cornhuskers’ playmaker to their rosters this week.
Notebook: In August, Neyor reflected on his journey to Nebraska: “I’m so hungry. It was tough having to miss those two seasons. As I was going through that, I’m just sitting there, it’s just building up and building up. Now that I finally have the chance to come out there and compete at a stage like this, it’s just great. I’m super excited for the season and I’m excited about what we can do this year.” (on3.com).
Elijah Metcalf, Marshall (Probasco)
Fantrax Rostership: 14%
Targets: 21
Fantasy Points: 46.7
FPPG: 15.6
PFF Grade: 63.2
Sun Belt, Fun Belt play is right around the corner. A name to note heading into conference play is Elijah Metcalf. The Middle Tennessee State transfer had a great showing in the Week 4 loss at Ohio State. He had eight receptions on nine targets for 68 yards and a touchdown. He currently leads the Herd receivers in catches (15) and touchdowns (3). With an average depth of target of eight yards, Metcalf can be a steady option to lean on from week to week.
Ted Hurst, Georgia State (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 3%
Targets: 21
Fantasy Points: 56.7
FPPG: 18.9
PFF Grade: 73.3
Hurst has scored three times in his last two appearances. In the past two games, he also has garnered 18 targets for 13 catches and 211 yards. For the past two seasons, Hurst played for Valdosta State before transferring to Georgia State. The 6’3” and 185 pound junior caught 38 passes for 596 yards and four touchdowns. Touchdowns won’t always be there in 2024, but his seven and 11 targets in non-blowouts is a good omen for the potential fantasy production this year. The Panthers host Georgia Southern and travel to Old Dominion in the next three weeks.
Notebook: Hurst described his game-winning touchdown against Vanderbilt on Saturday: “[The Commanders] were in man-to-man coverage, and I felt like my quarterback would give me a chance. Coach put us in the right position and made the right calls tonight. We worked (on) those plays in practice, and we were able to connect on the field today.” (georgiastatesports.com)
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
Dean Patterson, Florida International
Fantrax Rostership: 1%
Targets: 28
Fantasy Points: 54
FPPG: 13.5
PFF Grade: 73.0
Devonte Ross, Troy
Fantrax Rostership: 52%
Targets: 39
Fantasy Points: 112.3
FPPG: 28.1
PFF Grade: 79.2
Devonte Ross is 𝗛𝗜𝗠!
11 Catches
229 Yards
3 Touchdowns (98, 44, 20) pic.twitter.com/WfxXDzHOnK— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) September 22, 2024
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
After one month of the season, who is the best bet for the Heisman Trophy?
- QB Jaxson Dart +700: 18%
- QB Cam Ward +550: 35%
- RB Ashton Jeanty +2,000: 17%
- WR Travis Hunter +3,500: 30%
Scholar’s Selection: In early August, I selected Travis Hunter (+5000) in the FSGA Prop Bets Draft on SiriusXM Radio and nothing has changed my mind. He is the best player in the country and plays both sides of the ball. Even so, Colorado must keep winning for Hunter to win the award.
“The answer is Travis Hunter. He is fourth in the nation in catches and receiving touchdowns and a Top 10 cornerback. Who else has ever done that?” @aceholesrule
CFF All-Americans: Week 4
- QB Alonza Barnett, James Madison: 67.4 points
- QB Blake Horvath, Navy: 67.1
- RB Brashard Smith, SMU: 41.1
- RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa: 40.5
- WR Devonte Ross, Troy: 51.8
- WR Tre Harris, Mississippi: 45.5
- WR Nick Nash, SJSU: 43.2
- TE Jack Bech, TCU: 36.6
- Flex Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: 38.3
CFF Player of the Week: Alonza Barnett, James Madison
𝗚𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗨𝗞𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗠.@alonzabiii accounts for 7 touchdowns, as @JMUFootball runs away with a 70-50 victory over North Carolina. ☀️🏈 pic.twitter.com/xYoRUjM6Eb
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) September 21, 2024