The past week has been a whirlwind of non-stop action: the first week of school, four NFL fantasy drafts, and the college fantasy football (CFF) season started. I delight in the fact that college football takes front and center stage of the American sports scene over Labor Day Weekend—far too many hours were spent on the couch watching games and rooting for my CFF teams and players.
For the 12th consecutive year, I am composing a CFF Waiver Wire column, and there are already many interesting options available. DynastyMattyIce will join me, and we will assist readers in pinpointing the preeminent players on the CFF waiver wire…Let’s Go!
There’s no such thing as too much football! 2025 is the perfect time to add the college game to your fantasy football repertoire. Whether you want to create your own league or join an existing league, the Fantrax College Football Commissioner is the place to go!
Week 1 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Beau Pribula, Missouri (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 44.6
During the summer, I recorded a live CFF best ball draft. Late in the process, I needed a fourth quarterback and stated that “I am not ready for the Beau Pribula experience.” Bypassing the Missouri signal caller, I wondered if I made the right decision last Thursday. Against Central Arkansas, Pribula passed for 283 yards, rushed for 65, and totaled four touchdowns with two in the air and two on the ground.
Coming out of high school in 2022, Pribula was a four-star recruit and selected to remain in-state with the Nittany Lions. In 24 career games at Penn State, he completed 37-of-56 passes for 424 yards with nine touchdowns and an interception while rushing for 571 yards on 94 carries and 10 scores.
During the winter, he transferred to Mizzou and battled Sam Horn throughout the spring and training camp for the starting assignment. On Horn’s first play of the season, he suffered a lower leg injury and appears to be out for an “extended” period of time, leaving the job to Pribula for the foreseeable future. Dual-threat signal callers are always prime targets on CFF waiver wires, and the Tigers’ starter can provide a high ceiling.
Notebook: “You know it’s something I’ve been waiting for a long time, just an opportunity like this. I was just extremely excited. A little jittery in the hotel, but once I got to the stadium, I was really excited just to get out here and play with these guys,” said Pribula after the victory (secsports.com).
AJ Swann, Appalachian State (DynastyMattyIce)
Fantrax Ownership: 7%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 35.2
AJ Swann did not waste time making his presence felt in his App State debut, throwing 31-of-46 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns, adding 25 yards on the ground. That’s 35.2 Fantasy Points (FPs) and a clear sign he’s more than a system quarterback. Swann brings an SEC background (2,700-plus passing yards and 22 aerial strikes at Vanderbilt), and now, he gets to plug into the Sun Belt with a schedule that sets him up for fantasy success.
After Charlotte and FCS Lindenwood, App State comes to its tougher non-conference schedule against Boise State and Oregon State, but once conference play begins, the competition becomes a lot friendlier. Sun Belt defenses will be unable to handle this amount of passing, and Swann has the pass-catching crew around him to keep making it work. Sitting at just 4% rostered, Swann is a quality CFF QB2 with matchup-winning upside all season.
Notebook: “LSU has a huge winning tradition, and I think it’s the same thing here at Appalachian State. A winning tradition with fans, students and players who care. I’m really excited to get on the field in a new place (with) new guys, and then just kind of prove everybody wrong,” Swann uttered during training camp (theappalachianonline.com).
Gunner Stockton, Georgia (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 38.9
My grandmother always told my three brothers and me that patience was a virtue when we would get too excited about something. It is clear that Gunner Stockton has embraced my grandma’s axiom, and after three seasons as a backup, he is prepared to take over the controls of the Bulldogs’ offense. Against Marshall, Stockton gained 73 yards on 10 carries and passed for 190 yards on 14 completions with four total touchdowns: two rushing and two passing.
A four-star recruit in Georgia, Stockton was the No. 4 dual-threat prospect at quarterback and was named the 2021 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year. In recent years, Georgia quarterbacks—Carson Beck, Stetson Bennett, and Jake Fromm—never reached CFF All-American status. Stockton’s skill set differs from his predecessors, and the range of outcomes includes a Top 24 finish among CFF signal callers.
Notebook: “Proud of Gunner. Great leader, great competitor. He just does it the right way. Got us out of some negative plays. Had too many times that we could have been sacked, that he escaped. He took care of the ball well, made good decisions, made good reads on his pulls and continued to distribute the ball,” coach Kirby Smart voiced (dawgnation.com).
Honorable Mention Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
Brad Jackson, Texas State
Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 39.5
Taylen Green, Arkansas
Fantrax Ownership: 49%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 52.9
Career high 6⃣ TD's for TG10 pic.twitter.com/4vo19uQ4UF
— Arkansas Football 🐗 (@RazorbackFB) August 30, 2025
Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
Fantrax Ownership: 32%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 40.2
CFF Diehards on Fire!
Who is your preferred quarterback to acquire on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Gunner Stockton, Georgia: 14%
- Beau Pribula, Missouri: 44%
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas: 33%
- AJ Swann, Appalachian State: 9%
“Beau Pribula for me. Drew Mestemaker might win the poll but Beau can run and there is a clear path to the end zone on each drive because the running backs are not as good as in the past.” @aceholesrule
Running Backs
Lucky Sutton, San Diego State (DynastyMattyIce)
Fantrax Ownership: 19%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 24.5
Sutton was one of the players I mentioned as a stash candidate heading into the season, and Week 1 showed why. He dove right into a workhorse role with 22 carries for 100 yards and two scores, with no doubt that he is the pulse of San Diego State’s offense. For a ground-game-wearing-down team like the Aztecs, Sutton is perfectly the man to offer week-to-week consistency.
What’s so appealing about Sutton is the combination of volume and goal-line usage. Even though SDSU’s offense is slower paced than explosive, his workload alone gives him a safe CFF RB2 floor, with the possibility of multi-score ceiling in favorable matchups. These are the types of runners CFF managers look for early: players who go from stash to feature within a week. Sutton must be at the very top of waiver wire priorities.
Notebook: “Visualize an entire 24-hour routine the night before a game. I visualize the first play because we want to set the tone from the first play. I visualize outcomes of good, bad, and ugly, but I think about more good. Some of those first plays become other plays throughout the game. Different run plays, different pass plays and just try to set the tone,” Sutton said after the game (sandiegouniontribune.com).
Jevon Jackson, UAB (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 28.6
I can’t believe that it has been 31 years since UAB coach Trent Dilfer was a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a long career calling signals and TV analyst, Dilfer is entering his third season coaching at UAB, winning only seven games during his first two seasons. In both campaigns, the Blazers did not have a ball carrier who exceeded 900 yards rushing. Dilfer wanted to improve the ground game over the offseason, and Jevon Jackson has stepped into the backfield role the coach sought.
From 2021-2023, Jackson played at Austin Peay and earned FCS Third Team All-America in 2023. The following season, he transferred to UTEP and sprinted for 754 yards and four scores. In his first game as a Blazer, the 5-8- and 210-pound redshirt senior collected 17 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns, gaining 9.8 ypc. In the next two weeks, UAB travels to Navy and hosts Akron, which are nice matchups for Jackson and the ground game.
Notebook: “(Jevon Jackson) has got a lot of good qualities as a runner, but he’s the right kind of person. The collective character of this team is just so different from what we’ve had in the past. He was a key cog in that,” coach Trent Dilfer stated after the Blazers victory over Alabama State (al.com).
Kewan Lacy, Mississippi (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 37%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 28.8
On some of my CFF rosters, I lost RB Jam Miller in the backfield and needed a replacement on the waiver wire. On the Rookie Big Board CFF weekly preview show, I pinpointed Kewan Lacy as a sleeper. I inserted Lacy into two lineups and placed him on DFS rosters. The Rebels’ runner exceeded expectations against Georgia State, crossing the century mark on 16 attempts and scoring three times. Unfortunately, he did not collect a target, which may limit his fantasy upside in PPR-scoring formats.
A sophomore, Lacy earned four stars from recruiting services and attended Missouri for one semester, graduating from high school in 2024. Subsequently, he transferred to Mississippi and spent the 2025 spring semester on campus. The 5-11 and 210-pound Texan won the job in training camp and has been named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list. If still available on the waiver wire, Lacy is clearly a top target this week.
Notebook: “Yeah, Kewan’s performance was awesome. We didn’t have that (a running game), you know, a year ago, and so it was really good to have it back. Kind of thinking he was going to play like that because that’s how (Kewan) practices, and he’s got a unique skill set of speed and power,” coach Lane Kiffin expressed after Lacy’s three-touchdown performance (olemisssports.com).
Have a night Kewan 👏#HottyToddy https://t.co/vBRdJ7R6Zg pic.twitter.com/MfvD6pBmEs
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 31, 2025
Honorable Mention Waiver Wire Running Backs
Aidan Laughery, Illinois
Fantrax Ownership: 14%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 26.3
Damari Alston, Auburn
Fantrax Ownership: 17%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 14.4
Rashod Dubinion, Appalachian State
Fantrax Ownership: 13%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 25.2
Sam Scott, Wyoming
Fantrax Ownership: 6%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 13.2
CFF Diehards on Fire!
At running back, who are you prioritizing on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Lincoln Pare, Texas State: 22%
- Jevon Jackson, UAB: 13%
- Kewan Lacy, Mississippi: 42%
- Aidan Laughery, Illinois: 23%
“Aidan Laughery for me. He might not be the ‘only’ back that will get carries, but the Illini run a ton and this kid is good!” @aceholesrule
Wide Receivers
Jaden Barnes, Appalachian State (DynastyMattyIce)
Fantrax Ownership: 3%
Targets: 8
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 25.4
I had been riding high on the App State offense all offseason, and Week 1 gave us an early glimpse as to why. Barnes may have begun the game with a score, but fumbled the ball just inside the end zone, then returned to catch six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. With AJ Swann under center, Appalachian State isn’t balanced; they’re leaning pass-heavy, and Barnes is clearly Swann’s go-to target. This connection gives him a high floor and flex-start upside. And if CFF coaches are thinking about stacking lineups, pairing Barnes with Swann could be a smart play in the weeks ahead. Barnes is a sneaky addition for managers looking for CFF WR2 or 3 production with true upside.
Marquis Johnson, Missouri (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 15%
Targets: 6
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 24.4
During the summer, I drafted Tigers’ WR Kevin Coleman based on the expected role in the slot for coach Eli Drinkwitz. Unfortunately, he did not pop last Thursday despite Missouri scoring 61 points against Central Arkansas. Marquis Johnson burned the secondary deep and scored the first touchdown (a 49-yard bomb) of the campaign for the Tigers. When the evening ended, the speedster logged five catches for 134 yards and the score.
Before the season kicked off, the 5-11 and 185-pound junior had played in 25 games for the Tigers with 38 receptions for 735 yards, averaging 19.3 ypc, and four touchdowns. In September, Missouri hosts Kansas, Louisiana, and UMass, all of which are good matchups. Only the South Carolina game is a daunting contest. Johnson is a fascinating waiver wire acquisition this week, who might be overlooked by the casual CFF diehard.
Notebook: “It’s easy when (Marquis) Johnson is running the route for you,” Tigers’ quarterback Beau Pribula uttered after the victory over Central Arkansas (si.com).
Jaden Bradley, UNLV (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 13%
Targets: 13
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 24.5
Under new coach Dan Mullens, the Rebels have scored 38 points in back-to-back games to open the season. The passing game is flying, and Jaden Bradley is a must-pick-up on the waiver wire despite having two bye weeks over the next month. Against Sam Houston on Friday night, Bradley secured six passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. In two games, he has produced 43.6 FPs and looks like a rising star in Mullen’s offensive scheme.
A 2021 high school graduate, Bradley originally enrolled at Pittsburgh and played two seasons for the Panthers. In 2023, he suited up for Charlotte and transferred to UNLV last year. At 6-4 and 195 pounds, Bradley has worked his way into the starting lineup and is taking advantage of his opportunities. I am putting in a healthy FAB bid (20%) on Bradley this week.
Notebook: “Here’s the issue. I’m so pleased, because I think we’re really coming together. We took a huge step from last week, and I think that’s a big deal for us. There are so many positive plays to build on if we can just focus on eliminating some of the negatives,” Coach Mullen stated after the victory over Sam Houston (unlvrebels.com).
Nyziah Hunter, Nebraska (DynastyMattyIce)
Fantrax Ownership: 18%
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 18.5
The Nebraska passing game has not been a big fantasy consideration in recent years, but Nyziah Hunter looked like a player who could make us reconsider that. He was targeted 10 times, hauling in six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, and was an immediate focal point of the Huskers’ passing attack.
The encouraging part here is the quantity. Ten targets in Week 1 aren’t an accident, and even in a run-first offense, Hunter’s ability to separate and command looks makes him a name to write in ink. The ceiling might not be astronomical given the Nebraska offense, but opportunity is king in CFF, and Hunter’s usage suggests he’ll be relevant most weeks. The Cornhusker playmaker is a sneaky waiver addition for owners who require stable depth with potential for more if the passing attack continues to evolve.
Honorable Mention Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
O’Mega Blake, Arkansas
Fantrax Ownership: 14%
Targets: 8
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 25.1
Malachi Toney, Miami
Fantrax Ownership: 22%
Targets: 10
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 20.2
Chase Hendricks, Ohio
Fantrax Ownership: 26%
Targets: 12
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 20.5
Kenny Odom, UTEP
Fantrax Ownership: 42%
Targets: 16
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 26.3
Jayce Brown, Kansas State
Fantrax Ownership: 46%
Targets: 24
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 28.9
Wide open plains pic.twitter.com/dMNbvxpDw8
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) August 30, 2025
CFF Diehards on Fire!
Who is the top receiver target on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Jaden Barnes, Appalachian State: 6%
- Jayce Brown, Kansas State: 44%
- Mario Craver, Texas A&M: 34%
- Jaden Bradley, UNLV: 16%
“Mario Craver for me. He was hot in camp, and the Aggies are using his speed the right way. Great schedule over the next few weeks, too.” @aceholesrule
Tight Ends
Jaxxon Warren, Colorado State
Fantrax Ownership: 8%
Targets: 11
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 19.9
Dorian Thomas, New Mexico
Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Targets: 14
Week 1 Fantasy Points: 29.1
CFF All-Americans: Week 1
- QB Taylen Green, Arkansas: 52.9 FPs
- QB Evan Simon, Temple: 48.0 FPs
- RB Justice Haynes, Michigan: 36.5 FPs
- RB Jonah Coleman, Washington: 32.9 FPs
- WR Beau Sparks, Texas State: 39.2 FPs
- WR Jordan Tyson, Arizona State: 38.1 FPs
- WR Cade Harris, Air Force: 35.9 FPs
- TE Dorian Thomas, New Mexico: 29.1 FPs
- Flex Eli Heidenreich, Navy: 31.5 FPs
CFF Player of the Week: Taylen Green
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