We have reached the midpoint of the regular season in most college fantasy football leagues. At the halfway mark, I am 55-35 in 11 leagues and have two undefeated teams. Full disclosure: my team is sinking in the CFF King’s Classic at 3-7. No matter my record, I am continuing to grind the waiver wire, battling for every possible victory until the regular season ends. Anderson Brookhart, Steve Jackson, and Thomas Johnson join me as always to break down the CFF waiver wire…Let’s Go!
There’s no such thing as too much football! 2026 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 5 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 30%
Total Fantasy Points: 153.9
FPPG: 30.8
PFF Grade: 78.0
When coach James Franklin took over the Virginia Tech program, he brought in his former Penn State quarterback, Ethan Grunkemeyer, to compete for the starting job. In 2023, the Ohioan high schooler earned first-team all-state, first-team all-conference, and all-county Offensive Player of the Year honors. He signed with Penn State and redshirted as a freshman in 2024. Last year, he started the final seven games for the Nittany Lions, completing 69% of his throws for 1,339 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for a score.
On Friday night, I enjoyed a triple-box of games on the big screen and was impressed with Grunkemeyer’s performance in the loss to Pittsburgh. He has a strong arm and is accurate. He passed for a career-best 434 yards and three touchdowns. He scored over 40 fantasy points (FPs) for the second time this season: The Hookies’ signal caller produced 41 points versus Maryland two weeks ago. At 6-2 and 213 pounds, Grunkemeyer has scored three times on the ground, but he is not a dual-threat, with -24 rushing yards on 21 carries.
In high school, Grunkemeyer was the team captain and three-year letter winner. He earned an invite to the Under Armour All-American game and was an Elite 11 finalist. He also established school records for career passing yards (8,401), career passing touchdowns (80), season passing yards (3,517), and season passing touchdowns (39). The Hokies’ quarterback should not remain on the waiver wire any longer after five games this season.
Notebook: “We recruited Ethan because we’ve seen over time that he’s got a chance to be a really talented player…Grunk made some big throws. He was gutsy Friday night,” coach Franklin articulated after the 2-point loss against Pittsburgh (hookiesports.com).
Y’all, we need to start having the conversation about Virginia Tech QB Ethan Grunkemeyer pic.twitter.com/LHJyaA2CsQ
— Matt Hicks (@TheFF_Educator) October 3, 2026
Amari Odom, Syracuse (Brookhart)
Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Total Fantasy Points: 58.1
FPPG: 19.1
PFF Grade: 76.0
After Steve Angeli turned the ball over five times across his previous two starts, Syracuse handed the offense to Amari Odom, and the Kennesaw State transfer immediately provided the spark this offense had been missing. In his first start for the Orange, Odom completed 27 of 37 passes for 335 yards and 5 touchdowns, then added another score on the ground, accounting for all six of Syracuse’s touchdowns in a thrilling 42-41 overtime win over UConn.
The most encouraging part for fantasy managers is that Odom wasn’t simply managing the game. Syracuse consistently trusted him to push the ball downfield, and he showed the mobility to add another dimension to the offense. Coach Fran Brown specifically pointed to Odom’s ability to “run a little bit more” as a reason for making the switch. Odom also brings legitimate production from his time at Kennesaw State, where he earned First Team All-Conference USA honors in 2025 after throwing 19 touchdowns and rushing for 7 more.
Questions remain after two second-half interceptions, but Odom clearly raises Syracuse’s offensive ceiling. After producing 51.2 FPs in his first start, he should be one of the most interesting waiver-wire quarterbacks if Brown sticks with him.
Amari to Umari 🎯
📺 CBSSN https://t.co/NsJAi0Af0b
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) October 3, 2026
Ashton Daniels, Florida State (Johnson)
Fantrax Ownership: 30%
Total Fantasy Points: 162.2
FPPG: 32.4
PFF Grade: 77.7
First off, I have to admit I am shocked by how much I like what I am seeing out of Florida State. What they did against Alabama will age very well, and this week they dismantled Virginia, which was making a case as an ACC dark horse. Now, Ashton’s upside comes entirely from his legs. His talent was on full display last week, with 136 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns!
Now, that isn’t going to happen every week, but against SMU in week 2 he ran 16 times for 70 yards and a TD, which seems like a solid baseline for what we can expect week to week from Daniels against ACC competition. Outside of a matchup in two weeks against Miami, Florida State doesn’t play anyone I think has the athletes to contain Daniels until their Turkey Day matchup versus Florida. As a plug-and-play QB during a starter’s bye week, S-flex, or matchup-dependent third option, CFF coaches could do far worse.
Notebook: “I thought Ashton played at a high level and really did some good things. Took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves. Ash earned some respect tonight for his performance. I was proud of him for the way that he was able to go play,” Coach Mike Norvell stated after the game on Saturday (Seminoles.com).
Tayven Jackson, North Texas (@CFF_Jacko)
Fantrax Ownership: 26%
Total Fantasy Points: 153.5
FPPG: 30.7
PFF Grade: 90.8
Two weeks ago in this column, I told readers to acquire Tayven Jackson after North Texas let him throw the football 57 times against Texas State. In AAC conference play, Jackson has averaged 407.5 passing yards, four touchdowns, and 35.6 FPPG.
A quarterback available in nearly every Fantrax league two weeks ago is now producing at a pace comparable to the sport’s most valuable players. Saturday’s shootout at Tulsa provided the latest evidence. Jackson completed 24-of-39 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns, then added another score on the ground. And now comes the fun part.
Jackson’s next opponent is Charlotte. On Saturday, the 49ers allowed Marcus Stokes to throw for 318 yards and five touchdowns in a 59-8 win over Memphis. Stokes finished with 47 fantasy points, one of the top quarterback performances of Week 5. A quarterback averaging 407.5 passing yards per AAC game is about to face a defense that just surrendered five touchdown passes. Turns out, 57 pass attempts wasn’t a fluke. It was a warning of Jackson’s upcoming dominance. Act now.
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
Jacurri Brown, Rice
Fantrax Ownership: 9%
Total Fantasy Points: 107.9
FPPG: 21.6
PFF Grade: 77.2
CFF Diehards on Fire!
Among quarterbacks on the waiver wire, who is your main mark to acquire on the CFF?
- Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech: 26%
- Ashton Daniels, Florida State: 31%
- Cameron Brown, Georgia State: 5%
- Tayven Jackson, North Texas: 38%
“Victory lap activated. Tayven Jackson vs. Charlotte is going to be fun next week.” @CFF_Jacko
“TAYVEN, TAYVEN, TAYVEN! Over 30 FPPG when not facing Indiana. I drafted this kid back in 2022. He finally got his chance, and he is balling!” @aceholesrule
Running Backs
Cyncir Bowers, UConn (Brookhart)
Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Total Fantasy Points: 73.5
FPPG: 14.7
PFF Grade: 80.1
Cyncir Bowers may have officially broken out of the committee and established himself as the Huskies’ clear lead back. Bowers dominated Syracuse on Saturday, rushing 16 times for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding 2 receptions for 16 yards on 4 targets. The 163 rushing yards against a Power 4 opponent are impressive on their own, but the most encouraging part of this performance was the volume. Bowers accounted for 67% of the team’s running back carries, a big jump in usage that suggests the coaching staff is beginning to trust him as the backfield’s centerpiece, which should reassure fans about his rising role on the gridiron and in fantasy.
Coming into the season, Bowers was competing for touches in a crowded backfield, but this performance could mark the point where that changes. His explosive production and clear workload advantage give him a strong case to separate himself from the committee. If Bowers continues seeing close to two-thirds of the backfield work, his fantasy ceiling rises considerably. This feels less like a one-game breakout and more like the beginning of Bowers taking firm control of the RB No. 1 role in Storrs, CT.
Notebook: “Good individual effort by Cyncir against Syracuse…When he is able to find a little crease, he’s got home run speed, so he’s a hard guy to get on the ground,” Coach Jason Candle uttered in his post-game interview (uconnhuskies.com)
James Jones, New Mexico State (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 25%
Total Fantasy Points: 81.3
FPPG: 16.6
PFF Grade: 77.0
Two years ago, New Mexico State rostered two backs, Mike Washington and Seth McGowan, both NFL rookies. Last season, the running game stalled (finishing last in the FBS), and coach Tony Sanchez wanted to jump-start it in the offseason. First, the program significantly improved the offensive line, bringing in several new members. Second, the team brought in former Delaware State product James Jones. After five games, the Aggies’ changes have clearly paid dividends on the ground and in the box scores.
On the weekly Rookie Big Board sleeper show in Week 1, I identified Jones as a pickup to place into lineups against Mercyhurst. He exploded for 137 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown, scoring 26.9 FPs. Last Thursday night versus Western Kentucky, he collected a season-best 20 totes for a season-high 155 yards and a score. It was the second time he exceeded 20 FPs in a game, and he has produced over 12 FPs in 4 of 5 contests. This season, Jones has 15 runs over 10 yards and has gained 260 yards after contact, averaging 3.33 yards after contact per attempt. He has also recorded 21 first downs on 77 carries (27%) for the Aggies.
A 6-1, 205-pounder, he began his college career at Garden City Community College in 2022 and played there for two campaigns. He moved to UL-Monroe in 2024 and suited up for Delaware State last year. As a Hornet, he gained 958 rushing yards and reached the promised land nine times. Now, at his fourth school, Jones is a must-pick-up over the next week and has a favorable C-USA schedule in the next two months.
Notebook: Jones described his running style during training camp: “I’m bringing electric and explosive plays. Coaches want guys that will go get you five every play, but I am trying to score every single time that I get the ball.” (kfoxtv.com)
George Pettaway, James Madison (Johnson)
Fantrax Ownership: 43%
Total Fantasy Points: 91.6
FPPG: 18.3
PFF Grade: 72.3
We usually keep these write-ups to 30% ownership or less, but I made an exception here. If George Pettaway is available, he needs to be the first waiver claim, ESPECIALLY if you have a question mark at RB (as an investor in Makhi Hughes and Adam Mohammed, I feel your pain). Pettaway started the year off slowly, rushing for less than 50 yards against Liberty. It’s only gotten better since. Against Marshall this week, he answered any remaining questions, turning 14 rush attempts into 206 yards and 2 scores, for a blistering 14.7 yards per carry.
This year, he is averaging 15 attempts per game, doubling up second option Nick Herman. He is gaining 97 yards per game with 1.2 touchdowns, both top-25 marks among FBS backs. Volume hogs like this don’t just pop up on the waiver wire this late in the year, especially on a team that will likely run the ball in positive-run-game scripts for most of their remaining schedule.
Jonaz Walton, Notre Dame (@CFF_Jacko)
Fantrax Ownership: 23%
Total Fantasy Points: 27.6
FPPG: 6.9
PFF Grade: 84.5
Should CFF coaches roster the Notre Dame RB No. 1? Of course they should. Guess what? He isn’t. Maybe Jonaz Walton didn’t suddenly become good. Maybe it just took Notre Dame five weeks to realize he was the best running back in the room.
The freshman arrived in South Bend as a four-star recruit and one of the top running backs in the 2026 recruiting class. He piled up more than 7,000 all-purpose yards in high school, ran a verified 10.6 in the 100 meters, and enrolled with the profile of a future impact player.
Against North Carolina, that opportunity finally arrived. Walton handled 23 carries for 120 yards while adding two receptions for 28 more yards. That’s the type of workload coaches reserve for players they trust. That’s the signal. A week ago, Walton had only 16 carries all season. On Saturday, he received 23 by himself. Coaches do not accidentally hand a freshman that workload in a road game. Walton may have picked the perfect time to take over the backfield.
Notre Dame’s next opponent is Stanford. On Saturday, the Cardinal were demolished 57-3 by Wake Forest, allowing 197 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. If Walton gets another 20-plus carries next week, he might hit 90% ownership. Sometimes fantasy football is complicated. Sometimes a blue-chip recruit starts looking like the best running back on a playoff contender. Go pick up Notre Dame’s starting running back.
Notebook: Coach Marcus Freeman discussed his backfield and run game after the victory in the rain against North Carolina: “You know, I think there are some similarities with Nolan and Aneyas, and Jonaz just gives you a different type of change-up…Jonas has a different type of running style that gave us a spark, and he played really well today.” (fightingirish.com)
Notre Dame Freshman RB Jonaz Walton this season
16 carries
108 rushing yards
6.8 YPC https://t.co/Wg4uvqqsjp— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) October 1, 2026
AJ Newberry, Oregon State (@CFF_Jacko)
Fantrax Ownership: 8%
Total Fantasy Points: 78.2
FPPG: 15.6
PFF Grade: 73.9
AJ Newberry might not be a very good running back. I don’t care. At this point, I’m collecting Oregon State skill players like they’re Pokémon cards because the Beavers are determined to score 50 points every Saturday. Oregon State is currently led by Braden Atkinson, who has thrown for 1,850 yards through five games and pilots one of the most productive offenses in college football.
Over the last two weeks, Newberry has taken over the Oregon State backfield, handling most carries and averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game. Newberry has already piled up 430 yards from scrimmage, caught 17 passes, and now appears to have seized the lead-rushing role. Most waiver-wire running backs need 20 carries to matter. Newberry can get there on 12 carries and four catches.
Next week, Oregon State welcomes the mumps-infested Aztecs from San Diego State. PFF doesn’t have to like him. Oregon State does. That’s good enough for me.
Honorable Mention Running Backs
Damari Alston, Tulsa
Fantrax Ownership: 16%
Total Fantasy Points: 78.9
FPPG: 15.8
PFF Grade: 80.1
Wide Receivers
Eli Wood, Utah State (Johnson)
Fantrax Ownership: 12%
Targets: 49
Fantasy Points: 92.8
FPPG: 18.6
PFF Grade: 80.5
Volume, Volume, Volume. Every time I veer away from this guiding principle, suckered in by explosive play merchants, I come back humbled. The Law of Large Numbers usually reigns supreme, and the more often a QB looks a receiver’s way, the more likely he is going to provide a sterling stat line.
So, may I interest you in a PAC-12 receiver who commands 32% of his team’s target share (9.8 TGTS/G) and has put up back-to-back 20-plus point performances? Well, look no further than Mr. Eli Wood. His targets have been extremely sticky through the first five weeks, and while he isn’t the most explosive player, Wood only has one game below 10 FPs, and that was on the road at Utah, where the entire offense was blanked.
Week-to-week consistency is extremely rare this late into the season, especially in deeper leagues. If CFF readers aren’t sold yet, his next matchup is against a defense inside the top 100 for points allowed versus receivers. And the last week of the season is against Oregon State. Also, are you not thrilled with your fantasy team name so far? A change to The Book of Eli is staring CFF diehards in the face, and who doesn’t want a picture of Denzel in Stunner Shades as their team avatar? CFF Diehards are welcome in advance.
Oran Singleton, Tulsa (Brookhart)
Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Targets: 38
Fantasy Points: 71.5
FPPG: 14.3
PFF Grade: 66.6
Oran Singleton Jr. is quickly becoming one of the most heavily utilized players in the Tulsa offense. His target share has increased every week, culminating in a massive 17-target performance against North Texas. Singleton turned those opportunities into 11 receptions for 104 yards and added 22 rushing yards on two carries. The volume is becoming impossible to ignore, especially as Tulsa finds ways to get him the ball through the air and on the ground.
The increased usage shouldn’t surprise anyone. Before the season, head coach Tre Lamb said Singleton would “probably be one of our best players, if not the best player with the ball in his hand.” That belief is starting to show up in the box score. Singleton’s 17 targets strongly indicate how much Tulsa trusts him, and the week-to-week increase suggests this isn’t just a one-game spike. At only 2% ownership, Singleton is one of the more intriguing waiver options, and his expanding role gives him a legitimate path to consistent WR No.1 level volume.
Kwazi Gilmer, Nebraska (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Targets: 44
Fantasy Points: 103.7
FPPG: 20.7
PFF Grade: 73.0
Last year, I identified Kwazi Gilmer as a deep sleeper in CFF drafts, but he failed to meet expectations at UCLA. During the winter, he transferred west to Nebraska. Over the spring and summer, I drafted Gilmer many times in CFF best ball drafts because he was available after round 20, and I couldn’t pass up the value as my sixth or seventh receiver. Luckily, I also selected the newest Husker in a couple of season-long leagues. So far, Gilmer has been one of my better pickups, and he is still available in over 70% of leagues. Do not let the leading Nebraska pass catcher remain available any longer.
After scoring 37.7 FPs against Maryland, Gilmer is CFF WR17 for the season. He has been incredible in fantasy. He has produced over 20 FPs in three games and over 15 FPs in 4 of 5 outings. He has corralled 29 passes for 387 yards and scored 6 times. The junior playmaker spent two campaigns at UCLA, making 81 catches for 880 yards and six scores. The 6-2, 195-pounder was a four-star recruit and ranked among the top 30 wide receiver recruits in 2024. Gilmer has blossomed in Lincoln and should be snatched up this week in CFF leagues.
Notebook: Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen discussed Gilmer’s performance in 2026: “His rapport with QB (Anthony Colandrea) is fantastic. They watch film together all the time. They think this turf field out here is like recess. They go out there during the day and just play catch. Kwazi is special now.” (husker247.com)
Sam Pickett, Appalachian State (Johnson)
Fantrax Ownership: 8%
Targets: 27
Fantasy Points: 70.6
FPPG: 17.7
PFF Grade: 76.7
We’ll call this one Tommy’s dart throw of the week. Sam Pickett has been fairly consistent game to game. Still, he hasn’t blown me away with highlight-replays or metrics that suggest he is a must-roster. However, we want to identify the guys you will be wishing you rostered three weeks from now. I have a feeling Pickett is on the verge of a string of big performances. As I noted early this year in this column, Malachi Singleton has been excellent as a pocket passer, ranking top 20 among all FBS QBs in attempts, completions, and yards per game, while turning it over only twice through four games. Looking at the facts, my mind immediately wants to find his top WR and roster him.
Pickett had his best overall performance of the season in week 4 against NC State, turning 5 catches into 97 yards and a score. The Mountaineers were on bye last week, giving them a great opportunity to gear up for conference play. Pickett profiles as a receiver primed to come out of a bye week and start putting up monster performances in a pass-first offense full of opportunities. Snag him now in deeper leagues if you believe, and if you need more proof, watch Appalachian State’s upcoming matchup with Old Dominion.
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
Que’Sean Brown, Virginia Tech
Fantrax Ownership: 27%
Targets: 44
Fantasy Points: 82.1
FPPG: 16.4
PFF Grade: 73.7
Tight Ends
Eric Olsen, Oregon State (@CFF_Jacko)
Fantrax Ownership: 13%
Total Fantasy Points: 65.6
Targets: 30
FPPG: 13.1
PFF Grade: 78.2
The tight end position is a wasteland. And yet somehow one of the most productive tight ends in the country is available in 98% of leagues. Eric Olsen’s 24 catches rank 4th among all tight ends nationally. Read that again. Fourth nationally. Two percent rostered.
Olsen has caught at least three passes in every game this season and just exploded for 9 catches, 65 yards, and 2 touchdowns against Colorado State. The position doesn’t require perfection. It requires a pulse. Olsen has 24 catches. He’s facing the Mumps squad next week, and his team will probably score 50 points again. If you’re still streaming tight ends every Saturday, you’re making life harder than it needs to be. Just roster the Beaver.
CFF Diehards on Fire!
Who is your top player to acquire on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- WR Kwazi Gilmer, Nebraska: 25%
- RB James Jones, New Mexico State: 18%
- RB Kam Davis, Liberty: 32%
- WR Que’Sean Brown, Virginia Tech: 25%
“James Jones for me. Man gets the touches and has a cake schedule down the stretch. Counting Crows, BABY, Mr. Jones and me!” @aceholesrule
CFF All-Americans: Week 5
- QB Ashton Daniels, Florida State: 50.9 (Fantasy Points)
- QB Branden Atkinson, Oregon State: 49.6
- RB Aiden Flora, Iowa State: 53.1
- RB Jamal Roberts, Missouri: 45.0
- WR Umari Hatcher, Syracuse: 45.2
- WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: 43.6
- WR Anthony Evans, Mississippi State: 40.6
- TE Eric Olsen, Oregon State: 27.5
- Flex DeSean Bishop, Tennessee: 40.0
CFF Player of the Week: Aiden Flora, Iowa State
Iowa State RB Aiden Flora in shootout win vs West Virginia:
22 carries
212 rushing yards
5 total touchdowns (2 passing)Says he models his game after Jahmyr Gibbs! https://t.co/rmGxPq6vEm
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) October 3, 2026
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