College Fantasy Football: Week 9 Waiver Wire

I’m a college football enthusiast through and through. On Halloween, my job is to hand out candy at our house, and I really enjoy seeing the kids in their costumes. This year, I dressed up as Bear Bryant, the legendary Alabama coach, but none of the trick-or-treaters seemed impressed—any readers surprised? Honestly, I designed the costume for myself, merging my favorite pastime, college football, with the Day of the Dead. This week, Anderson Brookhart, Steve Jackson, Thomas Johnson, and I have some amazing waiver-wire treats for college fantasy football fans.

Week 9 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire

Quarterbacks

Thomas Castellanos, Texas Tech (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 67.8
FPPG: 11.3
PFF Grade: 61.3

At this point in the year, most owners should have their QB situation situated. In my mind, very few situations allow a backup to come in now and push for a top 10/15 QB case over the last five weeks of the season. Castellanos just may be that guy. I am by no means throwing out the years of evidence we have showing Tommy C is a below-average quarterback. However, he is in the rare situation where his team can uniquely amplify his strengths and hide his weaknesses.

I look at Castellanos like Ashton Daniels. He’ll be a threat to run for over 100 yards every game, and anything you get from him in the passing game is icing on the cake. And the cherry on top? The sweet nectar of a Big 12 schedule. TTU gets to play West Virginia, OK State, and a Baylor team that just fired their coach over the next 3 weeks. If you need an X factor, Castellanos just may be your guy.

Thomas Castellanos’ mobility completely changes this Texas Tech offense. His escapability and what he can do in the run game give the Red Raiders an offensive identity.

Wild that he was participating in NFL minicamps a few months ago as a WR https://t.co/WoZFqnLqpa

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 31, 2026

Billy Edwards, North Carolina (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 7%
Total Fantasy Points: 165.8
FPPG: 20.7
PFF Grade: 71.2

When I first saw UConn’s 2026 schedule, I immediately circled North Carolina. The game is finally here, and I look forward to seeing Bill Belichick, the former Patriots coach, at the Rent this Saturday. Both teams are 4-4 and coming off close losses. Nonetheless, their quarterbacks can put up big numbers. Billy Edwards carved up Miami on Saturday night with 341 yards passing and 4 touchdowns, producing 37.4 Fantasy Points (FPs). He has now notched over 20 FPs in five games this season.

In 2012, Edwards kicked off his career at Wake Forest, played three seasons at Maryland and one at Wisconsin, then landed in North Carolina this past offseason. This year, he has already tied his season-best with 15 touchdown passes and thrown for 1,872 yards, which trails his career high of 2,881 in 2024. While he hasn’t scored on the ground this year, the graduate student scored 12 times in 2023 and 2024.

As a UConn fan, I know how bad the secondary has played this year, and the only reason the stats look semi-good against the pass is that Air Force, an option team, did not gain a single passing yard on Saturday. Taking out the Air Force contest, the Huskies have surrendered over 280 passing yards and nearly 2 aerial strikes per game. Edwards and the Tar Heels offense should have no problem moving the football up and down the field versus UConn. If a CFF coach needs a starter this week, Edwards is one of the better options in the free-agent pool.

Notebook: “Yeah, Billy has been doing a solid job for us. His job is to throw the ball to the guy that’s open. So that’s what he’s supposed to do. That’s what he did. That’s what he should do,” Coach Belichick stated after the Miami loss (on3.com).

John Alan Richter, Toledo (@CFF_Jacko)

Fantrax Ownership: 20%
Total Fantasy Points: 197.7
FPPG: 24.7
PFF Grade: 86.2

John Alan Richter just threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns against a stout Western Michigan defense. His reward? Sacramento State. That’s not a matchup. That’s a gift basket.

Richter has the most fantasy points scored of any player under 30% ownership in Fantrax. He’s completed 67% of his passes for 2,244 yards and 17 touchdowns against only two interceptions, including 429- and 391-yard eruptions. The PFF numbers say this isn’t some MAC fever dream, either: an 86.2 passing grade with 20 Big-Time Throws.

Before Friday’s bizarre win over Kent State, the Hornets were coughing up 36.6 points per conference game, with every MAC opponent reaching at least 28. Now they get one of the hottest quarterbacks in college football. I prefer dual-threat QBs, but when you have 400-yard potential this late in the waiver season, you stop overthinking and press ADD.

Honorable Mention Quarterbacks

Brock Glenn, Western Kentucky

Fantrax Ownership: 17%
Total Fantasy Points: 146.6
FPPG: 18.3
PFF Grade: 62.6

CFF Diehards on Fire!

The CFF waiver wire is thin this week. Who ya got to acquire in time for a playoff push?

• WR Kyle Koch, North Texas: 15%
• WR Chris Lawson, Washington: 30%
• RB Damon Ferguson, Pittsburgh: 36%
• WR Rasean Jones, Boise State: 19%

“In my book, it is Rasean Jones. Nice pedigree, and the target share continues to grow.” @aceholesrule

“Grabbed Chris Lawson in the Tadpole Bowl league a couple of weeks ago and started him this week. So Lawson gets my vote.” @yaj2112

“I can’t add Damon Ferguson until we know the status of Ja’Kyrian Turner.” @CFF_Heisman

Running Backs

Godspower Nwawuihe, Army (Brookhart)

Fantrax Ownership: 28%
Total Fantasy Points: 79.9
FPPG: 13.3
PFF Grade: 73.2

Godspower Nwawuihe is starting to put together a productive stretch at the perfect time, delivering three straight games with at least 56 rushing yards. The Army running back has totaled 291 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries over that span, averaging an impressive 6.9 ypc. His last two outings have been particularly encouraging, combining for 235 yards and two scores against Tulsa and Memphis. He broke off a 66-yard touchdown run against Tulsa, then followed it up with 100 yards on 19 carries against Memphis.

Army’s option-based offense gives its backs opportunities to produce when they get a consistent workload, and Nwawuihe has made the most of his recent touches. He’s still sharing opportunities in the backfield, but the efficiency and increasing workload make him worth monitoring as a potential CFF contributor.

Davion Gause, North Carolina State (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 18%
Total Fantasy Points: 88.4
FPPG: 12.6
PFF Grade: 69.7

This is my speculative add of the week, but bear with me. Duke Scott has been out since the Louisville game 3 weeks ago. He was the crown jewel of head coach Dave Doeren’s offense along with CJ. Doeren gets fired, and Gause steps into the void, contributing both on the ground and in the receiving game.

Now, word on the street is Duke was close to going and should be back for the game against Cal next week. But it’s hard not to think about what Duke will likely get in the transfer portal from top P4 programs looking to reload. Does he really want to risk that to play for a 4-4 NC State team, for a coach that he didn’t choose? I could be wrong, but if I am right, Gause is going to be the workhorse moving forward, and a soft ACC schedule to end the year (Duke, Syracuse, FSU, and UNC) is just what the doctor ordered for anyone hurting at RB, especially in P4-only leagues.

Henry Rutledge, Charlotte (@CFF_Jacko)

Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Total Fantasy Points: 69.5
FPPG: 8.7
PFF Grade: 70.4

Charlotte has apparently spent six years conducting an exhaustive scientific study to determine whether giving the football to Henry Rutledge is a good idea. BREAKING NEWS: It is.

Rutledge’s carries have gone from 6 to 12 to 17 to 22 over his last four games. Against Tulane, the Charlotte coaching staff finally stopped rationing the football: 22 carries for 121 yards and four catches for another 79 yards. Twenty-six touches. 200 yards from scrimmage. Thank you, gentlemen. We have concluded the experiment. Here’s my favorite part. Rutledge has been at Charlotte so long that his teammates call him “Unc.” He arrived in 2021, made his name as a return specialist, and somehow averaged 11.6 yards per carry way back in 2023. Apparently Charlotte needed a congressional investigation before reaching the revolutionary conclusion: give Unc the football.

And now look at what’s left: UAB. ECU. Tulsa. Navy. Excuse me while I search unsuccessfully for the scary part. Running back waivers in November usually resemble the bread aisle five minutes before a blizzard. We’re fighting over crumbs, third-down backs, and guys whose coaches have been promising “more opportunities” since Labor Day. Meanwhile, Rutledge is 1% rostered and suddenly getting bell-cow volume. Respect your elders. Add Uncle Henry.

Johnnie Daniels, Tulane (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Total Fantasy Points: 91.8
FPPG: 11.5
PFF Grade: 73.7

After four consecutive winning seasons and two American Conference Championships, the Green Wave are currently 4-4 and fifth in the Conference. Tulane has started two quarterbacks, neither of whom has been effective or efficient, and has taken a while to find a lead runner in the backfield. After eight games, Johnnie Daniels has risen to the top of the depth chart and is a worthy roster add down the stretch.

In the past three weeks, the Senior ball carrier has produced 56.3 FPs, ranking as CFF RB16 while averaging 18.7 FPPG. The Green Wave’s leading rusher, Daniels, has scampered for 493 yards and 6 scores. He averages 6.2 ypc and has logged runs of 41, 48, and 81 yards in the past month.

The 5-10 and 209-pounder was the No. 1-ranked JUCO running back in 2023 and played the past two seasons at Mississippi State before transferring to Tulane. In the next three weeks, the Green Wave plays Tulsa, Rice, and North Texas—Daniels will have plenty of open lanes to produce fantasy points.

Johnnie Daniels breaks off a 48 yard TD run to close out the game for Tulane https://t.co/Q50itMdOTV

— The off-season (@TheOffSeasonCFB) October 17, 2026

Honorable Mention Running Backs

Damon Ferguson, Jr., Pittsburgh

Fantrax Ownership: 32%
Total Fantasy Points: 137.5
FPPG: 15.3
PFF Grade: 77.6

Ferguson featured in the Week 3 waiver wire column.

Demon June, North Carolina

Fantrax Ownership: 22%
Total Fantasy Points: 95.3
FPPG: 11.9
PFF Grade: 75.8

Wide Receivers

Rasean Jones, Boise State (Johnson)

Fantrax Ownership: 31%
Targets: 54
Fantasy Points: 125.4
FPPG: 17.9
PFF Grade: 77.2

Most of the time, when we talk about Boise State, we’re talking about their run game. However, freshman Rasean Jones has been putting up strong performances for the past couple of weeks, and against Texas State, he broke out in a big way. Much of that came from facing a Texas State defense that couldn’t stop a nosebleed.

The game went down to the wire, and the teams scored almost 100 points. The good news? Boise will play Colorado State, Oregon State, and San Diego State to end the year. Colorado State has allowed 31, 49, 66, 59, and 41 points in its last five games. As far as end-of-season matchups go, I don’t know if any WR has it better in the country.

Notebook: “(Rasean’s) future is extremely bright here. I firmly believe that he’s going to be here because I believe in him. And we’re going to have those conversations at the end of the season, like I’m going to have with the rest of our team, and we’re going to keep pushing forward,” Coach Spencer Danielson explained last week (idahostatesman.com).

Mazeo Bennett, South Carolina (Brookhart)

Fantrax Ownership: 15%
Targets: 49
Fantasy Points: 103.1
FPPG: 12.9
PFF Grade: 66.7

Kendal Briles has developed an impressive track record of producing high-volume WR No. 1s, and Mazeo Bennett is starting to look like the next name in that line. Over the past five years, Briles’ offenses have featured receivers like Treylon Burks (1,104 yards, 11 TDs at Arkansas in 2021), Matt Landers (901 yards, 8 TDs in 2022), Jack Bech (1,034 yards, 9 TDs at TCU in 2024) and Eric McAlister (1,190 yards, 10 TDs in 2025). That’s an appealing history for a receiver in that system.

Bennett is starting to show why he could be South Carolina’s version of that featured target. Over his last four games, he’s recorded 25 catches for 322 yards and three touchdowns, including back-to-back-to-back touchdown performances against Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The 107-yard outing against Oklahoma was particularly encouraging, as he averaged 26.8 ypc and ripped off a 79-yard reception.

The volume is becoming more consistent, and the big-play ability is clearly there. Bennett is looking increasingly like the receiver to prioritize in Briles’ passing game, making him an appealing addition as South Carolina’s offense continues to find its identity.

Notebook: “Mazeo has worked really, really hard. He has a high standard for himself. He has a high standard for this team…so it’s good to see him have some success…really, really proud of him and the way he’s working right now,” Coach Shane Beamer said (greenvilleonline.com).

Kyle Koch, North Texas (Laub)

Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Targets: 36
Fantasy Points: 96.3
FPPG: 12.0
PFF Grade: 76.2

On Thursday night, I stayed up way too late to watch the Florida Atlantic-North Texas game. I wanted to go to bed, but the high-scoring contest kept me glued to the television. Needless to say, Friday was a long day of teaching. Kyle Koch stood out throughout the game. He scored 28.8 FPs on 9 catches for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. That evening, I checked his CFF roster status and saw he was available in 99% of leagues. I decided to profile the Mean Green playmaker in the weekly column.

In 2026, Koch did not catch a pass the first two games of the campaign. Finally, against Texas State, he earned 5 targets and corralled 4 throws for 58 yards and a score. This season, he has moved up the pecking order and logged 27 catches for 304 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has scored in 5 of the last 6 games and produced double-digit FPs five times.

At 6-2 and 198 pounds, the junior lines up predominantly on the outside (83.2%) and runs a route 93.3% of the time when he is on the field. He has seen a significant increase in pass-rate snaps in the past three games, with 91. North Texas is the second-best offense in the country, averaging 540 ypg and scoring 43.3 ppg. In the next three weeks, the Mean Green play Rice, UTSA, and Tulane, which will be high-scoring environments for the passing game. Koch is one of the late risers this season and could help a CFF coach down the stretch.

Notebook: Coach Neal Brown discussed Koch’s role in the offense earlier in the season: “Koch has made some plays. He’s one of those guys who’s done it inconsistently, but he has shown flashes and will definitely be in the rotation. It’s really up to him. Is he going to be one of our go-to guys or a rotational player?” (dentonrc.com)

Jerome Bettis, Jr., Notre Dame

Fantrax Ownership: 3%
Targets: 13
Fantasy Points: 33
FPPG: 4.7
PFF Grade: 81.9

It seems like yesterday that I watched Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis catch the game-winning pass from Rick Mirer versus Penn State. 34 years later, I witnessed his son’s breakout game against Navy on Saturday. Earlier in the week, Coach Marcus Freeman said Notre Dame needed to get its younger receivers on the field, and Jerome Bettis, Jr. responded by earning his coaches’ trust. Against the Midshipmen, he posted career-bests with 6 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.

The smooth sophomore was a three-star recruit from Georgia, ranking as the 86th prospect in the state and the 114th overall receiver in the nation. In high school in 2024, he played both sides of the ball, catching 36 passes for 630 yards and 8 touchdowns and recording 47 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions.

As a freshman at Notre Dame, he rarely saw the gridiron last year but has worked hard to move up the depth chart. The Fighting Irish schedule is not daunting in the CFF playoffs, with Boston College, SMU, and Syracuse on the slate to conclude the campaign. Bettis is worth taking a look at to upgrade CFF rosters.

Notebook: After Bettis’ performance against Navy, Coach Freeman stated that “I thought Jerome really did a good job of taking advantage of his opportunity. Thought he had a really good week of practice. He’s had good weeks of practice.” (irishillustrated.com).

Anthony Garcia, Utah State (@CFF_Jacko)

Fantrax Ownership: 9%
Targets: 39
Total Fantasy Points: 60.2
FPPG: 7.5
PFF Grade: 68.5

Easton Messer and Malachi Toney have been setting CFF scoreboards on fire for two weeks. Guess who’s third in the nation in receptions over that span? Anthony Garcia. No, seriously! Garcia followed an 8-catch, 87-yard performance against Texas State with a career-high 11 catches for 121 yards against Colorado State. That’s 19 receptions for 208 yards in two games after totaling just seven catches for 46 yards over his first six games. Yet he still hasn’t caught a touchdown, so your sleepwalking competition might not have noticed.

The touchdowns haven’t arrived. The opportunity has. McCae Hillstead returned to the starting lineup against Colorado State and completed 17 passes—11 went to Garcia. Then, because college football refuses to behave normally, the former quarterback completed a 44-yard pass to Hillstead. Garcia is now 2-for-2 passing for 50 yards and a touchdown this season, good for a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Wide receiver by day, statistically flawless quarterback by night. Forget the trick plays. I’m chasing a 9%-rostered receiver with 19 catches in two weeks and a new quarterback who just fed him 11 receptions. If Hillstead keeps looking his way, we may have stumbled onto a November volume monster before the rest of Fantrax notices.

Honorable Mention Wide Receivers

Chris Lawson, Washington

Fantrax Ownership: 14%
Targets: 58
Fantasy Points: 126.4
FPPG: 15.8
PFF Grade: 75.4

Lawson featured in the Week 7 waiver wire column.

CFF All-Americans: Week 9

• QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina: 51.6 Fantasy Points
• QB Brad Jackson, Texas State: 48.5
• RB Caleb Hawkins, Oklahoma State: 51.5
• RB Isaac Brown, Louisville: 44.2
• WR Easton Messer, Florida Atlantic: 52.9
• WR Sean Wilson, Delaware: 39.3
• WR Rasean Jones, Boise State: 38.7
• TE Hunter Andrews, Utah: 28.3
• Flex Nate Sheppard, Duke: 43.9

CFF Player of the Week: Easton Messer, Florida Atlantic

Caden Veltkamp to Easton Messer… Again
TD FAU

#WIP🌴 https://t.co/OLCL3T0duG

— The off-season (@TheOffSeasonCFB) October 30, 2026