If CFF managers had a hard time navigating last week’s byes, the challenge becomes more difficult with the number of programs off over the next two weeks. In the CFF universe, bye-week armageddon finally arrives and many will be hitting the college fantasy football waiver wire to find replacements. Time to analyze rosters and evaluate the missing holes in lineups. Joe Goodwin, Volume Pigs, and I help CFF diehards find the best players to plug the roster vacancies…Let’s Go!
Week 6 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
E.J. Warner, Temple (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 27%
Total Fantasy Points: 108.7
FPPG: 18.1
Being the son of Kurt Warner, NFL Hall-of-Famer, couldn’t have been easy for EJ Warner as he followed in his Dad’s footsteps as a quarterback. In Temple’s shootout with UTSA, Warner completed 42 passes for 472 yards and five touchdowns. Warner showed he can be an elite quarterback while completing 64% of his passes without throwing an interception.
At 6’0” and 190 pounds, the three-star recruit chose Temple over UConn, Ball State, and Colorado State. As a freshman, Warner threw for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 60% of his passes. With a remaining schedule that includes games against North Texas, South Florida, and UAB, Warner will remain fantasy-relevant for the remainder of the season.
Notebook: After the loss against UTSA, Warner said “It was one of our better games. But we made critical turnovers that hurt our team. We were not perfect, and we know we have to get better,” (owlsports.com).
Carson Beck, Georgia (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 53%
Total Fantasy Points: 130.4
FPPG: 21.8
At times, it is okay to break an unwritten rule: I usually like to keep waiver wire gemstones below 50% rostership when profiling a player. Yet, with so many teams on bye over the next two weeks, I decided to break my own axiom.
When I reflect on the Georgia Bulldogs, runners govern my memories. Nonetheless, two quarterbacks stand out as productive passers: Eric Zeier (1991-94) and Matthew Stafford (2006-08). I can still recall their outstanding college tenures throwing the pigskin in my lifetime. Both rank among the top 10 in career and single-season passing yards for the Dawgs.
While I am not ready to rank Beck among the elite in Athens, GA, I have to admit how productive he has been and how good the offense has been under his guidance. The Bulldogs’ offense ranks fifth in total passing, averaging 349.7 ypg. with 13 touchdown passes. Georgia trails only pass-happy programs Washington, Washington State, USC, and Colorado State in the rankings…it is time to rewrite the narrative around coach Kirby Smart in 2023.
Examining Georgia’s offense, it is strange to see no ball carries among the leading CFF runners with QB Beck and TE Brock Bowers as the standout fantasy producers. For the season, Beck is CFF QB No. 25 with 1,886 passing yards and 11 aerial strikes. He also has scrambled for two scores on 22 totes. In the past three games, the 6’4” and 220-pound junior has exceeded 300 yards passing in each contest and tossed eight touchdowns, scoring 30.2, 15.1 and 32.2 fantasy points respectively.
The Bulldogs travel to Vandy this weekend, and the passing game will continue to take flight. If a CFF manager needs a starter, Beck is well worth picking up off the waiver wire. Unfortunately, Georgia has a bye in Week 8.
Notebook: “One of the things that we’ve been trying to get after is having a strong start (in games). Obviously, we hadn’t had one, and it was a huge emphasis for us. We are trying to approach the game a little bit differently going into it and trying to have that energy coming in the first quarter and the first half, so to be able to have that type of success early was really good for the team. I really felt like nothing could go wrong,” Beck stated after leading Georgia on three scoring drives in the opening 20 minutes against Kentucky (dawgnation.com).
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
- Chandler Rogers, North Texas
Fantrax Rostership: 20%
Total Fantasy Points: 106.1
FPPG: 21.2 - Jacob Zeno, UAB
Fantrax Rostership: 26%
Total Fantasy Points: 137.9
FPPG: 22.9 - Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Fantrax Rostership: 50%
Total Fantasy Points: 145.3
FPPG: 24.2
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
If interested in placing a bet on the Heisman Trophy after six weeks, who has the most enticing odds to capture the award?
- Michael Penix +380: 37%
- Bo Nix +900: 12%
- Dillon Gabriel +1800: 41%
- Jayden Daniels +2,500: 10%
“It has to be Michael Penix for me. Dillon Gabriel is doing amazing as well. There was talk that Jackson Arnold would play early this year and that hasn’t happened.” @cusumano_sal
“Dillon Gabriel is my favorite value coming off of the big Texas win, but Michael Penix is the most likely of the group to win…depending on how he performs against Oregon this weekend of course!” @CFFroton
“Michael Penix for me. The offense is humming, and he is getting red zone touchdowns instead of the 20-plus rushing scores from Huskies runners from last season.” @aceholesrule
Running Backs
Tyre Shelton, Louisiana Tech (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 28%
Total Fantasy Points: 76.9
FPPG: 19.2
Tyree Shelton has dealt with injuries this year, but when healthy, he has been a solid fantasy contributor. The last three weeks have seen Shelton top the 100-yard mark rushing. Against Western Kentucky, Shelton rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Even when Charvis Thornton returned from his injury, Shelton has been the primary back for Louisiana Tech. Since transferring from Miami (OH), he has topped more rushing yards in four games than last year in 11 contests. Shelton has hit his stride with the Bulldogs and is a solid fantasy performer in deeper leagues.
Notebook: “After missing a few games, I am excited to be back in the lineup. I know it is a small sample size, and I’ve only played in three games. As good as it is, I gotta keep going. It is not really shocking. I’ve prided myself on moving forward and not having any negative plays. I must make something out of nothing if I have to,” reflected Shelton in his live post-game interview (latechsports.com).
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 19%
Total Fantasy Points: 94.7
FPPG: 15.8
The transfer portal has changed the college game dramatically and provided opportunities for players to improve their careers and lives. Over the summer, I read about two runners moving up in competition: Cameron Skatteno at Arizona State–featured in the Waiver Wire Gemstones Week 1 column–and Bhayshul Tutan at Virginia Tech.
On Saturday, I was flipping between three games and saw Tuten’s electric 99-yard kick return, which opened the second half and closed the gap to five points at the time. I immediately went to the waiver wire to see how many CFF teams rostered the Hookies’ game breaker…not many.
Last year at North Carolina A&T, he scampered for over 1,300 yards and 13 scores on 208 carries. His total was the fifth-best single-season rushing performance in the program’s history. He was named to the FCS Third Team All-America and First Team All-Big Sky.
Since the season kicked off, Tuten has clearly established himself as the best runner in the backfield with 330 rushing yards, 16 catches for 157 yards and four scores. The 5’11” and 205-pound junior has logged double-digit fantasy points in each of the past five games, including a season-best 24.6 two weeks ago versus Pittsburgh. Do not let a competitor acquire Tuten and beat you down the road in a big game.
Notebook: “It was a heck of a play. It was blocked up really well. Great job by coach [Stu] Holt scheming that thing up. And we worked hard on it. It was a factor in the game. It was a part of us getting back in and giving us a chance in the fourth quarter,” coach Brent Pry expressed in regard to Tuten’s dynamic kickoff return for a touchdown (roanake.com).
Larry McCammon, III, Florida Atlantic (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 34%
Total Fantasy Points: 78.6
FPPG: 19.6
At 5’11” and 204 pounds, Larry McCammon is producing a solid 19.1 FPPG over his first four games. He dealt with health issues early in the season, but appeared to be back to form on Saturday, taking 26 carries for 130 yards and two scores for 30.5 fantasy points. He also saw five targets, catching four for 15 yards.
The pass usage is not an anomaly, FAU uses McCammon a lot in this regard (he has 15 targets in four games) and has done so consistently all season. The Owls have a great matchup versus South Florida this weekend, and as long as McCammon is healthy, it feels like he should be in for a good day again.
McCammon would be one I’d look for as a plug-and-play RB in a week where byes are piling up. I feel less confident in prescribing him as a season-long answer. We’ve seen in the past that McCammon’s production and volume can be volatile, though that was under a different staff last season. I remain skeptical, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Notebook: “Our o-line wants to run the ball, they kept saying let’s run the ball, so why not?… Today was a statement game for us to prove to everybody that we can run the ball,” McCammon stated after the win over Tulsa (fausports.com).
Honorable Mention Running Backs
- Ron Cook, Buffalo
Fantrax Rostership: 7%
Total Fantasy Points: 72.2
FPPG: 18.1
- Ayo Adeyi, North Texas
Fantrax Rostership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 65.4
FPPG: 13.1
- Kairee Robinson, San Jose
Fantrax Rostership: 42%
Total Fantasy Points: 96
FPPG: 19.2
Week 6 CFF All-Portal Team* (Goodwin)
RB Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan
Fantrax Ownership: 99%
FPPG: 8.98
Although Samson Evans has found the endzone in the last two games, he has only rushed for 64 yards. It appears Evans is sharing a lot of backfield touches with Jaylon Jackson and quarterback Austin Smith taking many rushing attempts away. Without involvement in the passing game, it is hard to trust the Eagles’ runner in fantasy.
With games against Kent State and Western Michigan ahead, abandoning Evans in CFF is hard. Still, if you continue to start him, you also compete with other players, taking away opportunities from Evans. It’s time to find runners with more consistent touches.
RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
Fantrax Ownership: 98%
FPPG: 6.42
With only four carries against Minnesota, it’s hard to imagine anything other than Donovan Edwards getting more than mop-up duty with Blake Corum being the lead back for the Wolverines. Edwards is still involved in the passing game, but his volume and yardage need to be higher to compensate for his lack of usage in the rushing game. With ZERO touchdowns on the season, it’s hard to continue to roll with Edwards in your fantasy lineups. The junior ball carrier is still an immensely talented running back, but short of an injury to Corum, starting Edwards is foolish.
RB Rodney Hammond, Pittsburgh
Ownership: 97%
FPPG: 8.44
With only seven carries for 18 yards against Virginia Tech, Rodney Hammond has yet to establish a strong presence in the Panthers’ rushing attack. With no involvement in the passing game, Hammond has to make his hay using the ball. And with the emergence of C’Bo Flemister, Hammond is getting few opportunities to correct what is not working. With a bye on the horizon and challenging games against Louisville, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame, it’s time to find other options at running back.
*Players who CFF managers should consider sending to their league’s free agent pool in order to upgrade rosters.
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the biggest CFF surprise (drafted on less than 50% of teams) at running back after six weeks of the season?
- Blake Watson, Memphis: 14%
- Ismail Mahdi, Texas State: 33%
- Jonathan Brooks, Texas: 24%
- Jawhar Jordan, Louisville: 29%
“Blake Watson for me. Small school runner in a bigger pond did not excite me but, my dear Watson, he has delivered.” @aceholesrule
Wide Receivers
Roc Taylor, Memphis (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 6%
Targets: 38
Fantasy Points: 79.1
FPPG: 15.8
It may be easy to forget about Roc Taylor since he was on bye this weekend, but he has come on very strong lately, finishing his last two games with over 20 fantasy points in each. He is averaging 7.6 targets per game, which is pretty good. His best game of the season actually came against what has likely been Memphis’ best opponent in Missouri—Taylor caught 7-of-10 targets for 143 yards, which totaled 21.3 points.
Tye 6’3” and 215 pounder has only gone under 10 points once in five games (4.2 vs. Arkansas State in a blowout victory), so his consistency is speaking to me this week, a time where byes are piling up and answers are needed to keep CFF dreams alive.
Notebook: “I learned from Calvin (Austin) that it doesn’t matter if it’s bad or good, just keep working, never stop working. And from Javon (Ivory), just the mental part, control what you control and just have fun with it,” Taylor uttered last week while discussing his ascendance in the offense (commercialappeal.com)
Anthony Simpson, UMass (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 31%
Targets: 51
Fantasy Points: 122.1
FPPG: 17.4
In a decade of Waiver Wire Gemstones, I have not featured many Minutemen. Nonetheless, UMass wide receivers Tajae Sharpe (2012-2015) and Andy Isabella (2015-2018) provided a plethora of fantasy points for CFF managers. In 2023, Anthony Simpson, averaging 80.8 receiving ypg., might become the eleventh player in the program’s history to record a 1,000-yard campaign.
A track-and-field star in high school, Simpson excelled on the gridiron as a senior: He tallied 75 catches for 1,249 yards and 19 scores. A two-way performer, he also intercepted 10 passes and was named All-Courant Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Despite playing in the northeast at Bloomfield High School in Connecticut, the speedster signed with Arizona. For two seasons, he suited up for the Wildcats as a returner predominantly: In 2022, he recorded a career-best 342 return yards on 18 attempts with a long of 39, averaging 19 yards. As a receiver, the 5’11” and 180-pounder recorded only eight receptions for 102 yards.
Last winter, Simpson joined five Wildcat teammates in the transfer portal and joined the Minutemen. Since arriving, the junior playmaker has blossomed: He is the fourteenth most productive CFF WR with 33 catches for 566 yards and three scores. He has logged three 100-yard outings in the last four games and averages 17.2 ypc.
Regrettably, Simpson is a long-term acquisition this week for astute CFF diehards. UMass travels to Penn State this week before a bye in Week 8. Afterwards, the Minutemen have a favorable schedule with Army, Merrimack, Liberty and UConn down the stretch.
Jermaine Burton, Alabama (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 41%
Targets: 23
Fantasy Points: 79.6
FPPG: 15.9
The beginning of the 2023 season has been different from the start Alabama and fantasy managers expected, especially with Jermaine Burton coming off a 40-reception, 677-yard, and seven-touchdown season in 2022.
Burton only had eight targets in the first four games for Alabama. The quarterback play has been a big reason for that lack of production, as Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, and Ty Simpson have all taken snaps under center. It now appears Milroe has found his “go-to” receiver in Burton.
Against Texas A&M, Burton had nine receptions on 12 targets for 197 yards and two touchdowns. For those who watched the game, the former Georgia receiver was the apparent first look by Milroe on most passing downs. Don’t be swayed by the low fantasy production in the first four games, and also, don’t expect last week’s explosion to occur each week.
Notebook: “Burton is a big-play player…We knew Texas A&M was really good up front, and we would struggle with their front. But if we could protect well enough and get some time, we could make some plays down the field. I think that’s something we did very effectively. And obviously, Burton was extremely effective in the game. We’ve always had a lot of faith, trust, and confidence (in him),” coach Nick Saban said in his post-game interview (al.com)
Chrishon McCray, Kent State (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 1%
Targets: 42
Fantasy Points: 71.9
FPPG: 11.9
Don’t look now, but Kent State has a pulse on offense. At least, the Golden Flashes seem to have a budding volume pig in sophomore WR Chrishon McCray (5’10” and 163 pounds), who now has back-to-back weeks of 14 and 10 targets.
What has he done with the increase in volume? He scored 21.6 and 27.3 points. Against Miami (Ohio), McCray caught 10-of-14 targets for 105 yards and also rushed once for 11 yards. This past weekend, he followed up that monster performance with another—reeling in 6-of-10 targets for 93 yards and two scores versus Ohio in the 17-42 loss.
I mention the final scoreboard there because it is noteworthy that he scored the team’s only two touchdowns on the day. He seems to be ascending into a newfound role in the offense, and with MACtion now in full effect, there’s no telling where the sky is for McCray the rest of the crusade.
McCray is worth a shot if you need a WR this week; we’ll have to wait and see if this recent dominance is permanent. What we do know is that Kent State is a bad team, and a big part of that is the QB play. The Golden Flashes hardly attempted any passes despite being down for most of the afternoon (only 20 total pass attempts between the two QBs). I suppose that makes it even more noteworthy that McCray was targeted 10 times—he was literally targeted half the time they threw the pigskin.
Noah Smith, Sam Houston (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 1%
Targets: 33
Fantasy Points: 64.9
FPPG: 12.9
I featured Noah Smith, 5’10” and 190 pounds, last week in the Fool’s Gold section of my weekly waiver report on VolumePigs. I have to admit, Smith absolutely proved me wrong. I think logically speaking, the reasoning I outlined was sound given the information at our disposal at the time.
Nevertheless, with more information, comes shifting perspectives. Last week, we had a flash in the pan. Now, we have a pattern of usage.
Smith has seen a monstrous 31 targets in the past two games. Say it with me now “31 targets in his last two games.” If the shoemaker—otherwise known as SMHU’s starting QB—is going to continue to pump Smith with targets, count me in all the way.
Readers are going to hate me when I admit this, but I actually picked up a share of Smith last week in a 24-team league—so when you see that 1% owned Fantrax, you know who to blame. The parameters for who is and isn’t CFF-relevant in that environment are very different from the league’s most people play in, so I stand by what I said about Smith in my report last week. As I said earlier, the information has now changed.
Last week, we had a player who had a total of 13 targets coming into that contest that saw 15 targets in one game out of the blue. Currently, we have a budding volume pig. Smith is worth a dart throw in regular leagues—I mean, have you seen the rest of that schedule?
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
- Eric McAlister, Boise State
Fantrax Rostership: 24%
Targets: 54
Fantasy Points: 113.6
FPPG: 18.9
- Jordan Watkins, Mississippi
Fantrax Rostership: 31%
Targets: 48
Fantasy Points: 100.7
FPPG: 16.8
- TE David Martin-Robinson, Temple
Fantrax Rostership: 21%
Targets: 33
Fantasy Points: 63.8
FPPG: 10.6
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the biggest CFF surprise (drafted on less than 50% of teams) at wide receiver after six weeks of the season?
- Malik Washington, Virginia: 32%
- Xavier Leggette, South Carolina: 23%
- Brian Thomas, LSU: 29%
- Eric McAlister, Boise State: 16%
“Eric McAlister for me. I thought Taylen Green would be much more of a runner and with Stefan Cobbs in the mix, I just didn’t have high hopes for McAlister.” @aceholesrule
CFF All-Americans: Week 6
- QB Byrum Brown, USF: 42.5
- QB Jayden Daniels, LSU: 41.3
- RB Antario Brown, Northern Illinois: 52.0
- RB Kimani Vidal, Troy: 42.5
- WR Malachi Corley, WKU: 46.8
- WR Jacob Cowing, Arizona: 42.8
- WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama: 40.7
- TE David Martin-Robinson, Temple: 31.2
- Flex Jermaine Brown, UAB: 39.6