CFF Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em – Week 5
In a College Fantasy Football move that will go down in history as nothing short of monumental, Volume Pigs and Purple Reign have combined their CFF “mega powers” to form an unstoppable team.
Each week this heavyweight duo will outline College Fantasy Football players to start and sit at each position, and answer questions submitted on X (Twitter) from our readers.
QUARTERBACKS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
Cade Klubnik (Clem) vs Stanford
Klubnik has been on a tear the last two weeks. He is only averaging 25 pass attempts/game, but his efficiency is through the rough with an average of 293.5 yards and 4 TDs per game. Despite the poor performance against Georgia in Week 1, the Clemson pass offense is ranked #16 in fantasy points scored. This air attack gets a match-up with Stanford’s pass defense that ranks #118 in fantasy points allowed. Stanford has been attacked in the air because their run defense is ranked #31 in fantasy points scored, so don’t expect Clemson to just grind away a win in this one.
Ben Wooldridge (ULLaf) at Wake Forest
I’ve been talking about Wooldridge a lot this week and for good reason. If you remove the Kennesaw State game where the offense did not need to throw the ball, Wooldridge is averaging 33.5 pass attempts/game. The Ragin Cajun passing game ranks #44 in fantasy points scored and they face off against a Wake Forest pass defense that ranks #116 in fantasy points allowed. While Lafayette is a Group of 5 team their passing game will be able to hang with Wake Forest in a game that Vegas expects to be a one-score contest.
Volume Pigs
Riley Leonard (ND) vs. LOU
Leanord started the year with back to back duds, but lately he’s been pretty good. Remarkably, he threw his first passing TD of the year last week in week four vs. Miami of Ohio. The key is his rushing upside— he has gone over 100 yards and scored at least twice on the ground each of the last two weeks.
Byrum Brown (USF) vs. TUL
Some may be weary of starting Brown given his start to the year. Fear not. If we really break it down, the one game where USF was competitive with its opponent, SMiss, Brown had a strong day with 28 points. The other three were blowouts in either direction. This game figures to be closer to the SMiss game than the other three.
QUARTERBACKS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
Miller Moss (USC) vs Wisconsin
Moss surprised me last week with his performance at Michigan. He threw the ball a whopping 51 times in that game because the Michigan rush defense was just too strong to run against. That won’t be the case this week. Wisconsin’s rush defense ranks #95 in fantasy points allowed compared to their stingier #43 ranked pass defense. Moss will put up decent numbers, but I expect the USC running game to be the part of the offense that shines in this game.
Dylan Raiola (Neb) at Purdue
I see this week playing out in a similar fashion as Raiola’s Week 2 game with Colorado. Purdue’s rush defense is full of holes, ranking DEAD LAST in fantasy points allowed. The Boilermaker’s pass defense is #21 for fantasy points allowed because opposing offenses have not needed to throw the ball. This should be the case again this week. I can see Nebraska grinding the ball on the ground and getting out of Indiana as fast as possible without any injuries.
Volume Pigs
Will Howard (OSU) vs. MSU
Hard to trust Howard right now as he has consecutive performances of 22 points in his first three starts. If you just need a safe floor this week, he’s your man, but if you’re in need of someone to help you win your matchup, it’s unlikely to come from Howard.
RUNNING BACKS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
Terion Stewart (BGSU) vs Old Dominion
Stewart made his return from injury last week, running the ball 13 times for 42 yards against Texas A&M. The competition gets much easier this week when he faces an Old Dominion rush defense that ranks #119 in fantasy points allowed. Vegas is calling for a score that’s close to 29-20 Bowling Green, and that means that Stewart should receive more than 15 carries as the game will remain close. Don’t expect Stewart to average 11.5 yards/carry like he did against an FCS foe, but he should have no problem busting some long runs in this one.
Lee Beebe (UAB) vs Navy
Over the last two weeks Beebe is averaging 18.5 touches/game as he has been involved in the ground game and the passing attack. UAB isn’t very strong on the ground or in the air this year, but they don’t have to play at Navy which can prove difficult. The Navy rush defense ranks #98 and their pass defense ranks #104 in fantasy points allowed. This should give Beebe room in both facets of the offense to make plays and hopefully reach the end zone which he has not done in the last two weeks.
Volume Pigs
Freddie Brock (GSU) vs. GaSo
GSU gets GaSo 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 club house for the Panthers. He’s more like the RB1A of the backfield split rather than an actual bellcow, 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 you ignore the blowout loss to GT, 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 vs. a porous GaSo run defence.
Aaron Young (OD)
Young is currently only rostered in 2% of leagues. My guy has 18, 27, and 17 touches in his first three games this year. Read that again. The Monarchs were on BYE last week after a poor performance vs. VT so Young isn’t really a name people are thinking about. We’re going stealth mode here but this recommendation is only for the risk-loving degenerates, or those who are truly desperate at the position: OD plays BGSU (125th in rushing yards against) this week and Young is by far the touch leader among RBs for this program. His main competition is actually his QBs, who routinely see double digit carries. Nonetheless, this could be the lifeline to save you at the RB position this week. In the only G5 matchup OD has played in, Young rushed for 83 yards, a score, and received two passes for 12 yards (approx. 17.5 points in 1PPR).
RUNNING BACKS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
Tahj Brooks (TxTch) vs Cincinnati
Last week I advised against playing Brooks against a tough Arizona State run defense. Brooks was able to get 117 yards on 27 carries but was held out of the end zone. This week brings up another similar match-up with a Cincinnati rush defense that ranks #19 in fantasy points allowed. The favorable match-up for Texas Texas this week is in the air when their #9 ranked pass offense takes on Cincinnati’s #105 ranked pass defense. Brooks should still see 20 carries but its hard to image him getting a TD unless the offense gets down inside the five-yard line.
LeVeon Moss (TxAM) vs. ARK
Moss can’t seem to find the end zone lately. In the last two weeks he is getting a good workload of carries and has rushed for 200 yards total. The Bowling Green and Florida rush defenses are average to below average and Moss wasn’t able to score a TD in those games. This week he faces off against an Arkansas rush defense that ranks #21 in fantasy points allowed. Texas A&M’s run offense is ranked #35 in fantasy points scored so the match-up isn’t terrible. It just looks like the deck may be stacked against Moss finding the end zone this week.
Volume Pigs
Demie Sumo (UK) vs. MISS
Ole Miss’ defence looks to be improved this year (though it’s hard to tell with the schedule they’ve had so far). Sumo was a nice plug and play option last week but he didn’t take command of the carries like I was hoping, and this week’s competition is much stiffer.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Start ‘Em
Purple Reign
DT Sheffield (NorTx) vs Tulsa
The North Texas WRs have been tough to get a read on, and injuries have been a large part of that. Sheffield spent Week 3 injured but returned last week for 8 receptions, 109 yards, and 1 TD. Last week fellow WR Damon Ward left the game with an undisclosed injury. It’s believed that Ward has been hampered with an injury but still playing since Week 2. Assuming Ward’s injury isn’t fully healed this week, that benefits Sheffield as he will remain the clear WR1 in a game against a Tulsa pass defense that ranks #120 in fantasy points allowed.
Ted Hurst (GASt) vs Georgia Southern
Over the last two weeks Hurst has commanded 18 targets for 13 receptions, 211 yards and 3 TDs. He is the best weapon in the offense, and the Georgia State pass offense ranks #43 in fantasy points scored. Hurst will get to run through a Georgia Southern pass defense that is #108 in fantasy points allowed. Other factors I like is that this rivalry game is played at home, and Vegas has an over/under that’s just below 60 points, and Vegas thinks this will be a close one-score game.
Volume Pigs
Dean Patterson (FIU) vs. LT
Patterson has eight or more targets in three of his four games. I repeat: eight or more targets in three of his four games. He’s also been given three carries through four weeks. I don’t know what happened vs. CMU a few weeks ago but he is coming off back-to-back strong CFF performances. They get Louisiana Tech this week, which in theory should be a competitive game to the end.
Xzavier Henderson (CINC) vs. TTech
Texas Tech is a great team for CFF because they are productive on offence but not very good on defence. They are 115th in points against, and 121st in passing yards against currently. Sorsby has shown an affinity to look Henderson’s way with him seeing double digit targets in his first three appearances. Even last week when he was only targeted twice, he scored on both passes.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
Joey Hobert (TxSt) at Sam Houston
Will the real Joey Hobert please stand up? Hobert has not had a 100-yard game this season, has not scored since Week 1, and is getting fewer targets/game than he had in 2023. He’s had a bye week to get ready for a match-up with a Sam Houston pass defense that ranks #33 in fantasy points allowed. Texas State still match-ups up well as their pass offense is #13 in fantasy points scored. The key to this game with be Texas State running the ball to exploit a Sam Houston rush defense that is #84 in fantasy points allowed. This might not be the week to put Hobert in your line-up hoping that he “wakes up” finally.
Savion Williams (TCU) at Kansas
This won’t be an easy road trip for TCU. Kansas has been tough on defense and their pass defense is #34 in fantasy points allowed. TCU will be able to move the ball in the air but the Kansas defense will likely make them spread the ball around to different playmakers. In Week 1 Williams had 17 targets thrown his way. In the three games that have followed he has total 17 targets. The combination of a TCU passing game that will be forced to spread the ball around more than normal, and a normal situation of Williams getting around 6 targets/game doesn’t look to have “fantasy feast” written on it.
Volume Pigs
Kevin Concepcion (NCST)
Wouldn’t trust KC currently until he shows he’s an elite CFF asset again, even vs. a weak opponent. New QB also changes the potency of the offence.
TIGHT ENDS: Start ‘Em
Tyler Warren (PSU) vs Illinois
When it comes to fantasy tight end play, I love match-ups against tougher defenses. Illinois has made things hard for opposing offenses this season, and their pass defense is a respectable #49 in fantasy points allowed. The Penn State pass offense is #10 in fantasy points scored and Warren is one of the biggest weapons. Add in a night game in Happy Valley and this has the looks of another great game for Warren.
Volume Pigs
Dorian Fleming (GSU) vs. GaSo
Fleming has quietly become one of the most targeted TEs in all of CFB. He now has games of five, six, and eight targets. This is a rivalry game as Joe mentioned above and Vegas expects there to be a lot of points scored. Fleming could easily have one of the better TE performances of the weekend this week.
TIGHT ENDS: Sit ‘Em
Purple Reign
John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyo) vs Air Force
Gyllenborg’s season has been delayed with a nagging injury. He finally played last week and managed 7 targets for 5 receptions, 56 yards and no TDs against North Texas. North Texas’ pass defense ranks #125 in fantasy points allowed and now he must face an Air Force pass defense that ranks #61. Air Force will likely eat clock and reduce the amount of drives that Wyoming has the football.
Volume Pigs
Bauer Sharpe (OU) vs. Auburn
Hard to know how he and the new QB will click, plus Sharpe’s been lagging from his week one performance the last few weeks.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Trevor Tswoopes
QB Pick 1: Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) or Seth Henigan (Mem)?
WR Pick 4: Injury concerns with Tory Horton (ColSt), Deion Burks (Okla), & Roc Taylor (Mem). Others rostered are Ricky White (UNLV), Kisean Johnson (W Ky), Dante Wright (Tem), & Ryan Williams (Bama)?
Purple Reign: QB: I would lean toward Nussmeier here. South Alabama is tougher against the run than pass, and Middle Tennessee is equally bad against both. There’s a better chance the Memphis ground game takes away scoring opportunities from Henigan than the other way around with Nussmeier. WR: Until I see Horton put together a solid game I would leave him on the bench. I really don’t like Wright’s match-up against Army, and Vegas is calling for Temple to only score 16 in that one. This just leaves one more guy to eliminate between Johnson and Williams. Both have unfavorable match-ups and Vegas is calling for their teams to score 23 & 21 points. I think Williams has the ability to break a big play against Georgia while I can’t say that Johnson will do that against BC.
Volume Pigs: Agreed with Joe on Nussmeier. Starting 4? I would start Kisean Johnson, Wright, Taylor and probably Ricky White then. Williams could break a big play vs. UGA but it just feels safer with the other four given their roles in the offence. Not sure Burks is fully healthy.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Andrew Bracht
2-Point PPR League
FLEX Pick 1: Trust RB Kyle Monangai (Rut) against a tough Washington D, RB Braedon Sloan (Ball) @ James Madison who just played zero defense against UNC, WR Xavier Restrepo (MiaFL) vs VA Tech with Cam Ward on fire. RB Jordan James (Oreg), RB Damien Martinez (MiaFL), and WR Joey Hobert (TxSt) have GREAT match-ups – but have shown some inconsistency.
DST Pick 1: BYU @ Baylor, Iowa State @ Houston, Army @ Temple, NIU @ NC State, or Air Force@ Wyoming?
Purple Reign: FLEX: I covered in this article why Hobert should sit this week. Ball State’s rush offense ranks #111 in fantasy points scored and James Madison’s rush defense is #54 in fantasy points allowed. Vegas is also calling for Ball State to only score 19 points – sit Sloan. I do think Restrepo can have a good day but he probably won’t get enough touches (even with 2-pt PPR) against Virginia Tech’s #30 ranked pass defense. James and Martinez are in games where their teams should win with big margins. There’s more TDs to hope these guys get a piece of compared to Monangai. I do think Monangai will hit 100 yards and 1-2 TDs as the Washington run defense is not as good as their stats show right now. Monangai gives you a bell cow in a close/competitive game, just with less scoring. I like Monangai but you want to swing for a “boom or bust” big play then James is your guy. DST: I like the Army defense and I’m even playing them this week in my home league. Air Force is another good option. Wyoming’s offense doesn’t have any explosive nature to it compared to Temple. You can go with either academy but Id give Air Force a slight edge.
Volume Pigs: In Monangai we trust.
READER SUBMISSIONS
Brad Rose
1-Point PPR League
RB Pick 1: Lee Beebe (UAB) vs Navy or Bhayshul Tuten (VaTec) at Miami, FL?
Purple Reign: I covered Beebe in this article already and I do prefer him out of these two. Tuten matches-up with a Miami rush defense that ranks #13 for fantasy points allowed. Vegas thinks Virginia Tech will only score 18 while UAB will score 27. Plus the UAB/Navy game looks to be competitive till the end, where the Tech/Miami game will likely be over by the third quarter.
Volume Pigs: I like Tuten’s role in the offence more, but the matchup is worse. Tough one. Sort of a coin flip for me. I’d roll Beebe for the matchup and his receiving usage. I don’t like that he’s in a split, but he still might outperform Tuten whose team could be obliterated on Saturday.