CFF Waiver Wire Targets – Week 3
CFF Waiver Wire Targets – Week 3
College Fantasy Football championships are won and lost on the waiver wire. You don’t want to chase a “fool’s gold” player, so instead focus on guys that will hold their fantasy value week after week. Purple Reign has identified the players you need to target on this week’s waiver wire to ensure that “Your CFF Reign Starts Here.”
QUARTERBACKS:
Anthony Colandrea (UVA)
Fantrax Ownership 24%
Season Stats: 66 Att, 50 Comp, 654 P-Yds, 5 P-TD, 2 INT, 24 Ru-Att, 72 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
We didn’t get to see what Colandrea is made of in Week 1 as Virginia played an FCS opponent, but the Week 2 competitive match-up with Wake Forest allowed us to get a true assessment of what he can do. In that game he threw the ball 43 times for 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Interceptions were a problem for him last year and you’ll have to live with a high INT rate this year as well. What makes Colandrea exciting from a fantasy perspective is his running ability. He is averaging 12 rushing attempts/game for 3 yards/carry. I’d like to see his rushing TDs increase but time will resolve that issue.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): MD (106), CoCar (64), BYE
Matthew Sluka (UNLV)
Fantrax Ownership 24%
Season Stats: 30 Att, 14 Comp, 232 P-Yds, 5 P-TD, 1 INT, 20 Ru-Att, 129 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
Sluka is another dual-threat QB that is a necessity to pick-up right now. I’m honestly surprised he is still sitting at below 30% ownership on Fantrax. His rushing stats are good with averages of 10 carries/game and 6.5 yards/carry. His passing stats need to improve as he’s only completing 46.7% of his attempts but the good news is that he has WR Ricky White who has a nose for the end zone. The schedule opens up nicely once he gets past his bye in Week 4.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Kans (26), BYE, Fres (123)
Mikey Keene (Fres)
Fantrax Ownership 24%
Season Stats: 71 Att, 46 Comp, 593 P-Yds, 3 P-TDs, 4 INT, 6 Ru-Att, 6 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Another name that I’m surprised isn’t owned more is Keene. He is averaging 35.5 pass attempts/game but he is also averaging 2 INTs/game. Those INTs are split evenly between the Michigan and Sacramento State games so this looks like a genuine concern moving forward. As a pure pocket passer Keene has the workload to be a fantasy option and I personally love Mountain West QBs down the fantasy stretch. The upcoming schedule also looks good and he has three quality WRs to distribute the ball to.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): NMS (77), NM (133), UNLV (84)
Kadin Semonza (Ball)
Fantrax Ownership 4%
Season Stats: 39 Att, 28 Comp, 262 P-Yds, 4 P-TD, 1 INT, 6 Ru-Att, 16 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
In just one game Semonza has given us something to like. He had a high passing volume with 39 attempts and threw for 4 TDs (albeit against FCS competition). I wouldn’t count on getting regular rushing production of out him so don’t read too much into his rushing TD. The upcoming schedule is tough and could be reason to hold off on him. Someone else could pick him up and dump him before Semonza hits his next fantasy worthy match-up with Western Michigan in Week 6 followed by Kent State in Week 7. The only other good match-ups I see come in the money weeks as he faces Bowling Green and Ohio in Weeks 13-14.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): MiaFL (3), C Mi (42), JMU (33)
RUNNING BACKS:
NOTE – I have left out Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) and Jamious Griffin (OreSt) as their Fantrax ownership rose above 30% at the time of writing this article
Bradon Sloan (Ball)
Fantrax Ownership 8%
Season Stats: 21 Att, 103 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD, 7 Tgt, 6 Rec, 46 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Sloan’s performance from week 2 will be one of his best on the season. I don’t see him regularly putting up 2 TDs in a game so I’m a bit more tempered than other fantasy analysts when viewing Sloan. The fact that their Week 2 game was competitive shows the coaches are willing to lean on him and we could expect to see a high workload maintained from week to week. I also like Sloan’s involvement in the passing game as he had 7 targets thrown his way.
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): MiaFL (60), C Mi (116), JMU (29)
Micah Bernard (Utah)
Fantrax Ownership 14%
Season Stats: 24 Att, 151 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD, 3 Tgt, 2 Rec, 5 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
In Week 1 Utah spread the ball around to all the RBs as they faced off against a FCS foe, but in Week 2 they faced new conference foe Baylor. With the raised competition level and a close game, the coaches made the decision to lean on Bernard and fed him 19 carries. I would like to see him rush for a TD but Utah only scored 23 points in this one. We’ll need to keep an eye out if the coaches use another RB as a TD vulture moving forward. But Bernard has a great three game stretch coming up and is a viable starting option in each of those weeks. If you need immediate help in your starting line-up then Bernard should be your top RB choice.
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): UtSt (124), OkSt (98), Ariz (72)
Rahjai Harris (ECU)
Fantrax Ownership 6%
Season Stats: 32 Att, 155 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD, 2 Tgt, 2 Rec, 9 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
I’m cautious recommending Harris here because the ECU coaches have a history of spreading out carries. I am including him though because Harris received a workhorse share of 26 carries in a competitive game with Old Dominion. The million dollar question here is if the coaches will continue to feed Harris the ball like this? With an upcoming schedule slate of good match-ups, he can be worth taking a risk on if you’re in need of some serious help at RB. Just be warned that this workload from Week 2 could disappear in Week 3.
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): App (118), Lib (82), UTSA (109)
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Trebor Pena (Syr)
Fantrax Ownership 29%
Season Stats: 14 Tgt, 12 Rec, 166 Rc-Yds, 4 Rc-TD, 4 Att, 6 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
This is your last chance to land Pena on the waiver wire. His stats in both games this season are almost identical with 7 targets, 6 receptions, 2 TDs, and just a 10 yard difference between each game. The Syracuse passing game looks legit and Pena is the best WR on the team. Don’t overthink this one, if Pena’s available in your league go grab him now!
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BYE, Stan (111), FCS (150)
Mac Dalena (Fres)
Fantrax Ownership 7%
Season Stats: 17 Tgt, 13 Rec, 302 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD, 1 Att, 18 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Dalena had 8 targets against Michigan and 9 targets against Sacramento State, showing consistency in his workload. That consistency and volume are two things I really like about him. He exploded for 235 yards last week and those numbers shouldn’t be expected on a regular basis, but the next three games on the schedule will provide some juicy fantasy match-ups for Dalena to hit 100 yards and 1 TD. This offense is going to air it out and Dalena plays in the slot position which has historically been where the WR1 is located.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): NMS (77), NM (133), UNLV (84)
Donavon Greene (Wake)
Fantrax Ownership 15%
Season Stats: 20 Tgt, 14 Rec, 238 Rc-Yds, 2 Rc-TD, 1 Att, 24 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
The Wake Forest offense has looked better than expected in 2024 and Greene is a vital piece of that machine. Coming back from an injury that cost him his 2023 season, he is out to prove he’s back. In a good evaluation of what we can expect moving forward, Greene was targeted 16 times with 11 receptions for 166 yards and 1 TD against Virginia in a hard fought contest. How well will Wake Forest fair in conference play? Not sure. But if they are stuck playing from behind then Greene should continue to receive this heavy workload, even if its in “garbage time.”
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Miss (35), BYE, ULLaf (16)
DT Sheffield (NorTx)
Fantrax Ownership 10%
Season Stats: 23 Tgt, 13 Rec, 148 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD
Sheffield transferred down to the Group of 5 from the Power 4 and is making his impact felt. The slot WR in this offense tends to be the WR2 and gets a healthy does of targets. Right now Sheffield’s targets are higher than normal but that has more to do with the complete lack of targets that North Texas threw to their outside WR1 in Week 2. These numbers will come back down moving forward but he will be a viable fantasy option that you can start through the season.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): TxTch (121), Wyo (86), Tuls (80)
Dalen Cobb (GaSo)
Fantrax Ownership 15%
Season Stats: 15 Tgt, 11 Rec, 136 Rc-Yds, 2 Rc-TD, 2 Att, 30 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
After the departure of star WR Khaleb Hood there was a question about who would become the new WR1 in the offense. Derwin Burgess was the best returning guy who plays the outside WR position and Cobb looked poised to take over the slot position that Hood vacated. Through two games Cobb has 15 targets compared to Burgess’ 9 targets. Right now the yardage is lacking but Cobb is averaging 1 TD/game.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): FCS (150), MissSt (31), GaSt (107)
Andrew Armstrong (Ark)
Fantrax Ownership 13%
Season Stats: 13 Tgt, 10 Rec, 164 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Armstrong made his season debut last week in a competitive match-up with Oklahoma State and gave us a glimpse of how the coaches will use him in conference play. Arkansas is a run first offense but they will feed the ball to their WR1 as shown by Armstrong’s 13 targets. I’m not sure exactly how many TDs we’ll see out him this year but with a high work volume you can at least get some good PPR and yardage numbers out of him in games where he fails to reach the end zone.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): UAB (5), Aub (85), TxAM (27)
Tren Sibley (Lib)
Fantrax Ownership 28%
Season Stats: 13 Tgt, 10 Rec, 264 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Sibley is a boom or bust player with the way the offense utilizes him. The offense uses the ground game to set-up play action looks where Sibley can burn DBs for big gains as seen in his astonishing 26.4 yards/reception on 6.5 receptions/games. This role in the Liberty offense has proven to be fantasy productive, but it also has its peaks and valleys. If you’re willing to ride out those low fantasy performances when he’s in your starting line-up then take a chance on Sibley.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): UTEP (91), ECU (28), App (131)
Zakhari Franklin (Ill)
Fantrax Ownership 17%
Season Stats: 15 Tgt, 11 Rec, 127 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Franklin was not involved in the season opener, but in Week 2 when Kansas brought a competitive game to town the offense leaned on Franklin. In that game he had 10 targets for 9 receptions and 99 yards. The volume is nice, but the yards/reception and lack of a TD is lacking. This should improve as the year goes on, but the next few games will be tough match-ups. If you look to pick up Franklin you’ll have to remain patient as he’ll ride your bench for a while.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): C Mi (42), Neb (58), PSU (62)
TIGHT ENDS:
Tanner Koziol (Ball)
Fantrax Ownership 26%
Season Stats: 7 Tgt, 6 Rec, 60 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
While Ball State has only played one game against an FCS opponent, that game was competitive and the coaching staff had to make a point to feature their best offensive weapons. Koziol was one of those weapons, being targeted 7 times which was tied for the second most targets on the team. The schedule only has a few easy fantasy match-ups but that is actually a good thing for TEs. Tough competitive games tend to serve best for TEs.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): MiaFL (3), C Mi (42), JMU (33)
Gunnar Helm (Tex)
Fantrax Ownership 8%
Season Stats: 10 Tgt, 9 Rec, 140 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
As mentioned above, I like TEs that have competitive match-ups. In a match-up with a tough Michigan defense Helm was targeted 7 times, almost hit 100 yards, and reached the end zone once. I liked how smooth Helm looked in his route running and he looks like he has the skillset to be a quality receiving target. Once Tex hits week 5 the conference slate will provide plenty of competitive opportunities to utilize Helm in your fantasy line-up.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): UTSA (101), ULMon (47), MissSt (31)