CFF Waiver Wire Targets – Week 5
CFF Waiver Wire Targets – Week 5
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:
Blake Horvath (Navy)
Fantrax Ownership 13%
Season Stats: 33 Att, 21 Comp, 412 P-Yds, 5 P-TD, 1 INT, 34 Ru-Att, 366 Ru-Yds, 7 Ru-TD
The trait I look for most in waiver wire targets is workload volume, and Horvath doesn’t meet that criteria. His per game workload average is 11 pass attempts and 11.33 rush attempts. What Horvath does better than anyone else right now is score touchdowns. His last two games have been against Memphis and Temple which are good games to evaluate what his performance is going to be like in conference play. Horvath’s schedule opens up real good come Week 8 and could be a player that locks you into a playoff spot.
*Note that defensive rankings listed below are for rush defense due to Navy’s offensive system*
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): UAB (110), AF (57), BYE
Emmett Brown (SJSU)
Fantrax Ownership 15%
Season Stats: 158 Att, 98 Comp, 1297 P-Yds, 13 P-TD, 4 INT, 19 Ru-Att, -42 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
Brown had a career game last week against Washington State throwing the ball 54 times for 375 yards, 4TDs and 2 INTs. That workload should not be expected, and when you remove that game he is averaging 34.67 attempts/game. Brown has a receiving core that can dominate Mountain West defenses and has a nose for scoring touchdowns. I’ve been bringing up Brown for a couple weeks now and I’m not sure how much longer he’ll remain under 30% ownership rate.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BYE, Nev (76), ColSt (131)
Kadin Semonza (Ball)
Fantrax Ownership 10%
Season Stats: 105 Att, 74 Comp, 658 P-Yds, 7 P-TD, 2 INT, 15 Ru-Att, -15 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
Semonza was a guy I recommended after his season opener in Week 2. Many fantasy owners stayed away from him because of his Week 3 match-up with Miami, FL. When you remove the Miami game and just look at his FCS and Central Michigan games, he is averaging 39.5 pass attempts for 273.5 yards, 3.5 TDs, and 0.5 INTs. Long term scheduling is up and down for match-ups so he will likely be a spot-start player on your roster.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): JMU (79), WestMi (66), Kent (132)
Caden Veltcamp (W Ky)
Fantrax Ownership 26%
Season Stats: 69 Att, 51 Comp, 651 P-Yds, 6 P-TD, 2 INT, 22 Ru-Att, 26 Ru-Yds, 3 Ru-TD
Veltcamp is still showing an ownership rate of under 30% so he makes this article again even though he did not have a fantastic Week 4 performance. Having the starting QB in the Western Kentucky offense is always good to have on your team, but the schedule is moderate at best for good match-ups. If you’re in a dynasty or keeper league I would advice taking Veltcamp, but if you’re not in one of those leagues formats I would recommend picking him up if he can plug some weak spots for your QB roster schedule matching.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BC (28), BYE, UTEP (67)
Maalik Murphy (Duke)
Fantrax Ownership 27%
Season Stats: 143 Att, 92 Comp, 1017 P-Yds, 11 P-TD, 4 INT, 5 Ru-Att, -25 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Murphy might be the best player to target if you need a spot-starter the next two weeks. His match-ups are good and he can serve as a reliable QB2 in your line-up. In the last three weeks he has scored 3 TDs in each contest. I felt like last week against Middle Tennessee would be a week where he hits 4 passing TDs but he came up just short of that.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): UNC (106), GaTec (103), BYE
Tyler Huff (JacSt)
Fantrax Ownership 7%
Season Stats: 91 Att, 62 Comp, 880 P-Yds, 5 P-TD, 4 INT, 48 Ru-Att, 269 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD
It took a while for Huff to get adjusted to the FBS level as he transferred from FCS Furman. He has taken over as the starting QB as this season has progressed. His passing workload is up and down, throwing the ball 14 times at the lowest and 34 times at the highest points this season. His fantasy value is in his legs and he has averaged 14.33 rushing attempts/game over the last three weeks and scored a rushing TD in two of those three games.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BYE, KennSt (129), NMS (63)
Ben Wooldridge (ULLaf)
Fantrax Ownership 3%
Season Stats: 86 Att, 59 Comp, 735 P-Yds, 6 P-TD, 3 INT, 20 Ru-Att, 74 Ru-Yds, 2 Ru-TD
Wooldridge is a veteran QB who has been playing college football since 2018. 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. His TD/INT rate is not completely favorable, but he does provide some rushing production to offset the INTs. I think Wooldridge is an option in deeper leagues and can provide some good spot-starts as a QB2 in your line-up.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Wake (116), SMiss (73), App (117)
Michael Hawkins (Okla)
Fantrax Ownership 5%
Season Stats: 22 Att, 13 Comp, 149 P-Yds, 1 P-TD, 0 INT, 14 Ru-Att, 32 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
The freshman was given the keys to the Oklahoma offense in the second half of last week’s game against Tennessee. What impressed me about Hawkins was his ability to go from pass drop back to rushing the ball in a smart manner and not just running recklessly anytime a little pressure was shown. Hawkins is worth looking into in dynasty and keeper leagues, but I’m not a fan of him in traditional league formats. The schedule is getting very tough, and I don’t have confidence in a true freshman playing behind a poor offensive line against the slate coming up.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Aub (59), BYE, Tex (4)
RUNNING BACKS:
Kalel Mullings (Mich)
Fantrax Ownership 29%
Season Stats: 53 Att, 429 Ru-Yds, 4 Ru-TD, 3 Tgt, 1 Rec, 2 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Mullings has taken over as the primary RB in the Michigan offense, although he is more of a RB1-A. In the summer I predicted this transition taking place and his role growing as the season went on. He has racked up at least 150 yards and scored 2 TDs in each of the last two games. Michigan is fully committed to running the ball no matter the match-up and that helps Mullings. The upcoming Washington game will be a much better match-up than it looks now as the Washington defense is not as good as they appear on the ground.
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): MIN (60), Wash (29), BYE
Micah Bernard (Utah)
Fantrax Ownership 29%
Season Stats: 66 Att, 456 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD, 7 Tgt, 6 Rec, 6 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Bernard makes this article for another week as his ownership rate just makes the cut. Over the last three games he is averaging 20.33 carries/game. The biggest knock with Bernard is that he has only scored 1 rushing TD. Tight end Brant Kuithe is running the Wildcat package on the goal line and vulturing Bernard’s scoring opportunities. Bernard won’t be a weekly start in your line-up but his workload is enough to be a decent RB2/3.
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): Ariz (64), BYE, AzSt (20)
Rahsul Faison (UtSt)
Fantrax Ownership 8%
Season Stats: 67 Att, 395 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD, 8 Tgt, 6 Rec, 11 Rc-Yds, 0 Rc-TD
Faison has become the bell cow for the offense, averaging 23 carries and 131.5 yards per game over the last two weeks. He finally scored a TD last week, but expecting him to score two weeks ago against Utah was not reasonable. Faison has the workload you want to see, and has some quality match-ups sprinkled throughout his remaining schedule. Just like I said above about Bernard, Faison will be a good spot start RB2/3 for your starting line-up.
Next three weeks opponent (rush def rank): BYE, Boise (106), UNLV (34)
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Dante Wright (Tem)
Fantrax Ownership 26%
Season Stats: 34 Tgt, 26 Rec, 352 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD, 4 Att, 14 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Wright’s workload came back down to Earth last week with only 4 targets, but he was still able to put up good fantasy points for the third week in a row. In the last three games he is averaging 9.67 targets for 105.33 yards and 1 TD per game. Army is the toughest pass defense he still faces and the schedule becomes very favorable moving forward. This likely is the last week Wright’s ownership rate stays below 30% so get him now.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Army (37), UConn (99), BYE
Ted Hurst (GaSt)
Fantrax Ownership 9%
Season Stats: 21 Tgt, 15 Rec, 237 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD
Hurst didn’t play last week but I am including him again in this article since his ownership rate is so low. He is the work horse WR for the Georgia State offense. In the last two games Hurst has averaged 9 targets for 6.5 receptions, 105.5 yards and 1.5 TDs per game. While you might expect a good performance against an FCS school, Hurst also pulled this off against Vanderbilt. Once you clear his Week 6 bye the schedule begins to open up nicely.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): GaSo (108), BYE, OD (18)
Cade McDonald (MiaOH)
Fantrax Ownership 25%
Season Stats: 28 Tgt, 20 Rec, 292 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
McDonald was spotlighted in last week’s article and he is being featured against despite an underwhelming performance against Notre Dame. He wasn’t going to score a bunch of fantasy point against the Irish but he still commanded 8 targets and he is now averaging 9.33 targets/game on the season. McDonald has everything you want to see in a fantasy wide receiver: high workload, high productivity stats, and an upcoming schedule that is favorable.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): UMass (83), Toled (77), E Mi (94)
Luke Grimm (Kan)
Fantrax Ownership 27%
Season Stats: 36 Tgt, 24 Rec, 232 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD, 3 Att, 55 Ru-Yds, 1 Ru-TD
Grimm is commanding a fantastic workload with an average of 9 targets per game. He’s only had one game where he didn’t score fantasy worthy points and has managed to score fantasy points in non-favorable match-ups. That’s good because after the next two games the match-ups become much tougher with Colorado in Week 13 as the only other favorable match-up left on the schedule.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): TCU (70), AzSt (109), BYE
Junior Vandeross (Toled)
Fantrax Ownership 13%
Season Stats: 31 Tgt, 20 Rec, 267 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD
Last week’s match-up with Western Kentucky didn’t produce the offensive fireworks we were hoping for. Vandeross still managed 9 targets for 6 receptions in last week’s game. He remains in the article this week since his ownership rate is still well under 30%. If you pick up Vandeross you’ll have to be willing to sit him on your bench for a while. Once he hits Week 9 of the season the match-ups get really juicy for the rest of the fantasy season.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BYE, MiaOH (41), Buff (27)
Elijah Metcalf (Marsh)
Fantrax Ownership 15%
Season Stats: 21 Tgt, 15 Rec, 140 Rc-Yds, 3 Rc-TD
Metcalf has probably been lost on many fantasy owners lately as he has faced Virginia Tech and Ohio State the last two weeks. What it interesting is that in those two games he has averaged 9 targets for 6 receptions and 0.5 TDs per game. Its unsure if he will maintain that target share now that Marshal is no longer playing from behind in blowouts, but the schedule is good moving forward. His best match-ups of the year come during Weeks 6-8.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): WestMi (66), App (117), GaSo (108)
Ismael Cisse (Stan)
Fantrax Ownership 2%
Season Stats: 25 Tgt, 19 Rec, 145 Rc-Yds, 2 Rc-TD, 4 Att, 2 Ru-Yds, 0 Ru-TD
Cisse has been flying under the radar this season and he needs to be talked about. What I like is that he is averaging 8.33 targets and 0.67 TDs per game. What Misse is lacking right now is yardage, averaging just 48.33 yards/game. I’m willing to bet on his target share and TD rate, knowing that the schedule opens up. Starting in Week 8 Stanford faces SMU, Wake Forest, and NC State consecutively.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Clem (97), VaTec (30), ND (10)
TIGHT ENDS:
Eli Stowers (Vand)
Fantrax Ownership 21%
Season Stats: 31 Tgt, 19 Rec, 220 Rc-Yds, 1 Rc-TD
Stowers has become a favorite pass catcher these last weeks in match-ups against Georgia State and Missouri. During this two game stretch he is averaging 13.5 targets/game for 8 receptions, 83.5 yards and 0.5 TDs per game. The Georgia State game is the only game where he has scored a touchdown and gone for 100+ yards. The competition gets really tough moving forward but that is typically a good thing for fantasy tight ends.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BYE, Bama (14), KY (16)
Anthony Torres (Toled)
Fantrax Ownership 6%
Season Stats: 17 Tgt, 10 Rec, 107 Rc-Yds, 4 Rc-TD
I’m not a fan of Torres’ workload but I feel like you can’t ignore how this guy has a way to find the endzone. In games with opponents ranging from FCS, to Group of 5, to Power 4 he has scored in three of his four games. I think he and QB Tucker Gleason have a connection in the red zone and that is how Torres is scoring so many touchdowns on this small of a workload. He’s on a bye this week which means many people may ignore him for a roster add this week.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): BYE, MiaOH (41), Buff (27)
Kenny Fletcher (Rut)
Fantrax Ownership 1%
Season Stats: 14 Tgt, 12 Rec, 101 Rc-Yds, 2 Rc-TD
Fletcher hadn’t done anything of fantasy noteworthiness until last week’s game against Virginia Tech. This was the first competitive game that Rutgers has had this season, and competitive games are where fantasy tight ends thrive. In that game he had 9 targets for 7 receptions, 61 yards and no TDs. The upcoming conference schedule provides more of the competitive match-ups moving forward for Fletcher.
Next three weeks opponent (pass def rank): Wash (9), Neb (71), Wisc (43)