CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 11

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Ke'Mon Freeman, RB, SMU: The Mustangs disappointed in a 51-7 loss to Memphis on Saturday. However, it did allow for an opportunity to see the freshman a bit more. Freeman rushed for 83 yards on 16 carries (5.2 ypc average) and caught a 16-yard touchdown. Against a soft East Carolina defense this week, look for Freeman and the Mustangs to put up a lot more than seven points.

Gardner Minshew, QB, East Carolina: Minshew saw high volume Saturday while completing 29-of-49 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown and that was only in a little over half of the game. Minshew replaced a struggling Phillip Nelson in the second quarter and helped stud wide-out Zay Jones set the single-season record for receptions for both his team and the AAC. SMU and East Carolina should score a lot this weekend, so go ahead and pick up Minshew if he receives the start.

ACC

Ahmmon Richards, WR, Miami: Richards had a breakout game with a career-high eight catches for 144 yards versus Pittsburgh on Saturday. Miami will go up against yet another terrible defense this week when they play Virginia, who is giving up 271 passing yards per game.

David Njoku, TE, Miami: Njoku was a recommendation a couple of weeks ago and he has delivered with 10 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. The aforementioned Virginia defense is terrible, so I'm all-in on the Miami pass game this week as quarterback Brad Kaaya should have a huge game.

BIG 12

Da'Leon Ward, RB, Texas Tech: Ward has taken over the starting running back position at Texas Tech with two straight games of 20-plus carries. While the freshman is only averaging 4.3 yards per carry on the ground, he has also racked up a total of 12 catches over his last two games. Ward and the Red Raiders will take their high-flying offensive show to Oklahoma State this week in a game that could have a ton of points, so if you're looking for a Red Raiders receiver, as well, go out and get Dylan Cantrell.

Jalen McCleskey, WR, Oklahoma State: In his last two games, McCleskey has 19 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns. While he doesn't provide the superstar potential of teammate James Washington, he is a consistent possession receiver who has an NFL-caliber quarterback in Mason Rudolph throwing to him. McCleskey should have a breakout game versus Texas Tech's awful defense this week.

BIG TEN

LJ Scott, RB, Michigan State: The Spartans have had a really tough year with seven straight losses. That's taken the spotlight off their talented sophomore running back who is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Against a stout Michigan defensive front two weeks ago, Scott put up 186 total yards. If he did that against the Wolverines, just imagine the possibilities against Rutgers' pitiful rush defense this week.

Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern: The Wildcats have had a tough start to their conference schedule with Nebraka, Ohio State and Wisconsin in three of the six games. With Purdue, Minnesota and Illinois coming up the next three weeks, Thorson will have a better chance to throw multiple touchdowns like he did versus Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana. Thorson also has a dependable receiver in Austin Carr, who has 70 catches for 1,010 yards and ten touchdowns.

CONFERENCE USA

Kalif Phillips, RB, Charlotte: I'm going to assume there's not a lot of Charlotte 49ers on fantasy teams, but the reality is that Phillips should have been owned a long time ago. Phillips has received at least 16 carries in six straight games and has 100-plus-yard rushing performances in four of those games. Going up against Rice's FBS-worst defense this week should equate to a monster week for Phillips.

Chase Litton, QB, Marshall: After starting the season with 10 total touchdowns in his first two games, Litton hasn't thrown for more than two touchdowns in any game since then. He'll have a chance to change that versus Middle Tennessee this week. Middle Tennessee is giving up 243.3 passing yards and 31.6 points per game.

MAC

Van Edwards and Denzel Jones, RB, Akron: We took part in some Tuesday MAC-tion last week and now we'll jump on a Wednesday Night game between Akron and Bowling Green. Bowling Green is giving up 226.4 yards per game on the ground which means that both Edwards and Jones should have big nights Wednesday. If you need to choose between the two, go with Edwards who is presumed to be the starter.

Gus Ragland, QB, Miami (OH): The Redhawks are hot with four straight wins after opening the season 0-6. In Ragland's four starts, he's completed 60% of his passes with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. With upcoming matchups against Buffalo and Ball State, there's no reason to think that Ragland shouldn't finish the season strong.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State: Starting running back Joe McNichols is going to get his against a Hawaii rush defense allowing 259.2 yards per game, but I would also expect the freshman Mattison to get a decent amount of looks. Against a similarly bad San Jose State defense Saturday, Mattison ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Even if it's just in garbage time, Mattison could be a one-time fill-in for fantasy owners dealing with bye weeks.

Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State: Over his last four games, Gallup has been a force with 27 catches for 448 yards and four touchdowns. Against a good Air Force team this week, Colorado State will need to throw the ball and I would expect quarterback Nick Stevens to look Gallup's way early and often.

PAC-12

Keller Chryst, QB, Stanford: David Shaw has turned the reigns over to junior quarterback Keller Chryst, which could help fantasy players looking for a quarterback this week. Stanford will play Oregon, who is giving up 296.6 passing yards per contest. While Christian McCaffrey is going to go crazy in the running game, Chryst should still have at least a couple of touchdowns against a Ducks team giving up 42.6 points per game.

Shay Fields, WR, Colorado: The Colorado wide-outs have had an up-and-down year from a fantasy perspective. It was a down game Thursday as running back Phillip Lindsay led the team with 11 receptions. Fields had a breakout game versus Oregon State with seven receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns on Oct. 1, but in the four games since, he only has one touchdown on 13 catches. Look for Fields to get back to producing this week against an Arizona team that just gave up 69 points and six touchdowns to Washington State.

SEC

Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M: While the Aggies proved the College Football Playoff Committee wrong in a shocking loss to Mississippi State, Kirk proved that he's the team's most explosive playmaker with a 93-yard punt return touchdown, seven catches for 144 yards and another touchdown through the air. The Aggies will go up against Mississippi's defense giving up 31.9 points per game. Furthermore, Kirk has scored a touchdown in four straight games and seven out of nine this season.

C.J. Duncan, WR, Vanderbilt: The Commodores were competitive against a good
Auburn team and Duncan was a big reason why with seven catches for 79 yards. The junior receiver is the top target for Kyle Shurmur, who — together with Duncan — will have their best chance to succeed against a Missouri team with the SEC's worst defense.

SUN BELT

Conner Manning, QB, Georgia State: Manning returned to action Thursday and showed some rust while completing 22-of-46 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in a loss to Arkansas State. This week's opponent, Louisiana-Monroe, is giving up 41.6 points per game, so it should be a much better outing for the junior quarterback. Wide receiver Robert Davis should also be considered if available.

Isaiah Saunders, RB, Idaho: Saunders is coming off his best game of the season with 21 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown to go along with five catches for 55 yards in Saturday's win at Louisiana Lafayette. This week, Saunders will attempt to keep the momentum against a Texas State team allowing 241.3 rushing yards per game.