CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 12

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Ben Hicks, QB, SMU: Take away a seven-point effort against Memphis and the Mustangs are averaging a staggering 42 points over their last four games. Their freshman quarterback (Hicks) has been fairly good in that stretch with three touchdown passes in each win over Houston and at East Carolina. With the Mustangs taking on a USF squad with an affinity for high-scoring games, it's time to grab Hicks off the waiver wire.

Rodney Adams, WR, USF: On the other side of the anticipated shootout, go with Adams who is a threat through the air and on the ground. Adams notched both a touchdown reception and a rushing touchdown for the third time this season against Memphis on Saturday. Moreover, SMU ranks in the lower half of college football in total defense.

ACC

Auden Tate, WR, Florida State:Travis Rudolph is the Seminoles' No. 1 receiver, but it was Tate who grabbed six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns versus Boston College on Friday Night. Syracuse just gave up 360 passing yards to NC State and likely will give up a bunch more against Florida State this week. Grab the sophomore Tate if you need some help at wide receiver.

Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina: The Tar Heels were upset Thursday Night in a 28-27 loss at Duke and it was Trubisky who threw a couple of rare interceptions. He should get back on track when North Carolina takes a break from their conference schedule to play The Citadel. On the season, Trubisky has thrown 22 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions while also adding five scores on the ground.

BIG 12

Ke'aun Kinner, RB, Kansas: Kinner is one of the most talented running backs in the conference. However, he plays for quite possibly the worst team in a major conference. Kinner ran for a season-high 169 yards on 18 carries versus Iowa State on Saturday. This week he’ll go up against a Texas defense giving up around 200 rushing yards per game. With double-digit carries in four straight games, Kinner is ready to give it his all in his last two career contests.

Jacob Park, QB, Iowa State: Park has officially taken the starting job from Joel Lanning and was nearly perfect while completing 20-of-26 (76.9%) passes in a road win at Kansas. He's thrown two touchdowns in three straight games and has the opportunity to play Texas Tech's absolutely awful defense next week. Tech is surrendering around 300 passing yards per game. Freshman running back David Montgomery is also worth a play if Mike Warren is forced to miss another game. Otherwise, if Warren plays, snatch him up.

BIG TEN

Bradrick Shaw, RB, Wisconsin: The Badgers love to churn out talented running backs and Shaw is the next in line in Madison. In a rout of the Fighting Illini on Saturday, Shaw carried the rock 19 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. With Purdue's horrible rush defense up next, starting running back Corey Clement will get his 100 yards and Shaw could potentially get at least a half-game of work in.

Justin Jackson, RB, Northwestern: Jackson has only four 100-yard rushing games on the season which means he might be out there on the wire. One of them came Saturday when Jackson ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns at Purdue. While Minnesota does have a decent rush defense, Jackson has caught at least one pass in every game this season, which could be part of the game plan against the Gophers this week.

CONFERENCE USA

Ryan Metz, QB, UTEP: The Miners' best offensive player is running back Aaron Jones, but Metz isn't too bad himself with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions over the last four weeks. The sophomore signal caller will have the opportunity for a career day against Rice, who have college football's worst defense.

Keon Howard, QB, Southern Miss: In Howard's first game Saturday, he went 12-of-24 for 230 yards and a touchdown with an interception while rushing for 98 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. Despite losing 51-35 at Old Dominion, that's a ton of volume for the freshman. Howard will have an easier time with a North Texas team giving up over 413 yards of total offense a game.

MAC

Justin Rankin, RB, Kent State: Quarterback Nick Holley will continue to receive the majority of the team's carries, but look for Rankin to build on his impressive freshman campaign of 91 carries for 429 yards and three touchdowns with 25 catches for 308 yards and a touchdown. Bowling Green is giving up almost 500 yards of total offense per game, so there will be plenty to go around for both Holley and Rankin on Tuesday Night.

KeVonn Mabon, WR, Ball State: Mabon had a breakout game versus Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night with a career-high 12 catches and three total touchdowns. The only part that's been missing from Mabon's game this season has been the touchdowns as the senior receiver has at least five catches in nine of ten games. Even though Toledo will likely emerge as the winning team Wednesday, the Cardinals have scored at least 20 points in every game this season.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Timothy McVey, RB, Air Force: McVey had himself a day versus Colorado State on Saturday with 15 carries for 184 yards and four touchdowns. On the season, the junior is averaging 8.2 yards per carry. He's scored a touchdown in eight of ten games this season, and this week the Falcons go up against San Jose State, a team that's giving up 240.6 rushing yards per game.

Ronquavion Tarver, WR, Utah State: In his past two games, Turner has 14 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown. Utah State has lost six of their last seven, but they'll have a better chance when they play a Nevada squad giving up 447 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Kent Myers and running back Tonny Lindsey can also be considered on the wire as the Aggies have a decent matchup against BYU the following week.

PAC-12

JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford: I hit on my recommendation of quarterback Keller Chryst on Saturday as he threw three touchdown passes in a 52-27 win over Oregon. One of those touchdowns was to Arcega-Whiteside, who pulled in four catches for 106 yards. Stanford will play at California this week which means the passing game should be on point once again. Michael Rector should also be considered this week. As a bonus, Stanford concludes the season against Rice.

Troy Williams, QB, Utah: Hopefully most people have found running back Joe Williams, who continues to turn out 100-yard rushing games with ease. With an upcoming matchup against the Oregon Ducks, it's time to grab the other Williams on the Utes. Against a similarly bad Arizona State defense Saturday, this Williams went 21-of-37 for 296 yards and four touchdowns. He'll likely have even better numbers versus the Ducks.

SEC

Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama: If Hurts is somehow still out there on the wire, snatch him up for Alabama's last two games against Chattanooga and Auburn. The dual-threat quarterback had his best passing performance of the season versus Mississippi State on Saturday with 347 passing yards and five total touchdowns. In his last four games, he also has three 100-yard rushing games.

Josh Malone, WR, Tennessee: Malone had an underwhelming October with only 13 catches and no touchdowns. In his first two games in November, he has nine catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns. With Missouri on the schedule this week, Malone should be played in all fantasy leagues.

SUN BELT

Larry Rose III, RB, New Mexico State: Rose entered the season as one of the top running backs in the nation but was slowed down by injuries. Since returning in late September, the Aggies have struggled with balance and Rose has managed only two 100-yard rushing games and two touchdowns. With Appalachian State and South Alabama rounding out the end of the schedule, this week's tilt against Texas State may be the last time to use Rose for fantasy purposes.

Brandon Silvers, QB, Troy: Silvers and the Trojans flexed their muscles Saturday with a 28-24 win over Appalachian State. Troy is a surprising 8-1 with their only coming in a six-point loss at Clemson. Silvers has been fantastic with at least two passing touchdowns in seven of nine games this season. Against Arkansas State on Thursday Night, Silvers is worth a start in all fantasy leagues, not just Sun Belt leagues.