CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 2

This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.

Welcome to another installment of the waiver wire watch. Throughout the college football season, I'll pick two guys from every conference who either caught my eye in the previous week or who have a favorable match-up in the near future. As always, I'll get to any questions or comments you have in the comments section below.

AAC

Kenny Gainwell, RB, Memphis
While I was utterly disappointed by the amount of points scored in the Ole Miss-Memphis game, I was happy about learning of Gainwell who appears will fill the role vacated by Tony Pollard. Patrick Taylor is going to get his touches as the more traditional back, but I trust that this high-tempo Memphis offense can support more than one fantasy player in the backfield. In addition to 16 carries, Gainwell managed six targets in the passing game versus Ole Miss.

Tre Nixon, WR, UCF
If you can't get quarterback Brandon Wimbush or wideout Gabriel Davis, Nixon will be the next best thing, especially in a game with Florida Atlantic that should be an absolute scoring fest. Even beyond that game, Nixon is a nice player, evident from his six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in Week 1. Last season, Nixon averaged 6.5 targets per game and posted 40 catches for 562 yards and four touchdowns. 

Last Week; Memphis TE Joey Magnifico (Only 1 Target) & Houston RB Patrick Carr (Injured - DNP)

ACC

Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest
Newman was one of the most entertaining signal callers in week one as he took down NFL-prospect Jordan Love and the Utah State Aggies. The junior racked up a total of 437 yards and four touchdowns. For fantasy purposes, the Demon Deacons' upcoming schedule is might attractive with Rice, North Carolina and Elon. Over that three week span, Newman should be owned in all fantasy leagues and formats. Last week's recommendation RB Cade Carney is also viable.

Tobias Oliver, QB, Georgia Tech
While Georgia Tech had no business being on the same field as Clemson on Thursday Night, we did learn that Oliver is still fantasy relevant as the quarterback for the Yellow Jackets. No one was really sure what Geoff Collins was going to do in his first year, but it looks like they will still run some option with their current personnel. They will be much more productive versus USF & The Citadel in Week 3 & 4.

Last Week; Miami TE Brevin Jordan (DNP – Bye Week), Wake Forest RB Cade Carney (26 touches for 111 total yards)

BIG 12

Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
Ebner opened the season with a huge fantasy performance on just seven touches. Both of his rushing attempts went for touchdowns as did one of his five receptions. Baylor will have one of the best offenses in the country which means that the versatile junior back should have plenty of opportunities each and every week. He's owned in very few leagues and Baylor should put up a ton of points versus UTSA in Week 2.

James Gilbert, RB, Kansas State
Fantasy owners should flock to the lead back in Kansas State's run-heavy system. He was fantastic in the season-opener while rushing for a team-high 115 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. While Gilbert will inevitably split carries with Jordon Brown, Harry Trotter and Tyler Burns, 15 or more carries seems to be the floor since that was the example set against a cupcake opponent. Gilbert should be good for a score or two versus Bowling Green this week.

Last Week; Oklahoma WR Charleston Rambo (3 REC, 105 yards, 1 TD on 3 targets), Texas WR Devin Duvernay (9 REC, 55 yards, 1 TD on 10 targets)

BIG TEN

Brandon Peters, QB, Illinois
Peters, a graduate transfer from Michigan, showed off both his arm and his legs in a 42-3 win over Akron on Saturday. He racked up four total touchdowns and should have another opportunity to shine versus Connecticut this week. There's no way the Huskies defense can stop running back Reggie Corbin, so I expect Peters to have multiple scores for the second week in a row.

Mekhi Sargent, RB, Iowa
Sargent had a productive season-opener with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to go along with four catches for 65 yards. Those 18 touches can go for even more production against a bad Rutgers defense in Week 2. Moreover, the lead back for the Hawkeyes should be owned in more fantasy leagues.

Last Week; Iowa WR Nico Ragaini (1 catch for 45 yards on 3 targets), Penn State QB Sean Clifford (14/23, 280 yards, 2 TD, 57 yards rushing)

C-USA

J'Mar Smith, QB, Louisiana Tech
Considering the Bulldogs had to go up against the Texas Longhorns in Week 1, Smith wasn't half bad while completing 34 of 51 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. Now that the tough game is out of the way, the senior signal-caller can be started for the rest of the year and should be owned in way more leagues than he is right now.

Treyvon Hughes, RB, UTEP
Hughes was named the starting running back in Week 1 as anticipated starter Quardrais Wadley is out for the season with a toe injury. He jumped at the opportunity with 144 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. The Miners will play high-paced Texas Tech in Week 2 which means that Hughes should have plenty of opportunity yet again.

Last Week; FIU QB James Morgan (19/34, 208 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 Fumbles), Charlotte WR Victor Tucker (1-of-3 targets for 11 yards)

MAC

Antwan Dixon, WR, Kent State
Acquiring play-makers from lower-tier teams with disappointing Week 1 performances against Power 5 teams is where fantasy players can really gain an edge. Dixon is one of the players after catching just four passes for 44 yards on eight targets versus Arizona State. Kent State and quarterback Woody Barrett should be much more productive versus Kennesaw State and Dixon will be one of the primary benefactors.

Caleb Huntley, RB, Ball State
Huntley totaled 88 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and two catches versus Indiana in Week 1. He should eclipse the century mark versus Fordham and will be viable for a Week 3 match-up against Florida Atlantic. In 2017, Huntley had a 1,000 rushing season, so he's very capable of handling a heavy workload.

Last Week; Western Michigan WR Keith Mixon (1 catch for 5 yards), Buffalo QB Matt Myers (5/10, 69 yards, 2 TD & 47 yards, 1 TD rushing)

MWC

Hank Bachmeier, QB & Robert Mahone, RB, Boise State
I'm doubling down on Bachmeier as I was more than impressed by the true frosh who went down to Florida State and pulled off a signature win. He looks like he could be a great college football player over the next three or four years. Perhaps more importantly, he's an impact player this year. The starting running back, Mahone, also flashed with 5.9 yards per carry on his way to 142 yards and two touchdowns against the Noles. Make sure to check out these two players versus Marshall on Friday Night.

Dante Wright, WR Colorado State
The Mountain West looks like they are following in the Big 12's footsteps as they are creating some teams that utilize the no defense and all offense philosophy. Colorado State is one of those teams and Wright was fantastic with 131 total yards and two touchdowns on just seven touches in a shootout loss to Colorado. With Western Illinois and Arkansas up next, the freshman should have even more chances to show off.

Last Week; Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier (30/51, 407 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), Utah State WR Jordan Nathan (6-of-10 targets, 83 yards, 1 TD)

PAC-12

Alex Fontenot, RB, Colorado
Fontenot emerged as the Buffs' primary back with 19 carries for 125 yards and three touchdowns against a pitiful Colorado State defense. While Nebraska's defense is supposed to be better, the Cornhuskers did give up 314 yards to South Alabama. Either way, Fontenot should be owned as Colorado's offense looks much improved this season.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
Because Washington State's Anthony Gordon was snatched up in more than half of fantasy leagues, I'll move on to the Sun Devils. I like both quarterback Jayden Daniels and Aiyuk who connected on a beautiful 77-yard catch and run touchdown in the season opener. Commanding seven targets in the first game showed that Aiyuk is ready to surpass the 49 targets he received in 2018.

Last Week; Washington State QB Anthony Gordon (29/35, 420 yards, 5 TD), Oregon State QB Jake Luton (23/42, 251 yards, 3 TD, 7 yards rushing)

SEC

Bo Nix, QB, Auburn
This recommendation was easy and likely predictable as millions around the nation watched the true frosh charge down the field and lead Auburn to an impressive 27-21 win over Oregon. I don't like him against other elite SEC defenses, but I'll take him all day against the likes of Tulane and Kent State over the next couple of weeks.

C.J. Bolar, WR, Vanderbilt
I'm going out on a limb on this one because RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn and WR Kalija Lipscomb are already owned in almost 100 percent of leagues, yet I feel there's still someone to be picked up for the Commodores game with Purdue. The Boilermakers embarrassingly gave up 295 yards and three touchdowns through the air, so I think there's enough production for Bolar to have a big week.  

Last Week; Mississippi State QB Tommy Stevens (20/30, 236 yards, 2 TD, 1 rushing TD), Ole Miss TE Octavious Cooley (2 catches, 7 yards), Ole Miss TE Jason Pellerin (one catch, 15 yards)

SUN BELT

Omar Bayless, WR, Arkansas State
Bayless was downright dominant in Week 1 with 10 catches for 132 yards and four touchdowns in a shootout with SMU. His 10.2 yards per target on 13 targets should have fantasy owners salivating. He may not have four touchdowns in a single game again this season, but there's no reason he can't challenge double-digit catches versus UNLV in Week 2.

Tra Barnett, RB, Georgia State
The Panthers should be riding high after their upset of Tennessee and Barnett will have an opportunity to build upon his strong start to the season. Against the SEC foe, he had 95 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries as well as 12-yard catch. Furman should prove to be an easier opponent which means that Barnett will probably eclipse the century mark this week.

Last Week; Appalachian State WR Corey Sutton (DNP – Suspension), Georgia Southern RB J.D. King (11 carries for 23 yards)

INDEPENDENTS

Kyle Horn, TE, Massachusetts  
Of the independent teams in Week 2, the Minutemen have by far the easiest game with Southern Illinois as Army takes on Michigan, New Mexico State plays Alabama, BYU plays Tennessee and Liberty plays Louisiana-Lafayette. From a tight end perspective, Horn was solid in Week 1 with four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown.

Last Week; Army QB Kelvin Hopkins (3/8, 53 yards, 1 TD, 80 yards & 1 TD rushing)

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

Wisconsin (vs. Central Michigan) – The Badgers pitched a shut-out on the road versus a much better team in Week 1.

Illinois (vs. Connecticut) – Lovie Smith is a defensive-minded coach and the Huskies are one of the worst teams in college football.

Memphis (vs. Southern) – The Tigers are known for their offense, but they looked extra physical against the SEC's Rebels in Week 1.

Last Week; Army (vs. Rice – 7 points allowed), Stanford (vs. Northwestern – 7 points allowed, 4 Turnovers), Virginia (at Pittsburgh – 14 points allowed, 2 INT)