CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 4

Throughout the college football season, I'll pick two guys from every active 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.

First though, here are the guys who made me look good last week (I'm grateful there was a lot of them);

Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett (44.2 points)
Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (41.7 points)
Louisiana Tech QB Austin Kendall (41.6 points)
Utah State WR Deven Thompkins (36.8 points)
Michigan RB Blake Corum (35.8 points)
Duke WR Jake Bobo (24.9 points)
Ole Miss WR Dontario Drummond (24.1 points)
Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa (23.5 points)
Baylor RB Abram Smith (21.2 points)
SMU TE Grant Calcaterra (17.3 points)
Rutgers D/ST (13.5 points)

Slate Background: The fourth week is going to be a fun one as we kick it off with Marshall at Appalachian State on Thursday Night. We then get treated to a four game slate highlighted by Liberty at Syracuse on Friday Night which gives everyone the opportunity to see QB Malik Willis and one of my top recommendations this week (see below). Saturday includes the following intriguing match-ups to name a few; Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Soldier Field),  SMU at TCU & Texas A&M at Arkansas.

*Fantasy Points referenced in article are DK format.
**To qualify for recommendations, players must be rostered in less than 50 percent of Fantrax Leagues

AAC

Holton Ahlers, QB, East Carolina

The Pirates have been frisky in 2021 in competitive losses to South Carolina & Appalachian State, yet they defied all the odds and pulled a shocker in a 42-38 win at Marshall. Ahlers was fantastic while completing 63 percent of his passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns with another score on the ground. His name has been in fantasy circles before, but he's rostered in just 17 percent of leagues due to those tough match-ups to begin the year. I expect that trend to change with upcoming games against Charleston Southern, Tulane, UCF and Houston.

Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston

Dell has opened the season with three straight games of at least seven catches and 80 yards receiving. Even with starting quarterback Clayton Tune leaving the game against Grambling State in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury, Dell managed eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Whether it's Tune or Ike Ogbogu at quarterback, I expect Dell to push double-digit targets against Navy, Tulsa and Tulane over the next few weeks. The sophomore is rostered in just 21 percent of leagues.

Week 3 Rewind; Memphis RB Brandon Thomas (12.2 points - 18 touches for 102 yards) & SMU TE Grant Calcaterra (17.3 points - 7 catches for 103 yards)

ACC

Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse

Tucker exploded for 64.3 fantasy points while recording 243 total yards and five touchdowns on 16 touches against Albany. Unfortunately, just 30 percent of rosters benefitted from this monster performance and it wasn't easy to predict as who knew he could chew up that much production on so few touches. Tucker was a solid player in the shortened 2020 season with three 100-yard rushing performances and eight games with double-digit carries as a true freshman. Through three games in 2021 with 17 carries per game, it's clear he's an impact player for the Orangemen. No reason to believe he won't produce against Liberty, at Florida State and against Wake Forest over the next three weeks.

Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami

Rambo had a breakout game with the Canes with 12 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Michigan State. This after opening the season with 12 catches on 17 targets in the first two games. He's clearly D'Eriq King's preferred target and it looks like Miami may need to put up some offense most weeks which bodes well for Rambo's fantasy numbers. He's rostered in just 42 percent of leagues and has upcoming games against Central Connecticut and Virginia. Then comes a showdown at North Carolina which will likely decide the Coastal Division.

Week 3 Rewind; Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett (44.2 points - 23/31, 382 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT, 49 rushing yards) & Duke WR Jake Bobo (24.9 points - 11 catches, 109 yards)

BIG 12

Jaylen Warren, RB, Oklahoma State

Warren emerged as the Cowboys' lead back while rushing for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries on the road against Boise State. He's rostered in just seven percent of leagues and is a top-player recommendation seeing that Oklahoma State wants to push the ball up and down the field if they can help it. They are currently without a trio of receivers in Tay Martin, Braydon Johnson and Jaden Bray which means that they may need to lean more heavily on their run-game in the near future. 

Kaylon Geiger, WR, Texas Tech

It was finally Geiger who established some traction with QB Tyler Shough (50 percent rostered) with a team-leading six catches for 121 yards against Florida International. He's rostered in 11 percent of leagues as many gave up on him after posting just three catches for 11 yards in Texas Tech's first two games. Erik Ezukanma remains the number one option in the offense, however, with Geiger they form a potent receiving duo that should have some success in the conference portion of the schedule which begins this upcoming week at Texas.

Week 3 Rewind; Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders (13.3 points - 6/13, 82 yards, 40 rushing yards & 1 TD on 15 attempts), Baylor RB Trestan Ebner (6.2 points - 12 carries for 72 yards, lost fumble) & Baylor RB Abram Smith (21.2 points - 16 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD)

BIG TEN

Treyson Potts, RB, Minnesota

We're on quite the hot streak in the Big Ten after uncovering Michigan State's Kenneth Walker and Michigan's Blake Corum in the first two articles. Now it's time to pick up Potts who has surprisingly stepped in for Mohamed Ibrahim with back-to-back 30 point fantasy performances. The volume has been insane with 34 carries against Miami of Ohio in Week 2 and 26 carries at Colorado in Week 3. He now has a dream match-up against Bowling Green before getting ready for the Big 10 schedule. Oh yeah, he's rostered in just 39 percent of leagues which is about to change quickly.

King Doerue, RB, Purdue

Doerue did enough against Notre Dame as the lead back to be rostered in more than four percent of leagues going forward. He racked up 14.4 fantasy points while rushing for 45 yards on 10 carries and grabbing six catches for 39 yards. He'll go up against an Illinois squad next week who just gave up 27.6 fantasy points to Maryland's RB Tayon Fleet-Davis. Doerue is a similar player who should be able to push the 20-point fantasy mark and he's set to continue to get volume with Zander Horvath out with the lower leg injury for four to eight weeks.

Week 3 Rewind; Michigan RB Blake Corum (35.8 points - 13 carries, 125 yards, 3 TD, 13 yards receiving) & Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa (23.5 points - 32/43, 350 yards, 1 TD, 25 rushing yards)

C-USA

Austin Kendall, QB, Louisiana Tech

Kendall has now surpassed 30 fantasy points in two of his three games with the Bulldogs. I also like that he did this against the likes of Mississippi State and SMU which suggests he'll be just fine during the conference schedule. The biggest reason he should be rostered in far more than 13 percent of leagues is considering he's added a rushing score in every game this year and has seen plenty of volume with an average of 34.6 passing attempts per game. He's a top play against North Texas this upcoming week.

Gerrit Prince, TE, UAB

In two games against teams who are not Georgia, Prince has been an absolute beast with six catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He's rostered in just one percent of leagues and has upcoming games against Tulane, Liberty and Florida Atlantic. Most of the reliable tight ends have been picked up and are over 50 percent rostered, so we'll need to get creative at the position for the rest of the season.

Week 3 Rewind; Louisiana Tech QB Austin Kendall (41.6 points - 24/41, 351 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 20 yards rushing, 1 TD) & Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (41.7 points - 25 touches, 197 yards, 3 TD)

MAC

Hassan Beydoun, WR, Eastern Michigan

Beydoun was able to post his first 100-yard receiving game of the season at Massachusetts with six grabs for 101 yards. With an easier match-up against Texas State and then the MAC schedule upcoming, there's no reason not to roster the Eagles' top wide-out who is available in 60 percent of leagues. In five conference games last season, Beydoun had at least seven catches in every game and posted 508 yards on 55 targets. While he did not have any touchdowns, that efficiency is too good for him to not find the end-zone soon.

Kaleb Eleby, QB, Western Michigan

Western Michigan was fun to watch this past weekend as they pulled off a thrilling 44-41 upset at Pittsburgh. Eleby (rostered in 50 percent of leagues) brought his A-game as he threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns. His star receiver, Skyy Moore (rostered in 58 percent of leagues) was back in the line-up and they were able to connect on 11 of 13 targets for 124 yards and a touchdown. I like this pair quite a bit when they take on San Jose State this week and beyond once they get in to the MAC portion of the schedule.

Week 3 Rewind; Northern Illinois RB Harrison Waylee (3.4 points - 12 carries for 34 yards) & Miami-Ohio WR Jack Sorenson (19.6 points - 5 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD)

MWC

Sean Chambers, QB, Wyoming

Chambers has been sneaky good over the last couple of weeks while 21.5 fantasy points against Northern Illinois and Ball State. It gets even easier this week when the Cowboys play against Connecticut, one of the worst teams in college football. Chambers is rostered in just 11 percent of leagues and has a history of scoring on the ground with 14 rushing scores in 16 career games. With most of the top signal callers scooped up in the Mountain West, he's next in line to be on more fantasy rosters.

Brad Roberts, RB, Air Force

Roberts has reeled off three straight games with double-digit fantasy points and has at least 21 touches in all of those games. With the junior running back pushing for 100-yard rushing games each and every week, he should be rostered in more than 17 percent of leagues. The schedule is a dream over the next couple of weeks with Florida Atlantic and New Mexico with Roberts having a great chance at making it five straight games with double-digit fantasy points.

Week 3 Rewind; Utah State WR Deven Thompkins (36.8 points - 9 REC, 188 yards, 1 TD) & San Jose State QB Nick Starkel (15.2 points - 23/50, 235 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT)

PAC-12

Jaxson Dart, QB, USC

Dart looked far too good in relief of Kedon Slovis to not be picked up moving forward. I was actually shocked to see that he's already owned in 11 percent of leagues as Slovis had high expectations coming in to the year. Dart could steal this job as the program is in turmoil and he was unbelievable while completing 30 of 46 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns en route to 34.8 fantasy points. There is some caution here as it was against Washington State and he did have three turnovers in the game. I'm hoping he gets an audition for the starting job against Oregon State next week.

Stanley Berryhill, WR, Arizona

Berryhill has been the best receiver in the nation that no one is talking about as he's rostered in just 13 percent of leagues. Through three games, he already has 28 catches for 263 yards and a touchdown. He's seen double-digit targets in each of the Wildcats' first three games and that shouldn't change when the Pac-12 schedule begins this week. I like Berryhill to have dependable fantasy performances against Oregon, UCLA, Colorado and Washington over the next month or so.

Week 3 Rewind; Oregon QB Anthony Brown (16.5 points - 14/18, 159 yards, 1 TD, 1 Rushing Score) & Washington WR Terrell Bynum (16.4 points - 4/8 targets, 64 yards, 1 TD)

SEC

Bo Nix, QB, Auburn

Going in to the season, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Bryan Harsin as the new head coach at Auburn. They battled in a 28-20 loss at Penn State, however, Nix wasn't particularly that good while completing just 56.8 percent of his passes. With Georgia State next as a final tune-up before the SEC schedule, I think Harsin and the Tigers will focus on the passing game to make sure they're ready to go. For that reason, I think Nix could be great in spot-duty for your fantasy team as he's rostered in 36 percent of leagues. 

Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Alabama

Billingsley had some issues during fall camp which caused the star tight end to fall behind Cameron Latu on the depth chart. Billingsley was able to convert his only target in to a 26-yard touchdown at Florida and Nick Saban would have to be extremely stubborn to keep him off the field as he is better than Latu in my opinion. Even if they split time in their next game, he should get some looks as Alabama could put up 100 points on Southern Miss if they wanted to. I'm licking my chops at Billingsley being 38 percent rostered before they play Ole Miss the following week which could be an extremely high-scoring game.

Week 3 Rewind; Ole Miss WR Dontario Drummond (24.1 points - 5/8 targets, 55 yards, 1 TD, 16 rushing yards, 1 TD) & Georgia TE Brock Bowers (10.3 points - 5 REC, 53 yards)

SUN BELT

Justin Tomlin, QB, Georgia Southern

Tomlin made his first start of the season this past weekend as he missed the first two games for academic reasons. Even though Arkansas is a far better team, Tomlin showed some good things with 10 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. If he can continue to run the ball with some volume, he'll have some fantasy use while being rostered in just one percent of leagues. This week's opponent, Louisiana, has not been the dominant team we thought they could be in their first few games, so who says Georgia Southern can't put up some offensive production on the Ragin' Cajuns.

Tez Johnson, WR, Troy

Johnson has my attention after 10 catches for 106 yards at Southern Miss this past weekend. The freshman who did play during the 2020 season (18 catches for 211 yards on 24 targets) could be the Trojans' top receiver as he quickly has 18 catches for 223 yards and a touchdown through three games in 2021. If he truly is the top receiver, go pick him up now as he's available in 98 percent of leagues. Troy has excellent match-ups at Louisiana-Monroe and at South Carolina over the next two weeks.

Week 3 Rewind; Louisiana QB Levi Lewis (17.6 points - 21/29, 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 61 rushing yards) & Arkansas State WR Te'Vailance Hunt (4.3 points - 2 catches, 23 yards)

INDEPENDENTS

Christian Anderson, QB, Army

Anderson has been a solid starter while filling in for Tyhier Tyler who has been out with an ankle injury. Assuming he receives the next start against Miami of Ohio, Anderson should be a decent fantasy play this week as he has racked up six total touchdowns, including three on the ground through the first three games. In Army's unique triple-option offense, he's basically another running back in the line-up with upside as he has thrown at least one passing score in each of the Black Knights first three games. Anderson's rostered in just two percent of leagues.

Week 3 Rewind; BYU QB Jaren Hall (18.4 points - 15/27, 214 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 38 yards rushing)

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

Wyoming (at Connecticut) - Army didn't necessarily come through for us last week, but I trust the Cowboys even more as they are averaging 13.3 fantasy points per game. They have 10 sacks, seven turnovers and three touchdowns on the season. Oh yeah, available in 99 percent of leagues.

Houston (vs. Navy) - Navy has been one of the worst offenses in the nation and the Cougars are fresh off a 23.5 fantasy point performance where they shut out Grambling State. Rostered in just six percent of leagues.

San Diego State (vs. Towson) - The Aztecs D/ST has a touchdown in three straight games, so why not in four straight games against the FCS foe. Available in 86 percent of leagues.

Week 3 Rewind; Army vs. Connecticut (2 points - 21 PA, 2 Sacks, 1 TA), Rutgers vs. Delaware (13.5 points - 13 PA, 5 Sacks, 1 TD) & South Alabama vs. Alcorn State (8 points - 21 PA, 4 Sacks, 1 TA)

SUMMARY & TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Utilizing the two players for each conference above, here are my top recommendations for the week by position:

QB: Louisiana Tech Austin Kendall, Wyoming Sean Chambers, Eastern Carolina Holton Ahlers

RB: Minnesota Treyson Potts, Syracuse Sean Tucker, Oklahoma State Jaylen Warren

WR: Arizona Stanley Berryhill, Houston Nathaniel Dell, Miami Charleston Rambo

TE: Alabama Jahleel Billingsley, UAB Gerrit Prince

D/ST: Houston (vs. Navy), San Diego State (vs. Towson), Wyoming (at Connecticut)