CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 6

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

Shane Buechele, QB, SMU
The Mustangs are for real and their transfer quarterback is a big reason why. In back-to-back road wins over TCU and South Florida, Buechele has thrown for five touchdowns while rushing for a pair of scores. SMU has scored at least 37 point in all of their wins as they are a high-flying offense. One of the keys to success in college fantasy is finding players in those offenses and that is why Buechele should be owned in more leagues than he is right now. There's no reason to doubt that they can score on Tulsa, Temple and Houston over the next three games.

Kedarian Jones, WR, Memphis
The Tigers have one of the juicer match-ups of the week with UL-Monroe and the likes of QB Brady White, RB Kenny Gainwell and WR Damonte Coxie are already on fantasy rosters in most leagues. Enter Jones, who has actually scored a touchdown in his last two games and recorded a 29 percent target share with five targets versus Navy which matched Coxie's target share. The Tigers should put up a ton of points and if you're in need of a receiver, you could do a lot worse than Jones who is a starting number two receiver that is owned in close to no leagues. 

Last Week; USF QB Jordan McCloud (8/19, 66 yards, 2 INT) & UCF WR Gabriel Davis (5 catches for 119 yards, 3 TDs)

ACC

Noah Gray, TE, Duke
We have a steady utilization alert at the tight end position with Gray who has recorded at least five catches in all of the Blue Devils games this season. In fact, he's the heaviest pass-catching target in Duke's offense with an average 23 percent target share or six targets per game. That means he's pretty much pulling in all of his targets and even reached the end-zone twice at Virginia Tech on Friday Night. Even though Pittsburgh may be a tough matchup this week, Gray will receive enough targets to be started in most formats.

Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Mack Brown is doing an unbelievable job in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels almost pulled the upset of Clemson this past week. I've been intrigued by the freshman Howell who has been a consistent fantasy option this season with 11 touchdowns versus just two interceptions. His floor has been pretty high as he's thrown at least two touchdowns passes in each game and he's owned in very few leagues. He should be one of the better options in ACC play this year.

Last Week; Syracuse QB Tommy DeVito (19/31, 269 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 28 yards rushing) & Wake Forest WR Scotty Washington (Five catches for 94 yards, 1 TD)

BIG 12

Trey Sermon, RB, Oklahoma
Sermon has seen a dip in ownership of late and is available in about half of fantasy leagues after being drafted in pretty much all of them as the anticipated starter in the potent Sooners offense. The dip is understandable when you consider quarterback Jalen Hurts accounts for roughly 32 percent of the team's rushing attempts. However, Sermon is averaging 23 percent of the carries which is roughly a double-digit carry floor and that's enough in this offense in my opinion. Moreover, Kennedy Brooks is a bit banged up and Oklahoma will have no problem running up the score on Kansas this week.

Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
Regarding target share, Kolar ranks as the Cyclones' second-best weapon behind receiver Deshaunte Jones and that's bolstered even more when you consider the team doesn't really have a running game. He's averaging six targets per game and was able to record his first score of the year at Baylor this past Saturday. It's really no secret that Iowa State's greatest strength on offense is quarterback Brock Purdy, so I would expect Kolar to maintain a similar target share for the rest of the fantasy season which makes Kolar viable in fantasy leagues.

Last Week; Iowa State QB Brock Purdy (27/45, 342 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) & Kansas State RB James Gilbert (12 rushes for 44 yards, 1 TD)

BIG TEN

Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State
I'll admit that I'm a week late on this one as Clifford was magnificent while completing 83.9 percent of his passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns in addition to a rushing score versus the Terps on Friday Night. He should be able to keep that momentum going against a Purdue squad which is giving up 32.5 points per game and most recently allowed Minnesota's Tanner Morgan to throw for 396 yards and four touchdowns which is just wrong.

Dontay Demus, WR, Maryland
The Penn State loss was so embarrassing and out of control so early (38-0 by halftime), that I'm going to dismiss the single target game for Demus as he had previously been coming off a season-high 31 percent target share versus Temple with 12 total targets. With upcoming games against Rutgers, Purdue and Indiana, there's a real chance for the sophomore to have a breakout portion of his schedule.

Last Week; Michigan WR Ronnie Bell (Six catches for 83 yards) & Iowa QB Nate Stanley (17/25, 276 yards, 2 TD)

C-USA

James Morgan, QB, FIU
I'm not excited about this recommendation because Morgan burned me earlier this year, but I'm also not going to abandon the mantra of play anyone who goes up against Massachusetts. It also helps that Morgan had a respectable fantasy performance with 394 yards and three total touchdowns at Louisiana Tech in Week 4. It's a bonus that they are coming off a bye week and you can likely go and get Morgan right away if you need a quarterback this week.

Treyvon Hughes, RB, UTEP
Not too often do I get to recommend a player after he went out and rushed for one yard on four carries in his last game, but that's exactly what I'm going to do because UTEP completely abandoned the running game with their running backs versus Southern Miss. Quarterback Kai Locksley was the leading rusher with 114 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries which is not typical. It shouldn't matter this week as they go up against UTSA who ranks second worst in the nation while giving up 256.6 rushing yards per game.

Last Week; UAB QB Tyler Johnston III (18/31, 181 yards, 4 INT, 28 rushing yards) & North Texas WR Jaelon Darden (Eight catches for 43 yards)

MAC

Shakif Seymour, RB, Toledo
Teammate Bryant Koback has been a beast on the ground for the Rockets with 40 percent of the team's total rushing attempts, yet Seymour has been able to carve out a noticeable role of late with 35 carries over the last two weeks. In a surprising win over BYU, Seymour was able to parlay that increased workload in to two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Both Koback and Seymour should be owned in most leagues as Toledo plays Western Michigan this week who is yielding 190.8 rushing yards per game.

Dylan Drummond, WR, Eastern Michigan
Because quarterback Mike Glass III has been picked up in a bunch of leagues which makes me happy, I'll attempt to guess who can be his top receiver this week. Drummond has the most targets on the team with 25 through four games and is a good bet to have at least three catches as he has done that in all the Eagles' games this year. There is some caution with this pick as Eastern Michigan has spread the ball around fairly equally this year. They play Central Michigan who is giving up 275.4 passing yards per game this week.

Last Week; Akron QB Kato Nelson (Injured in First Half, 13/17, 141 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 18 yards rushing) & Western Michigan QB Jon Wassink (18/29, 244 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 65 yards and 1 TD rushing)

MOUNTAIN WEST

Tre Walker, WR & Josh Love, QB, San Jose State
There's some hesitation here with the QB recommendation as the Spartans have been giving backup Nick Nash some snaps under center as they did at Air Force on Friday Night. Regardless, the matchup is too good to pass up when San Jose State hosts New Mexico who leads the nation in allowing 379.5 passing yards per game. Even if Nash steals some snaps, Love should be able to do enough to make fantasy owners happy as he has surpassed 30 passing attempts in every game this season. You should most definitely get a piece of this game with Walker who has 16 targets in each of his first two games back from an injury. He should be owned in all fantasy formats.

Chance Bell, RB, San Diego State
Prior to the Aztecs bye week, Bell had filled in for the injured Juwan Washington (ankle) in good fashion with a couple of back-to-back double digit fantasy performances versus New Mexico State and Utah State. While it would be ideal to pick up Bell if Washington is still dinged up, it may not be a big deal if the starter comes back as San Diego State plays a Colorado State squad who is giving up 239.6 rushing yards per game.

Last Week; Utah State RB Jaylen Warren (24 total yards) & Colorado State WR Nate Craig-Myers (three catches for 97 yards)

PAC-12

Grant Gunnell, QB, Arizona
Gunnell made a surprise start on Saturday Night as Khalil Tate is reportedly dealing with a hamstring injury. Hamstring injuries can be a mess, especially for a quarterback that relies on his feet, so Gunnell could be worth a speculative add in most leagues in a spot-start against Colorado, which is giving up 291 passing yards per game.

Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
If you're not comfortable with the speculative add above, go with Luton who positioned to have a big week against UCLA, who Gunnell just torched for 352 yards. That was nothing new to the Bruins who are giving up 351.8 yards per game through the air and have failed to stop any opposing offenses this year. Additionally, Luton has a dangerous weapon in wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins who is an underrated junior receiver that doesn't receive a lot of national discussion.

Last Week; Utah QB Tyler Huntley (21/30, 334 yards, 2 TD, 31 yards and 2 TD rushing) & USC WR Michael Pittman Jr. (four catches for 64 yards and 1 TD)

SEC

Riley Neal, QB, Vanderbilt
I'm going to use Neal's performance against Purdue (24/35 for 378 yards and two touchdowns) to gauge what the senior quarterback can do against an Ole Miss defense that is giving up 314.4 passing yards per game. It doesn't end there either as he gets decent matchups in UNLV and Missouri in the Commodores' next two games. Be aware that Neal's upside is limited as Vanderbilt has a strong running game and Neal does not have any dual-threat ability.

Johnathon Johnson, WR, Missouri
Johnson has breakout potential as Missouri goes up against Troy, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt who all have a suspect secondary over the next few weeks. The senior receiver is the team's top target with six per game, but has yet to score a touchdown which has him under the radar in almost all fantasy leagues. I would say there's a good chance he gets a couple of scores over the next few games for Missouri. Quarterback Kelly Bryant is owned in the majority of leagues, but should be owned in all of them.

Last Week; Florida QB Kyle Trask (18/20, 188 yards, 2 TD, 1 rushing TD) & Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller (One rushing TD, two catches for 17 yards)

SUN BELT

Layne Hatcher, QB, Arkansas State
A big question entering this previous week was whether the Red Wolves could throw the ball without Logan Bonner who will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his thumb. The answer is an astounding yes as Hatcher balled out against Troy while completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns. His top receivers in Omar Bayless and Kirk Merritt are studs, so there should be no issues with Hatcher having success against most of the Sun Belt Conference.

Logan Wright, RB, Georgia Southern
Let's see if I can get this right this week as I've whiffed on the Georgia Southern players this year. After four games of action, it appears Wright is the player to own as he has commanded the most consistent rushing share and has double-digit carries in three of four games. Moreover, he also has a touchdown in each of his last two games and they play South Alabama who is giving up 179 rushing yard per game. Wright is worth an add in deeper leagues where it may be hard to find running back depth right now.

Last Week; UL-Monroe TE Josh Pederson (four catches for 55 yards, 1 TD) & Georgia Southern QB Shai Werts (6/12, 37 yards, 93 yards rushing)

INDEPENDENTS

Tony Jones Jr., RB, Notre Dame
Jones just had a breakout game with 131 yards and three touchdowns on 18 attempts versus Virginia, but it's about to get even better when the Fighting Irish take on Bowling Green who are currently giving up 220.8 rushing yards per game. Jafar Armstrong is out for a couple of months with a groin injury, so Jones' ownership hasn't yet caught up in fantasy leagues.

Last Week; Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet (four catches for 65 yards)

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

Missouri (vs. Troy) – The Tigers defense is better than people think with a touchdown in each of their last three games. They also have 10 sacks and seven turnovers.

Memphis (vs. UL-Monroe) – I hate to keep picking on the Sun Belt, but Memphis should be able to handle this inferior team.

Oregon (vs Cal) – Cal has trouble scoring on the offensive end and the Ducks' defensive line has been ferocious with 15 total sacks this year.

Last Week; Notre Dame (vs. Virginia – 20 PA, 8 Sacks, 5 TA, 1 TD), Pittsburgh (vs. Delaware – 14 PA, 6 Sacks), UAB (vs. Western Kentucky – 20 PA, 2 Sacks, 1 TA)

SUMMARY & TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Utilizing the two players for each conference, I'll list out who my top recommendations are on a weekly basis by position:

QB: Arkansas State Layne Hatcher, Penn State Sean Clifford, San Jose State Josh Love
RB: Notre Dame Tony Jones Jr., San Diego State Chance Bell, UTEP Treyvon Hughes
WR: San Jose State Tre Walker, Missouri Johnathon Johnson, Memphis Kedarian Jones
TE: Iowa St Charlie Kolar, Duke Noah Gray
D/ST: Oregon (vs. Cal)