CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 7

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

Jordan Cronkrite, RB, USF

Cronkrite was masterful in Week 6 with 302 yards and three touchdowns on just 23 carries versus Massachusetts. Owned in under 50 percent of leagues, not enough fantasy owners have taken advantage of three straight 100-yard rushing performances. He'll surely improve upon that streak with super soft defenses such as Tulsa, Connecticut and Houston up next. Quarterback Blake Barnett should also be owned in all leagues if he's still available for this run over the next month.

Patrick Taylor Jr., RB, Memphis

Another American Athletic running back owned in under 50 percent of leagues is Taylor due to his teammate Darrell Henderson being an absolute stud. The Tigers are so good at putting points on the scoreboard that both Henderson and Taylor can typically have satisfactory fantasy performances. Taylor does have the downside where he doesn't see the field much, but I don't see that happening versus UCF and Missouri.

ACC

N'Kosi Perry, QB, Miami

It may be the most bizarre stat line ever at 13 of 32 passing for 204 yards and four touchdowns, yet it still got the job done as Perry helped lead an improbable comeback over Florida State on Saturday. I'm not high on the freshman for the rest of the season, but I think he's good enough for a plug and play at Virginia this week.

Ben Glines, WR, Boston College

Listed as a wide receiver, Glines has served as the replacement running back for the injured AJ Dillon (ankle) with 39 carries for 210 yards and two touchdowns over his past two games. He also nabbed a touchdown grab at NC State in Week 6. Even if Dillon returns from an injury, Glines should have plenty of opportunities against a Louisville team that currently has all kinds of problems.

BIG 12

Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State

This isn't a slam dunk recommendation as Purdy may not be the starter going forward as Kyle Kempt (knee) has been practicing of late. If the Cylcones do decide to roll with Purdy, he has a lot of fantasy intrigue with dual-threat ability. In a surprising win over Oklahoma State, Purdy was 18 of 23 for 318 yards and four touchdowns with 84 yards and another score on the ground. Stay tuned to updates on the Iowa State quarterback situation.

Landon Wolf, WR, Oklahoma State

Wolf logged his second straight game with six catches and a touchdown to show that his production versus Kansas in Week 5 was no fluke. Considering Oklahoma State's faulty defense, Wolf should receive a healthy dose of targets going forward. I would still rather own Tylan Wallace, but Wolf is the next best thing in a dependable Cowboys passing game.

Alex Barnes, RB, Kansas State

Due to Barnes exploding with 250 yards and three touchdowns at Baylor, I'm including a bonus Big 12 recommendation as far too many people have dropped the Wildcats' primary offensive weapon. He'll have plenty of room to run versus Oklahoma State.

BIG TEN

Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern

Thorson was a big reason why Northwestern upset Michigan State on the road while completing 31 of 47 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing score to give himself a big fantasy performance. If you haven't heard, this week's opponent in Nebraska is winless and has one of the conference's worst defenses. You could do a lot worse than Thorson this week.

Ty Johnson, RB, Maryland

Johnson's workload has been all over the place this season with over 10 carries in each of the Terps' three wins, but just six and five carries in the Terps' two losses. With Maryland playing Rutgers this week, I expect Johnson's workload trend to continue with the senior garnering double-digit carries. This should be a breakout week for Johnson who was one of the best running backs in the conference over the past two seasons.

CONFERENCE USA

Travis Fulgham, WR, Old Dominion

Recommending Fulgham who has a touchdown grab in three straight games is in no way a knock on my boy Jonathan Duhart. Instead it's an endorsement of quarterback Blake LaRussa and the Monarchs passing game that desperately attempts to compete in football games. It's still crazy to contemplate how Old Dominion's only win is at Virginia Tech. Nonetheless, both Fulgham and Duhart should continue to have high volume production for the rest of the season.

A.J. Erdely, QB, UAB

The Blazers are off to an amazing start at 4-1 and Erdely has double-digit carries and a rushing touchdown in four straight games. His five touchdowns and five interceptions through the air isn't ideal, but it can be discounted when the rushing production is there. I wouldn't worry much about the turnovers when they play Rice this week.

MAC

Jon Wassink, QB, Western Michigan

I'm not confident that Bowling Green can stop anyone, so I think this is the week fantasy owners should go all-in on Wassink and freshman wide receiver Jayden Reed. The Broncos are on a four-game winning streak and Wassink has a total of 13 touchdowns over that span.

Kevin Marks, RB, Buffalo

I've had a close eye on Marks all season long as the freshman has a touchdown in five straight games. His 167-yard performance versus Central Michigan was highlighted by a 70-yard touchdown run which blew the game open. Marks adds an entirely new dimension to the Bulls already scary offense which means he should have a strong conference season.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Sheriron Jones, QB, New Mexico

If throwing for eight touchdowns in his past two games doesn't reward Jones a start versus Colorado State, I would be very surprised. Jones also added 72 rushing yards which led the Lobos in a Saturday's big 50-14 win over UNLV. Colorado State struggles at stopping opposing offenses, so I would expect Jones to have a third straight huge fantasy performance. Moreover, he's owned in minimal fantasy leagues.

Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State

Thompson was an unsung hero in Utah State's 45-20 upset of BYU with 109 rushing yards on 17 carries to go along with three catches for 22 yards. The junior has been fantastic in 2018 while averaging 8.3 yards per carry and scoring six touchdowns. I'm counting on Thompson notching a 100-yard rushing performance versus a struggling UNLV squad.

PAC-12

Brandon McIlwain, QB, California

After watching McIlwain be unleashed in his first start against Arizona, it's apparent he's a fantasy asset that could pay future dividends. He notched his second game in a row with over 100 rushing yards which is just enough to offset his poor decision making through the air. Just pick him up and hope Cal looks for him to improve versus UCLA and Oregon State over the next two weeks.

Britain Covey, WR, Utah

Covey has at least four catches in every game this season and is averaging over 10 yards per catch. It's actually a shocker that the sophomore hasn't yet recorded a touchdown. It's very possible that he gets that first touchdown versus Arizona this week as the top receiver for the Utes.

SEC

DaMarkus Lodge, WR, Ole Miss

A repeat recommendation from last week, Lodge lines up with yet another favorable matchup against Arkansas this week. Lodge led the way for the Rebels' receivers in Week 6 with nine catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. While A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf are the more popular fantasy receivers, Lodge has just as much talent.

Lamical Perine, RB, Florida

After a slow start to the season, Perine is starting to heat up with at least 12 touches in each of the Gators' last two games. He was a pivotal performer against LSU with 17 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The schedule eases up a bit with a game at Vanderbilt which could be a decent spot start for fantasy owners in Week 7.

SUN BELT

B.J. Smith, RB, Troy

Owned in just a few leagues, Smith has at least 10 carries in five straight games and a touchdown in five of six games this year. In fact, Smith has two rushing scores in three of his last four games. Not only is he worth adding on the waiver wire, he probably should be started in most fantasy leagues each and every week.

Malcolm Williams, WR, Coastal Carolina

Williams has at least four catches in four of the Chanticleers five games this season and projects to be one of the top performers for Coastal Carolina in Week 7. Louisiana-Monroe has really struggled with opposing receivers and this week should be no different. Williams is worth adding in the deepest of leagues.

INDEPENDENTS

Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame

As I've done in the past, I'll recommend Williams until he's owned in enough leagues to not be on this list. Still available in a lot of leagues, Williams was dominant for the second straight week with 178 yards and three touchdowns on the ground versus Virginia Tech. The senior even showed off his wheels on a 97-yard touchdown run. He's a must start versus Pittsburgh this week.

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

UAB (at Rice) – The aforementioned Blazers have held their last two opponents to single digit points. The extension of that streak is very in play versus Rice.

Temple (at Navy) – Navy managed just seven points at Air Force in Week 6 and go up against a Temple defense that's averaging double digit fantasy points each week in 2018.

Utah State (vs. UNLV) – My favorite defensive recommendation of the week, Utah State should absolutely manhandle UNLV who is still without their starting quarterback.

Fresno State (vs. Wyoming) – It's becoming apparent that the Bulldogs may have a sneaky good defense.