CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 7

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

Justin McMillan, QB, Tulane
Evident from a 42-33 win at Army this past Saturday, Tulane is a very good team with their only loss coming at Auburn. McMillan has been pretty productive with at least two touchdowns in every game except that game at Auburn which is completely understandable. The Green Wave get to play a horrible UConn team this week which means that McMillan should go wild. He has a rushing score in four of five games and is available in 86 percent of leagues on Fantrax.

Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
Since tight end Josiah Deguara is owned in more than 50 percent of leagues (go out and get him if he is available) as the Bearcats' top receiver in target share, I'll pivot to Pierce who is averaging four targets per game and leads the team with 288 receiving yards. Houston gives up over 300 passing yards per game and it's very likely that Desmond Ridder (also a viable option for the week) will look towards Deguara or Pierce when not handing the ball off to Michael Warren this week. 

Last Week; SMU QB Shane Buechele (23/40, 280 yards, 2 TD) & Memphis WR Kedarian Jones (Two catches for 18 yards)

ACC

Hendon Hooker, QB, Virginia Tech
How can I not recommend a quarterback who received his first collegiate start and proceeded to total four touchdowns against a Miami defense that is considered pretty good? I also love that the news regarding his start broke on Tre Turner's Instagram account. With the Hokies playing Rhode Island this week, Hooker should have yet another opportunity to shine with his recent promotion.

Emeka Emezie, WR, NC State
Emezie has received at least five targets in every game this season and leads the Wolfpack with 52 of them through five games. While the number is somewhat inflated by 23 targets in one game versus West Virginia, he's going to continue to get plenty of looks as NC State's next three games are against Syracuse, Boston College and Wake Forest.

Last Week; Duke TE Noah Gray (Two catches for 18 yards) & UNC QB Sam Howell (33/51, 376 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT)

BIG 12

Jett Duffey, QB, Texas Tech
After looking suspect in his first significant game action versus Oklahoma in Week 5, Duffey was spectacular in an upset of Oklahoma State with five total touchdowns. I don't think Baylor will roll over like the Cowboys did, however, I think Duffey will see enough volume in his passing attempts to make it worth it for fantasy owners looking for a signal caller this week. He also provides upside with his legs which never hurts in the quarterback spot.

Johnnie Lang, RB, Iowa State
Lang is gaining some steam as the Cyclones preferred lead back with four touchdowns in his last two games. It was quarterback Brock Purdy who led the team in rushing in a win over TCU and there's no way that can happen each week. Iowa State has one of the best offensive lines in the Big 12 conference, so if Lang can gain the confidence of the coaching staff, he should be set up to have some big games. He's available in pretty much all leagues and has West Virginia, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State over the next three weeks.

Last Week; Oklahoma RB Trey Sermon (13 touches for 91 yards, 2 TD) & Iowa State TE Charlie Kolar (One 25-yard TD)

BIG TEN

Tanner Morgan, QB, Minnesota
Morgan has the Golden Gophers undefeated at 5-0 and has thrown at least three touchdown passes in three straight games with wins over Georgia Southern, Purdue and Illinois. The competition will elevate with Nebraska coming to Minneapolis, but it's not like the Cornhuskers have one of the best pass defenses in the country. I could definitely see this game turning in to a shootout which means that Morgan should be owned in more than 24 percent of the Fantrax leagues he's owned in right now.

Whop Philyor, WR, Indiana
Whop has been busy in the Hoosiers' surprisingly productive offense with nine targets per game which has turned in to 31 catches for 371 yards and three touchdowns. He was a beast at Michigan State in Week 5 with 14 catches on 17 targets for 142 yards and two touchdowns. That's far too many targets against a great defensive team in the Spartans when you consider he's available in most leagues. Oh yeah, Indiana plays Rutgers this week and Maryland the following week.

Last Week; Penn State QB Sean Clifford (20/29, 264 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 33 yards rushing and 1 TD) & Maryland WR Dontay Demus Jr. (3 catches for 94 yards and TD)

CONFERENCE USA

J'Mar Smith, QB, Louisiana Tech
I've been down this road before as Smith has been so consistent this season, however, with very little upside as he has not accounted for more than two scores in any single game this year. That should all change this week when the Bulldogs welcome in the Minutemen who have perhaps the worst defense in all of college football. If Smith can't get more than two touchdowns this week, he may not do it all season long.

Lucious Stanley, RB, UAB
The Blazers lead back, Spencer Brown, went down with an injury that reportedly will have him missing a couple of weeks. That sets up really well for Stanley who totaled 104 yards and two touchdowns on 20 touches versus Rice on Saturday. Stanley has hit the jackpot as UAB gets UTSA this week who has one of the worst rush defenses in all of college football. Stanley's available in nearly 100 percent of fantasy leagues and is a top recommendation this week.

Last Week; FIU QB James Morgan (19/31, 263 yards, 2 TD) & UTEP RB Treyvon Hughes (10 carries for 62 yards and 1 TD)

MAC

Jonathan Ward, RB, Central Michigan
Since a brief two-game hiatus, Ward has notched back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. He dominated the game against Eastern Michigan with three total touchdowns with 206 yards from scrimmage. He's available in more than half of fantasy leagues and has nice juicy match-ups against New Mexico State and Bowling Green who both give up over 200 yards rushing per game over the next two weeks.

Mitchell Guadagni, QB, Toledo
How Guadagni is available in so many leagues is a mystery to me as Toledo has one of the best offenses in the nation and is a really good team. Guadagni has four rushing scores to go with his seven scores through the air. The Rockets only loss is to Kentucky and considering they've also played BYU, this team is ready to run right through the MAC Conference. Guadagni started that run with four touchdowns versus Western Michigan on Saturday.

Last Week; Toledo RB Shakif Seymour (16 carries for 60 yards) & Eastern Michigan WR Dylan Drummond (4 touches for 43 yards)

MOUNTAIN WEST

Hank Bachmeier, QB, Boise State
I would go out and get Bachmeier for the simple fact that the Hawaii and Boise State game on ESPN2 on Saturday Night is going to be a ton of fun and should have a ton of points. Moreover, I've been all over this freshman this year as he continues to impress and get better with every week. He has nine total scores versus three interceptions and is completing around 64 percent of his passes. He has a high floor for fantasy owners looking for a quarterback this week.

Nate Craig-Myers, WR, Colorado State
I feel like the Mountain West players stay under the radar more than players from any other conference which is a shame as I gave people a heads up on Craig-Myers weeks ago. He's averaging double-digit fantasy points each week and had the Rams only touchdown in their loss to San Diego State on Saturday Night. This week Colorado State goes up against New Mexico who sports the worst pass defense in all of college football, so I expect big nights from both Craig-Myers and Dante Wright.

Last Week; San Jose St WR Tre Walker (7 catches for 130 yards) & San Jose St QB Josh Love (24/36, 405 yards, 2 TD) & San Diego St RB Chance Bell (19 yards on 4 touches)

PAC-12

Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
The Huskies embarrassingly dropped a game at Stanford in which Eason was particularly bad while completing just 44.4 percent of his passes for 206 yards and one touchdown and one interception. The cure for that performance will be playing Arizona this week who really struggle to stop the pass-game. They are giving up over 300 passing yards per game, so I expect Eason to come out and look much better this week. He's available in over half of fantasy leagues and I also expect him to be dropped by some after the poor performance this past Saturday.

Jaylon Redd, WR, Oregon
Speaking of bad pass defenses, Oregon gets to play Colorado this week which is a huge step down from Cal who they beat this past Saturday. Redd has a touchdown in four straight games for the Ducks and is averaging six targets per game. There's no reason he shouldn't be owned in more than the five percent of leagues he's currently owned in. I also like Johnny Johnson this week who leads the team with 31 targets and is also available in a ton of leagues.

Last Week; Arizona QB Grant Gunnell (DNP – Khalil Tate returned) & Oregon State QB Jake Luton (18/26, 285 yards, 5 TD, 27 yards and 1 TD rushing)

SEC

Garrett Shrader, QB, Mississippi State
Shrader saw work in the Auburn game in Week 5 after Tommy Stevens left the game with a shoulder injury. He wasn't too bad with 209 yards and two touchdowns through the air and 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Pay attention to the news this week, but if Shrader gets the nod versus Tennessee, he will be an excellent fantasy play with his dual-threat ability.

Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
There's not a ton of impact SEC players on the waiver wire which makes sense when you consider it's the premier conference in college football. Since the Vols continue to struggle with anyone they play, it's not a bad idea to remind people to go out and get Jennings. He's been fantastic over the last two weeks with 14 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown. It's not like Tennessee will be able to stop throwing the ball against their opponents.

Last Week; Vanderbilt QB Riley Neal (18/30, 146 total yards) & Missouri WR Johnathon Johnson (1 catch for 17 yards)

SUN BELT

Josh Pederson, TE, UL-Monroe
A repeat recommendation from a couple of weeks ago, Pederson continues to prove me right with 11 catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. The tight end has a touchdown in four straight games and leads the Warhawks in target share this season. When a tight end leads his team in targets, he should be owned in 100 percent of fantasy leagues, yet Pederson is owned in just 42 percent of Fantrax leagues.

Thomas Hennigan, WR, Appalachian State
Teammate Corey Sutton is still available in a bunch of leagues, but Hennigan is just as valuable and owned in even less leagues. In fact, Hennigan has one more target than Sutton in their last two games and I like both players going forward because App State should blow through the Sun Belt conference. Fantasy leagues can be won with Sun Belt players, that's for sure.

Last Week; Arkansas St QB Layne Hatcher (21/32, 299 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT) & Georgia Southern RB Logan Wright (8 touches for 45 total yards)

INDEPENDENTS

Emmanuel Esukpa, RB, BYU
Esukpa has taken over the lead back role for BYU after Ty'Son Williams tore his ACL a couple of weeks ago. Prior to the team's bye in Week 6, he scored a touchdown against both Washington and Toledo on 22 combined touches in those two games. BYU will play South Florida this week who have had some trouble stopping opponents on the ground.  

Last Week; Notre Dame RB Tony Jones Jr. (7 carries for 102 yards)

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

San Diego State (vs. Wyoming) – The Aztecs like to slow down the game and have allowed just 57 points this season with 14 sacks and 11 turnovers.

Louisiana Tech (vs. UMass) – The Bulldogs have won four straight games and have a turnover in every game this season. UMass shouldn't be able to get much going this week.

Indiana (vs. Rutgers) – The Hoosiers had double-digit fantasy performances against UConn and Eastern Illinois, so why not against Rutgers?

Last Week; Missouri (vs. Troy – 10 PA, 2 Sacks, 3 TA, 1 TD), Memphis (vs. UL-Monroe – 33 PA, 2 Sacks, 1 TA, 1 TD), Oregon (vs. Cal – 7 PA, 4 Sacks, 2 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: Toledo Mitchell Guadagni, Tulane Justin McMillan, Boise State Hank Bachmeier
RB: UAB Lucious Stanley, Central Michigan Jonathan Ward, Iowa State Johnnie Lang
WR: Indiana Whop Philyor, Colorado State Nate Craig-Myers, Oregon Jaylon Redd
TE: UL-Monroe Josh Pederson
D/ST: Louisiana Tech (vs. UMass)