Bench
Nick Fitzgerald, QB-Mississippi State vs Auburn
Nick Fitzgerald just has not gotten the job done in the past two weeks. After totaling 563 yards of offense and accounting for eight touchdowns in his first two games of 2018, the senior quarterback has only totaled 295 yards of offense in the past two games. Since conference play started, the Bulldogs are averaging 6.5 points per game, so don’t expect a big turnaround against an Auburn defense that is only allowing 12.6 points per game.
Adrian Martinez, QB-Nebraska at Wisconsin
Adrian Martinez has accounted for at least two touchdowns and rushed for at least 90 yards in two of his first three games at Nebraska. However, the true freshman quarterback struggled in his first road game of the year, at Michigan, and there is nothing to suggest that he won’t struggle on the road this week, at Wisconsin, against a Badgers defense that is only allowing 14.5 points per game.
John Moten, RB-Northwestern at Michigan State
Not only was John Moten one of our Week 5 Bench players, but he found a way onto our Bench list again in Week 6. Moten was able to find the end zone against Michigan last week, but he only ran for 36 yards on 13 carries. This week, he will face an even better run defense, as the Spartans lead the nation, giving up only 40.3 rushing yards per game and 1.5 yards per attempt.
Mohamed Ibrahim, RB-Minnesota vs Iowa
Mohamed Ibrahim returned to the lineup two weeks ago and carried the ball 26 times for 95 yards in Minnesota’s 42-13 loss at Maryland. A home game should help get the Gophers back on track, but running the ball will not be easy, as the Hawkeyes boast the fifth-best defense in the FBS against the run, allowing only 84.0 yards per game on the ground.
Cam Akers, RB-Florida State at Miami
Through five games, Cam Akers is only averaging 63.2 rushing yards per game. The sophomore back’s 82 yards against Virginia Tech in the opener is his 2018 season-high. Last year, Akers averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, a number that is down to 4.1 this season. This weekend, the Seminoles travel to Miami and face a Hurricanes defense allowing only 2.8 yards per rushing attempt.
Start
Shai Werts, QB-Georgia Southern vs South Alabama
Werts made his way onto our Week 2 Waiver Wire after leading the Eagles to a 34-13 win over UMass. We suggested claiming Werts, even with a matchup against Clemson in Week 3 and a bye in Week 4. After leading Georgia Southern to a 28-21 win over Arkansas State last Saturday, the sophomore quarterback has scored at least one rushing touchdown in all four games and has rushed for at least 80 yards in three of four games. This weekend, Werts will face the third-worst defense in the FBS, South Alabama. The Jaguars are giving up over 234 yards per game on the ground.
Trevor Lawrence, QB-Clemson at Wake Forest
As long as Lawrence is cleared to play this week, he should be a solid fantasy option on the road at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are giving up over 270 yards per game in the air and only four teams in the FBS have given up more passing touchdowns than the 14 they have allowed.
Jordan Crokrite, RB-South Florida at UMass
In the past two games, Jordan Cronkrite has carried the ball 37 times for 265 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulls’ primary ball carrier. This week, Cronkrite has a very favorable matchup, as he’ll face one of the three schools in the FBS that are giving up over 250 yards per game on the ground and have allowed 16-plus rushing touchdowns.
Ryquell Armstead, RB-Temple vs East Carolina
It seemed as if Ryquell Armstead was in for another ho-hum fantasy year after a 31-yard rushing performance in the season opener against Villanova. But since, the senior running back has reeled off four straight 100-yard games and has already matched his scoring total of five touchdowns from 2017. Armstead has carried the ball at least 24 times in each of the past three games and he should get another heavy workload this weekend against ECU.
Deebo Samuel, WR-South Carolina vs Missouri
Even though Samuel has caught at least six passes in three of four games this year, he still doesn’t have a 100-yard game. Expect the senior receiver to have better fortunes this weekend when Missouri visits South Carolina. The Tigers have the nation’s 13th-worst pass defense, allowing 293.8 yards per game in the air.