Snatch ‘Em Up Now
If they weren’t already drafted in your league, these guys will be hot commodities on the wire this week.
Quarterbacks:
QB Trenton Bourguet, Arizona State – Whoever takes over as the new Arizona State head coach next year may have a building block with the sophomore QB who has thrown for eight touchdowns in three games played this season. Because Arizona State can’t stop anyone on defense, Bourguet has been forced into 98 attempts over the last two games, throwing for a combined 784 yards and 70 total fantasy points vs. Colorado and UCLA. Faces a Washington State defense this week that is allowing just 20.2 FPPG to opposing QB1s.
Running Backs:
RJ Harvey, Central Florida – This was trending towards happening for a few weeks now and I think we finally saw the change on Saturday with Harvey rushing for 151 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the win over Memphis. Impressive for a converted quarterback that transferred over from UVA a few years back. Isaiah Bowser may take the first carry each week, but Harvey is RB1.
Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison – PAO was the only productive player on the James Madison front against Louisville, rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 24 attempts. Agyei-Obese is now averaging over 20 carries per game over the last four weeks and faces the 98th and 117th ranked rush defenses in the next two games.
Avery Morrow, Colorado State – The Boise State matchup two weeks ago went about as expected, but Morrow has been tremendous in every game outside of that, rushing for 100 yards in four of the last five. Don’t think there is any reason to expect differently against an average Wyoming rush defense next week. The entire Colorado State offense benefits with Clay Millen back in the lineup (though he got injured yet again vs. San Jose State behind one of the worst offensive lines in the country).
Wide Receivers:
Evan Stewart / Moose Muhammad III, Texas A&M – 15 receptions on a combined 28 targets for over 200 yards between Stewart and Muhammad III, all of which with a backup who was less than 100% that was forced into starting because the flu was going around the A&M football team which forced Conner Weigman to sit Saturday. This has been a nightmare season for the Aggies, but the closing set of games could be entertaining from a CFF standpoint with Auburn, UMass and LSU to close things out.
Elijah Badger, Arizona State – Roster percentages can’t be deceiving this time of year where inactive teams that are eliminated are no longer influencing them. But stunned still to see Badger at 20% given he’s now sixth in the Pac-12 in yards per game and has scored 20 fantasy points in each of the last four weeks.
Michael Sturdivant, California – Double-digit fantasy points in all but one game scored this season, and double-digit targets in three of the last four games. Won’t single-handedly win you a matchup with how Cal spreads the ball out to its trio of starting receivers, but a productive contributor to any CFF roster.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
Austin Aune, North Texas – Very quietly, the 28-year-old is having one hell of a season, now averaging 28 FPPG on the season and has hit at least 20 fantasy points in all but one game in 2022. Season-high 49 fantasy points after throwing for 400 yards in the blowout of FIU. UAB next week followed by a bye, so you may not even use Aune the rest of the year but could start him if needed in a pinch.
Will Howard, Kansas State – I’m adding this one just in case. Adrian Martinez is a tremendous athlete, and maybe that works out for him at the NFL level as a Taysom Hill-type. He is not a quarterback and had multiple costly turnovers against Texas. Does Chris Klieman make the switch?
MJ Morris, NC State – Wasn’t a one-week wonder as Morris threw for three touchdowns against Wake Forest on Saturday. The freshman quarterback also showed off more of his running ability with 48 yards on 18 attempts. Not sure I want to say must-add for a true freshman with only two starts under his belt, but NC State does face a few below average defenses to close the year with Boston College, Louisville and UNC.
Running Backs:
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa – I turned this game off after Spencer Petras hit the over on his prop in the first half against Purdue, smh. But from box score scouting, the Hawkeyes have turned the backfield over to the 4-star decision and that paid off in droves as Johnson rumbled for 200 yards and a TD on 22 carries. Tough matchups in the coming weeks vs. Wisconsin and Minnesota, but Johnson could be a legit option for championship contenders against Nebraska in the season finale.
Audric Estime / Logan Diggs, Notre Dame – You’re going to have to deal with a 50-50 split here, but the Notre Dame OL is absolutely steamrolling opponents lately. Particularly impressive when that comes against Syracuse and Clemson who are two of the better defenses in the ACC. Good chance both have successful days against Navy next week.
Marquis Crosby, Louisiana Tech – Crosby has taken over the Louisiana Tech backfield the last two weeks with back-to-back 100-yard performances and has JUICY matchups upcoming with the 85th and 126th ranked rush defenses in UTSA and Charlotte.
Brian Battie, South Florida – Battie and Xavier Weaver are about the only positive things to talk about with USF football these days. 100+ yards in consecutive weeks, now averaging 6.5 yards per carry for the year. Faces the 118th ranked rush defense in the country next week in SMU.
Frank Peasant, Middle Tennessee – Peasant popped earlier in the year, including his 74-yard, one-TD performance in the upset over Miami in Week 4. A bit of a lull in October but has now apparently re-assumed the RB1 role with 20+ carries in the last two weeks. Do you know which team has the 126th ranked rush defense in the country? Charlotte…who Peasant faces next week.
Cartevious Norton, Iowa State – I am going to assume those reading this have been with the site since the summer, so you’re all familiar with Norton at this point. Now, Jirehl Brock left with an injury against West Virginia so this wasn’t exactly a coaching decision. But Brock did have a helmet on in the second half looking to re-enter the game and didn’t, giving way to Norton who rushed for 69 yards and two scores. We’ll see what happens moving forward.
UTSA RBs – Brenden Brady started vs. UAB but gave way to the better player in Kevorian Barnes who rushed for 100 yards for the second time in three games. The Roadrunners play Louisiana Tech next Saturday – the 131st ranked rush defense in the country.
Shedro Louis, Liberty – Dae Dae Hunter left the game in the second quarter vs. Arkansas and did not return. Severity of the injury unknown at this time. Louis, who does have WR eligibility, rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries in relief. One might expect Louis gets the start next week against UConn.
Tyler Lavine, SMU – Tons of injuries in the SMU backfield where both Camar Wheaton and Tre Siggers did not play against Houston. Do they get back into the mix even when healthy with how Lavine is running the last few weeks with five touchdowns in the previous three games. Lavine’s matchup this week – South Florida who just gave up 265 to a Temple running back.
Stacy Sneed, Houston – The Cougars didn’t even try to run the football in the track meet with SMU, but Sneed found a way to be productive still with a 52-yard touchdown, along with four receptions on six targets. He’s the RB1 now over Brandon Campbell.
Wide Receivers:
Bryson Green, Oklahoma State – I’m not sure we see Jaden Bray or Braydon Johnson the rest of the year at this point, why risk it? 28 of Green’s 56 targets this season have no come in the last three weeks with two 100-yard performances in that span.
Matt Landers, Arkansas – Is the difference here that Arkansas hasn’t been able to just bully people with the run game and been playing from behind? Playing time for Landers hasn’t really fluctuated a ton this year but has now put up over 300 receiving yards with three TDs in the last three games. Arkansas will still spread it out some in the passing game, but Landers has been, by far, the Razorbacks’ most productive receiver.
Sam Brown, Houston – Obviously every Houston receiver ate on Saturday, but Brown has been excellent for about a month now. Should absolutely be an add if you have the space, averaging nine targets a game over the last four weeks.
Tyrone Howell, Louisiana-Monroe – This is kinda what you get when drafting/picking up G5 receivers in CFF. The inconsistency can be maddening. Over 400 yards for Howell in Weeks 7 and 10, yet put up a dud in Week 8 against Army. Here’s the promising news. Even in the dud performance, Howell was targeted nine times. That’s now 34 targets in that three-game span. I debated putting Howell in the must-add section.
Nikko Remigio, Fresno State – As we said last week, Jake Haener loves him some Nikko Remigio. The slot receiver has scored double-digit fantasy points in all but one game this year that Haener has started.
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Taylen Green, Boise State – Green was not the reason Boise State lost on Saturday, completing 74% of his throws with a pair of touchdowns. Green has now scored 54 fantasy points over the last two weeks as he continues to improve with every passing start. Should be a decent matchup for him next week at Nevada.
Running Backs:
Cody Schrader, Missouri – This is a play for semifinals week if you want to get him on your roster now. You won’t play Schrader against an angry Tennessee defense that is top 15 against the run. But Missouri plays New Mexico State in Week 12 in the annual SEC cupcake week. Nathaniel Peat did not play a single offensive snap against Kentucky, while Schrader has emerged as the RB1 the last few weeks.
Elijah Green, North Carolina – Omarion Hampton seems to have hit the freshman wall, Caleb Hood is out for the year, and George Pettaway isn’t in the picture. Green was praised by the coaching staff a week ago, and was rewarded with 91 yards and a TD on 22 attempts in the win over Virginia. Gets the 65th and 107th ranked rush defenses in the coming weeks.
Edward Saydee, Temple – This one is on me for not prioritizing (or even listing) Edward Saydee on the WW report last week, knowing full well who his opponent was against a South Florida team that is about to fire its head coach and has quit on the season. Saydee was unstoppable, rushing for 265 yards and three scores on 24 carries. Every opponent won’t be USF, and Saydee closes out the year with Houston, Cincinnati and East Carolina which is no cakewalk. But you deserve a mention here after that performance.
Craig Williams, Baylor – Dave Aranda warned us. We should’ve listened. Aranda said they were going to lessen Richard Reese’s workload this week, but nobody expected Craig Williams to essentially assume all of those carries, rushing for 192 yards and two scores on 25 carries. We’ll try to dig this week what to expect in the future. Maybe this is simply an RBBC.
Marcus Carroll, Georgia State – The trouble with doing the WW report on Sunday is we don’t have a ton of intel from certain situations. Jamyest Williams didn’t play, but Tucker Gregg only had eight carries in the win over Southern Miss. Marcus Carroll had a monster day with 163 yards and three scores on 24 carries. Was this injury-related or some other circumstance? We’ll try and find out this week.
Rodney Hammond, Pittsburgh – Going to put Hammond here for those that are not in the Discord (which you all should be). We had the Abanikanda news before anyone else out there on Saturday morning, resulting in Hammond getting the bulk of the work in the win over Syracuse. HC Pat Narduzzi has already stated that Abanikanda will be back next week for Pitt’s matchup with Virginia but might be safe to handcuff him with Hammond for the remainder of the year. It’s already proven now that at anything less than 100%, Abanikanda will not play.
Wide Receivers:
Ja’Shaun Poke, Kent State – Quite literally last-man standing with Dante Cephas not playing against Ball State and Devontez Walker going down with an injury in the first quarter. 13 receptions on 17 targets for 87 yards for the slot receiver who wasn’t even at 100% according to the telecast. We’ll hope to have some answers by Monday or Tuesday on the status of Cephas/Walker.
Virginia WRs – Longshot plays that I’ll have to dig further into this week. But I was told by friend of the site @CFFGuys that the starters are considering sitting out the rest of the season. FR Sean Wilson led the team with 5-61-0 on eight targets. Senior Billy Kemp didn’t do much but was second with seven targets. To reiterate, need to confirm these rumors and these are longshots at best.
Dynasty
Players to add for future seasons
RB Jaiden Credle, Northern Illinois – Preface this by saying these are just Facebook rumors that I haven’t looked into since Wednesday, but apparently Antario Brown was benched and in street clothes for the second half after throwing a shoe at a coach. Don’t have any confirmation on that, but it’s floating out there. Brown only played seven snaps and this isn’t the first time he was benched this season. Harrison Waylee is an upperclassman, and 3-star Jaiden Credle has an offer sheet that included Ole Miss, Syracuse and UCF.
Joseph Griffin, Boston College – We bumped this name last week in our dynasty section, and we’ll reinforce that message again after catching five passes on six targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns. WR1 for BC next season after Zay Flowers departs.
Johnny Martin, Charlotte – That time of year when G5 freshman start to pop who we’ve never heard of before. The 215-pounder rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown last week vs. Rice, and followed that up with a season-high 16 attempts for 85 yards against Western Kentucky. We’ll see who winds up coaching the 49ers in the offseason, but maybe they have a building block here?
Robert Briggs, Utah State – I’ve added Briggs on a few dyno teams this year as he’s impressed me in brief spurts of playing time. Now averaging 5.0 YPC for the season, the 175-pound Briggs out-carried Calvin Tyler in the win over New Mexico, rushing for 82 yards on 18 attempts.
