Congrats to all who have made their league semifinal matchups! Bigger goals ahead but it is a tremendous accomplishment to make it this far in any college fantasy format. The waiver article will be condensed over the next two weeks as we’re only adding top options to our rosters that’ll help secure a title!
Mike B.
Quarterbacks:
Jeff Sims, Arizona State – After six years in college, Jeff Sims might finally win someone a CFF title. Sims has been outstanding in the last two games, compiling over 80 fantasy points in wins over Iowa State and West Virginia, and gets a matchup this week against a lifeless Colorado defense. The Buffs are giving up over 25 FPPG this season to quarterbacks.
Michael Van Buren, LSU – The LSU offense was uninspiring in the win over Arkansas, only mustering 23 points against a defense that had allowed every SEC opponent to score at least 30 points this season. If Van Buren were facing any other conference opponent this week, we would not even consider this play. But LSU faces Western Kentucky at home. 20 fantasy points should be the floor against a G5 defense you would hope.
Ashton Daniels, Auburn – Not sure how confident I’d be relying on Ashton Daniels as one of my starting QBs in a CFF semifinal matchup but did score 47 fantasy points in the wild overtime loss to Vanderbilt. And as per usual, its SEC cupcake Saturday in the penultimate weekend of the college football season, with Auburn facing Mercer. The Bears of Mercer are 9-1 this season, averaging 45 PPG during their 9-game win streak, so Auburn may have its hands full on Saturday, meaning Daniels potentially needs to play all four quarters.
Roman Gagliano, Middle Tennessee – Not sure what the status of Nick Vattiato is, but Middle Tennessee must roll with Gagliano the rest of the way after his 36-point fantasy performance against WKU with over 460 total yards of offense. And what a matchup for Gagliano this week, facing the worst scoring defense in CUSA and 132nd in the country in Sam Houston.
Running Backs:
OJ Arnold, Georgia Southern – Best fantasy performance from any one player this entire season in college fantasy football after scoring 62.9 fantasy points in the win over Coastal Carolina. Arnold did it all, rushing for 261 yards and two scores on 21 attempts, while also throwing a 73-yard touchdown and added 53 yards and a touchdown on four catches as a receiver. A more difficult matchup this week against the No. 5 ranked run defense in the Sun Belt in Old Dominion, but like the way Arnold is trending with consecutive 20+ carry games.
Jordon Simmons, Georgia State – 341 of Simmons’ 388 rushing yards this season have come in the last three games, coming off his best outing of the year with 164 yards and a tuddy on 19 attempts. Great matchup this week against a Troy defense that just gave up 351 rushing yards and 7.5 YPC against Old Dominion this past Thursday.
Old Dominion Backfield – Everything is on the table when a team faces Georgia Southern and its 135th ranked run defense. Colton Joseph has been ODU’s most effective runner this season, but there might be an opportunity to stream a Devin Roche or Trequan Jones this weekend if in need of a running back filler. The duo combined for 251 yards on the ground in the 33-0 blowout of Troy on Thursday. For the season, Georgia Southern is giving up over 31 FPPG to opposing backfields.
Bryson Kuzdzal, Michigan – Speculative add for this week only with Michigan facing Maryland on the road. Jordan Marshall went down with injury against Northwestern on Saturday. On TV, the injury did not look good, but Sherrone Moore downplayed it postgame, saying it is not a long-term setback. With the Ohio State matchup on the horizon, it might make sense to rest Marshall (if possible) in preparation for The Game. Kuzdzal is a walk-on but ran hard on Saturday with 53 yards on 15 attempts. Only one other Michigan RB carried the football once Marshall went down.
Will Henderson, UTSA – I didn’t watch the game, but looking at the game logs and Twitter comments, it appears Robert Henry was effectively benched after a 25-yard loss on a rushing attempt. Henderson has been the better back of the two anyways, now averaging seven yards a carry after his 185-yard rushing performance against Charlotte. If Henderson is still available in your dynasty formats, he’s a must-add looking towards 2026.
Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Michigan State – Probably not playing ETT this week against Iowa on the road, but potentially in the finals with Michigan State at home against Maryland in the finale. Tau-Tolliver has fully taken over the RB1 role for the Spartans with over 200 rushing yards over the last two games. ETT only had six carries vs. the Nittany Lions on Saturday, but was a major factor in the passing game, converting on all eight of his targets.
Daniel Hill Jr., Alabama – Jam Miller may have taken the first snap, but its apparent who the “starting” running back is for Alabama currently. Hill led the Tide with 60 yards and two touchdowns on 15 attempts in what has been the first successful fantasy performance from an Alabama running back in weeks. Alabama faces Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
London Montgomery, East Carolina – Montgomery has clearly separated himself from the pack the last month with double-digit rushing attempts in each of the last four games, including a season-high 27 carries for 103 yards and two scores against Memphis. If Montgomery can do that against the No. 2 run defense in the AAC, what can he do against the 8th ranked run defense in the conference?
Wide Receivers:
Marcel Williams, Akron – Scoring 50 fantasy points in a game automatically gets you onto the waiver wire article, no matter what you’ve done up to that point. Williams caught 14 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 18 (!) targets in the loss to Kent State. Not just a flash in the pan performance either, as Williams surpassed 100+ receiving yards the week prior vs. UMass and was targeted 10 times in Week 9 vs. Buffalo. The Zips have already played 11 games this season, so there is just one opportunity to use Williams next week against Bowling Green.
Langston Lewis, Central Michigan – Back-to-back 100-yard receiving performances for Lewis, and now gets a matchup with a Kent State defense this week that just allowed 50 fantasy points to the receiver listed above. For the season, Kent State is allowing over 44 combined fantasy points per game to opposing WR groups.
Andrew Marsh, Michigan – The freshman has been exceptional in the back half of the season, but no more so than his performance against Northwestern, tallying 12 receptions for 189 yards on 15 targets. Michigan passing game will have to pick up the slack this week if Jordan Marshall cannot play.
Brandon Hawkins, UAB – Hawkins and Iverson Hooks did benefit from Corri Milliner not playing vs. North Texas, but the senior receiver did find the end-zone for the third straight game and a season-high 127 yards. The UAB passing game arguably has the most appealing close to the year of any team in the country, facing South Florida and Tulsa. USF is allowing over 46 FPPG this season to opposing WR groups.
Chris Dawn Jr., Texas State – Outside of the one game against James Madison, Dawn has arguably been Texas State’s best receiver with 95 or more yards in four of the last five games. Between Dawn and Beau Sparks, the duo combines for 56% of the team target share and 67% of the receiving yards.
Elijah Metcalf, Southern Miss – Metcalf has come on strong the last three games specifically, with 335 of his 541 receiving yards this season coming in that stretch. Season-highs on Saturday with 10 receptions on 13 targets in the blowout loss to Texas State.
Trell Harris, Virginia – First seven games of the season, Harris averaged 4.0 receptions on 5.1 targets per game. Last four weeks, Harris is averaging 5.75 catches on 8.0 targets. Bye week for Virginia on Saturday, but favorable matchup to close the year vs. Virginia Tech in the finale.
Sean Wilson, Delaware – Three straight 100-yard performances for Wilson who has now been targeted 10 times in each of the last two games. Probably won’t play Wilson this week against Wake Forest, but he could feast in the season finale against a UTEP team that just allowed 330 passing yards to Missouri State on Saturday.
