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:
Kyle McCord, Syracuse – Amazing what a new environment can do for a quarterback. No longer in a toxic situation in Columbus, is supported fully by his head coach, and has a surprising number of weapons. Eight passing touchdowns combined in the first two games, surpassing 300+ yards against both Ohio and Georgia Tech. The next three games feature Stanford, Holy Cross and UNLV – just unfortunate we must wait a week as Syracuse has its first bye week.
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati – What’s great so far about Sorsby’s fantasy production is he’s hardly run the football at all, which he can do, and is a staple of this Scott Satterfield offense. Sorsby has been getting it done through the air, averaging close to 350 passing yards in two games. There literally is no roadblock the remainder of the season as we look at the Cincinnati schedule to where you say to yourself, I must sit Sorsby this week.
Running Backs:
Braedon Sloan, Ball State – Yes, it was just Missouri State, but we absolutely love the usage out of Sloan in Ball State’s first game with 21 rushing attempts and a perfect 6-for-6 on targets in the passing game. Running backs have been plenty successful over the years with the Cardinals and early indications show this is Sloan’s backfield with no other RB getting more than six attempts.
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa – Exhibit A of “depth charts can be deceiving.” Kamari Moulton as RB1 last just a half as Johnson now has a stranglehold on the starting job after rushing for 100 yards in back-to-back weeks. Helping matters is that Leshon Williams doesn’t even seem to be in the conversation at this point.
Wide Receivers:
Trebor Pena, Syracuse – Last chance to pick up Pena this week as the slot receiver has posted identical stat-lines the first two games with a combined 12 receptions on 14 targets and two touchdowns against both Ohio and GT.
DT Sheffield, North Texas – We were just a year early on DT Sheffield. Double-digit targets in each of the first two games, and this time finding the end-zone three times against SF Austin. If you’re wondering about Damon Ward, he’s still a hold for now. Ran the most snaps of any UNT receiver and played the entire game. With how Chandler Morris is slinging the rock, we can have two productive receivers in this offense.
Treon Sibley, Liberty – Most everyone was wondering who’d assume the CJ Daniels role at wide receiver for Liberty. Clear as day after two weeks with Treon Sibley who has crossed the century mark in consecutive weeks. Added benefit of having WR/RB dual designation on Fantrax.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh – The final stat line for Holstein isn’t indicative of how he played for the entirety of the game, but all we care about is the fantasy points right? 30+ in each of the first two games. Weapons a plenty at receiver and tight end with a dynamic running back paired with Holstein in the backfield. Plus, he has some wheels I didn’t realize he had, with 50 rushing yards on eight attempts. Most importantly, this offense is operating at a much faster pace under its new offensive coordinator than the stale schemes the Panthers have employed in the past.
Darian Mensah, Tulane – The Wave have a potential star at the position in redshirt freshman Darian Mensah who tossed two touchdowns and 342 yards in the loss to Kansas State. Still some freshman mistakes like his costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown, but the flashes are there. ESPN’s Louis Riddick called the game and comped Mensah to Jordan Love. Woah.
Anthony Colandrea, Virginia – Thank goodness Tony Elliott didn’t make the boneheaded decision to start Tony Muskett. All Colandrea has done through two games is lead UVA to consecutive wins and score 30 fantasy points in each performance. Virginia has a building block for their program. Maryland and Coastal Carolina in the next two games is appealing.
Running Backs:
Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest – Tough test against Ole Miss this week followed by a bye week but should be smooth sailing the rest of the way for Claiborne in a less than stellar ACC conference. He’s been Wake’s best offensive player through two games, averaging nearly six yards a carry with three touchdowns.
Henry Parrish, Ole Miss – A player that rushes for four touchdowns will always get a nod on our waiver wire report. Discussing the Ole Miss backfield in the offseason, I stayed away thinking it would be a full-on committee. Our fearless leader, Joe, suggested drafting someone because of the scoring opportunities with how good this offense will be ultimately with Jaxson Dart and Co. You’re seeing the reason why here. Don’t expect this weekly, though.
Wide Receivers:
Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas – Want to see it occur more than once before suggesting Armstrong as a must-add candidate, but what a performance coming back from injury with 164 yards on 13 targets. The offense looks great under new OC Bobby Petrino, and the Arkansas defense is mediocre at best. Expect some shootouts with the Razorbacks this season, which bodes well for Armstrong.
Malik Rutherford, Georgia Tech – At least seven targets in each of the first three games for Rutherford who appears to be the primary option – at least to start – over Eric Singleton Jr. Rutherford should be prioritized more in full-point PPR.
De’Zhaun Stribling, Oklahoma State – Quiet day for Stribling with just four receptions for 38 yards, but the second consecutive week with eight targets. Same situation as last year with the centralized target share for Oklahoma State among the top three wideouts. Helps when this offense barely throws to running backs or tight ends in the passing game.
Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh – We were mentioning all the new pieces Pitt had at receiver last week, but the most experienced Pitt receiver has been the most productive so far in Mumpfield who has found the end-zone three times in two games. Eight targets in both weeks. Pitt will rotate 5-6 different options each week so not sure how consistent this production will be, but so far so good.
Giles Jackson, Washington – Denzel Boston gets the headlines, and Jeremiah Hunter had a rebound week, but Giles Jackson has been very consistent through two games with 16 receptions and over 200 combined yards. Washington will be in a lot of passing game scripts for their receivers, particularly in B1G play when they’re underdogs.
Donavon Greene / Taylor Morin, Wake Forest – We knew Greene was talented, it’s all about health for him, missing the large part of the last three seasons. He’s healthy now, catching 11 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Morin is the constant in the slot, now with 190 receiving yards in two weeks.
Mac Dalena, Fresno State – Still think Jalen Moss is the WR1 to have here, but Dalena is the clear 1B based on routes run and snap counts. And the production is there too now with 235 receiving yards and a touchdown vs. Sacramento State. That’s 18 targets in two games.
Coy Eakin, Texas Tech – 37 combined fantasy points in the first two weeks for Eakin who is Tech’s WR2 option behind Josh Kelly from the early returns. 11 targets and the most routes run on the team in the Week 2 loss to Washington State.
Kevin Coleman, Mississippi State – The stark difference between Kevin Coleman and Jordan Mosley is that Coleman will not be impacted when Kelly Akharaiyi returns to the starting lineup, which looks to be next week. Coleman has found the end-zone in each of the first two games.
Tight Ends:
Joe Royer, Cincinnati – Royer scored four touchdowns in one of the fall scrimmages. While the tight end position usually isn’t prevalent in this offensive scheme for Satterfield, that’s usually an indication a player will have a role. And that’s the case for the Ohio State transfer with eight receptions on 11 targets in the first two games.
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Tyler Huff, Jacksonville State – Looks like Logan Smothers is out of a job after a dismal performance in Week 1. Huff got the start, and while he only led Jacksonville State to 14 points, there’s some positive signs. For one, Rich Rodriguez didn’t rotate QBs until the game was out of hand. Huff is also a dual threat, rushing for over 100 yards against Louisville.
Running Backs:
Cam Porter, Northwestern – Porter is not going to win you a CFF league but promising returns through two games with two rushing touchdowns against Duke and is now averaging over five yards per carry. A significant bump over last year’s dismal season. The upcoming schedule over the next 4-5 weeks is not daunting, particularly this week with Eastern Illinois.
Davion Gause, North Carolina – Omarion Hampton did not play in the second half due to injury, but don’t believe it to be serious as he was on a bicycle and still in pads. UNC has George Washington and James Madison in the next two weeks so we’re unlikely to see a ton of the star running back is our guess. The true freshman Gause rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts in relief against Charlotte.
A.J. Turner, Marshall – Seems like Marshall should get this guy more involved in the offense. Just 14 rushing attempts in two games, but Turner has hit the century mark in rushing yards both weeks.
Wide Receivers:
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana – Indiana has two more mediocre opponents before the heart of B1G play begins so use em while you can. Cooper has been a standout in each of the first two games with a combined 12 targets, while hitting 100+ against Western Illinois. He’s this low on the WW because his Donaven McCulley is returning from injury at some point and will impact Cooper’s playing time potentially. Just a sophomore, Cooper could be a very strong investment in dynasty for future years.
Omari Hayes, Florida Atlantic – FAU is definitely spreading the ball around a bit more this season than last with no LaJohntay Wester. But the slot position being the WR1 in Tom Herman’s offense is still holding strong with Omari Hayes leading the team with 12 targets. He found the end-zone against Army.
Cam Pickett, Ball State – Someone to put on a watch list. Doesn’t seem like Ty Robinson played as he didn’t log a target. Pickett took advantage with seven receptions on 12 targets which led the team.
Dante Wright, Temple – Wright had a big performance against Navy with 11-101-1 on 14 receptions. We just don’t believe this will be consistent production week in, week out with how poor this Temple team is. Stan Drayton should be the leader in the clubhouse on first coach fired this season.
Nick Marsh, Michigan State – I spend my Sunday mornings parsing through the stats of each game and at least one or two times my jaw drop from a player’s performance in a game I didn’t get to see. Marsh was the one this week with 8-194-1 on 11 targets. Most impressive considering this was a road game against a Big Ten opponent. I’m hesitant to think that MSU will be passing the ball this much each week, and this effectively, but a name to monitor for sure.
Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall – This is Fitzpatrick’s third destination in his college career but has perhaps found a home with 20 combined targets in two weeks with multiple touchdowns.
Kisean Johnson, Western Kentucky – Getting a bit ahead of the curve here on adding Johnson. Not just because of his 125-yard performance against Eastern Kentucky, but he’s playing the most of any WKU wideout right now, leading the team in routes run. Dalvin Smith caught a touchdown but wasn’t even listed as a starter on PFF.
Theo Wease, Missouri – Wease had a monster performance with 13-149-0 on 14 targets, so we feel obligated to include him in the report. But this was a game where Luther Burden only played a half because of illness. Wease will go back to his secondary role when Burden is on the field.
Trell Harris, Virginia – UVA had two productive WRs last year in Malik Washington and Malachi Fields. Most thought Chris Tyree would be that WR2 next to Fields this season, but alas, he still isn’t a good player. Harris, the Kent State transfer, has been the second-best option and had a strong game (although a brutal drop) against Wake with 7-91-1 on 11 targets.
