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:
Jake Retzlaff, Tulane – A Tulane QB is a must-add? If they’re rushing for 100 yards each week, with Retzlaff has done twice already, then you bet. 23 or more fantasy points scored in all three games, including 45 points in the win over Duke. Tough matchup on the road against Ole Miss this week but should be smooth sailing the rest of the way.
Running Backs:
Sutton Smith, Memphis – Smith rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Troy with Greg Desrosiers out again due to injury. At this point, Smith looks like the RB1 if / when Desrosiers returns to the field. There are no challenging matchups remaining on the Memphis schedule. Have you seen the Arkansas defense?
Mike Washington, Arkansas – The Arkansas run game is dynamic with a healthy Taylen Green, and Washington looks like a perfect compliment in the backfield, scoring 17 or more fantasy points in each of the first three games. Strong matchup again this week against Memphis.
Raleek Brown, Arizona State – Kyson Brown is expected to return next week, but are we sure he’s the best Brown in the backfield. Raleek Brown hit 100+ yards for the second straight game and is now averaging over eight yards per carry on the year. There’s a non-zero chance Brown is the RB1 moving forward.
Micah Ford, Stanford – Two 100-yard rushing performances in three weeks for Ford who is easily Stanford’s best offensive weapon. The upcoming schedule looks very appetizing and why Ford is up here on the list. Virginia, San Jose State and SMU upcoming, though it ramps up afterwards.
Wide Receivers:
Jaden Barnes, Appalachian State – In most leagues with active waivers, Barnes is likely gone, but still has just 21% ownership on Fantrax. That’s about to change drastically after his second 130-yard performance in three weeks and has found the end-zone in every game so far.
Harrison Wallace, Mississippi – Yep, we have the WR1 for Ole Miss. 339 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games. If anything, Wallace’s performance this year is an indictment on Drew Allar.
UAB Receivers – Weekly reminder to get Iverson Hooks or Corey Milliner on your roster, even as depth additions. Nearly 50% of the team’s target share and five of UAB’s six receiving touchdowns.
Braden Pegan, Utah State – Maybe a bit presumptive to have Pegan in the must-add section, but there’s a lot to like here with the 6-foot-3 former UCLA transfer. 147 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets in the win over Air Force, the second straight week Pegan has found paydirt after catching one at Texas A&M.
Tight Ends:
Hunter Andrews, Utah – Brant Kuithe 2.0? The receiving stats don’t jump off the page, but 12 rushing attempts for 108 yards and a touchdown in three weeks. Potential cheat codes at any position are of extreme value.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California – JKS might only be in Berkley for one season, because you know the big boys and their NIL wallets will come a calling. But for now, that 27 fantasy points in two of three games, including against a B1G opponent in Minnesota. That bodes well for his outlook against ACC opponents moving forward.
Trinidad Chambliss, Mississippi – I questioned whether or not a Ferris State transfer QB would be able to put up numbers against an SEC defense and that was a massive mistake. Chambliss was outstanding against Arkansas with over 400 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. Austin Simmons was doubtful coming into the week with an ankle injury, but had to come in for a few plays with Chambliss banged up during an offensive series. If you were watching the game, Simmons could barely move and this was not just an ankle tweak. I’d be surprised if Simmons plays this week vs. Tulane and might we have a QB controversy on our hands?
Ta’Quan Roberson, Buffalo – Roberson scored 30+ fantasy points for the second straight week in the win over Kent State. We know about Buffalo’s upcoming schedule as we analyzed it pertaining to Al-Jay Henderson – there’s nothing stopping this Buffalo offense from scoring 30+ points on a weekly basis. Dating back to last season, the QB1 for the Bulls has now scored 30 or more fantasy points in six of the last seven games.
Nick Minicucci, Delaware – 30 fantasy points scored in two of three games for Minicucci as he led the Blue Hens to the upset victory over Connecticut. Delaware is now 16th nationally in passing volume, averaging 38 attempts per game, and Minicucci displayed some mobility on Saturday with 49 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. That is a lethal combination in CFF if you have a running QB with high passing volume.
Running Backs:
Tye Edwards, West Virginia – Rich Rod found the answer immediately of how to withstand the loss of star running back Jahiem White. Transfer Tye Edwards rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, out-carrying Clay Ash 25-12. With how poorly the passing game has been, Rich Rod is likely to lean on the run game moving forward. And outside of matchups with Utah and maybe Texas Tech in the finale, Edwards should be playable.
Makenzie McGill, North Texas – Our focus was on the QB and WRs in the offseason and never stopped to look at what was right in front of us. McGill rushed for 10 touchdowns a year ago, and is well on his way to matching that in 2025, now having hit the end-zone in all three games. Not just a TD merchant either, McGill is averaging over five yards a carry for the year.
Kejon Owens, Florida International – We took notice when Owens rushed for 70 yards in the opener. Then again last week rushing for 70 more yards at Penn State. Then Owens went OFF for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts vs. Florida Atlantic. We’re not ready to put an FIU running back as a must-add, but its close.
OJ Arnold, Georgia Southern – Nice to see Arnold finally produce after a pair of lackluster performances, rushing for 133 yards and two scores vs. Jacksonville State. I think we need to treat Arnold like we did Jalen White the last few years. Good back that can take advantage of poor run defenses. But he’s risky each week of busting too.
Seth McGowan, Kentucky – The Wildcats are on bye, followed by SEC play after that, so the schedule is challenging moving forward. But McGowan has separated himself as the guy in the Kentucky backfield, rushing for 104 yards and three touchdowns vs. Eastern Michigan. Maybe Cutter Boley being inserted as QB1 instead of Zach Calzada gives this entire offense a jolt moving forward.
Rayshon Luke, Fresno State – The backfield committee approach is really frustrating at the moment, but Luke continues to find the end zone. Five rushing touchdowns in the last three games, and now we have seen heavy involvement as a pass-catcher with seven receptions on seven targets.
Wide Receivers:
Raphael Williams, Pittsburgh – Poppi Williams has been the go-to this season, not Kenny Johnson, which maybe shouldn’t be surprising since he’s been with Pitt’s OC for several years now dating back to Western Carolina. 12 receptions on 19 targets with three touchdowns and double the amount of receiving yards than Johnson.
Tennessee WRs – Amazing what can happen to an offense and WR production when Nico Iamaleava isn’t around. The Vol receivers were always high on talent, most of which 4- and 5-star recruits, and we’re seeing that potential realized with Joey Aguilar at QB. Aguilar being able to simply complete passes has been the difference-maker. Top three receivers last year had a 60% catch rate. That’s risen to 74% this year between Chris Brazzell, Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews.
South Florida receivers – If Byrum Brown isn’t finding success on the ground, USF will be forced to throw because the RBs aren’t getting it done. Nimrod was the favorite target vs. Miami with 128 yards on 10 targets – the second time this season he’s had 90 or more receiving yards. Christian Neptune gets a shoutout too, now with 19 targets in the last two games starting in the slot.
Jacquon Gibson, UMass – The Minutemen have a bye week and then Missouri, so you’ll need patience if rostering Gibson. But the volume continues to be there, now with 36 targets combined in three games. He’ll be useful in PPR formats down the road.
Zion Booker, Tulsa – The Western Carolina transfer has been outstanding through three games, with 23 receptions on 29 targets and a touchdown. We love the consistency, even with questionable QB play, catching six or more passes on all three weeks. Great add as depth for your roster in PPR formats.
Tight Ends:
Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma – Consistency is about as much as you can ask for when it comes to fantasy tight ends, and Kanak continues to be a safety valve in the middle of the field for John Mateer. 242 yards in three games, with 69 or more yards in each week. All the talk about Oklahoma receivers in the offseason and it’s a tight end that leads the Sooners in receiving yards.
Izayah Cummings, Appalachian State – We know that head coach Dowell Loggains loved his tight ends when calling plays with South Carolina the last two years. That’s continued this year with the Louisville transfer who had a season-best 82 yards on nine targets vs. Southern Miss. Four or more catches in each of the first three games to begin the year.
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Steve Angeli, Syracuse – Not starting Angeli this week against Clemson, but a couple of favorable matchups after that with Duke and SMU to follow. There might be 100 passing attempts combined in that matchup with the Blue Devils. Angeli is not Kyle McCord, but we’re seeing the exact same offense in 2025 in terms of volume, where Syracuse is third nationally in pass attempts per game. That’ll put up fantasy points.
Running Backs:
RB Jo’Nathan Silver, Delaware – 179 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in the win over Connecticut. For now, Delaware seems intent on sharing the carries in the backfield with Silver and Viron Ellison Jr. (and Minicucci), and this was the first fantasy relevant performance for Silver in three games, so we’re not rushing to use a good chunk of our FAAB to add him just yet.
Evan Dickens, Liberty – We were correct in calling out the B-Back in the Liberty offense being the position to target. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Caden Williams is that guy, effectively getting benched after a fumble. Dickens, a Georgia Tech transfer, made the most of the opportunity with 96 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. In dynasty leagues specifically, I’d look to target Dickens.
Trequan Jones, Old Dominion – ODU might have a DUDE in the backfield with Trequan Jones who now has 261 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games after not getting a single carry in Week 1. You gloss by that when someone rushes for 100 yards against NC Central College. Your eyes open wide when it comes against Virginia Tech – though the Hokies are playing like a Division III school at the moment.
Wide Receivers:
Chris Barnes, Wake Forest – Wake receiver will continue to be low-end fantasy options so long as Robby Ashford is the QB, but Barnes is the fastest player on the team and that was on full display Thursday with his kick return touchdown. The Washington State transfer also has over 220 receiving yards in the last two games, averaging over 20 yards per catch. If your league has return yardage, Barnes provides additional value.
Charlotte WRs – We thought Javen Nichols was the WR to own here, and to be fair, he did have four receptions on six targets. But E. Jai Mason stole the show with 228 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets. Charlotte hasn’t run the ball effectively to start the year, and now we have two big-time performances by the WRs.
KJ Duff, Rutgers – If only Duff was able to keep his TE eligibility on Fantrax. Ian Strong missed the matchup with Norfolk, leading to Duff’s 119-yard performance in the win. Even when Strong has been in the lineup, Duff has been excellent, scoring double-digit fantasy points in all three weeks. Schedule ramps up considerably for Rutgers, though, with B1G play starting this week.
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana – Anyone that tops 200 receiving yards and four touchdowns in a single game is going to automatically get mentioned on the WW report. But cautionary tale here – Cooper scored 23 fantasy points in a non-con game last year and didn’t hit more than 20 fantasy points the remainder of the year. Indiana has a better QB this season, so maybe he’ll be more productive than last year, but he’s still the WR2 to Sarratt.
Griffin Wilde, Northwestern – Northwestern is obviously not a team to target for high-end fantasy production but Wilde continues to see volume, now with 29% of the team’s target share. Wilde’s 213 yards are 45% of the team’s receiving yards for the season. Better matchups the next two weeks with UCLA and Louisiana-Monroe.
Cade Wolford, Kent State – All the man does is catch touchdowns. The running back turned receiver plays in the slot and now has 223 yards and four touchdowns in three games.
Kyre Duplessis, Delaware – We said about that we’ve seen one good performance from Jo’Nathan Silver, so we’d be hesitant to add him. Well, this is the second double-digit performance from the Coastal Carolina transfer, finishing with 161 yards and a score on 11 targets in the win. Duplessis was close to making the “Worth A Look” section above, but Duplessis did this without perceived WR1 Jake Thaw in the lineup.
Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern – Camden Brown gets the headlines as he’s finding the end-zone, but in full point PPR formats, we might need to give Cobb a look. The veteran slot receiver has double-digit targets in each of the last two games.
Dynasty
Dierre Hill, Oregon – I’m in four dynasty leagues, and Hill is available in one, so he’s potentially available in yours as well. Jordan Davison had the higher recruiting rating, but Hill has looked the part this season, averaging over 14 yards per carry, including a 66-yard run against Northwestern. We know the dilemma that is the Oregon backfield, but Hill really looks the part as a true freshman.
Demon June, North Carolina – New coaching staff means new pair of eyes on the players they’re inheriting or bringing in during recruiting. Felt like it was just a matter of time that the UNC backfield was turned over to a freshman running back – the Heels brought in four of them in their recruiting class. June got the bulk of the carries vs. Richmond, rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown. There’s a chance he could be playable next week vs. UCF.
