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:
Jalon Daniels, Kansas – Let the Jalon Daniels Heisman campaign continue. Still owned in just 11% of leagues, Daniels is now averaging 39.4 FPPG with 11 touchdowns to just one interception. It’s not just the production, Daniels’ efficiency numbers are off the charts for a quarterback that only throws the ball 23 times a game. We’re going to find out how long this can last this Saturday as the Jayhawks host Iowa State.
Bo Nix, Oregon – I don’t think anyone could have forecasted three straight 40-point fantasy performances from the former Auburn transfer. And Nix looked like his former Auburn self at times in the first half against Washington State. But the senior quarterback is helping fantasy owners win weeks with his production right now. The schedule is really set up for this to continue as well, facing Stanford and Arizona in the next two games.
Running Backs:
Jaydn Ott, California – Don’t think we’ll be seeing much of DeCarlos Brooks or Damien Moore moving forward…or at least we shouldn’t. Ott was the top ranked player, regardless of player, by Pro Football Focus in Week 4, scoring a perfect 99.1 overall grade. 132 yards after contact and 12 missed tackles forced. Washington State will provide a tougher task this week for Ott, allowing just 3.19 YPC. Arizona’s run defense is lifeless.
Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan – Evans turned out to be a bust this week for fantasy owners the picked him up, rushing for just 52 yards in a loss to Buffalo. Not having your starting quarterback didn’t help matters. But we’re giving it a go one more week with Eastern Michigan taking on a helpless UMass team at home. Against Tulane and Toledo in the first two weeks, the Minutemen allowed a combined 10 rushing touchdowns.
Wide Receivers:
Cam Camper, Indiana – Last time we’ll have Camper on this list at 15% ownership. Hauled in another 10 receptions on 17 targets which puts him No. 1 in the country in that category. Believe he got nicked up at the end of the matchup with Cincinnati, but the volume Camper is seeing each week is incredible.
Devontez Walker, Kent State – We had Devontez Walker projected at 40 receptions this year, so he was on our radar to an extent, but credit goes to Nate Marchese (CFFNate) spotlighting this gem of a receiver for the Flashes. The 6-foot-3 sophomore now has a touchdown in three of the four games played this season and hauled in seven receptions on a team-high eight targets on the road against the defending national champions. Walker averaged 14.4 FPPG against that gauntlet of a non-conference schedule. What’s in store for MACtion?
De’Corian Clark / Joshua Cephus, UTSA – All three wide receivers just continue to eat and get fat with fantasy points in this offense. Zakhari Franklin, Cephus and Clark are now all averaging over 20 FPPG this season. The Roadrunners have an exceptional quarterback and are very hit-or-miss in the running game without Sincere McCormick.
Troy Franklin, Oregon – Solidified his WR1 standing again vs. Washington State with 137 yards and a touchdown on five targets. His target volume doesn’t scream must-add, but his big-play ability downfield is unmatched among the Oregon receivers. An aDOT of over 20.0 in the last two weeks.
LaJohntay Wester, Florida Atlantic – JeQuan Burton was the receiver to own through two games, but Wester has been blazing through defenses the last three weeks with a combined 22 receptions on 32 targets with five touchdowns.
Tight Ends:
Caden Prieskorn, Memphis – Playing out as we sort of expected in the preseason where Memphis does not have a Calvin Austin or Sean Dykes type player at either position. But the 6-foot-6 sophomore tight end is doing his best Dykes impersonation with four receiving touchdowns in the last three weeks. Prieskorn leads the team in catches and tied for the team lead in targets.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
Max Duggan, TCU – We’re not ready to put Duggan higher than this considering Chandler Morris does look close to returning and the senior QB has faced two horrendous defenses. But we cannot deny the production over the last two games, completing 77% of his passes with eight passing touchdowns. And he’s been putting up big numbers without the usage of his legs much which is an even bigger surprise. Duggan has faired well against Oklahoma, his next opponent, the last two seasons with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Kurtis Rourke, Ohio – Another game featuring a MAC team that just completely went off the rails Saturday with Ohio and Fordham combining for 111 total points. Rourke was sensational with 537 passing yards and four scores, but this was clearly a defense optional type of matchup. Good news is that applies to most MAC games too. Rourke also has a 40-point performance on his 2022 resume in Week 1 against FAU so I think its safe to assume some more big statistical outings are in his future.
Running Backs:
Richard Reese, Baylor – We’ll see how the pecking order shakes out once Taye McWilliams is back in the lineup, but there was clarity this week with Reese ahead of both Craig Williams and Qualan Jones in the pecking order. Was a slog against Iowa State, but still notched 69 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Frank Peasant, Middle Tennessee – We didn’t have Peasant as a priority last week because of his impending matchup with Miami, but still managed 74 yards and a touchdown against the Canes. Biggest positive too is the 20 carries as Peasant is dominating the backfield volume share. Five rushing touchdowns in the last three games.
Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss – Debated which section to include Judkins in after his 140-yard, two touchdown performance against Tulsa. SEC play starts next week and Judkins’ increased usage was due to an injury suffered by Zach Evans. Don’t think its severe to where Judkins now becomes the RB1 so we’re going to place the freshman in the middle tier of priority. None of the upcoming teams for the next four weeks have dominant run defenses for SEC standards.
Wide Receivers:
Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse – I’m not rushing to the wire or spending significant FAAB for Gadsden but he’s an intriguing piece to the Syracuse passing game that I bet OC Robert Anae views as his new version of Keytaon Thompson. Gadsden is 6-foot-5, operating mostly in the slot, and has separated himself the last two games with back-to-back 100 yard performances on 17 targets.
Jahmal Banks, Wake Forest – So I’m going to include Banks in the “Worth a Look” section from a redraft standpoint, but he’s a PRIORITY add in dynasty formats, now with two receiving touchdowns in the last two games. Unfortunately for AT Perry owners, it appears Wake Forest will be rotating their receivers frequently moving forward to keep everyone fresh throughout the regular season. Banks has been targeted 15 times the last two weeks in competitive matchups and is likely the frontrunner to be WR1 in 2023 after Perry and Donavon Greene graduate.
Carlos Carriere, Central Michigan – Don’t anticipate Central Michigan leading the MAC in passing attempts by season’s end once they get into conference play and ride Lew Nichols for 30 carries a game. But it is certainly clear that Carriere is the team’s WR1 after notching 11 receptions on 18 targets against Penn State. The former Maryland transfer is now averaging 12 targets a game.
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati – We’re seeing some separation finally at receiver for the Bearcats with Scott now accounting for 28% of the team target share and five touchdowns in the last three games alone. Helping his cause is not only how Ben Bryant is playing, but the fact Cincinnati is 10th of 11 teams in the AAC in rushing. Maybe that changes in conference play this week, but the passing game is getting things done right now.
Isaiah Winstead, East Carolina – We were all hyped about C.J. Johnson in Week 1, but it’s been the Toledo transfer who has emerged as ECU’s top playmaker on the outside. Double-digit targets in three of the four games played and topped 100 yards receiving in each of the last two weeks.
Luke McCaffrey, Rice – We thought in the offseason that the Rice offense was transforming into a more pass-oriented group, and that’s what is transpiring as the Owls are averaging 262 YPG. McCaffrey has made a successful transition from QB to WR as the former Nebraska transfer has topped 100 yards in each of the last two games with three scores. Averaging 10 targets per game with at least 8 targets in every week.
Ashtyn Hawkins, Texas State – Marcel Barbee was the top target-getter on Saturday, but Hawkins was still plenty productive with five receptions and a touchdown on six targets. He’s found the end-zone every single week now.
Tight Ends:
Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan – There is some smoke that Erick All might be out for a period of time due to injury. In deeper formats, Schoonmaker could be worth a look. He was the team’s leading target-getter on Saturday against Maryland, finishing 7-72-1.
Tanner McLachlan, Arizona – Ah the man that cost me $50 on a prop bet because I had no idea who this player is, so had to bet the under right? Shut me up as the 6-foot-5 junior posted 70 receiving yards on six targets in the loss to Cal. McLachlan has now topped 50 receiving yards in each of the last three games and if fourth on the team in targets (18).
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Cole Snyder, Buffalo – One of those MACtion games that went off the rails, but its not like that doesn’t happen every week in the conference. Credit to CFBWinningEdge who was all over this situation, calling for Buffalo to throw the ball more in 2022. Resulted in Snyder already surpassing 1,000 yards in four games, and averaging over 25 FPPG. He’s got weapons all over the field at receiver.
Riley Leonard, Duke – In the essence of time, you can consider this a dual-suggestion for WR Jalon Calhoun as well. But look at the upcoming schedule for the Blue Devils. Two bottom-feeders of the ACC, followed by the worst defense in the conference.
Running Backs:
CJ Beasley, Coastal Carolina – Beasley has been outstanding the last two games, rushing for over 200 combined yards against Buffalo and Georgia State. This statement is just an observation from some obscure tweets, but it does not sound like Reese White will be out long-term – hence why Beasley is not ranked higher on this list. But it does sound like Braydon Bennett won’t be back any time soon, so Beasley will have a role moving forward.
Brandon Thomas, Memphis – I’ll want to look more this week to how the Memphis offensive line is performing, but that’s now three straight games in which Thomas has found the end-zone. Season-high 84 yards and a pair of scores against North Texas, though Jevyon Ducker and Asa Martin are seeing carries.
Wide Receivers:
Kaden Prather, West Virginia – The sophomore has rebounded nicely after his poor performance in Week 1, catching six passes in each of the last three games. His emergence is partially why Bryce Ford-Wheaton’s numbers have declined of late. Averaging eight targets per game over the last three weeks.
Jake Bailey, SMU – The Rice transfer steps right back into the starting lineup after missing a few games due to injury and immediately leads the team with 163 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. This does not decrease Rice’s value at all either for me, as the senior receiver still was productive with six receptions on 13 targets. SMU doesn’t have many options beyond these two in the passing game.
Antoine Green, North Carolina – Wasn’t sure how the WR dynamic would play out with Josh Downs and Green both returning from injury, combined with how well Kobe Paysour had been playing in their absence. Looks like its back to the bench, though, for Paysour, while Green stepped right back into the starting lineup with a team-high 150 receiving yards on seven targets. Has more value this year than last with how well Drake Maye is playing.
Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee – Our projected WR1 to begin the season was overshadowed by DJ Chisolm against Miami, but would still suggest he’s the WR to pick up of the two players. Lane also had a big day with 130 yards and four receptions on five targets, now scoring double-digit fantasy points in each of the last two games.
Terrell Vaughn, Utah State – With Kyle Van Leeuwen out for the season, Vaughn stepped into the starting slot position and shined with 6-74-2 on 10 targets.
Malik Washington, Northwestern – If its not Evan Hull catching passes, the next best option is Washington who’s now had double-digit targets in three of the four games played this season. In PPR formats, Washington has hit double-digit fantasy points in every game.
Dynasty:
Justus Ross-Simmons, Colorado State – A 6-foot-3 freshman that I picked up in a dynasty league this past week, Ross-Simmons should now be the WR2 alongside Tory Horton. This passing game is not one to invest in beyond Horton this season, but JRS could be the WR1 in 2023 when Horton likely departs. Seven receptions on nine targets in the last two weeks.
