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:
Hajj-Malik Williams, UNLV – Matthew Sluka who? Addition by subtraction it appears as the UNLV offense didn’t miss a beat vs. Fresno State, blowing out the Bulldogs 59-14 with 450 yards of total offense. Williams accounted for four touchdowns on the day, while rushing for over 100+ yards on 12 carries. This UNLV offense is a wagon right now, and Williams’ insertion into the lineup seems to boost Ricky White’s value now as well.
Kevin Jennings, SMU – Not that it’s a major surprise at this point, but second straight week in which we did not see Preston Stone at all as Kevin Jennings has the QB1 status all to himself. His best performance of the season against FSU with 29 fantasy points scored, tossing three touchdowns. Outside of maybe this week on the road at Louisville, the remaining ACC schedule for Jennings is a clear path to solid fantasy production.
Running Backs:
Jaden Nixon, Western Michigan – Nixon is close to a must-add if we knew for certain the status of Jalen Buckley but doesn’t sound like his return is imminent at this point. The Oklahoma State transfer has now hit 100+ in each of the last two games, averaging 20 touches per contest and now enters MACtion play next week. If you’re ready to take a swing with your remaining FAAB, Nixon might be the guy. On the flip side, it could also be a Billy Lucas situation where the RB1 returns the following week.
Star Thomas, Duke – Three-straight 100-yard rushing performances for the former New Mexico State transfer, and that was with Jaquez Moore back in the lineup for Duke. Schedule will ramp up here with the heart of ACC play upcoming, but Georgia Tech and Florida State the next two games is manageable for Thomas and this Duke offense.
Ahmad Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe – Remember, this is a coaching staff that has given us Jacory Croskey-Merritt and DeWayne McBride in year’s past under HC Bryant Vincent. We seem to have another in freshman Ahmad Hardy who had a season-high 107 yards on 28 attempts in the win over Troy. No other running back had more than three carries on the day. Hardy is a major priority in any dynasty format (unlikely he’s still available) but should be an add in redrafts that is definitely startable in favorable matchups.
Wide Receivers:
Ted Hurst, Georgia State – Double-digit targets in each of the last two games as Hurst has posted 80 yards or more now in three straight weeks. Last opportunity to grab Hurst this week if you can.
Coleman Owen, Ohio – Owen is going to do some damage in MAC play. At least seven targets in four of five games played, with over 100 yards receiving in three contests after posting 130 and two scores this Saturday against Akron.
Eric McAlister, TCU – Jack Bech remains the WR1, but the Boise State transfer has seemingly surpassed Savion Williams as the team’s secondary option, now with 100 yards in each of the last two games. TCU is 9th nationally in pass play percentage and with Josh Hoover slinging the pill the way he is, there’s room for two productive WRs in this offense.
Omari Kelly, Middle Tennessee – Against P4 opponents, Kelly is averaging just 2.5 receptions on six targets in two games. In the three games against non-P4 teams, those averages jump to 152 yards receiving per contest on nine targets. There are no more P4 teams left on Middle Tennessee’s schedule.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
Bryson Daily, Army – One of the best stories in college football this season is the resurgence of the service academies, not only in the win column but their diversity on offense this season, getting the job done on the ground (obviously) and through the air! Daily has scored 83 fantasy points combined in the last two weeks and now faces a Tulsa defense that is getting absolutely shredded by opposing QBs this year. Three QBs have already scored 30+ fantasy points this season against the Golden Hurricane.
Michael Hawkins, Oklahoma – Brent Venables made the surprising move this week, benching Jackson Arnold who seemingly has played his final down for the Sooners, in favor of the true freshman who scored 20 fantasy points and led Oklahoma to the improbable comeback win over Auburn. Hawkins rushing abilities provides a fantasy floor, and at some point, the Sooners won’t be without every single starter at wide receiver due to injury.
Running Backs:
Bill Davis, Louisiana – Gone are the days of Elijah Mitchell or Trey Ragas where a Louisiana running back will get 15-20 carries on a weekly basis. But the Ragin Cajuns are succeeding on the ground this season, now averaging over six yards per carry as a team. The rushing attack is being spearheaded by sophomore Bill Davis who is averaging over eight yards a carry, now with at least 80 yards in each of the last three games. Lowly Southern Miss is upcoming on the schedule.
A.J. Turner, Marshall – At some point this season, Marshall must get this guy more carries right? Turner is now averaging nearly 13 yards per carry in 2024, hitting 100+ yards in three of four games with the only game being held in check was at Ohio State.
Tre Wisner, Texas – Will be interesting to see how the Texas backfield looks in the coming weeks after Jaydon Blue fumbled twice against Mississippi State and was benched by the coaching staff. Blue took accountability and Steve Sarkisian gave a nod of support, but could Wisner take over the RB1 duties at some point?
Caden Durham, LSU – The star freshman had nearly 200 yards of offense in just the first quarter against South Alabama this week. Durham did leave the game due to injury, but Brian Kelly said afterwards that it is not serious. The hope is that the coaching staff turns the backfield over to the freshman at some point, but as we saw against UCLA the week prior, these head coaches are stubborn and will still give the veterans priority status.
Wide Receivers:
Raylen Sharpe, Fresno State – The Missouri State transfer has seen his playing time increase with each passing week and is now a full-time starter in the slot with 27 targets over the last three games. Sharpe ascending to Fresno State’s WR1 is not out of the question in our opinion.
Ja’Kobi Lane, USC – Season-highs all around for Lane with 10 receptions on 12 targets and two scores against Wisconsin, looking like the best offensive player on the field for the Trojans. Zachariah Branch has been inconsistent, Makai Lemon likely misses a few more weeks, and USC is missing their starting tight end, so the receiving options are limited right now, opening up opportunities for Lane.
Oran Singleton, Eastern Michigan – Three straight games of at least 10 targets for the Akron transfer who has scored double-digit fantasy points in all but one game in full-point PPR scoring formats.
Jakobie Keeney-James, UMass – 31 targets in the last month for Keeney-James with a receiving touchdown in three of the last four games. The former Eastern Washington transfer should be the clear-cut WR1 now with the news that came out this week that Anthony Simpson is no longer on the roster.
Eric Rivers, Florida International – The junior receiver has found the end-zone in three of the last four games and is averaging nearly 100 yards per contest over the last three weeks.
Dorian Singer, Utah – This is the Dorian Singer we expected to see with all the offseason hype he received. Nearly 250 combined yards in the last two weeks with a season-best 17 targets in the loss to Arizona.
Tight Ends:
Jake Newell, Akron – Any tight end that notches 11 targets in a week gets a mention on the WW report. Newell found the end-zone for the second time in three weeks with a season-high nine receptions in the loss to Ohio. Akron is dead last in the nation in rushing, so expect a high number of passes being thrown this year for the Zips.
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor – Consecutive 30-point performances from Robertson the last two weeks as he looks to be a clear upgrade over Dequan Finn. What boosts Robertson’s stock is Baylor’s inability to run the football right now, ranked 82nd in yards per game, so a lot of favorable game scripts ahead for this Baylor passing game. Tough matchup this week with Iowa State.
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M – Seems like Connor Weigman is getting closer to returning, but I’m not sure how A&M can go back to him as they’re on a 3-game winning streak with Reed at the helm. From a fantasy standpoint, Reed has now scored at least 25 fantasy points in each of the last three games and his dual-threat ability is a better fit for Collin Klein’s scheme.
Jacolby Criswell, North Carolina – Another P4 streaming option this week with Criswell facing Pittsburgh in what you’d think should be a high scoring affair. 61 fantasy points combined in the last two games for a QB that is needing to score points given the UNC defensive performances the past two games.
Running Backs:
Kanye Udoh, Army – The Army offense revolves around the QB position, but Udoh now has four rushing touchdowns in as many games, scoring double-digit fantasy points three times. Army is likely a big favorite over Tulsa this week so should see a run-based game script.
Jay Ducker, Sam Houston State – The former NIU and Memphis transfer has found as home as SHSt’s RB1, now with four rushing touchdowns in the last two games, averaging 17 attempts per contest in the previous three weeks. Gets UTEP this coming week who ranks 128th nationally in yards allowed on the ground.
Delbert Mimms, Eastern Michigan – Eastern Michigan has probably played the easiest schedule of any team not named Ohio State to this point, with UMass, St Francis and Kent State within the month of September. That said, NC State transfer Delbert Mimms seems to be separating as the team’s RB1 now with five rushing touchdowns in as many games, and a season-high 23 carries this past Saturday.
Brandon High, UTSA – This is your CFF dynasty add of the week, now with 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns combined over the last two games. I would imagine this backfield opens up in 2025 with Robert Henry graduating and Kevorian Barnes looking like a possible transfer candidate.
Evan Pryor, Cincinnati – Let’s keep tabs on the Cincinnati RB situation this week as Corey Kiner left the game due to injury but was back on the sidelines in the second half. The Bearcats are on a bye this week so maybe Kiner heals in that time. Pryor would be next man up.
Wide Receivers:
Skyler Bell, Connecticut – What a successful running game can do for an offense, even with a backup quarterback. UConn is on a roll right now, with Wisconsin transfer Skyler Bell emerging as the team’s top option in the passing game with 21 receptions on 31 targets and 33% of the team’s receiving touchdowns. UConn likely goes into next week with its backup QB Joe Fagnano, but he’s an upgrade over Nick Evers in the passing game. Temple is next up for the Huskies.
Dane Key, Kentucky – Consecutive 100-yard receiving performances for Key with 22 targets in each of the last two games. Key ranks this low because we’re hesitant to add a receiver from the 14th ranked passing offense in the SEC, but the last two weeks are promising.
Cam Ross / Omarion Dollison, James Madison – We didn’t see high volume numbers this week as James Madison steamrolled Ball State, but both Ross and Dollison found the end-zone for the second time in as many weeks. While JMU is spreading out the targets, both Ross and Dollison lead all receivers on the team in routes run and snaps played so they’re the two to target.
Cam Pickett, Ball State – Second time this season that Pickett has posted 12 targets in a game as he appears to be the team’s WR1. Plenty of favorable game scripts ahead for the Ball State passing game as the Cardinals rank 133rd in scoring defense.
Jaden Williams, Texas State – Has Williams overtaken Kole Wilson as the team’s WR2? After two touchdowns vs. Arizona State last week, Williams followed that up with 133 yards on 11 targets in the loss to Sam Houston State.
Louis Brown IV, San Diego State – Brown posted season-highs against Central Michigan with 8-149-0 on 12 targets, with only Mountain West opponents remaining on the schedule. If Danny O’Neil can show marginal improvement over the course of the season, that will improve Brown’s stock immensely.
Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall – The former Michigan State and Louisville transfer is now averaging eight targets per game, having found the end-zone in three of four games played.
Matt Sykes, Rice – Disaster season forthcoming for the Rice Owls that should lead to a coaching change at some point. Sykes, a former UCLA transfer, has been one of the lone bright spots with 160 receiving yards in the last two games, averaging eight targets per contest for the year.
