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:
Behren Morton, Texas Tech – Last time he’ll be on the WW report this season as we expect his Fantrax ownership to spike this week. Morton is close to a must-start in CFF after just two career starts, following his 325-yard, two-touchdown performance against West Virginia. Too early for this conversation, but is Morton the QB1 in College Fantasy in 2023? That’s how good he’s looked through two games.
Running Backs:
Damien Martinez, Oregon State – The signs were there this breakout was going to happen. Martinez’ reps had increased the prior two weeks, and the coaching staff gave him the bulk of the work against Colorado. Decision paid off with 178 yards and three scores on 22 attempts. Bye week upcoming for the Beavers, but there is no game remaining for Martinez (outside of maybe Oregon in the finale) where you wouldn’t start the freshman RB.
Wide Receivers:
Xavier White, Texas Tech – Myles Price is getting closer to a return, but we might still be a few week(s) off as he was not even in pads during the pregame warmups. White has been excellent in his place with eight or more receptions in each of the last three games. White also has dual eligibility at WR/RB.
Tre Harris, Louisiana Tech – Stud. Doesn’t matter who is the quarterback, Harris has been productive with a receiving touchdown in five of the last six games. Season-high 15 targets for Harris on Saturday, resulting in 8-93-3. Florida International, Middle Tennessee and Charlotte in three of the next for weeks.
Elijah Badger, Arizona State – Badger has become one of the best WRs in the Pac-12, ranked ninth in the conference in receiving yards, and now with three touchdowns in the last two games. Now averaging 7.7 targets per game with 19 in the last two weeks. The Sun Devils need to get this guy the ball even more than they have this season. Should have plenty of opportunities to score this week against Colorado.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
D.J. Irons, Akron – Irons is now averaging 30.1 FPPG during MAC play after combining for three touchdowns in the loss to Kent State. Biggest surprise for me is 39 pass attempts per game, second in the conference. Not a-typical for a Joe Moorhead quarterback. Tougher matchup this week for Irons facing the best scoring defense in the MAC in Miami (Ohio) but have to like his outlook for the rest of the season.
Michael Pratt, Tulane – Pratt wasn’t needed against Memphis after getting out to a 35-0 lead in the first half, but has been exceptional since coming back from injury with nine total touchdowns in the last three games. He’ll be needed more against Tulsa next week, and should put up better numbers against a defense allowing 25.9 FPPG to opposing QBs.
Running Backs:
Tucker Gregg, Georgia State – Still a split backfield with Jamyest Williams and Darren Grainger, but Gregg has now found the end-zone in five straight games. Favorable matchup against the 11th ranked Sun Belt run defense in Old Dominion next week.
Percy Ageyi-Obese, James Madison – Bye week followed by a matchup with Louisville, but Ageyi-Obese has been productive in every game he’s been healthy, averaging 6.0 YPC. Might not be useful for the next two weeks, but you’ll want him for the final playoff stretch against three bottom-tier rush defenses to close the year.
Devin Mockobee, Purdue – May not use Mockobee for two weeks now because of a bye, followed by a tough matchup against Iowa, but how can you doubt the walk-on at this point? Double-digit fantasy points in every game played this season, and hit the century mark rushing in back-to-back games.
Avery Morrow, Colorado State – Our suggestion of Avery Morrow last week paid off as he rushed for 100+ yards for the third straight game against Hawaii. 20+ carries in each game makes me think Morrow is still a good add for the remainder of the year, but I doubt we’re starting him this upcoming weekend against Boise State and their dominant run D.
Wide Receivers:
Shocky Jacques-Louis, Akron – The former Pittsburgh transfer is now averaging nine targets per game and has hit double-digit receptions in two of the last three weeks. Akron is throwing the football far more than we anticipated this season which bodes well for SJL moving forward.
Colbie Young, Miami – The 6-foot-5 JUCO transfer has come out of seemingly nowhere the last three weeks, finding the end-zone four times in that span with back-to-back 100-yard performances.
Luke McCaffrey, Rice – Based on the number of targets he gets, McCaffrey would be a must-add, averaging 9.6 targets per game. We can’t fully trust starting QB T.J. McMahon to get McCaffrey the football unfortunately, though he was able to on Saturday as the former Nebraska transfer had a season high 10-171-2 against Louisiana Tech.
Michael Sturdivant, California – Season-high 104 yards on eight receptions for the sophomore receiver against Washington. That’s now 24 targets in the last two games and has found the end-zone five times in five games.
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Preston Stone, SMU – Will have to keep up to date with the news this week as it looks like Tanner Mordecai suffered a concussion in the second half vs. Cincinnati. Asked if he thought about putting Stone in prior to the injury, head coach Rhett Lashlee said no, so this should still be the veteran’s job if healthy. But SMU’s season is starting to slip a bit so maybe that tune changes if the Mustangs continue to falter.
Jake Garcia, Miami – Didn’t see the injury, but sounds as though we will not see Tyler Van Dyke for a little bit after injuring his shoulder in the loss to Duke. The highly touted Garcia came in to throw for 198 yards and two scores in garbage time, while also tossing three picks.
Running Backs:
Deneric Prince, Tulsa – The 233-yard rushing performance from Prince is an outlier, but he’s been productive in two of three games since returning from suspension. Will be in the mix to start for some next week against the 120th ranked rush defense in SMU.
Samuel Brown, Rutgers – The schedule is brutal to close the year with Minnesota and Michigan in the next two games, but Rutgers has turned over the backfield to the 4-star freshman who rushed for 101 yards on 28 carries in the win over Indiana.
Daba Fofana, Navy – 20+ rushing attempts for the Navy B-back in each of the last three games with a combined four touchdowns in that span. Gets a matchup this week with a Temple team that just allowed 200+ rushing yards to Deneric Prince.
Ron Cook Jr., Buffalo – Has every Buffalo running back made this WW list at one point or another this season? Cook was the hot hand on Saturday with 120 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. It could be Mike Washington next week. But we do know at this point the consistency that Cook will bring, getting double-digit carries in all but one game in 2022. Favorable matchup with Ohio next week and their 100th ranked rush defense.
Deion Hankins, UTEP – This guy feels like he’s been in college forever at this point. Hankins is averaging 17.7 carries per game over the last four weeks, rushing for over 100 yards twice in that span.
Cameron Davis, Washington – Volume isn’t there as Washington rotates their RBs, but Davis has now found the end-zone six times in the last three games. He looks to have taken over the primary role over Wayne Taulapapa in the backfield.
Wide Receivers:
Devin Voisin / Caullin Lacy, South Alabama – Between Jalen Wayne, Voisin and Lacy, the South Alabama trio combines for 68% of the team’s total target share. Carter Bradley doesn’t throw it to anyone else. Production was minimal this past Thursday, but Voisin / Lacy combined for 15 receptions on 21 targets. In deep dynasty formats, I’d be adding Voisin as the possible Jalen Wayne successor for 2023.
Sam Brown, Houston – Significant uptick in playing time the last three weeks, and the former West Virginia transfer has produced. 116 yards on 11 targets in Week 6 vs. Memphis, and two touchdowns on Saturday against Navy. Houston should roll up the points this week against South Florida’s atrocious defense.
Elijah Higgins, Stanford – Michael Wilson being done for the year opens up opportunities for the rest of the Stanford WR corps. Targets were spread around between the starters, but Higgins is our favorite of the bunch, now with double-digit fantasy points scored in PPR formats in each of the last four games. He’s the most consistent of the bunch.
