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:
Garrett Greene, West Virginia – 25 fantasy points or more for Greene in each of the last four games as the junior quarterback has gotten it done both on the ground and through the air during this stretch. On Saturday against UCF, it was with his legs, rushing for three touchdowns. Two semi-difficult matchups the next two weeks against a BYU defense that has limited QBs to just 18 FPPG this season, followed by Oklahoma. But the closing stretch features below-average B12 defenses in Cincinnati and Baylor who seem like they’ve mailed it in for 2023.
Running Backs:
Terion Stewart, Bowling Green – Four 100-yard rushing performances in the last five games for Stewart who is delivering on the promise he showed three years ago as a freshman. The only down week was the matchup against Miami (Ohio) who have a top half rush defense in the MAC. Tough challenge against a Ball State defense this week with the No. 2 ranked run defense in the conference, but smooth sailing the rest of the way after that.
Kye Robichaux, Boston College – Robichaux once again had the benefit of not having Pat Garwo alongside him in the backfield for another week against Connecticut, but the former Western Kentucky transfer is the team’s RB1 whether Garwo is healthy or not. Four rushing TDs in the last two games, surpassing 100 yards in both contests, and faces a defeated Syracuse rush defense this week that allowed well over 200 rushing yards to Virginia Tech.
Mario Anderson, South Carolina – Anderson is the most trustworthy option right now on the South Carolina offense, rushing for 72 yards on 16 attempts against a very good A&M front. Uptick in passing game usage as well with eight targets in the last two games. If there was ever a time to start Anderson, these next two weeks will be it with Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt upcoming.
Wide Receivers:
Monaray Baldwin, Baylor – We still never uncovered the reason as to why Baldwin was barely on the field the first two weeks of the season but doesn’t matter now. Three 100-yard receiving performances in the last four games and a clear connection with quarterback Blake Shapen. This Baylor defense can’t stop a nosebleed, which typically results in a positive game script for Baldwin and this passing game.
Eugene Wilson, Florida – Absolute star in the making, if not one already. The 5-star freshman caught all 11 of his targets for 78 yards and a touchdown against one of the best defenses in the country. Wilson has now been targets 29 times alone in the last three games with an insane 90% catch rate. Supremely talented.
Eli Ayomanor, Stanford – Ayomanor has arguably been CFF’s top fantasy receiver the last three weeks with almost 500 receiving yards and four touchdowns in that stretch, targeted a combined 43 times! Last opportunity to snatch him up if he hasn’t been already and a must-start moving forward. If you miss out, consider 4-star freshman Tiger Bachmeier as a backup option. 22 targets in the last two games.
Elijah Sarratt, James Madison – 100+ receiving yards for the second time in three weeks for Sarratt who has also found paydirt in three of the last four games. Playing time has increased with every passing week for Sarratt who now has 27 targets in the last three games.
Worth A Look
If you have the roster room, these prospects are worth a look.
Quarterbacks:
Keegan Shoemaker, Sam Houston State – Shoemaker has now hit 22+ fantasy points in five straight games, averaging nearly 40 attempts per. Best chance this week for Sam Houston State to end their winless streak facing Kennesaw State.
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech – Not starting Drones this week after the dominance the Louisville displayed at home defensively against Riley Leonard and Duke. But Drones provides a floor with his running ability and has two appealing matchups in November with Boston College and UVA still left to go.
Ashton Daniels, Stanford – 40 fantasy points scored by Daniels in two of the last three games. 46 passing attempts on average in that three-game stretch and Daniels provides rushing ability with 239 yards and two scores this season on the ground. Biggest reason Daniels isn’t a must add is the closing stretch of games in the final month against three good defenses in Washington State, Oregon State and Notre Dame.
Running Backs:
Kaden Feagin, Illinois – Only reason Feagin isn’t higher on this list is the remaining schedule where I’d advise sitting the 4-star freshman at Minnesota and at Iowa. Against Indiana and Northwestern, start ’em up. 80 or more rushing yards in three of the last four games, and I don’t think it matters much if Reggie Love is healthy enough to play.
Nay’Quan Wright, South Florida – 100+ rushing yards for Wright in each of the last two games, including a season-high 26 carries in the win over UConn. Wright gets a matchup with Memphis who is allowing over 20 fantasy points to RB1s this season.
Jordan Nubin, Minnesota – Both Zach Evans and Darius Taylor suffered injuries this past week, resulting in them missing the Michigan State contest. The difficult part about this situation is that neither appear to be long-term injuries so is Jordan Nubin still a name on our radar this time next week? The funny part about all of this is that Sean Tyler fumbled again on the first drive of the game, leading to Nubin’s 40 carries. Practically déjà vu as that is the exact situation that led to Taylor taking over the backfield earlier in the year. Nubin deserves to be added, but this will be complicated if Taylor and Evans return next week.
Jacob Kibodi, Louisiana – Season-highs for Kibodi against a good South Alabama defense with 116 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. That’s now six rushing TDs in the last six games. Phenomenal matchup for Kibodi this week facing an Arkansas State defense allowing the seventh most fantasy points to running backs among teams playing in Week 10.
Kadarius Calloway, Old Dominion – Seems like ODU is content on splitting the backfield carries, so probably won’t ever see Calloway tote the rock 20 times this season. But that’s now 500 rushing yards in the last four games for Calloway, including 65 yards and a touchdown against the best rush defense in the country in James Madison. Coastal Carolina is also strong against the run this season, allowing just 14 FPPG to RB1s.
Wide Receivers:
Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan – Quiet game for Womack relative to his previous performances the last few weeks, but still had a team-high five receptions on eight targets in the win over Eastern Michigan. He’ll be a PPR monster in MACtion the next few weeks.
Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, UTSA – Six receiving touchdowns in the last six games for Ogle-Kellogg who had a season-high 85 yards against ECU on Saturday. No fluke either as the senior receiver has run the second most routes on the team behind Joshua Cephus so he’s on the field for 80% of the offensive snaps.
Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State – The move to Jalen Raynor has boosted the production of every Arkansas State receiver, but most notably Jackson who has hit double-digit fantasy points in five of the last six games with six touchdowns in that span. Get a matchup with Louisiana next week who have allowed the 14th most fantasy points to receivers among teams playing in Week 10.
Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama – I do think game script played a major part here as South Alabama was forced to throw 53 times in a trailing position, but that’s consecutive 100-yard receiving games for Pritchett who was targeted a season-high 17 times. Downside to adding Pritchett is you may not start him this week against one of the best defenses in the Sun Belt in Troy.
Jabre Barber, Troy – Texas State set out to stop Kimani Vidal at all costs. That worked as he was limited to just 40 yards on 18 carries. Except the Bobcats were cooked in the secondary, allowing nearly 400 passing yards, many of which went to junior receiver Jabre Barber who hit 100+ yards for the third time in four games.
Justus Ross-Simmons, Colorado State – Speculative add as Tory Horton was not 100% healthy entering the Air Force matchup Saturday and wound up running just 15 routes in the game, having to leave for the sidelines at one point. Ross-Simmons had his second strong performance in a row with 128 yards on 14 targets, finding the end-zone in consecutive games. He’s the WR1 if Horton were to miss time.
Tight Ends:
Nyck Harbor, South Carolina – Tight end production can fluctuate from week to week, as we saw on Saturday with our suggestion of Cincinnati’s Chamon Metayer who was shut out from the box score. The 5-star freshman could be a solid add down the stretch as the 2-6 Gamecocks look to break in some of their younger talent in a meaningless season. Harbor has 40 or more receiving yards in each of the last three games, getting starter reps opposite Xavier Legette.
Sam Roush, Stanford – I think this play will be more for 2024 as opposed to now, but the 6-foot-4 sophomore has played well in the absence of Ben Yurosek, targeted 10 times in the last two games. We harped in the offseason how this system has typically featured the tight end position, and while that hasn’t transpired in 2023, this is clearly an improving offense with every passing week.
Longshots
Need to see more from these guys before pulling the trigger unless you are in the deepest of leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Jason Bean, Kansas – Rumors the last few weeks that this season will be the last time we see Jalon Daniels in a Kansas uniform with the continued back injury that has held him out the last month. Would not surprise us if Kansas rolls with Bean the rest of the way with 66 combined fantasy points scored in the last two games.
Blake Murphy, Louisiana-Monroe – This is a last-ditch resort, but credit to the true freshman who has now thrown 300 yards in each of his first two starts. Juicy matchup, though, against a Southern Miss defense that is allowing almost 27 FPPG to opposing QBs.
Running Backs:
John Gentry, Sam Houston State – When healthy, the former Utah State transfer has been effective, including a 92-yard performance earlier in the year against Jacksonville State, and this past week scoring 24 fantasy points in the loss to UTEP. Big advantages for Gentry that only one other running back for Sam Houston State carried the football last week, and has great usage in the passing game with 17 targets in the last four games.
Kanye Udoh, Army – The freshman fullback as taken over the Army backfield, now with 300 rushing yards over the last three weeks. Hasn’t found the end-zone and won’t catch any passes in the triple-option, so his fantasy output is a bit limited, but 18 carries a game over that span is attractive.
Phil Mafah, Clemson – Obviously shoots way up the list if Will Shipley is to miss any time this season, and he might after seeing that hit he took in the loss to NC State – scary stuff. Mafah entered the game and ran well, as he’s done for the large part of 2023, rushing for 84 yards and two scores on 16 carries. Tough matchup against Notre Dame this week, but if Shipley were to be out multiple games, the Tigers close the season with Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Rashod Amos, Miami (Ohio) – Brett Gabbert likely missing the remainder of the season means it’ll be Aveon Smith’s show at quarterback. And if Aveon Smith is your QB, you don’t want him throwing the ball more than 20 times a game. As a result, the RedHawks leaned on South Carolina transfer Rashod Amos this Saturday, rushing for 163 yards on 21 carries against one of the better defenses in the MAC in Ohio. Amos has found the end-zone inf five of the last six games.
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska – Johnson has taken over the RB1 job over Anthony Grant, rushing for 70 yards in each of the last two games. Face a good Michigan State defense next week, but also one that just gave up 200+ rushing yards to a fourth-string Minnesota running back.
George Holani, Boise State – HC Andy Avalos came out after the game saying that the injury suffered by Ashton Jeanty should not keep him out very long. But does that mean no time at all, one game, etc? After missing practically the entire season to this point, Holani stepped right back into the lineup and finished the game with 75 yards on 20 rushing attempts.
Dontae Smith, Georgia Tech – Career-high 178 yards and a touchdown for Smith on 22 carries in the comeback win over North Carolina. Plus-matchup this week with Virginia who allows 17.5 FPPG to opposing RB1s. There’s also potential this could be replicated because starting running back Jamal Haynes was seen in street clothes at the end of the night, possibly indicating he’ll miss some time.
Wide Receivers:
Daniel George, Akron – One of the bigger CFF busts this season, George is starting to hit his stride from a volume standpoint with 23 targets in the last two games alone. Minimal production has come with that, but maybe we see a breakout performance here in the coming weeks.
Malik Phillips, Sam Houston State – Same arguments as both Sam Houston State players above. Phillips has 30 targets in the last three games alone, hitting double-digits against both New Mexico State and UTEP.
Damon Ward / Roderic Burns, North Texas – Didn’t get to watch the game yet, but commentary from the CFFSite Discord was that Memphis was bracketing Ja’Mori Maclin. Bad for Maclin owners, but that opened up opportunities for the other UNT receivers, namely Damon Ward and Roderic Burns who combined for over 200 receiving yards and three scores. Ward, in particular, now has 21 targets over the last two games alone.
Jaylen Johnson, East Carolina – I was high on Johnson in the preseason as a Top 60 fantasy option at the position because of how good ECU slot receivers have been in the last four years. What I didn’t account for was just how bad the Pirates’ offense would be in 2023. A small resurgence of late, particularly with Johnson who now has 20 targets in the last two games. Had 105 receiving yards and a TD against a decent UTSA defense.
Leon Johnson III, Oklahoma State – With Jaden Bray unavailable, Leon Johnson stepped into the starting lineup and had a career day (better than any Jaden Bray has had in his career) with 149 yards and five receptions on 11 targets.
