CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 11

Welcome back to the college football waiver wire watch. Throughout the college football season, we'll pick two guys from every conference who either caught our eye in the previous week or who have an upcoming favorable matchup. As always, we'll answer any questions or comments in the comments section below.

First, though, here are the guys who came through last week and may still be available in your leagues:

Jackson Harris, WR, Hawaii (34.4 points)
Kendrick Raphael, RB, Cal (33.2 points)
Conner Weigman, QB, Houston (31.7 points)
Keagan Johnson, WR, New Mexico (30.8 points)
Jekail Middlebrook, RB, Middle Tennessee (28.7 points)
Lunch Winfield, QB, Louisiana-Lafayette (27.8 points)
Joe Fagnano, QB, UConn (25.4 points)
KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers (24.3 points)
Cale Hellums, QB, Army (23.9 points)
King Miller, RB, USC (21.9 points)
Kyron Drones, QB, Virginia Tech (21.5 points)
Nicolas Radicic, K, Indiana (13.0 points)
Jyrin Johnson, TE, Bowling Green (11.9 points)

70+ Club in Upcoming Slate: Here are the college games that have an Over/Under closest to the 70-point mark, which potentially means a plethora of fantasy points. Enjoy these barn burners and roster some players in these games if you can.

68.5 points - UTSA at USF
65.5 points - Tulsa at Florida Atlantic
65.5 points - Air Force at San Jose State
64.5 points - Texas State at Louisiana-Lafayette
62.5 points - Duke at Connecticut
62.5 points - Georgia Southern at Appalachian State
61.5 points - UNLV at Colorado State

*Fantasy Points referenced are in DraftKings format.
**To qualify for recommendations, players must be rostered in fewer than 50 percent of Fantrax Leagues

American Conference Waiver Wire Pickups

Cale Hellums, QB, Army (15 Percent Rostered)

Hellums is averaging 26.8 rushing attempts per game over his last four. That's elite volume for a running quarterback who even threw a touchdown pass in its recent 20-17 win at Air Force. It seems odd to recommend a quarterback who has just two touchdown passes this year, but he's truly on pace for a 1,000-yard rushing season. The Black Knights play Temple this week and that defense has struggled mightily this season. The only caution here is that Army is on a bye in Week 12 before finishing the fantasy slate with Tulsa and UTSA. 

Asaad Waseem, WR, Florida Atlantic (26 Percent Rostered)

In his last three games, Waseem is averaging 9.7 targets per game. He's coming off a performance where he had just two catches for 13 yards against Navy which will likely keep some fantasy rosters away. I believe that would be a mistake as upcoming games with Tulsa, Tulane, UConn, and East Carolina are going to all have shootout potential. That means Waseem will be closer to the 14.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG) that he's averaging than the 3.3 fantasy points he had at Navy.

Week 10 Rewind: Army QB Cale Hellums (23.9 points - 5/9, 102 YDS, 1 TD, 26 ATT, 98 YDS, 1 TD) & North Texas WR Wyatt Young (10.8 points - 5/5 TAR, 52 YDS, 1 ATT, 6 YDS)

ACC Waiver Wire Pickups

Darian Mensah, QB, Duke (35 Percent Rostered)

Mensah was unbelievable this past week while throwing for 361 yards and four touchdowns on his way to a thrilling 46-45 upset at Clemson. He's averaging 23.8 FPPG and has 21 touchdowns versus just two interceptions. With his remaining schedule showing UConn, Virginia, North Carolina, and Wake Forest, he can comfortably stay in the lineup this week and throughout the fantasy playoff stretch. He doesn't run the ball much, but his passing volume and production is elite. RB Nate Sheppard (44 percent rostered) is also a recommendation this week and the rest of the way.

Kendrick Raphael, RB, Cal (38 Percent Rostered)

Are people not watching what Raphael is doing on the football field? There's typically a west coast excuse for this, however, three of his last five games have been on the east coast and some of Cal's games have been featured nationally. Over that stretch, he's averaging 25.4 FPPG with 10 total TDs. On the season, he's averaging 16.4 rushing attempts and 2.9 targets per game. That's elite volume, and he's a must-start in all leagues at Louisville this week. The Bears are on a bye in Week 12, and then they finish the season with fantasy-friendly matchups against Stanford and SMU. WR Jacob De Jesus (26 percent rostered) remains a useful target as well.

Week 10 Rewind: Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones (21.5 points - 11/24, 76 YDS, 1 TD, 14 ATT, 85 YDS, 1 TD) & Cal RB Kendrick Raphael (33.2 points - 13 ATT, 46 YDS, 2 TD, 4/5 TAR, 66 YDS, 1 TD)

BIG 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona (30 Percent Rostered)

Fifita has at least two passing touchdowns in five straight games and is averaging 23.2 fantasy points over that stretch. The Wildcats will host Kansas this week, and there's something wrong with the Jayhawks' defense right now. Even Oklahoma State had mild success against their secondary which means that Fifita and WR Kris Hutson (11 percent rostered) should be able to continue their recent upward trend. Hutson has a touchdown in three of Arizona's last six games. 

Boden Groen, TE, Kansas (32 Percent Rostered)

Sticking with Groen who added his fourth touchdown of the season this past week despite seeing just two targets in an easy win over Oklahoma State. The Kansas offense has struggled to move the ball downfield, so expect Groen to see an uptick in targets when the Jayhawks travel to play at Arizona in Week 11. Over his last five games, the senior is averaging 6.2 targets per game which is plenty of volume to depend on at the position. They'll have a bye in Week 12 before finishing the year against Iowa State and Utah.

Week 10 Rewind: Houston QB Conner Weigman (31.7 points - 25/35, 309 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT, 12 ATT, -27 YDS, 1 TD, 1 FL) & Kansas TE Boden Groen (8.5 points - 2/2 TAR, 5 YDS, 1 TD)

Big Ten Waiver Wire Pickups

Lance Mason, TE, Wisconsin (21 Percent Rostered)

There's definitely some hesitation around recommending a Badgers offensive player, but they will have a better offensive game plan out of the bye week, right? Mason has arguably been their best offensive player this year at per game averages of 2.8 catches (on 5.1 targets) for 34.5 receiving yards. He has three touchdowns on the season, and he was the one to record their only score at Oregon in Week 9. Washington has been beaten by other tight ends this year, so it's actually a favorable matchup this week.

KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers (46 Percent Rostered)

It's quite amazing that you can grab 51 catches (on 78 targets) for 854 yards and six touchdowns and still be available in over 50 percent of leagues. It must be the beauty of playing for Rutgers and going under the radar nationally. Duff has been great all season long while averaging 19.8 FPPG. If he's still available in your fantasy league, go snatch him up right away for a favorable matchup against Maryland this week. It does have a bye in Week 12 before finishing the season against great defenses for Ohio State and Penn State.

Week 10 Rewind: USC RB King Miller (21.9 points - 18 ATT, 129 YDS, 1 TD, 0/1 TAR) & Rutgers WR KJ Duff (24.3 points - 9/14 ATT, 93 YDS, 1 TD)

C-USA Waiver Wire Pickups

Blake Baker, QB, Louisiana Tech (5 Percent Rostered)

In his last two games, Baker is averaging 23.3 FPPG with a combined three total TDs and two interceptions. He's completed 72.7 percent of his passes and has rushed the ball 17 times for 91 yards and a score in those two games. That type of production is intriguing as they gear up for a game at Delaware, a team that's still getting used to the FBS competition. Moreover, Baker is available in nearly all leagues and that's typically not the case with quarterbacks that have rushing upside.

Evan Dickens, RB, Liberty (10 Percent Rostered)

Dickens exploded in Week 10 with 48.7 fantasy points against Delaware. He was unstoppable with 22 carries for 217 yards and four touchdowns on his way to 9.9 yards per carry. He's been a consistent player out of the backfield with 14.1 rushing attempts per game and has nine total scores on the year. Liberty has a favorable schedule the rest of the way with no remaining bye weeks which means he could be a lock in fantasy rosters for the playoffs.

Week 10 Rewind: Middle Tennessee RB Jekail Middlebrook (28.7 points - 10 ATT, 20 YDS, 1 TD, 6/10 TAR, 87 YDS, 1 TD) & New Mexico State TE Gavin Harris (5.9 points - 3/11 TAR, 29 YDS)

MAC Waiver Wire Pickups

Jordan Brunson, RB, Miami of Ohio (14 Percent Rostered)

With RB Kenny Tracy (70 percent rostered) dealing with an injury, Brunson has taken over the starting role with the Redhawks. The volume has been great at 17.0 rushing attempts per game. While the production hasn't necessarily matched that volume at 11.2 FPPG, the volume suggests he's in line for an uptick in production if he breaks off some longer runs or it results in more touchdowns. With it getting colder in the Midwest, it's entirely possible he receives even more carries when they play Ohio, Toledo, Buffalo and Ball State to finish out the season. He's a must-start if Tracy remains out of the lineup.

Jordan Gant, RB, Akron (12 Percent Rostered)

From one high-volume MAC runner to another, Gant has been a workhorse over the last five games at 20.6 attempts per game. He's averaging 12.1 FPPG and that's with zero rushing touchdowns over that stretch. That's likely to change when the Zips play UMass this week which has one of the worst rush defenses in the country. Gant is a top recommendation as he also has favorable matchups with Kent State and Bowling Green to finish out the regular season.

Week 10 Rewind: Bowling Green TE Jyrin Johnson (11.9 points - 5/11 TAR, 69 YDS) & Buffalo QB Ta'Quan Roberson (8.5 points - 13/24, 136 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 ATT, 1 YDS)

Mountain West Waiver Wire Pickups

Jackson Harris, WR, Hawaii (33 Percent Rostered)

Harris delivered last week as our top performing recommendation with 34.4 fantasy points at San Jose State. Harris has reeled off four straight 100-yard receiving performances and has a pair of touchdowns in three of four of those games. The Stanford transfer is a true breakout player this year and should be added across all formats. Hawaii plays a tougher San Diego State defense this week, but he'll have a juicy fantasy matchup in Week 13 at UNLV which will be nice in the fantasy playoffs.

Lucky Sutton, RB, San Diego State (42 Percent Rostered)

Going back to Sutton who has been one of the best in the nation at 152 carries for 815 yards and eight touchdowns through eight games. He's averaging 18.0 FPPG with four 100-yard rushing performances and a touchdown in six of eight games. It doesn't get much more consistent with Sutton as he's had double-digit fantasy performances in six of eight games as well. He has an amazing stretch to finish the year too with Hawaii, Boise State, San Jose State, and New Mexico which all have defenses that can be beat in the run game.

Week 10 Rewind: New Mexico WR Keagan Johnson (30.8 points - 6/9 TAR, 158 YDS, 1 TD) & Hawaii WR Jackson Harris (34.4 points - 6/12 TAR, 134 YDS, 2 TD)

SEC Waiver Wire Pickups

Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State (41 Percent Rostered)

Mississippi State pulled off an impressive win at Arkansas in Week 10 and Thompson's third 100-yard receiving game of the season was a big factor. He's been active all season long at 18.3FPPG. With upcoming games against Georgia and Missouri, it would not be surprising at all to see him garner double-digit targets. He has at least nine targets in each of his last three games and has a combined 19 catches (on 32 targets) for 338 yards and two TDs in those contests. WR Anthony Evans (20 percent rostered) is also an option if Thompson is not available.

Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama (25 Percent Rostered)

Cuevas added his third TD of the season at South Carolina in Week 9. The team was on a bye this last week preparing to host LSU who recently fired their coach. Cuevas has been a consistent option for the Crimson Tide with at least two catches in every game this year and is averaging 4.3 targets per game. He could be started at the position for the rest of the year with remaining games against LSU, Oklahoma, Eastern Illinois, and at Auburn. It helps that the bulk of Alabama's games are at home where it should dominate.

Week 10 Rewind: Mississippi State RB Davon Booth (14.3 points - 7 ATT, 5 YDS, 1 TD, 1/1 TAR, 8 YDS, 1 TD) & Oklahoma WR Isaiah Sategna (12.8 points - 6/7 TAR, 68 YDS)

Sun Belt Waiver Wire Pickups

Lunch Winfield, QB, Louisiana-Lafayette (19 Percent Rostered)

Winfield passed the test in Week 10 with 27.8 fantasy points and a 31-22 win over South Alabama. He developed some serious chemistry with WR Shelton Sampson Jr. (12 percent rostered) who had 34.8 fantasy points with six catches (on seven targets) for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Windfield's upside lies with his legs where he's averaging 17.0 attempts for 86.8 yards and a touchdown per game over his last five contests. He and Sampson now get to go up against Texas State who have one of the worst defenses in all of college football. Lunch could be a pivotal pick-up as we gear up for the fantasy playoffs.

Landon Ellis, WR, JMU (3 Percent Rostered)

Ellis is available in nearly all leagues and is averaging 13.0 fantasy points per game. He's the Dukes' number one receiver with 27 catches (on 40 targets) for 437 yards and five touchdowns. They'll go up against a Marshall team that's had one of the worst pass defenses in the country. JMU has won six games in a row and are a team that no one is really talking about but should be. They have scored a combined 105 points in their last two games and are absolutely rolling through the Sun Belt competition right now.

Week 10 Rewind: Louisiana-Lafayette QB Lunch Winfield (27.8 points - 14/15, 232 YDS, 2 TD, 15 ATT, 45 YDS, 1 TD) & JMU RB Wayne Knight (13.7 points - 13 ATT, 48 YDS, 2/2 TAR, 69 YDS)

INDEPENDENTS & PAC-12 Waiver Wire Pickups

Joe Fagnano, QB, UConn (24 Percent Rostered)

Going to keep Fagnano locked in here as they have an upcoming shootout with Duke. The aforementioned Mensah for Duke and Fagnano will have the opportunity to showcase their talents as two of the best pure passers in all of college football. Fagnano has been amazing through the air with 22 total TDs and zero interceptions. He's averaging 33.8 passing attempts per game and completing 68.8 percent of his passes which has yielded 24.7 FPPG. That's some impressive production for someone that doesn't really run the ball much. After Duke, the Huskies finish the year with Air Force and FAU which keeps the QB in play for fantasy lineups.

Week 10 Rewind: UConn QB Joe Fagnano (25.4 points - 23/30, 267 YDS, 4 TD, 5 ATT, -13 YDS)

DEFENSE & KICKER RECOMMENDATIONS

Defense

Mississippi (vs. Citadel) - The Rebels let us down last time when they played Washington State (2.0 fantasy points), but this feels different now. Available in 52 percent of leagues.

North Carolina (vs. Stanford) - Just put up 12.5 fantasy points at Syracuse. They should be able to do something similar against Stanford and are available in 92 percent of leagues.

Virginia (vs. Wake Forest) - Rostered in just eight percent of leagues and have scored 9.5 fantasy points three weeks in a row. They have a combined seven sacks, seven turnovers, a safety, and a touchdown over those three games.

Week 10 Rewind: Boise State vs. Fresno State (0 points - 30 PA), Kansas vs. Oklahoma State (1.0 points - 21 PA, 2 SK) & Houston vs. West Virginia (0 points - 45 PA)

Kicker

Nicolas Radicic, Indiana - It's possible the Hoosiers have the best offense in the nation, so why go anywhere else? Still rostered in just 31 percent of leagues.

Garrison Smith, Florida Atlantic - Available in 83% of leagues and averaging 7.2 fantasy points per game. The floor is high here as he has at least 7.0 fantasy points in each of his last five games.

Trey Smack, Florida - Has at least 8.0 fantasy points in three of his last four games. Has gone 14-for-17 on FG attempts this season and is rostered in 32 percent of leagues.

Week 10 Rewind: Indiana Nicolas Radicic (13.0 points - 2/2 FG, 7/7 XP), North Texas Kali Nguma (7.0 points - 1/1 FG, 4/4 XP), Auburn Alex McPherson (3.0 points - 1/1 FG)

SUMMARY & TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Utilizing the two players for each conference above, here are my top recommendations for the week by position:

QB: ULLaf Lunch Winfield, ARMY Cale Hellums, ARIZ Noah Fifita

RB: CAL Kendrick Raphael, AKR Jordan Gant, SDSU Lucky Sutton

WR: Hawaii Jackson Harris, FLAtl Asaad Waseem, Rutgers KJ Duff

TE: Kansas Boden Groen, BAMA Josh Cuevas, UW Lance Mason

D/ST: Virginia (vs. Wake), Ole Miss (vs. Citadel), UNC (vs. Stanford)

K: IND Nicolas Radicic, FLAtl Garrison Smith, FL Trey Smack

Be sure to check out our college football custom rankings and our player rankings cheat sheet for up-to-date season-long rankings, as well as our college football weekly rankings to help guide your lineup decisions. During the season, our college football DFS optimizer and value report are powerful tools to help build DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.