CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 2

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Steven Dunbar, WR, Houston - The Cougars pulled off an impressive upset over Oklahoma, and Dunbar's seven catches for 125 yards was a big reason why. Everyone knows about quarterback, Greg Ward Jr., and it looks like Dunbar is his favorite target. As opposing defenses look to shut down the Cougars' potent running game and make Ward throw the ball, it's Dunbar who will benefit with jump balls and back-shoulder catches.

Quinton Flowers, QB, USF - Likely available in formats outside AAC-only, Flowers is a dynamic signal caller who perfectly fits in USF's up-tempo offense. In the first game against Towson, Flowers threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 46 yards and two more touchdowns. The dynamic Bulls offense projects to top 500 yards of total offense every week. Flowers will get the volume you're looking for at quarterback.

ACC

Amba Etta-Tawo, Ervin Phillips, WR, Syracuse - Etta-Tawo and Phillips combined for 26 catches for 297 yards and two touchdowns in Syracuse's opening win over Colgate. While, yes, Colgate is horrible competition, it was impressive to see Dino Babers' no-huddle offense go to work. Syracuse was down to its fifth-string QB last year and still scored 20-plus points in 11 games. With games coming up against powerful offenses such as Louisville and USF, shootouts could be a great thing for fantasy owners taking advantage of these Syracuse receivers. Quarterback Eric Dungey is also worth a look if needed.

Jerod Evans, QB, Virginia Tech - It's a new era at Virginia Tech, and it started with Evans throwing four touchdowns against Liberty in coach Justin Fuente's new offensive system. The Hokies have a solid core of position players in Travon McMillian, Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges, meaning Evans should emerge in his first year at Tech. Evans was an excellent junior college player while throwing for 3,164 yards, 38 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Virginia Tech has a tough matchup with Tennessee this week, but then play Boston College and East Carolina.

BIG 12

Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma - The aforementioned Houston Cougars put a stop to Oklahoma's national championship run, but they didn't stop Mixon from showing off just how talented he is. On his first rushing attempt, he broke off a 32-yard touchdown. Later in the quarter, he used his elite speed to fly by a defender and pull in a 60-yard catch with one hand. Mixon may be better than Samaje Perine and it's just a matter of time before Oklahoma should increase his touches. With Perine dealing with a banged up shoulder, it could be as early as this week against UL-Monroe.

Taj Williams, WR, TCU - Williams joined the Horned Frogs this year as a top-rated junior college player and showed an instant connection with new quarterback Kenny Hill, hauling in 11 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown in his TCU debut. At 6-foot-3, 180, Williams has the size and speed to replace the departed Josh Doctson, who put up a ridiculous 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns in TCU's explosive offense last season. Grab Williams off the wire before someone else does.

BIG TEN

Curtis Samuel, RB, Ohio State - Teammate Mike Weber had his way with Bowling Green, rushing for 136 yards on 19 carries, but it was Samuel who amassed 261 total yards and three touchdowns. Weber is probably owned in almost all leagues, but why not grab Samuel who is likely going to get just as many looks in a versatile Buckeyes offense that isn't scared to put up as many points as possible each week. Samuel had 13 carries for 84 yards and nine catches for 177 yards in the 77-10 win over Bowling Green. The Buckeyes have Tulsa and Oklahoma the next two weeks.

Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin - The Badgers pulled off the surprising upset of LSU at Lambeau Field, and Fumagalli was the leading receiver with seven catches for 100 yards, including 61 yards after the catch. For a team that doesn't have a lot of notable receivers, Fumagalli appears to be the security blanket for starting quarterback Bart Houston. Coach Paul Chryst loves the tight end in his offense, which means dividends for fantasy owners.

CONFERENCE USA

Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss - Smith should be owned in all formats as his 213 total yards on 41 touches Saturday is exactly what fantasy owners are looking for. While he only had one touchdown in the upset win over Kentucky, he racked up 13 total scores last year. With volume like he had in the first game, he's likely to put up two or three scores each week against Savannah State and Troy. He's a stud in C-USA formats and can help in others, as well.

Chase Litton, QB, Marshall - The Thundering Herd were off the first week, so a lot of their playmakers may be on the waiver wire. Litton is entering his sophomore year after throwing for 2,605 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Marshall's previous QB, Rakeem Cato, stepped his game up each season while improving the team's scoring from 21.8 points per game to 45.6 points per game. Is it that crazy to think Litton can improve from 31.3 points per game to 40 points per game? Also look for TE Ryan Yurachek and WR Deon-Tay McManus on the wire.

MAC

Logan Woodside, QB, Toledo - Woodside shredded Arkansas State while completing 23 of 31 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 31-10 upset win Friday. Toledo has always been a strong running team with senior Kareem Hunt and now can turn to Woodside, who has some experience in an offense that has averaged more than 35 points per game the last two years. Woodside and the Rockets draw Maine and Fresno State in their next two games.

Kenny Golladay, WR, Northern Illinois - Golladay is already a stud in the MAC, but is yet another player who should be owned across all formats. After 73 catches for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015, he totaled 226 yards and two touchdowns on only 16 touches in Saturday's loss to Wyoming. It's interesting to see the Huskies get Golladay active in the running game as well as the passing game. Northern Illinois' upcoming game with USF is likely to be a shootout and look for Golladay to catch double-digit passes for the second game in a row.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Jacobi Owens, RB, Air Force - The Falcons have arguably the best offensive line in the conference and Owens was the focal point of the offense last year when he ran for 1,119 yards and seven touchdowns. In Air Force's first game, he ran 12 times for 119 yards. With Georgia State and a mediocre defensive line on the schedule for Week 2, Owens should go for at least 100 yards and a touchdown or two.

Aaron Peck, WR, Fresno State - Peck emerged as the leading receiver in the Bulldogs' season-opening loss to Nebraska with nine catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. Fresno State should have improved quarterback play this year and has a couple nice matchups coming up against Sacramento State and at Toledo. Even if the Bulldogs don't fare well in those games, Peck could be a benefactor of a team trying to throw itself back in the game.

PAC-12

Chad Hansen, WR, California - Hansen couldn't have kicked off the year any better with 14 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Hawaii in Australia. With new quarterback Davis Webb and the high-volume passing game, Hansen projects to get a lot of looks each week. Coming off a bye week, Cal has a couple high-profile games with San Diego State and Texas where Hansen could be an x-factor.

Manny Wilkins, QB, Arizona State - Wilkins will be a must play along with RB Demario Richard and WR Tim White this week against visiting Texas Tech. The Red Raiders play absolutely no defense and play the quickest pace of any offense in the country. Wilkins is your prototypical dual-threat quarterback who actually led the team with 89 rushing yards and a touchdown in the season opener. There's no reason Wilkins can't have a career game against Texas Tech.

SEC

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU - Not often this season will I recommend a running back who rushed for only three yards on two carries. My reasoning behind this one is due to the health of superstar Leonard Fournette who left the game with Wisconsin late with an ankle injury. While initial reports claim the injury not serious, the team might be smart to play it safe with Fournette. If that's the case, Guice becomes an immediate pickup as LSU plays host to Jacksonville State this week. Even if Fournette plays, Guice will probably see double-digit touches at minimum.

Damien Harris, RB, Alabama - While experimenting with freshman quarterbacks, Alabama plugged in yet another running back who was quite effective in a romp of USC. Bama loses Heisman-winning running backs and it doesn't matter. Harris broke off long runs of 46 and 73 yards to finish with nine carries for 138 yards. With Harris entering the year as a less-heralded player, he's likely available on the waiver wire.

SUN BELT

Favian Upshaw, QB, Georgia Southern - A lot of the Sun Belt teams are playing good Power-5 teams this week, so it's a tough slate for the conference. The Eagles are playing an early conference game against South Alabama who upset Mississippi State, however, the Jaguars also gave up seven yards per carry on the ground. That's great news for the gun triple-option offense featuring Upshaw and star running back Matt Breida as Upshaw was fantastic in Week 1 while totaling four touchdowns.

Tyler Rogers, QB, New Mexico State - Rogers is as inaccurate as they come as he was the FBS interception leader in 2014. On a tough week to come up with waiver-wire pickups in the conference, Rogers provides value with his dual-threat ability. With running back Larry Rose's status still in doubt, the production for the Aggies has to come from somewhere, and Rogers is your best bet with a rivalry game against New Mexico.