This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC
Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
It is hard not to notice Lynch's performance on the road at UCLA, where he completed 27-of-41 passes for 305 yards while nearly leading the Tigers to a massive upset. After mediocre at best results in his 2013 freshman season, Lynch appears to be gaining confidence through two games and is using his 6-foot-7, 230, frame to aid the Tigers' red-zone rushing options. He's up to three rushing scores on the year after having just two a season ago and has six touchdowns through two games. With Middle Tennessee State on tap in Week 3, Lynch's breakout season should continue.
Alex Chisum, WR, Cincinnati
This is more of a reminder to look into the entire Bearcats offense. Due to scheduling oddities, Cincinnati has yet to take the field. The Bearcats kick off their 2014 campaign this week against Toledo. Coach Tommy Tuberville has played traditional games with his depth chart and has not officially announced much, if anything, heading into the game. He previously said three quarterbacks will see action, but Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel is the presumed starter. The Bearcats have tremendous depth at receiver, where Mekale McKay, Chris Moore and Shaq Washington all have extensive experience. But Chisum is the forgotten name after missing 2013 due to injury. He has reportedly pushed, if not passed McKay on the depth chart and is a name to monitor this weekend.
ATLANTIC COAST
Shadrach Thornton, RB, North Carolina State
Talent has never been in question for Thornton, but his ability to stay on the field and out of his coach's doghouse has. After a couple off-field incidents, Thornton has come out of the gates swinging during his junior campaign. He's averaging 6.6 yards per rush and has three touchdowns. Coach Dave Doeren continues to list Thornton as the team's third running back, yet he has five more carries than backup Matt Dayes, and 13 more than "starter" Tony Creecy. Dayes' presence, particularly as a pass catcher, does limit Thornton's upside, but Thornton's workload should only increase as the Wolfpack face better competition.
Artavis Scott, WR, Clemson
Scott makes for an interesting stash. The Tigers don't play Week 3 and travel to Tallahassee Week 4, so it could be a few weeks before he provides a return. His impressive outing in Week 2 against South Carolina State (six catches, 164 yards, two touchdowns) is unlikely to be replicated, but it has made Scott the team's leading receiver through two games. Mike Williams remains the "go-to" option for Clemson, but Scott's ability to make plays seems to have him trending upward and likely seeing more reps in place of Adam Humphries, and possibly Charone Peake. Scott is a tremendous dynasty league option.
BIG 12
Daxx Garman, QB, Oklahoma State
Garman is in line to start following J.W. Walsh's broken foot, which will reportedly sideline him for two months. Garman threw for 244 yards and two scores in relief duty Week 2 and has job security as the Cowboys are set to battle UTSA before conference play begins. He's not the runner that Walsh was, but he is a capable thrower with weapons at his disposal.
Rushel Shell, RB, West Virginia
The former Pittsburgh Panther has tallied 24 carries and six receptions through two weeks and appears to be the Mountaineers' top back. Wendell Smallwood continues to see touches, particularly in the passing game, but Shell is breaking away from what opened the season as a four-man committee. The Mountaineers' offensive attack looks much improved, and Shell should carry value into conference play following Saturday's battle with rival Maryland.
BIG TEN
Tony Lippett, WR, Michigan State
Lippett probably should have been included in this column last week and likely was scooped up following a four-catch, 167-yard, two-touchdown opening week. But after 11 receptions for 133 yards at Oregon on Saturday, it's clear that Lippett is for real, as is the improvement of quarterback Connor Cook. Lippett came into the year with 84 catches and 1,049 yards and is on pace to nearly double both of those totals in his senior season. He'll undoubtedly slow, but if you doubted him last week, now is the last chance to correct that line of thought.
Geronimo Allison, WR, Illinois
While it is likely to prove challenging to trust the Illini offense once conference play is in full swing, it's clear that the team will pitch it around weekly due to a struggling rushing attack, and the fact that it will likely be playing from behind often. Quarterback Wes Lunt has thrown 88 passes in two games, and while seven different receivers have at least four catches, Allison leads the team in both receptions and yards. The Illini faces a Washington defense this week that gave up 475 yards and seven touchdowns through the air to FCS Eastern Washington last week.
CONFERENCE USA
Cody Sokol, QB, Louisiana Tech
Sokol has equated himself just fine in his first two starts for the Bulldogs since arriving from Iowa. After throwing two touchdowns and an interception against Oklahoma, Sokol carved up Louisiana-Lafayette last Saturday for 295 yards and two scores. Sokol is not a threat to run, but has a manageable schedule throughout the rest of the year, except for a Sept. 27 date at Auburn. Closing the year against Old Dominion and Rice could be particularly appealing come playoff time, but with North Texas and Northwestern State on deck next, there should be immediate returns as well.
Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss
Smith, a true freshman, has been the Golden Eagles' leading rusher in each of the first two games of the year. Yes, one of those games was a blowout loss at Mississippi State where Ito ran 13 times for 43 yards, and yes, Southern Miss now has the honor of travelling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama in Week 3. But things are manageable following Week 3, with Appalachian State and Rice on deck. No other running back has more than seven carries, so Smith should have a long leash as the season progresses and can be useful in the right situation.
MID-AMERICAN
Logan Woodside, QB, Toledo
Woodside lands here as another quarterback being given the keys to an offense thanks to injury. Alabama transfer Philip Ely was lost for the year due to a torn ACL after throwing for 541 yards and four touchdowns in just under two games. Woodside battled Ely during camp closely, and while the Rockets will lean on star running back Kareem Hunt more in Ely's absence, this is MAC we're talking about, where points come in bunches weekly. Woodside has receiving options and makes for a solid speculative add before league play opens in two weeks.
Roger Lewis, WR, Bowling Green
Lewis is another freshman who has found his way into fantasy consideration thanks to consistent performances out of the gate. After an eight-catch, 77-yard opener, Lewis went for 140 yards and a touchdown on six catches last week against VMI. Of equal importance, Lewis did this with new starting quarterback James Knapke under center. Knape took over for Matt Johnson, who was lost for the season due to a hip injury.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Jacobi Owens, RB, Air Force
Owens jumped out of the gate in Week 1 by rushing for 233 yards on Nichols State, but did not score one of the Falcons' seven rushing touchdowns. That changed in Week 2 when Owens added 76 yards and a score at Wyoming. Owens has more than double the rushing attempts as anyone else on the team through two games, and in the triple-option attack, that's a trend that's likely to continue. Outside of a Week 4 matchup with Boise State, the Falcons do not face another imposing defense all season.
George Naufahu, RB, UNLV
Naufahu hasn't been overly impressive when given carries, but the fact remains he's being given carries. He's rushed 30 times for 117 yards, with 22 of those totes and 90 yards coming last week against Northern Colorado. Backup Keith Whitely had only 18 carries in the same two games. The upside is (very) limited, but Naufahu won't be shut out and can fill in in a pinch.
PAC-12
Victor Bolden, WR, Oregon State
Who needs Brandin Cooks? Bolden, who caught six passes for 62 yards and ran 12 times for 95 yards as a freshman last season has slid into Cooks' slot role and picked up right where the current New Orleans Saints receiver left off. After a 52-yard receiving, 41-yard rushing opener, Bolden caught 11 passes for 119 yards in Week 2. Bolden looks like a system play, but the upside is immense in a offense with a veteran quarterback and depth at running back. The Beavers don't play Week 3 before facing San Diego State, but Bolden is well worth the investment in spite of a bye.
Sefo Liufau, QB, Colorado
Dating to last season, Liufau now has five consecutive games with at least two touchdowns, two with three scores and a total of four interceptions. The Buffaloes are still a bad football team, but they are showing signs of fielding a capable offense. Playing from behind will continue to yield ample opportunities for the budding sophomore, who has a viable top receiver in Nelson Spruce. With Arizona Stae, Hawaii, Cal and Oregon State on the horizon, Liufau looks like a solid option before a bye week and a date with USC on Oct. 18.
SEC
Shaq Roland, WR, South Carolina
Roland awoke from his one-week slumber to catch seven balls for 94 yards in Week 2 against East Carolina. Fact is, Roland is the Gamecocks' most talented receiver and should continue to see his opportunities increase weekly. Many have been waiting for the junior to post a breakout season, and one game won't confirm he's ready to do just that. But after a one-catch outing in Week 1, it's also possible some managers grew impatient or overreacted. Roland is worth a roll of the dice.
Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
Engram was on his way to a fine freshman campaign last season before an ankle injury required surgery, and he was shelved for the season by mid-October. He snagged seven passes in Saturday's contest against Vanderbilt, totaling 112 yards and is already up to 11 grabs through two games. Listed at 6-3, 217, Engram is only a tight end by label, and could merit consideration as a flex option in many formats.
SUN BELT
Centarius Donald, RB, Louisiana-Monroe
Truth be told, a plethora of players in the Sun Belt turned in big Week 2 performances. Donald gets the nod, though, because he's been consistent the first two weeks. After a 20-carry, 111-yard, three-touchdown performance against Idaho, Donald has now topped 100 yards in each contest while getting 46 carries. He ran 87 times for 433 yards and four scores last season, but appears to be the clear focal point of the Warhawks rushing attack.
Matt Linehan, QB, Idaho
Linehan impressed in his debut, tossing for 324 yards and three touchdowns. What's scary is that his opponent, Louisiana-Monroe, could have been the one of the better defenses he'll face this season. Idaho's schedule includes Western Michigan, Ohio, South Alabama, Texas State, Georgia Southern, New Mexico State, Arkansas State, San Diego State, Troy and Appalachian State. There will be freshman mistakes, but if there has ever been a schedule tailor made for success, it's Idaho's.
