CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 4

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Dontrell Hilliard, RB, Tulane: If you're looking for a spot start at running back next week, go with Hilliard and the Green Wave who will play a UL Lafayette defense giving up 30 points per game. Tulane will likely be favored at home and Hilliard has been hot in his last two games with a combined 200 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Hilliard's not a strong play for the season, but is serviceable this week.

Noel Thomas, WR, Connecticut: Thomas has caught at least six passes in all three of the Huskies' games this season, accumulating 26 catches for 277 yards and a touchdown. Connecticut plays Syracuse this week followed by contests with Houston and Cincinnati. If the Huskies have any chance of being competitive in these games, quarterback Bryant Shirreffs will have to throw it early and often to Thomas.

ACC

James Quick, WR, Louisville: Not everyone could win the lottery by drafting quarterback Lamar Jackson, but that doesn't mean you can't benefit from what the Heisman frontrunner is doing in the passing game. As the season goes on and opposing defenses game-plan to make Jackson throw the ball, Quick will be one of the primary benefactors. Quick already has two straight 100-yard receiving games and should be owned in every fantasy format. If Louisville was able to put up 63 on Florida State on Saturday, there's no reason they can't do the same at Marshall this week.

Ray-Ray McCloud, WR, Clemson: Clemson finally awoke from their offensive hibernation in a 59-0 rout of South Carolina State on Saturday and McCloud scored two of the team's eight touchdowns. Last week, I recommended Hunter Renfrow before learning of his broken hand. With wide receivers Artavis Scott and Mike Williams owned in pretty much all fantasy leagues, go after McCloud who should be the third receiving option in a Clemson offense that will explode versus Georgia Tech and Louisville the next two weeks.

BIG 12

Kyle Hicks, RB, TCU: Hicks has quietly racked up six total touchdowns – two in each game so far this season. He was particularly effective in a win versus Iowa State with 156 total yards. With quarterback Kenny Hill at the helm, the Horned Frogs are always a threat to run, making Hicks' dual-threat ability to rush the ball or catch short passes a valuable asset. Another reason to believe that TCU could lean on Hicks a bit more in the next couple of weeks is a leg injury that dynamic receiving threat KaVontae Turpin sustained Saturday. TCU plays SMU on Friday Night and Hicks should be an important piece in the offensive game plan.

Mike Warren, RB, Iowa State: After an abysmal start to the season for the Cyclones who have lost three in a row, some fantasy owners may have given up and dropped the reigning Big 12 freshman of the year. Pick him up this week as Warren takes on a defense in San Jose State who has given up an average of 236 rushing yards per game. Despite averaging only 3.6 yards per carry this season, Warren saw 26 total touches against TCU on Saturday. If the same occurs against San Jose State, Warren will have a huge week.

BIG TEN

Noah Brown, WR, Ohio State: Brown produced the catch of the year, pinning the ball behind an Oklahoma defender's back while falling out of bounds on a 21-yard touchdown reception. Brown tied a school record with four touchdown catches after entering the game with only five catches and a touchdown in his entire career. The freshman receiver has built up some trust with quarterback J.T. Barrett which should be on display when the Buckeyes return from their bye week to play Rutgers and Indiana. Fantasy players should grab him off the waiver wire before the opposition does if you have the room on the bench for him to sit this week.

C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa: Beathard had his worst game of the season while completing only 50 percent of his passes in an upset loss to North Dakota State. Moreover, he even had to leave the game at one point after taking some hard shots from the Bison. He did return to the game, meaning he'll most likely be ready to go this week. It will get much easier when Iowa travels to play a Rutgers team allowing 30 points a game. Senior wide receivers Matt Vandeberg and George Kittle are also strong plays after combining for nine catches for 149 yards and two scores this past week.

CONFERENCE USA

I'Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee: Mathers had a breakout game in a 41-21 win over Bowling Green on Saturday with a total of 260 yards and four touchdowns. Mathers received a season-high 27 carries and recorded four catches for his third straight game with at least three receptions. Mathers should be the bell cow this week against a Louisiana Tech squad who gave up 59 points in a loss to Texas Tech on Saturday.

Zach Pascal, WR, Old Dominion: Pascal was the Monarchs' best receiver in 2015 with 68 catches for 970 yards and eight touchdowns, including three games with double-digit catches. One of those games came against UTSA, Old Dominion's opponent this week. So far this season, Pascal has 17 catches for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Expect those numbers to rise quickly as the season goes on, starting with this week's match-up with the Roadrunners.

MAC

Riley Neal, QB, Ball State: Going off the board a bit on this recommendation, but Neal has improved each week and is coming off a 238-yard performance with three total touchdowns in a 41-14 win over Eastern Kentucky. The Cardinals will play at Florida Atlantic on Saturday and the Owls have been absolutely dreadful on the defensive side of the ball. In their first three games, FAU has given up 43.7 points and 498.3 yards per game. In addition to Neal, go with KeVonn Mabon at wide receiver as well.

Sebastian Smith, WR, Ohio: Smith returned from a groin injury to amass nine receptions for 156 yards against a decent Tennessee defense on Saturday. Smith is Ohio's number one receiver and likely was dropped in a lot fantasy leagues due to not playing in the Bobcats' second game of the season. Go ahead and pick him back up as Smith should bring top receiver production throughout the rest of the season with not many formidable defenses left on the schedule.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming: If Hill isn't owned in every fantasy league across the country, go out and immediately pick this guy up. Hill has notched at least 17 carries and a touchdown in each game this season. Against UC Davis on Saturday, the junior back racked up 207 yards on 25 carries (8.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. Wyoming plays at Eastern Michigan on Friday Night and there's no reason to think Hill won't have a huge game.

Marvin Kinsey Jr., RB, Colorado State: Kinsey Jr. filled in for Dalyn Dawkins who is dealing with a hamstring injury and was relatively successful with 97 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 47-21 win over Northern Colorado. If Dawkins isn't a full go against Minnesota this week, Kinsey Jr. could be a sneaky play in Mountain West leagues.

PAC-12

Demario Richard, RB, Arizona State: Richard has only one touchdown while fellow teammate and running back Kalen Ballage has ten. Richard has received 71 carries to Ballage's 37 carries through the first three games. The amount of touchdowns should begin to balance out this week when both running backs have huge success against a mediocre Cal rush defense. Cal's rush defense is so bad that both Texas running backs eclipsed 100 yards and had a two touchdowns a piece. Opposing running backs going up against Cal are sure fantasy starters each and every week.

Kani Benoit or Taj Griffin, RB, Oregon: Because quarterback Dakota Prukop is already owned in all fantasy leagues and Royce Freeman is dealing with a knee injury, get the next best thing in Benoit or Griffin. Benoit showed off a propensity to score in the loss to Nebraska while scoring on a 41 yard run in the fourth quarter while Griffin rumbled for a 50 yard score in the second quarter. If the Ducks play it safe with Freeman, look for both Benoit and Griffin to have their opportunity versus Colorado on Saturday.

SEC

Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama: Through three games, Hurts has shown enough to be owned in most fantasy leagues. Not only did he help Alabama rally and beat Ole Miss on the road, the true freshman led the team in rushing with 146 rushing yards on 18 carries. Hurts will have a chance to show off more of his arm this week when Alabama plays Kent State.

J'Mon Moore, WR, Missouri: Moore has been a pleasant surprise for the Tigers with two 100 yard games already this season. Moore couldn't be stopped by the Georgia defense as he reeled in eight catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns as Mizzou nearly pulled of the upset. Moore and the Tigers will look for their second win of the season versus Deleware State. The junior receiver is worth a pick-up off the waiver as Missouri will likely need to fling the ball around to keep up with SEC teams this year.

SUN BELT

Justice Hansen, QB, Arkansas State: Hansen replaced struggling starter Chad Voytik in Friday's loss at Utah State. The sophomore almost brought the Red Wolves back while connecting on 18-of-26 throws for 277 yards with one interception in the 34-20 loss. He impressed Head Coach Blake Anderson with his deep ball which could propel Hansen to the start versus Central Arkansas this week.

Al Riles, WR, UL Lafayette: Riles impressed in the Ragin' Cajuns latest win over South Alabama with eight catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. With defenses keying in on stud running back Elijah McGurie, Riles receives a lot of favorable match-ups on the outside. Riles wasn't half bad a season ago with 46 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns. With upcoming games against Tulane and New Mexico State, the senior receiver has a great chance to duplicate his performance from Saturday.