CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 5

CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 5

This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Doroland Dorceus, RB, Memphis

Dorceus continues to share carries with Brandon Hayes, who was likely the lone Tiger running back drafted in August. Dorceus, however, has four touchdowns in three games, while carrying at least 10 times in each. He's worth a gamble as the short-yardage carries will remain, and the split carries with Hayes likely will too, meaning he won't be entirely goal-line dependent.

Trevon Brown, WR, ECU

Virtually the entire Pirates' offense found its way into the end zone in Week 4, but Jones warrants a longer look. He's scored four times in four games and has seen his receptions and yardage increase in each game. The Pirates are on a bye in Week 5, so he's not someone to use a high claim on, but with Cam Worthy suspended for another contest, and the Pirates getting SMU after their off week, another 50-70 point offensive outburst wouldn't surprise.

ATLANTIC COAST

DeShaun Watson, QB Clemson

It was tempting to include Watson in this column last week as a preemptive strike. But following a bye week of constant fan chatter, Watson entered Saturday night's game at Florida State on the team's fourth possession, and starter Cole Stoudt was only seen again for the overtime coin toss. Watson completed 19-of-28 passes for 266 yards and ran for 30 yards and a score, and it's likely the Tigers' offense takes off with him being anointed the full-time starter. A visit from North Carolina, which just allowed 70 points to ECU, doesn't hurt his chances for immediate success either.

Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech

Ford continues to impress with each passing week, and it is beyond time to take the freshman seriously. He's caught 21 passes, 15 of which have come in the last two weeks, and is coming off of his first 100-yard game. The Hokies' running game continues to struggle, forcing more of an aerial attack, and Ford has been the biggest beneficiary.

BIG 12

Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma

Pickings in the Big 12 are slim this week, with only four teams from the conference suiting up last Saturday. Perine ran 34 times over the weekend for 242 yards and four touchdowns after entering the contest with 32 carries, 177 yards and a score in three games combined. Keith Ford is out for at least another two weeks, and was the team's leading rusher before being sidelined ... with 34 carries in three games. Perine could run away with this backfield with an impressive outing against TCU on Oct. 4.

Curry Sexton, WR, Kansas State

Sexton hauled in 11 balls in Thursday's loss to Auburn, after having just six grabs in his first two outings. He's not a tremendous bet to repeat this 121-yard performance, but has a chance to carve out a steady role opposite Tyler Lockett. He's worth a gamble in advance of Saturday's game with UTEP to see if he can replicate things.

BIG TEN

Justin Goodwin, RB, Rutgers

Goodwin stepped in for Paul James and managed 104 yards and a score on 26 carries. With James out for the year due to a knee injury, Goodwin has a chance to shine, starting in Week 5 against Tulane.

Shane Morris, QB, Michigan

By the time this column is live, Morris likely will know whether he is starting in favor of Devin Gardner on Saturday against Minnesota. And honestly, he hasn't been very good in his limited opportunities to date, completing 7-of-20 passes for 79 yards and two interceptions, and rushing for 36 yards on five attempts. But Morris is likely to see his number called at some point this year, and he's also likely to flash signs of hope for a disgruntled Wolverine fan base. It's becoming an annual occurrence in Ann Arbor - starting QB struggles, back up takes over and shines, only to struggle in future seasons.

CONFERENCE USA

Antwane Grant, WR, Western Kentucky

This is based on the assumuption that fellow Hilltopper and the team's leading receiver Jared Dangerfield is already owned. Quarterback Brandon Doughty has thrown a whopping 170 passes in three games, and the team has six players with at least 13 receptions. Grant has been the most consistent of the bunch, going for between 53 and 73 yards in each game. Truthfully, Saturday's game against Navy is one to watch to see if a true second option emerges behind Dangerfield.

Sterling Griffin, WR, Louisiana Tech

Despite a surprising loss to Northwestern State, the Bulldogs' offense has shown promise under quarterback Cody Sokol. Griffin has emerged as the team's top receiver with at least 72 yards in three of four games and 280 for the season after going for 357 last year with the South Florida Bulls. He's scored just once, but that number should increase it conference play.

MID-AMERICAN

A.J. Oullette, RB, Ohio

Oullette had what appears to be his coming out party in Week 4 against Idaho, rushing 27 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Coach Frank Solich named Oullette the starter for Saturday's game against Eastern Illinois, against which he figures to cement his status as the team's top back. Oullette entered Saturday with 11 carries in three games and will now lead the backfield over Daz'mond Patterson, who has a team-high 42 carries, but saw just one last weekend.

Jarvion Franklin, RB, Western Michigan

There's almost no chance Franklin remains on waiver wires, but if by some off chance he does, run and add him. The 220-pound freshman deserves some additional ink after his third straight game with three touchdowns. He's carried 30 times or more twice, and his career low is 163 yards. Western Michigan has a terrible matchup Saturday against Virginia Tech but then enters conference play where Franklin can roll.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Crusoe Gongbay, RB, New Mexico

Gongbay is the first player to appear in this column twice. If you need a refresher, he entered spring as the heir apparent to Kasey Carrier's throne before being suspended from the team due to a sexual assault charge. Cleared and reinstated, Gongbay looks to be warming up. After 11 carries and 34 yards in the team's first two games, Gongbay rushed 16 times for 139 yards and a touchdown Saturday against in-state rival New Mexico State. He's a must add if you've been relying on Jhurell Pressley, and another week like last Saturday will have Gongbay becoming an option in most formats.

Jarrod Lawson, RB, San Jose State

Suspended running backs are the theme in the Mountain West. Fresh off of a two-game ban, Lawson was thrust right into a workhorse roll Saturday against Minnesota. Although he managed just 56 yards on 18 carries, he added two catches for 31 yards. With a manageable conference schedule, Lawson should flirt with production similar to that of last season, where he ran for 788 yards and four touchdowns on 164 carries.

PAC-12

Devon Allen, WR, Oregon

Allen has had a roller-coaster four games to open the 2014 season with at least 110 yards and four touchdowns in Games 2 and 4 and combining for 47 yards in Games 1 and 3. The Ducks are off Week 5, so the hope is Allen bucks that trend and explodes again against Arizona a week from Thursday in what figures to be a shootout.

Austin Hill, WR, Arizona

Hill entered Week 4 with just seven catches and 138 yards and exited nearly doubling that thanks to an eight-catch, 127-yard performance against Cal. Hill is just a season removed from 1,364 yards, and some of his slow start can likely be blamed on rust after missing 2013 due to a knee injury. Arizona threw an unsustainable 73 times Saturday, but with conference play looming, quarterback Anu Solomon will need to rely more on Hill's veteran presence. One caveat - ESPN.com lists Hill as a running back, which makes no sense, but he could be listed there in your league as well, drastically lowering his appeal.

SEC

Ralph Webb, RB, Vanderbilt

Somewhat lost in the disaster that has been Vanderbilt's opening four games has been the play of its freshman tailback. He's managed at least 14 carries in all four contests and at least 70 yards despite a severe lack of a passing game to balance opposing defenses. With conference play looming, things could get tougher for Webb, and he has only one touchdown on 77 carries, but you can't discredit the volume of touches he's receiving.

Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU

Dupre caught four balls for 120 yards and two touchdowns Saturday against Mississippi State, both of which came in the fourth quarter from backup quarterback Brandon Harris. Harris' role is rumored to be growing in favor of Anthony Jennings, and he makes for a nice stash, but until he is officially named the team's starter, Dupre is the preferred add. He's been shut out of the box score twice in four games, but has three scores on six catches. With New Mexico State on tap before the SEC schedule fully kicks in, Dupre seems likely to get some extra snaps in preparation.

SUN BELT

Matt Linehan, QB, Idaho

Linehan makes his second appearance in this column as he continues to be a relative unknown nationally. The freshman continues to pitch it around the yard and is forcing his way into fantasy relevance. He threw a career-high 56 passes last weekend after throwing 41 and 47 in the previous two and has topped 320 yards in all three of his career starts. Idaho enters the meat of its conference schedule Saturday against South Alabama, and there's little reason to expect Linehan to calm down.

Tyler Rogers, QB, New Mexico State

At this point, it feels like all Sun Belt quarterbacks should be on rosters. Rogers is the one exception where you may be able to wait another week, as the Aggies travel to face LSU in Week 5 before settling in for conference play. Rogers has at least two touchdowns in the team's first four games and has thrown at least 40 passes in three straight, topping 300 yards twice.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Bennett
Bennett covers baseball, college football and college basketball for RotoWire. Before turning to fantasy writing, he worked in scouting/player development for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. He's also a fan of the ACC.
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