This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.
Buyer beware ... it's a light slate of games in Week 8 (which begins Tuesday night) and an even lighter waiver wire if you're in need of immediate lineup help!
AMERICAN ATHLETIC
Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
Perriman has steadily progressed from being the Knights' third option and deep-ball threat to being their most trusted wide receiver. He leads the team in receiving with 341 yards while still maintaining his big play capability, averaging 22.7 yards per catch. The team's next closes receiver, Josh Reese, has 185 yards, leaving Perriman as quarterback Justin Holman's favorite target.
Tevin Jones, WR, Memphis
Jones has flashed a bit of consistency the last two weeks, posting lines of 5-70-1 and 6-72-1. Memphis takes Week 8, but returns on Oct. 25 against hapless SMU, suggesting Jones could flourish.
ATLANTIC COAST
Adam Choice, RB, Clemson
Choice entered Saturday behind Wayne Gallman for carries, and exited as the team's leading rusher, both in the game against Louisville where he had 60 yards on 16 carries, and for the season, as he's up to 205 yards despite being held to nine yards or less in three games. Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris said Monday the Tigers will allow Choice some opportunities to play as a Wildcat quarterback, as the freshman ran for more than 5,000 yards as a high school option quarterback. Choice is likely auditioning for the full-time role in Clemson's backfield this Saturday at Boston College.
Quinshad Davis, WR, North Carolina
Davis remains third on the Tar Heels in both receptions (19) and yards (253) but is tied with Mack Hollins with four touchdown catches. Davis threw a touchdown over the weekend for good measure and simply has a knack for the end zone, scoring 22 times in 31 career games. It's likely owners who drafted Davis expecting him to build on consecutive 700-plus yard seasons grew impatient. It's also entirely possible head coach Larry Fedora forgets what worked in a near-upset of Notre Dame in Week 7 and goes back to his ridiculous offensive rotations. But for now, Davis is riding a three-game scoring streak and is the receiver quarterback Marquise Williams trusts when the ball is inside the 20-yard line. He remains scoring dependent, but the odds of his scoring weekly remain high.
BIG 12
Nick Harwell, WR, Kansas
Michael Cummings took over as the Jayhawks signal caller and had the offense looking like it had a pulse last weekend against Texas Tech. As such, the team's talented receiver, Harwell, is showing signs of breaking out of a season-long slump. He caught seven passes for 91 yards Saturday after managing only 17 catches for 123 yards in the first five games. Harwell has never had a season with less than 800 yards or six touchdowns in his career, and while he has his work cut out to reach those numbers, it looks like a mild resurgence is on its way.
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Doctson continues to impress with his consistency. He's now caught at least five passes in each of the last four games, tallying 53 to 76 yards and scoring three times. He's not lighting the world on fire, but can safely be plugged into deeper lineups for steady production.
BIG TEN
Danny Anthrop, WR, Purdue
Austin Appleby's insertion as the team's starting quarterback has provided a clear spark for the Boilermakers offense. The team averaged 23.8 points through its first five games and has posted 38 and 31 in Appleby's two starts, the latter coming against a solid Michigan State defense. Anthrop is up to 469 yards and three scores on the year, with 232 of those yards coming the last two weeks.
Aaron Bailey, QB, Illinois
Bailey gets the nod because of his dual-threat capabilities. He replaced Reilly O'Toole during Saturday's game at Wisconsin and ran for 75 yards and a touchdown while completing 2-of-5 passes for 39 yards and an interception. He has a bye in Week 8, so there is no immediate return, and there's no guarantee he starts over O'Toole in Week 9 against Minnesota. That said, Bailey still appears to be a better fantasy option than newly anointed Indiana quarterback Chris Covington, who will take over for the injured Nate Sudfeld against Michigan State in Week 8.
CONFERENCE USA
Alex Gardner, RB, Florida International
Gardner has solidified his status as the team's top back. He's seen at least 19 carries in three straight weeks, with his use increasing in each game all the way up to the 27 carries he saw Saturday against UTSA. His upside is limited in a bad offense, but outside of Week 8's contest with Marshall, the schedule of Rice, Old Dominion, Middle Tennessee and North Texas isn't overly daunting.
Ray Lawry, RB, Old Dominion
Lawry has been superb in the first seven games of his career, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. He's finally been given a chance to carry with regularity in the last two weeks, and has not disappointed. Lawry has 29 carries, 248 yards and three scores in that span, and with quarterback Taylor Heinecke continuing to struggle, Lawry could see even more carries.
MID-AMERICAN
Reginald Bell Jr., QB, Eastern Michigan
Bell took over for Rob Bolden, and while it's a small sample size against Buffalo, the results cannot be ignored. Bell through for 144 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 202 yards and three scores. He won't sneak up on anyone, and hasn't even been confirmed as the team's starter for Saturday against UMass, but there aren't many imposing defenses in the MAC, and Bell has the potential to be a solid fantasy option.
Jack Milas, QB, Ball State
Milas is another quarterback who made quite the impression in his first outing. Replacing Ozzie Mann, Milas threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns Saturday against Western Michigan. And if you needed any additional reminding, this is the MAC we're talking about. The potential for four scores weekly exists.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Diocemey Saint Juste, RB, Hawaii
Saint Juste saw extended playing time for the first time in his career Saturday against Wyoming after Steven Lakalaka left in the third quarter due to a head injury and impressed by rushing for 135 yards on 17 carries, scoring once. The Warriors are already without running back Joey Iosefa due to suspension following an arrest on suspicion of DUI, and assuming Lakalaka is not cleared for Saturday's game at San Diego State, Saint Juste would essentially be the team's only healthy tailback. And this isn't the Hawaii team many folks remember. This team has rushed 264 times and thrown 229 times through six games.
Jerico Richardson, WR, Nevada
Richardson is coming off of his second game of the year with at least 10 grabs and also topped 100 yards for the second game Saturday against Colorado State. He's scored just once, but is up to 35 catches and 441 yards and has emerged as the Wolfpack's most reliable receiver. There's something to be said for steady production, even if it comes with limited upside.
PAC-12
Thomas Tyner, RB, Oregon
To say Tyner's first half of his sophomore season has been disappointing would be a marginal understatement. He's averaging just 4.4 yards per carry and is on pace for 558 yards and two scores after posting 711 yards and nine scores a year ago as a freshman. The move may seem inconsequential, but Byron Marshall is now officially a wide receiver. Tyner remains a backup to Royce Freeman, but is in an offense that usually produces multiple fantasy running backs, and Tyner is too talented to not improve, despite Oregon's lackluster offensive line. Matching last year's numbers probably isn't in the cards, but a few additional scores seem likely for Tyner down the stretch.
Remound Wright, RB, Stanford
Wright appears to be worth a gamble as he is beginning to emerge as the Cardinal's top backfield option. He's up to 51 carries and 278 yards this year, with the next closest running back being Kelsey Young, who has 34 carries. Wright is coming off of a 14-carry, 98-yard game and has now scored in consecutive weeks.
SEC
De'Runnya Wilson, WR, Mississippi State
Wilson has scored in every game in which he's recorded a catch and is up to six for the season. After failing to scratch the box score in Week 3 at South Alabama, Wilson has four catches in three straight games while totaling at least 72 yards in each. He's benefited from the absence of Jameon Lewis, but his 6-foot-5 frame makes him a terrific bet for red-zone targets even when Lewis returns from a leg injury.
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama
Taking a stab in the dark here by suggesting Yeldon. His name recognition suggests there's no chance he's available, but his statistical production suggest he should be. Maybe you're lucky enough to be in a league with an impatient owner. Yeldon is on pace for just 904 yards and four touchdowns after having consecutive 1,110-yard seasons with at least 12 scores. All of that matters little as the Bama schedule now features three straight games against rush defenses ranked 67th or worse, and there's also a Week 13 matchup with Western Carolina sprinkled in. Yeldon carried 16 times to Derrick Henry's seven last Saturday and should be poised to rebound over the second half of the year.
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Here is your obligator Nick Chubb suggestion, as it's possible he remains available following the suspension of Todd Gurley coming late in the week. But loyal readers here know Chubb was suggested in Week 6 due to Sony Michel's injury.
Sun Belt
Elijhaa Penny, RB, Idaho
The Vandals remain a pass-happy offense, but it's becoming more difficult to ignore Penny's knack for the end zone. The bruising 254-pounder churned out 75 yards and three scores last Saturday and has five touchdowns in the last two weeks. He ran 21 times over the weekend and is the team leader in carries. Penny remains heavily dependent on scoring, but while he's scoring often, there's some appeal with the nation's worse run defense on the schedule in Week 8, as the New Mexico State Aggies allow a whopping 387.5 yards and four rushing touchdowns a game.
Fredi Knighten, QB, Arkansas State
Knighten looks to be coming into his own as a passer now that conference play has opened, making him a potential late season savior if you've been struck by injuries to your quarterbacks. Knighten threw for 215 yards on Saturday, but had three touchdown passes after entering the game with only four touchdown throws all season. He ran for 93 yards and a fourth score, and provided three rushing touchdowns the week prior. In total, he's produced 663 yards and eight scores in two conference games and the Sun Belt has nary a defense to be afraid of.
