CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 9

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Hosey Williams, RB, Cincinnati: It's tough to recommend a Cincinnati back as the Bearcats have effectively employed three runners this season, rotating through Williams, Mike Boone and Tion Green this season. This limits the amount of carries he sees, but when he's reached double-digit carries, he's ran for at least 80 yards in four of five games. He performed well last week, rushing for 140 yards and one touchdown against UConn and has an easier matchup this week against a winless Central Florida team that recently had its head coach step down.

Teddy Veal, WR, Tulane: Veal is the volume receiver for Tulane, recording 13 more receptions than any player in the Green Wave's offense. This week marks the rare occasion to take a flyer on a player in the Tulane passing offense as Veal plays a Memphis team that allows the most passing yards per game in the nation.

ACC

Thomas Sirk, QB, Duke: Sirk faces a Miami team that's in turmoil after being routed by Clemson, which saw the Hurricane's fire head coach Al Golden. But even without the troubles going on in Miami, it was already a good matchup for the Blue Devils quarterback, as he is Duke's leading rusher and plays the 103rd-ranked rush defense in the nation.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville: Jackson has been far from the most prolific passer in his freshman season, but he's been able to get it done on the ground, topping 100 yards rushing three times this season. Louisville will need him to rely on his feet this week against a Wake Forest team that's significantly tougher against the pass than the run.

BIG 12

Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma: Mixon has seen his carries rise the last two weeks, and he's responded with 227 yards and three touchdowns. While he will play second fiddle to Semaje Perine once again this week, there's no reason to believe that the duo, which combined for 355 yards and six touchdowns last week, won't be in for another big day against Kansas. After all, Perine did set an NCAA record for rushing yards in a single game when these teams met last season.

J.W. Walsh, QB, Oklahoma State: Walsh should really be viewed more as a goal-line back than a pure quarterback, as most of his value comes from touchdowns. But he's scored seven total touchdowns the last two games and faces a Texas Tech defense giving up 40.1 points per game, making him an intriguing bye-week fill-in or injury replacement this week, especially in Big 12 formats.

Big Ten

Alex Erickson, WR, Wisconsin: This year's Wisconsin squad hasn't been as dominant on the ground as the team usually is, but the team is still piling up wins, with Erickson actually leading the team in total yards from scrimmage. He has 26 receptions in his last three games, showing good chemistry with both starter Joel Stave and last week's injury replacement, Bart Houston, meaning he should continue to rack up catches this week regardless of who is under center against Rutgers' 123rd-ranked pass defense.

Terrell Newby, RB, Nebraska: Newby has had his share of dud games this season, which may make some hesitant to pick him up, but he should see the bulk of the carries this week against a Purdue defense that allows 198.1 yards per game on the ground.

CONFERENCE USA

Tyler Batson, WR, UTEP: The Miners will have to throw to keep up with Southern Miss this weekend, and while Batson comes with considerable risk (he's never caught more than four passes in a game), he'll likely be the receiver targeted when they try to take shotS downfield.

Jarveon Williams, RB, UTSA: Williams, who has recorded at least 15 carries in five of seven games this season, won't find many matchups better than the one he has this week against North Texas's 121st-ranked rushing defense. Williams has shown the ability to have a big day, notching more than 130 rushing yards twice already this season.

MAC

Marken Michel, WR, UMass: Michel has had a rough couple of weeks, totaling just four catches for 27 yards his last two games as UMass has faced tougher MAC opponents. But this week might be one of the games where Michel returns to the form he showed in September, as he faces a Ball State defense ranked 119th against the pass.

James Gilbert, Darian Green, RB, Ball State: The two backs, who have split carries this season, have slowed since entering conference play. But the backs should return to the form they showed earlier in the season against Massachusetts' 116th-ranked rushing defense. Gilbert is more likely to find the end zone, with seven scores this season, but Green has been the more prolific runner, racking up 165 more yards than Gilbert on just 11 more carries.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Karson Roberts, QB, Air Force: Roberts responded to questions about his ability to lead his team at quarterback by scoring four touchdowns against Fresno State. He's not the most prolific passer, throwing for just one touchdown this year, but he won't need to be this week when he plays a Hawaii defense ranked 115th in the nation.

Chase Price, RB, SDSU: Price won't put up near the gaudy totals as No. 1 back Donnel Pumphrey, but the Aztec's opponent this week, Colorado State, allows more than 200 yards per game on the ground, and Price has seen double-digit carries in his last four games.

PAC-12

Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA: I mentioned Rosen last week and he did not disappoint, with 399 yards and three touchdowns in a big upset of California. The freshman is living the dream, as he has his team back in the top 25 and allegedly has a hot tub in his dorm room. Much like that story, his remaining schedule may seem like something out of an 18-year-old's dream as well, as he finishes his freshman year with a nice five-game stretch against Colorado, Oregon State, Washington State, Utah and Southern California, with only one of those teams (Oregon State, 49) ranked in the top 50 in pass defense.

Thomas Duarte, WR, UCLA: Duarte has at least 60 yards and one touchdown in his last four games and is fresh off of a 10-catch, 141-yard performance last week against Cal. He should continue to play a big role in the Bruins' offense as UCLA tries to keep its momentum going against Colorado this week.

SEC

Drew Morgan, WR, Arkansas: Morgan, Arkansas' top receiving target, draws FCS Tennessee-Martin in Fayetteville a week after his two-touchdown performance in an overtime win against Auburn.

Quincy Adeboyejo, WR, Ole Miss: Auburn, this week's opponent for Ole Miss, saw its scoring numbers skewed by a four-overtime loss to Arkansas last week, but I'm still not buying the defense as one that can suppress a strong offense. Ole Miss has fallen off a bit after its big win at Alabama in September, but the Rebels should rediscover their swagger in their second trip to Alabama. As the No. 2 receiver in the offense, Adeboyejo should be in for an active day against the team ranked 99th in total defense.

SUN BELT

Jalen Nixon, QB, Louisiana-Lafayette: Nixon was unable to lead the Rajin's Cajuns to victory last week, but he turned out his best total yardage day of the season, topping 200 yards on the ground. The junior has also scored a rushing touchdown in his last three games. Next week he takes on a Louisiana-Monroe defense that's ranked 120th in the nation in stopping the run.

Matt Linehan, QB Idaho: There's a lot of solid QB options on the waiver wire this week, but Linehan is another good option if you need a fill-in. Coming off his best game of the season, he plays a New Mexico State defense that's 105th in the nation defending the pass. And while there might be some concern Idaho will just go run-heavy against New Mexico State, keep in mind Linehan's 315-yard, three-touchdown performance came while running back Elijhaa Penny ran for 184 yards on 36 carries.