This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.
Waiver Wire Watch: Players to Pick Up Week 2
Welcome to this year's first installment of the waiver wire watch. Throughout the college football season, I'll pick two guys from every conference who either caught my eye in the previous week or who have a favorable match-up in the near future. As always, I'll get to any questions or comments you have in the comments section below.
AAC
McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF: Milton should be picked up right away as the sophomore signal caller eclipsed 30 fantasy points in the first week with 360 passing yards and four touchdowns versus Florida International. This week, the Knights will play Memphis who gave up 425 yards of offense to UL-Monroe who isn't very good. Following the game with the Tigers is match-ups with Georgia Tech and Maryland in games where UCF will likely have to throw the ball to keep up.
Keith Corbin, WR, Houston: With the Cougars having to postpone their first game, it's possible that starting receivers Linell Bonner or Steven Dunbar are also on the wire. If this is the case, go out and snatch these guys as the matchup this week is super sweet against a really bad Arizona secondary. In the likely scenario that Bonner and Dunbar are spoken for, take a shot with Corbin who projected to be third on the depth chart. Quarterback Kyle Allen should also be owned as it only gets better against Rice and Texas Tech in the next two
Waiver Wire Watch: Players to Pick Up Week 2
Welcome to this year's first installment of the waiver wire watch. Throughout the college football season, I'll pick two guys from every conference who either caught my eye in the previous week or who have a favorable match-up in the near future. As always, I'll get to any questions or comments you have in the comments section below.
AAC
McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF: Milton should be picked up right away as the sophomore signal caller eclipsed 30 fantasy points in the first week with 360 passing yards and four touchdowns versus Florida International. This week, the Knights will play Memphis who gave up 425 yards of offense to UL-Monroe who isn't very good. Following the game with the Tigers is match-ups with Georgia Tech and Maryland in games where UCF will likely have to throw the ball to keep up.
Keith Corbin, WR, Houston: With the Cougars having to postpone their first game, it's possible that starting receivers Linell Bonner or Steven Dunbar are also on the wire. If this is the case, go out and snatch these guys as the matchup this week is super sweet against a really bad Arizona secondary. In the likely scenario that Bonner and Dunbar are spoken for, take a shot with Corbin who projected to be third on the depth chart. Quarterback Kyle Allen should also be owned as it only gets better against Rice and Texas Tech in the next two weeks.
ACC
Ryan Finley, QB, NC State: I'm not sure anyone expected Finley to attempt 64 passes and complete 45 of them for 415 yards and two touchdowns in a very entertaining showdown with South Carolina on Saurday. Finley also added a rushing score to give the junior around 32 fantasy points in standard scoring formats. The volume probably won't be as high, but Finley should put up some nice numbers versus Marshall and Furman the next two weeks.
Darrell Langham, WR, Miami: If number one receiver Ahmmon Richards misses another game, Langham is a must-add as Miami's offense has the ingredients to be one of the best in the ACC. Even if Richards comes back, Langham should receive ample opportunities. Langham led the way for the Hurricanes in the first game with three catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Malik Rosier looked good enough and running back Mark Walton is an absolute stud. Miami will play an Arkansas State team who gave up 43 points and 463 yards of offense in week one.
BIG 12
Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas State: QB Jesse Ertz and RB Alex Barnes are owned in pretty much every fantasy league, but it's Pringle who isn't owned in enough. He was downright impressive in the first game of the season with three catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. The Wildcats also had saw scores from receivers Isaiah Harris, Isaiah Zuber and Dalton Schoen, but Pringle is the most talented of the bunch and is probably going to be the most consistent option for Ertz each and every week. The best part is that the Wildcats play Charlotte next week who have one of the worst defenses in all of FBS.
John Lovett, RB, Baylor: The Bears were already thin at RB and it got even worse on Saturday as JaMycal Hasty went down with a knee sprain. Their best running back Terence Williams is estimated to be out until the conference schedule starts and early reports have Hasty out for two to four weeks which means that Lovett is looking at a bunch of carries over the next few weeks. With Baylor's defense looking awfully bad, Lovett could be in line for a touchdown or two for the next few weeks.
BIG TEN
Jonathon Taylor, RB, Wisconsin: The true freshman from New Jersey looked like the Badgers' best back on Friday Night while rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown on nine carries for a sparkling 9.7 yards per carry. This comes after climbing the depth chart and being listed as the co-starter alongside teammates Bradrick Shaw (18 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown) and Chris James (five carries for 15 yards). For those who didn't watch, it wasn't just garbage time carries either as it appeared Taylor became the main back aside Shaw after James had a fumble in the game. Wisconsin's next opponent, Florida Atlantic, gave up 42 points and 416 rushing yards to Navy, so Taylor should have plenty of opportunities this week.
Tre Bryant, RB, Nebraska: Not too often you can enter the second week of the college football season and still have a shot at a workhorse on the waiver wire. Workhorse was exactly how Coach Mike Riley referred to Bryant after his 31 carries for 192 yards and a touchdown versus Arkansas State. While Mikale Wilbon entered the game listed as a co-starter, receiving only two carries suggests that Bryant is the player to own.
C-USA
Thomas Owens, WR, FIU: Even though the Golden Panthers were spanked by UCF by the score of 61-17, Owens had a nice game with four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't much of a surprise that Owens led the way as he was FIU's leading receiver a year ago with 47 catches for 652 yards and seven touchdowns. With Alcorn State, Rice and Charlotte on the schedule in three of the next four weeks, Owens isn't a bad investment if you're in need of a wide receiver.
Josh Stewart, WR, UTSA: The senior receiver led the Roadrunners a year ago with 36 catches for 682 yard and five touchdowns. With looming matchups against Baylor, Southern, and Texas State, Stewart is worth streaming in most fantasy formats. With UTSA not playing the first week, it's likely Stewart and his teammates can all be found on the wire as well.
MAC
Ryan Graham, QB, Northern Illinois: The junior showed flashes with his arm and feet in his ninth career start as the Huskies gave Boston College a run for its money in a close 23-20 loss. Graham led all rushers with 99 yards, including a 60-yard scamper on NIU's first scoring drive. While Graham left more to be desired through the air (15-for-38), his two touchdowns and near 100-yard game on the ground makes him worth considering for fantasy. The Huskies will play Eastern Illinois this week, which should prove to be an easier opponent.
Ryan Smith, TE, Miami (OH): High volume pass-catching tight ends are usually difficult to find for fantasy as there's just not that many of them in the college game. Smith went missed in most fantasy drafts as the senior Redhawk caught seven passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's loss at Marshall. Miami of Ohio's schedule isn't particularly difficult this year which means that Smith could hold a fantasy roster spot for a while as it can be argued that he should be started most weeks.
Mountain West
Lexington Thomas, RB, UNLV: The Rebels somehow managed to give up 43 points to Howard University and actually lost a game that the Vegas handicappers had them as 45 point favorites. Thomas was one of the few bright spots for the team while rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Thomas should have a second 100 yard rushing game against an Idaho squad who gave up 145 yards per game a year ago.
Lamar Jordan, QB, New Mexico: Jordan is another dual-threat quarterback who went undrafted in most fantasy leagues. In the Lobos' first game, Jordan completed 11-of-17 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 52 yards on seven carries. He'll likely better that versus New Mexico State as these in-state rivals combined for 63 points and over 600 yards of total offense a year ago.
PAC-12
Ross Bowers, QB, California: In his first year as Head Coach, Justin Wilcox looked like he knew exactly what he was doing when sending out the inexperienced sophomore quarterback Ross Bowers. Bowers was fearless while shrugging off a couple of interceptions and throwing for 363 yards and four touchdowns in a road upset of North Carolina. That's the kind of mindset you want from a quarterback making his college debut, which gives the young man a ton of upside for fantasy purposes. Bowers should have a big day against Weber State this week.
James Williams, RB, Washington State: Shame on those who didn't believe in picking up the Cougars starting running back. He may have not been lethal on the ground with nine carries for 45 yards, but his work in the passing game was epic during week one. The sophomore caught a team-high 13 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. While that kind of performance may not happen again, four of five catches each week would make him worth the roster spot as Washington State should put up a ton of points this year.
SEC
Johnathon Johnson, WR, Missouri: With quarterback Drew Lock breaking records with 521 passing yards and seven touchdown passes, there were scores to go around to all of the receivers. Johnson had the most catches of the bunch with five and looked like he could be one of Lock's go-to guys in the SEC this year. Missouri probably won't compete in the conference, but they will surely attempt to zip the ball around to keep up with the other teams and that's where Johnson will come in handy for your fantasy team.
Rico Dowdle and Jake Bentley, RB/QB, South Carolina: Both Dowdle and Bentley can be attributed with leading the Gamecocks to an impressive 35-28 win over NC State in Week 1. They combined to be involved in all four of South Carolina's offensive scores. Deebo Samuel was also involved with two of the touchdowns from Bentley, but he's owned in a lot more fantasy leagues than Dowdle and Bentley. With a game against Missouri in Week 2, South Carolina should eclipse 30 points once again. If any of these three players are available, scoop them up.
SUN BELT
Aaron Duckworth, RB, Idaho: As mentioned above, UNLV lost to Howard University, which amassed 309 rushing yards versus the Rebels. Now it's Duckworth's turn just a week after converting 19 carries in to
142 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for an additional 49 yards. There's no reason Duckworth shouldn't have another positive week against a horrible UNLV defense.
Tyler Rogers, QB, New Mexico State: It feels like Rogers has been with New Mexico State forever as the senior made a start for the Aggies for the fourth consecutive year. Rogers has always been plagued by interceptions and he did throw two in a 37-31 loss to Arizona State in week one. However, he also completed 40-of-57 passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns while also adding a rushing score. As long as he can outweigh the bad plays with the good ones, he's worth a stash in most fantasy formats as the volume will typically be there.
