This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.
ACC
Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami (FL)
With just 156 receiving yards before 2011, Streeter was not expected by most to become Miami's top receiver in light of Leonard Hankerson's departure. But Streeter has easily established himself as Miami's top wideout, taking 28 receptions for 604 yards (21.6 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns. He has been especially sharp in recent weeks, scoring at least one touchdown in all but one of his last six games while totaling 505 yards over the span. He's a justifiable start in all formats.
Rolandan Finch, RB, Boston College
The schedule gets significantly tougher, but those in need of running back help in deeper leagues can probably do worse than Finch on the waiver wire. In the last three weeks (against Clemson, Virginia Tech and Maryland), Finch has taken 76 carries for 416 yards and three touchdowns, including 243 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland last week. He's showing the workhorse disposition that's necessary for Boston College backs, and he might get enough carries to be a fantasy factor even if his rushing average falls off.
Big East
Zach Brown, RB, Pittsburgh
He's no Ray Graham, but Brown is still a better player than his 3.2 rushing average would lead one to believe. And with Graham out the rest of the season with a knee injury, Brown should get a fairly big workload for Pittsburgh. After catching nine passes for 84 yards against Connecticut on Wednesday, Brown is especially intriguing in
ACC
Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami (FL)
With just 156 receiving yards before 2011, Streeter was not expected by most to become Miami's top receiver in light of Leonard Hankerson's departure. But Streeter has easily established himself as Miami's top wideout, taking 28 receptions for 604 yards (21.6 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns. He has been especially sharp in recent weeks, scoring at least one touchdown in all but one of his last six games while totaling 505 yards over the span. He's a justifiable start in all formats.
Rolandan Finch, RB, Boston College
The schedule gets significantly tougher, but those in need of running back help in deeper leagues can probably do worse than Finch on the waiver wire. In the last three weeks (against Clemson, Virginia Tech and Maryland), Finch has taken 76 carries for 416 yards and three touchdowns, including 243 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland last week. He's showing the workhorse disposition that's necessary for Boston College backs, and he might get enough carries to be a fantasy factor even if his rushing average falls off.
Big East
Zach Brown, RB, Pittsburgh
He's no Ray Graham, but Brown is still a better player than his 3.2 rushing average would lead one to believe. And with Graham out the rest of the season with a knee injury, Brown should get a fairly big workload for Pittsburgh. After catching nine passes for 84 yards against Connecticut on Wednesday, Brown is especially intriguing in PPR leagues.
Shawne Alston, RB, West Virginia
The presence of Dustin Garrison primarily makes Alston a deep-league option, but he seems to be picking up steam in the West Virginia backfield, totaling 23 carries the last two weeks, compared to 20 for Garrison. Alston was especially strong against Rutgers last week, burning the Scarlet Knights for 110 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries, giving Alston 213 yards and five touchdowns on just 33 carries over the last four games.
Big Ten
Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
The Wisconsin defense is not impressive, but it certainly is impressive how Miller burned the Badgers for 99 yards and two touchdowns on the ground Saturday night. The true freshman has also been surprisingly efficient as a passer this year, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt while throwing six touchdowns to just two interceptions. He should have a very nice day against an Indiana defense that might be the worst in the country.
Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, Michigan
It's far from a guarantee to last, but for the moment, Toussaint is looking like Michigan's top running back option. He burned Purdue for 170 yards and two touchdowns on just 20 carries Saturday, and he takes on an Iowa defense this week that just surrendered 178 rushing yards and two touchdowns to Minnesota. In fact, the Hawkeyes average 185 yards and 1.2 touchdowns allowed on the ground against BCS opponents this year.
Big 12
Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
Kendall Wright clearly is still Baylor's top receiver, but Williams has made quite a bit of noise the last two weeks, totaling 16 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns in road matches against Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Tevin Reese and Lanear Sampson both remain threats to catch passes, but it seems like Williams has emerged as the team's No. 2 receiver at this point.
Jared Barnett, QB, Iowa State
Barnett is primarily a deep-league consideration due to his apparent lack of passing ability (47.1 completion percentage this year), but his strong rushing performances lately, particularly a 92-yard, one-touchdown showing in last week's 41-7 upset over Texas Tech, have him on the fantasy radar. He was an even more effective runner on a per-play basis the week before against Texas A&M, taking 13 carries for 66 yards. He faces a Kansas defense this week that has allowed an incredible 31 rushing touchdowns in just eight games, with an opponents' rushing average of 6.2 yards per carry.
Conference-USA
Jamal Woodyard, RB, Southern Mississippi
It'd be best to knock Woodyard off the list if Kendrick Hardy or Desmond Johnson returns from injury, but given their indefinite statuses, Woodyard could be worth a flier in deeper leagues. He has been highly productive this year, running for 418 yards and three touchdowns on just 61 carries, including 250 yards and two touchdowns on just 28 carries the last two weeks. Southern Mississippi plays an East Carolina squad this week that has allowed 4.7 yards per carry and 18 rushing touchdowns.
Jackie Williams, WR, UAB
Due to the stunningly bad UAB offense, Williams is solely a deep-league consideration, and probably just for this week as the Blazers attempt to keep up with Houston's super-powered passing attack. Case Keenum and company figure to score often and quickly against UAB, leaving Williams plenty of chances to snag passes as the Blazers attempt to play catch-up. With an average of 5.6 receptions per game this year, Williams could make a fantasy impact through garbage-time stats.
Independents
Jonas Gray, RB, Notre Dame
Since Gray has only 41 carries the last five games, he's mostly an option in deep leagues. However, eight touchdowns and 8.6 yards per carry over those five games also mean that Gray is a good option for the RB-needy. Not only has Gray repeatedly demonstrated he doesn't need the ball much to make a big impact, but it's a reasonable assumption that coach Brian Kelly might have no choice but to give Gray the ball more often if he keeps running with such great effectiveness.
MAC
Zac Dysert, QB, Miami, Ohio
Dysert is coming off a 313-yard, five-touchdown game against Buffalo last week - on just 25 pass attempts, moreover - and Tuesday he gets what might be a more favorable matchup. With the Akron Zips ahead, as well as an impressive trio of pass catchers in Nick Harwell, Chris Givens and Dawan Scott, Dysert should post his second week of big numbers in a row.
Marcus Rivers, WR, Buffalo
Buffalo has a bye this week, but Rivers could be worth a stash anyway in deeper leagues. With the Bulls' top receiver (Alex Neutz) out indefinitely with a wrist fracture, Rivers should get more attention in the Buffalo passing game. Given that Rivers averages 5.7 receptions per game as it is, Neutz's absence could push Rivers up a tier. The only reason Rivers wasn't more fantasy relevant in the first place was his low YPC (10.7) and just two touchdowns, but an extra two receptions per game should make him worthy of starting in many leagues, particularly with Eastern Michigan, Akron and Bowling Green ahead.
Mountain West
Asher Clark, RB, Air Force
Army looked sharp in its 55-0 victory over Fordham on Saturday, but outside of that game, the Black Knights have had a rough time stopping the running game. In the team's other seven games, Army allowed 13 rushing touchdowns. That could be a problem against a player like Clark, as he averages 7.4 yards per carry.
Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
Escobar might have been dropped in your league after suffering a broken hand Oct. 13, but you should probably add him if he's still available, particularly if you have the slightest need for tight end help. Escobar caught his fifth touchdown of the season in a four-catch, 95-yard performance against Wyoming on Saturday, and he looks likely to remain a big factor in the San Diego State passing attack. He might be as much as a top-three option at tight end.
Pac-12
Curtis McNeal, RB, USC
Marc Tyler figures to remain in the picture to some extent, but it's difficult to imagine why USC wouldn't move forward with McNeal as the team's clear-cut top running back. He has 349 yards and three touchdowns on the ground the last three weeks, averaging 5.7 yards per carry against three run defenses that are far from pushovers. McNeal should keep rolling this week against Colorado.
Gerell Robinson, WR, Arizona State
UCLA was uncharacteristically strong against the pass against California last week, but don't expect a repeat with the more competent Brock Osweiler-led passing game lined up next. Robinson has been Osweiler's top target lately,
totaling 17 receptions for 310 yards and a touchdown in his last three games.
SEC
Brandon Wilds, RB, South Carolina
After running for 137 yards on 28 carries (4.9 YPC) and catching three passes for 31 yards against Tennessee in his first career start, Wilds certainly looks like a capable feature runner as long as South Carolina needs him. Owners investing in Wilds shouldn't be overly concerned about last week's opponent - even after Wilds' strong showing Saturday, Tennessee has allowed just 4.3 yards per carry, while next week's opponent (Arkansas) has allowed 4.8 per carry. Wilds is worth a pickup in most scenarios.
Tauren Poole, RB, Tennessee
Poole averages a miserable 3.7 yards per carry, but he could be worth a desperation dart at running back this week as the Volunteers take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee is 2-5 in the Sun Belt, meaning they're not built to take on an SEC team of any quality.
Sun Belt
Alonzo Harris, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Harris has not been consistent this year, so he's only worth a look in deep leagues, but it's difficult for fantasy owners to stay away from player coming off a 189-yard, two-touchdown performance. This week he faces a Lousiana-Monroe defense that has been fairly tough against the run, but Harris could still be worth a depth pickup in some leagues.
Wayne Times, WR, Florida International
Times' lack of big-play ability (just 10.4 yards per catch and two touchdowns this year) makes him no more than a deep-league option, particularly with T.Y. Hilton stealing most of the attention, but Times could be worth a look in deeper PPR leagues. He averages 5.5 catches per game, including 27 catches the last four games. He faces a questionable Western Kentucky pass defense this week.
WAC
Noel Grigsby, WR, San Jose State
Although Grigsby is a fairly talented player, his upside is limited in San Jose State's occasionally dysfunctional passing attack. Still, he has been sharp lately, catching 38 passes for 387 yards and a touchdown the last four games. He faces off against an Idaho defense this week that has allowed 16 touchdowns through the air compared to seven interceptions.
Lennon Creer, RB, Louisiana Tech
Creer might not have been dropped in your league, but on the other hand, it wouldn't be shocking if he had been, given his disappointing season. He averages just 4.0 yards per carry, but he takes on a Fresno State defense this week that has allowed 5.1 yards per carry this year, not to mention 23 rushing touchdowns. It would be a disappointment if Creer didn't post his third 100-yard rushing game of the year this week.
