CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 11

Waiver Wire Watch: Players to Pick Up Week 11

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

Anthony Russo, QB, Temple: Russo's name has been here before and should be again after throwing for 444 yards and four touchdowns to go along with a rushing score in a 52-40 loss to UCF. With Houston, South Florida and Connecticut remaining on the schedule, I feel Russo is fantasy-viable in all three of those games. Running back Ryquell Armstead is also available in a handful of leagues and should be quite productive over the final month of the season.

Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati: I remain a backer of Ridder who would have had an even better day versus Navy if not for twisting his right leg late in the first half. He would return later in the game to end with a touchdown through the air and one on the ground. The reason I like the Bearcats' signal caller is because the team remains in the chase for the league title and have a favorable closing stretch with two of their three games at home. South Florida, UCF and East Carolina should all be high-scoring games.

ACC

Darrin Hall, RB, Pittsburgh: If exploding for 229 yards and three touchdowns versus a decent Virginia defense on primetime television doesn't earn you more playing time, I'm not sure what does. The elusive senior has been playing more with double-digit carries in three of his last four games. He'll be a decent player versus Virginia Tech this week and an amazing play versus Wake Forest in Week 12.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, NC State: Meyers is fresh off a performance of nine catches for 125 yards and a touchdown versus Florida State. The Wolfpack could have perhaps the softest schedule remaining in the country with Wake Forest, Louisville, North Carolina and East Carolina. Both Meyers and Ryan Finley should be quickly scooped from the waiver wires.

BIG 12

Lil'Jordan Humphrey, WR, Texas: Still available in around 50 percent of leagues, Humphrey has emerged as Sam Ehlinger's favorite target over the last month. In his last four games, the lanky junior has 29 catches for 386 yards and three total touchdowns. Considering the Longhorns defense has a hard time stopping anyone, I expect Humphrey to be heavily targeted versus Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas to finish up the season.

Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State: The freshman is on a roll with four straight wins and four straight games with at least 25 fantasy points. His favorite receiver, Hakeem Butler, is an absolute beast and he also has running back David Montgomery to draw defenders to the box. He legitimately could keep the feel-good story alive with upcoming games with Baylor, Texas and Kansas State.

BIG TEN

Reggie Corbin, RB, Illinois: In his last three games, Corbin has 468 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries for a ridiculous 11.7 yards per carry. It's not like he wasn't awesome in the first half of the season either as he racked up five touchdowns in the first five games of the year. Quarterback AJ Bush is also balling out with three 100-yard rushing performances this season. This week's opponent, Nebraska, just gave up 229 yards rushing to Ohio State.

Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan: At 8-1 and ranked on the fringe of the College Football Playoff, it's time for the Wolverines to put up style points and that's exactly what I expect them to do versus Rutgers this week. Despite a rather slow start to the season, Patterson has eclipsed 20 fantasy points in four straight games and even had a rushing score versus Penn State in Week 10. He's been efficient through the air with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

C-USA

DeAndre Torrey, RB, North Texas: Torrey came through for my recommendations in Week 9 with 15 carries for 130 yards and four total touchdowns. I can see him doing something very similar versus Old Dominion's shoddy defense this week as the Mean Green have one of the better offenses in the country.

Travis Fulgham, WR, Old Dominion

Fulgham has now logged four consecutive double-digit fantasy performances and should be owned in more leagues as he's benefitting tremendously from the Monarchs' horrible defense. Even in a 51-17 losing effort to Middle Tennessee in Week 9, the senior had 10 catches for 215 yards and a touchdown. He has a score in seven straight games and very well could make that eight games versus North Texas this week.

MAC

Gus Ragland, QB, Miami (OH)

Ragland can be a tough player to depend on for fantasy as you never know what you're going to get with the senior. You could get the guy who managed no touchdowns versus Cincinnati and Minnesota, one touchdown versus Akron or the guy who racked up four touchdowns versus Army and Buffalo. He'll need a third straight game with four touchdowns if the Redhawks want any chance of competing with in-state rival Ohio on Wednesday Night.

Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo

The freshman has logged four straight games with at least 17 carries and has five touchdowns in those games. The first half of the season saw a revolving door at the running back position, but it appears the Bulls have found their man to pair with the dynamic playmakers of quarterback Tyree Jackson and wide receiver Anthony Johnson. As long as the current trend continues, Patterson should be locked in to fantasy line-ups with soft games versus Kent State, Ohio and Bowling Green.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Toa Taua, RB, Nevada

The versatile freshman back has double-digit touches in his last seven games, including six touchdowns over that span. Nevada was on a bye last week, so he's likely available in most leagues and the Wolfpack should have no problems moving the ball versus Colorado State. He'll presumably also have success versus San Jose State and UNLV to close the season. QB Ty Gangi and WR McLane Mannix are also desirable fantasy targets.

Chase Jasmin, RB, San Diego State

While Juwan Washington has made his return from a broken clavicle, I would expect the Aztecs to utilize both Jasmin and Washington to close out the season. That means the sophomore still has value in deeper leagues considering he has a touchdown in five of his last seven games. With UNLV and Hawaii in two of their last three games, Jasmin should still provide decent return on investment.

PAC-12

Manny Wilkins, QB, Arizona State

Wilkins was nearly perfect in an upset of Utah while completing 19 of 24 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. It helps a ton when you have a receiver like N'Keal Harry who caught all three of Wilkins' touchdowns. Remaining games with UCLA, Oregon and Arizona should mean Wilkins and Harry connect for even more scores.

Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford

Available in over 50 percent of leagues, Smith has been on fire of late with a few 100-yard receiving performances. The Cardinal get to play the conference's worst team in Oregon State which means that Smith should have yet another productive night. The junior has at least six catches in five different games this season.

SEC

Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt

Vaughn made his return from an injury to the tune of 172 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in Week 9. With Vandy on a bye this past week, Vaughn's likely still available in leagues and off most players' radars. Vaughn and the Commodores will take on Missouri this week in a game which will probably have a lot of points.

Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M

I'm reluctant to make this recommendation, but Ole Miss did allow South Carolina's Jake Bentley to throw for 363 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10. The Rebels pretty much make any game they're in a shootout, so Mond should have a chance to shine in front of the home crowd. It's hard to target any specific receivers outside of tight end Jace Sternberger as Mond typically spreads the ball around.

SUN BELT

Trey Ragas, RB, Louisiana

Ragas is owned in deeper leagues, but available in other leagues with fewer teams. He should be owned in all leagues this week with an excellent matchup against Georgia State who has one of the worst defenses in the country. Ragas has double-digit carries in eight of nine games this year and is averaging north of five yards per carry. He's also reached the end-zone in seven straight games.

Derrick Gore, RB, UL-Monroe

Since QB Caleb Evans and WR Marcus Green are not available, go with the next best thing in Gore. UL-Monroe has scored at least 20 points in each of their last four games and Gore has double-digit carries in all of those games. In those four contests, Gore has rushed for 340 yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries for a respectable average of 6.1 yards per carry.

INDEPENDENTS

Kelvin Hopkins Jr., QB, Army: Hopkins and Army play the Lafayette Leopards who recently gave up 40 points to Holy Cross in an FCS Patriot League conference game. The Leopards should be no match for Hopkins and his running ability as he has at least 75 rushing yards in his last six games played and seven rushing scores in those contests.

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

Army (vs. Lafayette from FCS) – As mentioned in the Independents section, Army is at a different level than the Black Knights.

UAB (vs. Southern Miss) – The Blazers are really good and I would trust them at home.

Florida Atlantic (vs. Western Kentucky) – The Hilltoppers are far from good offensively and the Owls can control the clock with a great run game which helps the defense.

App State (at Texas State) – The Mountaineers didn't have much going offensively and still held Coastal Carolina to just 7 points on the road last week. They can do the same versus Texas State.