CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 12

Waiver Wire Watch: Players to Pick Up Week 12

It's playoff time in the college fantasy football world as we have only two weeks of regular season football left. If your team is still alive, these guys could help you find the championship game next week. As a friendly reminder, make sure to keep up with injury news as this article is posted early in the week. As always, I'll get to any questions or comments you have in the comments section below.

AAC

Hayden Moore, QB, Cincinnati: Despite not being owned in pretty much any fantasy league, Moore has been good in certain spots this season with a total of 18 touchdowns. Moore has scored at least 20 fantasy points in each of his last three games and has an extremely favorable matchup against Eastern Carolina this week.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, USF: Valdes-Scantling and the Bulls were off this past week which is likely the reason he's owned in only 27 percent of leagues. In his past two games, the senior has hauled in 16 catches for 338 yards and a touchdown. He'll pair with QB Quinton Flowers to go up against a Tulsa defense that is giving up 548 yards and 38 points per game.
*SMU vs. Memphis, UCF vs. Temple and Houston at Tulane are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

ACC

AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College: The Eagles lean heavily on Dillon, who has received at least 33 carries in three of his last four games. On the season, he has rushed for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns. Boston College will play a non-conference game against a Connecticut team giving up 551 yards per game. The freshman is owned in just 29 percent of leagues.

Cam Akers, RB, Florida State: I previewed it last week as Akers didn't do much against Clemson with a total of 59 yards on 13 touches. This week, the Seminoles play a much easier non-conference game with Delaware State and Akers should have a career-day. The freshman phenom is owned in just 35 percent of leagues and is perhaps one of the best starts at the position in Week 12.
*Miami (vs. Virginia), Clemson (vs. Citadel), North Carolina (vs. Western Carolina) and Syracuse vs. Louisville are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

BIG 12

Kyle Hicks, RB, TCU: With teammate Darius Anderson going down with a possible season-ending leg injury, Hicks will become the primary back for the Horned Frogs' final two regular season games against Texas Tech and Baylor. He's received at least double digit carries in each of his last six games and also catches a decent amount of passes with 16 catches on the season. Sewo Olonilua will also see work, but I still expect Hicks to be the primary option in the backfield.

Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma: If you haven't taken my advice in the past, here's your last chance as Anderson is owned in 29 percent of leagues. He's the hottest running back in the country with four straight 100-yard rushing games and a total of nine touchdowns in those games. With Kansas and West Virginia to finish the season, Anderson should put a cherry on top of what has already been a breakout year for the sophomore running back.
*Iowa State (at Baylor) and Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

BIG TEN

DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State: There's no chance you can pick up Trace McSorley, Saquon Barkley, or even Mike Gesicki, so go out and get the next best thing in Hamilton, who is owned in just 16 percent of leagues. He's caught a touchdown in three straight games and has 39 catches for 653 yards and seven touchdowns. Penn State should finish the season with a lot of points against Nebraska and Maryland.

Brian Lewerke, QB, Michigan State: Lewerke was shut down by Ohio State with just 131 yards passing and two interceptions on Saturday. That's not likely to occur again versus the likes of Maryland and Rutgers over the final two weeks of the regular season. He's available in 80 percent of leagues and provides some upside in the running game as well.
*Rutgers vs. Indiana, Iowa (vs. Purdue) and Ohio State (vs. Illinois) are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

CONFERENCE USA

Kwadra Griggs, QB, Southern Miss: I recommended WR Korey Robertson last week and he didn't disappoint with eight catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. I expect both Robertson and Griggs to keep the momentum flowing against Charlotte in Week 12. Griggs was dropped in most leagues as he was sporting a cast on his hand due to an injury. The cast has been removed and he threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns versus Rice on Saturday.

Teddy Veal, WR, Louisiana Tech: Veal has quietly put together a nice season with 62 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. I expect him to finish the season strong with matchups against UTEP and UTSA which should have the junior season pushing for a 1,000 yard season. He's available in around half of fantasy leagues and could be a sneaky pickup to help your team win.
*Middle Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky, Rice vs. Old Dominion, Marshall at UTSA and FIU at Florida Atlantic are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

MAC

Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo: Jackson reached career-highs with 406 yards and three touchdowns versus Bowling Green last week. He also has a talented receiver in Anthony Johnson, who has 63 catches for 1,048 yards and eight touchdowns this year. That all adds up to a recipe for success against a Ball State squad which has surrendered 56 and 63 points respectively over the last two weeks. Jackson is available in pretty much every league.

Jonathan Ward, RB, Central Michigan: Ward is a repeat recommendation from last week which had to be done as he gets to go up against a Kent State defense which gave up 292 rushing yards to Western Michigan. He's owned in just 16 percent of leagues, which makes him primed to help fantasy teams make a championship run. Versus Eastern Michigan in Week 11, Ward rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Shane Morris and wide receiver Corey Willis are also playmakers who should be owned in all fantasy leagues this week.
*Ohio (at Akron), Toledo (at Bowling Green) and Eastern Michigan at Miami of Ohio are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Nick Stevens, QB, Colorado State: Stevens and the Rams will be able to do whatever they want against San Jose State this week. While RB Dalyn Dawkins should have another big week, Stevens will connect with wide receiver Michael Gallup enough times to make it worth your while. Stevens has been excellent this season with 24 touchdowns versus just 10 interceptions.

LaJuan Hunt, RB, Utah State: Hunt gets to finish the season versus Hawaii and Air Force after running for 117 yards and two touchdowns against New Mexico in his last game. Hunt has been effective at converting runs to touchdowns with six scores in his last three games. He's available in all leagues and should be added if there's not much out there for running backs on your wire.
*UNLV (at New Mexico), Air Force at Boise State and San Diego State (vs. Nevada) are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

PAC-12

Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA: Lasley has missed some games this year due to disciplinary reasons which is the biggest attribute to his 32 percent ownership. When he does play in the game, he's one of the best as evidenced by his seven catches for 162 yards and a touchdown versus Arizona State. Quarterback Josh Rosen and the Bruins will need Lasley to be a playmaker versus a USC team who is clicking on all cylinders, especially with Darren Andrews (knee) out for the year.

Demario Richard, RB, Arizona State: Richard has stringed together two straight 100-yard performances and gets to go up against an Oregon State team who is giving up 223 rushing yards per game. With only 8 percent ownership, he's worth picking up on the waiver wire. I would also consider QB Manny Wilkins and RB Kalen Ballage if you can't get Richard.
*Arizona vs. Oregon and Stanford (vs. Cal) are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

SEC

Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn: The Tigers are for real, evident from their 40-17 drubbing of Georgia in which Stidham threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns to go along with a rushing score. He's available in 64 percent of leagues and plays Louisiana-Monroe in Week 12. While you can't find Kerryon Johnson on the waiver wire, Stidham could be a steal for a spot start this week.

Aeris Williams, RB, Mississippi State: Williams managed 106 total yards and two touchdowns versus Alabama, which is more than enough to convince me that he's worth starting against Arkansas this week. The Razorbacks are giving up 35.8 points per game and couldn't stop LSU's run-game last week. Williams would be a potential play the following week versus Mississippi as well.
*Alabama (vs. Mercer), Georgia (vs. Kentucky), Florida (vs. UAB), South Carolina (vs. Wofford) and Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

SUN BELT

Cole Garvin, QB, South Alabama: Garvin and the Jaguars pulled a surprising upset of Arkansas State on Saturday with the quarterback completing 25 of 45 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns in his first start. As a signal caller, Garvin is nothing special, but he should be able to have productive days versus Georgia Southern and New Mexico State to finish the regular season.

Elijah King, WR, Texas State: King was a recommendation from last week and came through with seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Bobcats' defense is so putrid that King is going to be heavily targeted in games versus Arkansas State and Troy.
*New Mexico State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette and Coastal Carolina vs. Idahao are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

DEFENSES to Stream for Week 12

Colorado State (vs. San Jose State) – San Jose State is making a strong case as the worst team in all of college football as it allowed Nevada's defense to rack up around 30 fantasy points last week.

Central Michigan (at Kent State) – While the Golden Flashes are the home team, it doesn't matter much as they have a statistically horrible offense.
LSU (at Tennessee) – Tennessee recently fired their head coach and LSU is available in half of fantasy leagues.
South Carolina (vs. Wofford) – I'm sure that Alabama (vs. Mercer) isn't available, so get the next best thing with the Gamecocks hosting Wofford.