CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 4

Although we had a few of the games wiped out due to COVID-19 (RIP Baylor-Houston for another year), we had a wonderfully action-packed Week 3. I would like to thank Chris Morgan for stepping in last week and I'm jumping for joy to get back in to it for what looks like our first full college football slate of the year. Not only all of that, but we now know the Big 10 is starting back up in October and other conferences that have postponed are meeting this week to see if they will give it a go. While I technically could recommend players for future weeks from those postponed conferences, I'm going to keep my recommendations to players taking part in the subject week in order to help you win your fantasy match-ups now! However, that's a subtle hint to go out and get those studs who have been dropped in most leagues.

Slate Background: Week 4 is loaded as we have the majority of the Big 12, ACC and SEC schools playing conference match-ups. The key will be to target those weak defenses from the Power Conferences and to not forget about the Group of 5 schools in other games.

AAC

Marlon Williams, WR, UCF
Williams was a beast with 10 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns at Georgia Tech on Saturday. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel said the Golden Knights are the best college football team in Florida. I'm not so sure about that, but I do know Williams is on a role as his last three games in 2019 were nothing to sniff at; 21 catches for 287 yards and two touchdowns on 29 targets. Even if you think the big game in Week 3 was due to an injury to number one receiver Tre Nixon, it's fairly obvious that Williams can make an impact too.

Ulysses Bentley, RB, SMU
Are we sure that TJ McDaniel is the starting running back for the Mustangs? Against Texas State in Week 1, it was Bentley who received the goal-line work and against North Texas in Week 3, it was Bentley who exploded for over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including an 84-yard scamper where he showed off some elite speed. Worst case scenario, McDaniel & Bentley split carries versus SF Austin which is ok as Bentley has the potential to break off some big plays. Moreover, adding this redshirt freshman with a majestic name really ups the profile of your fantasy squad in that regard.

ACC

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Georgia Tech
With Jordan Mason nursing what could be a serious injury, Gibbs gets an opportunity to shine. The true freshman is a legit talent who converted 19 touches in to 126 total yards and two touchdowns versus UCF. I like his outlook against a Syracuse squad who has really struggled on the defensive end in their first two games. Going past this next week, he's a borderline start versus Louisville and hard to play against Clemson.

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Flowers stretched the field in a big way versus Duke with five catches for 162 yards and a touchdown which equates to a glistening 32.4 yards per catch. Not many think of Boston College having much of a passing game, but Flowers has the skills to be a number one receiver. The Eagles should be able to find him deep a few more times over the next couple of contests against Texas State and North Carolina.

BIG 12

John Lovett & Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
With this recommendation, I'm hoping that the Bears can see the field as they were forced to postpone their game with Houston due to COVID-19 concerns. With Baylor playing Kansas who gave up 4.4 yards per carry and 185 rushing yards to Coastal Carolina in Week 2, I can see a path to both Lovett and Ebner having impactful fantasy performances. Lovett will do more damage on the ground and Ebner has more value in PPR formats due to his pass-catching skills. I've also named both of them in case either of them are involved in a quarantine situation.

Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
The Sooners' backfield is a mess right now for predictive purposes as T.J. Pledger is dealing with an injury and Rhamondre Stevenson is out on a suspension. For that reason and in order to get a piece of the Oklahoma offense, I'm going with a true freshman receiver who hauled in three of his four targets for 80 yards and a touchdown in his debut. I really liked that Mims and Spencer Rattler connected on a 58-yard score early in the blowout of Missouri State. That makes me feel like there will be some plays in the game script for Mims when Oklahoma hosts Kansas State this week.

BIG TEN

Currently Postponed (*Coming Back in Week 8)

C-USA

Frank Harris, QB, UTSA
Back-to-back games with over 30 fantasy points, all while being low-owned in fantasy leagues, will surely get you on my waiver list. The Roadrunners are 2-0 and it's mostly because of Harris' 28 rushing attempts for 155 yards and five touchdowns. He's been ok through the air while completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 483 yards and two touchdowns. Keep in mind that UTSA did play a double-overtime game with Texas State to open the season. Nonetheless, UTSA plays Middle Tennessee State this week who has given up 42 points at Army and 47 points vs. Troy in their first two games. This game has potential to have a lot of points and be somewhat competitive, plus it gives you something to root for on Friday Night.

Adrian Hardy, WR, Louisiana Tech
I mentioned Hardy a couple of weeks ago as the Bulldogs' number one receiver and he came through at Southern Miss with six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. His catch-and-run for a 32-yard score helped ignite Louisiana Tech to a comeback win on the road. He's still available in a ton of leagues and should have a big role in what could be a really fun game against Houston Baptist, the darlings of the FCS world.

*Old Dominion is not playing in Fall 2020

MAC

Currently Postponed

MWC

Currently Postponed

PAC-12

Currently Postponed

SEC

Jalen Preston, WR, Texas A&M
The big boys in the SEC are back and here's an excellent opportunity to pounce on a player that no one really drafted in college fantasy leagues. If you have been following the news for the Aggies, their top wideout, Jhamon Ausbon, opted out of the 2020 season and Camron Buckley was lost to a knee injury. That leaves the unproven Preston atop the depth chart. If you can also snag sophomore tight end, Jalen Wydermyer, I would do so as fellow tight end Baylor Cupp elected for shoulder surgery. I expect Preston and Wydermyer to get the majority of the targets in the passing game when Texas A&M plays Vanderbilt this week. Additionally, they'll have to attempt to throw the ball to someone when they play Alabama the following week.

Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina
Muse projects to be one of the best tight ends in the conference and wasn't on many people's radar because he was recovering from ACL surgery in 2019. The Gamecocks don't have the best defense by any means, so I anticipate them needing to throw the ball against SEC foes, starting with a better Tennessee squad this week. South Carolina also lost their top receiver in Bryan Edwards to the NFL, so Muse could pick up some of those targets.

SUN BELT

Daetrich Harrington, RB, Appalachian State
The Mountaineers were underwhelming to say the least in a 17-7 loss on the road at Marshall. Harrington rushed for just 30 yards on 12 carries after opening the season with 60 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries versus Charlotte. App State could really use an easier opponent in Week 4 and that's exactly what they get with Campbell, an FCS team. While back-up Camerun Peoples is still lurking out there, I think Harrington is the better player. It's not in the stat-line, but Harrington did have a 76-yard touchdown run called back due to a penalty this past week. I like him to get a touchdown or two this week if you're in need of a running back.

Kawaan Baker, WR, South Alabama
I'm a sucker for weekday primetime college football games, so I'll bite when it comes to UAB at South Alabama on Thursday Night. C'mon, I know you want to watch the college Jags over the Jacksonville Jags who have the Dolphins that same night. Baker is still available in plenty of leagues and has been on fire through the first two games; 11 catches for 211 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets.

INDEPENDENTS

Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Auburn transfer had himself quite the debut for the Flames with 168 rushing yards and three touchdowns against a decent Western Kentucky defense. There's no reason he won't continue to eat up dual-threat yards against FIU, North Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe & Syracuse over the next month of the season. I trust Willis to have a big year in Hugh Freeze's underrated Liberty offense.

*New Mexico State, UConn & UMass are not playing in Fall 2020

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

Boston College (vs. Texas State) – The Eagles were impressive while holding Duke to just six points and forcing five turnovers. If they can do that against a formidable ACC foe, they should have absolutely no issues with Texas State.

Texas A&M (vs. Vanderbilt) – The Aggies have nine starters back on defense and play arguably the worst team in the SEC this season, so I expect them to have a solid first week.

BYU (vs. Troy) – The Cougars absolutely embarrassed Navy by holding them to three points and then Navy went and beat Tulane. I'm thinking it's very possible BYU is pretty good and should be in another class than Troy.

SUMMARY & TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Utilizing the two players for each conference, I'll list out who my top recommendations are on a weekly basis by position:

QB: Liberty Malik Willis, UTSA Frank Harris
RB: SMU Ulysses Bentley, App State Daetrich Harrington, Georgia Tech Jahmyr Gibbs
WR: UCF Marlon Williams, Boston College Zay Flowers, Louisiana Tech Adrian Hardy
TE: South Carolina Nick Muse
D/ST: Texas A&M (vs. Vanderbilt)