CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 9

Waiver Wire Watch: Players to Pick Up Week 9

Not nearly as many upsets in Week 8, yet it was still another entertaining week for fantasy in the college world. Arkansas State's Justice Hansen is on fire, averaging an absurd 35 fantasy points a week and he was available on most waiver wires last week. I'll try at some more recommendations like that one for Week 9. 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

Adrian Killins Jr, RB, UCF: Due to Hurricane Irma causing the cancellation of the Knights' game with Georgia Tech, UCF gets to play Austin Peay in Week 9. If you already own QB McKenzie Milton or WR Tre'Quan Smith, you're ready to go. If you don't have a Knight, go with Killins, owned in only 3 percent of leagues. The small, but extremely fast running back had two of the team's four touchdowns versus Navy in Week 8.

Ben Hicks, QB, SMU: Hicks is owned in only 23 percent of leagues even though he's averaging around 24 fantasy points a game in standard leagues. With stud receivers like Trey Quinn and Courtland Sutton, the Mustangs should have no problems versus a Tulsa offense that is giving up over 500 yards a game.
*Tulane vs. Memphis and South Florida vs. Houston are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

ACC

Darrin Hall, RB, Pittsburgh: Move aside, Qadree Ollison, because the Panthers have found their starting running back in Hall, who ran over Duke to the tune of a career-high 254 yards and three touchdowns on just 24 carries. I would be surprised if Coach Pat Narduzzi doesn't stick with Hall versus a Virginia squad that gave up 41 points and 237 rushing yards to Boston College this past Saturday.

Travis Homer, RB, Miami: Mark Walton went down with a season-ending ankle injury and yet Homer is still owned in just 33 percent of fantasy leagues. After accumulating 122 yards, including a 33-yard score which clinched the game for the Hurricanes, Homer will have a chance to shine against a bad North Carolina team. If not already on your radar, Ahmmon Richards should be owned in all leagues as the top receiver in the Hurricanes' offense.
*Virginia Tech (vs. Duke) has a soft matchup so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

BIG 12

Alex Delton, QB, Kansas State: Delton's 142 yards and three touchdowns on the ground versus Oklahoma is more than enough production for him to be picked up in all fantasy leagues. That's not even considering that the Wildcats play Kansas this week, a team being dominated by pretty much everyone. Kansas has been outscored 88-0 over its last two games, meaning that Delton has the potential to have a monster game. I don't really trust any of the other Kansas State players for fantasy at this point.

Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma: Anderson was just too good versus Kansas State to not receive more opportunities in the near future. His 177 total yards and two touchdowns were a big reason Oklahoma held on with a 42-35 win over the Wildcats. While I don't believe they will completely move on from freshman Trey Sermon, Anderson could be in line for at least double-digit touches versus a bad Texas Tech defense.
*Oklahoma St vs. West Virginia and Texas (vs. Baylor) are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

BIG TEN

Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin: The undefeated Badgers have the best matchup in the Big Ten with a road game at lowly Illinois. Cephus' ceiling may be limited by the play of QB Alex Hornibrook, but he's still a good bet to score a touchdown most weeks. He's owned in only 6 percent of leagues and has five scores on the season. There should be enough scoring and production in this one for tight end Troy Fumagalli, RB Jonathan Taylor, and Cephus to please fantasy owners.

LJ Scott, RB, Michigan State: A repeat recommendation from last week, Scott is still owned in only 35 percent of leagues. With the weather getting nastier across the Midwest, the 6-1 Spartans will lean heavily on Scott in all of their remaining games. In the last two games, Scott has a combined 47 carries and three catches for a total of 332 yards and three touchdowns.
*Michigan (vs. Rutgers) and Indiana (vs. Maryland) have soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

CONFERENCE USA

Jason Driskel, QB, Florida Atlantic: In his last two games, Driskel has seven touchdowns, including five on the ground. The Owls put up 69 points on a decent North Texas team and appear to be the best team in the conference. There's always a good chance RB Devin Singletary takes over the game, but that doesn't mean Driskel can't have a productive fantasy performance as well. It's also worth mentioning that Driskel should be getting one of FAU's top receivers, Kalib Woods, back in the fold soon.

Korey Robertson, WR, Southern Miss: Robertson has 37 catches for 515 yards and seven touchdowns and yet he's owned in just 16 percent of fantasy leagues. There aren't many corners in the conference that can guard the senior receiver, so look for the Golden Eagles to lean on one of their best players versus UAB, Tennessee, Rice, Charlotte and Marshall.
*Louisiana Tech (at Rice), Old Dominion at North Texas, UTSA (at UTEP) are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

MAC

Jon'Vea Johnson, WR, Toledo: Coming off his best game of the season, Johnson had five catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns versus Akron. While I would rather own Diontae Johnson, Jon'Vea is worth adding if that's not an option. There's only three games on the MAC Slate this week, so some creativity is needed.

Tommy Mister, RB, Northern Illinois: Mister is only a recommendation if starter Jordan Huff is forced to miss additional time with an undisclosed injury. He was effective while rushing for 115 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Bowling Green. Keep in mind that dual-threat quarterback Marcus Childers is going to continue to garner a significant amount of carries in the Huskies offense.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Josh Hokit, RB, Fresno State: Hokit has five touchdowns in his last three games, including three scores at San Diego State. The surging Bulldogs will play a UNLV team which is giving up 247.5 rushing yards per game. QB Marcus McMaryion and RB Jordan Mims are also worth considering in most leagues in a game that should have a ton of points.

Christian Chapman, QB, San Diego State: This is purely a matchup play as Chapman and the Aztecs look to bounce back against a Hawaii team allowing 294.7 passing yards per game. The junior signal-caller has a potentially low floor but has been smart with the football with eight touchdowns and just one interception. With a stud RB in Rashaad Penny, Chapman should have some room to dice up the Warriors suspect secondary.
*Air Force at Colorado State and Boise State at Utah State are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

PAC-12

JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford: The Cardinal plays an Oregon State team giving up 278.1 passing yards per game on Thursday Night. There's no doubt that RB Bryce Love will get around 20 touches, but there's still plenty of room for Arcega-Whiteside to build on his 19 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns this year. Moreover, the Cardinal was off this past week, so most of its players are available on waiver wires.

Jamal Morrow, RB, Washington State: I still don't understand why Morrow is owned in only 32 percent of fantasy leagues. He's been an extremely versatile running back with 412 yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries on the ground (7.4 yards per carry) and 29 catches for 251 yards and five touchdowns. He has a great opportunity to perform versus the Arizona Wildcats this week.
*California (at Colorado), Washington (vs. UCLA) and USC vs. Arizona State are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

SEC

David Williams, RB, Arkansas: Williams has been the most consistent back for the Razorbacks with double-digit carries in four games, not including the games versus Alabama and South Carolina which were absolute blowouts for the opposing teams. This week's opponent, Ole Miss, is giving up 260.6 rushing yards per game and Williams is a good bet to come through with a touchdown or two. Furthermore, freshman Chase Hayden's absence due to a fractured leg should open up more carries for Williams moving forward.

Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri: When you catch four passes for 57 yards and three touchdowns from the tight end position, the fantasy world is going to take notice. Because QB Drew Lock and WR J'Mon Moore are finally owned in over half of fantasy leagues, it's time to look somewhere else in the Tigers' potent passing game. For some odd reason, Missouri is playing yet another non-conference game against a mediocre Connecticut defense this week.
*Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M and Tennessee vs. Kentucky are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

SUN BELT

Justice Hansen, QB, Arkansas State: I've done this a few times already this season, but I'm recommending Hansen until he's owned in more leagues. His 35 fantasy points per week in standard leagues and 42 percent ownership rate just shouldn't happen. The dual-threat quarterback should build upon his 22 total touchdowns against New Mexico State this week.

Xavier Johnson, RB, South Alabama: Johnson is coming off a game with 11 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown where he became the Jaguars' career rushing leader. He hasn't been bad this season while averaging 6.0 yards per carry and racking up six touchdowns on the ground. He's owned in only 3 percent of fantasy leagues and has upcoming matchups with Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Georgia Southern.
*Troy (vs. Georgia Southern), App State (at UMass) and Idaho vs. Louisiana-Monroe are soft matchups so if any of their starters are available, they should be considered for this week.

DEFENSES to Stream for Week 9

Texas (at Baylor) – The Longhorns were very impressive while holding Oklahoma State to just 13 points in a close loss. Baylor has a lot to figure out with their offense and are in the midst of a QB controversy.

Michigan State (at Northwestern) – Another road team, but there's no reason this game shouldn't go as most of the Spartans games have been going with minimal scoring.
Kansas State (at Kansas) – Owned in only 13 percent of leagues, Kansas State has a dream matchup. Kansas managed a total of only 21 offensive yards versus TCU.
Troy (vs. Georgia Southern) – Troy's defense is averaging nine fantasy points per contest and should overpower a Georgia Southern team at home this week.