CFF Waiver Wire Gemstones Week 3

By John Laub
John Laub

 

 

 

         Waiver Wire Gemstones

                College Fantasy Football: Week 3 

 

 

 

Quarterbacks

Alan Bowman, Texas Tech
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 9%
As CFF diehards, we just want clarity on depth charts. Unfortunately, Coach Kliff Kingsbury provided little transparency at quarterback throughout the summer. Alan Bowman battled McLane Carter and Jeff Duffey for the starter in Lubbock, Texas. After three games, it is clear that the freshman is the best signal caller on the team. Against Houston, he produced stupendous statistics: 45 of 59 for 605 yards and five touchdowns. Bowman is the eighteenth rated CFF signal caller after scoring 19.5, 22.3 and 49.9 points to open the 2018 campaign. He is owned in less than 10% of leagues and must be acquired this week.

 

David Pindell, UConn
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 13%
Most people who read my columns and/or listen to the CFF: On Campus podcast know that I own season tickets to the Huskies. At times, I have mentioned David Pindell but did not want to appear as a UConn homer. Nevertheless, the dual-threat playmaker must be plucked off waivers after his tremendous afternoon against Rhode Island. An up-and-down performer, he ranks fourth among CFF quarterbacks, scoring 38, 10.5 and 56.1 points in three games. Pindell is a JUCO transfer and comfortable in new offensive coordinator John Dunn’s scheme. He has passed for 645 yards, rushed for 334 yards and totaled six touchdowns. UConn’s upcoming schedule (@Syracuse, vs. Cincinnati and @Memphis) will provide plenty of fantasy production from Pindell. 
 

 

Bryce Perkins, Virginia
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 37%
A JUCO transfer and January enrollee on campus, Bruce Perkins participated in spring practices and earned the starting role during training camp for the Cavaliers. He has surpassed even the most optimistic expectations while leading Virginia to two victories in three games. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, the dual-threat signal caller ranks among the top 20 CFF quarterbacks. He has scored over thirty points twice while passing for 670 yards, completing 50 of 78 passes and tossing seven touchdowns. Perkins also totaled 239 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries. Virginia hosts Louisville and travels to North Carolina State over the next two weeks, and Perkins will surely score over 25 points in each contest.

Additional Quarterbacks:

Anthony Brown, Boston College
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 4%
David Blough, Purdue
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 2%


Running Backs

Pooka Williams, Jr., Kansas
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 18%
In recent years, CFF owners have not examined the depth charts of the Kansas Jayhawks for fantasy stars. Two games ago, freshman Pooka Williams earned the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after running for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He followed up the performance with another great afternoon: He carried the pigskin 18 times for 158 yards and a touchdown. Williams became the first freshman in school history to open his tenure with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. A highly-rated recruit, Williams is a 5-foot-10 and 170-pound speedster, who employs noteworthy vision and ankle-breaking agility to explode to daylight. Williams is the asset CFF fanatics want to own in the Jayhawks' backfield for the rest of the year.

Stevie Scott, Indiana
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 41%
On Saturday, I needed a starter with Rodney Anderson out for the season, and I scooped up Stevie Scott off waivers. I liked the matchup against Ball State and hoped for a productive performance. Scott surpassed my confidence with 114 yards rushing and two touchdowns. (Unfortunately, I still lost the game). Against Virginia the week before, Scott earned 31 carries for 204 yards and scored once. At 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds, the bulldozing back harkens back to yesteryear with a punishing between the tackles style. In two of the next three weeks, the upcoming schedule is difficult (Michigan State, Rutgers and Ohio State), but Scott should not be available in nearly 60% of leagues.

Ta’Zhawn Henry, Texas Tech
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 1%
Another freshman ball carrier making an impact, Ta’Zhawn Henry rushed for over 3,300 yards and 42 touchdowns at Lamar High School in Houston and chose the Red Raiders over Arizona, Baylor, Boise State and Colorado. Sophomore Da’Leon Ward and senior Tre King missed their second consecutive contest, and the 5-foot-7 and 170-pounder took advantage of the opportunity. On 24 carries, he scampered for 111 yards and four touchdowns. If you need a spot starter, Henry could be in line for another productive game against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State if he starts.

Additional Running Backs:

Torrance Marable, Coastal Carolina
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 12%
Ryquell Armstead, Temple
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 10%

 

The Twitterverse Responds. Time to hit the Waiver Wire in College Fantasy Football: Who are you targeting this week?

          Player: Votes (Percentage)

          QB A. Bowman, Texas Tech: 41 (39%)

          RB Pooka Williams, Jr., Kansas: 20 (19%)

          WR Antoine Wesley, Texas Tech: 27 (26%)

          QB David Pindell, UConn: 16 (14%)

          Total Votes: 104

 

Wide Receivers

Antoine Wesley, Texas Tech
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 3%
I know…I know…I know…three Red Raiders decorate the Waiver Wire Gemstones column this week. Among FBS schools, Texas Tech ranks second in Total Offense (1,873 yards) and third in points scored (55.7 ppg.). Therefore, CFF zealots must acquire a piece of the action. In last week’s Surreptitious Starters column, I identified Antoine Wesley as a sleeper to insert into lineups. He absolutely went wild, seizing 13 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns. The junior playmaker leads the Red Raiders in every receiving category (23 for 413 and 4) and should be the top target this week across all leagues.

K.J. Osborn, Buffalo
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 2%
On a team with Anthony Johnson, it is shocking that K.J. Osborn leads the Bulls in yards (300) and touchdowns (5). The junior has corralled 16 passes and averaged 18.8 yards per catch. With Tyree Jackson behind center, Buffalo has won all three games while averaging 39.7 ppg. On Saturday against Eastern Michigan, Osborn gained 188 yards on seven catches, including touchdowns from 70 and 75 yards. In the MAC Conference, the Bulls schedule does not present any difficult road blocks the remainder of the season and the passing game will continue to soar. At 6-foot-0 and 200 pounds, the speedster will assuredly profit from single coverage and continue to beat opponents vertically. 

 


Jeff Thomas, Miami
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 12%
The vast majority of college football devotees—and Miami fanatics—alleged that Ahmmon Richards would be the primary receiver in the Hurricanes’ aerial assault. Unfortunately, Richards cannot stay on the field, and Jeff Thomas has ascended to the top of the pecking order. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, the sophomore leads the club in every receiving category with 11 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns while averaging a whopping 27.6 yards per reception. Thomas is clearly worth acquiring this week.

Additional Wide Receivers:

Aaron Fuller, Washington
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 7%
Blake Banham, Eastern Michigan
Fantrax Ownership Percentage: 11%