It has been nearly three years since I looked forward to a UConn home game with such glee. Syracuse visits the Rent on Saturday night, and I can’t wait to see running back Sean Tucker. Only if all of my college fantasy football sleepers hit paydirt multiple times, would I be happier than a victory over the Orange.
I have identified nine players, who are possibly available on the waiver wire in your season-long CFF leagues to place in lineups. Matt Hicks and I breakdown the upcoming College Fantasy Football slate on the CFF Week 2 show presented by the Rookie Big Board, and CFF fanatics in the Twitterverse provide insight and analysis for potential starters this week.
Enjoy my fellow CFF diehards!
Scholar’s CFF Serendipitous Starters: Week 2
QB Donovan Smith, Texas Tech vs. Houston
O/U 65.5, Texas Tech -3
Opponent Defense: 337 passing yards and 3 touchdowns
Easy decision selecting Donovan Smith this week against Houston. He checks nearly every box when evaluating sleepers: High O/U projection, home-field advantage, high-octane, passing scheme and overrated defensive opponent.
QB Todd Centeio, James Madison vs. Norfolk State
Opponent Defense: FCS Program
I cannot ignore an offense that put up 44 points in its first-ever FBS game. This week, James Madison welcomes Norfolk State to town. Todd Centeio is coming off a 6-TD performance, and I expect another productive outing from the sixth-year signal caller, who also surpassed 100-yards rushing against Middle Tennessee.
QB Michael Penix, Jr., Washington vs. Portland State
Opponent Defense: FCS Program
I know that the numbers came against a MAC opponent. Yet, I am still stunned that Michael Penix, Jr. passed for over 300 yards and four touchdowns against Kent State. The Huskies host a Portland State club that surrendered nearly 30 fantasy points to QB Chevan Cordeiro last weekend. Penix transferred from Indiana and beat out Sam Huard and Dylan Morris for the starting job. Start him with confidence versus the Vikings.
RB Evan Hull, Northwestern vs. Duke
O/U 58.5, Northwestern -10
Opponent Defense: 65 rushing yards and 0 touchdowns
My grandmother always stated “out of sight, out of mind” when we were kids. One of the proverbs that I will never forget. It applies well to college fantasy football. Northwestern manhandled Nebraska’s front seven two weeks ago and appears that Evan Hull’s outing has been forgotten. I have not…Hull deserves to be started in flex spots against Duke at home.
RB Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt vs. Wake Forest
O/U 66, Vanderbilt +13
Opponent Defense: 83 rushing yards and 0 touchdowns
In the summer of 2020, I made a Dynasty trade for Re’Mahn Davis after his productive freshman campaign at Temple in which he approached the 1,000-yard barrier. Unfortunately, he only played four games in 2020 before transferring to Vandetbilt.
Davis is off to a good start for the undefeated Commodores, averaging 6.3 yards per carry on 29 runs and recording four catches for 25 yards. He has also scored twice—one rushing and one receiving. I have zero faith in the Demon Deacons’ defense and I will always highlight a starting runner expected to garner 20 touches in a high O/U projection.
RB Jaydn Ott, California vs. UNLV
O/U 48, California -13
Opponent Defense: 50 rushing yards and 1 touchdown
College fantasy football managers should have listened closely to coach Justin Wilcox: “Jaydn Ott is a productive running back with a lot to be excited about. He is a smooth athlete with an impressive combination of burst, lateral quickness and long speed that will translate well at this level.” (calbears.com).
In his first game as a true freshman, Ott lived up to the praise of coach Wilcox and impressed the CFF community last week. He scampered for 104 rushing yards on 17 carries and secured two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. The 6’0” and 205-pounder is a power back who will have no trouble steamrolling the Rebels’ defense.
WR Cam Camper, Indiana vs. Idaho
Opponent Defense: FCS Program
The JUCO transfer from Trinity Valley earned a whopping 17 targets and logged 11 catches for 156 yards against Illinois last Friday night. At 6’2” and 202-pounds, Cam Camper profiles as a classic Big 10 receiver, who uses his body to govern opponents, and should have no problem dominating a FCS secondary.
WR Keylon Stokes, Tulsa vs. Northern Illinois
O/U 62, Tulsa -6
Opponent Defense: 276 passing yards and 3 touchdowns
After the 2019 season, I drafted Keylon Stokes in so many CFF leagues expecting another 1,000-yard campaign. Stokes only played in 13 games combined in 2020 & 2021 and failed to replicate his success on the gridiron. He regained some of his magic touch against Wyoming with 11 catches for 169 yards and a score. I look forward to another spectacular outing against the Huskies on Saturday.
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, West Virginia vs. Kansas
O/U 60, West Virginia -13.5
Opponent Defense: 97 passing yards and a touchdown
If only we had the answers to the test beforehand. Over the offseason, CFF managers wondered who would be the big-play receiver in the Mountaineers’ aerial assault for offensive coordinator Graham Harrell? It appears those who drafted Bryce Ford-Wheaton aced the exam.
In the season opener against Pittsburgh, he was targeted 15 times and registered nine catches for 97 yards and two scores. While touchdowns are not a sticky or predictable statistic, targets are and Harrell likely continues to dial up plenty of routes that highlight Ford-Wheaton versus the Jayhawks.
CFF Positional Battles for Week 2 Matchups
Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the best under-the-radar quarterback to start this week in CFF leagues?
- Daniel Richardson, CMU: 10%
- Todd Centeio, JMU: 25%
- Donovan Smith, Texas Tech: 48%
- Michael Penix, Jr., Washington: 17%
“Gimme Michael Penix Jr. My friend hated on me when we spoke about Penix, but 345 passing yards and four touchdowns to 10 different receivers!! Let’s go!” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Donovan Smith: The O/U sits at 65.5 and should be a competitive game with lots of offense. Last week, UTSA QB Frank Harris went off on the Cougars’ Defense for 38 fantasy points!” @RJsFantasyFB
“Smith for me. The injury to Tyler Shough will lead to, maybe, the best QB pickup of the season.” @aceholesrule
“I’m having a hard time deciding between Donovan Smith against Houston and Garrett Shrader vs. UConn.” @copieps
“Out of this bunch, Donovan Smith has the chance to be a game breaker this week.” @CFF_Jared
“Donovan Smith: I mean he is in the same offense as Zappe was last year AND he can run….” @JustinNottingh6
Identify the running back you are interested in starting based on the matchup in CFF?
- Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt: 19%
- Henry Parrish, Miami: 30%
- Reese White, Coastal Carolina: 25%
- Evan Hull, Northwestern: 26%
“Love Henry Parrish but Evan Hull is a natural ‘dawg’ with no competition for touches.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Reece White: Half of Chanticleers’ 1-2 punch. Braydon Bennett is banged up and missed last week so be sure to check his status before the game. If he’s out again, White is the play for me. He torched Army last week with 23 touches for 153 total yards and 3 touchdowns!” @RJsFantasyFB
“Henry Parrish for me. Snoop played well last year for Ol’ Miss, and I thought he may take over for Knighton this season. I think the torch has been passed.” @aceholesrule
“A lot of Henry Parrish managers are going to be disappointed when Knighton returns this week. Parrish has not monopolized this backfield like it appeared last week.” @CFF_Jared
Among wide receivers, who are you targeting to place in the starting lineup this week?
- Keylon Stokes, Tulsa: 22%
- CJ Johnson, East Carolina: 8%
- Demario Douglas, Liberty: 12%
- Traeshon Holden, Alabama: 58%
“Traeshon Holden led the Crimson Tide last week going 5 receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. I love the 64.5 O/U and Texas will put up more of a fight than Utah State. While it’s a bit of a gamble with such a small-sample size, I’m rolling with Holden until I see more.” @RJsFantasyFB
“STOKES for me! Keylon Stokes must be 30-years old by now because it seems he has been around since I had brown hair!” @aceholesrule
“The WR No. 2 for Alabama is a much more valuable asset to me than any of these other guys on this list.” @CFF_Jared
“Demario Douglas said to Shaa ‘hold my beer’ with 19.4 yards per catch and two touchdowns.” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Traeshon Holden, just look at the track record of Alabama’s No. 1 or No. 2 WR’s.” @JustinNottingh6
Rookie Big Board presents College Fantasy Football
- Marvelous Matchups
- Fantastic 4: CFF Sleepers
- CFB DFS Fantastic 4
- Matt’s DFS Lineup
- All-American RBB Best Bets