It has been a very eventful week in our household. My 12-year-old daughter found a homeless cat in the backyard and snuck him inside. She immediately fell in love and asked if we could keep him. I could not say no, and we now have a beautiful new feline member of the house. The family fun continues this weekend.
On Saturday, my wife and daughter are joining me for the Boston College-UConn game at the Rent in West Hartford, CT. I am beyond giddy to get a close look at Eagles’ wide receiver Zay Flowers, who I have rostered on many of my CFF teams and am bullish on as an NFL prospect. Let’s hope that the Huskies can keep the Boston College speedster under 150 receiving yards.
Readers are not here for a recap of our family adventures. With so many teams on byes, the college fantasy footballers seek the insight and analysis needed to win this week. I have identified nine players, who are possibly available in your season-long CFF leagues (less than 50% rostership), and CFF fanatics in the Twitterverse provide insight and analysis for potential starters.
Enjoy my fellow CFF diehards!
Scholar’s CFF Serendipitous Starters: Week 9
QB Jayden de Laura, Arizona vs. USC
O/U 76.5, Arizona +15.5
Opponent Defense: 231.0 PYPG and 7 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 42%
There is no way a Top 24 CFF quarterback should be rostered on less than 50% of teams this late in the campaign. A transfer from Washington State, Jayden de Laura is one of the surprise fantasy producers in 2022. He has averaged over 30 FPPG and thrown for 19 touchdowns and over 2,220 yards.
The Wildcats host the Trojans on Saturday, and Vegas expects a high-scoring affair between the two teams. Grab the Arizona signal caller off the waiver wire if you need a starter during bye-mageddon.
QB Behren Morton, Texas Tech vs. Baylor
O/U 62.5, Texas Tech +2.5
Opponent Defense: 233.0 PYPG and 9 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 26%
It seems incomprehensible, and the height of malfeasance, to start the often-injured and underperforming Tyler Shough after Behren Morton has performed so well calling signals at Texas Tech over the past two games. Why is it even a discussion?
The redshirt freshman has passed for 704 yards and four aerial strikes since taking over the job. In the two games, the passing game is humming, and the Red Raiders have scored 79 points. Morton clearly deserves to remain the starter in Lubbock, TX and a no-brainer as a starter in CFF leagues.
QB Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State vs. Oklahoma
O/U 56, Iowa State +1.0
Opponent Defense: 239.7 PYPG and 31.0 PPG.
@Fantrax Ownership: 24%
When Hunter Dekkers is dealing, he is a viable CFF starter. In three games this season, the Cyclones’ quarterback has surpassed over 30 fantasy points. Unfortunately, he has also fallen below 17 fantasy points three times.
Iowa State hosts Oklahoma, and the Sooners have been burned by opposing quarterbacks Jason Bean (26.1), Quinn Ewers (25.3), Max Duggan (56.7) and Adrian Martinez (56.5) over the past month. On the road, Oklahoma is not likely to stop the Cyclones’ offense, and Dekkers will be the focal point of the attack.
RB Richard Reese, Baylor at Texas Tech
O/U 62.5, Baylor +2.5
Opponent Defense: 136.0 RYPG and 10 R-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 49%
The Big 12 is back: The top offenses in the conference are producing points in abundance and so many players are weekly starters in CFF lineups. Let’s go back to the Bears-Red Raiders matchup for another starter: Richard Reese is the CFF RB35 on the season and has eclipsed 35 fantasy points twice in the past five games. Last week against Kansas, the freshman earned a season-best 31 carries for 186 yards and two scores. Insert Reese into lineups with conviction against Texas Tech.
RB Mar’Keise Irving, Oregon at California
O/U 58, Oregon -17.0
Opponent Defense: 117.4 RYPG and 8 R-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 23%
CFF owners would prefer to start running backs with large volume. Nevertheless, efficiency can overcome limited touches, and Mar’Keise Irving is clearly the most productive ball carrier for the fifth most productive offense in the nation.
Bucky has rushed for 536 yards on only 79 carries, corralled 13 passes for 145 yards, and scored four times. In two of the last four games, Irving has surpassed over 23 fantasy points, and in 2022, he has scored 105.8 points. Irving should not remain available and placed into lineups at Flex with so many teams on bye this week.
RB Stacy Sneed, Houston vs. South Florida
O/U 61, Houston -17.5
Opponent Defense: 220.9 RYPG and 20 R-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 1%
Last week, Brandon Campbell fumbled the football near the goalline in the first quarter and was subsequently benched for the remainder of the contest. Stacy Sneed took over the backfield chores and carried the ball 20 times for a career-best 100 yards versus Navy.
For two years, Sneed has been buried on the depth chart. In the spring, the coaching staff applauded the 5’11” and 185-pounder but he did not get on the field for extended action until Saturday. Sneed is in a near-perfect spot to surpass the 100-yard mark once again against the lowly Bulls’ run defense.
WR Dorian Singer, Arizona vs. USC
O/U 76.5, Arizona +15.5
Opponent Defense: 231.0 PYPG and 7 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 12%
After a couple of down seasons, the PAC-12 is zooming and providing CFF luminaries in 2022. I am reaping the rewards off the waiver wire and in my season-long leagues. The Wildcats are a Top 5 passing attack (334.4 PYPG) and support three worthwhile fantasy receivers.
Dorian Singer is the least rostered of the trio and second-most productive pass catcher on the team. In two of the past three outings, he surpassed 20 fantasy points, and against Colorado on October 1, the sophomore logged 31.3 fantasy points. The point spread and game script versus the Trojans foreshadow second-half passing by the Wildcats.
WR Tre Harris, Louisiana Tech at Florida International
O/U 57, Louisiana Tech -6.5
Opponent Defense: 268.4 PYPG and 15 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 56%
I know that Tre Harris exceeds my 50% rostership threshold to be placed in my sleeper column. Yet, when I pinpointed the Bulldogs’ receiver on Tuesday, he was at around 35% and increased overnight after waivers. I’ll make an exception to keep Harris among my players to highlight.
Over the past three weeks, Harris is en fuego, scoring 35.5, 26.3 and 23.6 fantasy points. Since October 8, he has been the CFF WR3, and for the entire season, CFF WR24 with 145.8 points. The matchup versus Florida International is juicy, and Harris should be rostered in over 70% of leagues by kickoff on Saturday.
WR Jake Bobo, UCLA vs. Stanford
O/U 66.5, UCLA -16.5
Opponent Defense: 214.4 PYPG and 12 P-TDs
@Fantrax Ownership: 35%
The Bruins traveled north to Oregon last week and lost 45-30 to the Ducks. In the game, Jake Bobo earned 10 targets and recorded eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. He has surpassed 100-yards receiving twice and scored five touchdowns in the last three games. Starting Bobo against the Cardinal is an easy decision for CFF diehards.
Twitterverse on Fire!
CFF Positional Battles for Week 9 Matchups
Who Ya Got at Quarterback?
- Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State: 21%
- Austin Aune, North Texas: 11%
- Jayden de Laura, Arizona: 47%
- DJ Irons, Akron: 21%
“Hunter Dekkers for me. I love the matchup and expect a big game.” @aceholesrule
“I’ll take DJ ‘Pumpin’ Irons!! At 6’6” & 205 lbs, the Akron QB has been a pleasant surprise in ’22 with 2,370 total yards, 12 total touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and 67.5% comp percentage. 75% comp in 2 out of the last 3 games. Faces Miami (OH) allowing 155 rush yards in the last three games. Irons has 171 rushing yards and four touchdowns.” @NinoBrown_T2T
Who Ya Got at Running Back?
- Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 20%
- Mar’Keise Irving, Oregon: 33%
- Richard Reese, Baylor: 31%
- Charles McClelland, Cincinnati: 16%
“You already know I’m a Richard Reese/Bucky Irving guy, but I’m inclined to go Deneric Prince: He had 20 attempts for 232 yards and a score vs. Temple last week. He now faces SMU allowing 224 R-YPG and 245 yards per game in the last three. The matchup has the making for another 200-plus yard game for Prince again!” @NinoBrown_T2T
“Mar’Keise Irving for me: 100 yards and two touchdowns are coming.” @aceholesrule
Who Ya Got at Wide Receiver?
- Shockey Jacques-Louis, Akron: 10%
- Tre Harris, Louisiana Tech: 27%
- Dorian Singer, Arizona: 27%
- Luke McCaffrey, Rice: 36%
“Luke McCaffrey went off for 10 receptions for 171 yards and two scores vs. Louisiana Tech and now faces the Charlotte 49ers, who let up 300 passing yards to FIU. McCaffrey for eight catches and 100-plus yards!!!” @NinoBrown_T2T
“LUUUUUUUKE for me. While it has been feast or famine for L-Mac, I think he eats this week.” @aceholesrule
“Luke McCaffrey’s finally in a groove. He’s likely to stay in for the remainder of the season. Seems to be all Rice has on offense.” @CFFonIG