After three weekends of college football, the Colorado Buffaloes are undefeated and the most talked about program in the country behind coach Deion Sanders, QB Shedeur Sanders, who has garnered early Heisman talk, and DB/WR Travis Hunter, who might be the best player in the nation. More importantly, the Buffaloes are impacting the College Fantasy Football universe.
Once again, Joe Goodwin and Volume Pigs—my College Fantasy Football teammates—aided in pinpointing the foremost players on the waiver wire…Let’s Go!
Week 2 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Will Howard, Kansas State (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 46%
Total Fantasy Points: 66.4
Football fans of a certain age will remember Kansas State quarterback Steve Grogan, who is one of the underrated dual-threat signal callers in history before Father Time stole his mobility in New England. In the late Nineties, Michael Bishop captured college football fans attention in Manhattan, KS, and Collin Klein became a CFF luminary over a decade ago for the Wildcats.
Last year, Will Howard replaced Adrian Martinez—who suffered an injury—behind center and proceeded to pass for 1,633 yards and 15 aerial strikes. He also scrambled for three rushing touchdowns, which upped his career total to ten scores.
In 2023, Will Howard is knocking on the door of Wildcats’ greatness. In back-to-back games, the 6’5” and 242-pounder has logged 31.2 and 35.3 fantasy points, completing over 67% of his passes for 547 yards and five touchdowns. He also provides rushing upside, crossing the finish line three additional times.
Howard is the fourth-ranked CFF quarterback after two games this season. In the next couple of weeks, Kansas State travels to Missouri and hosts UCF, and the senior Wildcat will continue to produce fantasy points in abundance.
Notebook: “It wasn’t perfect by any stretch…I think we needed this. This was a game where we learned a lot, and that was a really good Troy team. They won 12 straight and got one of the tougher defenses I’ve ever gone against. Troy did some really good stuff schematically. They disguise everything really well,” Howard stated after the game (kansas.com).
Connor Weigman, Texas A&M (Goodwin)
Fantrax Ownership: 38%
Total Fantasy Points: 57.9
Heading into the 2023 season, many DEVY managers were well aware of Connor Weigman. The Texas A&M triggerman was a 5-star recruit, who was the 22nd overall recruit and the third-ranked quarterback. At 6’3″ and 215 pounds, Weigman fit what many believe a quarterback should look like. However, his freshman year was less than stellar, playing in only five games and tallying eight touchdowns on 896 yards passing.
Entering the 2023 season, CFF diehards needed to be convinced of his talent before rostering Weigman in CFF lineups. After last week, this may be the last chance managers get to acquire the Aggies’ field general. In a tough loss to Miami, Weigman impressed with 336 yards passing and two touchdowns while running the ball for 29 yards and scoring another touchdown. Weigman has proven he is a legit CFF performer and should be added in all formats.
Notebook: “Weigman is the real deal, and running Bobby Petrino’s offense, he has loads of potential. How many times did the former 5-star take a shot and deliver an on-target throw? It felt like he did that all day…and his legs are a legitimate weapon. Turn your back on him in man coverage and he’ll make you pay,” wrote Connor O’Gara after the loss to Miami (saturdaydownsouth.com).
Jacob Zeno, UAB (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Ownership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 55.2
Who would have expected former QB Trent Dilfer’s protegé to be a CFF-relevant player, huh? Well— don’t look now—but Zeno (6’4″ and 215-pounds) is looking the part. He finished with three total touchdowns in back-to-back outings and recorded 291 and 385 yards passing in his first two games (North Carolina A&T and Georgia Southern, respectively).
The second game is what stood out to me—if he’s going to be completing 76% of his passes and throwing/running for three scores a game in-conference, count me in on the Blazers’ signal caller.
Notebook: “It’s come full circle with having coach Dilfer coaching me. We’re trying to win the American Conference and do big things here. You can’t sit back and relive the past. We’ve got a lot of stuff going in that’s going to confuse defenses and hopefully put up a lot of points,” Zeno proclaimed in April (al.com).
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
- Kaidon Salter, Liberty
Fantrax Ownership: 21%
Total Fantasy Points: 57.2 - Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
Fantrax Ownership: 30%
Total Fantasy Points: 43.8 - Bert Emanuel, Central Michigan
Fantrax Ownership: 20%
Total Fantasy Points: 43.4 - Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
Fantrax Ownership: 43%
Total Fantasy Points: 53.7
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the top quarterback target on the waiver wire?
- Chandler Morris, TCU: 9%
- Will Howard, Kansas State: 31%
- Bert Emanuel, Central Michigan: 26%
- Conner Weigman, Texas A&M: 34%
“It’s been Bert Season all year!!” @CffDfs
“Conner Weigman by a nose! OC Bobby Petrino has shown for decades that QB production in his offenses is a given.” @aceholesrule
“CFF managers have to go with Bert Emanuel, once he gets into the MAC schedule, this guy is going to be unstoppable. Wish I had not backed off on him late in the summer.” @JustinNottingh6
“Conner Weigman has been dealing for two straight weeks! (572 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions) Weigman is the main reason the Aggies were even in the game at the end. His connection with WR Evan Stewart has grown weekly and he has College Station hopping for the first time since Johnny Football!” @NinoBrown_T2T
Running Backs
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (Goodwin)
Fantrax Ownership: 29%
Total Fantasy Points: 59.1
Although it appears the Tar Heels will employ multiple running backs (British Brooks) from week to week, Omarion Hampton made a statement against Appalachian State by rushing 26 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns. In the week before against South Carolina, Hampton had 16 carries for 37 yards and two touchdowns. UNC is clearly allowing Hampton to be the rusher to find the end zone.
At 6’ and 220 pounds, it is seldom that just one defender tackles the bruising back. Entering UNC, Hampton was a 4-star recruit and the 11th-ranked running back. He is known as a runner that adds power with athleticism. With the passing game in Chapel Hill looking less and less potent, the running game will take center stage in the UNC offense, and Hampton is ready to be a star.
Notebook: “Omarion is a really good player, and we’ve seen that type of performance coming. Tonight, he ran the ball so well for the whole game, over 230 yards rushing, and was the difference in the ball game,” coach Mack Brown expressed after Hampton’s 200-yard effort (goheels.com)
Elijah Gilliam, Fresno State (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Ownership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 31.9
While the touchdowns in Week 1 weren’t there, the volume put me on notice heading into Week 2. At 5’10” and 216-pounds, Gilliam carried the rock 20 times and added a reception to finish the day with 21 total touches in Fresno’s opener. Many speculated in the offseason that the RB No. 1 on this team might be Malik Sherrod, well, he finished the first game with eight carries for 17 yards (2.1 ypc) but did score a TD. Gilliam ended up with 93 yards rushing on the day.
Gilliam followed up this performance with another 20 carries and one reception against Eastern Washington last week. This time, he found his way into the end zone twice while rushing for 86 yards. Something that is important to note, however, is that Malik Sherrod was absent from the game, so the carry distribution isn’t as illuminating as it would appear. Even still, Gilliam has looked good since game one, and without further notice on Sherrod, he’s a guy that is worth a shot if still available.
Notebook: “Being a walk-on, I have to show people that I can do this…I have to come in here with a chip on my shoulder everyday and to prove something for myself. I feel like because I am a bigger back a lot of people don’t want to go heads-up with me so I use that to my advantage. I try to lower my shoulder or beat them with a move,” Gilliam said after the victory over the Eagles (gobulldogs.com).
Trey Cooley, Georgia Tech (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 13%
Total Fantasy Points: 44.6
When I think of the Georgia Tech program historically, WR Calvin Johnson and coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense always dominate the memory narrative. In 2020 and 2021, Jahmyr Gibbs made CFF headlines as the lead ball carrier for the Yellow Jackets.
In 2023, coach Brent Key might have uncovered a weekly CFF playmaker in the transfer portal. Trey Cooley, a 4-star prospect in high school, enrolled at Louisville and played for two years as a Cardinal. He illustrated flashes of potential despite earning only 145 carries. The junior averaged 4.9 ypc., caught 21 passes, and scored six times.
So far, Cooley has been one of the most efficient ball carriers in the nation. He kicked off the season with a 52-yard, two-touchdown performance versus Louisville. Against South Carolina State (an FCS school) last week, he again scored twice—a 55-yard reception and 15-yard rush. The junior added 93 yards rushing on 10 attempts and snatched two passes for 61 yards.
While I prefer chasing volume on the waiver wire, I make exceptions for highly efficient players, who force coaching staffs to give more opportunities. Cooley may be in an RBBC now, but I will embrace the risk of acquiring an explosive playmaker.
Notebook: “I think we have a really good running back room, and I’m confident with any of us going out just having a good game…you wait your turn and obviously you show them what you can do. But we’re all capable of doing what I can do and what the next person can do,” Cooley stated after the game against Louisville (si.com).
Jawhar Jordan, Louisville (Goodwin)
Fantrax Ownership: 40%
Total Fantasy Points: 49
After Week 1, some may have been fooled by Jordan’s stat line: seven carries for 96 yards. Most CFF managers want to see VOLUME. Seven carries do not excite savvy managers. However, against Georgia Tech, Louisville relied on the passing game to erase an early deficit before winning 39 to 34.
In Week 2, Louisville throttled Murray St. 56-0. Although Jordan had just seven rushes again, he totaled 135 yards on the ground while notching two touchdowns. One thing is clear after the first two games: Jordan has game-breaking ability, highlighted by touchdown runs of 72 and 74 yards to open the campaign. I am also encouraged that Jordan was targeted in the passing game and was able to tally 43 yards on two receptions.
At 5’10” and 185 pounds, Jordan signed with Syracuse as a 3-star recruit. After a less-than-remarkable season at Syracuse, Jordan transferred to Louisville. He was fourth on the depth chart at the beginning of 2022. However, his hard work, talent, and some injuries to those ahead of him on the depth chart saw Jordan average 111 yards in the last five games, capped off by a 115-yard, two-touchdown game against Cincinnati in the Fenway Bowl.
Whenever Jordan touches the ball, he can take it to the house and score touchdowns. There may be some up-and-down games, but the Cardinals’ runner will win the manager’s weekly matchups with his explosive abilities every time he touches the ball.
Notebook: “I know our linemen are going to make those big holes happen, so I expect it right away. Once I saw it, I just did what I did and broke free,” said Jordan after the game last Thursday (newstimes.com).
Honorable Mention Running Backs
- Jacory Merritt, New Mexico
Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Total Fantasy Points: 45.2 - Darius Taylor, Minnesota
Fantrax Ownership: 11%
Total Fantasy Points: 28.9 - Jordan Waters, Duke
Fantrax Ownership: 6%
Total Fantasy Points: 43.1
Week 2 CFF All-Portal Team* (Goodwin)
RB Richard Reese, Baylor
Fantrax Ownership: 90%
Last week, the running game was primed to take center stage with starting Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen missing the game due to injury. However, Reese only saw seven carries for 21 yards in the close loss to Utah. Dominic Richardson was the hot hand and saw most of the carries in the game. In two games, Reese is averaging 2.5 yards per carry. With limited volume and results, Reese is a prime candidate to be dropped.
RB Aidan Robbins, BYU
Fantrax Ownership: 80%
With only three carries for six yards in a blowout win over Southern Utah, it’s time to consider moving on from Robbins. His longest run from scrimmage is ten yards, averaging 2.9 yards per carry. With Robbins not involved in the passing game, BYU seems content having a RBBC, the acronym that fantasy managers hate to hear. In addition, the passing game has been far more consistent than the running game after the season’s first two games.
WR Jordan Kerley, SMU
Fantrax Ownership: 95%
After only three targets, readers must try to avoid overreacting to results. The Mustangs won easily over Louisiana Tech. However, in Week 2 against Oklahoma, Kerley saw only four targets, making just two grabs for 14 yards. Although better games may be ahead, quarterback Preston Stone targets Jake Bailey more than any other receiver. In addition, the running game will be the Mustang’s bread and butter. Kerley will not be the impact receiver we envisioned at the start of the season.
WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina
Fantrax Ownership: 96%
Walker will not be eligible to play this year for UNC. If he cannot play this year, Walker is useless in CFF best ball and redraft formats although he still has some value in DEVY and C-2-C leagues.
WR DT Sheffield, Washington State
Fantrax Ownership: 87%
After a 2-0 start for the Cougars, many believed DT Sheffield would have an outstanding start to the season. However, that is not the case. In their upset win over Wisconsin, Sheffield only saw two targets, grabbing just one for seven yards. With two games in the books, Sheffield has four receptions for 26 yards and no touchdowns.
After watching ten different players make a reception against Wisconsin, the Cougars appear willing to spread the ball around. Not being a primary receiver in the offense does not bode well for Sheffield’s fantasy prospects, and he is worth serious consideration to be dropped for more valuable players to their teams.
*Players who CFF managers should consider sending to their league’s free agent pool in order to upgrade rosters.
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is your preferred CFF running back to acquire on the waiver wire this week?
- Nathan Carter, Michigan State: 27%
- Trevion Cooley, Georgia State: 4%
- Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: 44%
- Jawhar Jordan, Louisville: 25%
“I love Omarion Hampton and his ceiling is high, but Jawhar Jordan has done it back-to-back weeks. I’m feeling more consistency there.” @j_luda
“Very nice list! I will likely be in the minority with my pick of Nathan Carter. Steady touches on a well-coached team. The schedule gets tougher for MSU in conference, but Carter will help you win your league.” @aceholesrule
“Omarion Hampton is the shiny new toy with 200-plus yards but gimme Jawar Jordan. 21 total snaps in two games (11 & 10) 14 attempts for 231 yards, three scores and 16.5 ypc. He had a 30-yard run called back too. 91.6 PFF rush grade as a sophomore…Yes please!” @NinoBrown_T2T
Wide Receivers
Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Ownership: 2%
Targets: 13
Total Fantasy Points: 36.9
As a shareholder of Andrew Armstrong in CFF expert Nate Marchese’s 24-team, 45-man-roster league, I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from the Razorbacks’ playmaker so far. Granted, the opponents have been lackluster—Western Carolina and Kent State; nonetheless, the target volume is what’s important. Armstrong (6’4″ and 200 pounds) was targeted seven and six times, respectively, through two weeks. He currently sits at three touchdowns in two games.
Let’s see how things go when the sledding gets tougher, but he appears to be the WR No. 1 of an offense run by former Maryland OC Dan Enos, and operated by veteran QB KJ Jefferson. Those of you who were around in 2021 will recall that Jefferson supported WR Treylon Burks to over 1,000 yards receiving from the boundary position.
Notebook: “I feel like when I got here in the spring I was kind of nervous trying to feel my way out. But now, going through summer and actually building a relationship with all the players on the team, I’m very confident with the playbook. That’s my main thing with going from spring to fall camp,” Armstrong reflected in early August (nwahomepage.com).
Xavier Weaver, Colorado (Laub)
Fantrax Ownership: 57%
Targets: 20
Total Fantasy Points: 50.8
On the Rotogrinders College Football DFS Pre-Lock Show, Justin Van Zuiden, the host, asked who I liked among the three receivers in the Buffaloes’ passing attack. I responded that I am playing Xavier Weaver in the majority of my lineups with Shedeur Sanders…Blast Off!
How productive is new offensive coordinator Sean Lewis’ passing attack? The Buffaloes have three receivers in the top 50 CFF wideouts: Weaver is ranked No. 21 with 42.8 fantasy points, Jimmy Horn is No. 47 with 34.1 points and DB/WR Travis Hunter is No. 50 with 33.2.
A graduate student, Weaver transferred to Colorado after playing four seasons in Tampa, FL. In his last two years as a USF playmaker, the speedster earned 180 targets and logged 94 catches for 1,433 yards and eight touchdowns.
To kick off the current campaign, Weaver has displayed the pass-catching skills that caught the eye of coach Deion Sanders and the coaching staff. He has surpassed the century mark in both games and secured 16 passes for 288 yards, averaging a whopping 18 ypc. and scoring a touchdown. If the Buffaloes’ smooth playmaker remains available, gobble Weaver up in the free-agent pool and enjoy scoring a plethora of points for the remainder of the season.
Notebook: “We got higher standards. Our receiver corps is great. It’s hard to stop all of us. We got too many weapons on the field at once. It’s hard for the other team to play man. We practiced this coverage all week and just had to get a feeling of it and get rolling. Once it started rolling, we didn’t stop,” Weaver proclaimed after the game. (buffzone.com).
Brian Thomas, LSU (Goodwin)
Fantrax Ownership: 50%
Targets: 16
Total Fantasy Points: 53
With seven receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Thomas was the best player for the Tigers, highlighted by the 75-yard touchdown pass by Jayden Daniels. Thomas saw seven targets in Week 2, making six receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Brian Thomas is not a complimentary piece in the LSU offense as he was last year.
As a freshman, Thomas grabbed 28 passes for 359 yards. In his sophomore year, he tallied 31 passes for 361 yards. Thomas already has over half the fantasy points he amassed in just two games in 2022.
At 6’4″ and 205 pounds, Thomas entered LSU as a 4-star recruit and the ninth-ranked wide receiver. He may not have impacted the passing game during his first two years in Baton Rouge significantly. Nonetheless, Thomas is pairing with Malik Nabors to give LSU a one-two punch that rivals Harrison-Egbuka and Odunze-McMillan.
Notebook: “Thomas has shown flashes of what’s to come during his first two seasons. The physical, do-it-all wideout stepped up in 2022 after making big-time play after big-time play, but now he has the chance to put it all together as the Tigers clearcut WR No. 2,” wrote Zack Nagy in early August (si.com).
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
- Gage Larvadain, Miami (OH)
Fantrax Ownership: 6%
Targets: 24
Total Fantasy Points: 53.3 - Kris Mitchell, Florida International
Fantrax Ownership: 32%
Targets: 24
Total Fantasy Points: 64.7 - Kobe Paysour, North Carolina
Fantrax Ownership: 20%
Targets: 18
Total Fantasy Points: 34.9
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the prime playmaking wide receiver on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Gage Larvadain, Miami (OH): 40%
- Xavier Weaver, Colorado: 33%
- Beaux Collins, Clemson: 12%
- Jacolby George, Miami (FL): 15%
“Xavier Weaver by a mile.” @CffDfs
“Gage Larvadain: He already put together a solid game versus Miami (FL) last week before going off yesterday.” @NaturallyKatz11
“Xavier Weaver for me! SKO BUFFS!” @aceholesrule
“Gage Larvadain is off to a terrific start, and we haven’t even started MACtion yet.” @CFBWinningEdge
“Xavier Weaver for me! Opposing defenses will always be prepping for Travis Hunter, and Xavier Weaver can eat all over the field, outside, middle, screen, multi-tool weapon in a spread-it-out offense. He logged 16 receptions for 288 yards and a touchdown in two games. 100 YAC and an aDot of 15.4. Weaver is a legit threat!” @NinoBrown_T2T
CFF All-Americans: Week 2
- QB Donovan Smith, Houston: 40.1
- QB Bryson Daily, Army: 38.2
- RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: 43.4
- RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall: 35
- WR Gage Larvadain, Miami (OH): 53.3
- WR Hudson Clement, West Virginia: 40.7
- WR Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina: 36.0
- TE Holden Staes, Notre Dame: 27.5
- Flex Jacory Merritt, New Mexico: 34.2