If you are reading a College Fantasy Football Wire Wire column after seven weeks, congratulations on remaining alive in the championship hunt, and hopefully, earning a postseason invite.
In my 10 redraft leagues, I have a winning record in all and grinding to make the playoffs, hoping all our readers are also. Joe Goodwin and Volume Pigs are also alive for postseason berths in their CFF leagues and are researching the waiver wire to help readers reach the promised land in 2023…Let’s Go!
Week 7 College Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Cooper Legas, Utah State (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 7%
Total Fantasy Points: 100.9
FPPG: 16.8
Coach Blake Anderson took over the Aggies in 2021, and CFF diehards have patiently waited for his passing game to take flight. When he guided Arkansas State, his teams ranked among the top passing offenses in the nation, and starters Layne Hatcher and Justice Hansen produced impressive passing numbers. After three seasons, Cooper Legas has finally mastered the offense under Anderson’s guidance.
Over the past three weeks, Legas has outperformed Drake Maye, Brady Cook, and Jalen Milroe, who are all rostered at a higher rate in CFF leagues. He is the third-most productive CFF signal caller, logging 22.7, 27.4, and 28.8 fantasy points, passing for 954 yards and 10 aerial strikes while completing 64.6% of his throws.
At 6’1” and 215 pounds, the former three-star recruit was ranked as the 39th dual-threat field general in the nation. In high school, he played in 43 games and produced 12,780 total yards: 9,770 yards passing, 2,770 yards rushing, and 240 yards receiving. He also accounted for 124 total touchdowns. He redshirted in 2019 and did not play the following season during COVID.
When Utah State came to the Rent to play UConn three weeks ago, I got to see Legas up close and was roused by his command of the offense. He came off the bench for a possibly concussed McCae Hillstead to lead the Aggies to a 34-33 victory, and since he took over, the offense has scored 103 points. With elite CFF playmakers Jalen Royals and Terrell Vaughn terrorizing opponents, Legas is in a smash spot to produce points down the stretch with San Jose, San Diego, and Nevada on the schedule in the next three weeks.
Notebook: “I mean, nobody wants to be benched. But I’ve prepared the same since I got here as a freshman. I’m preparing as if I’m going to play. I knew I could play like this, and I feel like I’m not going to screw up my chance again. What’s the worst that can happen, I get benched again?” Legas said in regard to getting jettisoned to the pine in the third game of the year against Air Force (sltrib.com).
Garrett Greene, West Virginia (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 12%
Total Fantasy Points: 112.6
FPPG: 22.5
In the offseason, I did a focused piece on WVU’s gunslinger Garrett Greene. I have to say that the 5’11” and 190-pounder has not disappointed. The Mountaineers had a tough game to open the season versus Penn State, but this pesky squad has quietly been winning games since. Well, that was until the debacle last Thursday against Houston. Regardless of the loss, Greene continued to produce at a high level, scoring over 38 fantasy points.
In my focused piece earlier, I remarked that his value is really in his legs. In his last two contests, he’s rushed for a touchdown twice in each. His FPPG average (25.2) is also deceiving because it’s dragged down by a game where he got injured on the first drive. Excluding that dud, his average is actually closer to 31 FPPG in 4-point passing formats. The Mountaineers have an intriguing matchup versus Oklahoma State incoming, and Greene could easily post another 30-point performance.
Notebook: Despite the loss, “Garrett was special tonight. I told you (that) he was ready for a breakout performance,” coach Neal Brown admitted after the Houston game (wvnews.com).
6️⃣ for 6️⃣@garrett3greene | #HailWVpic.twitter.com/t94brY3wrG
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) October 13, 2023
Daniel Richardson, Florida Atlantic (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 5%
Total Fantasy Points: 58.3
FPPG: 11.6
Against South Florida, Daniel Richardson completed 31 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns for 33 fantasy points. Although undersized at 5’10” and 205 pounds, Richardson has shown he can play “big.”
After three years at Central Michigan, Richardson had 43 passing touchdowns to 13 interceptions. The former Chippewas’ signal caller is an ideal, deep-league fantasy quarterback with favorable matchups ahead. With upcoming games against porous defenses of UTSA, UAB, ECU, and Rice, Richardson should close out his redshirt junior season strong and contribute as a depth player on fantasy rosters.
Notebook: “The fact is that Richardson is battle-tested and does have a lot of respect in that locker room. From the minute he got here, he has earned respect and leadership by the work that he has done, how he treats people, how he commands his unit, those are some of the best things that D-Rich does,” offensive coordinator Charlie Frye proclaimed before kickoff against USF (palmbeachpost.com).
Honorable Mention Quarterbacks
Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
Fantrax Rostership: 25%
Total Fantasy Points: 165.7
FPPG: 23.6
Jordan McCloud, James Madison
Fantrax Rostership: 13%
Total Fantasy Points: 132.1
FPPG: 22.1
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
With so many teams on bye, who is the most intriguing quarterback to acquire this week on the waiver wire?
- Diego Pavia, New Mexico State: 29%
- Garrett Greene, West Virginia: 28%
- Andrew Peasley, Wyoming: 6%
- Cooper Legas, Utah State: 37%
“Seems as though Diego Pavia is back to his 2022 mid-season form. With 225 yards and two touchdowns passing in B-2-B games and a rushing score in both as well. The schedule looks smooth for Pavia and the Aggies fantasy wise… Gimme Pavia!” @_NinoBrown_
“Cooper Legas for me. Sort of a post-hype sleeper, he has really turned it on of late.” @aceholesrule
Running Backs
Quinton Cooley, Liberty (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 9%
Total Fantasy Points: 80.7
FPPG: 13.5
Quinton Cooley has logged four out of five games with over 100 yards rushing. In Liberty’s win over Jacksonville State, Cooley had 163 yards rushing and two touchdowns. If Cooley had logged more touchdowns on the season, he might be in the running for the “CFF Breakout” running back of the year.
The Flames’ ball carrier is averaging an effective 6.0 yards per carry after transferring from Wake Forest as a three-star recruit from Bailey, North Carolina. With Liberty averaging over 35 points per game in their last five. Cooley seems positioned perfectly to maintain this momentum.
Notebook: “The thing I love about Quinton, he got stronger as the game went on…Proud of him,” coach Jamey Chadwell said after Cooley’s dominant performance against Jacksonville State (newsadvance.com).
Jonah Coleman, Arizona (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 16%
Total Fantasy Points: 116.2
FPPG: 16.6
I really liked the CFF value on Michael Wiley in CFF drafts over the summer and selected him on many teams. In CFF Dynasty leagues, I grabbed freshman Rayshon Luke for the future. My interest and commitment to Wily and Luke may have clouded my perspective in regard to the Wildcats’ backfield. Nonetheless, it has become evident that the coaching staff has confidence in Coleman and has turned the ground game over to him while Wiley has been sidelined.
During the past three weeks, Coleman ranks among the top 10 CFF runners with nearly 70 fantasy points. In the blowout against Washington State, the sophomore logged his most productive outing: He scampered for 70 yards on 11 carries, snatched four passes for 98 yards and scored three times. Two weeks ago versus USC, Coleman rambled for a career-best 143 yards on 22 totes and recorded four catchers for 37 yards.
At 5’9” and 225 pounds, Coleman runs with low pads and packs a punch upon contact. After the upcoming bye week, Arizona hosts Oregon State, UCLA and travels to Colorado. At 4-3, the Wildcats are a tough team to beat, and Coleman likely continues to command the majority of touches in the backfield if Wiley remains sidelined.
Notebook: “First off I want to thank my o-line, giving us a push and putting me in the right position to make plays. It felt really good. Coach prepared me for this…it was my moment to make the opportunities count, make plays,” Coleman stated after the game on Saturday against Washington State (azdesertswarm.com).
3️⃣ FOR 3️⃣ @jonahcoleman8 WITH HIS 3RD TD OF THE NIGHT, AZ 44 – WSU 6.
📺: Pac-12 Network pic.twitter.com/kwL5et3dj8
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 15, 2023
Dillon Johnson, Washington (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 32%
Total Fantasy Points: 83.7
FPPG: 16.7
Dillon Johnson left a timeshare at Mississippi State this offseason for the promise of a more featured role in Kalen DeBoer’s offense. Experienced CFF diehards will recall that DeBoar had stud RB Ronnie Rivers during one of his more productive seasons in 2020, and the coach has shown his preference to use running backs both via the ground and in the air.
Johnson’s carry volume is what caught my eye, though. He was the only runner to see double-digit carries (20) against Oregon on Saturday, and in the only two games the Huskies have been in that haven’t been blow-outs, he’s seen 21 and 22 touches. Many CFF managers think of this team as an exclusively pass-happy offense, but Johnson’s been a bell-cow for the Huskies for two weeks in a row during competitive matches.
With (presumably) more competitive games coming up, I think Johnson should be thought of as a promising and high-upside player—a time where the availability of a true bellcow in the backfield is rare. Unfortunately, games versus Arizona State and Stanford up next might not be extremely close, but they should present enough bite for Washington to utilize Johnson just enough to keep him productive.
Notebook: Over the summer, Karley Sibert featured the Huskies’ ball carrier: “Johnson is an explosive and versatile running back who possesses a unique blend of power and agility. At 6’0” and 218 pounds, he has the size to break tackles and run through defenders. His ability to excel both as a rusher and a pass-catcher adds an extra dimension to the Huskies’ offense, making him a valuable asset in different game situations.” (thehuskyhaul.com)
Makhi Hughes, Tulane (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 14%
Total Fantasy Points: 78.4
FPPG: 13.1
At the start of the season, many wondered who would replace the uber-talented Tyjae Spears in the Tulane lineup. If the last two weeks are any indication, that running back is Makhi Hughes. Against UAB two weeks ago, the freshman had 22 carries for 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Last week against Memphis, Hughes had 26 attempts for 130 yards and one touchdown.
The Birmingham, Alabama native chose Tulane over Appalachian State, Houston and Kansas after earning a three-star grade in high school. The 5’11” and 195-pounder scampered for over 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and rushed for over 1,000 the year before. He has been a welcome addition to the Green Wave offense in 2023.
Although the upcoming schedule isn’t all favorable, games against North Texas, Florida Atlantic, and UTSA will provide Hughes with opportunities to continue his outstanding freshman season.
Notebook: “Hughes did it today (September 30). I was very impressed. In crunch time, I wanted to make sure he was in the game,” coach Willie Fritz proclaimed two weeks ago after Hughes’ 123-yard performance against UAB (nola.com).
Honorable Mention Running Backs
Cody Schrader, Missouri
Fantrax Rostership: 39%
Total Fantasy Points: 121.8
FPPG: 17.4
Kairee Robinson, San Jose
Fantrax Rostership: 49%
Total Fantasy Points: 135.4
FPPG: 22.6
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the top target on the CFF waiver wire at running back after Week 7?
- Quinton Cooley, Liberty: 29%
- Jonah Coleman, Arizona: 27%
- Kairee Robinson, San Jose: 18%
- Daijun Edwards, Georgia: 26%
“Quinton Cooley if he is still out there, just look at the schedule Liberty has left.” @JustinNottingh6
“Kairee Robinson for me. A bit like Cooper Legas, most expected Robinson to be a solid contributor, and now that San Jose is in conference, Robinson is rolling.” @aceholesrule
“Quinton Cooley has been grinding away the yards at the start of the season. In four of the last five games, he has over 100 yards. And averages 7 YPC as well. But failed to find the endzone until last week versus Sam Houston. Once he got a taste, it was a wrap…added two scores this past week against Jacksonville State.” @_NinoBrown_
“Running backs took some contemplating but receivers Xavier Restrepo & Joey Hobert are target monsters. Quarterback is Cooper Legas….system, system, system.” @CffNation
Wide Receivers
Silas Bolden, Oregon State (Volume Pigs)
Fantrax Rostership: 27%
Targets: 53
Fantasy Points: 116.3
FPPG: 16.6
In the past few weeks, Silas Bolden is definitely a name that’s gone under the radar. The 5’8” playmaker is lightning in a bottle, and when looking at his usage, clearly the Beavs’ staff have identified him as someone to get the ball often. He has seen eight targets or more in four out of his last five games and is averaging 7.5 targets per game for the entire campaign.
He’s currently on a streak of three weeks with a score and is averaging a solid 16.6 FPPG. They’re on a bye this week, but the schedule after that is very favorable with matchups versus Arizona, Colorado, and Stanford.
Notebook: “Silas Bolden flashed moments of being a top-flight receiver for the Beavers last season, with highlight-reel catches, lightning-quick speed, and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Now it’s up to him and to an extent, the Beaver passing game, to take his game to the next level as a receiving threat,” Brenden Slaughter penned in late July (Oregonstaterivals.com).
Elijah Sarratt, James Madison (Goodwin)
Fantrax Rostership: 2%
Targets: 30
Fantasy Points: 80.5
FPPG: 13.4
Elijah Sarratt has 24 receptions for 385 yards and three touchdowns for the season. As for any receiver, targets are essential. The former FCS playmaker has 30 targets in six games, with only week one having less than five. Against Georgia Southern, he logged five grabs for 105 yards and a touchdown.
After a matchup with Marshall, JMU has excellent games against Old Dominion, UConn, and Coastal Carolina that should be perfect for Sarratt to continue his first season at JMU as a consistent fantasy performer. As a 6’3”, 205-pound athlete, the Dukes’ pass catcher will continue to be a tough assignment for opposing cornerbacks in the Sun Belt Conference.
Notebook: “Elijah’s arrival on campus came after a standout freshman campaign at Saint Francis (Pa.), where he logged 42 receptions for 700 yards, and 13 touchdowns en route to being named a HERO Sports and States Perform FCS Freshman All-American,” Noah Fleischman outlined in a feature article during the offseason (dnronline.com).
Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State (Laub)
Fantrax Rostership: 1%
Targets: 26
Fantasy Points: 46.4
FPPG: 7.7
For the past four years, Rashod Owens saw few opportunities on the field for the Cowboys. Yet, he remained focused and dedicated to the program. The redshirt junior’s patience has finally paid off over the past few weeks.
On the Rotogrinders College Football DFS Pre-lock Show, I mentioned Owens as a salary-saver option at less than 4k. He exceeded my expectations against Kansas—I had dual TVs to watch the Ducks-Huskies and Cowboys-Jayhawks simultaneously. He garnered 12 targets and logged nine catches for 112 yards, producing 20.2 fantasy points. The week before, he was targeted seven times and recorded five catches for 75 yards.
At 6’2” and 219 pounds, Owens arrived on campus as a multi-sport athlete and three-star prospect out of high school. He played basketball and recorded the best triple jump in the state of Texas as a junior. On the gridiron, the Cowboys’ versatile playmaker earned San Antonio Athlete of the Year by the San Antonio Express-News as a senior after finishing the season with 1,689 all-purpose yards.
The Cowboys are now 4-2 after winning their past two games against Kansas State and Kansas, and coach Mike Gundy’s offense appears back on track, scoring 95 points in the last 12 quarters. Next on the docket, Oklahoma State travels to West Virginia and hosts Cincinnati and Oklahoma. Owens looks like a possible option for CFF managers.
Notebook: “I love the energy and the history behind this place, that’s the reason why I stayed here. The relationships I’ve built with my teammates and coaches…Being able to visualize different things and different scenarios and games, helped me learn and study more about what I’m capable of and visualizing the game or practice,” Owens said last week before the game against Kansas (okstate.com).
Honorable Mention Wide Receivers
Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Fantrax Rostership: 2%
Targets: 44
Fantasy Points: 102.1
FPPG: 17.0
Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP
Fantrax Rostership: 4%
Targets: 50
Fantasy Points: 95
FPPG: 13.6
Xavier Restrepo, Miami
Fantrax Rostership: 35%
Targets: 61
Fantasy Points: 108.1
FPPG: 18.1
CFF Twitterverse on Fire!
Who is the premier playmaker on the CFF waiver wire this week?
- Xavier Restrepo, Miami: 34%
- Ja’Mori Maclin, North Texas: 22%
- Ricky White, UNLV: 9%
- Joey Hobert, Texas State: 35%
“Give me Ja’Mori Maclin, he has scored in every game this year.” @JustinNottingh6
“This one was tough because I’m a big fan of Xavier Restrepo and his big-play abilities, but Joey Hobert has been nails. ‘Joe Dirt’ has a touchdown in four straight, 100-plus receiving yards in three consecutive, and 37 receptions in the last four games. Saw the endzone twice this past week. Finley has a connection with Joe Dirt.” @_NinoBrown_
“Hobert, and it ain’t close. If you want a steady 100 yards and a TD, pick up Hobert immediately.” @aceholesrule
“In the offseason, I wrote that UNLV’s Ricky White had a legit chance at WR No. 1 this season in CFF. I stand by the claim, especially when you look at what he’s done when this offense is operating at its potential. While it’s unlikely that White will finish in the WR No. 1 discussion (he currently averages 15.4 FPG), he’s produced like one in two out of his last four games (28.5 FPs versus Vandy and 36.4 FPs against Nevada).
His target numbers in his last four games are elite: he’s seen 16, 9, 6, and 8 targets. Also, don’t look now, but the Rebels are sitting at a decent 5-1 record, with their only loss to Michigan. Pretty good season for the Rebs if you ask me. They have very good matchups versus Colorado State, Fresno State and New Mexico up next.” @VolumePigs
CFF All-Americans: Week 7
- QB Avery Johnson, Kansas State: 42.1
- QB Garrett Greene, West Virginia: 38.3
- RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State: 48.4
- RB Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State: 46.4
- WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford: 60.4
- WR Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP: 43.4
- WR Devontez Walker, UNC: 39.2
- TE Mason Fairchild, Kansas: 26.5
- Flex Kairee Robinson, San Jose: 44.9
CFF Player of the Week: Elic Ayomanor
THIS MAN IS SOMETHING ELSE Y'ALL 😱😱😱😱😱😱
📺 ESPN#GoStanford | @elicayomanor pic.twitter.com/pGLd7lbkV6
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) October 14, 2023