This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.
Waiver Wire Watch: Players to Pick Up Week 4
Throughout the college football season, I'll pick two guys from every conference who either caught my eye in the previous week or who have a favorable match-up in the near future. As always, I'll get to any questions or comments you have in the comments section below.
AAC
David Pindell, QB, Connecticut: Pindell had one of the best fantasy performances of the season in Week 3 with 308 yards and four touchdowns through the air to go along with 137 yards and two more scores on the ground. That yielded over 50 fantasy points which could single-handedly turn around any fantasy matchup. I'm not saying he'll do the same thing versus Syracuse, but he was fairly impressive against even better teams in Boise State and UCF. Connecticut's defense is so bad that Pindell will be racking up significant fantasy stats all season long. He should be owned in far more leagues than he currently is.
Keith Corbin, WR, Houston: I recommended Marquez Stevenson last week, nine catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3, so why not his teammate Keith Corbin this week? Corbin wasn't far behind in Week 3 with seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Houston has a dynamic offense led by quarterback D'Eriq King, so there's room for both Stevenson and Corbin in fantasy lineups each and every week. The Cougars have scored at least 45 points in all three of their games this season.
ACC
Jordan Ellis, RB, Virginia: Ellis needed just a half of action to rack up 171 yards and three touchdowns versus Ohio. In three games for the Cavs, Ellis has at least 12 carries in each contest and two 100-yard rushing performances. There aren't many running backs on the waiver wire that are guaranteed double-digit carries each week. While his upside can be limited by quarterback Bryce Perkins and wideout Olamide Zaccheaus, the floor for Ellis is high enough most weeks.
Anthony Brown, QB, Boston College: There's no arguing the importance of AJ Dillon and what he means to the Boston College offense and that's exactly why Brown was able to take advantage of the play-action pass and beat a decent Wake Forest defense for 304 yards and five touchdowns. Opposing defenses will continue to key on Dillon which should allow Brown to have fantasy-relevant performances against Purdue, Temple and NC State.
BIG 12
Alan Bowman & Antoine Wesley, QB & WR, Texas Tech: After a brief hiatus, the explosive Texas Tech offense is back and being led by true freshman Alan Bowman. Since taking over for an injured McLane Carter in the first quarter of Week 1, Bowman has thrown for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns compared to zero interceptions. Bowman's favorite target has been Wesley who is coming off a school-record 261 receiving yards versus Houston. There's plenty of volume to keep both Wesley and TJ Vasher owners happy. While I'm gushing about the Red Raiders offense, I'll also throw a shameless plug for Ta'Zhawn Henry who has dominated the workload the past two weeks with six rushing scores.
Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State: From one explosive Big 12 offense to another, Wallace has been the Cowboys' top receiver. In the past two weeks, the sophomore has 15 catches for 271 yards and a touchdown. Over the next two weeks, the Cowboys have Texas Tech and Kansas which means that Wallace could double or even triple those numbers. What also makes me feel good about Wallace is that quarterback Taylor Cornelius continues to improve and was particularly impressive in the win over Boise State.
BIG TEN
Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota: Johnson has been a target monster through the first three games with a total of 35 targets. He was particularly dominant versus Miami of Ohio while converting 9 of his 12 targets for 133 yards and three touchdowns. The Gophers will likely struggle in conference play, meaning Johnson will be busy.
Stevie Scott, RB, Indiana: Scott put forth a 100-yard rushing performance for the second week in a row with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries versus Ball State. This comes after he emerged with 204 yards and a touchdown versus Virginia. I'm not excited for his next game versus Michigan State, but I'm foaming at the mouth for his following game at Rutgers. Go out and pick him up on the waiver wire while you still can.
CONFERENCE USA
Shawndarrius Phillips, RB, FIU: Phillips has increased his fantasy output with each performance this season, culminating in 173 total yards and two touchdowns versus Massachusetts in Week 3. Phillips has at least one touchdown in every game this year and is averaging a healthy 5.5 yards per carry. The junior has a tough matchup with Miami this week, but then gets Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Middle Tennessee and Rice.
Cole Hedlund, K, North Texas: I hate to take up one of these spots with a kicker, but Hedlund has been one of the best. The Arkansas-transfer is a perfect 10-for-10 on field goal attempts and has double-digit fantasy points in all three games this season. I don't know about you guys, but finding a reliable kicker can be really difficult in college fantasy football. Ride the hot foot with upcoming games against Liberty, Louisiana Tech and UTEP.
MAC
Papi White, WR, Ohio: White has to be a repeat recommendation with 14 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns in just two games. After touting him last week, he nabbed six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown versus Virginia. The Bobcats defense has given up nearly 38 points per game, so there's no way White won't be targeted a ton each and every week. I can already envision myself having a lot of fun watching him in #MACtion later this season.
K.J. Osborn, WR, Buffalo: Just when you thought you had the Buffalo fantasy options sorted out with quarterback Tyree Jackson and wide receiver Anthony Johnson, Osborn busts onto the scene with seven catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns versus Eastern Michigan. The Bulls get to play an awful Rutgers team who was dominated by Kansas in Week 3. If the Jayhawks can somehow get to 55 versus the Scarlet Knights, the trio of Jackson, Johnson and Osborn should have a great day.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Tyrone Owens, RB, New Mexico: Owens is worth keeping an eye on as the Lobos have a bye week in Week 4. The reason I want to get ahead on this recommendation is because Owens recently received 30 carries in a win over New Mexico State. While he was rather inefficient with 110 yards and a single touchdown, that kind of volume is worth stashing in a shallow Mountain West Conference. Owens will be worth it when the Lobos take on Liberty on September 29th. Following contests with UNLV and Colorado State will also be intriguing.
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State: Another high volume play, Rypien was flinging it all over the place with 56 passing attempts in a loss at Oklahoma State. Available in roughly 50% of leagues, he's a consistent fantasy option with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in all three of Boise's games this year. While he dealt with some fumble issues against Oklahoma State, he's done a great job of avoiding turnovers with no interceptions.
PAC-12
Davontavean Martin, WR, Washington State: Martin continues to shine in Washington State's pass-happy offense with a season-high 13 catches for 149 yards and a score versus Eastern Washington in Week 3. The sophomore now has 24 catches for 290 yards and three touchdowns on the season. There's no reason to think that he won't continue to receive significant targets in conference play in the coming weeks. It's also a positive that quarterback Gardner Minshew is a quality player as his battery-mate.
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State: The Beavers have been cycling through playmakers of late with Hodgins catching 14 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns versus Nevada on Saturday. The Pac-12 doesn't appear to have the nation's best defenses, beginning with Arizona next week. I also like running back Jermar Jefferson who was a recommendation in Week 3 as he delivered with 25 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns versus Nevada.
SEC
Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina: With South Carolina's game against Marshall cancelled due to Hurricane Florence, Edwards wasn't picked up in many leagues. As mentioned last week, Edwards has been fantastic with 11 catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Teammate Deebo Samuel is highly regarded an deservedly so, but Edwards should be owned in just as many leagues. It was Edwards who led the team with 64 catches in 2017 and he's leading the team once again. Upcoming games versus Vanderbilt and Kentucky should be a productive stretch for the junior receiver.
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn: Stidham is available in over 50% of leagues because Auburn has had really tough matchups with Washington and LSU. The schedule eases up quite a bit over the next two weeks with Arkansas and Southern Miss which means Stidham can show off some of his NFL-caliber skills instead of struggling against two of the best defenses in college football. With the exception of the Alabama game at the end of the year, Stidham should probably be started each and every week the rest of the way.
SUN BELT
Zac Thomas, QB, Appalachian State: Still available in a lot of leagues due to the Mountaineers game with Southern Miss being canceled in Week 3, Thomas aims to be one of the stronger QB plays versus Gardner-Webb in Week 4. In games versus Penn State and Charlotte, Thomas eclipsed over 30 fantasy points in each start. In fact, he was a perfect 14-for-14 for 295 yards and three touchdowns to go along with a rushing score versus Charlotte.
Marcus Outlow, RB, Coastal Carolina: If your fantasy team is in need of another running back, look no further than Outlow who is averaging double digit carries and has 262 yards and three touchdowns this season. The senior is the Chanticleers top back and should have plenty of opportunity versus Louisiana-Lafayette this week.
INDEPENDENTS
Squally Canada, RB, BYU: Still owned in under 50% of fantasy leagues, Canada's 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns were a big reason the Cougars were able to shock the college football world with a win over the Badgers at Camp Randall. It gets much easier for the Cougars in Week 4 versus McNeese State. You may want to sit him versus Washington the next week, but he should be inserted back in to the lineup against Utah State and Hawaii after that.
DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS
Western Michigan (@Georgia State) – Georgia State has been one of the worst offenses in college football, thus Western Michigan should be able to put forth a decent defensive performance.
Mississippi State (@Kentucky) – The Bulldogs could be college football's best team that no one is talking about. They have 10 sacks and have given up only 26 points through three games.
Iowa (vs. Wisconsin) – The Badgers were exposed versus BYU as their offense is dangerously one-dimensional with quarterback Alex Hornibrook struggling to pass the ball. Iowa completely shut down an Iowa State offense who looked half decent versus Oklahoma. This should prove to be a low-scoring Big Ten affair.
