Week One of the College Fantasy Football season is in the books, and we’ve already seen two record-breaking days from players who have dominated college fantasy. Kudos to Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan for their big performances—over 100 points were scored between the two of them!
Let me preface this article by stating that the honorable mentions are more than just that and should be strongly considered if you miss out on the primary targets. Players like Luke Wysong, Brendan Sorsby, and Ahmad Hardy, among others, should be viewed as potential roster additions.
As we dive into our College Fantasy Football Week 2 Waiver Adds, I want to highlight upcoming scheduled matchups, Fantrax availability, and what we observed in Week One that could turn these players into weekly starters. I’m Chris Battistel, and my goal is to help you achieve glory above all else!
QUARTERBACKS
• John Mateer, Washington State – Fantrax Rostership 48%
– Yes, it was Portland, but the production is undeniable, and their schedule creates a situation where Mateer is a viable QB1 on a weekly basis. Scoring 45.58 fantasy points in Week One is ridiculous; he ran for one touchdown and threw for five. It’s an offense you want every piece of, outside of the running backs, although Wayshawn Walker looked half decent.
– Texas Tech, Washington, and San Jose State are his next three games—solid matchups for Mateer. His playoff matchups are just as favorable. Don’t hesitate; don’t wait. There won’t be too many other quarterbacks on the waiver wire that can give you this level of production.
• Giovanni Lopez, South Alabama – Fantrax Rostership 38%
– Gio led the team in rush attempts with 13 against North Texas on Saturday, and from the QB position, that is exactly what you want to plug into your lineup. He ran for 62 yards and a touchdown, though there’s some context: his longest run was 52 yards, so without that, it’s 12 rushes for 10 yards—not great. But we’ll take the volume. Oh, and I buried the lead: HE THREW IT 49 TIMES! His passing volume, combined with his rushing, makes him a fantasy point machine. I hope you’re ready for the responsibility.
– His schedule is also enticing over the next three weeks and into the playoffs. Next up is Ohio—not Ohio State, just the Bobcats, who let Kyle McCord have his way with them. After Ohio, they’re double-digit favorites against Northwestern State, followed by a favorable matchup against App State. Their toughest matchup is LSU in Week Five, but after that, you can set and forget Gio Lopez the rest of the way.
• Devon Dampier, New Mexico – Fantrax Rostership 19%
– Another week, another solid outing for Dampier. This time he did it against decent competition in the Arizona Wildcats. Like Lopez, Dampier is efficient enough through the air that when you combine that with his ground abilities, you get a weekly CFF starter. He had only four carries in Week Zero but followed that with double-digit attempts and multiple touchdowns in Week One. He’s scored a rushing touchdown in every game so far and has attempted at least 25 passes each outing. He’s a point producer with a safe floor who can give you big weeks.
– He’s got Auburn next, which isn’t a great matchup, but the kid is a creator. I’m not afraid to plug him in, regardless of the opponent. The rest of the schedule looks good, though he does have a playoff bye week, so be prepared with a strong fill-in if you decide to set and forget Devon Dampier.
Honorable Mention: Brendan Sorsby, Ethan Vasko, Owen McCown, Kirk Francis, Josh Hoover
RUNNING BACKS
• Jamious Griffin/Anthony Hankerson, Oregon State – Fantrax Rostership 11%/19%
– They split carries, both had over twenty touches out of the backfield, both went over 100 yards, and both scored two touchdowns. Griffin had the edge in the passing game with two receptions, but Hankerson had more carries.
– It’s going to be tricky to decide when to start either of these guys on a weekly basis, but if this is the offense’s direction and if one were to get injured, you’ve found yourself a fantasy stud. Their schedule is favorable, and against a weaker opponent like Idaho State, they only attempted fourteen passes. It’s all systems go on the Beavs’ running game.
• Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame – Fantrax Rosteship 42%
– The more explosive back against the Aggies, Jeremiyah Love led the backfield in touches and yards and added a score to cap his day. Moving forward, the Irish have one of the easier schedules this year. Favored in every game, the pathway to success for Love couldn’t be set up any better. Averaging 6.5 yards per carry with how good he looked, I expect Love to be the go-to guy for Notre Dame this season. Jadarian Price looked decent, but Love came out looking explosive.
– The next three matchups are Northern Illinois, Purdue, and Miami (OH)—easy games to get and eat cake. Notre Dame is a double-digit favorite in 8 of their games this year, two of which come in the college fantasy playoffs. It would be a great idea to invest now while you can.
• Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest – Fantrax Rostership 16%
– Claiborne didn’t see any work in the passing game, but he was the workhorse back for the Demon Deacons in Week One. He accounted for 70% of the team’s total 193 rushing yards and found the end zone. While there didn’t seem to be much support for the running game at Wake Forest, Hank Bachmeier showed some competency, which could give Claiborne more room to work.
– Posting 7.9 yards per carry and 102 yards after contact, Claiborne’s performance is a positive sign for his relevance when Wake Forest’s offensive line breaks down. He faces Virginia next, who allowed Zach Palmer-Smith to average over 10 yards a carry. After that, he plays Ole Miss, where he is likely a sit. Outside of the Clemson and maybe Miami games, Claiborne can be considered a weekly starter since he’s paired with a quarterback who doesn’t run much.
Honorable Mention: Ahmad Hardy, Kaleb Johnson, Ja’Quinden Jackson, Floyd Chalk IV
WIDE RECEIVERS
• Damon Ward, North Texas – Fantrax Rostership 28%
– Simply put, a high-volume pass attack will produce high-volume fantasy points. Damon Ward was and is that guy for the Mean Green. He accounted for 36.3% of the team’s receptions with a 34% target share. Ward is a must-own moving forward. He was responsible for over 50% of the team’s 446 receiving yards—yes, you read that right, he posted over 200 yards!
– North Texas faces Stephen F. Austin next, an easy matchup. However, their playoff matchups against UTSA, East Carolina, and Temple are where Damon Ward will shine if he stays healthy. Outside of Texas Tech, there aren’t many tough matchups for North Texas, making Ward a plug-and-play in a high-volume pass attack.
• Nick Nash, San Jose State – Fantrax Rostership 31%
– Volume, volume, and more volume. Seventeen total targets in Week One, ten catches, 170 yards, and two touchdowns make Nick Nash matchup-proof. Primarily lined up in the slot, his average depth of target with that volume might seem low, but Nash’s aDOT was 17.4 yards. He performed decently against man coverage but made his money against zone defenses, which are prevalent in college football. The potential for this hyper-targeted wideout is exciting.
– SJSU’s schedule includes eight to nine potential shootouts, favoring Nash’s production. Along with Ward and McCuin, Nash is a must-add. Volume is king in fantasy football, especially on Saturdays.
• Devin McCuin, UTSA – Fantrax Rostership 45%
– McCuin was a favorite of mine in the offseason, and it was great to see that call come to fruition in Week One. With fourteen targets and twelve receptions, he may not have had the yardage, but he rewarded managers with two touchdowns. Half of his targets came behind the line of scrimmage, which indicates that plays are being schemed for him. He will be UTSA’s go-to guy in the passing game and should be on your roster.
– UTSA’s next two games are against Texas State and Texas, which may not be ideal for McCuin’s fantasy production. However, they are currently favored by over 50 points against Houston Christian and then face East Carolina before the bye. His playoff schedule has Temple sandwiched between North Texas and Army. North Texas just allowed Pritchett to explode for 197 yards, Temple’s secondary was vulnerable, and Army allowed a Lehigh WR to go for 70+. McCuin is another high-volume must-add.
Honorable Mention: Treon Sibley, Luke Wysong, Tai Felton, Jimmy Horn, Harrison Wallace
TIGHT ENDS
• Jack Bech, TCU – Fantrax Rostership 9%
– This recommendation is league-dependent. If Jack Bech has dual designation in your league, he’s a must-add because he’s essentially a wide receiver for TCU. He lined up out wide 32 times and in the slot 11 times, with no snaps inline. Bech is what Eric Froton coined as a TEITO (Tight End In Title Only), similar to Brock Bowers and Kyle Pitts. Although Savion Williams was the highest-targeted WR, Bech had the highest route share.
– TCU has a first-round playoff bye, which isn’t ideal, but it’s not in the semis or finals. Make sure you have a capable backup behind Bech. His season schedule is good enough to keep him plugged in all year, starting with a favorable matchup against LIU in Week Two. Given TCU’s high passing volume, they’re already in the top 10 in attempts, and Bech is schedule-proof.
• Grayson Barnes, Northern Illinois – Fantrax Rostership 13%
– Unlike Bech, Barnes played more of an inline role but was the most targeted player for NIU last weekend. He had five receptions for nearly 100 yards and one touchdown. Barnes’ usage as a safety valve to move the chains is valuable. His touchdown came off a well-executed rollout, indicating potential for similar plays in the future
– You might be able to wait a week before claiming Barnes, as he has a tough matchup against Notre Dame next, followed by a bye. Plan to claim Barnes after the Notre Dame game for the rest of the season. NIU comes out of the bye with a favorable matchup against Buffalo, then faces NC State, followed by a beneficial schedule the rest of the way.
• Bauer Sharp, Oklahoma – Fantrax Rostership 3%
– Bauer Sharp spent most of his day in the slot for the Sooners and ended up tied for the second-most targets on the team with six. This is great usage for a potential college fantasy football tight end starter. 64% of his receiving snaps came from the slot, and with the injury to Jalil Farooq, Sharp could take on a larger role as the main slot option for Jackson Arnold. He was the second-most targeted tight end out of the slot among all tight ends, just behind Oronde Gadsden.
– Sharp’s touchdown came early in the game, the first for Oklahoma this year, which is a positive sign for his role. His next games are against Houston, Tulane, Tennessee, and Auburn. After that, he might be droppable, as his playoff schedule starts with a bye and ends with LSU and Alabama—tough matchups unless his role is solidified. Even then, starting him might be risky.
Honorable Mention: Joe Royer, Jalen Conyers, Max Klare, Eli Wilson, Terrance Ferguson
Going into week two we have more questions than answers with some of the big boys rated at the top prior to the start of regular season, Ricky White, Gavin Sawchuk, Germie Bernard, Jaydon Blue, all player’s prjected to have great weeks just didn’t show up. Don’t panic, nows not the time for that, but if you think you need to add some depth for this week or beyond while offenses figure things out, these are some options that should get you by.