CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 12

Welcome to another installment of the waiver wire watch. 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

Antonio Gibson, WR, Memphis
The Tigers were on a bye in Week 11 which is a great thing for prospective fantasy owners because others have probably already forgotten about Gibson's school record 386 all-purpose yards in a 54-48 win over SMU. He's no one-hit wonder either as he trails only Damonte Coxie with 14 targets for Memphis in their last two games. The senior could be a smart and sneaky play at Houston and South Florida over the next two weeks. Quarterback Brady White should be in for a productive week with Coxie and Gibson as Houston gives up roughly 291 passing yards per game.

Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Ridder has been active in the run game while averaging over double-digit yards per carry with a combined 217 yards on 19 carries in wins over East Carolina and Connecticut. The team's strategy shouldn't change much when the Bearcats play a South Florida squad giving up nearly 200 rushing yards per game. He's available in a bunch of fantasy leagues and would be a nice addition if you need another signal caller this week.

Last Week; East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers (32/42, 498 yards, 6 TD, 25 yards rushing) & SMU TE Kylen Granson (7 catches for 138 yards, 3 TD)

ACC

Deshawn McClease, RB, Virginia Tech
McClease is owned in very few leagues even though he has double-digit carries in every game this season and five rushing scores. Prior to a tough match-up with Notre Dame in Week 10, he had four straight games with double-digit fantasy points. Fresh off a two touchdown game against Wake Forest, he's going to see enough volume against a bad Georgia Tech defense to make the senior worth owning in Week 12.

Hendon Hooker, QB, Virginia Tech
I'm all in with the Hokies this week as Hooker showed me enough production in a 36-17 win over Wake Forest to make me believe that he can have a big week against Georgia Tech. The dual-threat quarterback has surpassed 20 fantasy points in three of his last four starts with 10 total touchdowns and no interceptions. I would have no problem starting both Hooker and McClease if you need to.

Last Week; Virginia RB Wayne Taulapapa (10 carries for 37 yards, 2 TD, 2 catches for 3 yards), Boston College WR Kobay White (5 catches for 62 yards, 2 TD, 8 rushing yards) & Boston College RB David Bailey (12 carries for 67 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch for 9 yards)

BIG 12

Dillon Stoner, WR, Oklahoma State
The college football world gasped when they heard the news of Tylan Wallace's torn ACL prior to Week 10 and nobody was sure if Stoner could fill in and have any type of significant production. He stepped up in a big way with three catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns versus a tough TCU defense. With upcoming match-ups against Kansas, West Virginia and Oklahoma to end the season, he should get a couple of scores when considering that those defenses will be selling out to attempt to stop running back Chuba Hubbard from getting 200 yards rushing in each game.

Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma
I hate to go here with Jalen Hurts hogging the majority of the rushing attempts at Oklahoma, however, running back Trey Sermon was forced out of the Sooners' last game with a gruesome knee injury. This sets up Brooks to receive the majority of the snaps at running back in a crucial showdown with the Baylor Bears in Week 12. My thinking is that Baylor will be smart enough to spy Hurts which should allow for Brooks to be a big part of the game plan. He did rush for 132 yards and a touchdown on 5 carries versus the Cyclones.

Last Week; Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson (17/27, 253 yards, 2 TD) & Iowa State TE Charlie Kolar (2 catches for 29 yards, 1 TD)

BIG TEN

Aidan Smith & Drake Anderson, QB & RB, Northwestern
Here's your one chance to load up on Northwestern players as they go up against the worst team in college football in the UMass Minutemen. Smith is a dual-threat quarterback that's available in pretty much all leagues and Anderson has been filling in for an injured Isaiah Bowser. Both players will likely have multiple touchdowns as they both saw heavy volume in the Wildcats' loss to Purdue.

Master Teague, RB, Ohio State
Ohio State has been obliterating opponents all season long which has allowed for Teague to see double-digit carries in seven different games. Against Maryland in Week 11, the sophomore rushed for 111 yards on a season-high 18 carries. There's no doubt he'll get a significant amount of touches at Rutgers as Ohio State would be smart to limit the workload of starters Justin Fields and J.K. Dobbins once the game gets out of hand early.

Last Week; Ohio State WR Chris Olave (5 catches for 43 yards, 1 TD, 4 yards rushing), Ohio State WR K.J. Hill (4 catches for 56 yards, 1 TD, 1 yard rushing) & Michigan State RB Elijah Collins (28 carries for 170 yards, 2 TD, 2 catches for 7 yards)

C-USA

Jack Abraham, QB, Southern Miss
If you can get past Abraham's high volatility as a fantasy starter, he could provide a needed playoff push for owners with upcoming games against UTSA, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic. He has an impressive set of receivers and has been able to surpass 30 fantasy points in games versus Troy and North Texas, however, is coming off underwhelming performances against Rice and UAB where he had a combined 25 fantasy points. Receivers Jaylond Adams, Tim Jones and Quez Watkins are his top targets.

Austin Trammell, WR, Rice
Trammell hasn't seen less than seven targets in any game this season and has received double-digit targets in four different games. With a banged up running game, Rice will have to throw the ball a ton to keep up with Middle Tennessee this week. Lucky for them, the Blue Raiders have one of the worst defenses in college football.

Last Week; North Texas WR Jyaire Shorter (1 catch for 8 yards) & Charlotte QB Chris Reynolds (24/35, 354 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 18 carries for 91 yards)

MAC

Mike Glass III, QB, Eastern Michigan
Glass was awful in his last start against Buffalo and was even pulled in favor of backup Preston Hutchinson. After a bye week in Week 11, Glass should get back to his productive ways with a juicy match-up against Akron. The senior has a nose for the end-zone with 21 total touchdowns compared to eight interceptions. He typically sees double-digit carries, so he had great upside this week.

Shakif Seymour, RB, Toledo
I feel obligated to double-down on Seymour after Bryant Koback was forced out of the game against Kent State with what has been reported as a lower leg injury. The Rockets' next game is on Wednesday Night, so pay attention to the news to see if Seymour draws the start. Even if Koback makes his way back to the field, Seymour is still likely to receive a significant amount of touches.

Last Week; Toledo RB Shakif Seymour (28 carries for 175 yards, 2 TD) & Ball State QB Drew Plitt (14/22, 148 yards, 27 yards rushing, 1 TD)

MWC

Chevan Cordeiro, QB, Hawaii
There's a new sheriff in town for the Rainbow Warriors as Cordeiro racked up 364 yards and five total touchdowns in a 42-40 win over San Jose State late on Saturday Night or early on Sunday Morning, whatever you want to call it. The freshman has replaced Cole McDonald in the most quarterback-friendly system in the country and he's available in pretty much all leagues. I don't know what reason there would be to switch back to McDonald, so I would try to go out and get Cordeiro if you can. Hawaii should put up a ton of points at UNLV this week.

Siaosi Mariner, WR, Utah State
Mariner has been a beast over the Aggies' last three games with 19 catches for 227 yards and four touchdowns. He has a talented quarterback in Jordon Love and is part of an offense that is feeling good about themselves after an impressive 37-35 win at Fresno State. Despite Wyoming showing decent defensive performances at times this season, they can be beat through the air as they give up almost 300 passing yards per game.

Last Week; San Jose State WR Tre Walker (10 catches for 138 yards) & Hawaii RB Miles Reed (17 carries for 124 yards, 1 TD)

PAC-12

Spencer Webb, TE, Oregon
With Jacob Breeland out for the season, Webb has emerged as the Ducks' top target at the tight end position. In his last three games, Webb has seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. While that's not elite production at the position, it's enough to feel good about his potential against Arizona's awful pass defense. Moreover, he's owned in almost all leagues and it's not a position that's easy to fill at the end of the year.

Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah
Huntley should be picked up in all leagues with UCLA, Arizona and Colorado on the upcoming slate. I'm also considering that Utah will likely be fighting to move up the playoff rankings as far as they can and to do that they will need to score as many points as they can. The senior is one of the most underrated signal callers in the country and will be the Utes' most important player down the stretch.

Last Week; Washington QB Jacob Eason (16/32, 175 yards, 2 INT, 4 yards rushing) & Stanford TE Colby Parkinson (5 catches for 54 yards)

SEC

Sawyer Smith or Lynn Bowden, QB, Kentucky
I'm listing Smith here with the assumption that Bowden's injury at the end of the Tennessee game will lead to the team announcing Smith's start against Vandy in Week 12. Vanderbilt is perhaps the worst team in the SEC which means that even Smith can have a big game against the Commodores. I would seriously consider running back Asim Rose this week too. It's also a bonus considering that Kentucky will play a FCS opponent the following week.

Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
If you still want a piece of the number one team in the country, you could go out and get Moss who has been the team's top target at the tight end position. While he does only have one touchdown this season, he does have at least three catches in each of his five last games. With upcoming games against Ole Miss and Arkansas, LSU should keep their foot on the gas which means sustained production for Moss.

Last Week; Ole Miss QB John Rhys Plumlee (11/17, 124 yards, 12 carries for 177 yards, 2 TD) & Florida RB Lamical Perine (4 carries for 13 yards, 4 catches for 28 yards, 1 TD)

SUN BELT

Tyler Vitt, QB, Texas State
Vitt had an outstanding performance against South Alabama while completing 23 of 33 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns versus just one interception. He also had 42 yards rushing as he eclipsed 30 fantasy points. He'll be set up to have another big day through the air when the Bobcats play Troy who like to go up and down the field against their opponents. Vitt's top target will be Hutch White who hauled in 10 catches for 165 yards in the win over South Alabama.

J.D. King, RB, Georgia Southern
I embarrassingly recommended King in the first couple weeks of the season, but it turns out that I was just way too early on that tip. King has transitioned to being the team's top running back with an average of 16 carries per game which is more than Shai Werts' 15 carries and Wesley Kennedy's 12 carries per game. This week's opponent, UL-Monroe, has one of the worst rush-defenses in the country, so I expect King, Werts and Kennedy to all have big games.

Last Week; Georgia State RB Tra Barnett (32 carries for 190 yards, 2 TD) & South Alabama RB Tra Minter (21 carries for 87 yards, 1 TD)

INDEPENDENTS

Sandon McCoy, RB, Army
Since it's impossible to lock down which quarterback will make a bigger impact for the Black Knights, let's stick with their fullback against VMI this week. McCoy has five touchdowns in his last four games and has double-digit carries in four of his last five games.

Last Week; Army QB Kelvin Hopkins Jr. (0/1, 7 rushes for 30 yards, 1 TD) & Army QB Jabari Laws (3/5, 48 yards, 8 rushes for 140 yards, 1 TD)

DEFENSE RECOMMENDATIONS

Kansas State (vs. West Virginia) – The Mountaineers are potentially making a change at QB and the Wildcats are coming off a tough loss at Texas.

Boise State (vs. New Mexico) – I don't see New Mexico doing much on the blue turf.

Louisiana-Lafayette (vs. at South Alabama) – The Ragin' Cajuns have only given up 10 points in their last two games.

Last Week; Army (vs. UMass – 7 PA, 3 Sacks, 2 TA), Ole Mass (vs New Mexico State) – 3 PA, 4 Sacks), Virginia (vs Georgia Tech – 28 PA, 1 TA)

SUMMARY & TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Utilizing the two players for each conference, I'll list out who my top recommendations are on a weekly basis by position:

QB: Hawaii Chevan Cordeiro, Eastern Michigan Mike Glass III, Utah Tyler Huntley
RB: Georgia Southern J.D. King, Ohio State Master Teague, Virginia Tech Deshawn McClease
WR: Oklahoma Dillon Stoner, Memphis Antonio Gibson, Utah State Siaosi Mariner
TE: LSU Thaddeus Moss, Oregon Spencer Webb
D/ST: Kansas State (vs. West Virginia)