This article is part of our CFB Waiver Wire series.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC
Dontravious Wilson, RB, UCF
Maybe it's not a great idea to start a column with a clear reach, but as the season winds to a close, the waiver wire is getting increasingly barren. Wilson shined after William Stanback left Saturday's game against Tulsa due to a shoulder injury, rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. While all indications are that Stanback will play in Week 13, one look at the schedule shows lowly SMU heading to Orlando. Stanback could return and still not play in the second half if this game goes the way most of SMU's contests have, leaving Wilson with a signifcant number of carries for a second straight week.
Rodriguez Moore, RB, Cincinnati
Truthfully, I've given up trying to sort out the Bearcats offense. Head coach Tommy Tubberville has a system in place that produces huge scoring numbers, but is as truthful about his rotations as Nevin Shapiro or Bernie Madoff were with their investors. Moore seems to be the one constant in the running attack, as he's garnered at least 10 carries in six consecutive contests. And with 223 yards in the last two games, his production is starting to match that of his opportunities.
ATLANTIC COAST
Shaquille Powell, RB, Duke
Powell has led the Blue Devils in carries in each of the last two games. While he remains part of a three-headed backfield, the recent usage is an encouraging sign heading into Thursday's game against North Carolina. While Powell won't be confused with Miami's Duke Johnson or Pitt's James Conner, the fact remains that the Tar Heels have given up 600 yards and seven rushing touchdowns in their last two games against the Hurricanes and Panthers. The Tar Heels have allowed at least 157 yards rushing in each of their last six games and in all but one contest all year. Powell looks like a Week 13 sleeper.
J.C. Coleman, RB, Virginia Tech
Coleman is the next man up in the Hokies backfield, and while he's had that opportunity previously, he hasn't had the opportunity exclusively. Keep an eye on Trey Edmunds' availability, as he's practicing seven weeks removed from a broken collarbone, but Coleman looks like he'll be the team's top back at Wake Forest on Saturday. The Deacons, who just surrendered 362 yards and five scores on the ground to North Carolina State, and allow 193.5 rushing yards per game, giving reason for optimism for Coleman.
BIG 12
Jimmay Mundine, TE, Kansas
Mundine continues to prove tight ends can hold value. So much so, that if you're forced to play a tight end weekly, Mundine is likely long gone. Mundine has caught at least four passes in five straight games, topping 75 yards in four and scoring three times. That's solid enough production to warrant flex consideration even where tight ends aren't a required position.
Cody Thomas, QB, Oklahoma
Thomas' first career start left plenty to be desired, as he tossed three interceptions against a bad Texas Tech defense. There is every reason to believe the Sooners will run as often as the Kansas Jayhawks allow in Week 13. But Thomas was a vital part of that running game last Saturday, accounting for 103 yards and a score with his legs. At this time of the season, you're quarterback slot(s) are likely solidified, but Thomas is one of the few new options available, and is in a position for success.
BIG TEN
Kyle Prater, WR, Northwestern
Don't look now, but Prater has 18 catches, 167 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. With games against Purdue and Illinois remaining, Prater looks poised to flourish down the stretch.
Josh Hicks, RB, Rutgers
Hicks saw his redshirt burned over the weekend, impressing with 114 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Robert Martin managed three touchdowns, and matchups with Michigan State and Maryland aren't the easiest, but Hicks has earned the opportunity for carries over the season's last two weeks.
CONFERENCE USA
Ed'Marques Batties, WR, Middle Tennessee
Batties hadn't recorded a reception in the previous two games before erupting for an eight-catch, 110-yard, two-touchdown game Saturday at FIU. While it's probable this was a mere flash in the pan, Batties and MTSU get a Florida Atlantic defense in Week 13 that ranks 92nd against the pass nationally.
Alex McGough, QB, Florida International
McGough seems to be gaining confidence as his freshman season draws to a conclusion, and is coming off of a career-high 231 yards Saturday against MTSU. He has some running ability, and as a result, has six total touchdowns in the last two weeks. The caveat is McGough doesn't get many opportunities, attempting just 37 passes in the last two games. With that in mind, the Panthers have scored 73 points during his mini-hot streak, one that should continue against North Texas in Week 13.
MID-AMERICAN
Devon Spalding, RB, Central Michigan
Spalding has been tremendous the last two weeks, totaling 301 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries. Meanwhile, early season standout Thomas Rawls has six carries and 20 yards in the last three weeks while missing one game due to a knee injury. Spalding is too hot not to add for Saturday's game against Western Michigan.
Andre Givens, RB, Bowling Green
Givens has consecutive 100-yard outings with Travis Greene sidelined and carried an impressive 38 times against Kent State last Wednesday. Teammate Fred Coppet left Wednesday's game with a lower-leg injury, and assuming neither Greene nor Coppet return, Givens is a lock for a huge workload against Toledo this Wednesday.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Shayne Davern, RB, Air Force
The incredible run on running back options continues. Not entirely at Jacobi Owens' expense has come Davern's emergence. Davern has at least 10 carries in four straight and has scored three times in his last two games. At 245 pounds, Davern makes for a great goal-line back, and he should keep his scoring streak going in Week 13 against San Diego State.
Thomas Sperbeck, WR, Boise State
Over the last three games, it's been Sperbeck, not Shayne Williams-Rhodes, who has emerged as the Broncos' top receiver after Matt Miller. Sperbeck's 6-82-1 line over the weekend was the lowest in that stretch, but he's totaled 21 catches, 394 yards and two scores since Oct. 24, and if available, he should be added in any format.
PAC-12
Jordan Villamin, WR, Oregon State
Villamin has really blossomed in November, catching 18 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns in three games. The freshman is listed at an imposing 6-foot-4, 240, and with running backs Terron Ward and Storm Woods both healthy, he should see plenty of single coverage over the season's final two weeks, allowing him to build on his hot stretch.
Dwayne Washington, RB, Washington
Washington busted loose for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries against Arizona after managing to score on seven carries in his previous outing against UCLA. His return to health from a chest injury has pushed Shaq Thompson back to linebacker, and while Washington will share carries with Lavon Coleman and Deontae Cooper, the Huskies' have only 14 passing touchdowns all season and will need to score to remain close to Oregon State and Washington State over the season's final two games.
SEC
Dislcaimer: The SEC schedule this week is simply a joke. If you're relying on star players this Saturday, proceed with caution if they're involved in a non-conference game against an inferior opponent. There are five such games, and it looks like we'll see plenty of backups in the second half.
Jason Croom, WR, Tennessee
Now that my mini-rant is over, we'll focus strictly on the conference matchups in the SEC. Croom will come with some risk, as quarterback Joshua Dobbs completed 19 passes to nine players last weekend, but Croom caught three for 87 yards and has scored in consecutive games. Marquez North has battled a shoulder injury, and should he be forced to miss some or most of Saturday's game with Missouri, Croom would stand to benefit.
C.J. Duncan, WR, Vanderbilt
Duncan finds his way onto this list partly because of his recent run, but also because of the above disclaimer, and a need for more wide receiver options in this column. On the field, Duncan is returning from a bye week, and had only one catch for six yards in his last outing against Florida. The Commodores also get the unenviable task of traveling to face Mississippi State fresh off its first loss of the season. But prior to his stinker against Florida, Duncan had scored in three straight games. The Commodores likely will throw often as the game slips away, giving Duncan a shot at making a big play.
SUN BELT
Brandon Smith, WR, Texas State
Smith followed a career performance (eight catches, 97 yards) on Nov. 8 with a solid five-catch, 86-yard outing last Saturday. Prior to this 13 catch outburst, Smith had only 15 catches and 135 yards on the year, so there's some risk. A matchup in Week 13 with a decent Arkansas State pass defense that allows only 212.6 yards weekly is less than ideal, but closing the year with a defenseless Georgia State, whose passing stats are skewed by a recent run of option-offense opponents, gives Smith a chance to close the year strong.
Pete Thomas, QB, Louisiana-Monroe
Thomas has thrown for two scores in each of his last two games while also running for a score in each. He's also thrown at least 41 times in each of the last three games. The Warhawks also average just 74.5 yards per game rushing, making Thomas a lock to pitch it around over the season's final two games against New Mexico State and Georgia Southern.
