CFB Waiver Wire: Players to Pick Up Week 5

Welcome back to the college football waiver wire watch. Throughout the college football season, we'll pick two guys from every conference who either caught our eye in the previous week or who have an upcoming favorable matchup. As always, we'll answer any questions or comments in the comments section below.

First, though, here are the guys who came through last week and may still be available in your leagues:

Chase Hendricks, WR, Ohio (31.4 points)
Aidan Chiles, QB, Michigan State (29.6 points)
Tommy Castellanos, QB, Florida State (24.6 points)
Sutton Smith, RB, Memphis (23.7 points)
Jaylen Raynor, QB, Arkansas State (23.5 points)
Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU (22.4 points)
Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee (20.8 points)
Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana (19.8 points)
Jekail Middlebrook, RB, Middle Tennessee (17.6 points)
Louisville D/ST (13.0 points)
LSU D/ST (12.0 points)
Florida State D/ST (12.0 points)
Will Bettridge, K, Virginia (12.0 points)
Jaren Kanak, TE, Oklahoma (10.2 points)
Will Ferrin, K, BYU (10.0 points)

70+ Club in Upcoming Slate: Here are the college games that have an Over/Under closest to the 70-point mark, which potentially means a plethora of fantasy points. Enjoy these barn burners and roster some players in these games if you can.

64.5 points - Notre Dame at Arkansas
63.0 points - South Alabama at North Texas
62.5 points - Tennessee at Mississippi State
61.5 points - Memphis at Florida Atlantic

*Fantasy Points referenced are in DraftKings format.
**To qualify for recommendations, players must be rostered in fewer than 50 percent of Fantrax Leagues

American Conference Waiver Wire Pickups

Sutton Smith, RB, Memphis (39 Percent Rostered)

Memphis pulled off quite the upset against Arkansas, and Smith was a big reason why. The powerful back rushed 12 times for 147 yards and a touchdown for a glistening 12.3 yards per carry. He's scored at least one touchdown in four straight games and is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. Smith is averaging 21.9 fantasy points per game, and he is entering American Conference play with the potential to be the best running back in the league this year. He should continue to eat versus FAU and Tulsa in his next two games.

Drayden Dickmann, WR, Rice (26 Percent Rostered)

Dickmann ranks second among wide receivers in the nation in team target share at 42.3 percent. Getting the bulk of the targets in his offense led to a touchdown in Week 4 as he had 13.9 fantasy points. As a bonus, he's also recorded six rushing attempts, although they have gone for a combined negative 12 yards. The volume here is too good to pass up and he is a number one receiver available in most leagues.

Week 4 Rewind: Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff (7.3 points - 5/17, 56 YDS, 8 ATT, 51 YDS) & Memphis RB Sutton Smith (23.7 points - 12 ATT, 147 YDS, 1 TD)

ACC Waiver Wire Pickups

Jeremiah Franklin, TE, Boston College (26 Percent Rostered)

Franklin ranks third in the nation among all tight ends with a team target share of 22.0 percent. He has at least seven targets in all three games this year, and he is averaging 14.2 fantasy points per game. Even with Boston College on a bye last week, Franklin ranks second among all tight ends with 28 total targets. With upcoming games against Cal and Pitt, Franklin should continue to receive a healthy dose of targets. It wouldn't be surprising at all if he adds a touchdown or two as well.

Micahi Danzy, RB/WR, Florida State (6 Percent Rostered)

This kid is too explosive to not start getting significant touches each and every week. Despite touching the ball just nine times in three games, he has 299 total yards and three touchdowns. He's averaging 25.2 yards on five targets and 34.6 yards on five rushing attempts. These are video game numbers. While these are no way sustainable, they should lead to Danzy getting more snaps and potentially becoming playable in fantasy leagues.

Week 4 Rewind: Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos (24.6 points - 10/13, 205 YDS, 1 INT, 7 ATT, 54 YDS, 2 TD) & Stanford RB Micah Ford (11.8 points - 13 ATT, 44 YDS, 1 TD, 1/1 TAR, 4 YDS)

BIG 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah (13 Percent Rostered)

The Utes' defense showed some cracks in a 34-10 loss to Texas Tech at home. That led to Bentley getting a career-high eight targets which he turned into six grabs for 75 yards. He's been fairly active all season long with 23 targets which ranks him tied for sixth among all tight ends. He's available in most leagues, and they have an excellent matchup at West Virginia in Week 5.

Tye Edwards, RB, West Virginia (28 Percent Rostered)

Let's try this again with Edwards, as he was probable, and did suit up the before the game with Kansas. Without him playing, West Virginia's offense was brutal. Hopefully the week off was enough for him to shed the undisclosed injury and he can come back and see meaningful snaps against Utah. The Utes defense was just shredded by Texas Tech, so it's very possible Edwards has a good week if he can get healthy. Make sure you have a back-up plan just in case.

Week 4 Rewind: BYU QB Bear Bachmeier (22.4 points - 18/25, 246 YDS, 1 TD, 5 ATT, 26 YDS, 1 TD), Arizona State RB Raleek Brown (13.3 points - 21 ATT, 80 YDS, 3/3 TAR, 23 YDS) & West Virginia RB Tye Edwards (*DNP - Undisclosed Injury)

Big Ten Waiver Wire Pickups

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (47 Percent Rostered)

Who had Mendoza averaging 28.7 fantasy points per game and Indiana being one of the best in the Big Ten on their bingo card? Mendoza has been nearly perfect in 2025 while completing 76.8 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. He's also added two rushing scores in Indiana's impressive 4-0 start to the season. There's no reason to be scared of the Iowa defense this week if you truly think Indiana's offense is unlocked. WR Omar Cooper (45 percent rostered) is still floating out there in some leagues too!

Mark Gronowski, QB, Iowa (9 Percent Rostered)

Sticking in that same game, Gronowski needs to be considered, as he already has six rushing scores on the season. For those of you who didn't follow his career at South Dakota State, he had 37 rushing scores in four years with the Jackrabbits. He's averaging 20.3 fantasy points per game, which is far different than what Iowa is used to at the quarterback position. That's probably why he's available in 91 percent of leagues as a dual-threat signal caller.

Week 4 Rewind: Indiana WR Omar Cooper (19.8 points - 6/7 TAR, 78 YDS, 1 TD) & Michigan State QB Aidan Chiles (29.6 points - 12/21, 212 YDS, 3 TD, 9 ATT, 31 YDS, 1 TD)

C-USA Waiver Wire Pickups

Gavin Harris, TE, New Mexico State (1 Percent Rostered)

Harris has been one of the Aggies' best receivers in their first three games of the year with nine catches (on 17 targets) for 130 yards and a touchdown. The transfer tight end has at least three catches in all three games and is coming off a career-high eight targets at Louisiana Tech in Week 3. New Mexico State will play at New Mexico this week, so you know both teams are going to have some extra motivation to move the ball offensively. Harris is pretty much available in every league too.

Jacob Clark, QB, Missouri State (7 Percent Rostered)

Clark was the seventh highest performer at the quarterback position in Week 4 with 37.0 fantasy points. He completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns to go along with two rushing scores. That's five total touchdowns against an FCS opponent. He also had 359 passing yards and three touchdowns at Marshall in Week 2, so it doesn't appear he's a one-week wonder. With an upcoming game against Western Kentucky, Clark is worth a spot-start for sure.

Week 4 Rewind: FIU RB Kejon Owens (7.4 points - 15 ATT, 74 YDS) & Middle Tennessee RB Jekail Middlebrook (17.6 points - 6 ATT, 89 YDS, 4/7 TAR, 47 YDS)

MAC Waiver Wire Pickups

Jacquon Gibson, WR, UMass (19 Percent Rostered)

Gibson leads all wide receivers across the nation with a team target share of 43.5 percent. He has at least 10 targets in all three contests, including a game at Iowa in Week 3 where he had five catches (on 10 targets) for 37 yards. I mention that game because he plays at Missouri this week and I would expect a similar output. Because the Minutemen were on a bye last week, he's rostered in just 19 percent of leagues. Even if you can grab him off the waiver wire, and stash him for MAC play, that's a good move for the future.

Noah Kim, QB, Eastern Michigan (1 Percent Rostered)

Kim's most productive game of the year came at Kentucky in Week 3 when he posted a surprising 27.1 fantasy points with 330 passing yards and two total touchdowns. He followed that up with 19.2 fantasy points in a 34-31 win over Louisiana last week. He'll have a much easier defense at Central Michigan this week, and this game has shootout potential. Kim is available in nearly all leagues, and he can certainly be a spot start this week.

Week 4 Rewind: Ohio WR Chase Hendricks (31.4 points - 8/12 TAR, 144 YDS, 1 TD) & Eastern Michigan WR Terry Lockett (4.9 points - 2/4 TAR, 29 YDS)

Mountain West Waiver Wire Pickups

Jordan Napier, WR, San Diego State (20 Percent Rostered)

Napier was one of the best receivers in Week 4 with 34.0 fantasy points as he dominated the Cal secondary. He grabbed nine catches (on 10 targets) for 154 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for six yards on two attempts. In his last two games, he has a combined 22 targets. Those two games were against Washington State and Cal which are extremely comparable to the competition they're going to see in the Mountain West this year.

Dylan Riley, RB, Boise State (9 Percent Rostered)

Riley ran wild in an entertaining 49-37 win at Air Force in Week 4. His five total touchdowns yielded 60.5 fantasy points. It was his first career game with double-digit carries. There was a small sign of his breakout as he had six carries for 123 yards and a touchdown versus Eastern Washington in Week 2, but five different Broncos scored on the ground in that game too. He's a top recommendation at running back as he should pass up Malik Sherrod (49 percent rostered) on the depth chart.

Week 4 Rewind: Colorado State TE Jaxxon Warren (*DNP - Undisclosed injury) & Fresno State RB Rayshon Luke (8.1 points - 9 ATT, 34 YDS, 3/3 TAR, 17 YDS)

SEC Waiver Wire Pickups

Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky (29 Percent Rostered)

McGowan was a popular recommendation in this article last year when he was a talented Oklahoma transfer at New Mexico State. He's even better at Kentucky with 22.7 fantasy points per game. He already has six touchdowns in three games, and he appears to be primed for a career year. The Wildcats will travel to South Carolina this week, a squad that just recently gave up 287 rushing yards in a 29-20 loss to Missouri. It's not likely Kentucky will rush for that much on the ground, but McGowan should have yet another big week.

Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State (28 Percent Rostered)

Let's buckle up for that matchup between the Volunteers and the Bulldogs. On the Bulldogs side, we can roll with Thompson who is averaging 18.5 fantasy points per game. He's going to need in excess of the 6.3 targets per game he's currently receiving if Mississippi State is going to stick with Tennessee. Thompson showed some versatility with his first career rushing touchdown against Northern Illinois in Week 4. In the shootout with Arizona State in Week 2, Thompson had six catches (on eight targets) for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Week 4 Rewind: Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar (20.8 points - 15/22, 218 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT, 3 ATT, 11 YDS) & Oklahoma TE Jaren Kanak (10.2 points - 4/6 TAR, 62 YDS)

Sun Belt Waiver Wire Pickups

Jaden Barnes, WR, App State (34 Percent Rostered)

Barnes has been one of the most productive fantasy receivers in all of college football at 26.9 fantasy points per tilt. He has spread the production around in three games, too, with at least six catches and a touchdown in each contest. He's highly targeted at 11 targets per game. Barnes is a top play for the next month of the season, so go out and get this guy for your roster.

Braylon Braxton, QB, Southern Miss (29 Percent Rostered)

Braxton keeps rolling along with an impressive 23.1 fantasy points per game. He attempted at least 30 passes in every game and is averaging 9.8 rushing attempts per game too. That's a ton of volume which will end up in even more fantasy points once the Golden Eagles start playing Sun Belt defenses. It's only a matter of time before he adds a rushing score or two which could come as early as this week against Jacksonville State.

Week 4 Rewind: Louisiana WR Shelton Sampson (11.7 points - 3/5 TAR, 87 YDS) & Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor (23.5 points - 25/41, 226 YDS, 2 TD, 9 ATT, 5 YDS, 1 TD)

INDEPENDENTS & PAC-12 Waiver Wire Pickups

CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (28 Percent Rostered)

Time to take a chance on Carr as they go up against Arkansas. The Hogs have one of the worst defenses in the nation, and it's evident that all of their games end up in shootouts. Notre Dame put up 56 points on Purdue in their first win in Week 4, so we know they can go back and forth. Carr was nearly perfect with 223 passing yards and two touchdowns in limited action against the Boilermakers. There's high upside for him in this next matchup because Arkansas should be more competitive than Purdue was. Vegas has also opened this game as the highest over/under of the week.

Week 4 Rewind: Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon (0.0 points - No Targets)

DEFENSE & KICKER RECOMMENDATIONS

Defense

Missouri (vs. UMass) - The Tigers are available in 79 percent of leagues, and they're averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game. They have at least two sacks in every game this season, and will surely get at least that against UMass.

Toledo (vs. Akron) - As usual, the Zips are one of the worst teams in college football, and Toledo should have no problem shutting them down. The Rockets are averaging 10.12 fantasy points per game and rostered in just 27 percent of leagues.

Miami of Ohio (vs. Lindenwood) - Lindenwood played App State in Week 1 and the Mountaineers D/ST had 11 fantasy points. Expect something similar for Miami of Ohio, who are available in 97 percent of leagues.

Week 4 Rewind: Florida State vs. Kent State (12.0 points - 10 PA, 2 SK, 1 TA), Louisville vs. Bowling Green (13.0 points - 17 PA, 2 TA, 1 TD) & LSU vs. SouthLA (12.0 points - 10 PA, 4 SK)

Kicker

Ethan Sanchez, Houston - Sanchez converted five field goals in Week 3 which was good for 18 fantasy points. He's averaging 10.67 fantasy points per game and is available in 97 percent of leagues.

Luca Lombardo, Boston College - Going back to Lombardo after a bye week, as he's averaging 10 fantasy points per game, and he goes up against a Cal team that lost to San Diego State 34-0 in Week 4. He's rostered in just two percent of leagues because of that bye last week.

Nicolas Radicic, Indiana - Rostered in 11 percent of leagues, which is far too low when considering that the Hoosiers are averaging around 55 points per game. Radicic has only converted three field goals, however, he's averaging 9.75 fantasy points per game behind 30, yes 30 extra point attempts!

Week 4 Rewind: BYU Will Ferrin (10.0 points - 2/2 FG, 4/4 XP), Maryland Sean O'Haire (9.0 points - 2/2 FG, 3/3 XP) & Virginia Will Bettridge (12.0 points - 2/3 FG, 6/6 XP)

SUMMARY & TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Utilizing the two players for each conference above, here are my top recommendations for the week by position:

QB: IU Fernando Mendoza, ND CJ Carr, SMiss Braylon Braxton

RB: Boise St Dylan Riley, MEM Sutton Smith, WVU Tye Edwards

WR: App State Jaden Barnes, Miss State Brenen Thompson, Rice Drayden Dickmann

TE: BC Jeremiah Franklin, NMST Gavin Harris, Utah Dallen Bentley

D/ST: MIZZOU (vs. UMass), MiamiOH (vs. Lindenwood), Toledo (vs. Akron)

K: IND Nicolas Radicic, BC Luca Lombardo, HOU Ethan Sanchez

Be sure to check out our college football custom rankings and our player rankings cheat sheet for up-to-date season-long rankings, as well as our college football weekly rankings to help guide your lineup decisions. During the season, our college football DFS optimizer and value report are powerful tools to help build DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.