Thomas Castellanos exploded for 44.68 fantasy points in Texas Tech’s win over West Virginia, throwing five touchdown passes and rushing for over 100 yards in just his second start of the season. Castellanos, who had mostly appeared in gadget packages before igniting the offense, led all Power 4 quarterbacks last week and is now rostered in only 36 percent of Yahoo leagues, making him an attractive waiver wire option heading into Week 11.
His performance came against one of the weakest defenses in the country, but the numbers suggest more than a one-off. Castellanos completed 362 passing yards, added 102 rushing yards, and posted a 63.3 percent rushing success rate along with a 0.28 EPA per play. He faces a favorable matchup against Oklahoma State’s secondary, which ranks near the bottom nationally in allowing completions of 20 or more yards. After back-to-back games with over 30 fantasy points, he could keep up his scoring streak this weekend.
Isaiah Marshall of Kansas also emerged from obscurity with a 34.9-point outing last Saturday. Although he missed the TCU game, Marshall had scored 20-plus points in each of his previous four contests, rushing for 125 yards and two touchdowns against UCF. He ranks fifth in rushing yards among Power 4 quarterbacks and is available in nearly all leagues, at just 2 percent rostered. Kansas faces West Virginia next, a matchup that fantasy managers often target for quarterbacks with rushing upside.
Cincinnati’s JC French IV has been a steady contributor this season, scoring at least 23 points in six games and topping 25 points in three of his last four outings. The Georgia Southern transfer has faced tough defenses recently but remains under the radar with a 5 percent roster rate. Iowa State’s secondary, ranked 130th in yards allowed per dropback, presents a chance for French to post another strong performance this weekend.
At running back, Bo MacCormack III of Boston College has stepped up since Evan Dickey’s season-ending injury. MacCormack has two 100-yard games in three starts, accounting for 71 percent of the Eagles’ rushing yards in a narrow loss to Florida State. His physical style, influenced by his father’s background as a Golden Gloves boxing champion, has helped him shoulder the offensive load. While he faces a tough Notre Dame defense this week, he looks like a solid start for Week 12 against Syracuse.
Iowa’s L.J. Phillips Jr. has moved into a larger role since Kamari Moulton’s injury. After most of the season as a rotational back, Phillips gained 128 yards on 21 carries in a 24-10 win over Northwestern. Phillips averaged 4.5 yards after contact and finished with 15.2 fantasy points despite no touchdowns. He faces Purdue’s defense, which ranks 103rd in yards allowed and 127th in yards per carry, making Phillips a potential breakout candidate.
Florida State’s Amari Thomas made a strong case for more playing time after star running back Ousmane Kromah went down for the season. Thomas rushed 19 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Boston College, marking his first significant workload of the year. With upcoming games against Pittsburgh and NC State, Thomas could remain an important option in the Seminoles’ backfield.
Notre Dame’s Nolan James Jr. has been a consistent force all season, scoring double-digit fantasy points in every game. He has averaged 17.6 points per game over his last five contests and is firmly established as the Irish’s lead back. James is rostered in nearly half of leagues and should be an automatic start against Boston College.
Among wide receivers, BYU freshman Legend Glasker is catching attention with his big-play ability. He leads the Power 4 with five receptions of 50-plus yards and averages 18.3 yards per catch. Glasker has scored at least 10 fantasy points in each of his last five games and is rostered in only 20 percent of leagues. BYU’s upcoming schedule includes Baylor, Kansas, and Cincinnati, offering opportunities for continued production.
Arizona’s Giovanni Richardson has made an impact since returning from injury, catching 17 of 21 passes for 264 yards over two games. Despite not scoring a touchdown yet, he averages 14.3 points in games where he has played extensively. Richardson’s quickness and ability to separate make him a candidate for heavy target volume against Utah, Kansas State, and Arizona State in the final weeks.
UCF’s Josh Derry has been the Knights’ top receiver since October, frequently standing out on film. He is rostered in just 4 percent of leagues, hinting at potential value for fantasy managers seeking wideouts with emerging roles.
With the College Fantasy Football playoffs approaching quickly, many of these players offer fresh options for teams looking to improve their rosters ahead of the final stretch. Castellanos’s recent exploits have drawn the most attention, but several other under-the-radar contributors could make a difference in Week 11 and beyond.
According to Yahoo Sports.
