Hot Pickups – Week Five
Darren McFadden – Available in 69 percent of Yahoo! leagues McFadden looks to be ticketed for a larger role in the Cowboys offense now that Lance Dunbar has been lost for the season. McFadden is unarguably the best healthy receiving back on the roster and should see his snaps increase via the passing game. McFadden is still one of the top backs in the league on a pure talent level and could easily supplant the pedestrian Joseph Randle at a moments notice and should be looked at as a top add heading into week five. McFadden looks like a solid RB4 with RB3 upside during the byes with obvious RB1 upside should he ever grab hold of the starting role in Dallas.
Willie Snead – Willie Snead has impressed for the Saints and appears to have moved ahead of Brandon Coleman on the target pecking order in New Orleans making him a worthy add in deeper formats. Snead is more of a PPR bye week filler play at the moment but has the opportunity based upside to thrive in this offense to the tune of WR3 value. Add the 98 percent available Snead where needed.
Duke Johnson Jr. – Duke Johnson had a breakout day for the Browns who finally started to realize how to best utilize their dynamic young weapon. Johnson will never be a better runner than Crowell but they utilized Johnson in space and as a receiver which led to him compiling a nine receptions, 85 yards and a score through the air. Duke also managed 31 yards on the ground and has seemingly solidified himself as a flex option in deeper PPR leagues with his big day. Available in 70 percent of Yahoo! leagues Duke should be a top add in all PPR formats where he has RB3 upside while those in standard leagues should view him as a RB4/bye week filler.
Ronnie Hillman – Available in 67 percent of Yahoo! leagues Ronnie Hillman may have seized the starting tailback job in the Broncos backfield after a solid performance in which he garnered 103 yards rushing on just 11 carries aided by a huge 72 yard run. Hillman will never be a special back but someone should be able to eat in this offense with the weapons at wide receiver commanding most of the defenses attention so Hillman who possesses plus vision and patience could have some big days going forward if handed the starting job here. Hillman is a solid add for bye weeks and has RB2 upside if he is handed a workhorse role in Gary Kubiak’s offense. The only caveat here being Ronnie Hillman is just a slightly above average back and could be overtaken by CJ any given week so take that into account when allocating your FAAB dollars or waiver priority.
Kamar Aiken – Available in 98 percent of Yahoo! leagues Aiken will now be the Ravens top receiver following the week four injury to veteran Steve Smith. Aiken is getting better every week and managed to haul in five of his seven targets for 77 yards and a score in week four. Aiken is a low floor WR4 during the byes but will have the opportunity to creep into the weekly WR3 conversation as a de facto number one receiver.
Tavon Austin – Tavon Austin had a coming out party this past weekend racking up six receptions, 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns to go with 20 yards rushing. Available in 85 percent of Yahoo! leagues Austin plausibly cemented himself a bigger role in this offense with his performance. Austin will be able to find a lot more space with a top tier back operating out of the backfield and his fantasy stock is trending upwards. Consider Austin a bye week filler for deeper leagues with the the potential to solidify WR4 status at worst if he can show some consistency.
Allen Hurns – Hurns had a monster week four as he amassed eleven receptions on 15 targets for 116 yards and a score. Hurns’ big day was fueled by Vontae Davis shadowing Allen Robinson but he still remains an upside bye week filler with a WR3 ceiling during this time. Hurns likely cemented his hold on the number two role with this monster day and even the more talented Marqise Lee should not supplant the young receiver who has an obvious rapport with Blake Bortles. Currently available in 83 percent of Yahoo! leagues Hurns will be a hot pickup this week.
Eddie Royal – Available in 61 percent of Yahoo! leagues despite Alshon Jeffery being ruled out for week four Eddie Royal had a solid day with old friend Jay Cutler back at the helm as he racked up seven receptions, 54 and a touchdown on the afternoon. Royal will have to rely on his yards after the catch ability to have big yardage days most weeks but he remains in a high volume role even when Alshon returns to the lineup and needs to be owned in most PPR formats.
Deep League: Leonard Hankerson; Kenny Stills; Antonio Andrews; Lorenzo Taliaferro; Charles Sims; Dorial Green-Beckham, Brandon LaFell; Christine Michael
