Welcome to our week four edition of hot pickups. We will focus on players owned in less than 45% of yahoo leagues but we would be failing you if we didn’t mention that the 36 percent available Aaron Jones needs to be owned in all leagues. The same can be said for the 28 percent available Chris Carson after his breakout week three. Two receivers who should provide Flex/WR3 value the rest of the way that missed our cutoff are Jordy Nelson (48 percent available) and Mike Williams (44 percent available).
Calvin Ridley – The Atlanta Falcons finally decided to unleash their talented rookie and Ridley responded by roasting the New Orleans Saints secondary for three touchdowns and 146 yards while hauling in seven of his eight targets. Ridley will be one of the hottest adds of the season in the 57 percent of leagues he is still available in so plan your bid accordingly. Ridley looks to continue to be Ryan’s number two option and he will see plenty of big games with a conservative quarterback that is thrilled to finally have a great number two option playing in single coverage snap after snap. Ridley has the makings of a WR3 going forward as the byes are upon us and by the time they are over he could be pushing for WR2 status. Ridley has arrived.
Antonio Callaway – Available in 67 percent of Yahoo leagues Antonio Callaway is looking like a must add in competitive leagues. Although the did next to nothing with his ten targets in week two, talent and target opportunity keep him relevant as a WR3 option during the bye weeks. Arguably the most talented rookie receiver in this draft class Callaway will benefit from the switch to Baker Mayfield at quarterback and should push to remain in the upside WR3 conversation even after the byes are over. Add Callaway where available.
Christian Kirk – While fellow rookie receiver Calvin Ridley will be the talk of the fantasy world this waiver period, Arizona Cardinals rookie Christian Kirk had a mini coming out party of his own this past weekend. Kirk corralled seven of his eight targets for 90 receiving yards leading the team in all three categories. Kirk also seemed to be a favorite of new starting quarterback Josh Rosen so the good times should continue to roll here. Both Kirk and Ridley have ascended their respective depth charts much earlier than anticipated and both now boast WR3 upside for the bye weeks. Add the 97 percent available Kirk wherever available.
Tyler Boyd – Still available in 85 percent of yahoo leagues despite a week big two Boyd went off again in an effort to make believers out of all of us. It is evident that John Ross has continued to struggle and that it will be Boyd who will function as the Bengals clear cut number two option; a position that has reaped fantasy rewards in the past. Add Boyd where possible as a flex2 bye week filler who is one injury away from upside WR3 status weekly.
Geronimo Allison – Geronimo Allison continues to function as the Packers number three option and while the three rookies behind him do indeed have more talent, Allison remains the most NFL starter ready. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the only rookie receiver actually active on game days and he remains an afterthought in the team’s passing attack. Allison is a solid add with the bye week crunch looming and may effectively be the Packers number two fantasy producer at the wide receiver position with Randall Cobb looking old. Target the 66 percent available Allison as an upside flex2 for the bye weeks.
Chris Godwin – Available in 58 percent of yahoo leagues Chris Godwin continues to impress. Working as the number two option in the pass game Godwin has amassed 20 targets over three games after a ten target week three. Godwin should continue to see his role expand in this offense and emerge as the clear cut number two before long. The Bucs have frequently been going three wide which means DeSean Jackson will not be stealing too many snaps from the sophomore who has cemented himself as a flex option heading into the byes. Godwin could push for WR3 status if he continues to rack up the targets and is a strong add in the leagues he is still available in.
Deep league Specials: At 99 percent availability Wendell Smallwood should be a low budget add as he will continue to have a big role if Jay Ajayi misses more time. Javorius Allen at 74 percent availability should be owned in all competitive ppr leagues, he still offers below average production as a runner but he continues to get snaps in the red zone and features heavy in the passing attack. Sitting at 94 percent availability on Sunday night Chris Ivory needs to be owned as long as LeSean McCoy is on the shelf. The 97 percent available Jakeem Grant looks like a born play maker but will likely not see enough week to week touches to maintain fantasy relevance outside of the byes. Not even Steve Sarkisian will trot Mohamed Sanu out as the number two after Calvin Ridley’s coming out party but the 85 percent available veteran is still a worthwhile bye week filler. Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen are names to look at for those of you in deeper leagues who have lost Jimmy G for the season. At 98 percent availability Dallas Goedert is an intriguing TE2 stash with the bye weeks upon us; the same can be said for the 88 percent available Vance McDonald.
