Hot Pickups: Week 5

Hot Pickups: Week 5

Mike Tolbert – Mike Tolbert is forcing the Chargers backfield into being a timeshare whether Mathews is healthy or not. Draft status will likely place Ryan Mathews back as the starer but Mike Tolbert has just been too good to be a forgotten man in this backfield and he has produced effectively over the last few weeks including a 16 carry, 100 yard and a score performance this week. Tolbert may have been dropped in your league upon news Ryan Mathews was returning but Tolbert still has flex value for the time being.

Brandon Pettigrew – I often wondered to myself this off-season just what was going to happen to Pettigrew’s numbers with Scheffler being brought in to be a top receiving option. The true answer has not yet been determined due to Nate Burleson’s injury but Pettigrew makes for a solid bye week filler during upcoming weeks while Burleson is till out. Pettigrew finished the day with 8 catches for 91 yards.

Stephen Williams – Undrafted rookie Stephen Williams is a starter at wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals up until at least week 7 barring a roster addition and is worth an add. He had a quiet day with 3 receptions for 32 yards but we expect his production to rise going forward.

Max Hall – Max Hall was once again inserted into the game with the Cardinals getting blown out and he looked abetter than Derek Anderson. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt just may be ready to turn to Max Hall over Derek Anderson who after 4 games has proven very uneffective. His contract is laden with playing time and performance bonuses which may be another factor in helping expedite the QB switch. Expect Hall to be installed as the starter during the Cardinals bye week. Max Hall is a must add in dynasty league formats.

Derrick Ward – Ward got some work with Arian Foster benched for the majority of the 1st half and Ward went to work for 80 yards and a TD on 12 rushes. He is worth a pickup as a flex position bye week filler.

David Nelson – Undrafted rookie David Nelson is showing signs of a breakout campaign as the Bills most integral receiver not coming out of the backfield. The rookie led the Bills with 4 receptions for 75 yards and as a smooth catching tight end will likely serve as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s safety valve for the foreseeable future.

T.J Houshmandzadeh – T.J may have been dropped by an over anxious manger in one of your leagues and if he is available he may be worth the add as he is a legit red-zone weapon for Joe Flacco and his involvement will only increase on a weekly basis. He finally found the end zone this week on 3 receptions and 49 yards. Add him and see how this all pans out, he may emerge with flex value before long.

Lance Moore – Lance Moore showed up once again and fantasy football players may remember that it was not too long ago that we were calling Lance Moore a poor mans Wes Welker. Now while that comparison may be a tad much Moore has proven very effective when healthy and is someone Drew Brees counts on to make key receptions. He finished the day with 5 receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown, and almost had another one but fumbled on the goal-line. Moore has worked himself into solid flex2 territory and with another solid week or two can propel to flex1 territory.

Ryan Torain – WMFL favorite Ryan Torain got feature back carries in a Redskins win with a healthy 18 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. Again, this was a victory so lets not anoint Torain the new starter yet (18 carries to Portis’ 11) but this is a promising sign for Torain owners going forward. Torain has solid flex value during the bye weeks.

Kenny Britt – Kenny Britt IS Vince Young’s red zone target. Acquire in all formats as his role will only expand going forward. He is a buy target in dynasty leagues; try to pry him off a fellow owner before he realizes he has a potential future fantasy WR1 on his hands. Britt has solid WR4/flex value.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Green-Ellis got the start against the Dolphins with Fred Taylor ruled put and if he has not already been acquired in your league than claim him as soon as possible. For those of you in weekly waiver leagues the cat is already out of the bag and you will have to compete with either your free agent dollars or waiver priority against your rival managers, your only advantage being the Pats are on a bye week and rival G.M’s may be looking elsewhere. BenJarvus looks to be a RB3 going forward barring any additions to this backfield.

Brian Hartline – Hartline is a forgotten man despite being the starter in Miami. He is a legit down-field threat as well as a red-zone option. Hartline is a solid flex2 during the bye weeks.